The Dracula Chronicles: Bound By Blood - Volume 2

by Shane KP O'Neill

  “You want Anne Boleyn?”

  “Yes.”

  “She can be your queen and provide you with an heir.”

  “But Anne does not want me.”

  “If you secure your annulment I will give her to you.”

  Ilona was also in the palace at this time. While her husband was with Henry she went to see Catherine. She found her lying in her bed. But, unlike her husband, she was wide awake. Ilona listened for a time, as the queen wept quietly. It was something she did every night.

  “Why do you weep?” she asked, scaring the queen half out of her wits.

  Catherine sat up in her bed. Her eyes looked red and bloodshot. “Who are you?” she demanded to know.

  Ilona sat down beside her on the bed. “Do not be afraid,” she smiled. “I am here as a friend. You really look as though you need one.”

  Her charm did not win the queen over. She did not know this woman and remained guarded. Ilona could see the hurt in her eyes and the pain in her heart. It was obvious that she trusted no one.

  “Did the King send you?” she asked. “Or perhaps one of his henchmen? Whoever it was, I shall not change my mind.”

  “No. I am not here on account of any of them,” Ilona said, her voice soft. “I could feel your pain and felt you needed someone to turn to.”

  “You can feel my pain?” She grew even more hostile. “What do you know of my pain? I want you to leave at once before I call for the guards.”

  “Very well,” Ilona shrugged, getting up to leave. “Do you have a message for your nephew before I go?”

  “My nephew? What are you talking about?”

  “The Emperor,” Ilona said. “I have spent the last seven years at his court. He is concerned for you. In truth it is he that requested I see you.”

  This news excited her. Yet she was wily and still unsure of Ilona. Her position was such that she could trust very few people. “Como sabe usted a mi sobrino?” she asked in Spanish, testing her visitor.

  “I told you how I know your nephew,” she replied, although in English. “I have spent seven years in Castile. My husband is a trusted confidante of his.”

  “And he sent you to me?”

  “Si el hizo. El esta preocupado por usted.”

  “It is nice that someone worries about me,” Catherine sighed, taking solace from Ilona’s words. “These are not good times. Not for a queen who is no longer of use to her king.”

  “You are loved far and wide. Try and remain strong. The people of this country love you. They will never accept anyone else in your place. You ought to know that much at least.”

  “Yes. I know I am popular with the people. But they cannot help me.”

  “No, perhaps not. But, by the same token, the King does not want the people to go against him. He needs their love. But it is something he could lose very easily.”

  “The people are not that fickle. Of course they love him. He is their King.”

  “Trust in me and keep your resolve. Resist all the King’s attempts to annul your marriage. You do have power you know.”

  She wiped away a tear from her eye. “I wish that were so.”

  “You also have the support of the Emperor and the Pope. The Pope will do what the Emperor tells him to.”

  “How is this so?”

  “The Imperial armies have sacked Rome. The Pope is a virtual prisoner in the Castle of Sant’ Angelo.”

  “Oh, dear God,” she exclaimed, putting a hand to her mouth.

  “Do not worry. The Emperor will not allow any harm to come to him.”

  “Very well,” she said. “I will remain strong.”

  “Good. That is what the Emperor is hoping for. He will give you his complete support if you continue to resist the King.”

  An odd scent had reached Ilona when she entered the room. It was faint, but she caught wind of it all the same. While she talked to the queen it had continued to trouble her. As the conversation neared its end Ilona saw the two faint scars on her neck. “How is your health lately?” she asked.

  “It is good. Better than at other times in the past.”

  “I have heard it spoken of. Your long periods of illness that is.”

  “Yes. I have had times of long illness. I caught the same sickness that killed my first husband. I fear it has stayed with me all these years.”

  “What are those marks on your neck?”

  Catherine put a hand on her neck to cover them. “I do not know,” she lied, though not convincingly. She had never been comfortable doing such things. “I bled once when I was sick. It was said that I hurt myself while I had a heavy fever.”

  “It made me wonder,” Ilona said. “The marks are unusual. The Emperor has entrusted me with your well being. I hope you understand my concern.”

  Catherine smiled. “Yes. I understand. It was a very long time ago. I have not bled since then.”

  “Good,” Ilona said, touching her hand. “I must take leave of you, your Highness. Remember what I said. And know your nephew sends you his love. I will return again as soon as I can.”

  Ilona left her and returned to the roof of the palace. Her husband seemed to be taking a very long time, but his business with the king was important. She waited for him, careful not to give out any signals of her growing concern.

  When he was at her side again she could hold it back no longer. “Something is very wrong here!” she said out loud.

  “Hush,” he said, putting a finger over her lips. “What is worrying you?”

  “There is another amongst us.”

  “What do you mean? Who?”

  She mirrored his concerns. While she tried to find the right words he quietly picked her mind. He soon had a good idea of what she had meant.

  “There is another like us here in London,” Ilona said finally.

  “Another vampire?”

  “Yes.”

  “What makes you say this?”

  “The Queen has been bitten in the past. It would explain these mystery illnesses we have heard spoken of.”

