The Mina Murray Series Bundle, A Dracula Retelling: Books 1-3

by L. D. Goffigan

  Her dark gaze swept over all the guests in the room. I heard a sudden whisper in my mind, akin to the whisper Vlad had uttered to me on Westminster Bridge in London weeks ago.

  You are my children…my subjects. You all belong to me.

  I was suddenly unable to move. She was placing everyone in the ballroom into a thrall. I didn’t know that vampires could put such a large crowd in thrall at once. She must be a powerful vampire, I mused.

  At the thought, a chill snaked through my chest. Sometimes she appears at the masquerade balls Francois has at his home, Clovis had told us in Berlin.

  The vampire was Elizabeth Bathory.

  18

  Prey

  The guests around us listened in rapt awe as she began to speak. I wanted to scream, to hurl my kukri into her heart, but the power of her thrall held me frozen.

  "You have done well, my children,” she said. Her voice was throaty and commanding, yet seductive as a siren's song. "We have enemies who deny our dominion, who cut down our allies and believe that ensures their victory. We are more powerful than they are; we shall continue forward. Listen for whispers of betrayal; show no mercy on any traitors you come across."

  As she spoke, two hulking male vampires approached the dais from one of the side corridors, dragging a nude woman along with them. She was gaunt, with bruises and bite marks all over her pale body. They dragged the woman up to the dais and towards Bathory. The woman wept and pleaded with them. My heart broke for her…she knew that she was about to die.

  "This is a former member of the Order of the Dragon," Bathory continued, contempt lacing her words. "The Order, who betrayed their own kind by uniting with humans. That is when our downfall began. When the predator allowed the prey to have dominion. We are like the great wolves of the animal kingdom. We do not bow down to prey."

  In a flash of movement, Bathory reached for the woman, easily lifting her with one arm and holding her aloft as she struggled and begged for mercy. Bathory trained her gaze on a small group of vampires who now stood near the dais. They were released from her thrall, and scurried to the base of the dais like a pack of hungry wolves. Alarmed, I realized what she was about to do.

  "We treat humans who defy us as the lowly beasts they are. They need to be reminded of what they are. Meat. Food. Nothing."

  She hurled the screaming woman into the group of hungry vampires, and they descended upon her, tearing into her flesh with their fangs. The woman's screams punctuated the silent ballroom; they were screams of agony, of terror. Though I could not move, tears pricked at my eyes. How many times had I heard such screams? I thought of the doomed sailors on the Demeter and the passengers on our derailed train from weeks ago. How much more suffering would these monsters inflict on humans?

  It seemed as if an eternity passed before the woman's screams died. Bathory watched serenely, smiling as the vampires stood, their mouths and fine clothes now stained with the woman's blood.

  Only pieces of the woman remained. Her flesh had been torn from her bones, and only a portion of her face was intact. Her lifeless eyes seemed to stare right at me.

  "She deserved far worse," Bathory said. "Be creative when it comes to punishing traitors. Now, I must take my leave," she continued, turning to Francois, leaning in to press a loving kiss to his lips. "Continue your celebrations. Make love, make children, make death. I love you all."

  With one last smile at the guests, she vanished.

  We were released from our paralysis. I was shaking, revulsion searing my insides. I no longer felt any trace of excitement over my familial connection to Bathory. How could I share blood with that monster? How could someone from my line have fallen in love with someone from hers?

  Now that I saw the magnitude of her power, her cruelty, I knew that she would not be as simple to ensnare as Vlad had been. The thought of her drinking my blood, even if it did manage to kill her, was terrifying.

  Abe gripped my arm as the orchestra began to play another waltz. The vampire and human guests resumed dancing and making merry, as if nothing had happened, as if a human being had not just been violently torn to shreds. How could the humans not care? How could they react with such laissez faire? They are all in a thrall, I told myself. It was the only explanation I could fathom.

