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Cneajna took my face in her hands and her blood red lips pulled back into a smile, her fangs exposed and glistening. “Soon, you shall be my child, my daughter, my sweetest Glynis. I will be your mother, your sister, and your protector. I will teach you our ways. To dance, to sing, to feed, to hunt, to serve our dear husband. ”

I closed my eyes tightly, swooning. I felt Ariana kiss my cheek as Elina slipped away to stand near the door. Cneajna lifted me up in her arms like a child and carried me from the room. My body grew colder as I was carried toward that horrible bedchamber. My head fell back from Cneajna’s shoulder and I noticed how frigid the air felt against my bare neck. Arms dangling, I had not the strength to lift them up. Peering through my eyelashes, I saw Ariana and Elina following close behind. Ariana was smiling, but Elina was staring at my exposed neck with obvious longing.

Kill me, I thought. Kill me, Elina. Release me from this place.

But Elina did not make her killing move.

Cneajna turned into the darkened bedchamber and laid me down on the ancient bed. Flicking her hand, the candles next to the bed sprang to life. Ariana and Elina smoothed out my skirt and hair while Cneajna stood over them, smiling a satisfied smile.

At last, they deemed that I looked like an appropriate feast for their husband. The two dark Brides stepped back, disappearing into the shadows. Cneajna lingered behind, one cold hand pressed against my cheek. Staring down into my face, she smiled.

“Your time comes, my dearest child. Do not fear. Soon you will truly belong with us, and we shall spend eternity together. Sisters bound by blood. You will learn to love Vlad as we do, and then we shall be bound in our love for our husband. ” She leaned over and kissed my lips lightly. “Sisters of darkness. Forever. ”

The shadows seemed to swell up around Cneajna as she faded away. Alone, I lay in the great bed, weeping and pondering the strange woman’s words. Never had fear pressed down upon me as strongly as it did now. I had feared for my family, but now I feared for my very soul. I could not live an eternity in this place. I would rather die.

With all my strength, I pushed myself up. I crawled from the bed with great difficulty, then crept across the stone floor to the door. It was unlocked. My body was wracked with pain, but I forced myself to stumble on down the dimly lit corridor.

I had to escape this place. I had to escape the fate decided for me. I would not live here in eternal darkness with these horrible women and that fiendish Vlad Dracula. I was determined to escape.

Tears spilling down my face, I reached a crumbling stairwell that led upwards. Shivering from the cool air rushing down the stairs, I stared up into the darkness above me. Pressing my lips tightly together, I slowly climbed the stairs. My legs quivered from the strain, but as I turned a corner, I felt renewed strength

.

The night sky in all its exquisite beauty stretched out before me. I stood atop a battlement. The dark Carpathian Mountains surrounded the castle like menacing sentinels. A chilly wind whirled around me, tossing my hair into a merry dance.

With grim determination, I moved toward the edge of the battlement and saw that this area of the castle was located near the sheer drop that fell to the river below. A small smile pressed itself onto my pale lips.

“Yes, this is how I should die. ”

I stood barefoot at the edge staring below. I understood now what I must do. The moon glinted off the waves of the river. The darkness that dwelt there was soft and velvety to my gaze. With a soft sigh, I prepared myself to fall.

“Do not do this!”

I whirled about to see Vlad step onto the roof. I stared at his fierce face, then a serene smile graced my lips as I let myself fall backwards. My feet slipped free of the stones as I plummeted into the wind. I could feel my hair whipping about me as I fell. I watched as the sky fell away. The sensation of the wind rushing up past me filled me with peace. Soon the cold waters of the dark river would swallow my body, and I would be free.

Death approached.

But it was not the death I yearned for.

Soft, strong arms encircled me and, to my horror, I heard Cneajna whisper my name.

Ariana appeared out of the night sky to hover over me. Reaching out, she took one of my hands.

My descent stopped.

“No, no! Let me fall! Let me fall!”

Elina floated into view, her dark eyes livid with anger. She seized hold of my other arm.

“Please, no! Please! Let me fall!”

Like three beautiful angels, the vampire Brides lifted me up. Their hair floating about them, their dresses billowing on the night air, they lifted me up to the waiting prince.

“Did you think you could escape me so easily?” he shouted at me as I was set down before him. His rage furrowed his face, his eyes glowing with dark fires.

“I only want death,” I sobbed.

“And that is what you shall have!”