  “But that is not possible. If someone had bitten her she would be dead.”

  “Listen to me, husband. She has been bitten.”

  “And yet she lives?”

  “Yes. She looks well enough. Physically well anyway.”

  Dracula looked worried. Ilona had never seen him so concerned before.

  “A vampire here?” he said again. “Radu!”

  “It has to be him.”

  “But why would he be here? Surely if he were I would sense it. But I smell no trace of him. Besides, the Queen has been so afflicted for more than twenty years.”

  “Then whoever it is has visited her that long ago. Could Lucifer have created another like you?”

  That thought alarmed Dracula even more. The more he considered it the less he could rule it out. Despite adopting him as a son, Lucifer was the arch deceiver. No kind of treachery was beyond him. If he had created another, then it greatly undermined Dracula’s position within his Great Plan.

  England. Greenwich Palace in London.

  October 1527.

  Henry wasted no time in putting Dracula’s ideas to work. A month later he told Catherine they were to separate. She did not warm to the idea.

  “It is the only way,” he told her.

  “I should have seen this coming,” she said bitterly. “For so long you have had such little regard for me.”

  “That is not true. You know I have always loved you.”

  She gave a mock laugh. “Love me? You love only yourself, Henry.”

  “I have to put my country ahead of myself, and you.”

  “So that is your excuse?”

  “It is my duty as the King. England has to have an heir.”

  “England has an heir! Her name is Mary!”

  “Mary cannot rule. You know that as well as I.”

  “She is more than able. You know that too.”

  He shook his head. “It will not happen. It cannot.”

/>   “Why? Because she is a woman? You do not look down on them so much when you have one bent over before you.”

  Her words stung him and he had to fight to contain his anger. “The last time a woman ruled there was civil war.”

  “That was four hundred years ago!”

  “And we had another that ended only forty years ago. My father fought it.”

  “Yes, your father. Another with no great regard for women. It is no wonder you are as you are.”

  “He acted only in the interests of England.”

  “Few have acted in the interests of England as I have,” she growled. “I have endured much for the glory of England.”

  “And you are much loved for it.”

  “Not so much that I can be tossed aside on a whim.”

  “That is not true.”

  “But it is! It is all so you can hump a maid!”

  Henry punched the air with his fist. “England will have an heir! Whether you like it or not it will happen!”

  “Then declare Mary as your successor.”

  “Damn it! No!”

  “She is your daughter. Why not treat her as such! Your own flesh and blood.”

  “She cannot rule.”

  “All her life you have looked down on her. It is a shame for her that she is your daughter. If she was a maid you would favour her!”

  “I am done with your insults!”

  “What will you do, husband? Put me in the Tower?”

  “I will name my son as my heir and successor.”

  “What? That little bastard! He is a bastard. He cannot rule either.”

  “If I cannot have a son through marriage I will install him.”

  Catherine glared at him. The very thought filled her with horror. “Yes. I know you would. You are so rotten you would do anything to get what you want.”

  “Then give me a divorce.”

  “No!” she screamed. “While I can draw breath I will never give you a divorce!”

  “I will divorce you,” he promised her. “One way or another Anne Boleyn will be my queen.”

  “Over my dead body!”

  “If that is what it takes I will do that too.”

  She put a hand to her mouth to try and fight back the tears. “I never thought I would see this day.”

  “Well you have. From today we are officially separated.”

  From that day on he had little or nothing to do with her. She remained at court, but began to wish she were not there. Few people sought her attention. It felt as though everyone had cut her off.

  Henry approached Wolsey. “I want a divorce from my wife.”

  He did not look that surprised. “Very well, my Lord.”

  “So make it happen.”

  “On what grounds would you like me to petition the Pope?”

  Henry had always looked on Wolsey as a father figure and in many ways that is exactly what he was. Yet he did not want to reveal his true reasons. Wolsey was still a cardinal and a prince of the Church. That left him bound by his allegiance to Rome. Even though he loved Henry, he still had a duty to serve the Pope. Should Henry tell him he wanted a divorce so that he could bed Anne Boleyn then he might not get his support.

  “Say that my marriage was not legal.”

  “But Julius granted you a dispensation.”

  “Oh, Thomas. Use your head, man. I need an heir. I have to divorce her.”

  Wolsey nodded quietly. “Yes, my Lord. I know.”

  “You know as well as anyone that Mary cannot rule. I must have a male heir.”

  “I will do what I can, my Lord.”

  To this end Wolsey sent the King’s Secretary, William Knight, to Rome to meet with the Pope. He was to sue for the nullification of Henry’s marriage. Knight was to stress that the original dispensation granted by Julius II was illegal. Catherine was the widow of the king’s brother. For that reason alone the Pope had to declare the union null and void.

  At the same time Dracula sent Varkal to Castile. Varkal had not that long ago returned from Tuscany. He was to inform the emperor of Henry’s intentions with regard to his aunt. Charles was excited to see him.

  “Come, come, Varkal,” he smiled. “How is your father?”

  “He is well, Sire. He sends you his best wishes.”

