by Renee Lake
“I apologize for the manner in which we brought you, but we couldn’t allow you to say no,” she said, leaning over Nea to see her properly.
“But you didn’t tell Vlad I was here, so what do you want.” Nea was smarter than Siobhan had given her credit for. Had Vlad known about her presence she never would have been stuck in the cellar.
“I didn’t want him to know. Lily took great pleasure in telling him you refused.”
“Why did you let her do that? He was probably furious!”
“Yes and when he is he either kills some poor peasant and feasts or he fucks one of us until we are bruised, and broken.” Siobhan looked disgusted and Nea chuckled.
“Why do you laugh, you find amusement in our pain and degradation?” Siobhan snarled.
“I always enjoyed his roughness; I assume Lily does as well?”
“It is the only time he will touch her since she started refusing to bathe. She has killed the last three maids who went anywhere near her with a water basin or a brush.” Siobhan stalked away, pacing.
“Why don’t you just tell me what you want?” Nea was tired of the theatrics.
“I want free of him. You are a perfect bargaining tool. I would rather not be a vampire but I can manage it. I hate being bound to him. I never wanted to be any man’s bride, let alone to be one for all eternity,” Siobhan admitted.
“Did he force himself on you then?” Nea couldn’t believe it, Vlad might have been dominant, but rape had never been his way.
“No, my father sold me to him fifty years ago,” she paused and shuddered, “after enduring years of my father and my brothers raping me. Dracula promised me revenge on them if I became his bride, which included fulfilling wifely duties. I agreed, it was hasty,” a crimson glow filled her eyes, “though the revenge was sweet.”
“And now you figure offering me to him will grant you freedom,” Nea summarized, she would have to ask later why he was now calling himself Dracula.
“Yes, I just want him to let me go and make my own way.”
“Does Marisol feel like this too?”
“Marisol is too afraid. He rescued her when her coach overturned and she stayed with him for a while. She would have spent her life crippled, he offered and she accepted. She is afraid to anger him or displease him, the meekest of all mice.” Siobhan rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know if your plan will work, but I am not going to help you if you leave me chained in danger from Lily,” Nea was firm.
“You have too much magic to be set free.” Siobhan crossed her arms over her chest.
“Yes, she does.” Came another voice, startling both women as Sabine stepped out of the darkness. She held a large sword in her hands and was wearing men’s clothes, all brown and soft leather, Nea had only ever seen her in pants before when they were hunting Strigoi.
“Who are you?” Siobhan hissed, barring her fangs.
“Her best friend and you are a stupid cunt. Back down now or the entire Monastery will be swarmed by Strigoi who have no problems sucking you and your sisters’ dry of emotions and leaving you to deal with the repercussions on your own.” The threat was a good one, though Nea didn’t understand how they had gotten past the gypsy magic.
“Hi.” A whispered voice said near her, Nea smiled as her son began to undo her bindings.
“You shouldn’t have come, I was fine.”
“We couldn’t leave you here with a bunch of crazy vampires, mother. Stasi is upset and worried; I promised I would bring you home as soon as possible.’ Mihail helped her sit up as Sabine was advancing on Siobhan.
“It would be too bad if I had to kill you.” Sabine flirted, smiling at the woman who probably had come from Scotland as well.
“How did you get through the magic?” Siobhan was losing the fight and she knew it.
“You brought a Strega here, I can find other Stregas blindfolded with only one leg,” Sabine snorted, “plus one of her sons in a Strigoi, you were stupid and now you must admit defeat.”
Siobhan seemed to be thinking about her options. Mihail helped Nea to her feet and she was embarrassed that the head wound was making her wobbly.
“Sabine, I need to get her home to Marina.” Mihail called.
“Go, I will deal with this blood slut.” Sabine’s laugh was dark. Mihail vanished with his mother and Sabine raised her eyebrows, “your decision?” The whole cellar reverberated with her laughter as the ginger vampire chose that moment to simply poof out in a cloud of mist.
