The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (35 page)

“Percy, my aren’t you handsome,” Csilla
purred as she appeared beside us. Her eyes were sparkling
dangerously from all the wine she had consumed and her daring
neckline was drooping lower on the roundness of her
breasts.

“I am not nearly as intriguing as you
are,” Percy answered a bit glibly.

I gave him credit for not peering down
at her cleavage. I had the desire to tuck her bosom back into the
fabric.

Csilla laughed gaily as she pressed her
hand to his chest. Leaning toward him, she whispered, “If I am so
intriguing why do you evade my seductions?”

“I was taught to avoid temptation when
I attended church as a boy. I adhere to that teaching even now.”
Percy sipped his wine, an amused expression on his face.

“Am I tempting?” Csilla’s gaze slid
toward me. She lifted her chin to bare her throat at me. “Am I,
Countess Dracula?”

Wanting to be rid of her, I said,
“Always.”

Grasping my hand, she drew close to me.
“I wish to tempt you.”

Percy’s eyes widened behind his mask.
Not knowing my nature, I was certain he believed that the baroness
was attempting to seduce me. “Temptation comes in many forms, my
baroness. Your form, though pleasing to the eye, is not to my
taste. Besides, what would my husband say?”

Tossing back her head, she laughed with
delight. “He would be quite pleased, I’m sure.” With a sultry
glance at Percy, she slinked away into the party.

“She is...” Percy faltered.

“Disturbing.” I felt angered by her
actions. She was dangerous with her blatant actions and double
entendres.

“Very.”

To counter our discomfort, we danced.
The air was warm and thick with the fragrance of the candles, food,
and humans. It was soothing and I cast away my worries as we
twirled, bowed, and pranced our way across the floor. The music and
chatter were a comforting sound. I was accustomed to this sort of
affair and I could almost imagine I was once more in England. As
always I feel nearly mortal when I am at social gatherings. It
allows me to forget the terrors I have endured since the night my
family arrived at Vlad Dracula’s castle.

We departed the dance laughing. Percy
straightened his raven mask as we maneuvered through the throng of
guests. The ornate costumes added to the festive air and created
the fantastical illusion of a faerie court. There was a sense of
magick in the air and I wished for a moment that Ignatius was at my
side.

“Oh, Countess Dracula!”

I recognized the insipid voice at once
and was determined to ignore it. To my dismay, I was routed by the
worst gossip in Buda when she abruptly stepped before me, waving
her hand. Borbála’s heavily made up face and jeweled mask were more
gruesome than appealing, but her black gown, that was decorated to
depict the constellations, was clever and quite lovely.

“Countess Dracula, I so want you to
meet my distant cousin who is visiting me this winter,” she gasped
out. I suspected she had rushed through the crowd in an attempt to
intercept me. She drew a beautiful young woman to her
side.

I was dumbfounded and I am certain my
expression reflected this truth. I struggled to regain my senses as
I gaped at the young woman at Borbála’s side.

“Her name is Ilinca, and I have told
her all about you.” Borbála smiled at me vapidly, her mouth a slash
of red menace.

Ilinca was lovelier than I had
remembered. Dark tendrils of her hair fell against her soft cheek
as she regarded me, interest looming in her mismatched eyes. Her
headdress, a glittery crescent moon, sparkled on her head and her
white gown was delicate and beautiful with its rich silver
embroidery and sparkling beading. “How lovely to meet you at last.
My dear cousin has told me so much about you.”

Forcing a smile onto my face, I took
her proffered hand. Her hand was warm with life. She had fed
recently. My eyes slid to Borbála’s throat. “I am charmed to meet
you. I am afraid I do not have the benefit of knowing about you
before this moment, but it is a pleasure.” I was awed by Ilinca’s
beauty and also by her presence. If I did not know who she was, I
would have thought she was mortal. I could not feel her power and
her appearance was startlingly human.

“My visit was unexpected,”
Ilinca answered. Her eyes glittered as she spoke and her full mouth
was beguiling with its rich dark color and gentle smile. “My
brother and I had hoped to establish a new home before winter, but
it has been difficult securing a new estate.”

“I can only commiserate. My
home burned to the ground earlier this year and I am the guest of
the baroness.” I immediately realized the folly of my words. My
phrase could definitely be regarded as accusatory.

“I see,” she said, her eyes slightly
narrowing.

“Pardon my manners, this is my dear
friend, Percy,” I said quickly, trying to maintain a more civil and
normal conversation.

Percy bowed over her hand in greeting.
If he could sense my discomfort, his actions did not reveal this
knowledge. “It is a pleasure.”

“You are English?” Ilinca tilted her
head slightly as she regarded him.

“Yes, I am. I am a merchant and I
travel to Buda often for my work.”

“Oh? And what is your
business?”

Ilinca turned her full attention to
Percy as he answered in some detail. Borbála stood at her side
radiating pride. I did not believe for a moment that Borbála was
Ilinca’s cousin. I suspected she was in Ilinca’s thrall. Ilinca
could not have picked a better minion. Borbála knew all the gossip
in the city. Who better to draw into her power so she could uncover
the truth about me and my companions?

“And you and Countess Dracula are
related?”

I returned my full attention to the
conversation.

“Oh, no, no. We are merely friends,”
Percy answered.

“Friends are always good to have, don’t
you think?” Ilinca smiled sweetly at me.

“Yes, of course. Always!” I giggled
nervously. “Especially at parties!”

“Speaking of friends, I think I had
best go rescue Laura,” Percy said, lightly touching my shoulder. He
gestured with his chin at Laura. She was seated on the far side of
the room looking fairly put out as Dietrich tried to cajole her
into a dance.

