The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (36 page)

November 7,
1820

The Dosza Palace

Since the ball, I have kept
to the Dosza Palace, feeding off Csilla and my guards to sustain
myself. I refused all visitors, claiming illness. I lay in bed,
anxious and afraid, unable to calm myself.

At last, I realized I was
being foolish and that no good would come of sequestering myself.
Csilla already looks quite drawn by my drinks from her
throat.

When I received an
invitation from Laura to join her on a shopping expedition to Váci
Street, I decided I was done with languishing in my rooms. If
Ilinca and Gavril decide to kill me, I will not be able to stop
them.

“Oh, how I wish you hadn’t become ill
at the ball. Though Percy was a darling, I had to put up with that
terrible Dietrich all night,” Laura exclaimed. We trailed behind
her mother through the crowd, Adem walking a discreet, but watchful
distance behind us.

The street lamps flickered as shoppers
hurried about hoping to make their purchases before the shops
closed. Other people strolled to the cafes and restaurants along
the street. A few street performers were still out, braving the
growing cold of the night. The first snowfall of the year had yet
to occur, but the sky was heavy with ominous clouds and the wind
was biting.

My wool coat with its thick fur cuffs
and collar kept the chill from seeping into my flesh, but Laura’s
shivering form and red cheeks proved that the purchase of a new
coat for her was greatly needed. Maria rushed us along to the shop
where Pelisse coats were for sale. My own was a deep navy with
thick black fur and silver buttons. I rather liked the styling that
was reminiscent of a military uniform.

“I’m so sorry. Didn’t Percy assist you
in dealing with Dietrich?”

We kept our voices down as
we followed Maria through the throng of shoppers. She obviously did
not approve of me joining them on this late shopping expedition.
Laura had insisted on waiting for me. Maria didn’t understand why
Laura wanted my approval on the purchase. I thought she actually
wanted some company other than her mother, but I was happy to offer
my opinion.

“Yes, of course, he did.
He’s such a sweet man, but father kept chasing him off. Dietrich is
insisting on asking for my hand in marriage at Christmas.” Laura’s
eyes flashed with her anger. “I already told him not to ask for I
shall say no. But he is convinced I shall change my mind. Honestly,
he frightens me. He attempted to kiss me again and offered to sneak
through my window at night.”

“Have you told your father?” I felt
outrage at Dietrich’s actions.

Laura shook her head in dismally. “He
only says I am trying to be difficult.”

Maria ushered us into the warmth of the
small boutique. Her dark eyes studied our faces with curiosity, but
we both smiled at her, wiping away our tense expressions. “Hurry
along! The shop will close soon.”

Adem entered after us and lingered near
the door. Maria gave him a worried expression, but quickly forgot
him as she drove us deeper into the store filled with the latest
fashions. The shopkeeper had been notified of our visit and already
several coats had been set aside for Laura to try on. We dropped
the subject of Dietrich as she excitedly studied the selections. I
had been to the shop before and was impressed by the coats and
dresses their seamstresses created. Unlike most shops, this one had
clothing already made that was altered to fit the customer. Two
coats fit her with no alterations needed whatsoever, which thrilled
her. We were both keen on a light blue coat with soft white fur on
the collar, but Maria was adamant about a rose colored one with
brown fur.

“It matches your hair, Laura,” Maria
said.

“Her hair will blend into the fur. The
white will be a nice contrast.” I smiled at Maria sweetly. “Don’t
you think?”

Maria sniffed and fussed with the coat
she selected.

Laura sighed and leaned close to me.
“She doesn’t like it because you do.”

I pointed at the coat Laura desired. “I
will purchase that coat as a gift. Please wrap it.”

“Countess Dracula!” Maria
gasped.

“It is my pleasure. Truly.” I gave her
a wide, earnest smile and ignored her protests as I drew out my
purse.

“It is a very nice choice,” the
shopkeeper dared to say.

