The Bathory Curse (22 page)

“Well, at least he had sense not to force them to
come. He should have destroyed them ages ago, Lily causes chaos
everywhere, Siobhan spends money like water and I know Marisol
starves herself in rebellion.” Nea was trying to be lighthearted
but she had a bad feeling about the whole situation.

“Stasi, you and Mihail will stay here. I think I
shall go to Whitby by myself.”

“I don’t think that’s smart, you’ll need someone
with you,” Mihail argued.

“True. I shall ask Sabine to come and live with me
for a time and leave Ruxandra here with you for protection,” she
said. Mihail started to argue. “Your father protects you from
Costica when you live with him; let me at least do as much.” She
kissed her son’s cheek and left to change the plans and create new
ones.

“Oh, Mihail! That means it will be just us for a
while! I know you want to go with Mama, but think about it,” Stasi
exclaimed, throwing her arms around Mihail and kissing his lips,
eyes so blue, sparkling like crystal.

“Ruxandra will be here.” Mihail knew fighting with
her was no good.

“She doesn’t care what we do; Ruxandra is the most
private person I know.” Stasi took his hand and drew him to sit
down next to her on the floor near the fire place. She snuggled up
against him.

“It might be nice to be able to be just us for a
while.” Mihail stroked her arm; pulling her closer to him he kissed
the base of her neck. Mihail and Stasi had been in love for 300
years or more, they were keeping it a secret, worried Bendis would
punish them. Normally it wouldn’t be frowned upon but the Goddess
had made it very clear many years she would be against their
relationship.

“It will be, you won’t have to sneak into my bed at
dawn and we can do all kinds of couple things we don’t get to. Go
to the theatre, hold hands…”

“We could hunt together; we never get to do that,”
Mihail commented, thinking about how much he desired her right
after she had fed off emotions.

“I know, mainly because then I wind up on my back
for the next two days,” Stasi teased, tickling him.

“Like it doesn’t affect you too.” Mihail tried to
act offended, but it just increased her torture of him.

Stasi got serious after a moment, “I feel bad hiding
us….I don’t think Mama would mind.”

Mihail held her closer, he knew she was worried;
they just didn’t want to get their mother in trouble. What if
Bendis took out her anger on mother instead of them?

“I agree Mom wouldn’t care, but what if Bendis
punished her for our choice…or punished us?”

“She wouldn’t dare, I make such a good Strigoi and
Mama is the best Strega…Wait… Is that my darkness, I got out of
being cursed but now I am too good of a Strigoi? Maybe that’s
really why Bendis forbade our relationship. What if I turn and then
mama has to kill me. I’ve seen her and Sabine hunt, and it’s not
pretty.” Stasi worried her bottom lip; Mihail bent down and pressed
a kiss, halting the pressure of her teeth against the soft
flesh.

“You are a good Strigoi, you feed well and with
pleasure to make mom stronger and you do what she tells you when
balance is needed, whether that’s killing or something
mundane.”

“Maybe I like it too much, maybe-”

“Let’s get married.” Mihail cut her off and watched
as she cast her eyes downward and bit her lip again, but not before
he saw the surprise in her face as her words halted in her
throat.

“I don’t think marriage is a good idea Mihail.”

“But trying to have a baby is?” he asked. Ever since
his mother had shared the mystery about a granddaughter who isn’t a
granddaughter Stasi had been obsessed with trying to get pregnant.
Though she knew that being a Strigoi meant she could not give birth
she had tried everything to make it happen anyway; spells, herbs,
rituals…everything.

“That’s different, I am trying to help my family,
what would marriage do?”

“Make it more difficult for Bendis or anyone else to
separate us. Call me old-fashioned but I’d like us to be married
before having a child, even a theoretical child.” He was frowning
now. She leaned up and kissed his chin.

“What if you get bored with me…a divorce would be
really difficult with the fact we are immortal Strigoi,” she
laughed.

“I could never get bored with you Stasi. I haven’t
in 300 years.”

“In 300 years you haven’t lived with me full time
either,” she pointed out.