“Oh, yes! You must get her away from
that horrible boy.” I did not want Ilinca to become too interested
in Percy.

“I shall return shortly. Ladies...”
Percy bowed, excusing himself, then wound his way through the
guests toward Laura.

Nervously, I returned my gaze to
Ilinca. She was staring at me with a bemused expression upon her
lovely face.

“Cousin Borbála, go find Gavril and
tell him I am speaking with Countess Dracula,” Ilinca said, her
eyes gazing steadily into my own.

“Yes, yes! I will do that immediately!”
Borbála rushed off in great haste, not out of fear, but
excitement.

There was much I wanted to say, but I
held my tongue. I remembered Astir and Ignatius’s warnings all too
well. I was to be the vapid countess that was not a threat. It was
not the time to be defiant or reckless.

“I have been so looking forward to
visiting with you.”

“We have met before,” I dared to say,
attempting to keep my tone light.

Her smile widened even more. “Yes, we
have,” Ilinca said, tucking her hand into mine and drawing me into
a corner away from the party. “Let me speak frankly and
openly.”

Despite my desire to be brave, my
fingers trembled in hers. “What shall we speak about?” It was a
daring question, but I could not imagine why she was so keenly
interested in me beyond my attachment to my Master.

“As to whether or not I should kill
you.”

I almost drew away, but caught myself.
Instead, I forced a laugh that sounded a little too high and
nervous. To my surprise, she laughed with me.

“I am inclined to adhere to the
agreement my brother and I have with your husband. My brother
disagrees with me, but then again, Gavril sees everyone as a
threat. He is quite protective of me.” Ilinca smiled. It was sweet
and pure and yet terrified me.

“I am not privy to my husband’s
dealings,” I said quickly.

“You’re not?” She studied me
closely.

Shaking my head, I said in all truth,
“Vlad never speaks to me of his plans. I was not even aware there
were other vampires about in the city. I only learned of you and
your brother through Lady Astir.”

“That is what Astir said to us.” She
seemed pleased with my honest response.

“My husband is not inclined to share
any of his business with me.” I allowed the bitterness I felt
against him to taint my words.

“Therefore, he sent you back to Buda
without informing you of Baatar’s fate?”

“I did not even know about Baatar until
recently. Or about you.” I shrugged slightly. “My husband would
prefer that I do as he says and not ask questions.”

“Is that difficult for you?”

“I am merely his loyal wife.” I
suspected she could sense my rebellious nature and I shifted
uncomfortably on my feet.

“Truly?” She arched her fine, dark
brows slowly.

“Of course! He expects nothing less
than complete loyalty.”

“Then why did Father Ignatius come to
you?”

I could not speak. I merely stared at
her.

“A loyal, faithful wife to Count
Dracula would not consort with his most detested enemy, would she?”
That lovely smile was ever more terrifying despite its sweet
appearance.

“They are brothers by their mistress’
blood.” My defense sounded empty even to my own ears.

Ilinca’s eyes sparkled as
she laughed lightly. It was a carefree sound, yet it made me want
to retch out of fear. “My brother and I agree that you are much
more than Vlad Dracula’s vapid English Bride no matter what Lady
Astir proclaims. Gavril is afraid that you are a co-conspirator
against us. I disagree. I do not think you met with Father Ignatius
to plot against us. I think you met with him to plot against your
absentee husband.”

I lowered my gaze as I was
left speechless. I struggled to grasp the words to say, but I could
not fashion a response.

Pulling me deeper into the shadows, she
drew close to me. Her eyes staring into mine, she whispered, “I
know what it is to love he that is forbidden. I can see it in your
eyes.”

“I...” Words were lost to
me.

“I know that you hate Vlad. I have seen
it in your dreams. He killed your family, did he not? Killed you?
Made you his Bride? Now he has cast you aside to reside in the city
while he does as he wills elsewhere. I know all about Vlad Dracula.
The plotter, the schemer, the warrior, the prince, the
impaler.”

I could not take my gaze away from her
face as she spoke. I was mesmerized.

“You are his little pawn on an enormous
and complicated chessboard. I can see that so clearly. But you do
not want to wait for him to return to reclaim you as his own. I
sense that within you as well. Is that why Father Ignatius visited
you?”

“He is my friend,” I
whispered.

“He is your lover.” She smirked. “Are
you conspiring against Vlad?”

“No.” It was the honest
truth.

Her eyes stared deeply into mine. “I
believe you.”

“All I desire is to live my life in
peace. I will not interfere with you, or your brother’s dealings in
any way. I swear it.”

Nodding, she released my hand and
touched my cheek. “I believe you. I see it in your
eyes.”

“I am not a threat to you. I swear
it.”

Ilinca’s expression was somber as she
gently stroked my cheek. I could feel her power slipping over my
skin, seizing hold of me. I did not fight, but was submissive. “You
still have your secrets, but they do not concern us.” The delicate
touch of her power receded and she stepped back. “I shall inform
Gavril.”

“About Ignatius...” I dared to
say.

Ilinca’s smile returned. “As I said, I
know how it is to love someone that is forbidden.” With one last
touch of her hand against my cheek, she left me to rejoin the
party.

I watched her walk to a tall imposing
figure wearing a golden mask fashioned to resemble the sun. Despite
the distance between us, I could see that his hair was as dark as
his sister’s and his eyes were also different colors: one blue, one
green. Gavril stared at me for a long moment, then turned his
attention to his petite sister as she joined him. He leaned his
long form over her and touched her lips lightly with his fingers.
Watching them, I felt disturbed and afraid. Ilinca cast one more
smile in my direction, then the two of them strode into the depths
of the crowd.

Overwhelmed, I fled to my rooms and did
not return to the ball.

Chapter 23

The Journal of Countess
Dracula