The Tale of the Vampire Bride (17 page)

Ilona was wielding a large knife and Ariana was carrying away lengths of red fabric…no…hair. My hair. They were cutting my hair. And I was naked..no…they were dressing me in a fine, soft dress.

“Do you understand my words?” Cneajna asked softly, her distorted features swimming into view.

I did not answer, but stared at the dog lying at my feet. Did I own a dog? No, it was not a dog. It was a great gray wolf.

“Hello,” I whispered to the great beast.

“Why is she so drunken?” Elina’s voice pierced through my fuzzy thoughts.

“The Master’s blood took the edge off her hunger by clouding her mind.” Ilona’s face disappeared into the shadows.

Interesting.

The wolf sat up and rested his great head on my naked knee. I stared down into his dark eyes and felt his great presence filling the room.

Why was this dangerous predator among us?

Oh, yes, we were all predators in this room.

Vampires and wolves.

All except Ilona.

Ah, Ilona.

I whirled about in my chair and stared into the frightened gypsy's eyes. She froze, the brush she held in one hand suspended in midair. Those dark eyes surrounded by countless wrinkles were bound tightly to my gaze.

“Glynis, do not do this,” Cneajna whispered.

“Am I beautiful?” My voice floated softly on the night breeze.

The wolf raised his ears and growled deep in his throat.

“Very. Like an angel,” Ilona responded, her voice a soft monotone.

“Are my cheeks not rosy, so soft, like a rose?”

“Like a child’s.” Ilona’s hand was shaking violently but she could not tear her gaze from mine.

“Would you like to kiss my cheek? Like a mother kisses her child. Do you wish to kiss me?”

“Oh, yes!” Bright tears were glistening in Ilona’s eyes.

“Stop it now!” Cneajna’s voice was sharp.

I knew my eyes were glowing with my unholy lust in the flickering candlelight. “Kiss me.”

The gypsy woman began to bend down.

Elina stepped between us and slapped Ilona soundly, knocking her out of her trance. “Idiot woman!”

Ilona cried out in fright. Dropping the heavy brush, she darted from the room.

I growled furiously. How dare Elina frighten my prey away!

Cneajna grabbed hold of my chin and pulled my face to one side. I stared at her with fierce intensity.

“You are never to touch the servants. I know you are drunk with the hunger, but you must always remember this.”

I sighed. Everyone was spoiling my fun, and I was so hungry. I just wished they would stop playing with my clothes and hair and let me be. But to do what?

A smile caressed my lips.

Oh, yes, to feed.

The Journal of Lady Antoinetta

The Castle Dungeon

June 16th

I have sat here in this filth for days now. I am disgusted by my condition, but I am a prisoner and I am to suffer all that entails. May God curse Prince Vlad for all his evil!

The days are unbearable. The nights are worse. I hear screams in the night that terrify me. They sound like the voice of my daughter, my lovely headstrong Glynis.

My beloved Edric is dead. I recall all too vividly his death. How his blood fell on me like rain. I fear that May, too, is dead. I find myself praying that the monstrous master of this castle will kill me and let my soul be free.

That he allows me to write letters home and write in my journal is nothing more than another cruelty to bestow upon me. I know my letters to Andrew will go unread. At times, I find myself hoping desperately that Glynis will be able to take them to my son, but I know that is the wild hope of a doomed woman. I stare at my little stack of letters and want to weep.

I miss my beloved Andrew and his precious wife. I will never see their children. I know this and it breaks my heart.

May Prince Vlad burn in hell for what he has done to us!

So why now, after these horrible last days, do I pick up my pen and write in my journal?

It is because he brought her to me.

As the dungeon door swung open on rusted hinges, I rose up from where I had been seated on the filthy floor. Light pierced through the blackness of the cell. I drew upon some inner strength and lifted my chin, my hands smoothing out my dirty skirt.

After all, I am a Countess.

The lantern raised and revealed the sharp angular features of Prince Vlad Dracula. “It is I, madam.”

My stomach coiled into a tight knot. Was this then the time of my death? Had I waited here these last horrible days in this dreadful place tormented by the memory of my dear husband’s demise, fearing for my daughters, to only face death now? Well, if that was the truth, I would face it. To be released from this place even if it also means to be released from my earthly shell, so be it. I cannot endure this hell any longer.

“Why are you here?”

My voice was so calm.

Remarkable.

Prince Vlad seemed amused that even here in this dismal, filthy hole I still retained my dignity.

“You look well.”

“That is not an answer to my question,” I snapped at him.

Those too-red lips just pulled into a sinister smile. “I brought you a visitor.”

“May,” I whispered with hope.

“Oh, she is dead and gone,” Prince Vlad answered casually.

I clasped my hands over my heart and took hold of my rosary. I kissed it softly and raised my tear filled eyes. “May you burn in hell, sir. May you burn in hell!”

He laughed at my curse.

“You are a monster!” I held my tiny little crucifix in my hand and felt it warm against my fingers. I had noticed how he kept back from it, so I now raised it in his direction. I saw him flinch, and I laughed at him. “You know what you are! Damned! Cursed! You will burn for your evils!”

He hissed at me and drew back slightly. “I am not alone in my damnation, dear lady.”

From behind Prince Vlad emerged a woman dressed in a long filmy light blue gown made of the most delicate of silks. It shimmered in the light and was almost transparent. Countless jewels set in gold and silver encircled the woman’s limbs and throat. Long ropes of pearls and other precious stones were woven into her red hair. It took several moments before I realized that this voluptuous creature with the bright, aquamarine eyes and ruby lips was my own daughter.