“Mom has a bunch of really old spell books in a box
under her desk, she doesn’t like anyone to touch them, one is even
written in blood. Maybe while she is gone we can look there for
something to help you get pregnant.” He stopped her from talking,
putting a finger to her lips as excitement shone in her eyes,
“however, you have to agree to marry me first.”

“Like now?” She squeaked.

“No, like some day.” Mihail said,

“Alright.” She smiled and Mihail claimed her mouth,
using his magic to move them to her room to show her how happy that
decision actually made him.

***

“I don’t understand why they think they need to hide
from us,” Sabine laughed as she and Nea walked away from the open
door.

Magic made life so much easier, with a simple
thought Sabine and Ruxandra had answered Nea’s summons. Shortly
after they had found a very intimate Mihail and Stasi.

“Something Bendis said I’m sure. I am not completely
happy about it, but not angry either,” Nea said, face stern.

“Why not happy Bunica?” Ruxandra asked, confused. So
what if Mihail and Stasi were in love, it didn’t seem that
important?

“It could cause complications. However it’s been
going on for more than three centuries so even if I wanted to there
isn’t anything to be done,” Nea shrugged.

“Doesn’t it bother them that they are related?”
Sabine frowned.

Nea laughed, “They are so distantly related it’s
almost like they are not. If I remember my family tree…I think
Mihail’s great-grandfather was the great uncle to Stasi’s
great-grandfather.” The three women laughed at how ridiculous the
statement sounded.

“Now like a Strega she cannot be effected by the
curse, right??” Ruxandra questioned, a sobering thought.

“Something about the Strigoi process destroys the
curse like it does disease.” Nea explained.

“So that’s the cure!” Ruxandra laughed, “Tell Bendis
to let girl children be born again and you can turn them all into
your Strigoi.” All three women chuckled at the ludicrous
prospect.

“Did you know Stasi was trying to find a way to
procreate?” Sabine asked when the laughter died down.

“No, that was news, but maybe she is on to
something.”

“It’s not possible though, correct?” Ruxandra turned
around to look at her grandmother.

“Not that I know of. Now, Sabine and I will be
leaving right away. I am putting you in charge here since you are
so good at it.” Nea smiled, “Renata and Marina will be meeting us
in Whitby, the normal way.”

“Why are we taking them? Can’t we handle this on our
own? Just hire locals,” Sabine sniffed.

“It will be easier to allow Marina and Renata to
handle the household if we are going to be dealing with my
husband.”

They were in the sitting room by then, getting ready
to have tea, it was something the English did she quite enjoyed,
tea service.

“I would be happy to deal with the household here;
it’s been so long since I had one of my own,” Ruxandra said.

“I am sorry for that. Once Costica is dead, I will
give you a house anywhere you would like” Nea told her, she gazed
at her beautiful granddaughter and wished that the last three
hundred years had been less chaotic.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about Bunica, I
know.” The three of them chatted idly while they finished their
tea; they spoke of normal things like the theatre, gossip and
politics. Sometimes it was good to take a step back and pretend to
be normal mortals.  Sabine and Nea left soon after that.

They arrived in Whitby, two beautiful single women,
just after a ship, the Demeter had crashed into the shore line
leaving all but one passenger dead.

Sabine and Nea stood on a cliff, the sea breeze
whipping around them as picturesque clouds floated over a blue sky.
The town of Whitby was a small cozy village by the sea with white
washed buildings and matching fences. People milled about dealing
with business, children, work and school. Nea could smell the brine
of the sea, fish guts, bread baking and over it all blood, a lot of
fresh blood. For at the harbor was a boat and the majority of
people were swarming over trying to get a look at the bodies before
the police covered them and hauled them away.

“What was he thinking?” Sabine asked, “That trip
takes forever, he would be starving, those people never had a
chance.”

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Nea turned
away from the sight, disgusted. He could have travelled under his
own power and brought his things by boat, there was no reason for
those people to die. Nea was reminded that her husband was a
vampire, practically soulless and brutal. No matter how tender he
was with her.

