Chapter 10.
Elena awoke feeling groggy and disoriented and then, as the events of the previous night sprang to the front of her mind, she bolted out of bed. Only then did she realize she was no longer at the hotel but back in her room at the castle. How had she gotten here? And where was Drake?
It didnat matter. Nothing mattered but getting out of there just as fast as her feet would take her. The man she had married, the man she was falling in love with, was a . . . a . . . She couldnat make herself say the word. It was impossible. Good grief, what if she had let him make love to her?
She pressed a hand to her heart; then, as a new thought rose to the fore, she lifted an exploratory hand to her throat. Had he bitten her? Was she going to become what he was? Fear sat like a lump of ice in her belly. Was that why he had married her? So he could turn her into the same kind of monster he was?
She had lived in the land of Dracula for almost half of her life. Most of the tourists who came to Transylvania wanted to see Draculaas castle, which was, in reality, Bran Castle, located on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. The castle had been used by Vlad the Impaler, said to be the inspiration for Stokeras fictional vampire.
Suddenly chilled, she wrapped her arms around her middle. She had grown up on the myths and legends that surrounded vampires, but it had never occurred to her that Drake might be one of the Undead. Of course, no one believed such creatures actually existed. Sure, vampire books and movies were popular, and had been for years, but they were works of fiction, not reality.
But Drake was real, a man of flesh and blood. Vampire. She shuddered. It explained so mucha"why she never saw him during the day, the casket in the hidden chamber, the fact that he didnat eat or drink. Odd, that the memory of his kisses didnat repel her.
aElena, get a grip!a She had to get out of there before it was too late. Before he rose from the coffin hidden in the wall behind the tapestry in the main hall.
Her mouth went dry as she pictured him lying on the smooth white satin, his arms folded across his chest, his body cold and unmoving.
She pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater, clumsy in her haste, then sat on the edge of the bed to put on her socks and shoes, only then noticing that the valise she had taken to Brasov the night before was on the floor beside the bed, and that the mirror Drake had bought her stood in the corner. She stared at it a moment, remembering how happy she had been only a few hours ago, but there was no time to dwell on that now.
Grabbing her handbag, another gift from Drake, she hurried down the stairs, her only thought to get out of the castle before nightfall. She was safe until then. If only he had a phone so she could call for a cab. Not that she had any money to pay for one. He had given her many gifts but never any cash. Maybe she could find the keys to the Porsche. She spent a few minutes searching for them downstairs, and then upstairs, but to no avail.
Conscious of time pa.s.sing, she ran down the stairs again.
When she reached the front door, Smoke was sitting in front of it. The cat stared up at her, its head c.o.c.ked to one side.
Murmuring, aGood-bye, kitty,a Elena put her hand on the latch and pulled, but nothing happened. She tugged on the latch with both hands, but the door refused to budge. She frowned. The crossbar wasnat in place. The door wasnat locked. Why wouldnat it open?
Heart pounding, Elena spun around and ran downstairs to the kitchen, only to find that the back door wouldnat open, either. What was going on? It wasnat locked. Why wouldnat the darn thing open? And what if it had? She willed herself to stop and think. Even if she could get into the garden, what good would it do her? There was no exit, no way over the high wall.
She had to get away, but how? The windows in the main hall were too high, too narrow. The doors wouldnat open. She was trapped inside the castle. With a vampire.
Feeling as though her feet were made of lead, she returned to the main hall and sank down on one of the sofas, hugging her handbag to her chest. What was he going to do to her? Images of Drake bending over the neck of one of the muggers flashed through her mind. Was that to be her fate, as well? Was that why he had let her stay here? Why he had agreed to marry her?
Smoke hopped up beside her, a low purr rumbling in his throat as he nudged her hand.
aStupid beast,a she muttered, and then, with a sigh, she dropped her handbag on the floor and stroked the catas head. Smoke purred loudly, the noise soothing somehow. As she continued to pet the cat, her panic was swallowed up by a sense of well-being. She was safe here. There was nothing to be afraid of. If Drake had intended to kill her, he would likely have done so by now.
Suddenly weary, Elena stretched out on the sofa and Smoke curled up beside her. The catas purring, softer now, lulled her to sleep.
The sun was setting when Elena awoke. She bolted upright. He would be here soon. What should she do? What would he do? She was alone in the castle with a monster. Even the cat had abandoned her.
Springing to her feet, Elena ran to the front door. Maybe it would open this time. It had to open now, before it was too late.
