“I do not think he would like to do either of these things. He left his friend for dead after challenging him to a fight. I would like an explanation before throwing him out of my house.” Lucien whispered viciously and stormed out of the ballroom. Calandria followed him, she could not believe her son would leave anyone to die, least of all his best friend.
Lucien entered his study. Gabriel stood up and bowed.
“Father, I do not understand. Why the party? What good is a pre-wedding ball without a groom?”
Lucien stared at his stepson.
“My dear boy why would you think Vladislaus was not here?”!
“He cannot be here!” Gabriel gasped.
Lucien continued to stare at his stepson.
“Why can he not be here Gabriel?”
It was Gabriel’s turn to stare at his stepfather.
“He’s dead. That’s what I am here to tell you!”
Gabriel threw Vladislaus’ ring on the desk.
“I took this off his finger in order to prove to Elena he was dead.”
Lucien moved closer to his stepson so close he could have hugged him but that was the last thing on Lucien’s mind.
“And how exactly did he die?” he demanded.
Gabriel explained what had happened.
“I never meant to kill him just stop him from marrying Elena. Stop him from turning her as evil as him.
Lucien glared at his stepson. His anger was now obvious.
“YOU call Vladislaus evil. Yet you dare to try to sully his name, challenge him to a fight,
leave him to die and all to stop him from marrying your sister.”
Gabriel glared back.
“I have called you father since I was four years old. Yet still you believe Vladislaus over me. Why father can you not see him for what he is? A lying, cheating monster, he brings new meaning to the word evil.”
“I have treated you as a son for twenty eight years, Elena adores you. This is how you repay us. What was it Gabriel that turned you into a vile, repulsive and manipulative man?”
Gabriel snarled.
“If you are determined to believe HIM, then I will not stay in this house a moment longer and I will not see Elena marry HIM!”
He yelled.
“That is fine by me.” Lucien growled. “GET out and do not ever come back. You are no son of mine.”
Calandria stepped forward.”
Lucien, I cannot believe my son is capable of these things you accuse him of. If he says it was Vladislaus then I believe him. My mind is not clouded by my love for my daughter and if he is to leave this house then I go with him.”
Lucien turned to glare at his wife. He had become bored of her lately she spent a lot of her time locked in her own “study”; At least that was what she called it. He knew it was the room she in which she practiced her witchcraft and prayed to the Goddess Hecate to save her precious son. He had been spending time with a Goddess of his own in the last few months, the Lady Zara Pochinskov and in her arms was where he would have liked to be now. Instead he had to deal with a stepson who was out to stop his sister from getting married and a wife who was bound to take her son’s side.
“Then go.” he yelled his eyes blazing with anger. “You are just as ungrateful as your son. I love you Calandria but if you choose your son then you are not welcome in my house.”
He stalked out of the room.
As he passed Elgin in the hall he growled at him to throw Calandria and Gabriel out and not let them back in.
He walked back into the ballroom. Lady Zara was dancing with a soldier. He walked over and interrupted them, taking Zara from the soldier’s arms into his.
“What troubles you my secret darling?” she asked.
Lucien smiled down at her.
“Nothing my darling not now I am in your arms. Calandria has left so we are free to spend the night together.”
“What about your daughter and her guests?”
Lucien moved his hands down her back.
“The guests are here to see my daughter. They will not notice if we sneak away.”
Lady Zara shook her head.
“You are a bad man. Baron Stanislavsky.” she laughed.
Lucien grinned.
“Is that not how you like me, my lady?”
Lady Zara giggled as he led her out of the ballroom.
As they walked away they bumped into Elena and Vladislaus.
Elena linked her arm through her father’s.
“Come and dance with me Papa.” she gushed dragging her father back to the ballroom.
Lucien looked at Lady Zara and shrugged.
She turned to Vladislaus.
“Shall we?” she asked
“Why not?” Vladislaus replied offering his arm.
_________________________________
Calandria and Gabriel walked away from the house. As they passed through the garden they saw Elena and Vladislaus. Elena was gripping a footman by the neck.
Vladislaus looked on like a proud Father.
“Feed my darling feed!” He smiled long fangs showed clearly against his lip.
Elena ran a finger down the footman’s cheek.
Gabriel moved forward, Calandria pulled him behind a tree.
“What the Hell? Mother let me go see what is going on.” Gabriel whispered.
Calandria shook her head.
“Now is not the time to face Vlad.”
“He smells so good.” Elena let her finger slip down to his neck. “I can feel his blood pulsing through his veins. It is a wonderful feeling.” she rubbed the vein again
“For Hells sake Elena, Do not play with your food, just eat it.” Vladislaus grumbled, half laughing.
“I can smell the fear coming off him in waves.” Elena laughed.
Calandria and Gabriel watched in horror as she changed before their eyes, her ears grew pointed like a bat, her canine teeth became extraordinarily long and the rest of her teeth too sharp to belong to a human being.
