The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (43 page)

It was time for me to fully embrace my
role as Countess Dracula. Like Vlad, I would not be afraid in the
face of my enemies.

Shortly thereafter, Laura
and I strolled along the banks of the Danube toward Borbála’s
estate. The cold was brutal, but it was not the same detriment to
our progress as it would have been to a mortal. Though vampires are
not adversely affected by the cold, we wore heavy woolen dresses
over multiple petticoats, thick stockings, sturdy boots, and long
coats. We both wore our hair unfettered beneath the hoods of our
coats.

“The river is nearly completely frozen
over,” Laura observed.

The Danube was hidden beneath a thick
sheet of ice that was cracked and broken in spots revealing the
black waters below. Snow flurries whipped about us as we continued
on toward our destination.

“This winter is truly unforgiving. I do
believe this is the beginning of a great blizzard.” I reached back
to help her over a gnarl of roots.

Laura clung to my hand gratefully. “It
will be impossible for the mortals to travel to Pesth
soon.”

“I doubt they can now.”

I glanced over my shoulder at the
frozen river and the city beyond before we plunged back into the
trees. The snow was thick beneath our feet and several times we
were tripped by hidden roots and rocks. Our vampiric abilities
enabled us to escape injury, but we were slowed in our journey. I
had considered flying or transforming into a mist, but decided
against such a show of power. Besides, it would tap into my power
to perform such tasks. I wished to retain my full strength while
facing Ilinca and Gavril.

Clasping hands, we helped each other
maneuver past grand estates and through thickets of trees before at
last coming upon the small ancestral graveyard in the shadow of
Borbála’s grand home. Candles with flickering flames were nestled
into the crannies of the ornate mausoleum and towering monuments.
Ilinca stood in the center of the graveyard, face turned upward,
arms outstretched, letting the icy flakes fall upon her lips.
Dressed entirely in ivory from her gown to her heavy cloak trimmed
in white fur, she was beautiful to behold. A bright, rapturous
smile of delight adorned her features.

I felt the coil of tension knotted
within me lessen at the sight of the lovely vampire with the
unusual eyes enjoying the falling snow. Relief washed over me as I
wondered if I had overreacted to the summons by the new rulers of
Buda.

That emotion only lasted until I
spotted Gavril. Instantly, I was seized by fear.

Seated on the steps leading to the
heavy doors of the mausoleum, Gavril was clad in black with a thick
brown cloak about his shoulders. His unusual eyes were exactly like
those of his sister: one blue, one green, but there was no
playfulness in his gaze like there was in Ilinca’s. Though he was
just as handsome as his sister was beautiful, his face held the
brutal strength and determination of a warrior. As he scrutinized
me with his fierce eyes, his lips as full and finely shaped as his
sister’s pressed into a stern line. The thick curls that adorned
his head fell jauntily over his brow to just above his eyes, but
his posture was anything but casual. I had the insane urge to
curtsey to him.

I realized I was in the presence of a
king.

Ilinca cast a amused look in my
direction and swept about in a circle, her cloak flaring
dramatically. She appeared to drift over to Gavril’s side on
invisible wings.

“See, she came. Just as I said she
would. Fleeing would be so childish and foolish.” As she spoke, she
pressed the back of her hand to his cheek.

Turning his face, he kissed her
fingers, then drew her down beside him. “Come, Countess Dracula.
Introduce us to your progeny.” His voice was deep and slightly
musical.

I glanced at Laura and she regarded me
with large, frightened eyes. Squeezing her hand to reassure her, I
guided her through the tombstones to stand before Ilinca and
Gavril. The siblings regarded us with some interest with their
matching eyes.

“She’s so lovely, isn’t she?” Ilinca
gushed. She rested against Gavril, her fingers sliding over his arm
playfully. “And her progeny is delightful as well.”

