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“Ariana,” I cried out when I opened the door.

She gave me her coy smile, then hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Hello, Glynis. ”

“Darling, I missed you so. I tried to find you but I could not,” I said in a rush of words.

“I am sorry for that, but we were trying to console, Cneajna. She is much better now and wishes to see you in the throne room. ”

“Is she better? I would never do anything to hurt her,” I said softly.

“Oh, yes, Glynis. She is,” Ariana swore. “She was just distraught until we calmed her. ”

With much relief, I hugged Ariana again. “Will you come with me?”

“Oh, no. This is private between the two of you. I dare not intrude. ” She smiled at me sweetly.

I returned her smile and kissed her cheek fondly. “Very well. I shall see you later then. ”

“Of course, dear sister,” she giggled, then dashed off in a flurry of white.

Nervously, I smoothed out my favorite pale blue gown and tucked up my hair. It was a relief that Cneajna would forgive me. I had been truly frightened that she would not. I rushed down the stairs to the throne room anxious to speak with her and put the past aside.

When I entered the room, I saw her seated upon Vlad’s throne. Behind it was the golden stake. I shuddered at the sight of it, thinking of that terrible opera about Vlad and the death of my father, and dismissed it from my thoughts immediately. Cneajna looked calm, but sad when I entered. She looked up at me with her great sapphire eyes, and they were full of sorrow.

“Cneajna,” I exclaimed emotionally, moving toward her.

She hurried down from the throne quickly, her arms held out to me. I rushed to her and felt her crush me against her body. We clung together, both weeping.

“I do not wish for you to be angry with me,” I whispered. “I love you so, sweet Cneajna. ”

“And I you, Glynis,” she answered in her lovely voice. “Let us not quarrel. ”

“Yes, please!” I kissed her cheek and held her against me.

“The time for quarreling is done. ”

The blow of the dagger into my back drove me hard against her. It cracked my ribs and tore through my flesh.

“Cneajna,” I gasped in pain and fell to the floor.

She stood over me, the bloodied dagger clutched tight in one hand. Her eyes were cold, brutal, and deadly. “I will not be usurped in my own home. ”

Then she was on me, her arm arcing downward as she stabbed me over and over. I cried out and tried to defend myself, but I admit, I did not try and strike her back. Despite her brutal attack on me, I could not see her as my enemy. I sobbed and pleaded with her, but the dagger struck over and over again. I felt it striking deep into my flesh. My blood splattered her as she continued to assault me. I felt my bones crack and shatter, then began to heal. Still the dagger came at me.

“I will cut out your heart and eat it,” she snarled. “He will not have it, but I will. I will have your heart. ”

“Cneajna!” I screamed her name and still the blows came. The pain was quick and fierce. I tried to crawl away from her on shattered arms and legs.

I could not fight back. I could not believe she would kill me. Yet her face was twisted in hate and fury as she drove the dagger into my flesh all the way to the hilt, again and again.

Now I believe that she wanted me to suffer, to feel pain, and not die quickly. Otherwise, she would have taken a stake and pierced my heart.

Her desire to have me suffer was her undoing.

Vlad roared into the room like a great storm. His hair flying around him like a dark halo, his cloak flaring out, he rode into the room on a cold wind and descended on her like an avenging demon. He struck the dagger from her hand and gripped her slim white throat in his hand.

“How dare you touch my wife!” Vlad growled at her, his eyes fierce fires.

“I am your wife!” she screamed at him.