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“Poison!” she gasped.

Gripping her arms tightly, I sharply bent forward, her body sliding over my head and hurtling downward. Her pale form was swallowed up by the darkness. I sprinted up the remaining stairs and burst into the long corridor. I was certain I was only a few steps before my pursuers. Magda was at the far end of the hall with her arm raised to use the rosary as a torchlight.

“Behind you,” she gasped.

“Run, Magda!” I shouted as I unsheathed my second dagger.

Spinning about, I caught the smaller vampire with the blade, slicing deep into her throat. She shrieked, raked my face with her nails, and slid back into the shadows. Ignoring the burning pain of my wounded neck and face, I ran after Magda. I could hear the Brides racing along the walls and ceiling, hidden from my view.

“Magda, they are coming!”

Her scream echoed through the castle, and I stumbled through a darkened doorway before spotting the light of the rosary ahead. She was crouched in a corner, holding her hand up over her head as the two dark haired Brides skittered away from the light into the blackness looming in the rafters. Snagging Magda about the waist, I pulled her along as we plunged down the hallway that would lead us back to the kitchens.

I could hear the Brides scurrying along behind us, hoping we would falter, so they could attack.

“He is poison,” Cneajna’s voice slithered through the corridor. “Kill him, feast on the girl!”

Magda faltered in her steps as I dragged her along. The Brides faded in and out of view, crouching in doorways, sliding up the walls, floating above us. I could feel Magda’s heart beating rapidly in her bosom. They were taunting us, attempting to terrify us, and despite my long years dealing with the undead, I felt fear well within me.

I knew they could not kill me, but if they wounded me sufficiently, I could possibly be trapped here until I escaped. I had no inclination to find out how cruel the three women could be. I remembered far too well how their husband had tortured me for many weeks trying to determine if he could kill me. It was Astir who had freed me.

The smallest Bride darted out of the gloom on her hands and feet and snapped her teeth at Magda’s ankle. Slamming my dagger down into Ariana’s neck, I pinned her.

Magda stumbled out of my grasp and fell against the thick curtains covering one window. The rosary blazed before her and I heard an anguished cry as Elina retreated. Before I could instruct her to open the curtains, Magda gripped the old, dusty fabric and drew it back.

Sunlight poured through the grimy glass into the corridor washing over me and the vampire at my feet. Dragging my dagger out Ariana’s flesh, I stepped back into the sunlight as she screamed in pain. Her skin blackened as she scrambled in a blind panic, trying to free herself from the rays of the sun.

The princess dashed out of the dark, grabbed the girl, and dragged her away. Both were burning by the time they found refuge in the shadows dwelling further down the hallway. Collapsing together, the vampires screamed in anguish as Elina threw a tapestry over them to extinguish the fire racing over their bodies.

Sliding my daggers into their sheaths as I ran, I followed Magda into the kitchens. Though she was weak and panicked, she bravely led us to our freedom. Together, we fell through the doorway and collapsed.

The flat stones of the courtyar

d were warm and comforting beneath my body. The pain of my wounds faded as I healed. Magda slowly rolled onto her back, her hands clutching the rosary to her chest as she gazed up at the soft clouds floating over the serene blue sky above.

“Why didn’t you let me kill him?” she asked, her voice trembling with exhaustion and emotion.

“The repercussions of his death would negatively affect the Countess far more than you could ever imagine,” I explained.

“Truly?”

“Yes, truly. I vowed to protect her and I will. What she has done is. . . ” I faltered as the image of Vlad’s shriveled body returned to my mind. Sitting up, I rested my elbows on my knees and took a deep breath. “What she has done could result in very dire consequences. ”

Magda’s dark eyes closed as her lips trembled. “We must help her. ”

“And we shall. ” I leaned over and laid my hand gently over hers. “I vow that I shall. Trust me. ”

Opening her eyes, she focused her gaze upon my face. “I do, Adem. I do trust you. ”

Together, we rose and departed.

Letter to Astir from Adem continued. . .

. . . as you can see the situation is quite dire. I await your gentle guidance.

Your servant,

Adem