  I set my disgust aside. Bathory was here. Now was our chance to kill her. I looked up at Abe, whose countenance was unnerved but determined. I gave him a subtle nod, and together we moved towards the entrance. I fixed a smile on my face to avoid arousing suspicion, but no one paid us any mind as we exited the ballroom and made our way to the front entrance.

  Human and vampire guests continued to stream inside, laughing and gay as we hurried past them.

  Outside, there were no departing carriages at the iron gates, only arriving carriages, which dropped off even more guests.

  I stiffened when I sensed the presence of a vampire directly behind us.

  Abe and I whirled. The vampire who hovered behind us wore a black domino hooded cloak over his suit of midnight blue. He briefly lifted his black moretta mask to reveal his face. It was Hugo, one of the members of the Order. My shoulders sank with relief.

  "There is no sign of Bathory,” he whispered, pressing his mask back down over his face. "I checked the side corridor from which she came. The others are checking the grounds. I fear she is gone. She has made appearances like this before…and then vanished into the night."

  I closed my eyes, trembling with frustration. The last vampire we needed to kill had only been yards away from us, and now she was gone.

  “Come back inside."

  Anara had stepped out as well. She looked rattled, though she wore a strained smile.

  "She is not here…we have all done a quick search. We found the members of the Order,” she whispered, nodding at Hugo. “Noelle told me that Bathory’s bravado is a front. She knows the Order is closing in on her; she keeps her public appearances brief. Our plan will still proceed. Hugo, are you ready?"

  Hugo nodded, though a brief look of grief flashed across his eyes. I wondered with sympathy if he knew the human woman who had just been killed. But Anara was right—we had a task to do, and now I was even more determined to succeed.

  Moments later, I danced the waltz with Abe, my shock over Bathory's appearance and the murder of the human woman temporarily cast aside as I acted the part of joyous human guest, eagerly anticipating the end of the human world. The smile I wore was so tight that my face had begun to smart.

  I wondered how our allies were doing, pretending to be gay in the face of such looming odds. We were surrounded by murderous vampires and compliant humans. After Bathory's appearance, the mission seemed more arduous.

  I looked past Abe’s rigid shoulders as he swirled me around, finding Hugo in the crowd. He was weaving his way through the merry guests, approaching the dais. Once he reached its base, one of Francois’ guards stopped him. But Francois took in Hugo’s handsome form with overt interest. He stood, waving for Hugo to come forward.

  I watched anxiously as they spoke. Behind them, Matyas surveyed their exchange with narrowed eyes. I stumbled over Abe’s feet in alarm when Francois reached out to remove Hugo’s mask.

  “What?” Abe hissed. He was trying not to stare in the same direction I was to avoid suspicion, his face pale with anxiety.

  “Keep dancing,” I whispered, my heart slamming haphazardly in my chest as Francois studied Hugo for several moments before turning to his guards and issuing an order I couldn't hear. Matyas went rigid at Francois’ words, his icy eyes immediately surveying the crowd. Francois took Hugo’s arm, leading him down the dais and towards another side corridor on the far side of the ballroom; Clement and another guard followed.

  I looked away as Matyas and the guards stepped down from the dais. They were ordering each guest they approached to remove their mask. Panic gripped my chest; if we were discovered, our plan would fail before it had even begun. I thought of the murdered human woman. What would our fate be if we
were caught?

  Abe followed my gaze, and he stopped dancing, gripping my hand. He looked at me, and I nodded. Now was the time to embark upon our plan.

  Together, we made our way through the dancing guests towards the same corridor to follow Francois and Hugo. I spotted Anara and the others on the opposite side of the ballroom, making their way towards the same corridor.

  But Abe and I were intercepted before we could even leave the dance floor. A male vampire wearing a red plague mask stood in front of us, his black eyes sweeping lustfully from my masked face to my breasts.

  “You smell strange and divine, human,” he purred, ignoring Abe as he moved intimately close to me. “Why are you wearing clothing? I would like to taste you…all of you.”

