The attack from Mehmed did not come. He recovered from the night ambush to receive one more shattering blow. His army pressed on, in spite of all Dracula did to mar his progress. The Turks did not see a soul while they marched. As they advanced, they sang a song that promised death to all Tirgoviste. Dracula and his men waited for them. The moment was close now.
Mehmed marched over the crest five miles to the south of the city. The sight that met his eyes would haunt his dreams forever. He walked straight into the “forest of impalement.” Turkish soldiers sat atop stakes for as far as his eye could see in any direction.
By that summer, Dracula held more than twenty thousand Turks in his prisons. He wanted his enemy to know who they were dealing with. Every last one of them, he had impaled. The line stretched for three kilometres west to east and one kilometre in depth. The bodies of the dead decomposed fast in the searing heat. Crows and other birds of prey ravaged them. Rats scaled the blood-soaked stakes to gorge themselves too. It was the most gruesome sight any of them had seen. Mehmed and his army fled in terror. He found the price of victory far too high.
Dracula had to stifle a laugh as he thought of it. The speed of the Ottoman retreat amused him still. But it had not ended there. The memory of the events that followed soured his mood again. He still had to face the treachery of his brother, the one known far and wide as Radu the Handsome.
Radu held a high rank in Mehmed’s army. Being the sultan’s lover secured him this role, and he sat at the head of four thousand cavalry. When Mehmed left for home, Radu stayed on with a small army in the Baragon region of the country.
Mehmed hoped Radu could win the support of the boyars. It was then his task to sway the people to favour him over his brother. He promised them peace, as their ruler. Wallachia would then keep its autonomy for a yearly tribute and the terror of Dracula would be gone forever.
Dracula’s younger brother won many of the boyars over with ease. Few had forgotten the vicious revenge Dracula had exacted on the boyar class only a few years before when coming to power. To add weight to these links, Radu married Maria Despina. She was the daughter of his brother’s most hated enemy. Vintila Florescu had fled north to Brasov after Dracula’s rise to power. It meant he survived the stake and remained a thorn in his side. Now he was Radu’s ally too.
Radu promised the people much, and his message spread far and wide. He made a vow to end the brutality and terror of his brother’s reign. If they accepted him, he would end the war with the Turks also. That, he claimed, would see the annihilation of the country if it did not cease.
He gave his word of a safe independence for Wallachia. No Turk would again set foot in the country. No more young boys would serve as janissaries in the sultan’s armies. Better still, he vowed to end hunger and poverty.
The people could not resist his appeal. The boyars saw him as the answer to their prayers. They felt sure Dracula could not save the country. His efforts to do so had brought famine and misery. They had to take the offer from Radu. An alliance with the Turks was the only way forward that they could see. The papal crusade was dead. Dracula, as its spearhead, now stood alone.
Dracula did win one more battle. He defeated Evrenos Pacha at Buzau on the 26th of June. But his army suffered heavy losses. After the battle, large numbers of his men defected to the side of Radu. It forced him to give up his throne and flee the capital. He went with his bodyguard to his castle fortress in the mountains. Here he had kept his wife and son out of harm’s way. He knew no army could scale the cliff to penetrate its walls.
He hoped now to send word to Hungary. King Matthias was his ally there. His first wife was the sister of the king. So far, Matthias had given him no support, despite many promises made in his correspondence and the treaty they had signed more than two years before.
Radu followed Dracula in his flight with a large army and pursued him all the way to the castle. The first attack failed. He rallied his forces again for a second assault the next day.
News of this reached Dracula. Only then did he realise the size of the force pitted against him. Even if Radu could not breach his walls, he could starve him out. His wife dreaded the prospect of capture. To avoid this, she threw herself to her death from one of the towers. Her body was lost in the Arges River far below.
Dracula managed to escape with his son. He used the network of secret tunnels that ran under the mountain. The Dobrin brothers acted as his guides across the rough terrain. They knew it better than anyone. The trail they took led him to the Hungarian fortress at Konigstein. There, he awaited the arrival of Matthias. The Hungarian king showed up four months later.
The worst was yet to come for Dracula. For months, Matthias and Radu had met in secret. Radu won over the young king with ease and they formed an alliance of their own. The king took Dracula to Buda as a hostage. His defeat was final.
Now, forty years on, he still despised Radu for this. His brother had stolen his throne. He was the reason his wife had jumped to her death. His treaty with Matthias saw him a prisoner for thirteen long years. These things still cut him deep. He had left his mortal life behind, but not the pain or the bitterness of it.
It angered him that he had never had retribution. Radu died at the same time as Dracula’s release from Buda in 1475. If I could have one wish, I would take a vicious revenge.
