Gabriel took me to a paved courtyard at the back of the house, surrounded by gardens and the scent of the violet moonflower bushes with petals shaped like trumpets. Gabriel explained that many of the herbs and flowers had special properties for treating ailments. They were not only grown for their brilliance of colour and I was not to pick or touch any for although they were the most beautiful of plants, they were also the most deadly. Sometimes, he said, the moonflower is given to humans to calm them. Our eyes met at that moment and I did not seek to learn the reasons why a human might want calming, although it could explain the dullness in the eyes of some of the servants. I was curious but not surprised that such plants thrived in their glacial surrounds, as this was no ordinary place, just as the inhabitants were no ordinary beings.
We sat closely on a stone bench. I could not return his penetrating gaze for long; his attentiveness confused me and his beauty too much to take for such a length of time. When I turned away, he put his hand over mine and it felt colder than the air.
‘Tomorrow Lewis will begin your teaching. Take note, sweet Lilah, because it is better to learn more than you need, than go through life ignorant of much.’
‘Does Lewis know everything?’ I asked.
Gabriel laughed. ‘Almost everything,’ he said. ‘He has lived a long time and no matter how you feel about him, you must learn of your ancestry. Such knowledge will make it far easier to accept who you are and where you go from here.’
I didn’t say it at the time but I found these words more ominous than comforting and that night I tossed and turned with doubts and thoughts of leaving. When I finally dreamed, I saw Emil laughing as I was dragged away by unseen beasts into the forest. I called to him but he could not hear me. What this meant, I had no idea, but I was determined to stay on my guard at all times and to trust no-one fully but myself. Could my enemies be the same people I was close to now?
The next day, Lewis summoned me to his library where he showed me a history of the world book written in a strange but even scrawl. I flicked over each page reluctantly as sometimes the pictures were too graphic – of blood and beasts and wars. On one page there were drawings of beasts, half human, with the hind legs of wolf, similar to ones I had seen on tapestries earlier. Lewis put another volume in front of me impatiently and turned to the beginning. And so began my instruction in witch history, potions, and the ancient language of witch speak. Lewis told me formidably that before I could read the books I would need to learn his, or as he quickly corrected himself, our own language.
It was awkward at first: his teaching was rushed and forceful – possibly his way of testing my dedication – but once my nerves had settled, it was obvious from my questioning and the ability to listen that he considered me a worthy enough student. After this initiation I was asked to come back to his library every day. It was his intention to instruct me in the ways of the oldest race of all from which I had descended.
The ultimate purpose of this instruction was not something I had much time to consider; the fascinating books and century-old knowledge distracted me from pondering my future. Even in bed at night I would rehearse the witch speak language until finally too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
For several months I studied the language diligently, never late for my lessons, immediately after a lonely breakfast of yeast rolls and bacon, and sickly sweet honeyed mead, which I eventually found the taste for. It was not long before I could read part of the history books and learn of my ancestry of strigoi, of their immortality built from human blood, and those who could breathe in the lives of humans to extend their powers. When I asked Lewis how selfish it was to take the life of another he questioned me on my own devouring of earth’s creatures to survive.
Lewis talked of many things and he was a fine teacher but there was a measurable distance between us. It did not matter how long I was in his company, I was still wary that he was not the man he appeared. There were a number of questions I wanted to ask him about his past, but I did not yet have the confidence. It was difficult to read his stern face, his piercing grey eyes and his dismissive mien. And, there were moments when I grew so tired that Lewis thumped the table angrily, and times that without the oath I had made to him and the friendships I was developing with Gabriel and Irene, I perhaps would have turned my back on yet another home. Such ignorance to think I would have been allowed to leave.
Irene was assigned solely to me and after an initial few weeks she began to talk more freely. There was still an element of guardedness, as if she was careful not to upset me. Over time she became more conversational and I did so enjoy spending time with her.
One morning, a couple of months into my training, she came to me with a new gown for my fully grown body. Irene told me that it came on a cart from the west, commissioned especially to fit me.
It was sewn in panels of light green and cream satin, and a row of bows centered with pearls down the bodice. Irene helped me with the corset that also came with it and put the dress on me lacing it from the back. It fitted perfectly and made my bosom more defined. She pinned my hair in a knot at the base of my neck and placed a square of lace to cover my hair modestly. After the excitement of dressing, only then did I wonder about the extravagance.
‘Is this for a special occasion?’
‘As a matter of fact it is, Mistress. There is a special dinner tonight. Lewis has invited some guests. Very important I believe.’
I was apprehensive when I entered the foyer and into a large dining hall. Not only was it the first meal outside my room, I was beginning to wonder if there were any other inhabitants outside our closeted domain. A sea of faces turned to view me. The light from the silver candelabras dangled from the ceiling making their faces large and luminous. There was an assortment of colours and textures in their clothing from patterned silks and embroidered tunics. The women wore their hair in the style I was given, swept away from their faces, and the sleeves of their gowns were pleated at the shoulders and tight at the wrists. They dazzled and shone with garnets and emeralds around their necks, along with other jewels the names of which I had learned from Irene back in my room.