Eternally too late.
But time had already run out.
She didnat have to turn around to know that Drake was there. Though he made no sound, she could feel his presence looming behind her like a dark cloud. She swallowed hard, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. There was a moment out of time, as if someone had suddenly removed blinders from her eyes and her heart, and she knew him for what he was, almost as if she could see into his very soul. How had she not sensed his preternatural power before? She felt it now. It crawled over her skin, making the fine hairs on her arms stand at attention.
aGood evening, wife,a he said quietly.
She couldnat speak, couldnat form the words to ask the questions that pounded in her mind, demanding answers.
aHave you nothing to say?a he asked in that same quiet tone. aNo questions to ask me?a Her silence, combined with her continued refusal to look at him, aroused his anger. She could feel the weight of it pressing down on her like a giant hand.
aElena, look at me.a It wasnat a request but a command.
Afraid to provoke him further, afraid of what she would see, she slowly turned to face him, her gaze not quite meeting his. She had expected to find the monster staring back at her, but it was just Drake.
aYou have nothing to fear from me, wife.a She licked her lips, but remained silent. Dozens of questions clamored in her mind: How long had he been a vampire ? When and how had it happened? Was he the only one? How many other mena"and womena"had he killed? How often did he have to . . .
She shut the door on that train of thought, and all the others. Asking questions, hearing his answers, would make it all too real.
aElena.a He took a step toward her, but stopped when she recoiled. aDammit, woman, I am not going to hurt you.a aHow can I believe you?a She shook her head, as if to dispel the memory of what had happened the night before. aI saw what you did. I saw your eyes . . . they wereaa"she wrapped her arms around her waista"athey were red, and you looked like . . .a aGo on,a he said, his face and voice devoid of emotion. aHow did I look?a aLike death,a she whispered. aYou looked like death.a aI never wanted you to see me like that.a aPlease, I just want to go home.a aYou are my wife. This is your home now.a aNo! We never consummated our marriage. Please, just let me go back home. I wonat tell anyone what you are, I promise.a Who would believe her?
aIs that what you really want?a Drake asked, his anger surfacing. aTo go back and marry that fat old man? To have his hands on you?a She forced the word through clenched teeth. aYes.a The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
aNow who is lying? You want me, Elena. You have wanted me from the first night, and we both know it.a aNo!a She shook her head again, more vigorously this time, as if that would make her denial true.
Drake took a deep breath, and changed tack. aHave I mistreated you? Hurt you in any way? Done anything to make you fear me?a aYou lied to me.a She blinked rapidly in an effort to hold back her tears. She didnat want to go back to her uncle, but how could she stay here? With a vampire?
aI never lied to you.a aYou let me believe you were human,a she retorted. aIad call that a lie, wouldnat you?a aA sin of omission, perhaps,a he allowed grudgingly. aBut I had no choice. Telling mortals what we are is forbidden. I could not have told you the truth even had I wished it.a She stared at him in astonishment. aThere are more of you?a He nodded.
aHow many more?a The idea that there could be other vampires living here . . . She felt a burst of hysterical laughter bubble up in her throat. Where else would vampires live but Transylvania? The laughter died in her throat. There were more of them. How was that possible? How on earth was any of this possible?
aI am the only one here,a Drake said, abut there are others. Perhaps half a million of us worldwide.a It wasnat a vast number, given the worldas population of over six billion people. Still . . .
aIf thatas true, why doesnat anyone know? If there are vampires running around drinking blood . . .a She paced back and forth a moment, trying to clear her head. aSooner or later, someone would find out. Wouldnat they?a When he hesitated, she said, aThe truth, Drake. I want the truth.a aThe knowledge of our existence is erased from the mind of anyone who discovers it.a aErased?a aWiped away. Obliterated.a aHow? How can you do that?a The bitter taste of bile rose in the back of her throat as her imagination conjured visions of Drake cutting away a part of her brain.
When she swayed on her feet, Drake took her by the hand. aYou need to sit down,a he said. Guiding her to one of the sofas, he eased her down on the cushions, then went to the carafe on the table and filled a gla.s.s with water. aHere, drink this.a She accepted the gla.s.s with a hand that shook visibly.
Drake watched her, his arms folded over his chest, wondering if she was going to faint.