“See there.” Sabine pointed down to where the ship
was, two women stood there. One was very beautiful, with pale skin,
and fair-haired hair; she was petite, thin and lovely like a
porcelain doll. She was being steadied by a taller more robust
woman with deep chestnut curls coming out of her high bun. Her skin
had seen more sunshine and while not pretty and delicate like the
other woman; she was striking to look at. They seemed to be arguing
a little and the brunette began slowly helping the blonde woman
away from the wreckage.

“She’s been fed on.” Nea narrowed her eyes, from
their vantage point and her unnatural eye sight she could see the
girl’s paleness was not just from being cooped up inside, but from
the blood she lost recently. She also had an aura about her all
vampire victims did, like a shadow creeping up behind them. It
lasted at least twenty four hours after feeding.

“Well then, we should probably find out who they are
and make friends. I for one would be very interested in the
brunette,” Sabine leered.

“I can find Vlad easier than that, we don’t need to
bother the locals.” Nea hedged away from the idea of making
friends.

“The one girl needs protection Nea, what if you
can’t convince Dracula to leave her alone?”

“I still don’t think involving them is a good idea,
we can protect her from a distance.”

“Half the reason you sought out this town was to
relax and enjoy life a little, yes? Those girls are probably in the
middle of the social circle, parties, dinners, teas, luncheons…all
sorts of fun frivolous outings, plus we can snoop a bit as well,”
Sabine argued.

“I don’t think society like that stretches too far
from London,” Nea told her.

“Well, not as high and fancy, but towns like this
are where rich women and their friends deem to spend the summer
holiday.”

“Fine, we shall seek them out first thing tomorrow,
but now I want to follow Vlad’s trail and see where it leads us.”
 Together the women left, following the trace of darkness and
blood that the vampire’s presence had left from the ship.

The town of Purfleet was a secluded village that was
quite small, located on the northern side of the river Thames in
Essex.  It’s only claim to fame seemed to be an asylum. On the
outskirts of town the trail stopped. There was about 20 acres of
land surrounded by a stone wall, an iron gate, and, all but falling
off the hinges, a sign that said “Carfax”, but it was barely
legible.

The women entered the gate, cautiously, concerned
that Vlad might have put up magical traps or have sentinels. Nea
felt the first ward about five feet in.

“Stop, he has wards up, I don’t want to alert him to
our presence.”

“He’ll be asleep it won’t matter.”

“Not always, he is a very old vampire.” Nea could
see the estate from where they stood, abandoned, timeworn and in a
state of decay it loomed out of the dense trees.

“Yuck, why does he want to live here?” Sabine said
pointing towards a large black pond thinking about what horrible
secrets could lurk beneath the water, “it’s gloomy, even with the
sun shining.”

“Might have something to do with that.” Nea pointed
to the large opposing building on one side that must have been the
asylum.

“Is that a church?” Sabine squinted. Farther in the
distance on the other side of Carfax estate sat a derelict
church.

“Yes, this is perfect, between an old church and
asylum this place is the local haunted house, no one will come here
and people won’t find it strange that he is from Transylvania and
trying to renovate this place…He’s brilliant.” Nea beamed. She knew
she shouldn’t feel proud, but it was there, as well as the disgust
at herself at feeling so.

“No, it’s creepy, let’s go, at least now we know
where he is.” Sabine touched Nea’s arm, a little concerned. She
knew her friend would never stop loving Dracula, but it seemed best
to remove her from temptation. Sabine wanted to leave, the darkness
of the place grated against her psyche causing all her internal
warning bells to scream at her.

“Ok, we’ll find out who those girls are and send a
calling card to their home at once.” Nea turned and let her friend
lead her off the grounds of Carfax. So preoccupied with thoughts of
her husband she didn’t notice that something else had taken an
active interest in her presence.

Chapter 14

Whitby

Two months later

“Such a nice gathering, Mrs. Westenra, as usual,”
Nea complimented her hostess, noting with dismay how unwell she
seemed to be. Over the past few months she and Sabine had gotten to
know the Westenra’s quite well. Mrs. Westenra wasn’t just in Whitby
for a summer holiday; the doctors also hoped the pace and fresh air
would help with her weakened heart condition. Mrs. Westenra was an
older, if possible, more delicate version of her daughter,
Lucy.