"Please sit. Lord Viktor expects all of his guests to be strong and properly nourished prior to their visit. I have some meat soup on the stove. Would you care for some?" he asked.
Her stomach growled again. The older man smiled.
"I assume that means yes. I will return shortly."
The man, who she assumed was his servant, disappeared into an adjacent room. Her stomach continued to growl. She inhaled deeply hoping to smell the wonderful aroma from the kitchen, but the air was unusually still. She pouted. She turned her head and the man had returned with a large service tray. She let out a short squeak. Again, the man smiled.
"You startled me," she said as she placed her hand over her chest.
The man glanced at her ample bosom. Her chest heaved up and down. He smiled again. "I am sorry, my dear. I am just light on my feet."
"It is okay," she replied.
He placed the large gold platter in front of her. Everything was gold except for the brown, meat soup that filled the bowl. He poured her a full chalice of wine. She smiled. She truly felt like royalty. She picked up her drink and he toasted her with his own golden chalice. She was puzzled because she hadn't noticed the second chalice until now.
"To Lord Viktor," he said.
She giggled. "To Lord Viktor," she replied.
Their golden chalices touched. She placed the beautiful wine chalice to her lips and she sipped. The taste danced across her tongue. Her family would make their own wine from the fruits and berries that covered Lord Viktor's land. It was sometimes sour or sometimes too sweet. This wine was the best drink that she had ever had in her life. It called to her. She drank greedily and inhaled deeply.
"It…It is so wonderful," she said.
The servant filled her chalice again. "It is the finest wine in all the land. Lord Viktor had it specially prepared. He has his own secret… family recipe that can render one…without a breath."
She drank deeply. "It is beyond description. Lord Viktor is truly blessed."
The servant smiled. "That is a matter of opinion," he said.
She was dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"
The servant laughed. "I mean that I know Lord Viktor very well. He is…lonely and this place could use a woman's touch."
She blushed. "I…I…"
The servant shook his head. "Oh how forgetful of me. Please eat up. Lord Viktor shouldn't be kept waiting."
She nodded. She scooped the brown meat and vegetable soup onto the spoon. She placed it to her lips. It was the perfect temperature. She sipped the liquid. The spices danced across her tongue. As if the meal called her, she ate feverishly. Each bite tasted better than the last. She devoured the rest of the bowl. She had never had anything so wonderful in her life. Oddly, her stomach still growled.
"My dear, it appears that you were famished," he said.
She giggled. "I was but your food is so wonderful. I have never had anything so delicious in all of my life. How can I repay you?"
He extended his hand. "It is time to meet Lord Viktor."
She blanched as she checked her garments. Her clothes had become soiled during her trip. She looked at her clothes and then to the servant. He smiled again. This time she was comforted by his smile.
"My dear, while your clothes are indeed beautiful, Lord Viktor always has garments for his visiting dignitaries. I have the perfect dress waiting for you. Please follow me," he said soothingly.
Mikhaeli took his hand again. She didn't know why she wanted to follow the servant who had never formally introduced himself. He led her to another beautiful room. It was completely adorned with garments of every size and color. Footwear, hats, and gloves covered an entire wall. The other side of the room was rows and rows of dresses. She gasped.
"Yes, this room is for his beautiful female visitors," he said.
"It…It…It is so beautiful," she said in awe. "I don't know what to pick."
The servant snapped his fingers and three women appeared. They were all beautifully dressed. Their hair was curled and hung to their shoulders. Their long blonde hair glistened in the candlelight. Their eyes sparkled. They looked perfect. They all smiled at their guest. One of them licked her lips seductively before she spoke.
"Oh Lord Viktor will be captivated by your beauty," she said.
Mikhaeli blushed. They were talking about her beauty and they were three of the most beautiful people that she had ever seen. She almost couldn't take her eyes off of them. They swayed towards her. They smiled before ripping her clothes from her body. She screamed.
"Shhhhh," the tallest woman cooed, "We won't hurt you. We need to see all of you so that you will be properly attired."
A tear formed as she tried to cover her semi-naked body. "That… That was my best dress," she protested.
The second woman put her long red fingernail over Mikhaeli's mouth. "Shhhh, you are much too beautiful to be wearing anything but the finest clothes. Now let us see."
Slowly and reluctantly, Mikhaeli moved her hands away from her body. Before she could blink, the three women removed what remained of her undergarments. The one that had licked her lips now encircled her. Her long fingernail traced every inch of Mikhaeli. She pressed her fingernail into her naked body. The frightened young woman quivered but she held her head high even as woman traced her fingernail across her exposed breasts. Her eyes welled but she forced the tears away. She couldn't look weak front of these women if she was going to look strong in front of Lord Viktor.
The woman pulled her hand away. "BLUE!" she screamed.
