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I was stunned at his words. “And why, pray tell, are you telling me all this? Do you not fear me?”

“No, I do not. I have seen how you are still a sweet young woman with your brother tonight. I know that you may be changed into something other than human, but you are still the spirited young woman I saw last spring. I saw it in your smile when I entered the room. Honestly, madam, I have seen things so horrible here, I cannot bear it. I came here from England to have a good life, instead it has been just shy of hell. The Baroness is an evil woman and your family is not the only one she has conspired against. ”

“What do you mean? What do you know?” I demanded.

“I know you were trapped into this fate, Madam. I know what they did to you and your family. That you are but a victim of an evil plot against you. ”

I felt my rage growing and fought to draw it in, suppress it. “You are saying the Baroness had something to do with the fate of my family?”

“Come with me, madam. I will show you. Please, come with me. ” Brice held out his hand to me, imploring me with an expression both sorrowful and anxious.

“Very well. Show me what you must,” I responded.

I admit as I write this I am still quite mystified by my newly acquired ally. As I walked behind him, staring at his stiffly held frame, I could only wonder at his motives. Of course, it was such a strange evening from the very beginning, and at that time I suspected it would be to the very end, that I could only follow this man who promised me a clearer portrait of the truth. It was a night of revelations and my curiosity spurred me to discover what more might be unveiled.

I followed Brice through darkened hallways to the gloomy domain of the servants. He motioned to me and we brushed past the house servants that were still on duty. One maid was seated on the bottom steps of the servants’ staircase her head slumped to one side as she dozed off from exhaustion. I stepped gingerly around her and moved up into the dreary shadows above her.

Brice motioned to me and pushed open a doorway. Beyond it, lay a long narrow hall.

“What is this?”

“The Baroness is a peculiar woman. She likes to know everything that happens within her household. ” He hesitated, for emphasis. “I do mean everything. ”

“She spies on her own guests,” I asked in surprise.

“You could say that. Come along. ”

The hall was extremely narrow and I could feel my dress brushing against the walls on either side of me. Tiny little slots were in the walls at various points. Nervously, I avoided looking through them and followed Brice closely.

I drew my power tight around me, shielding myself from Vlad or the Baroness, should she be a vampire. I must have vanished from sight, for Brice looked back down the hallway with confusion. I reached out to touch him and he looked quite startled.

“Madam, that was quite terrifying,” he said in a low voice.

“I apologize,” I said briskly, trying not to vanish from his view again.

He took a few more steps, then motioned. “Here. They are in here,” he whispered softly.

I moved closer to him. Turning my head, I peered through the tiny slot. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the candlelight beyond and I could see into the dark cavernous room that was the Baroness’ bedroom.

A woman, very young and beautiful lay on a table, her eyes wide and unseeing. She was pale and lifeless, her throat and wrists baring the marks of a vampire’s bite. The Baroness languidly lounged on her bed, watching Vlad as he spoke with her. The curtains in the windows rustled as the night air flowed through the room causing the candles to flicker, throwing ghastly shadows along the walls.

Vlad’s fingers trailed over the Baroness’ cheek as he smiled down at her, his teeth still tinged with blood. “Good things come to those who wait. ”

“I do not wish to wait,” the Baroness pouted. “But if that is what you desire…so be it. ”

“It is what I desire,” Vlad assured her.

The Baroness sighed, then slid from the bed. She wandered across the room to the dead girl and smiled down at her with contentment. “And when will I join you, my love?”

“When the time is right. ” Vlad fell back against the pillows on her bed, looking quite flushed and content.

“It pains me to see you with her,” the Baroness said in a low voice.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed, but she did not notice.

In the tiny hallway, I pressed closer to the slot, trying to see all that was happening, yet pulling my power in tighter around me.

“I know I chose her for you, but it hurts me that she is immortal and I am not. ”