Sabine found Nea sitting at home with Marina tending her head wound.
“Did you kill her?” Nea winced as Marina used soap and water to clean out the wound, it was on the back of her head and pretty deep, a mortal might not have awoken from it.
“No, she chose to flee, it was a good choice.” Sabine sat down and threw an arm around her friend’s shoulder.
“The past 48 hours have been horrible.” Nea closed her eyes and took a deep breath as Marina threaded a needle and prepared to sew her up, “where is Stasi?”
“Still in Hungary, I told her to stay put.” Mihail said gently, he reached over and held his mother’s hand while Marina sewed through her skin, tears leaked out from under her eyes and it bothered Mihail. On many levels, even as old as he was the thought, moms don’t cry, was prevalent.
“How did she even know?” Nea asked, through gritted teeth.
“Mihail went to enlist Ruxandra’s help if we needed it.” Sabine patted her leg in commiseration. As Marina put the last stitch in place a howling wind rattled around the castle, fierce and cold as it wormed its way inside the shuttered windows and down several of the fire places, blowing out their flames. Candles and torches blew out, but thankfully there was futuristic electric light in the parlor which illuminated several confused faces and one terrified housekeeper.
“I don’t know if I’m up for this.” Marina groaned. She put away her gear, and scuttled into a corner, hiding behind a chair.
“Coward.” Sabine murmured.
“Smart,” Mihail countered, “She doesn’t have any defensive magic.” The wind kept up, and was replaced by an eerie silence, and then a large banging sounded on the front door. It echoed through the halls, a resounding BANG BANG BANG!
“Well, let’s go see who it is then.” Nea stood up, feeling a little better, but in some pain. As they walked into the dark foyer she could see panicked eyes watching from the dining room and kitchen as other members of her staff came to see what was going on.
“Hide.” She commanded and they all scattered.
“Like insects.” Sabine sniffed.
“Like prey.” Mihail’s words seemed to be more exact.
“Are you sure this is a good idea? You have had a rough few days.” Sabine cautioned.
“Lesson 12; this is my home, something is attacking it so it’s my duty to protect it and my staff.” Nea shrugged, this was her obligation, she had a mortal staff after all.
Nea went to the door and undid the locks, opening it and stepped out into the pitch black of night. The moon was hidden by clouds but she could still see well enough. A figure stood several feet from the door, down the stairs and in the front court yard. A tall imposing figure wrapped in shadows.
“Is that…” Mihail’s voice trailed away.
“Oh, nothing too exiting then, lovers’ squabble.” Sabine laughed, “Have fun.” She fluttered her fingers and went back inside. Mihail touched Nea’s shoulder and she shrugged him away.
“Stay here.” She walked down the path towards the figure, when she got closer she felt her heart speed up in her chest and her stomach tie itself up with butterflies she hadn’t felt in years. There was a tall man in a black cape watching her, his face pale, eyes burning black. His hair was tied back, as black as night, neatly trimmed beard matching. To say he was handsome was not enough; she had never thought it a correct description of the sharp edges of his face or the width of his shoulders.
“Vlad.” She sighed, stopping to stand befor
e him.
“No one really calls me that anymore, Cneajna. I am Dracula now, a more fitting name for what I have become.”
“No one calls me Cneajna either, simply Nea.”
“I don’t like it; your full name has always suited you.”
His arms dropped from being wrapped around himself, he took a step towards her and she couldn’t help but meet him. It was stupid, it wasn’t logical, but it happened. He took her in his arms and kissed her, rough against her tenderness, lips worshiping and punishing her at once. He tasted like the night and death and she tasted like magic and light.
Who knows how long it would have gone on, perhaps until they were fucking in the middle of the lawn, but then one of his fangs nipped her lips. Her powerful blood leaked into his mouth and he growled, pressing himself up against her until the kiss hurt. She stilled beneath him and began to push him away. He resisted at first, but his love for Cneajna was greater than his desire for her blood and he stopped and stepped back.