Maria shoved her selection toward him.
“I shall take this one as well.”

Looking pleased with the double sale,
the shopkeeper quickly began to fold the coats into long, white
boxes.

I became aware of Adem at my side and
gave him a curious look.

“Prepare yourself,” he
whispered.

The door opened and Lady Astir stepped
through the doorway. Clad in a beautiful white coat with white fur
and gold accents, she was the very epitome of beauty. Her long gold
hair was looped around in an ornate design and her thick wool hat
matched her coat to perfection.

“Countess Dracula!”

“Lady Astir, how lovely to see you,” I
said, trying not to appear anxious.

Maria looked positively startled at
Lady Astir’s appearance. The fallen angel’s height and imposingly
handsome countenance can be somewhat intimidating.

My surprise deepened when I saw two
women were in Astir’s wake. One was Katya dressed in a
sophisticated outfit of deep green and the other woman was dark and
exotic and dressed in red attire. The smile on Katya’s face
broadened as she saw me and her pink tongue darted out between her
lips to lick them.

I wanted to slap her.

“That is Saadat,” Adem murmured in my
ear before he took his place at my side.

I barely had a chance to look at his
wife before Astir was upon me.

“I am so pleased to see you.” Lady
Astir made a great show of kissing me on both cheeks, before
regarding my companions. “And who are your lovely
friends?”

I quickly introduced Maria and Laura. I
was frantic to escape the shop and Lady Astir. Nothing good ever
seems to come of my visits with her. She’s always a harbinger of
some terrible news.

“Lovely to meet you, Lady Astir. I
don’t recognize your accent. Is your husband Hungarian?” Maria was
obviously attempting to be courteous, but her voice slightly
trembled.

“No, he’s not. Oh, that is a lovely
coat.” Astir said with admiration as the shopkeeper carefully
folded the blue coat into a box. “Preparing for the winter, I see.
It will be a terribly cold one. I feel it in my bones.”

“You have bones?” The words escaped my
lips before I could stop myself.

Astir laughed with delight. “Some would
say that is all I am made from. My height and all that.”

Laura watched what was transpiring
around her with great interest. I could see that she was studying
not only Lady Astir, but her two silent companions. Katya’s ruby
lips and sparkling eyes were dangerously seductive as she watched
me pay for my purchase. Laura’s gaze kept flicking back and forth
between us.

“Are you a close friend of Count and
Countess Dracula?” Maria’s pallor was a bit pale and I could see
her unease.

“Oh, we’re quite close. Aren’t we,
darling?”

“Of course, Astir,” I answered, not
daring to provoke the creature. She was in one of her moods and I
did not dare aggravate her.

“That is a lovely coat. It will look
wonderful on you.” Astir smiled down at me and I was unnerved to
see the tension about her mouth.

“It’s for me,” Laura said. She seemed
unsure of the undercurrents swirling about her, but she was a bold
young thing and not about to be intimidated. “The countess was kind
enough to purchase it as a gift. She is a kind and good friend, you
know.”

“For you? Really?” Astir’s eyes
slightly narrowed, then she laughed. “How kind of her. You will
certainly need it with the winter so swiftly coming. In fact, I
believe it will snow tonight. The sky looks ominous.”

Gathering up the packages, Maria lifted
her chin and charged toward the door. “Come along, girls. It’s
growing late. We must hurry to the cafe if we wish to be home at a
decent hour.”

Laura followed in her wake, but said in
a courteous tone to Astir, “It was lovely to meet you.”

Ashamed of Maria’s rudeness, yet
relieved that she was adamant to depart, I laid my hand on Astir’s
forearm. “It was a pleasant surprise to see you here
tonight.”

Astir tilted her head and smirked. “I
sought you out to warn you.”

“Of what?” Adem’s voice was a bit
harsh.

I saw the dark eyes of his wife glanced
at him briefly from across the room where she was gazing at a
dress. Katya crept closer to Astir and me, curious.

