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“And then he came, did he not?”

“Yes. I fell asleep in my bedroom and dreamed only of death. Then, in the darkness of my despair, I woke to feel his lips against mine. I was thrilled to see him, yet confused. I knew he was supposed to be dead, yet, he kissed my tears away and held me tightly against him. There was another in the room. A beautiful woman with raven hair and eyes like fire. ”

“Erzsébet. ”

“Yes, Erzsébet. She was powerful and I knew she was not mortal. Her eyes were like fire and when I looked into Vlad’s eyes, I saw the same fire. I was afraid, but he kissed me and whispered he had come to claim me as his own. When I felt his teeth pierce my neck, I knew he loved me. ” She began to cry again as I wrapped my arms around her.

“Do not cry, Cneajna. Please, do not cry!”

“Do you not see, Glynis? He gave me back everything I had lost. The position as the first wife of his household, even over Erzsébet; she who was his first companion in his vampire life. He gave me everything I wanted: fine jewels, beautiful clothes and children. You and Ariana and Elina are my children. I love all of you. And more importantly, Vlad gave me eternal life, eternal beauty, and the eternal hope that someday, we shall rise up and rule as we once did. ”

I could not speak. I was overcome by the emotions I felt flowing out of Cneajna. In so many ways we had both been confined by the restrictive rules of our societies, but where Cneajna saw her vampire life as freedom, I saw it as one more prison. Cneajna was content in this dark world and I was not. Where Cneajna loved Vlad for freeing her from her mortal life, I hated him for entrapping me in this vampire life.

“So, you see, dearest Glynis, we must do as he wishes, for in the end he will do what is best for us. He is wise. He is strong. As long as you obey him, he will not have reason to destroy your brother. He may even show favor to him and make him immortal, and then you would be with your beloved brother forever. You must do Vlad’s bidding and not complain. And soon, you will love him as I do. ”

I did not, could not, respond to the fervent whispers of the vampire. I only listened and hardened my heart against Vlad. Even though Cneajna did not realize it, Vlad had trapped her in a prison more restrictive than her own cousin had at Visegrád. I am determined to escape Vlad at all cost.

I now realize I cannot openly defy him. I must curb my wicked tongue, even more than before. I will have to be cunning and shrewd to outwit him and eventually escape. I will have to be clever indeed, not merely subservient and hope for the best. All this I understood and took to heart as she spoke to me.

“Promise me, dear Glynis, promise me, you will obey him! That you will not harbor ill will against him and understand your place here,” she begged me fervently.

I looked into her anguished eyes, nodding slowly. “I promise, Cneajna. I will obey him. ” I hoped that my eyes did not glow with my fiery resolve.

Chapter 17

The Journal of Angeline Wright

27th of November, 1819

Today was utterly dreadful. The news the post brought has devastated us to our core. I can barely stand my own despair. Even my child seemed distressed within me and I forced myself to rest for a few hours in the afternoon. How can one endure losing three members of one’s family without going mad?

&n

bsp; I finally rose and sought out my grieving husband. It was his wracking sobs that drew me to the doorway of the parlor. My own tears were wet upon my cheeks. My bare feet were silent against the floor as I padded toward him, one hand supporting my heavy stomach. The child within me stirred briefly, then settled down once more.

“Andrew, dearest?”

He did not move. Sprawled in a chair, his face in one hand, the other clutching the fateful letter from his only surviving sister, my dear husband was weeping for his family.

Oh, how dreadful is the parcel we received just this morn! I wish it had never arrived; that we had never opened it; that we had not found the letters within. There had been three letters: one from Sir Stephen of Buda, a letter from our beloved Glynis, and the last from Count Vlad Dracula. Sir Stephen’s correspondence had been a brief letter of condolence. It had confused my husband until he had opened Glynis’ letter and read of his family’s demise in a tragic carriage accident on Bârgau Pass. He had instantly become inconsolable. I had to literally pry the letter from his fingers to read it.

I moved to the table where Susanna had laid out a tea tray for us. I could see he had touched nothing.

“Andrew, darling. Perhaps a cup of tea would help soothe your nerves,” I said softly.

He looked up at me with confusion. His eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face was a deep red. “What is it, Angeline?”

“A cup of tea, love?”

He looked at the tray for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, please. I am parched. ”

I smiled slightly and quickly prepared a hot cup for him. It was a relief to see how gratefully he took it from my slightly trembling hands and commenced to sip it. After a few swallows, he set it down on his knee and peered into the dark liquid.

“I knew something was dreadfully wrong. I knew it. ”

“I know, darling. I know,” I responded. I carefully lowered myself onto the chair across from him. “But we must be happy that Glynis survived. It is a miracle we must be grateful for. ”

Andrew nodded gravely. “Yes, yes. She is a strong girl. She would be the one to survive. But, Angeline, her letter is so odd. It is so stilted and so unlike her. She does not explain how the accident happened or what her condition is. Maybe it is May who survived and she is confused. ”