“Why didn’t you come to the Monastery when I asked?” His accent was thick, eyes raking over her.
“You must know what I am now my love, I could not.”
“Marisol told me what happened, I am sorry; my brides will never bother you again.”
“It is fine, I am alright.” She took a deep breath to steady herself, “how could you do this Vlad, sell your soul? Become a vampire?”
“I had to be able to protect my people; I failed as a human, now I protect them all,” he boasted.
“I have missed you.” Her smile was dim, she understood why; she didn’t have to like it.
“I want you, come home with me,” he demanded.
“I cannot, appease your lust with one of your brides.” It didn’t hurt, not really, it had been more than a century, and he’d had no one to be faithful to. She did still want him, but she wasn’t going to be used for sex.
“They are not you. I love you.” His answer was simple enough.
“Then why did you create them?”
“I am lonely. I thought when I discovered you to be immortal as well we could have what we did before, and then I saw him.” Anger filled his words.
“Him who?” She was totally lost.
“The man you live in sin with.” He waved a hand towards Mihail and a deep sadness filled her heart.
“It is sad you do not recognize your own son, my love.”
“That is not Mihnea.” He squinted into the darkness, but she knew he could see like it was daylight.
“It is Mihail.”
“He is not my son,” Dracula huffed. “I forgave that infidelity because you are precious to me. I will not forgive you fornicating with him. I cannot judge the sin but I can still hate him.” The statement couldn’t have been worse had he slapped her afterwards.
“Not your son? What are you talking about? Don’t be disgusting!” She motioned for Mihail to come over to them, sick to her stomach that he would accuse her of having relations with her son.
“I was told you had been unfaithful and he was not my son.” Vlad glared at Mihail, “Good friends and one of my brothers swore oaths they had seen you with another man, that Mihail could not be mine since no Dracul had ever been born with the caul or those strange eyes.”
“That’s insane. Vlad, use your eyes, see him!” She grabbed Mihail and dragged him towards his father. “He looks just like you. I was never unfaithful, not once! Maybe you should consider the source of those rumors since many of your friends turned on you and one of your brothers killed me.” She had never been so furious, or so disturbed.
“Radu paid for his crime against you.” Dracula chuckled, but it wasn’t really humor.
“I know, how I wish I could have killed him myself, but that isn’t the point. Look at your son! Your son!” She grabbed his arm and gripped it tightly.
Dracula studied at the young man, one he hadn’t seen in over 200 hundred years. A son that he had never even paid attention to as a child, now he looked with his vampire senses. He saw himself and Cneajna in the boy, the cheek bones. With his new eyes he could see what he denied himself before, the family resemblance. With a strangled cry Vlad Dracul stepped back, refusing to believe, to hope. He considered her words, carefully.
“What of the caul then? That his eyes are two colors? Can you explain that?” He asked, but deep inside he knew it was futile, he didn’t want to believe; he had spent years loving her and hating her for being unfaithful and raising a bastard under his roof.
“I have spoken with midwives; the caul is nothing more than superstition. It has a medical explanation. His eyes are nothing more than a joining of the two of us. You and I are there, in his eyes. You are a vampire, I am a Strega, and your son is a Strigoi! That part should not matter.” She was like an angry mama bear, Dracula had always found that trait endearing. He looked at the boy again, trying to prove she was lying and he could not. He dropped his head in shame; he had been blinded by a lying brother and a mortal’s stupidity, one he had let come with him into immortality it seemed.
“Do you see now?” Nea shook her head and gathered Mihail to her like she had when he was a boy and he felt like one. Everything clicked into place with this knowledge, all the memories of neglect could be seen in different light.
“My God, what have I done?” Dracula came closer, “he is mine, truly? I can see it, but I spent so long...in denial.”
“Yes, of course. How could you think I would ever lay with another man while I was alive? You stupid arse.” Nea felt tears in her eyes, letting go of her son, she dashed them away. Dracula then bowed low to Mihail.