The three women vanished in the blink of an eye. They returned with wash basins and cloths. The water was scented and the aroma was intoxicating. She tried to cover her body but they would not be prevented from completing their task. They washed her hair and every inch of her body. Several times the woman that seemed to be taken with Mikhaeli would forget to use her wash cloth. Her hands would repeatedly explore her body. They dried and styled her hair. They sprayed her body with expensive perfumes. She wanted to protest how they were treating her, but they had vanished again.
Seconds later, they had returned. Each woman carried various garments in her arms. Before Mikhaeli could speak, they had placed her in a white corset. She tried to protest, but they tied the garment so tightly that she could barely breathe. When she opened her mouth to speak, they painted her lips a dark red. Again, she tried to get their attention, but they were preoccupied. They had dressed her in a gorgeous blue gown that highlighted her breathtaking blue eyes. A few more moments later, her hair was curled and hung over her shoulders. She was truly beautiful.
Applause caused her to turn. The servant had returned and he smiled. He reached for her hand and she offered it to him.
"My dear," he said softly as he kissed her hand, "You are indeed the most beautiful creature to ever grace these walls."
She blushed. "I thank you, but I am not nearly as beautiful as these wonderful ladies."
She turned to acknowledge them, but they had vanished. A chill went down her spine.
"My dear," he said as he led her away, "It is time for you to meet Lord Viktor."
She swallowed hard. He led her back into the long hallway. At the end of the hallway, a set of large double doors opened. Her chill had returned. She looked at her beautiful dress and exhaled slowly. She knew that they had made her perfect for this meeting. There was no way that Lord Viktor would refuse to listen to her. He wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of her.
The servant stopped at the threshold of the doorway. Like the table where she had enjoyed her meal, the doors were exquisite examples of craftsmanship. She was used to plain doors created from the few logs that they were permitted to use to build their homes. This wood was unlike anything that she had ever seen.
"I must leave you now," the servant said.
"But…But…" she stammered.
"My dear," he said softly, "I am not permitted to interrupt Lord Viktor when he expects guests. Only guests of his choosing are perm
itted beyond the threshold."
"H…How…"
"Remember, he has been expecting you," the servant said.
She glanced at the threshold and then back to the servant. Again, he had disappeared. She inhaled slowly and forced her way across the threshold. Her heart raced. She could see the flickering candlelight. The dim light highlighted everything in the large, ornate personal chamber. The orange and yellow hues glistened on every statue, sculpture and painting. She had determined that Lord Viktor's wealth rivaled that of their empress. She swallowed to calm her nerves.
The doors closed slowly behind her. She jumped. She thought that she wasn't nervous but she trembled. Her lips quivered. Her eyes welled. She tried to fight away her fears but when the doors closed, fear had consumed her. She turned to flee.
"Stay," Lord Viktor said softly.
She froze in place. She felt as if he had commanded her to remain with him. Slowly, she turned to face their mysterious lord. She shivered and trembled until her blue eyes fell on quite possibly the most beautiful man in the entire world.
His eyes were dark and mysterious. His features were chiseled and flawless. He looked like the paintings that adorned his walls. His clothes were made from the finest silk. Despite being older, he looked youthful and powerful. His frame was accented by his tailored clothes. He was the perfect man. He smiled at her. Her heart skipped a beat.
"I have been expecting you," he stated.
"I don't understand," she said.
He smiled. "I know that you have longed for a different life."
She was shocked. "H…How…"
He laughed again. "Mikhaeli, your beauty is legendary. You belong in a castle with a lord."
Her mind raced. Her beautiful blue eyes looked around the room. There were treasures beyond her wildest imagination. Paintings, which had come from the minds of the greatest artists in all of Europe, adorned the walls. Golden statues, whose value were worth several tracts of land, glistened in the candlelight. All of the furnishings had been crafted by expert hands. It was everything that she wanted, but her mind raced back to the one thing that she truly loved: Her family.
"But…But my family?" she stammered.
"If you were to join with me, I could change your world. We would take care of your family."
She was scared and confused. He was offering what she had always wanted. She needed to get out of her life, but she didn't know if she could truly join him and leave her family behind.
"I…I…I…"
She stammered. She wanted to speak but suddenly she was walking towards his extended hand. Their eyes were locked. His eyes were intoxicating. She kept moving towards him. She couldn't control herself. Her legs, again, moved against her wishes. A moment later, she was in his arms. He stared into her eyes. She became lost in her own mind. He took her hand and led her into his bedroom. She had no control over her body. He smiled at her and she shivered, but she removed her dress. She let it slip to the floor.
"I need a queen," he whispered as his lips touched hers.
She didn't resist. Without realizing it, she was removing his silk robes. As she saw his exposed skin, she began to kiss along his body. She thought that he had growled, but she ignored it. As he became more excited, her excitement intensified. They ripped away their remaining garments. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to a large four-poster bed. He laid her gently on the bed and she pulled him on top of her.
