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I shrank back into a corner of the trunk, drawing my legs up to my chin, covering my face. Vlad wrenched the lid off the trunk and peered down at me. I cowered before him, trying to curl myself into a small ball. Trembling violently, I tried to avoid his gaze, cowering in the shadows.

“You were to feed,” he said in a hard voice.

I hugged myself tightly, my lips quivering.

Cneajna humbly approached her angered husband and knelt before him. Taking hold of his hand, she stared up at him imploringly. “Please, Master, she is yet human, not fully changed. She would not feed. And her sister-“

Vlad slapped her so hard the sound of the impact made me jump. “Silence! I will not have you defying me! She was to feed on her sister. She was to join us tonight!”

“She is strong, Master. So very strong. She is yet mortal,” Cneajna said through bloodied, swollen lips. “Please, you gave her to me to care for. Please do not allow the madness to take her from me. You promised me another child. ” She lowered her head in supplication, her hands held out to him.

Vlad’s heavy brows knitted together over his green eyes. “Mortal! My blood runs in her. ”

I was wrenched to my feet and lifted out of the trunk. He gruffly took hold of my chin, forcing my head upwards. Searchingly, he stared into my eyes. With a snort, he dropped his hand.

“She is a strong one,” he decided almost with amusement. “She is still mortal. Changing, yes, but still mortal. ”

“I told you, Master. When I saw her eyes, I knew she was not yet truly one of us. I saw her fear and realized our feeding could destroy her mind. ” Cneajna climbed to her feet and moved to shield me from the view of Ariana and Elina feeding on May. “I was frightened, my Master. I know the importance of the new Bride, and I did not dare displease you by allowing her mind to be broken. Please, forgive me. ”

Vlad studied her expression, then glanced at me, his newest acquisition. “Yes, you were right, Cneajna. ” Then, with swift violence, he backhanded her, knocking her to the floor. “But never defy me again!”

Cneajna cowered at his feet. “Yes, Master. ”

“Ariana! Elina!”

The two sisters rose to their feet. I dared not look upon the fallen form of my sister. Ariana, the curly haired one, wiped her bloodied lips with her hair, following Elina as though in a daze. Bowing their heads, they stood silently next to me.

“What do you wish, my Master?” It was Elina who spoke, the one with the long, straight, raven hair. Her lips shimmered with blood as she spoke.

“Prepare the girl. She must have the vampire baptism once more. Then she will join us. Take her to the bedchamber. ” Vlad laid his hands on my shoulders, leaning toward me. I tried to avoid his lips, but they found mine in a crushing kiss. “Once more, my love. ”

Fresh tears slipped from my eyes, racing down my pale cheeks. I simply could not endure to suffer his dark passions again.

Satisfied, Vlad whirled about and walked swiftly from the room.

Cneajna pushed her hair back from her face, regaining her composure. The ugly bruises that Vlad had inflicted on her face were rapidly healing. It was then I realized my own wounds from the night before were fading and the pain was bearable. Extending one long hand, she lifted my chin.

“Do not be afraid, dearest. I will care for you. ”

Fearfully, I looked up into the face of my new mistress. I gazed into the exquisite eyes of the vampire and saw unexpected compassion dwelling within them. It gave me hope. “Please, please, let me go. Please, I want to flee from here. ”

“Why does she beg to leave us? Is it the madness?” Ariana asked. She was the more delicate in appearance of the two dark Brides. I would later discover that when she had joined this dark world, she must not have been any more than sixteen years old. The dark gift had endowed her with the sensuality and cunning of one much older. She had fine sweet features and dark curly hair. With her small white hand, she gently swept my hair from my face to look into my terrified eyes. “Will she go mad like Erzsébet ?”

“No, it is her mortality fighting the change. ” Elina stared at me with open animosity. “She will transform. She is nearly of our blood now. Look at how her eyes are changing. Those are not the eyes of a mortal. Soon our dear husband will have his new wife. ” Her voice was tinged with anger.

Cneajna took hold of my arm, drawing me to her. “Come, my child, let us prepare you. ”

I avoided glancing at May lying on the floor, her neck nothing more than bloodied flesh. “I cannot take anymore. Please, let me go. Please!” My voice was harsh to my own ears, ragged and full of terror. I collapsed onto the cold stone floor, weeping. Burying my face in my hands, I cowered before the Brides.

Cneajna leaned over me, her hair falling about me. “My dearest child, you are most honored to be a bride of Prince Vlad Dracula. He is the greatest of men. The pain will pass and you shall be one of us. The gift of immortal beauty and life shall be yours. ”

“He hurt me! I felt as though I’d been split apart. My body does not feel right. I am so cold. Please, I do not want to die here. I cannot die this way. ”

“But you won’t die. You will live forever as one of us. A vampire. A Bride. ” Cneajna’s eyes were bright, her face pale and beautiful, and her teeth sharp and deadly.

I could not imagine being what she was. I stared into the vampire’s face in terror. The thought of living here in this place trapped with those who had murdered my father and sister was unbearable.

The dark Brides lifted me up with their cold hands as they encircled me, whispering promises of jewels, beauty, youth and immortality. They swayed around me, enfolding me in their embrace, their hands and hair brushing over me softly.