by Renee Lake
“He screamed something about how your obsession with the curse and the Bathory women was keeping you apart. I tried to explain that if he waited for you to get home you could explain it.” Sabine helped Nea right one of the tables. Nea’s eyes were wide and dry, she wanted to cry but from the way her friend was acting she knew it was about to get worse.
“He kept boasting about how you and he were intimate, I didn’t believe-“Sabine stopped seeing the truth in her friend’s eyes.
“Oh Nea, now is when you decide to screw the help? You couldn’t pick a normal guy, had to be the one and only crazy one,” Sabine laughed, sardonically.
“I know, I regret it now, please continue. What happened?” Nea felt a tightness in her throat, she could barely swallow let alone speak and she felt sick to her stomach.
“He calmed down for a little while and I brought Renata in to speak with him, they spoke for a few minutes and then he muttered about fixing things and left.” Sabine concluded.
“What did she say?” Nea asked.
“Renata says he is a stalker, a term from the future. Costica thinks he is in an intimate relationship with you and will do anything to try and see it fulfilled. It’s all in his head. He feels you are his mate and are rejecting him. Anyone you care about is a threat to the relationship.” Sabine explained. It didn’t all make sense to Nea, it was a lot of 21st century gibberish, but she got the general idea. She had seen plenty of men obsessed with women in her day, and plenty of women fixated with a certain man, for that matter.
“You really should read those books Bendis brings from the future.” Sabine scolded.
“So, where did he go and what does Renata think we should do?” Nea sat down on a torn up cushion.
“Oh honey, he went to Hungary.”
“Then we have to stop him” Frantic, Nea stood up.
“No, we have to hunt him. Renata said he will only get worse and she has never seen a case like this advance so quickly, he shouldn’t be at the violent stage yet.”
“What don’t you want to tell me?” Nea braced herself.
“I think he was using magic to block you, which is almost impossible, especially since he is only newly turned. I think he called you to him on purpose, you never would have changed someone on so little information” Sabine said. Nea sat back, it had been something nagging at her ever since she had left Costica. It had felt so right and perfect at the time, like a great idea, but the farther from him she had gone the more apprehensive she had become about why she had turned him, especially why she’d had sex with him, she was pickier than that.
“My family, I have to go.” She tried to get up and leave again, anxious, if he went to Hungary it could only be bad, but Sabine restrained her.
“There’s nothing you can do. He slaughtered Zsofia and her family before Mihail, Stasi and Ruxandra got there. Only Borbala survived the first onslaught. He won’t be able to get to the rest. Stasi and Mihail are bringing Borbala here. Ruxandra went to find Antal and Imre to make sure the others stay safe.” Sabine finished. Nea’s heart clenched, at least Klara had been spared.
“So we hunt.” Nea couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. He had seemed so perfect when she had met him in the woods, her magic was never wrong! She thought about the lives lost and grief welled up inside her.
“Yes, we kill him and try to figure out why this happened so the mistake isn’t repeated.”
Bendis walked through the library door; shoulders hunched a little, hair whiter, appearing as the crone. “Yes, you will hunt, Sabine go ready yourself. I must speak to Nea.”
“What happened Bendis?” Nea was bewildered.
“He had the blood of the Zmeu in him.” Bendis said it like it should explain everything. Nea knew a Zmeu was a fire breathing human like creature from fairy that had an over fondness for young girls. They could shift into dragon form and were considered greedy and selfish. How could Costica have Zmeu blood in him, she had never found evidence that they were real.
“Oh dear, I will go get my big sword. Remember Lesson 28, we don’t turn magical or mythical beings into Strigoi.” Sabine hustled out of the room, cursing her skirt as she went.
“I have heard tales of the Zmeu all my life, they are not true,” Nea said in disbelief.
“They are, like most myths, based partially in fact and fiction.” Bendis began helping Nea clean up. Nea felt like she should be doing something more, rushing off to fight. It seemed that her family had it covered and she was reminded how nice it was to not always have to be in charge of everything, to allow others to shoulder part of her burden.