His hands traced her naked body. She trembled with excitement. He nibbled along her neck. She panted. She had never experienced such pleasure as he worked his mouth along her body. She rubbed him and he became completely aroused. They kissed passionately again until he had entered her. Her back arched and she screamed loudly. Their passion grew with each passing second. Sweat poured from her body. She screamed with pleasure again. The louder she screamed, the louder he growled.
"MORE!" she begged.
"Do you wish to join me?" he growled as he continued to pleasure her.
"YES!" she screamed.
He growled louder and his visage changed. She screamed. He sunk his fangs into her throat and he drank. She cried and pleaded. He sucked away at her life force. She cried harder and tried to struggle but her life was slipping away. Soon, her world became dark.
CHAPTER 2
RUSSIAN EMPIRE C1772
Three days later…
The world was dark and cold. Blackness surrounded her. She gasped for air, but she found none. Moist dirt filled her mouth. She gagged. She began to thrash and fight. The moist dirt stirred. She thrashed and clawed at the dirt. It stuck to her hands as she clawed harder. Slowly, the dirt moved away. She tried to scream, but her mouth was still full of the foul tasting earth. She pushed and clawed harder and harder until her hand broke through the surface.
She continued to fight for her life. She clawed and pushed the dirt away. She spit the dirt out of her mouth. She struggled to free her legs. Eventually, she pushed herself out of the ground with both arms. The damp earth matted her once beautiful hair. Her naked body was covered in blood soaked mud. She glanced at her surroundings. She was in a dark, damp cave. Her eyes found Lord Viktor. He applauded.
Her hazy eyes tried to focus on her handsome sire. He was dressed in his finest clothes. He sat in a chair only a few feet away. He had his legs crossed and a large golden chalice in his left hand. The beautiful chalice sparkled in the light from the torches that lined the cave. Her hazy gaze became angry. He sipped his drink and smiled. She seethed with anger. His smile widened.
"What have you done to me?" her raspy voice asked.
He laughed. "Nothing that you didn't desire," he replied.
Her blue eyes widened. She staggered towards him. She could smell the stench of the blood on her body. She tried to ignore it. The closer that she got to him, the stronger the scent of the blood became. Her stomach growled. She was suddenly famished. She was confused. She remembered eating before he had attacked her, but her body screamed for nourishment. She screamed and ran toward Lord Viktor. He laughed loudly. She stopped in front of him. The scent of blood was thick in the damp, still air. She could feel the scent filling her nostrils and intoxicating her brain. As she moved closer to Lord Viktor, she could hear the undead blood pumping through his veins. He saw the agony on her face. He laughed heartily.
She screamed and lunged at him. He didn't flinch. Her eyes screamed hate. He casually threw his drink in her face. The warm fresh blood stopped her in her tracks. The crimson liquid dripped off of her body. She shivered. The blood trickled between her eyes and over her dark red lips. It dripped into her mouth and it tasted like sweat nectar. Her body screamed for more blood. Without hesitation, she ripped the chalice from his hand and she drank the few remaining drops. She licked the golden chalice clean. Lord Viktor smiled.
"Good," he purred.
"MORE!" she demanded.
He laughed again. He reached underneath his throne and lifted up another chalice. She could smell the fresh blood. She hissed and lunged at him again. He held up his hand and she froze in place. She couldn't move. He stood and slowly walked to her. He dipped his finger in the red liquid and licked it. She seethed with anger. She hissed louder. The magical barrier held her in her place.
He stuck his finger in the blood again. He held it out to her. Her eyes widened. She had never wanted anything so much in all of her life. She felt like a caged animal. She struggled with her invisible barrier as he continued to tease her with the blood. He walked around her and he flicked the blood onto her body. She wanted to scream but she couldn't. He laughed again. He snapped his fingers and the barrier disappeared. She reached for the chalice, but again he held up his hand. Again, she was frozen in place.
"You must learn your place, My Queen," he said as her eyes continued to follow him. "I am still your master. I created you from my own blood."
He placed the chalice on the ground and slowly walked back to his throne. What she desired was laid at her feet. It was only inc
hes away. Her body was about to explode from the agony created by her stomach. She began to convulse. Her mouth oozed. He picked up another chalice and sipped it slowly. His eyes mocked her. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't. Like his mysterious power, her agony controlled her.
He snapped his fingers again and she dropped to the wet cave floor. The pain had rendered her weak. She couldn't stand. She clawed the few filthy, agonizing feet to the chalice. Her knees and elbows were scraped by the jagged cave floor. The smell called to her. She ached. She dropped her mouth into the chalice and drank like an animal until the warm, crimson liquid restored her strength. When she was strong enough to sit, she picked up the chalice and drank feverishly. The blood dripped off of her chin as she tilted the chalice and the red liquid flowed freely. Lord Viktor laughed.
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