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“She bound us to the castle and we could not feed!” Cneajna seethed with anger. “How could we feed him?”

Ariana cried out. “The gypsies wouldn’t let us eat them! They were so cruel! And now they have left!”

“Did she send you here to kill us all?” Elina demanded.

“We are here to recover something that is valuable to her. ” The rosary in my pocket would be my final weapon against them should they approach.

“We have to kill him! We cannot let him rise!” Magda moved as if to cast her fire on him, but I spun her about, forcing her to face the vampire women who were creeping nearer.

“We cannot!”

“If he rises he will go to her!”

Cneajna hissed with anger at Magda’s words. “I will not let him!”

“If he rises he will kill us,” Ariana wailed. “He will slice off our heads!”

“We cannot let him enslave her once again. ” Magda’s voice was rough with her fear and grief. “He wants her. He will do anything to possess her. ”

A terrifying growl erupted from the throat of Princess Cneajna. She roared, her face contorted with anger. “Do not speak of her in my home!”

“She betrayed us all! She usurped Cneajna!” Elina declared. “She should be the one to die!”

“He loved her best!” Ariana sobbed, sliding to the floor, her hands tangling in her hair. “He loved her more than us!”

Cneajna grabbed the smallest vampire by her hair and wrenched her head back. “Do not say those words!”

Ariana’s cries filled the crypt as Elina took a seductive step toward us. “Go back and kill her for us,” she whispered, her hands sliding over her nude body, her gaze provocative as it caught my eyes.

I could feel her power pushing at my mind, trying to seize control of my thoughts, and make me her slave. I smiled, amused by her actions. I am immune to vampiric powers. The vampire cupped her breasts and licked her full lips, her eyes full of wanton promises. Not realizing I was not affected by the creature’s power, Magda threw her fire ball at Elina, forcing the vampire to spring back with a shriek. Collapsing at my feet, I knew Magda was spent.

The Brides surged forward, sharp teeth bared, hands clawed. I drew out Lady Antoinetta’s rosary and the crypt exploded with bright light. The Brides screamed, twisting about, shielding their faces from the glory of the relic.

Sheathing my sword, I quickly leaned down to lift Magda. She struggled to rise, drained of her power and strength. My arm about her waist, I heaved her to her feet as her arms slid around me. Her dark eyes strayed back to the silent, wilted form of Vlad Dracula.

“We should kill him,” she whispered, surrendering to my will.

“We cannot. ”

Lifting up the small rosary, burning with a fire that I did not truly understand, but was grateful for, I advanced on the three women cowering before us. They shrieked as I approached, scrambling back into the shadows. Tears of blood poured down the face of the beautiful princess as she bared her sharp teeth. The little one scrambled behind a pillar, crying out as the light touched her. The darker one retreated reluctantly, her long hair falling over her naked body as she raised a hand to shield her eyes.

Crushing Magda against my side, I rushed across the chapel darting around the still burning coffin. I knew the Brides were following, for the relic remained illuminated in my grip. It would remain a light on our path until the Brides gave up their pursuit. I could sense them slinking along in the shadows as I reached the entrance to the stairwell. Pressing the beaded chain of the rosary into Magda’s hand I pushed her forward. Stumbling, she made her way up the stairs, the unearthly light illuminating her way.

I turned to gaze back into the chapel as I drew my silver dagger. I knew the Brides would pursue us out of hunger and loyalty to their fallen master. The dying embers of the destroyed coffin illuminated the pale form of Princess Cneajna as she watched us attempt to escape. Tilting her head slightly, she let out a low cackle.

I leaped back as the dark bride lashed out at me from above. I fell back on the stairs to witness her crawl along the ceiling. Her dark eyes glimmered with red fire as she bared her fangs and her long nails swept through the air above my head. I leaped to my feet, grabbed her long hair, and wrenched her down. My silver dagger sliced deep into her chest as she fell, her blood pouring out in a cold gush. It was not a killing blow, but it sent the vampire to her knees. She wailed in pain as she crumpled.

Retreating up the stairs, I watched as the little Bride threw herself over the fallen form of her sister. Princess Cneajna’s eyes flashed with dark rage as she began to move swiftly after me.

I turned and ran up the darkened stairwell after Magda. Lord Astir had been clear. I was not to kill the vampire Brides, but I could prevent them from killing Magda or harming me. The light from above barely illuminated my way as I bound up the steps.

“Do you think you can escape me?” Cneajna whispered from the darkness.

“Yes, I do,” I responded.

I could feel her power swelling and boiling up the stairwell behind me. Out of all the Brides, she was the strongest. According to her stature in the household, she would be the one to feed first. I was certain she had taken most of the blood from the gypsies they had managed to slaughter since their confinement had begun.

I felt the brush of her hand against my back. I whirled about with my dagger arcing to slice through her cold flesh, but it slid through empty air. Her arms seized me from behind as her fangs burrowed into my throat. I gritted my teeth against the agony of her bite as she drew in one long draught of my blood. Gagging, her mouth released me.