“In fairy there is a large family of Zmeu, though much of the blood has been diluted by the human girls they kidnap and force to marry into their family. They are quite greedy and horde riches and also very selfish and violent. I think his magic had a bad reaction to becoming a Strigoi, it has made him powerful and psychotic. He is a threat to be wary of. The first you have encountered.” Bendis blew breath on several of the ripped apart books and Nea was happy to see them weave themselves back together.
“He said his brothers wanted to kill him.”
“They probably do. Fairy kind keep to themselves, but from what information I have gathered the youngest son of this Zmeu line got caught trying to steal one of his brother’s wives. It didn’t end well. This must be your Costica.” Bendis fixed another book as she spoke.
“I don’t have time to clean this up. I have to dress for the hunt.” Nea patted some dust off her dress.
“I will repair this for you.” Bendis snapped her finger, fixing a shelf.
“Thank you, was there anything else?” Nea asked.
“Renata will not be leaving you, you may need her. She is going home for a visit while you travel and will meet you in France.” Bendis told her.
“Fine, I have to go.” She had to get her whip. Sabine had taught her at the beginning that a Strega had magic, but they also had to know how to fight, Lesson 8. Sabine favored the broadsword, but Nea had always been good with the whip. A flogger or cat o nine tails worked in a pinch as well.
She and Sabine dressed, hair pinned tightly back, wearing men’s hunting clothes and thick boots. Nea grimaced looking down at Sabine’s as they ran down the stairs and out the front door, anxious to begin.
“You didn’t wash the blood off those from the last time you killed something.”
“I never do, it’s like a prize, and besides it was one of my own Strigoi.” Sabine shrugged, excitement flushing her features. Sabine enjoyed a good kill, more than Nea ever did. She loved being sent by Bendis to correct the balance between good and evil, even when it was her own Strigoi.
They ran into Stasi and Mihail outside. Borbala was asleep in Mihail’s arms. Nea stopped and saw the girl, she leaned over and kissed her brow.
“What should we do with her Mama?” Stasi asked.
“There is a convent about fifty miles north, take her there. She can at least be educated and fed well while deciding what to do with her life. I shall send a missive to her aunt in the morning explaining what has happened and where they can find her. Though I doubt they will want her. She will be safer with the church.” With all their good and bad points, like vampires, Strigoi could not enter the churches of the Christian God.
“Before you go I wanted to mention something.” Mihail took a deep breath, “I am going to stay here with father for a few years.”
“What!” Stasi’s voice screeched and Nea had to hush her as Borbala stirred.
“I thought as much, with my blessing, my dearest boy,” Nea kissed his cheek.
“Mama, how can you let him stay here?” Stasi seemed much more upset than she should have been.
“It’s his life; he will come back to us,” Nea said, patiently. Stasi grumbled under her breath something that sounded like, “his life my arse.” With Mihail frowning at her she followed him inside.
“Are you ready?” Sabine asked, shifting from foot to foot in anticipation.
The hunt failed; no matter how hard they searched they could not find him. It was a first for Sabine: she had never had a failed hunt; no matter what she was after, prey, sex, death….she always got what she wanted. It was as if he was using his magic to hide from them, or had simply disappeared from all the surrounding areas. They searched Hungary, Moldavia and Wallachia; even with magic it took the rest of the night and the whole next day. A few times Nea thought she felt him, or saw something stalking them in her mind’s eye, but it was always gone, fleeting, when she focused.
When they got back to the castle Sabine was in a horrible mood. It was almost night again, and she wanted a hot bath, food and a bed.
“I want a nice fuck as well, but beggars can’t be choosers and I left my current partner in Italy,” she sniffed, stomping off once they got inside.
Nea didn’t have such luxury. When she arrived home she found all her Strigoi, but Costica, waiting for her in the formal dining room. She had called them and they had come. Including Mihail, Ruxandra and Stasi there were only eleven, a sad state of things and a true testimony to how easily Strigoi went bad and needed to be hunted.
