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I dashed down the corridors, my passing causing the candlelight to flicker as I swept by. Adem appeared out of a side hall and joined me. Together, we burst into her room. We found the Baroness collapsed on the floor, tearing at her hair and crying. In misery, she wailed. Falling to my knees beside her, I enfolded her in my arms. She clung to me, her face buried in my bosom.

“What is it, Csilla?”

“It’s terrible!”

“What is?”

“I saw Vlad in my dream. He was furious with me for not bringing you to him and he was trying to kill me! He appeared as a great dragon, rising up to scorch me with fire!” She screamed again. “He’s coming to kill me!”

“It was a dream! He is not here!” I looked to my guard and lover for reassurance.

Adem was already at the window, gazing out at the snowstorm beyond the frosted panes.

“She was dreaming or hallucinating,” Ignatius decided.

Csilla sobbed as she clawed at my dress. “I saw his eyes. They were hateful! He demands obedience, but I will not give you to him! I will not. We shall be together forever far away from him!”

I tried to quiet her, but it was to no avail. To my surprise, Laura and Katya stood near us. They must have followed me.

Katya knelt next to Csilla and reached out to take her hand. “Do not be afraid. He is far away from here and he is only angry because we will not obey. ”

Csilla gazed at the blond woman with hope awakening in her eyes. “Do you hear him, too?”

Katya nodded. “I ignore him. He is of no consequence to me. My kisses come from others now,” she said looking significantly toward Laura.

“Do you dream of the dragon and the wolf?”

“Oh, yes. Always. But then I wake up and they are not truly there. ” To my surprise, Katya pulled Csilla from my arms and helped her to her feet. The girl who often drove me mad surprised me by kindly helping the baroness back to her bed. Csilla leaned heavily against Katya as she was led away. “I will stay with you and you will see that there is nothing to fear. ”

Retreating from the room, I felt disquieted by what I had heard. Ignatius lightly stroked my arm as we gathered in the hallway. Adem shut the door as Laura drew close.

“She has certainly taken a turn for the worse,” Adem observed.

“Brice has been poisoning her with belladonna,” Ignatius informed Adem. “She could be having fever dreams. ”

“Or Vlad could truly be threatening her,” Adem replied.

“She was so frightened. It was terrible to see,” Laura whispered.

“Post a guard, Adem. Do not let Brice into the room. We need to know if it is her fears and the poison speaking, or if Vlad is truly about to make a move. ” My voice sounded strong and firm, yet I felt afraid.

“And if he is?” Laura’s eyes were so wide, her pupils were perfectly ringed with white.

“We prepare to fight,” Adem answered.

Silence dwelt among us after this comment.

At last, I turned and walked away to my rooms.

Chapter 31

The Journal of Countess Dracula

December 4, 1820

The Dosza Palace

There is no disguising that we are all ill at ease with our present situation. The snow is piled high against the windows and doors now. The cold is bitter and piercing. The palace is constantly freezing from the terrible weather and the only comfort to be found is to sit as close as possible to the fireplaces.