Lewis and Gabriel were there and other strigoi I had seen from my window. Some might ask whether I had been lonely for company. There were moments when I missed the noisy sounds of the children playing in the monastery gardens, but the truth was that my visits from Gabriel and my lessons by Lewis seemed to fill every part of me.
I looked at Gabriel who was staring at me. ‘Lovely Lilah! I sometimes quite forget your age.’
Lewis shot him a look and when he turned away Gabriel nodded at a well dressed gentleman who raised his eyebrows in appraisal. The gentleman and his wife were introduced as Baron and Baroness Brecht. My cheeks reddened and I was suddenly embarrassed by the flesh exposed at the top of my bodice.
Small pastries filled with herbs and meat, cabbage and garlic were served on trays. Gabriel and Lewis made a special show to eat the food so I presumed that other witches were there that evening.
The Baron and Baroness did not eat the food placed in front of them indicating that they could be strigoi. I was confused when Gabriel whispered that they made considerable donations to houses of worship. I wondered what Sister Gertrude would think of such benefactors to her Christian order and if the church was truly oblivious of our kind or whether they discriminated between rich and poor. If the Papacy discovered that their wealthy benefactor had links to witchcraft, would they be so quick to put them to death or would they turn a blind eye with both hands open.
‘Do you visit the monastery in Güs?’ I ventured to ask.
Everyone laughed at that and I did not see the jest. ‘The church is a nice place to invest but it is hardly the place for us. If they knew what we were we would be hunted like dogs.’ At least my question was answered.
The feast continued but much of the conversation I could only listen to while they talked of unfamiliar people and places. Large stews of meat, potato and onions,
spiced with green pepper sat in decorative fine clay dishes while servants ladled large portions onto their plates. Steam from the hot plates made the room stifling.
Gabriel eventually revealed to me that the Baron and Baroness were strigoi who lived on a large estate in Germany with their own coven, that they were our blood relatives. But unlike Lewis’s safe house, they lived among society pretending to be merchants. They believed that parading themselves as human drew less suspicion than keeping hidden. I could detect from Gabriel’s enthusiasm on the subject that he agreed with this practice.
‘Why all this food for the strigoi?’
‘Some here are human.’
There were other people at the end of the table who had been conversing with Lewis quietly. I wondered about them. Their costumes were very elaborate with gem encrusted clasps on the fur cloak around the man, and the woman had slits in thick velvet sleeves revealing matching red silk, and layers of jewels at her throat. They had several males in their entourage who viewed everyone at the table suspiciously, and I suspected they were guardians of the seemingly important couple. Lewis saw my curiosity and summoned me to their end of the table to introduce me.
‘King Laszlo and the charming mistress Edua…this is Lilah.’
I was momentarily caught off guard. I did not believe it at first that I was meeting our king.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ I bowed on unsteady legs.
‘So this is the girl who stood up to Istavan.’
The sound of the name sent chills down my spine, besides the smugly satisfied tone suggesting what I did was irregular.
‘She had a little help, didn’t you my dear?’
I nodded.
‘It is actually Gabriel you should thank who toppled the benefactor supporting another’s quest to be king,’ said Lewis steering away from the conversation.
‘You look surprised, my dear’, said the king. ‘It is not the first time that a man such as myself has such acquaintances whose bodies disguise their true spirit.’ He laughed at this; though I noted that there was no humour in Lewis’s face. ‘It actually helps to have the security of friendship with royalty where we can share in such gifts. In fact some such as your great Aunt Elizabeth performed miracles. Being a princess meant that instead of being persecuted she was considered a miracle worker under the instruction from God.’
I was speechless with the suggestion, not just with knowledge of a relative but that I was in some way linked to royal lines.
‘I think she is just star struck my king, that she is in the shadow of such greatness,’ gushed Edua.
‘Perhaps he should lose a few pounds then, to reduce the greatness,’ joked Lewis dryly to Edua.
Edua let forth a high pitched laugh and I wondered then if she was just a little intoxicated from the wine or whether she was just frivolous.
The king considered these comments and did not smile at first then forced a grin that held no degree of warmth.
‘I disagree, my dear,’ said the king to Edua a little more formally. ‘Alas, it is not greatness that defines me yet. Such title is yet to come.’ It was clear that this comment was not directed to his female companion, but rather his host.
‘Such matters are best discussed in private,’ said Lewis.
Gabriel’s good humour seemed to have lessened and conversation around the table ceased. Everyone’s attention focused on the king.
‘I can see a resemblance?’ said Edua still fixed on me and unaware of the tension in the room.
‘What do you mean resemblance?’ I asked.
The king intervened: ‘You have to excuse the vacuous words of my Edua. She looks beautiful but that is all she is.’ These words were punishment for her previous mirth at his expense.
Edua looked sharply at her consort and pursed her lips. She was bruised and sat sullenly.
‘But I feel she did not say those words idly,’ I dared to comment.
The king reminded me of a slug. ‘So poised and yet so brazen.’
I felt Gabriel’s hand on my elbow.