Gavril stilled her hand under his as he
continued to scrutinize me. I lifted my chin a bit and did not
cower. I refused to show fear in the face of his power. It was
dark, like the waters of the Danube hidden beneath the ice. It
flowed around us like a great wave washing ashore. I suspected he
was testing me to see if I would fight against him, but I refused
to even acknowledge his power. I was so very tired of being afraid.
If Laura and I were to die at the hands of Gavril and Ilinca, I
would fight until the bitter end.

“Introduce yourself and your progeny,”
Gavril ordered. “Or do you not know vampire custom?”

My eyes narrowed slightly. “I am
Countess Dracula, Princess of Wallachia. This is my progeny, Laura
of House Dracula.”

Gavril chuckled slightly as Ilinca
beamed at me. Neither expression was particularly
reassuring.

“Impressive title. Your husband is our
ally. You are aware of this, are you not?” Gavril tilted his chin
downward, his face moving into shadow. Only his eyes remained
visible beneath the lock of his dark hair.

“That is what I was told. I was
informed that I could abide in Buda without molestation from the
ruling party due to my husband’s negotiations.” I sounded flippant
even to my own ears. I supposed that was better than sounding
terrified.

“So you are aware of your husband’s
dealings,” Gavril’s voice echoed around us as he slipped into
shadow and vanished.

Unnerved, I steadied Laura as she
gasped. “I am aware of my husband’s truce with you and your sister
due to Lady Astir being kind enough to divulge the details on the
matter. My husband tends not to include me in his
dealings.”

Gavril’s cold fingers touched my cheek
as he slipped out of my shadow to stand beside me. “Why does he
keep you in darkness?”

Tilting my head toward him, I answered,
“I am his wife, not his business partner. He expects me to tend to
our households and perform my womanly duties. Nothing more, nothing
less.”

“Yet you are in Buda alone.” Gavril
narrowed his eyes as he faded from my view.

“There were complications at our
country estate. He felt it best that I return to Buda. I now
understand that he anticipated that you would respect your treaty
with him and give me sanctuary.”

Ilinca clapped her hands in
approval.

“Well said,” Gavril commended as he
drifted out of the shadows to take his place beside Ilinca. “We did
promise your husband that he could live in the city with his wife
with no interference from us due to his allegiance during our war
against Baatar. But we did not give either of you permission to
create another vampire.” Shadows played along his face, framing his
dangerous eyes. Fires burned within their depths. “We are very
particular about who we allow into our conquered
territory.”

Laura cowered behind me. I could feel
her fear and resolved not to show my own. “Did you not offer your
hospitality to the House of Count Dracula? That would include his
Brides, would it not?”

Ilinca cocked her head to regard her
brother. “That it would, Gavril.”

“Borbála told us about your new
progeny. We know she is not a Bride of Dracula.”

“But I am the first among his Brides.
It was my choice to make her into a vampire. I am his Bride,
therefore, she is his as well.”

Gavril frowned at my words. Sitting
back in the shadows, his face disappeared into the gloom. Ilinca’s
smile faded and she swept her attention back and forth between me
and her brother.

Laura’s body trembled against mine. I
cast a reassuring smile in her direction as she chewed on her
bottom lip.

“Why is Count Vlad Dracula not here?”
Gavril asked at last. “I have sensed his power in the city, yet he
has not revealed himself to us.”

“As I have said before, my husband does
not divulge his business dealings. I am merely his wife. He sent me
to Buda and told me to stay with his mortal mistress. Yes, he has
visited me, but only for a night, here and there.” I hesitated,
then added, “We are newly wedded. He comes to bed me. He has even
spurned his usual mistress when he visits. Whether or not he pays
homage to you and your sister is not information he would tell
me.”

“He is a complicated man with great
ambitions, is he not?” Ilinca did not seem to be truly asking for
my opinion, but rather stating a fact.

“Yes, he is,” I answered
truthfully.

“Is his ambition to usurp our control
of Buda?” Gavril wondered aloud. “But you would not know this,
would you? Since he does not speak with you about his
plans.”