  “Thank you. Yet I doubt that is your reason for being here.”

  “No, Sire. It is not.”

  “Then tell me.”

  “I do not bring good news.”

  “It is my aunt?”

  “Yes. Henry has separated from her. He is seeking a divorce. His secretary has left for Rome to see the Pope.”

  Charles looked upset at the news. “Then I will send word to the Pope also.”

  “Yes. That would be a good course of action.”

  “I will send a letter today.”

  “Yes, Sire. If you do, it should arrive before the King’s Secretary. My father asks you to be firm with Clement.”

  “Oh, I shall be. If he wants to remain as Pope he will deny any application from Henry. I will make that point very clear to him.”

  Knight found the Pope under virtual house arrest in Sant’ Angelo. He did not gain an audience for several months. Clement received the letter from Charles long before Knight had arrived.

  He managed to escape and fled to Orvieto. It was there that Knight finally got to speak to him. Clement was playing for time. He let the King’s Secretary believe the Holy See was anxious to gratify Henry. But since Pavia he was in no position to go against Charles. Knight pressed him on the issue of a commission for Wolsey to try the divorce case. Instead, the Pope sent a papal legate, Pucci, to London to oversee matters.

  Dracula decided to increase the pressure on Henry. On Knight’s return from Rome he sent Ruxandra to meet with Anne Boleyn. For some time Anne had purposely absented herself from court. She preferred to remain in isolation. Dracula knew that Henry wrote to her almost every day. It pleased him that, in spite of Henry’s bold declarations of love, her replies were few and vague.

  It was time to stir the pot. If Anne were to warm to Henry and offer her affections then he would become even more eager to have his divorce.

  England. Anne Boleyn’s residence outside London.

  June 1528.

  Ruxandra arrived at the house where she saw just the one guard outside. From within she picked up only the thoughts of a young woman. It let her know there was nobody else in there.

  When the guard sloped off to relieve himself she stole inside. She closed the door quietly and walked into the house. Anne had just stepped out of a bathtub. The two of them froze. It was an awkward moment. Ruxandra found herself staring at the naked girl.

  Anne stood there without a care in the world. Suds dropped from her breasts and onto her stomach. She did not speak, but looked the stranger in the eye. The look on her face betrayed her thoughts. Her expression said, “What are you looking at?”

  Ruxandra fell victim to a fit of laughter. It prompted Anne to do the same. She answered the younger woman’s thought. “I was looking at you.”

  Anne looked puzzled. “Did I say that out loud?”

  “I can see why the King is so taken by you. Who would not be? You are a dish.”

  “Why, thank you,” Anne smiled. “I am glad I meet with your approval.”

  “I am only telling you what I see.”

  “Are you looking to have your way with me as well?” she teased. “Do you want to do all manner of wicked things to me, just like the King?”

  Anne waited, curious as to the response her question would yield. Ruxandra just blushed. She dismissed it with a smile.

  “That is a yes then, is it?” asked Anne, not letting go.

  “It was not,” Ruxandra assured her. “I was a little surprised. That is all.”

  “Surprised? Why?”

  “No woman has ever tried to flirt with me before.”

  “Really? I find that hard to believe.”

  Ruxandra laughed again, though this
was more of a nervous one. “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, you really are quite the beauty. I am not sure if I have ever seen a woman as beautiful before. Not in this country at least.”

  She blushed even harder. “Oh stop. That is silly talk.”

  Anne shrugged her shoulders. “Fine. But if you think I look good, you should take a look at yourself.”

  She toyed with one of her nipples, as she spoke. Ruxandra watched her for a moment and then turned her head away again. Anne showed no desire to conceal her nakedness or to dry herself off with a towel. “Why did you turn your head?”

  Ruxandra found it hard to breathe for a moment. “So I cannot see what it is you are doing.”

  “Does it excite you?” Anne probed. “Knowing that another woman finds you desirable? An attractive one such as myself no less.”

  The truth was that it did excite her. It embarrassed her that the advances of another woman could make her feel like this. She sighed and turned to face Anne again. This was not why she was here.

  It annoyed Anne that the woman did not respond to her question. She began to wonder why she was there at all. Who is she? She stepped back into the tub. How did she even get in here? Where is the guard? The bubbles reached up to her neck as she lay back. “So why are you here?”

  Anne sat and waited for her to answer. She began to wonder if her visitor was prepared to satisfy any of her curiosities.

  Ruxandra walked up to the tub. She leant against it with both hands. “I have come here to talk to you about your future.”

  “Why do you have an interest in my future?”

  “There are many that do.”

  “And that includes you too?”

  “Yes it does.”

  Anne grinned at her. “Then you had better climb in,” she said. She indicated with a nod of her head to the spot in front of her.

  “You want me to climb in there with you?”

  She nodded with a smile. “That is if you want me to talk to you.”

  Her visitor looked down at her. Anne sat there with her knees together and a smile still etched across her face. Ruxandra paused and wondered what to do. She looked down at Anne a second time, fighting the temptation to get involved with her. But at the same time she felt aroused. The first traces of moisture leaked from between her legs.