She drained the gla.s.s, then looked up at him. aHow?a she asked again.
aNothing as bizarre as what you are thinking,a he a.s.sured her. aIt is done by a form of hypnosis. Quite painless.a aAre you going to do that to me?a aNo.a It was true, for the moment.
aWhat are you going to do to me?a He lifted one brow. aDo?a She touched the side of her neck, her gaze on his face.
aAh, that.a He sat beside her, an oath escaping his lips when she flinched.
aAre you going to . . . to . . . drink from me?a aI already have.a She blinked at him. aI donat believe you. I would have known . . . wouldnat I?a aI took only a taste now and then, while you slept.a Her eyes widened. aAm I going to become a vampire?a aNo.a She sank back against the sofa cushions, relief evident in every line of her body. aHow did you become a vampire?a aI did not abecomea a vampire.a He looked at Elena. She was shivering. He glanced at the hearth. A thought touched the banked coals, bringing the fire to vibrant life. aVampire.a The word rolled easily off his tongue. aIt is what I am. What I have always been.a
Chapter 11.
Elena stared at Drake, some of her fear receding as she considered what he had said. aBut . . . I thought . . .a She had never heard of anyone being born a vampire. In books and movies, the only way to become one of the Undead was with a blood exchange. She shook her head. aI donat understand.a aWe are not the monsters of myth and legend, but they do exist, although they are now few in number.a aHave you ever met one?a aYes, years ago.a aDo they live the way your people do?a aNo. We are enemies.a aWhy?a aThe Others are a more violent, more barbarous race. They tend to kill their prey and often each other. They have no clan loyalty, no sense of family or honor, no care for anyone but themselves. Centuries ago, the Others declared war on humanity. They killed men, women, and children without reason or mercy, threatening to expose us all. My father summoned the Master Vampires of the other Covens and they destroyed all of the Others they could find. It was a long and b.l.o.o.d.y battle, but it accomplished its purpose. The Others who survived changed their ways. They did not stop killing but they became more discreet.a aMore discreet?a aThey stopped leaving bodies in the street. They started preying on those who would not be misseda"transients and the like. But the war continued. Each Coven vowed to continue to fight them, and to destroy any that they find.a aOh.a She blew out a sigh. aIam glad I never met one of those. But tell me more about you, about your people.a aWe are a very old race, once hunted to near extinction by zealots and warrior-priests because we need blood to survive. We were accused of witchcraft, or of consorting with Satan, because, once we reach adulthood, the aging process slows as the need for blood becomes stronger.a Though he spoke to her, his gaze was on the flames. aSome give in to the burning need for blood immediately. Some fight it, but the pain of resisting is excruciating. Sooner or later, we all surrender to what is, for us, a basic need for survival. Once we have ingested human blood, three things occura"we are no longer capable of digesting mortal food, we can no longer abide the sunas light, and we stop aging. The first year after we give in to the urge to drink, we must drink often. To resist can be fatal.a It was a fantastic story, Elena thought, something one might read in an ancient book of fairy tales. She looked at him closely as a new thought popped into her head. aHow old were you when you stopped aging?a aNearly thirty.a She frowned, wondering how long he had fought the compulsion to drink blood.
aVampires are considered mature at twenty.a She marveled at his self-control. He had resisted the urge to feed for almost ten years. It was a long time to endure the kind of pain he had described, to fight against something that was a basic need. aHow old are you?a aFive centuries as of last month.a The number was staggering. What would it be like to live that long? To never age? Never see the sun? Never consume anything but blooda"no, that wasnat true. He drank wine. How was that possible? Curious, she put the question to him.
aI can drink small amounts with no ill effects,a he replied, aas long as I feed beforehand.a aWhatas it like, to live such a long time?a aIt can be challenging. After a few hundred years, you have done everything, seen everything there is to see. For those who dislike change, the world can be a frightening place. Like mortals, our kind respond to the vicissitudes of life in a variety of ways. Some embrace them, some reject them, some choose to seek their own destruction. There are those who simply grow weary of living. They go to the Fortress and bury themselves in the ground.a Buried alive? She choked back her nausea. She had always been afraid of small, dark places, couldnat imagine anyone willingly entombing themselves in the ground.
