Lucien looked at Vladislaus. He had thought a lot about this moment. He had, had plans for Elena and Ivan but Vladislaus was a fine young man the only problem being his profession.
“I would like to say yes but you are a soldier Vladislaus. I will not allow my daughter to go through the pain and heartbreak her mother went through when Gabriel’s father was killed.”
Vladislaus nodded.
“I understand your concern Sir but I have no intention of being killed. The news from the front is that the fighting will not continue much longer. I love your daughter and she loves me. “
“I am sure Gabriel’s father had no intention of being killed either. I do not doubt that you love my daughter. I love her too and do not want to see her hurt. Send her in. I will speak to her and then I will make my decision.”
Vladislaus stood up and bowed. “I will await your decision and will humbly accept any decision you make Sir.” With that he left the room.
Elena was waiting outside the door.
“What did he say?” She looked at Vladislaus expectantly.
“He said a lot of rubbish about me being a soldier. He wishes to see you now.”
Vladislaus put his hand on her shoulder.
“Do not fear little witch you will be my wife soon. Gabriel has always said your father cannot refuse you anything.”
Elena shook her head. “I fear this maybe the exception. I am afraid he will force me to marry Ivan.”
“God I hope not. Poor you being tied to that lapdog for the rest of your life.”
Vladislaus spun her around encircled her in his arms and kissed her.
“Just tell him your true feelings for me and I shall pray he gives me your hand.”
Elena reluctantly pulled herself from Vladislaus’ arms and knocked on the door of her Fathers study.
“Enter Princess.” Her Fathers voice came from the other side of the door.
Lucien smiled at his daughter as she entered the room and sat opposite him.
“Do you love him?” he asked.
“With all my heart Papa and if I cannot marry him I will just die.” she cried the passion in her voice was so clear.
Lucien took his daughters hand in his.
“And if he is killed in action what will you do then? I love you princess. I will do anything for you, give you anything but pain and pain is what I would be giving you if I allow you to marry Vladislaus and he is killed in action.”
Elena looked into her Fathers eyes she hoped he would make the right decision on his own. She was determined to become Vladislaus’ wife even if it meant she had to use witchcraft on her father.
“Papa you cannot protect me forever. There is someone for everyone and Vlad is the one for me. I know he will return from the war. My love will protect him.” She stared straight at her father.
Lucien stared back.
He did not want to deny Elena what she wanted she was right he could not protect her forever. Vladislaus loved her of that he was sure and Vladislaus was certainly rich enough to take care of her. One day she would become Countess if Vladislaus lived long enough.
Lucien sighed. “If it will make you happy princess you have my blessing. If Vladislaus returns from the front safe and sound I will give your hand in marriage to him with pleasure.”
Elena beamed her face lit up with pure happiness.
“You mean when he returns Papa not if.” she said before throwing her arms around her father tears of happiness pouring down her cheeks.
Lucien was happy for his daughter he could not deny her anything and whatever happened he would be there for her. If Vladislaus returned he would give her a wedding the likes of which Transylvanian society had never seen before and if Vladislaus was killed in action he would be there to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
Elena stood up.
“May I go to Vlad now and tell him? Then I must write to Gabriel.” she gushed excitedly and without waiting for an answer she rushed out the door.
__________________________________
Calandria was stood outside. Seeing her daughter’s happy face she knew her husband had agreed.
“Congratulations my darling, I only hope your happiness is not short lived.” She hugged her daughter and kissed both her cheeks.
“Vlad will return. My love will protect him.” Elena repeated to her mother what she had promised her father. “Now where is he? I cannot wait to tell him.”
Calandria let her go.
“He is in the drawing room waiting for you the poor man has probably bitten his nails off by now.”
Elena did not hear. She almost flew into the drawing room.
Vladislaus was leaning against the fireplace taping his fingers. He looked up as Elena walked in. She walked over to him her head bowed. She put her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.
“He has a problem with you being a soldier.” she said sadly sniffing.
He stroked her hair.
“We will not give up when I return from the front we will ask again. Gabriel has written that the fighting cannot go on much longer. So it will not be long before I am back.”
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head.
She was grinning at him. He looked confused.
“He has a problem with you being a soldier.” she repeated. “But he said yes.” she shouted happily.
“You are an evil little witch.” he laughed. “You really had me believing he said no.”
She giggled and slipped out of his arms.
“You were meant to.”
“I am going to kill you!” he laughed reaching for her as she ran from the room laughing.
“You will not escape little witch I will catch and when I do you will pay.” he shouted rushing out of the room after her.
Calandria was just outside the room. She watched as first her daughter ran out of the room giggling then Vladislaus followed laughing.
How wonderful it was to be young and in love. She thought.