‘Child,’ said Lewis. ‘You must go now and leave us. We have private discussions.’
Gabriel escorted me from the dining hall to just outside the door.
‘How do they know about me? And who is this Elizabeth?’
‘Elizabeth was a witch from whom all witches have a connection. The comment is of no significance to you, just foolish talk by a feeble-minded concubine.’
‘Don’t you think I should have been told that my family stretched to those with royal blood?’
‘This is not something we should be discussing right now. You are not ready for the truth…’
‘What is the truth?’ I asked again, though this time louder. He pulled me further from the doorway so that others would not hear my raised voice.
‘The truth is that King Laszlo is human and wishes he wasn’t. He has kept a close connection with this castle for many years due to our history and ancestry. There have been strigoi in the royal courts for generations; though, in the last hundred years Lewis and others like the Baron decided that it would not do well to have a strigoi as king. There is potential to abuse such power.’
‘Then why is that horrible man here? Why do you all pretend to like him?’
‘Laszlo is in trouble and he has come to ask for help. He should be staying with the Christian faith for the sake of peace in the land but he flits around dangling other faiths in the face of the Papacy. He will pay for such acts one day. It is such outspokenness on the subject that has made for enemies and usurpers; others who wish to take over the throne. He wants assurances that we will watch his back should there be an attempt on his life, and he has offered his own assurances that he will offer safe houses and burial grounds for all strigoi should our castle ever be exposed.’
‘And Lewis does not agree?’
‘Oh yes, he agrees to that but Laszlo is greedy. He wants even more from Lewis.’
‘What is that?’
‘He came to request the gifts of the strigoi.’
‘Are you talking about the gift of immortality?’ I did not consider this or any other skills a gift, rather an affliction as a result of their blood taking.
‘Unfortunately, that is exactly what he wants. As he told you himself, Laszlo comes from a line of witches – aunts and distant cousins – which is how he knows of our kind, although he was not one of those born with the gift. Laszlo used the guise of ancestral bond to seek help from Lewis to kill those who oppose his position as king.
‘But that’s as far as Lewis wishes to stretch the friendship. He is not so interested in politics and royal favours. He humours Laszlo and agreed to kill Istavan and other parties who opposed his ruling, for the sake of peace between them, and to honour the royal lines we once swore to protect. But with our own kind on a royal throne Lewis does not believe we are any more protected. And I agree that it makes no difference. It would not be a good thing if Laszlo as a strigoi walked freely among people pretending that he was human. A weak-minded man always makes a weak strigoi.’
‘So you did not kill Istavan just for my sake.’
Gabriel thought carefully before he responded.
‘It just so happened that I was doing Lewis a service as well.’
‘Was it coincidence that you saved me also?’
‘I had seen you at the monastery and recognised you as one of us. Once I learnt of your destination when I met you in the forest, I knew I had to keep an eye on you. I never abandon our own.’
‘I see. So the truth remains that it was coincidence we met, nothing more.’
Gabriel
The statement was goading me into a confession, a position I rarely found myself in. I could see that she was still struggling with how I came to find her and suspicious that perhaps her arrival was more contrived. She was undoubtedly clever and I found myself moved by her quest to understand. I leant forward and kissed her gently on the lips to silence any further interrogation, but mostly to explore the
warmness of her.
The door to the dining hall suddenly opened and Laszlo stormed out. He ignored the servants’ help with his coat, brushing them aside. His group of hangers-on were in tow rushing about him, calling for his carriage, and placing down mats across the mushy ground at the base of the stairs.
Lewis emerged also to see his guest gone. Fortunately he did not see Lilah’s flushed cheeks and neck, so busy was he in seeing his guest out the door.
The front door slammed stopping the cold air gushing in and silencing the jingle of jewels that left with the king. The whirlwind of people brushing past had forced us apart, for which I was grateful. This kiss should not have happened. We stood a moment waiting for Lewis’ return.
‘It did not go well?’ I enquired.
‘It went exactly as I planned. He is a pathetic excuse for a king. What he would do with such power would go against us.’
‘He is clever at masking his thoughts and true intentions. He could be a problem soon.’
‘Yes, but I doubt he has the nerve. He will get over it. I will kill a few of his enemies to appease him for a while.’
‘You could just kill him.’
‘If that were a better option, perhaps, but until that time I will keep him alive. It is us who hold the better cards, Gabriel. If Laszlo betrayed us now, he would be a fool.
‘Based on the mood he left in, such an action would not surprise me. That is precisely why it is a bad decision to have those in authority knowing of our whereabouts.’
‘It is code to honour those royal lines of our ancestors.’
‘He is a human. Surely it should not apply.’
‘Lilah,’ Lewis said. ‘You should go to bed now.’
She hastened up the stairs obediently, partly to hide her scarlet cheeks. She turned before disappearing into the hallway. It was a look I had seen on many a woman’s face and I could not help but feel guilty. She confused me for I was not usually attracted to someone so young and devout. Unlike another who was present in my thoughts, and whose devoutness had merely been a disguise.
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