Seeing the revulsion on her face, he said, aFor us, it is a way to rest, to rejuvenate ourselves when we have lost the will to live.a aHave you ever done that?a aNo.a His gaze caressed her face. aI must admit, I was considering it, until I met you.a aSo, the vampires of fiction are just that, fiction?a aNot exactly.a aThen what, exactly?a aThe vampires of legend, Nosferatu, also exist, but in very small numbers. I have never met one.a aWhere did they come from?a aSome believe a fallen angel found one of our kind thousands of years ago. The vampire was dying of injuries inflicted by another of our kind when the angel found him. With his last breath, the vampire bit the angel. The angel died. The vampire was reborn as Nosferatu.a It was too much, Elena thought. Vampires who were made. Vampires who were born that way. It was all too bizarre to consider, too impossible to be real. She pressed her hands to her temples. She could feel a headache coming on, no doubt caused by the fact that Drakeas revelations had turned her world inside out and upside down.
aElena, look at me.a Though reluctant, she did as bidden.
His gaze captured hers as he placed his hands gently over her own. She stared into his eyes, deep, dark, fathomless eyes that seemed to draw her in until she saw nothing else. Gradually, the throbbing in her head disappeared. The tension drained out of her body, leaving her feeling warm and tranquil.
What was he doing to her? Was he hypnotizing her? Erasing her memory? Maybe that would be for the best.
aRelax, wife, the only thing I have done is erase the pain in your head.a Suddenly weary, she leaned against him. It was too much to absorba"what he was, what he had told her. It was all simply too fantastic to believe. Maybe she was dreaming. Yes, dreaming. Sighing, she closed her eyes. When she awoke tomorrow, life would be normal again.
Drake stroked Elenaas hair, her cheek, the curve of her neck. He had violated vampire law twice now, first in telling her who and what he was, and then by not wiping the knowledge from her mind. He refused to consider taking her life. The rules of the Coven didnat seem important when she was near. The beat of her heart was music to his ears, the scent of her skin more fragrant than the primroses that grew in the garden, the heat of her body a welcome warmth against his own cool flesh.
After five hundred years as a vampire, there was little left in the mortal world that surprised him, but sitting there, with Elena sleeping beside him, he discovered that he cared more deeply than he had imagined for the woman who was his wife in name only. Even more astonishing was the realization that he wanted her love more than he had ever wanted anything in his life.
With a shake of his head, he stared into the fire, certain that he had a better chance of gaining heaven than winning the fair Elenaas love.
Eyes closed, Elena turned over on her stomach and tried to go back to sleep. After last night, she was reluctant to face a new day, although a glance at her watch told her that the day was already half gone. Plagued by scary dreams, she had awakened several times during the night. Each time, Drake had been there beside her, his voice lulling her back to sleep. Odd, that finding him in her bed hadnat frightened her, considering all she had learned.
With a sigh of exasperation, she flopped over onto her back. A quick glance showed that she was alone in bed. Well, not exactly alone. Smoke lay on Drakeas pillow, regarding her through half-closed eyes.
Elena turned onto her side, her chin pillowed on her hand. aSo, cat, whatever am I to do? How can I stay here with him, knowing what he is? How can I ever trust him?a The cat blinked at her, then yawned, revealing very white, very sharp teeth.
Elena stared at the cat, and the memory of how Drakeas fangs had looked when head bent over one of the robbers rose in her mind. His teeth, too, had been very sharp and very white.
She shook the image away. All felinesa"and vampires, she supposeda"came equipped with very sharp, very white teeth.
After slipping out of bed, she washed her face and hands, brushed her hair and her teeth, then pulled on her khaki shorts and a T-shirt and went downstairs. She was too upset to eat. Instead, she paced the great hall and then, on impulse, she went to the front door, which still refused to open.
She uttered every swear word she knew, but it didnat make her feel any better, and the darn thing still didnat open.
Turning away, she practically tripped over the cat. aMust you always be underfoot?a she muttered irritably.
aMeow.a Sidestepping around the cat, Elena made her way to the kitchenas back door. Maybe it would open today. Working in the garden might help to calm her nerves, help her to think of what to do next.
She wasnat surprised when the door still refused to open.
aThis is so unfair!a She shook the handle with both hands, and then, her frustration rising, she kicked the door. aI feel like Iam suffocating in here!a aMeow.a aOh, go away.a But the cat didnat go away. Slipping between her legs, the big gray tom lifted one paw and gave the door a push.
And it swung open.
With another meow, the cat darted outside.
Elena stared after the remarkable creature for several minutes. Truly, it was a most unusual cat. Drake admitted to being a vampire. Was he a warlock, as well? Everyone knew witches often kept cats as familiars. But he had said he didnat own a cat. She frowned. Maybe it was just semantics. Or maybe, she thought with a rueful grin, the cat owned Drake.