Vladislaus finally caught hold of Elena and began to tickle her. Elena screamed with laughter.
“Stop it.” she begged leaning against the wall to support herself.
Vladislaus moved closer to her still tickling her.
“Say you are sorry and I will stop” he said.
“No never.”
“Then I will keep tickling you until you say sorry.”
“I bet I can get you to stop without saying sorry.” She gasped still laughing.
“I can never refuse a bet Sweetheart.” He laughed still slowly moving to tickle her in more inappropriate places.
Elena reached up and put her arms around his neck.
“Prepare to stop then!” she said as she grabbed a hand full of his hair, pulled his lips down to hers kissed him hard and passionately and pressed her body against his. He stopped tickling her and kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“I knew I could get you to stop without saying sorry.” she whispered against his lips.
“That little witch is cheating. When you kiss a man like that he cannot help but pay you attention and he will do anything for you.”
“I must remember that.” she smiled.
He laughed again.
“Just shut up.” he leaned against her pressing her against the wall and kissed her again slipping his tongue between her lips as her tongue darted out to meet his.
Marishka walked in.
“Excuse me!” she snapped.
Elena and Vladislaus stopped kissing.
“We are engaged.” Elena shrieked. “We are getting married.”
“Congratulations. If you care Ivan is fine. I took him home.” Marishka said sarcastically.
Elena pushed Vladislaus off her and put her hand on Marishka’s arm.
“Of course we care Marishka. We thank you for taking Ivan home. Do not be angry we are celebrating.”
“I can see that.” she grumbled. “I am very happy for you. Ignore me. She sho
ok Elena’s hand off her arm and walked away.
When she turned the corner Vladislaus looked at Elena.
“Do we care?” he asked
“Not particularly.” she said as he bent his head to kiss her again.
________________________________________
Three days later Vladislaus said Goodbye.
“Give me at least three week’s notice and I can organise your wedding.” Lucien stated matter of factly. He then turned and walked in to the house leaving Elena and Vladislaus alone.
“Please do not tell me to take care and come back in one piece. My mother and your mother have told me that. I could not bear to hear it again.”
“I have no intention of telling you to come back in one piece.” Elena said looking into Vladislaus’ eyes.
“Thank God for that.” he grinned.
“But,” she continued. “I have every intention of showing you why you should come back.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. A kiss more deep and passionate than any she had given him before. She pressed her soft body against his hard muscly body. For a moment he sank into her kiss. He felt himself growing hard he pulled her against himself pressing that hardness into her.
Eventually he pushed her away.
“Stop little witch. I have to go back to the front. If you carry on kissing me like that, I will not leave I will throw you to the floor and make love to you here in front of the house.”
“Making you stay was the idea and I wish you would make love to Me.” she grinned.
Vladislaus reluctantly let her go.
He climbed onto his horse and bent to stroke her cheek. “I have to leave now! I will be back. Do not give up on me Elena. I love you.” he whispered.
“I will never give up on you!” she replied as he straightened up.
He blew her a kiss and rode away.
She watched him go.
“You will return! I swear by the powers of all things Wiccan. Good or Evil you will return. I will make sure of it.”
Chapter ten
1462
My dearest cousin,
Since your mother and you returned home so much has happened.
First of all I must congratulate you on your engagement to Ivan, I knew from the first time I saw you look at each other you would become lovers. I know you will be very happy together you were made for each other. Your Mother must be very pleased and proud. Ivan is a lovely man, not as brave or as handsome as my Vlad but perfect for you. In answer to your question I would love to be your bridesmaid, although you had better hurry or I may be your Maid of Honour because as soon as Vlad returns we will be married too. Father says it will be the biggest social affair Transylvania has ever seen.
I am sure your little wedding will be lovely.
We are just getting over Count Dracula’s funeral. He was killed in battle. Verona is devastated she cries all the time. I would just die if anything like that happened to Vlad. So I am invoking a demon that can solve the problem. If Vlad is fatally wounded, the demon will give him eternal life. This is black magic so if you mention it to anyone I will put the worst hex you can think of on you. But I trust dear cousin that I will not have to because I know you will keep my secret and that you too would do anything in your power to keep your dear sickly sweet Ivan alive.
Vlad came back to bury his Father. He is so alive and strong now and we are so in love. It was so hard when we were alone to stop ourselves making love. He put his hand under my skirt and moved it really slowly up my leg while he was kissing me I put my hand at the top of his thigh he was very aroused. I felt like my whole body was on fire and I wanted him so badly but then he pulled his hand away and insisted we wait until we are married. Which is strange because I know he has not waited with any of the other women he has been with?