He pondered this thought long and hard. What he would give for another chance to see his brother again. He would make Radu suffer a worse fate than any other. If only he could turn back time. If only.
These thoughts consumed him so much, he did not even notice the presence at his side. Only when a voice spoke to him, did he realise he was not alone.
“I see you are troubled, my son.”
He turned, a little startled.
Lucifer sat there on the roof beside him. Dracula did not answer. It was their first meeting since the time Piera had died. He had not called on Lucifer since.
“You are thinking of your brother?”
“Yes, the rotten one.”
“Why does it still trouble you? It is long gone.”
“It shall always trouble me.”
“The past is best left there.”
“Perhaps, but sometimes the past can never be erased.”
“To dwell on it can only hold you back.”
“I lost everything through him.”
“You still had your honour. The rest you only lost to other men’s treachery.”
“It is hard to have honour without liberty. Even that was taken from me.”
“I know, I saw it all.”
“Then you should understand what it did to me.”
“It did not change you. I saw a more determined man emerge from Buda.”
“Determined for revenge, yes. Even that was denied me.”
“Your need for revenge is strong.”
“It drives me on.”
“It is eating away at you.”
“Hate is the best motivator.”
“Yes, there is much to be said for that.”
“Then you should understand my anger at being denied my revenge.”
“I do understand, but it should concern you no more.”
“It is all that concerns me.”
“There are many great things ahead of you. You have much to achieve.”
“This shall always hold me back.”
Lucifer sighed. “Put it behind you.”
Dracula squinted his eyes. He looked to the darkness, his hatred burning inside. “I can never rest while his memory remains with me.”
“Perhaps I should wipe it from your mind.”
“He took away all that I had. My throne, my wife, my liberty, and my pride!”
“So what would you do if you could turn back time?”
“What do you mean?”
“If Radu were here before you.”
“Alive again?”
“Yes. What revenge would you exact upon him?”
Dracula thought long and
hard about it. “Death would be too good for him. Even a slow and painful one.”
“So what alternative would you create for him?”
“I would ensure he had an infinity of pain and misery.”
“Well, his soul is with me in Hell. He is suffering.”
Dracula clenched his fists. “No, I would want it to be far worse than that.”
“What could be worse?”
“I can think of many things.”
Lucifer had drawn him here for this reason. “Go on, then, impress me.”
“One thing in particular.”
“Then share it with me.”
“Radu was loved all his life by men and women alike.”
“Yes, I know. It did not endear him to me.”
“They loved him for his face.”
“But no one as much as he loved it himself.”
Dracula hissed at the thought. “His vanity sickened me my whole life.”
“Is that how you would punish him?”
“Yes, I would take away his face. Let him live for an eternity without it.”
The idea aroused Lucifer. “It is a good revenge.”
“But one I can never have.”
“You should know one thing.”
Dracula stood up. In the darkness, he saw only the face of his brother. “What?”
“Where he is at this moment, his face brings him only pain.”
“It is not enough. I want him to really suffer.”
“He does suffer.”
“Not by my hand! I want to be the one to heap misery on him.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
“I shall never have that chance. He has rotted for close to thirty years.”
“Anything is possible.”
“What are you saying?”
“It is why I am here.”
“You can deliver him to me?”
“Yes, I can do anything with a soul in my domain. There are few forces in the universe that possess my power. I want to do this for you.”
Dracula straightened up at once. “How can you do this?”
“There is always a way.”
“You said once a soul had passed through the Hall of Justice it was too late.”
“He did not pass through there.”
Dracula did not understand. “Why not?”
“He was a soldier. The Grand General took him in the moment of his passing.”
“Then give him to me. I beseech you.”
“It is not so easy to give you what you want.”
“You said you could do it. And that you would, for me.”
“You know I can. And, yes, I want to. But everything has a price.”
“I shall meet that. Say what it is you want of me.”
“The Grand General owns his soul.”
“I do not care. What is the price?”
“The Grand General would not want to release him.”
“You do not have to bargain with me.”
Lucifer grinned. “Very well.”
“Tell me what you want. I shall meet your price.”
“I want the blood of thirteen virgins to fall on his grave.”
“Is that all? Why thirteen virgins?”
“Few sacrifices are as sweet to me. Thirteen pure souls, untouched and unsullied. You have to do it well before dawn. Do that, and I shall re-animate your brother.”
“It shall be done. I want it this night. This is the reason you brought me here. I want to see Radu.”
WALLACHIA. THE OUTSKIRTS OF TIRGOVISTE.
MARCH, 1503. THE SAME NIGHT.
It had been a good night for Varkal. He had gone to the house of a woman he had had his eye on for years. She knew him well. When he entered her bedchamber, she did not seem too distressed.