Antal and Imre approached her first, each kissing her hand and bowing low. She smiled at the rest of the group, happy to see them. There was Kato, a Hungarian noble woman who would have died in childbirth had Nea not intervened. Then came Alin and his sister Afina, Romanian peasants whose parents died leaving them nothing. Nea had offered them this life as solution when finding out Afina was seriously considering prostitution to pay for her brother’s medical needs.
Next was Zamfira the abandoned daughter of a Wallachian Voivode. She was left in the woods to perish after being raped at 18 and considered unclean by her father and betrothed.
Lastly were Erdely and Ion. They were from Moldavia. Ion was her oldest Strigoi and he had come to her, sought her out, refusing to die before he had learned all that could be. Any of her Strigoi that wished to be taught had only to ask Ion. Erdely was his son. Nea had frowned on changing the boy, well man really, he was 19, and taking his life until Ion explained that with the limp and weird facial tics he would never find a wife let alone a way to support them. Being Strigoi had cured him of both. He and Zamfira were normally romantically entwined. Nea thought it was adorable.
“I am very happy to see you all,” she started, “I am moving. As you know I do not tell you what to do or where to go.” There was some mumbling.
“You are welcome to join me, I shall be in France and then onto England. Or you can stay here. Remember you must come to me once a year to drain off the power you collect and I will be able to tell if any of you cause problems.” She eyed Imre, he still served faithfully, but every year he got darker. Then she told them about Costica.
“So if we find him, we are free to kill him?” Imre asked, a bit of glee in his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Then I will simply hunt him wherever he goes and kill him for you.”
“A fairy dragon, huh? Seems dangerous; I think I’ll steer clear if you don’t mind.” Kato crossed her arms over her chest.
“Alin and I have wanted to travel for a long time, perhaps we shall meet up with you in France or England, we tire of this country.” Afina spoke slowly, as though she had to consider her words. She often spoke on both their behalves.
“I would welcome your company,” Nea smiled.
“I will stay here of course and keep an eye on things, as I have always done.” Antal said. Nea wasn’t surprised, he had long been in a committed relationship with one of Sabine’s Strigoi and had a settled hunting ground. He was the most contented of her Strigoi.
“We shall all stay as well, though it will be nice to take a vacation of sorts to visit you,” Ion smiled, “you shall send me new books and educational tools on your travels, yes?”
“Of course. I think that in France and England I can find you all sorts of interesting things. I am looking forward to the shopping,” Nea laughed.
“Send dresses, new fashions!” Zamfira exclaimed, holding on tightly to Erdely’s hand. Nea looked at Kato who nodded her head enthusiastically.
“This I can do as well.” Nea agreed, her Strigoi all left soon after that, they weren’t servants or children they all had their own lives, duties and hobbies to see to.
With her Strigoi tended to, Borbala on her way to a convent, and the rest of the Bathory’s under protection, Nea felt as if she had covered all her bases. She was disappointed the hunt failed and knew that sooner or later Costica would resurface and cause her problems.
As she made her way to her bed chamber she felt her wards and saw that Sabine had already strengthened the ones around the castle, but had left the property ones at normal power. Learning to ward had been Lesson 10, warding provided safety, protection and advanced warning. Nea fed power to the wards around her property line making sure she would be alerted the moment anything crossed them. As she wove the magic she felt two spots that told her something was lurking outside her magic’s boundaries, one was Imre and she wasn’t surprised. If he thought Costica would come here then here he would stay.
She made her way to the top floor that led out to the battlements on the roof of her castle so she could see well. The other spot was blank, which meant someone was shielding extremely hard or was some undead creature, vampire, ghoul, zombie etc.. It was cold on the roof, the wind whipping around her. The sky was black with the faint twinkling of stars and the moon shone so brightly she could see even farther than normal.
