The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (19 page)

“What did Vlad do?” I asked though I
already suspected the truth.

“He watched her burn,
ordered us to clean up her ashes, and departed to see his new
conquest.” Magda tucked her hair back from her face. “Though I
witnessed Vlad attempting to secure the same fate for you through
his power and blood, you were far stronger than she was. When I
realized you were in love with another, I did all I could to help
you hide that from Vlad. I did not want you to meet her fate. He
destroys what he loves. Always.”

“Thank you,” I said,
placing my hand over hers. “Thank you for reminding me that what I
feel is born out of him, not me. I feel weakened when I feel the
bond to him. I feel evil.”

“You’re not evil. Not like he is,”
Magda assured me. “Never.”

At last I lay down on the grand bed and
she blew out the candles. After making sure the windows were
secure, Magda retired to her room as I settled down to sleep. As my
eyes closed, I thought of her story, all I had endured, and vowed I
would never be his again.

Chapter 13

The Journal of Countess
Dracula

June 15, 1820

The Dosza Palace,
Buda

As anticipated, I have
received countless queries from the members of Buda’s high society.
The wealthy and titled of the city are undoubtedly intrigued with
the scandal of Count Vlad Dracula’s wife visiting his mistress. I
have received all manner of invitations: to parties, luncheons,
teas, and dinners. There are many letters on thick paper with wax
seals extending offers of friendship. I am quite amused, as it is
evident that I am causing a stir among my husband’s circle of
friends. I sit in my lovely new sitting room sorting through the
stack of correspondence feeling amused and delighted.

Though there has been no
word from the Baroness, Brice assured me that a message has been
dispatched and that she will most likely be returning to the palace
within a day or so.

Shortly after eight o'clock
in the evening, I was informed that I had a caller.

“Who is it?” I asked Brice.

“Sir Stephan, his wife Maria, and their
daughter,” he answered. “He just learned of your arrival and is
quite anxious to bid you welcome to Buda.”

I smirked as I set aside the
correspondence. Standing, I pulled a lacy shawl about my shoulders
and smoothed out the pale blue silk of my dress. “Very well. Please
escort me to my guests.”

Sir Stephan was just as I remembered
him: tall, slim, plain, and rather forgettable. His wife, Maria,
was much more intriguing and lively. She was Hungarian and
beautiful with thick dark hair, pale skin, and gray eyes. When she
smiled it was as if a beacon of light surrounded her. Even though
the last time I had been in their presence I had threatened their
lives, she greeted me warmly.

“Countess Dracula, how lovely to see
you!” she exclaimed. “We came as soon as we heard the news of your
arrival. We’re so excited to see you once again.”

I allowed her to kiss me on both cheeks
and gave her a false smile in return. Sir Stephan mumbled a
greeting and kissed my hand. I could feel his unease sliding off of
his skin. My smile widened with satisfaction. I enjoyed watching
him pale beneath my gaze.

“A pleasure to see you, Countess
Dracula,” he said after clearing his throat.

I tilted my head as I caught sight of a
young woman lingering behind them. “And this is?”

“Our daughter, Laura,” Maria answered,
taking her daughter’s arm and pushing her toward me. The girl’s
head hung down, the thick brown curls around her face hiding it
from view.

“Laura, how nice to meet you. I am
Countess Dracula,” I said, extending my hand.

Taking it, she curtsied slightly, and
answered, “A pleasure to meet you.”

I was speechless when she raised her
head, for Laura immediately reminded me of my dead sister. Though
she resembled May, her defiant chin, and wary, alert gaze spoke of
a personality far more dynamic than that of my sweet delicate
sister. Her eyes were large, heavily fringed with dark lashes, and
a warm color between green and gold while her full, finely shaped
lips and round cheeks were the shade of a pink rose.

“Laura just returned from finishing
school in France,” Maria explained, her arm delicately looped about
her daughter’s. There was a nervous edge to her voice and her eyes
darted toward her silent husband.

“Did you enjoy studying abroad?” I
asked, scrutinizing the daughter of my enemy.

“Until I had to return home, yes,”
Laura answered boldly.

“It is time to find her a good
husband,” Sir Stephan said in a voice sharp with the history of
many arguments.

Laura’s eyes narrowed at his comment
and I instantly liked her. There was a spark within her that
reminded me much of myself.

“We were hoping that perhaps she could
find some eligible young man in the coming months,” Maria continued
in a jovial tone. “Of course, now that Count Dracula is married,
she will have to settle for someone else.”

I detected a hidden message in her
voice and I studied Maria’s too bright expression. She was afraid
for her daughter, I realized. Slowly, it occurred to me that they
were pleading not only for their own lives, but their daughter’s. I
had threatened to destroy them after all.

“Do you desire married life, Laura?” I
watched her face with great interest.

Sir Stephan cleared his throat as
Maria’s smile diminished ever so slightly.

Laura graced me with an earnest
expression. “My parents would be quite happy if I found a suitable
man to marry.”

I liked her elusiveness. She was not as
outspoken as I was when I was chaffing against my parents desires
to marry, but I was impressed. Her parents were clearly relieved
she had not said something horribly shocking and it amused me.
Taking Laura’s arm, I guided her away from her mother to sit upon
the couch with me.

“My parents felt exactly as yours,” I
told her. “All they wanted for me and my sister was to marry well.”
I glanced toward Sir Stephan who was growing ever more pale. He sat
down heavily in a high back chair as his wife lingered at his side.
“They even journeyed across Europe in pursuit of a suitable
husband.”

Laura tilted her head, her gaze
fastened upon me. “And they settled on Count Dracula?” She sounded
incredulous; therefore, I assumed she had most likely met my
vampire master in the past. I could see the distaste in her
eyes.

