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Chapter 16

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright-Continued

The Castle

Vlad returned to the castle wearing the form of a wolf. The moment my bare feet touched the icy stones of the courtyard, he bounded off, his anger as tangible as the cold night wind.

Gathering my skirts, I hurried toward the entrance of the castle. The great bronze door opened and Cneajna stood there, her long blond hair falling around a face so forlorn it made my heart ache. I immediately seized her hands in mine and kissed her cool cheek.

“What is it, Cneajna? Why do you look so heartbroken?”

“He took you to her, did he not?”

I nodded, trying not to think of the agonized screams and wild laughter of Erzsébet. “Yes, he did. ”

Cneajna sighed, then shook her head as she drew her hands quickly away. Turning on her heel, she strode back into the castle, one hand pressed against her lips.

“Cneajna,” I called out, pursuing her. I reached out and touched the gentle curve of her shoulder.

She hesitated, then turned to face me.

“Please, do not leave me. I am troubled and afraid. What I have seen and heard tonight has me shaken. Please, let us take solace together. Let us bind together our strength to carry us through this wretched night. ”

She gently smoothed my hair back from my face, then drew me against her. I flung myself into her embrace and clung to her. She whispered that if she had given birth to a daughter she might have looked like me. That her mortal husband had the thickest, most fiery locks she had ever seen until she had seen my hair. Her long fingers stroked my cheek and she kissed me lightly.

“What he did to Erzsébet, he said he will do to me if I do not obey him, Cneajna. ”

“Now you know why I plead with you to obey our husband. Now do you understand what he is capable of?”

I drew away from her and flung out my hands dramatically. “But it is monstrous what he has done! She is alive and in so much pain. I was so horrified and afraid of her fate, I betrayed my own brother to Prince Vlad!”

“I love Erzsébet. I love her more than I can say. She is the most beautiful of women and I adore her as I would my own sister. When she lived with us, she made life here more bearable…more civilized. Erzsébet wanted to be happy here, but Vlad did not allow her the freedoms she craved. Over the years, her love for him turned to hatred until at last, she tried to kill him. And he did what had to be done. ”

“Why did he not just kill her? It would have been so much better than impaling her alive. To suffer that way for an eternity. ”

“One night he will destroy her when his ambition grows greater than his love for her. To keep her alive is to endanger himself. But it is his way. Vlad has always impaled those who defied him, even when he was a mortal man. Erzsébet is a vampire and she cannot die from such a punishment unless the stake pierced her heart. ” Cneajna’s expression became troubled as she turned away from me. “I weep for her. I weep for her because she went mad and destroyed herself. And yet, I still love her. ”

“He did it to her! Can you not see that? He drove her to hate him!” I paced back and forth, wringing my hands. “I can understand far too well how she must have felt. How he drove her into madness and she had no choice but to seek his death. He is a monster! A monster! And I have betrayed Andrew to him!” I fell back against a pillar and buried my face in my hands.

“What do you mean? Who is Andrew? Is he your brother? Does he live in England? And if so, in what way have you betrayed him?”

In a trembling voice, I told her all that had happened. Cneajna listened in silence; one hand gently grasping mine. When I finished my story, Cneajna kissed my forehead tenderly, stroking my hand lightly with her long, slim fingers.

“Do not fear, sweet Glynis. If our husband wishes for your brother to help him move to England, then he will certainly not kill him. ”

“But he wanted my family to help him and he killed them,” I pointed out to her.

“For you, dear Glynis. For you! He wanted you desperately. When you first arrived, we followed in the shadows admiring you. We were all taken with your haughtiness and your beautiful red hair. Later, after you were asleep, Vlad came to me and told me how much he desired you. I could see it in his eyes that nothing would stop him from claiming you as his own. And now you are one of us. ” She smiled with contentment. “Your father never should have defied our husband. That is what doomed them all. So you must not defy Vlad if you wish for your brother to live. You must do as our husband commands and your brother’s life will be spared. Vlad can be generous if he is obeyed and given the respect that is his due. ”

I sighed with exasperation, drawing away from her. “In this world, I cannot win. I am so utterly trapped by his power and his will. ”

“It is his world and we must obey him without question. ”

I could see Cneajna truly believed those words. But I cannot. Yes, it may be Vlad’s world, but there has to be a way to break free. But to save Andrew, I have to capitulate. I realize that truth though I hate it. There truly is no other way.

“Cneajna, how can you stand it? Living in his power, submitting to his every wish and whim. ” The intensity in which I spoke those words demanded an answer.

Cneajna hesitated, then said softly, “It is better than my mortal life. ” She drew away from me, moving across the stone floor to the staircase. “Memories are strong on this night, calling to me, compelling me to speak to you, but not here. Come with me to our chambers. Let us rest there as Elina and Ariana deliver our Master’s message to his servant in the village. ”