She put her hands on the cold almost burning stone railing and gazed out. She saw a figure in the distance, wrapped in shadows. She sighed in understanding.
So you are leaving. A voice whispered through her mind, it was an unfamiliar form of communication.
I am. I need some time, some…space. She had to concentrate to project her thoughts
You have been with another man, I am….unhappy.
You have been with other women, don’t be jealous, it happens.
I do not like it, you will cease this behavior. He sounded so angry it made Nea’s head ache to have him yelling into her mind.
I am a grown woman who has not been living as your wife for centuries, do not think you can tell me what to do.
You are mine, always have been, always will be.
I know. And she was, but it didn’t and couldn’t matter. She rubbed her temples.
Another man wants you, I shall kill him.
If you can. She felt rather than heard his snort of laughter.
Come to me and you won’t need to be afraid.
I can’t.
I will protect you, love you, you wouldn’t have to leave your home. You shall wither away from our lands.
Maybe, but travel is something I have always wanted to do. She struggled to form the words in her mind, short sentences were easier.
I will protect our son. One day you will be mine again. His tone was abrasive; she had known he wouldn’t be happy with her leaving, but she hadn’t counted on him already being aware of her moment with Costica
I know all when it concerns you, I will forgive this once.
It doesn’t matter whether you forgive me, there is nothing to forgive. I did not betray you.
YOU ARE MINE.
I am always yours. She sighed into the night, of course she was. As twisted and sick as their love could be, it was theirs.
I will come find you.
I know. She turned and left; her head hurting. Vampires were one of the only creatures that used telepathy like that and it would give her a headache that lasted for days if she continued. She went back inside, relieved it hadn’t been Costica she felt. It was odd to have found Vlad and for them to be so similar now, but to not be able to stay with him.
“Mother?”
Nea had reached her door and turned hearing her daughter, “you need something my Stasi?”
; “I am bored; this being up all night thing is still pretty new,” Stasi laughed, leaning against the door.
“Then try something new.” Nea suggested, “where is Mihail?”
“I’m not talking to him right now,” Stasi said, depressed.
“He will not be long away from us. Don’t fret so. We are going to have a grand adventure.”
“I know, but I’m not happy about it.”
“Why don’t you go down and pack up the library?” Nea grinned at the look of distaste on her daughter’s face.
“I’m not eleven; you can’t get me out of your hair with chores.” Stasi rolled her eyes.
“No, but I can distract you with them. I am sure cook is still awake, maybe she’ll make you some cocoa.”
“Again, I’m not five.”
“You’ll always be a little girl to me.” Nea kissed her brow and then went into her own room. She needed to rest, there was still much to do before their long trip and she just hoped it went smoothly.
Chapter 13
1893, Limbo
“I hate seeing them like this.” Nea said to Bendis as they strolled through the top floor of the house in Limbo. No longer was it a barren room with only Josza rocking away near a window. Now it held six bedrooms, one for each of the remaining Bathory girls, except Elizabeth and Stasi. Elizabeth was locked up in the basement; she could not be trusted around the other women, two of whom had died virgins.
“I don’t care for it either my Strega, why did you want to come after 282 hundred years?”
“I have seen my mother once every fifty years, but it has taken over two hundred years to look at my charges and see what kind of hell they still live in because of my failure.” Nea’s voice was devoid of emotion. She had spent the first 100 years in France with Stasi, enjoying the culture and rich food. She had created and killed Strigoi, had met and befriended Jeanne Pompadour and she and Sabine had helped balance the Thirty Year War.
In all that time she immersed herself in literature, folk lore, and mythology trying to find some information that would help her break the Bathory curse. Mihail had come home to her in 1705 and left again in 1850, trying to divide his time between his parents and be kept safe from Costica. Sabine and Nea went every year to try and hunt down Costica who had a habit of killing any male Strigoi she made if they were turned under the age of 40. He sent her dead flowers, disturbing poems and maimed animals as presents and was forever just out of reach.