  Abe stilled at my side, and revulsion skittered through me. We couldn’t attack a vampire in a ballroom full of vampires, but if I refused him he would grow suspicious…and perhaps cause a scene. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matyas and the guard continue to make their way through the crowd, stopping each guest as they went. Soon, they would be upon us. I had to act quickly.

  “Bien sur,” I replied, giving him what I hoped was a coquettish smile, as I reached out to take his cold hand in mine. “I am quite shy…and my husband would also love for you to drink from him. I know it is not my place to make demands, but is there somewhere more private we could go?”

  I let my gaze stray seductively towards the corridor that Francois had led Hugo into. I dropped Abe’s hand and stepped closer to the vampire. I could sense Abe’s anger as the vampire leered at my breasts, before he reluctantly dragged his eyes away to focus on Abe.

  “It has been quite some time since I’ve tasted a man. You will certainly do,” he said, surveying Abe’s body. “Come.”

  The vampire took both me and Abe by the arms, leading us off the dance floor.

  I felt nervous and relieved. I hoped the vampire could not sense my fear, the rapid beating of my heart, nor the kukri that was tucked beneath my bodice. With the vampire escorting us, we blended in effortlessly with the other guests. We'd just have to figure out how to get rid of him once we were alone.

  I looked around for Gabriel and the others. They were now on the edge of the dance floor, drawing closer to the corridor. Gabriel had his arm around Anara, while she had her arm linked with Seward’s. They appeared gay, with broad smiles on their faces. Had I not known them, I would have thought they were just like the other guests here. It was only the telltale tightness of Gabriel’s shoulders and the rigid way Seward carried himself that gave away any hint of turmoil. I didn't see Noelle and the other members of the Order; I prayed that they were nearby.

  They paused by the entrance to the corridor, noticing us as we approached. Gabriel tensed at the sight of us with the vampire, but neither he nor the others said a word as we passed them and entered the corridor. I gave them a subtle nod to let them know we were all right, and to proceed with the plan.

  We made our way down the corridor, passing multiple chambers filled with vampires and humans who were drinking blood and making love. Yet I didn’t see Francois or Hugo in any of the rooms. Where were they?

  I made myself focus as the vampire led us into a chamber that looked like a miniature salon; it was mercifully empty.

  He closed the door behind us.

  “Now,” he purred. “Undress. I shall take you…then I shall feast from you. It has been decades since I’ve lain with a human woman. Your husband will watch…and then I shall take him.”

  Abe’s eyes were hot with fury. I was grateful that he wore a mask, his expression would give us away. I smiled at the vampire, taking a few steps back. I lifted my hair with one hand, exposing my neck.

  “Please…will you sample me first?” I asked, trying to sound eager and hopeful. “No one has drunk from me tonight.”

  The vampire’s eyes turned completely black with bloodlust. He was on me at once, his arms holding me close as he sank his fangs into my skin. I cried out in spite of myself, but forced myself to then moan in pleasure, pushing away the memory of Skala’s fangs in my skin.

  This did not last for long; the vampire suddenly stiffened, and he crumpled to the floor. Abe had staked him from behind. Now, he leaned down to stake the dying vampire in his throat.

  I stumbled back, my hand straying to my bleeding throat. Abe stood up, his breathing still ragged as he looked down at the dead vampire.

  “We must get to the others and Francois,” I said urgently.

  Abe nodded, shoving the bloody stake into his suit pocket. We hurried out of the room, nearly colliding with Gabriel as soon as we opened the door. He stood just outside the room, pretending to enjoy a glass of wine.

  “What—“ he began, spotting the dead vampire behind us. Abe hastily closed the door.

  “He intercepted us—we had no choice,” I whispered. “We must make haste…where are the others? Do you know where Francois took Hugo?”

  “Anara scented them in that chamber,” Gabriel said, gesturing towards a lone chamber at the far end of the corridor. “Come.”

  We hurried after him. But we all froze when we heard a ferocious roar and the sound of shattering glass.

  19

  My Queen

  We raced into the chamber to find utter chaos.

