For a brief moment, I hoped the man standing near the fireplace with his back to me was my beloved. Sadly, I realized the dark hair falling around the man’s shoulders was far too curly and his stature was shorter than Ignatius’s.
“Sir, this is Countess Dracula,” Katya said.
The man turned swiftly and bowed deeply to me.
“My dearest Countess,” he said in a voice that carried a thick accent though he spoke in Magyar.
“You have me at a disadvantage, sir,” I responded.
“I am Adem, the Captain of Lord Astir’s Black Guard. ” He remained bowed at the waist, his dark eyes gazing into mine.
I gestured for him to rise and he quickly obeyed. I was struck by his savage handsomeness. His eyes were as black as night and his curly hair the color of dark, burnished wood. His nose was hooked and slightly crooked, as though it had been broken many times. Scars were slashed into both of his cheeks and across his bottom lip. He had the appearance of a warrior. I would have feared him if not for an unexpected gentleness in his manner and voice.
“Katya, leave us,” I said to the young woman lingering at my side.
With a secretive smile, she bowed her head, then hurried out, closing the door behind her.
“Adem, this is unexpected. Do you bring news from Astir?”
“Lord Astir sends news from Buda and requests that you listen to what I say and not do anything. . . ” he hesitated.
“Yes?” I felt impatient and unsettled.
“His exact words were ‘do not allow her to do anything hasty,’” Adem confessed.
“I see. ” I arched my eyebrow. “What is his message?”
Adem reached into his coat and withdrew a stack of letters. His garb was elegantly cut and resembled a uniform. I wondered briefly what the blue symbols on his sleeves represented. Taking the letters, I was first confused, then angered to see they were my own mailed correspondence.
“These are my own letters!”
“Lord Astir, wishes for you to understand that your pla
ns to return to Buda are not advisable at this time,” Adem said in his rich tones.
“Why ever not?” My temper was rising as I clutched the letters to my breast.
In silence, Adem handed another letter to me. It was fine parchment with a blue seal imprinted with the same symbols as Adem’s uniform. Impatience gripping me, I broke the seal and quickly unfurled the letter to read.
Dearest Countess Dracula,
It is my terrible duty to inform you that the vampire hunters are still afoot in the cities of Buda and Pesth. Several residences suspected of harboring the bloodthirsty undead were burnt to the ground last night.
I strongly advise you remain in Bistri?a at this time. My guards and carriage will continue to be at your service and I have dispatched my most favored servant to be at your side. He is the Captain of my Black Guard. His name is Adem.
As for your query into the whereabouts of our mysterious Father Ignatius, he left the city the night you departed with your dear husband. He has not been seen since.
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits,
Lovingly,
Astir
I crushed the letter in my hand and stomped my foot. “How dare he order me about!” Pain ripped through me at the thought of returning to Buda and not finding my love there. Tears in my eyes, I turned away from the messenger. My anger raged within me.
“The hunters are on a rampage. Lord Astir relocated the entrance of the haven in order to protect it. He is not allowing vampires to enter until the threat has ended. The situation, my Countess, is quite dire. ”
Flinging myself into a chair, I quickly sorted through the correspondence returned to me. They were all accounted for except the one I had sent to Astir. I had dispatched the letters with one of Astir’s guards just the night before. I could not fathom the magic that could transport mail so quickly to a far destination.