She bit into his neck viciously and drank hungrily. When she had finished she threw the footman to the floor and growled, a low guttural growl that could only have come from a wild beast not the young girl she was a few hours.
Gabriel and Calandria sat silently in the carriage which bore them away from their home,
both trying to make sense of what they had seen.
“I am going to kill the bastard for good this time! What has he done to my sweet little sister?” Gabriel burst out eventually.
“I would not be so quick to believe it is Vlad who has corrupted Elena. I have noticed a change in her lately as if the line between good and evil faded in her. That is why I was ready to believe you over your Father. Now listen to me.”
Calandria took her sons hands in hers.
“I owe you many explanations my son and I am sorry if any of them cause you pain. I only meant to protect you, until you were old enough to understand.”
“Please Mother if you can make sense of all that has happened lately I would be grateful.” He sounded very confused.
Calandria smiled at her son he was not going to like what she had to say but it was time he knew.
“Your father, your real father was not killed in action as I led you to believe he is alive and well and as far as I know can never be killed. He is Merlin, the greatest wizard this world has ever known. He insisted I keep it secret until the time was right…”
Gabriel looked at his mother as I seeing her or the first time.
“I was mortally wounded on the battlefield. I lost consciousness and when I awoke a man was leaning over me. He had long hair and a beard to match. He said he had healed my wounds for a reason. If I wanted to know why I should ask you. So tell me mother who was he and why did he do it?”
“He was your father Gabriel, he was Merlin and he did it because you are the champion for good. The one chosen who will battle evil for all time.”
Chapter nineteen
Later when the ball fin
ished Lucien escorted his daughter to her room.
“Goodnight Princess. Tomorrow you marry a good honest man and make me proud.”
Elena stared into her father’s eyes.
“I love you Papa. Thank you for believing Vlad, he appreciates it.”
Lucien hugged his daughter.
“I cannot believe you could love a man who could do the things Gabriel said he did.”
Elena smiled, her mouth partially closed in order to hide her fangs. She kissed her father’s cheek and went into her room.
Lucien hurried off to Lady Zara’s room. He had already planned to spend the night with her before throwing Calandria out.
______________________________
Elena sat down on her bed. A few seconds later a large bat flew in through the window, it flew towards the floor before hitting the floor it became Vladislaus.
“Can I do that?” Elena asked.
Vladislaus laughed.
“You mean turn into a bat? Let’s find out shall we.”
He picked her up and carried her to the window.
Elena looked scared.
Vladislaus smiled.
“Do not worry, little witch even if you drop like a stone, you cannot die. Go fly!”
He threw her gently through the window. Elena flapped her arms for a second and then dropped towards the ground.
“Concentrate!” Vladislaus shouted. “Think of yourself flying. I know you can do it!”
He watched with disappointment as Elena continued to drop slowly to the ground. Just before hitting the ground she changed into, not a bat but a giant Raven and soared into the night.
__________________________________
Lucien pulled Lady Zara towards him.
“A whole night together Zara!” he whispered into her hair.
“Yes Lucien” she whispered back helping him to remove his jacket.
“My Lady what are you doing?” he laughed trying and not succeeding to sound shocked.
“Just making you more comfortable my secret darling.” she replied removing his waistcoat.
“Oh I see allow me to do the same for you, My Lady.” he helped her remove her dress, picked her up and carried her over to the bed. He lay down next to her and kissed her passionately, slowly removing the rest of her clothes.
“Are you comfortable now My Lady?” he grinned.
Zara stretched luxuriously.
“Oh yes my dear Baron, very comfortable.”
“He said as he discarded the rest of his clothes and pulled her to him and began to kiss her his lips moving slowly down her body exploring every inch.
_________________________________
The raven flew back into the room and landed on Vladislaus’ shoulder. He stroked its black head for a moment. It stretched its claws, he felt a sharp pain in his cheek and blood trickled down his face. Before he could heal the wound the raven turned into Elena and she began licking slowly at the blood.
Vladislaus closed his eyes. The feel of Elena’s tongue against his cheek lapping at his blood was strangely sexual. After a few moments she stopped and moved around to face him.
Vladislaus pushed a strand of hair away from her cheek and stared into her big blue eyes for a few seconds.
“I do believe death has made you even more beautiful my little witch.”
He moved his hand around to the back of her head, grabbed a handful of her hair and kissed her viciously, biting her lip and tasting her blood.
His lips moved to her cheek, down her face to her neck. He licked the vein in her neck he could feel the throbbing of her blood echoing the throbbing between his thighs as his sexual excitement grew.
Elena ripped his cravat off and tore at his shirt, running her finger nails down his chest.
“Elena what are you doing you are getting married tomorrow. You should be saving yourself for your husband.” Vladislaus laughed.