With a shake of her head, Elena stepped over the threshold. She didnat care if the cat possessed some kind of feline mojo or not. All that mattered was that she was outside.
She took a deep breath of the clean, fresh air as she glanced at the high walls that surrounded the castle. There must be a gate. Maybe she had missed it the first time shead looked. Starting at the corner nearest the house, she made a slow exploration of the wall, but there was no gate, no trellis, no way out. If only she had a ladder.
With a shrug, Elena found the gloves she had worn before and set to work on another patch of weeds. She tried to keep her mind blank as she knelt in the dirt, but, perhaps inevitably, Drake intruded on her thoughts. He was a vampire. It was impossible but true. Try as she might, Elena couldnat decide how she felt about him now, although, in truth, she had never been certain what to think of him. He was unlike any man she had ever met. Of course, she hadnat met very many men, especially men who were five hundred years old.
She wasnat surprised when the cat appeared. Sitting in the shade of an old oak tree, it watched her with a faintly bored expression.
aToo bad you canat make yourself useful,a Elena muttered. aThis would go a lot faster if I had some help.a With a flick of his tail, the cat curled up and closed its eyes.
An hour or so later, Elena decided she needed a rest. Rising, she stretched her back and shoulders. The exercise had done her good. Feeling suddenly hungry, she peeled off her gloves and dropped them on the iron bench.
Smoke trailed her into the house.
Elena glared at the cat. aYou are such a pest. Canat you find something else to do besides follow me around?a A loud ameowa was her only answer.
In the kitchen, Elena washed and dried her hands. As always, Drake had provided her with a tasty meal. Whatever faults he might have, he always made sure she had plenty to eat. Sometimes he left her prepared meals; sometimes just the ingredients.
Munching on a slice of bread smothered in b.u.t.ter and honey, she wondered if he ever missed real fooda"meat and potatoes, fresh peas and corn, hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, freshly baked bread warm from the oven, cakes and cookies, pie and ice cream, grapes and strawberries, malts and sodas and all the other good things to eat and drink that she took for granted.
She lingered at the table, her thoughts drifting. She wondered how long Drake was going to keep her here. Now that she knew what he was, would he ever let her out of the castle again? Take her to the city again?
She lifted a hand to her throat. He had admitted to tasting her. Was that why he kept her here? How much was aa tastea? How could she sleep through such a thing?
So many unanswered questions. She pushed them out of her mind. She would think about all that later. Right now, she was going back outside.
Rising, she headed for the garden, the cat at her heels.
Muttering, aSilly beast,a Elena made her way toward the iron bench. Grabbing her gloves, she pulled them on while she regarded the ground she had cleared earlier. It looked barren now.
Returning to the shed, she found a shovel and began to dig up one of the rosebushes, intending to replant it in the newly turned plot of ground.
She dug a wide hole around the bush, then reached down and gently pulled the roots out of the earth. A bit of blue-and-white striped cloth was tangled in the roots. Taking hold of the cloth, she gave it a yank. . . .
And screamed when a desiccated hand appeared, tangled in the material.
Elena stared at the skeletal hand and at the small blue stone ring on one finger for several seconds, then dropped to her knees, retching. Jenica had been wearing a dress made from that very same cloth the last time Elena had seen her.
Smoke padded up beside her. The cat took one look at the contents of the hole, hissed softly, and ran into the castle.
Moments later, Drake appeared at her side. aElena, what is it?a She looked up at him, sobbing, then pointed at the grisly find. aItas . . . itas . . . Jenica. . . .a Lifting Elena to her feet, Drake drew her into his arms. He didnat have to look into the hole to know what was there. The stench of death and decay was sharp in his nostrils. aAre you sure it is her?a aShe . . . when she ran away . . . she was . . . was wearing a dress made out of that same cloth. Uncle Tavian,a she said, hiccuping, ahe bought her the dress for her birthday. And the ring . . . it was a gift from her mother.a aCome inside and sit down.a She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. aWho would do such a thing?a aCome inside,a he repeated, leading her toward the back door. aIall unearth the rest of the remains. We need to make sure it is your cousin.a After settling Elena on the sofa and covering her with a blanket, Drake returned to the garden. In his five hundred years, he had seen death in all its forms and he studied Jenicaas corpse dispa.s.sionately. An examination of the body showed she had died of a broken neck. He frowned as he detected Dinescuas scent on the body. It proved nothing, of course. She had lived in the manas house.