“I am sorry my son, I wronged you as a mortal, let me make it up to you as a vampire. Come with me; let me share some of my riches and darkness.” It was the only thing he could think of to do.
“Why should I believe you? My mortal years were spent in fear of you,” Mihail said, angrily.
“I know and I would deserve it if you hated me for eternity,” Vlad took a step back.
“Mihail.” Nea’s said, touching his arm. He looked down at his mother and let out a deep breath.
“I accept your apology,” Mihail’s voice was soft. This was something he had wanted his entire life, his father’s love and approval, part of him wanted to hold on to the anger, but he could not. He glanced at his mother, who nodded her head, “I will come with you. But I am my mother’s Strigoi I cannot be gone for long.”
“You shall come as well Cneajna,” Vlad said.
“No Vlad, I will not. You have new wives now and we both have responsibilities. I cannot come.” A tingle went up her spine, a warning that Bendis was near.
“You have to go; if my Goddess finds you here she will kill you,” Nea reached up on tip toe and kissed his cheek, “Go my love.”
“I will not let this be the end,” he warned as he transformed into a large black bat and took off into the night, Mihail grinned in her direction and then he too was gone.
“Why am I not surprised?” Nea yawned, what she really needed now was a good night’s sleep, not a busybody goddess. At least something good had come out of the evening.
She ran back inside to see Sabine laughing with a normal, middle aged Bendis, she caught Nea’s eyes, seeming to ask, “is everything ok?” Nea nodded and came to greet the Goddess.
“I have an idea that may help.” Bendis looked over her Strega, “you are flushed, are you ok?”
“I am fine, another run in with a bride of Dracula,” Nea laughed, “now what is this idea?”
“We might need to kill that vampire, but that is a discussion for another day. I think we should cast a spell on the rest of the Bathory line to prevent daughters from being born. A counter curse, if you will.” Bendis had excitement written all over her face.
“That’s brilliant! That gives you more time to work on the curse and not worry about generations of Bathory kids adding to an already crowded house in limbo!” Sabine was beaming. Nea thought about it, no more female Bathory’s meant
after Elizabeth’s kids she wouldn’t have to worry about saving anyone but those already passed on, the number would never increase.
“Isn’t using one curse against another like using linen strips over a bad wound? It will help for a while but isn’t a solution.” She wanted to be cautious.
“Yes, but like that linen it gives time to get the proper help. Really Nea, what is there to lose?” Bendis said.
“So Elizabeth’s kids will be the last girls?” Sabine asked.
“No, Zsofia has a daughter, she will be the last. We are lucky the curse only affects the Esced branch of the Bathory family and has not touched the Symlyo line.” Bendis seemed pleased with herself.
“Yes I know, I have watched the other branch, there are several women on that side that are normal and kind. It must mean that the spell is an act of vengeance or revenge against Mariska herself and has trickled on down the line.” Nea said, Mariska was the daughter of Briccius Bathory, the founder of the Esced line. She watched Bendis closely, noting how closed off she became at Mariska’s name. Another piece to the puzzle.
“What about Stasi?” Sabine broke into their conversation, worried about her goddaughter and trying to change the subject.
“The spell will also effect Stasi.” Bendis said, “ She will not produce a girl child in this lifetime.”
“I think it’s worth a try.” Nea could handle one more Bathory girl on top of Elizabeth’s brood, she had no choice.
“I will put a clause in the spell that should the original curse break, this one will too.” Bendis seemed satisfied with the decision.
“Alright, let’s do it.” Nea didn’t even hesitate.
Chapter 10
1611
“Can’t you help me?” Elizabeth was on her knees begging her godmother to save her. They were in a room high in a tower where Elizabeth had been locked away during her trial. The stupid girl had moved on from killing peasants to a nobleman’s daughter and now she had a good chance of being put to death.
Elizabeth had written Nea the moment she realized she was going to be captured and Nea could not resist going to her. She had helped raise her and still felt obligation and the guilt that she had not done enough to sway her path.