“Once the snow begins to fall, your
world shall start to crumble. Be warned not to do anything hasty or
foolish.” Astir’s voice was quiet and ominous.

Rage filled me as I stared up at the
fallen angel. “How dare you come and interrupt my life to say such
a thing. All you do is warn and threaten me. Have I not done all
you desired?”

“I’m afraid it has all been for
naught,” Astir lamented “for all I see around you is
death.”

“Damn you,” I whispered in a ragged
voice. “Damn you.”

“When the snow starts to fall...” Lady
Astir trailed off and she sighed sadly.

“Countess, we should go!” Maria called
out from the front of the store. “It is beginning to
snow!”

Astir gasped, her fingers covering her
mouth. “Oh, dear.”

Furious, I stomped after Maria and out
of the store.

The Journal of Countess
Dracula

November 11,
1820

The Dosza Palace

The snow swirled and danced
outside the windows as Adem slashed at me with the dagger. Our
blades clanked together as I defended myself, then twirled away
from him.

“Your concentration is off,” Adem
scolded.

“Astir’s warning perturbed me!” I
attacked, my blade flashing as I aggressively forced him back
toward the enormous fireplace in the ballroom. It was the only room
that we could effectively practice our fighting skills now that the
snow was falling. The cascading snowflakes had not stopped since
the snow began several nights before.

“Which was her intention,” Adem said,
effectively deflecting my blows.

Clutching my daggers in both hands, I
circled him slowly. My hair fell loose around my shoulders as I
moved. “Why must she aggravate me so?”

“She has her own ways, as we both know.
She does as she wills.” Adem darted forward. I stepped to one side
and shoved him off balance. He tumbled a few feet, then, groaning,
sat up. “You’re paying attention. Good.” He set his blades aside to
rub his bruised ribs.

Looking down at the knives, I felt
angry at the lack of my reflection. The blades glinted in the
candlelight, empty of my countenance. “I am so tired of feeling so
utterly helpless. I should be able to live my own life and do as I
please!” I stomped my foot with frustration.

Sitting upon the floor, Adem rested his
hands against his knees and peered up at me. “I agree, but life is
not always so easy. Astir’s warning should not be taken
frivolously. I know I did not heed her when she warned me that one
day I would regret saving Saadat’s life.”

“Do you regret it?”

Adem sighed, shaking his head. “No. Not
truly. I would not be here with you, with Magda, if not for the
choice I made to save Saadat.”

“What are you going to do about your
marriage to her?”

Adem ran his hand over his long curls
and resignedly shrugged. “Nothing. I spoke with her about Magda and
she said she does not care what I do.”

“And what did Magda say?”

“I have not told her yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because I do not know what I can offer
her. I am here because Astir allows it. Should she decide you are
no longer in her favor, she will summon me to the haven and I will
have to obey. I could not ask Magda to follow me there. I do not
even know if Astir would allow it.”

Sitting upon the floor beside him, I
gazed around the vast ballroom. It was beautiful in its
ornamentation, yet without the revelers, music and candlelight, it
felt like a tomb. “We are trapped, you and I.”

“I doomed myself. You were doomed by
others. Do not forget that. You are an innocent.”

“I’m killing her slowly,” I confessed.
“Every time I drink from her, I take just a little more. She grows
weaker as I grow stronger.”'

“Does it bring you
satisfaction?”

I thought of Csilla’s fading pallor and
her growing lethargy. “Yes.”

His rough hand unexpectedly touched my
chin, turning my face toward him. “Be careful. Do not sacrifice
what is good within you to quench your anger.”

Tears flooded my vision as I gazed at
him. “My family had no hope once she decided I was to be Vlad’s
bride. Their fate was sealed. I still hear my father’s death cry,
my sister’s sobs of terror, and see my mother’s desolation. Nothing
I do can bring them back to me, but I will avenge them.”