My Father threw a ball for my sixteenth birthday, it was a shame you and your mother could not come. My Brother and Vlad could not make it either. For entertainment I put a spell on four men so that they would find me irresistible. Three of them were married it was so funny to see their wives faces when they were fighting over me.
I must finish now I have to go for dinner.
Yours always
Your cousin
Elena x
My dearest sister,
I hope you like the necklace I send with this letter for your sixteenth birthday. I am so sorry I could not attend your ball but we are close to defeating the Turks.
Please tell mother I visited Anna and Marishka after Vultan’s funeral. They are doing fine. Anna is busy planning the wedding.
My main reason for writing is not a good reason. I am giving you bad news about your fiancé. Since returning to the front after his injury he seems to have lost his mind. He has become very bloodthirsty. After a battle he sends his men out to collect the dead and wounded, when they bring them back he tortures them just for fun and has his men chop off the heads of the dead and he puts them on spikes. Some of the men have heard Turks whispering about Vlad the Impaler.
I advise you to call off your engagement immediately.
Just ask yourself can you love a man who does this? When the answer is no write to me and I will write to Father and explain. I am so sorry to have to be the one to tell you this but I thought you ought to know.
I cannot remain friends with a man who acts like this and hope that you make the right decision my dear, dear princess.
I do not think I will be returning before Christmas it will probably be sometime in the New Year.
Love to you and mother and father.
Your brother
Gabriel.
Chapter eleven
Elena and her parents were visiting Marishka and her mother for Marishka’s wedding to Ivan.
Elena did not want to be there, she could not believe her father was expected to pay for it and give Marishka away too.
She lay on her bed staring at the gown she would have to put on in a few minutes along with a huge smile so she would at least look as if she was enjoying herself.
Her mother and her maid entered the room.
“Time to get dressed my darling.” Calandria said.
“I do not want to get dressed or be her bridesmaid. I do not see why Father has to pay for her wedding or give her away. I am his daughter and I will be married soon.” Elena moaned.
“You will get dressed and walk behind her as her bridesmaid. Do not ever let me hear you talk like that again. Your father must pay for Marishka’s wedding because her father is dead, her mother cannot afford it and she is family”
‘She will pay. She is not my father’s family and I do not see why he should have to pay for her wedding. That money is for MY wedding!’ she thought.
____________________________
A little while later as Elena walked towards Marishka’s room she passed Ivan.
She suddenly had an idea.
“Ivan I must talk to you.”
Ivan stopped and stared at her.
“Elena can it not wait I am getting married?”
Elena grabbed his hand and pulled him into an empty bedroom.
“Elena I must go!” he was glad the potion Marishka had given him to drink seemed to work, he was not stuttering at all.
Elena put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Ivan objected for a moment more from shock than because he did not want it. He loved Marishka and wished to marry her but Elena stirred strong feelings deep down inside him. Something he did not feel for Marishka, maybe lust but more likely witchcraft. Either way he could not resist Elena. He felt a very dangerous, powerful attraction for her.
Elena eventually pulled away.
“I love Vlad, he has money and power things I must have. I will never love anyone else, Vlad always has been and always will be the one for me. You on the other hand Ivan may
love Marishka and will marry her but you will never escape your feelings for me. Part of you will always belong to me.”
She kissed him again pressing her body against his, Ivan felt his body responding despite himself, he had a strong urge to rip Elena’s clothes off and make love to her there and then.
“What are you doing? You never even kissed me on the cheek before, why all this now?”
Elena smiled wickedly.
“I just wanted you to know what you will always want. You were right to settle for Marishka, second best is not always bad.”
“Marishka loves me, she gives me confidence, and she believes in me and gives me the strength to believe in myself. You are dangerous, when I am with you I feel like I am losing control.” As if to demonstrate what he had said he pushed her against the wall and kissed her passionately.
After a few minutes Elena pushed him away.
“Go now. Marry Marishka we shall continue this when you return from your honeymoon.”
“You are right I love Marishka but part of me will always be yours. I cannot resist you.”
His arms were still around her.
He stared into her eyes. Elena felt nothing for him but in order to possess his mind she needed him to believe she did. She looked at him with what she hoped was a lustful look.
“We must never let Marishka or Vlad know what has taken place today. “
“Never.” he stated.
He let go of her and walked to the door, at the door he turned around.
“Clandestine affairs are so dangerously romantic. Such poetry will flow from me over this.” He blew her a kiss and left the room.
A wicked grin spread across her face and she began to laugh a high pitched sound that would have chilled the bones of anyone who was listening.
“So easy to seduce, so completely in my power. I will teach you to take what is mine Marishka, your downfall has begun,” she said to the empty room.
Love, Blood & Brimstone Magic Awakening Page 4