“Glynis! No!”

The creature saw my cross and shrank back from it, whimpering.

The paralyzing truth dawned on me.

“No! You monster, how could you? How could you do this to her! You have cursed her!” I screamed at him. “You filthy, vile monster! May God damn you to the deepest pit in Hell!”

Prince Vlad chuckled at me. “Such language from a fine Catholic woman.”

“You are a devil!”

Prince Vlad smiled, his fingers playing with a lock of my daughter’s hair. “Yes, I am. And now, so is she.”

I thrust out my cross at him and he shrank back from the doorway. Glynis also cried out and covered her face. I quickly covered the cross with my fingers.

Prince Vlad laughed at me, recognizing my love for what it was: weakness. “Enjoy your visit.” He turned and swept out of the cell, leaving the lantern resting on the floor.

As the door slammed shut and the lock slid into place, my daughter raised gaze. My eyes shimmered with tears, my mouth trembled and I felt my strength leaving me.

“Oh, my darling, may God, the Virgin and the Saints have mercy on you.”

Glynis stared at me, her eyes sparkling like the finest jewels.

I was too horrified to feel immediately frightened, but as my daughter’s gaze grew more penetrating, more concentrated, I felt the first twinges. I gripped my little crucifix even tighter in my fingers, but did not reveal it to her. I did not want to see her flinch away.

“Glynis?”

“Yes,” was the low response.

I felt my throat constrict. “Do you know who I am?

“My mother.”

“Yes, cara mia, your mother. And you are my daughter.”

“Yes.”

“And your name is?”

Was she a devil in the guise of my daughter?

“Glynis.”

“Yes, that is right.”

She took a step toward me. “Are you afraid of me, Mother?”

I stared at her transformed countenance for a long moment, then began to weep. “Yes, cara mia, I am frightened.”

Glynis’ eyes slowly lowered and her face began to twitch. “So am I.”

“Oh, cara mia, my darling Glynis, God forgive me for ever bringing you to this horrible place! God forgive me!”

Glynis lowered her lovely face into her hands and stood there as beautiful as any Roman goddess in her fine garments and jewels. I could not help but stare at this strange, beautiful deadly creature that wore the guise of my daughter. But it was my daughter! I felt it in my heart! This fearsome creature of the night, whose skin was as pale as moonlight, with eyes as fierce as a hawk’s, was my eldest daughter: transformed, damned, but still my daughter.

I felt myself crumbling. I had done this. I had let this horrible thing happen. Why had I not let Glynis live her own life? Find her own way? Why had I been so determined to find her a husband? My actions had born bitter fruit for now my daughter was the bride of the Prince of Darkness and all that I had held dear was gone.

“Glynis,” I whispered, love filling my voice.

The creature looked up. The fierce, mesmerized expression was gone and was replaced by a fearful, desperate one. “Mother, help me!”

I hesitated, then tucked my rosary into my blouse. I held out my arms to her, knowing that I was welcoming death.

Glynis moved ever so swiftly across the room and into my embrace. Holding her closely, I trembled. Tears slipped down my face, tasting bitter on my lips.

“Your sister,” I began.

“She is in heaven with the angels, Mother. When I was dying, she came for me. I saw a great light and she came from it. But then…but then…” Glynis’ voice faded.

“Then she is safe with the Saints.”

“Yes,” Glynis answered.

My child’s flesh was so cold to my touch. The body I held in my arms felt far different from the one I remembered holding before. I kissed the top of Glynis’ head. “I’m so sorry. I am sorry for all I said and did, cara mia.”

The vampire sobbed in my arms. “Oh, Mother, I am so sorry. I am so very sorry! This is my entire fault.”

“No, Glynis, it is not your fault. I should have let you be.”

“Mother.”

“Yes, my darling.”

“I am so hungry, Mother.”

Those simple words were now twisted to strike fear into my very soul. “Yes, I know, my darling. That is why he brought you here. He is a monster.”

“I hate him! I hate him! He forced me to do horrible things, Mother! I hate him for what he did to Father and May!”

“And I hate him for what he has done to you!” I held her tightly. “To us.”

Glynis raised her head, her beautiful eyes rimmed with tears. “I am so hungry. Do you understand?”

I nodded, my lips pressed tightly together. “He has chosen you as my death. Just one more monstrosity.”

“I am fighting so hard! I feel so weak! If it were anyone else, I know the hunger would have overwhelmed me by now. But I am fighting it!” Glynis pulled away from me and wrapped her arms around herself. She walked to the far side of the cell and slid down into the corner.

I clasped my hands tightly together and whispered fervent prayers.

And here I now sit, writing in my little journal, my rosary glowing in my hand. I watch her writhe and sob in the corner.

I will ask of her one thing before she takes my life. Just one thing.

I know now this is my end. I will die now. Tonight. At my daughter’s hand.

May God have mercy on us both.

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright

I read my mother’s letters and journal in the aftermath of the horror that transpired in her cell. I read them and wept.

For as I huddled in that corner of her cell, trembling, fighting, trying to win against the hunger, I knew I would feed. I knew her death would be upon my lost soul, and I cried with rage.

How serenely she sat on the floor, writing in her journal, her rosary glowing in her hand. Somehow I knew that her faith made the tiny cross glow with divine power. I could feel it pressing me away from her.

And I hungered...how I hungered.

My mother’s eyes lifted to gaze upon me. “Glynis, promise me one thing.”

I nodded my head. “Anything you ask.”

“Fight him. Escape this place! Do what you must to escape! Please, cara mia, I can die in peace if I know you will find a way from this place. That you will fight him and be free!”