“I have waited long enough for him. If I have to wait any longer I shall die.” she ran her nails down his chest this time drawing blood. She sank to her knees; raking her finger nails all the way down to the top of his trousers as she licked the blood with her tongue she undid his trousers, raking her finger nails down to his rapidly growing manhood. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up to face him.
“You have been taking lessons my love, who is the devil I will kill him.” He said with a growl, showing off his fangs to their full extent.
Elena bowed her head.” I have had no lessons my lord. I have just read too much.”
“Then I will have to watch what you read from now on but first you must be punished for reading such filth and for trying to seduce a man the night before your wedding.”
Vladislaus picked her up and threw her roughly towards the bed.
When she landed in the middle he jumped on the bed to join her.
Elena opened her mouth to speak. Vladislaus put his hand over her mouth.
She bit into his hand her fangs tearing at his flesh.
He gasped as she bit into him and sucked at his blood he felt his whole body responding, He wanted to make love to her and drink from her at the same time.
He pulled his hand from her mouth and ripped away her clothes.
Relieving himself of his own clothes, his shirt was torn to shreds, he looked down at her.
“You will have to pay my darling.” He growled.
Elena stretched luxuriously.
“I certainly hope so.” she gushed.
She ran her fingers over his smooth chest slowly moving downwards.
His lips moved down to her breasts he opened his mouth and bit down viciously tearing at her soft flesh. Elena cried out her pain mixed with pleasure as Vladislaus’ hand slipped between her milky white thighs, spreading her legs so he could give her the pleasure she was begging for.
Elena had never felt such exquisite pleasure and pain at the same time.
Every nerve ending burned as if her insides were on fire. She writhed with pleasure
her fingers reaching for his rock hard erection.
“You said you would show me what to with this?” she said breathlessly.
“So I did.” He sighed rolling on top of her. “We place it here.” He groaned as he thrust deep inside her.
She nibbled at his shoulder.
“Bite me little witch!” Bite me!” he gasped as he moved inside her.
She sank her fangs into his flesh and drank deeply.
“Oh Elena! My little witch.” he groaned before sinking his fangs into her neck.
Vladislaus had never felt such pleasure before or since his change. Elena drank from him as he drank from her, he could feel Elena’s dark power flood through him filling him with raw lust and desire. His whole body burned there was nothing more important than being inside Elena. As his blood flowed into her and hers into him, he could feel their pulses beating inside him like a drum. He thrust into her in time to that beat.
Elena arched her back and dug her nails into his buttocks pulling him deeper inside her.
He roared, a loud guttural animal like roar and gave one last thrust.
She joined in his roar with an ear piercing inhuman scream of her own as their world exploded in passion and blood.
“Will it be like that every time?” She asked after a few moments.
“Every time my love, for all eternity. I promise.” he replied breathlessly.
They lay in each other’s arms not needing to say a word. Elena played with a strand of his hair.
“What are we going to do about tomorrow?” She asked suddenly.
Vladislaus looked puzzled.
Whatever do you mean Elena?”
“Our wedding, we are due to be married at midday. The hottest part of the day. When we have said our vows the priest will have to say I now pronounce you dust and dust.”
“Ah yes.” Vladislaus laughed. “Very funny little witch. Very funny! I think the best thing would be to cancel the wedding…”
“But…” Ele
na interrupted “The guests are all here and my Papa has spent a small fortune on it.”
Vladislaus glared at her.
“If you were not so quick to interrupt. I would have answered that problem before you asked it.”
Elena nodded.
“Go on then.”
“I do not wish to upset you, my eternal love but I think the best way to deal with all of our problems is to get rid of your father. If your brother and your mother return they could turn him against us.”
Elena looked worried.
“You mean we should kill him?”
“I can think of no other way round it. If you drink his blood part of him will always be with you and we can blame it on Gabriel. That way we kill two birds with one stone as it were.”
Elena sat up tears in her eyes.
There is nothing wrong with us wanting to be together for eternity but I do not think Papa would understand our taking of human life to do it. I love my father, there must be another way.”
“There is no other way. “ Vladislaus growled. “Your Father has been good to me and if I thought there was another way, for your sake I would do it.”
Elena played with a corner of the bedclothes deep in thought.
“Could we make him our protector? I could put a spell on him so he would not be recognized by anyone but us.”
Vladislaus stood up whilst Elena was thinking he had dressed.
“No!” he shouted “We cannot take the risk. If your mother or your brother were to persuade him that we were evil, they could destroy us. I am as sorry as you are. As you pointed out my love there is nothing wrong with wishing to be together forever but killing people to do so may be frowned upon. Do you not see by killing your dear Papa you are saving him from the humiliation of knowing his daughter is a murderer.” he paced up and down as he spoke.
Elena shook her head.
“No, I will bespell him so he would never know.” her voice was full of desperation.
Vladislaus bared his teeth.
“Enough of this sentimentality. I will not take the risk. Either you kill him or I will!”
He walked over to the bed and looked down at her.
Love, Blood & Brimstone Magic Awakening Page 7