The woman sat up in her bed. “How did you find your way in here?”
“It was not so difficult,” he answered, with a confident grin. “Where there is a will, there is sure to be a way.”
“So, you have decided you want me at last?”
“I have always wanted you.”
“Well, you have never shown much of an interest.”
“I have always had my eye on you.”
“For how long have you known me?”
“I have no doubt you can tell me. Fifteen, or perhaps twenty years?”
“Since I turned fourteen.”
“And that is how long ago?”
“Nineteen years in all.”
“Then I was right.”
“In all that time, you never once made as much as a pass for me. You fucked everything old enough to bleed, but never did you come near me.”
“Perhaps you were too special to touch.”
“Oh, stop. I made it clear enough that you could have me whenever you wanted.”
He walked to the bottom of her bed. “Now where is the sport in that?”
“You would rather I did not want you?”
He grinned. “Then I would have to chase you.”
She smiled at his intonation. “Yes, and break down my defences.”
“I always love a challenge.”
“You shall not find that here.”
He shrugged. “Then perhaps I should look elsewhere.”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “Men!”
“It is why you love us so.”
“What? That you leave us frustrated, always?”
“It keeps you on your toes.”
“Why? When all we need from time to time is a good fucking.”
“Is that what you need?”
“It is what I have always needed. God knows, I shall not have it in this house.”
“Then why do you remain here?”
“Believe me,” she said. “If I had somewhere to go, I would go.”
“So, in truth, all you need is a warm bed. And a roof over your head?”
“What do you mean?”
“It is enough to keep you here.”
“It is better than living on the streets,” she reminded him.
He smiled at her. “You could make a healthy living on the streets.”
His joke had the desired effect, and she threw a pillow his way. The blankets dropped from her body. He eyed her perfect breasts as they bounced up and down.
A smile escaped his lips. “You are the image of perfection.”
“I always have been. Yet you wait till this night to tell me.”
“I have been indisposed.”
“I know, for nine whole years! Where have you been?”
“I have been here and there. In these times, I come out only at night.”
“I heard the stories of you.”
“Oh? And what did you hear?” he asked, stepping closer.
“That you killed all those women.”
He looked down and gave a knowing nod. “I heard that story too.”
“Is it the truth?”
“Does it matter?”
She held her arms out. “I want to know.”
“All my life, I have striven for the ultimate sensation.”
“So, it is true?”
“Believe what you want. Men and women alike always need a story to tell. Is it so important that I am their subject of choice?”
“Why are you always so elusive?”
“It helps them through their mundane lives.”
“Then perhaps I should fear you? You might strangle me too.”
“I might,” he said, grinning in a way that did not dispel her fears.
“Why did you do it?”
“I have already said.”
“Had you come to my bed, you would have known that sensation long ago.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Without having to resort to the things you did.”
“You seem certain of that.”
“I am certain. I am what you have always needed.”
“And what of you? What have you always needed?”
“You are either too blind or too stupid to see.�
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He laughed at her tone. “My dear, Anya, in the pursuit of excellence, it is wise to always save the best till the very last.”
“You took your time, then.”
“It is not something so easily attained. If it were, I would not have had the need to resort to those measures.”
“Well, you are here for the now.”
“Yes,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “That I am.”
Anya rose to her knees on the bed. She wanted him to see her fully. “Have you ever cast your eyes over a body as perfect as this?”
He studied her with care, tilting his head to one side. “No, I cannot say that I have.”
“I have not a blemish anywhere.”
“I can see that.”
“Then why torture me?”
“Your choice of husband has always left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“He was only a means to an end.”
“But Gales? It is no wonder you are frustrated.”
“He is not man enough for me, if that is what you are implying. I married him only to vex you.”
“It vexed me, and it vexes me still.”
“So that you might take notice of me.”
“It was an extreme measure to do that. I had noticed you.”
“And you punished me for it too. Half my life, I have waited for you to come.”
“Why Gales, of all men?”
“He was the first to ask me.”
“And that was enough to marry him?”
“My family wanted it. They made it happen.”
“His father betrayed mine. Through that, my father lost all that he had.”
“Your father died at Snagov. What did he have to do with that?”
“When my father attacked Mehmed, the older Gales froze with fear.”
“When did your father attack Mehmed?”
“The night ambush at Snagov.”
“That was your father?”
“Yes.”
“I thought Vlad Dracula attacked Mehmed that night.”
“Vlad Dracula is my father!”
The news stunned her. She sat back on her heels and thought about it. “I am sorry, I did not know. I always thought Adrian Gabrul was your father.”
“Gabrul was my guardian.”
That knowledge helped her understand many things.
The Dracula Chronicles: Bound By Blood Page 26