“Actually, they died. As did my sister.
It was a tragedy. In the aftermath, Count Dracula took me as his
bride.” I flicked my gaze toward her parents to see that Maria was
looking quite anxious now.

“So they got what they desired in the
end,” Laura decided, her tone cautious.

“In a sense, yes, they did.” My sadness
crept into my voice.

“But all is well now,” Maria said
quickly. “Is it not?” It was obvious she wanted some sort of
assurance from me. I was not in the mood to give it.

“As well as can be expected considering
my family is dead and our home in Buda burned mysteriously,” I said
with a tight smile. “And our castle in the country is not suitable
for long term habitation; therefore, that is why I am visiting with
the Baroness.”

“It sounds like such a traumatic time!”
Laura declared. “So much unhappiness.”

“I often wish that circumstances were
not such as they are,” I confessed, my gaze sweeping toward Laura’s
parents, the conspirators that had doomed my family and me. “Yet
the hands of fate moved against me and my family and I am left with
ashes of a former life.”

“Surely your husband and new life bring
you some joy,” Maria said, her voice quavering ever so
slightly.

“I have found love and it does bring me
joy, but there is so much sorrow it is hardly balanced,” I said,
dropping my gaze dramatically.

“Oh, Countess, how dreadfully sad!”
Laura clutched my hands with her own. They were soft and warm. I
found her touch reassuring and soothing.

“We all bear our burdens,” a voice said
from the doorway.

“Baroness!” Sir Stephan exclaimed with
obvious relief.

Striding into the parlor, the baroness
was a vision of beauty in her crimson traveling clothes and jaunty
bonnet decorated with a spray of black and white ostrich feathers.
Her fine porcelain skin contrasted with her raven black hair and
dark glittering eyes. Lips red as a cherry smiled brightly as she
pulled off her gloves and tossed them at Brice. “How lovely to see
you, Countess Dracula!”

Even I was swept up in her charismatic
beauty as she leaned over and kissed me tenderly on both cheeks,
her hands lightly touching my face.

“Baroness, it is kind of you to invite
me into your home.

“You are always welcome, my dear
Countess! Laura! My, you are far from the scrawny little colt you
once were. So lovely!”

The Baroness filled the room with her
seductive presence, greeting everyone with kisses and flattering
words while slowly shedding her traveling coat and bonnet to reveal
the simple, but elegant black frock beneath. With the wave of her
hand and silvery laugh, she ordered refreshments for all and took
up the position of hostess with a finesse I sorely lack.

“As soon as I heard the word that you
had arrived, I immediately began my journey home, dear Countess. I
was surprised that you should arrive so early since I just received
your letter.”

“We were forced to leave a little
earlier than anticipated,” I answered. Out of the corner of my eye
I could see Laura staring at the Baroness with rapt attention. It
was easy to be drawn into the Baroness’ web. She was beautiful and
charismatic. It was not difficult to ascertain why Vlad had made
her his lover.

“Nothing too terrible I hope!” the
Baroness said, her brow furrowing with worry.

“Oh, no, nothing too terrible. Just
some minor difficulty. I thought it best that I should leave.
Besides, I have missed Buda in my absence,” I answered
truthfully.

“And your dear husband, is he well?”
she asked as the tea tray was brought in by a servant. Her voice
was calm, but her dark eyes were keen.

Gracing her with a smile, I answered,
“He is consumed with matters concerning our country
estate.”

“Will he be joining you soon?” Sir
Stephan asked, his voice slightly quavering.

With a light shrug, I settled more
comfortably upon the couch. “I dare not speak for him. I only know
he desired for me to return and deal with matters here.”

All three of the adult mortals paused
in their movements for the shortest of moments. I could see their
bodies tense as the Baroness busied herself with serving the
tea.

“Of course, I shall assist you in
whatever is required of me,” Sir Stephan promised.

“And I am always and forever your dear
friend. Whatever I can do in service I shall do readily,” the
Baroness said with a wide smile.

I balanced my teacup upon its saucer
and returned her smile. “My husband would expect nothing
less.”

Maria quickly occupied herself in
preparing her tea, her eyes downcast with worry. I could discern
from the expression upon Laura’s face that she knew something was
amiss with those around her. With delicate ease, she sipped her tea
and nibbled on a small cake, her eyes studying the
Baroness.

“He has always been such a dear
friend.” The Baroness reclined in her chair, her movements sensual
and casual despite the slight tension about her eyes. “I remember
well when I first met him. I thought to myself he was the most
formidable creature I had ever beheld.”

Laura smothered a titter by drinking
her tea. My gaze met hers and I felt immediately that we were
conspirators.

“He does have the aura of a warrior of
old,” Maria agreed.

“A man who expects to be obeyed,”
Stephan added.

“And shall be! Always!” The Baroness
ate a biscuit with relish, her eyes sparkling.

I was amused at how desperate they were
to set me at ease and assure me of their devotion to Count Dracula.
I had no doubt that they would wish to placate him since I had
concocted my plan to move back to Buda and into their good graces.
I needed their devotion to Vlad to manipulate them into doing my
will.

“I will make certain to relay that
information in my correspondence.” For Laura’s sake, I pretended to
sip my tea and peck at my cake. I liked her much more than her
simpering parents and had no desire to expose her to my true
nature. I would spare her, but not her parents. My plans would need
to be altered in order to spare her the emotional trauma I had
endured. I would not kill Sir Stephan and Maria, but I would find a
way to inflict my vengeance upon them.

The Baroness set aside her cup and
leaned toward me. “I am simply thrilled that you are once more in
our presence! We had such little time to converse when you were
last in the city, before the tragedy of your home burning! Oh, it
has caused such concern among your peers, I can assure you. All
sorts of rumors have been flitting about! One rumor even suggested
that Vlad’s own servants burned his home!”