Page 117
“Of course. He gained power to seize control of all vampires only to have her thwart him because she created him. ” Ignatius’s face was the picture of sorrow. “He attempted to strike her down and was swiftly defeated. She banished him to his land. He remained there until he found a way to move about with limitations. That was when I was sent to watch him. ”
“Who is the Immortal Beloved?” Laura dared to ask.
“One of the first of us,” Ignatius explained. “She is the one who created Vlad and me. We are her rare progeny. She is loath to create progeny after the corruption of Vlad. But all vampires who are aware of her existence revere her. ”
“Not all vampires are aware of their origins or of the old great vampire houses. ” Astir sighed dramatically. “There are plenty of ignorant vampires running about in this day and age. ”
“Vlad told me there is no true order to vampire society. ” I felt perturbed by my lack of knowledge.
Ignatius slightly shrugged. “There really has never been. A few vampires have tried to mold their lives after their mortal ones. Like Gavril and Ilinca, they have created vampire families and abide by their own strict rules. But there is no true set order. In this area of Europe the vampires have shaped their society to resemble the mortal royal houses and acknowledge the Immortal Beloved. Yet, in France and Germany, the vampires do as they please and rarely congregate. ”
“The point of the matter is that Vlad is a power to be reckoned with,” Astir interrupted, obviously in a foul mood. “We cannot kill him. Therefore, at some point, we will have to deal with him. ”
“And we have seen how he can influence people even from beyond his imprisonment,” Adem stated. “He was attacking you as a spectral creature. ”
“And he has been haunting the dreams of Csilla. ” I felt disturbed by this thought. “I do not think he has tried to summon Magda. ”
“He cannot. She is bound to your blood,” Adem comforted me. “But Katya could be susceptible. ”
“How can we be certain?” I was aghast with the possibilities.
“Why don’t you ask her? She’s lingering outside the door. ” Ignatius gestured toward the hall.
Adem lunged swiftly through the doorway and dragged Katya into view. Her vivid blue eyes were wide, but her sultry smile was the same as ever.
“Tell us, Katya, do you hear Vlad Dracula in your dreams?” Adem shook her roughly.
Fluttering her dark lashes, her smile broadened slightly. “Perhaps. ”
“What does he tell you?” Ignatius rose sharply to his feet.
“To bring her to him,” she answered, pointing at me. “And he promises to reward me. ”
“In what manner?” Adem shoved her deeper into the room to stand before me and Ignatius.
“To make me his Bride. ”
Studying her closely, I wondered if I should kill her. “Does this appeal to you?”
Laughing, she vehemently shook her head, her blond hair flying about her face. “Oh, no! I laugh when he offers! I should never want to be a vampire! Then I would not be able to go outside in the day. I love the sunlight. ”
“So what do you want?” Ignatius looked upon her with great curiosity.
“To drink from Countess Dracula so I may be like Magda. I wish to live a long life in servitude to the vampires. I like it when they give me their kisses. ” Katya’s gaze shifted to my lips, her expression full of longing. “I love the kisses she gives me. I want them upon my flesh. I have no desire to become a vampire and lose that exquisite joy. ”
“She’s telling the truth,” Astir decided, sounding a bit surprised.
“How can we know that?” Laura demanded. “What if she’s plotting against us?”
Ignatius tapped his chin thoughtfully. “She speaks the truth. She’s addicted to the vampire bite and her mind is so completely warped by Vlad’s interference, it is difficult to even try to control her. ”
The fallen angel let out a loud, boisterous guffaw. “Oh, you have no idea how difficult. ”
Katya smirked at him, before returning her eyes to me. The hunger lingering in their depths was disturbing in its ferocity.
Laura rushed to my side and glowered at the girl. “You are not to upset my Mistress!”
Katya frowned slightly. “I have no intention of disturbing anyone. I merely wish to serve. ”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117 (Reading here)
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144