  Anara was in the midst of fighting Clement, their movements so rapid I could barely track them. Just outside the shattered window, Hugo fought Francois on his own, with similar speedy moves. Francois’ vampire guards lay dead in the center of the floor; there was a stake embedded in the chest of one, while the other’s throat had been torn out.

  In the midst of the fighting, Seward sat huddled on the floor next to the door, deathly pale as he clutched his bleeding throat. Abe and I rushed to his side while Gabriel moved past us to join the fight.

  “I’m—I’m all right,” Seward rasped, as Abe inspected his wound.

  Two masked vampires suddenly dashed into the room, and I shot to my feet, my kukri out, ready to strike. They removed their masks, and relief coursed through me.

  It was Noelle and Marceau, the other members of the Order. Noelle turned towards us as Marceau darted forward, fangs bared, to join the fight.

  “We need to keep this door guarded and closed,” Noelle ordered. “The corridor is noisy and no one has sensed anything amiss. If other vampires come to Francois’ aid—we will not be able to fight all of them.”

  I nodded in agreement, glancing behind me, where our vampire companions continued to spar with superhuman speed. If Abe and I attempted to join the fray, we'd only impede the others and get in the way.

  Abe and Noelle hoisted Seward up and led him out of the room. Outside the door stood Sebastien, the human member of the Order. He still wore his mask and held a glass of wine, a strained smile on his face as he attempted to appear relaxed and at ease.

  I turned to glance down the long corridor that led to the ballroom. Fortunately, we were at the far end, and the corridor was indeed filled with noise—music that drifted in from the ballroom, conversation and laughter from the guests, moans of pleasure from the chambers that lined the corridor. It was hard to believe that a miniature battle was taking place in the chamber behind us.

  Seward, who was now propped up by Abe and Sebastien, attempted to look merry, but his pain was palpable. Abe and Sebastien tensely studied the few guests who roamed the corridor, wandering in and out of the various chambers. Noelle looked as if she were ready to slaughter any creature that approached us.

  I stilled when a blonde female vampire emerged from one of the chambers, making her way towards us. She wore a gown of midnight blue, the golden mask she wore resembled the shape of two stars.

  “You all look quite dire,” she said with amusement, her voice carrying above the din of the corridor. “Surely you don’t need all these humans to yourself,” she added to Noelle, as she drew near, her gaze lingering on the dried blood on Seward’s throat.

  She stopped just opposite us, her gaze stray
ing towards the closed chamber door. Her eyes narrowed with sudden distrust.

  “It smells of vampire blood in there…what is happening?” she demanded. “Where is Francois? This is his private—“

  Noelle moved quickly. She reached out with one hand, snapping the vampire’s neck. The sound of cracking bone reverberated in my ears as she slumped forward in Noelle’s arms, dead.

  “Bloody hell,” Seward whispered. “Was that necessary?”

  “Yes,” Noelle curtly replied, as the chamber door swung open. Gabriel stood there, out of breath, blood splattered across his clothes and face. He didn't react to the sight of the dead female vampire in Noelle’s arms, merely stepping aside to let us enter.

  The chamber was empty, with the exception of the dead vampires on the floor, which now included Clement, I noted with dark pleasure. Francois and the others were nowhere to be seen.

  “Francois escaped into the forest—he is gravely injured,” Gabriel said, already moving towards the window. “The others have gone after him. You and the others should stay behind until we subdue him.”

  “Gabriel—“ I began to protest, but he had already leapt out of the window.

  “They may kill Francois—we need him alive. We need to get into his mind to find out where Bathory is located,” I said desperately. “If they kill him, this will all be for naught.”

  “Then come,” Noelle said, dropping the dead female vampire onto the floor as she made her way to the window.

  “I’ll be all right—go,” Seward insisted, when we hesitated to leave him behind. He braced himself against the wall. “I—I can stay behind and make sure no one comes inside.”

  “He’s right…someone needs to guard the door. I will stay with him,” Sebastien added.