“I can only speak for myself in this
matter. I have no desire to become involved with the politics of
this city or any other. I only desire to live my life as peacefully
as I can in the guise of a very mortal Countess Dracula. I have
taken great pains to establish myself in my social
circle.”

“This has been noted by Borbála,”
Ilinca said. “You have the reputation of being a bit of a scandal
due to your English background. Even the tragedy of your family’s
death has added to your allure. And, of course, your marriage to
Count Vlad Dracula has made you the center of attention since he
first brought you to Buda. It is very clear to us that you are
established among the mortals. Yet, you are a mystery to your own
kind. What are your passions? Your desires? Your plans? Surely they
cannot be intertwined with your husband’s, for you are not even
privy to that information. So tell us, Countess Dracula, Princess
of Wallachia, who are you?”

This had never been asked
of me before. I felt the question pierce deep within me and echo in
my mind. For so long I had asserted who I wished to be only to be
told it was an impossibility. Then I was forced to take on the
visage Vlad had imposed upon me. I had not stopped to consider the
woman I had evolved into over the course of the last two years. In
a flash of a second, I saw all that had led to this moment. It was
beautiful and terrible, wondrous and horrific, healing and painful.
For the last year I had fought so hard against Vlad, struggling to
not become the woman he wanted me to be, that I had forgotten the
life that had come before. I was more than just a creature of the
night created by Vlad. I was an aristocrat, an Englishwoman, and
the member of a loving family. I was not just pain and pathos born
of a cruel Master.

“At my core, I am Lady
Glynis Wright. My desires are simple. To be with the ones I love
and choose for myself the path I travel through this world. I wish
to live here in Buda in peace.” I found it difficult to speak, but
the truth of my words rang clear in the night.

Ilinca slid from the step and
gracefully slipped through the snow like a swan over still water.
Stopping before me, her gaze met mine. Leaning toward me, she said,
“Answer me truthfully. Who do you love?”

I could not take my eyes from her face.
I sensed the danger in her words, but did not dare recoil. Ilinca’s
gaze did not waver as she waited for my answer. I knew that Astir
would advise me to lie, but I was sick of lying and
hiding.

“Ignatius,” I answered. “He is my
heart.”

A smile slowly turned up the corners of
Ilinca’s lush mouth. “You did not lie. A wise decision on your
part, Lady Glynis Wright.” She returned to where Gavril continued
to lounge on the steps. Standing at his side, she looked pleased
with the course of events.

“We extend our treaty with your husband
to all in your household,” Gavril declared. “Adhere to our edicts
and we shall have no trouble between us.”

I bowed my head and sank into a deep
curtsey. Laura followed suit. It seemed only proper. Through my
lashes I saw a slight smile upon Gavril’s lips before he motioned
for us to rise.

“Let the gathering begin.” He rose to
his feet and raised his arms. The candles flamed high around him
and I felt the power of his Beckoning unfurl from within him as he
summoned his progeny.

Within moments, the vampires began to
arrive. The first was a woman with shimmering white hair clad in a
blue cloak that matched her ice blue eyes. She emerged from the
snow like a wraith to sit upon a gravestone.

The next was a pack of black wolves
that tore into the graveyard before transforming into three young
men. They scrambled over a small tomb and sat along the curved
roof.

Laura gasped beside me. “Can we do
that?”

I nodded, though I was not certain how.
I had seen Vlad and the sisters transform into wolves, but Vlad had
never taught me.

A black raven soared over the graveyard
to the mausoleum and alighted on an angel. In the blink of an eye
it was replaced by a young girl with curly black hair and lavender
eyes. She sat upon the angel’s wings, staring down at us with
interest.

One by one, the progeny of Gavril and
Ilinca appeared and took their places among the graveyard. Each was
strikingly perfect to behold except for one twisted little man no
taller than my waist with a hump on one shoulder. His unruly brown
hair, gentle face, and keen green eyes were his finest feature. He
walked with a slight limp and sat at the feet of Gavril.