The Tale Of The Vampire Bride (Vampire Bride 1)

A sharp yelp ripped out of the night.

“Father, I heard something, too!” I gripped his arm tightly.

It was then that Ovidiu began to call out shrilly. Even though it was in another language, I could have sworn his words were the Lord’s Prayer. As I heard the deep voice of the driver join in, I glanced with worry at my father.

“Father, what did the driver say earlier?”

“Glynis!” Mother’s voice was a hiss.

“The dead travel fast,” my father answered. His uneasiness was very evident in his voice.

I shivered at the thought. It was horribly morbid. Yet, somehow, fascinating. We were in such an exotic country with odd customs far removed from prim English society. I could only imagine what the driver had meant. Boldly, I leaned out the window.

The cold wind tugged at my hair and clothes, nipping at my nose. Ahead of the carriage, the road twisted among the trees. I turned my gaze and immediately let out a small gasp.

Three wolves, two dark gray, one white as the moonlight, were racing behind the carriage. The wolves' eyes seemed to flash with red fire. Their strong legs appeared to carry them on the wind itself. I could have sworn their great paws never touched the ground.

The white wolf gazed directly into my eyes. For a moment, a cold, tight hand of fear gripped my body. Then the three wolves veered off the road and disappeared into the forest.

I practically fell back into my seat, breathless with excitement. “There were wolves out there! Following us! It was most peculiar!”

“What? Wolves?” Mother let out a little gasp.

“Yes, wolves! There were three wolves running behind us,” I said. My eyes must have been very bright. “They were beautiful!”

“Nonsense! The night is playing tricks on your mind!” Mother cast a fearful look toward the windows.

“Truly I saw them! They were rushing along behind us!”

May whimpered in fear and clutched Mother’s arm.

“Edric, she is frightening her sister. Make her stop!”

Father patted my arm lightly. “Be kind to your sister. ”

I frowned, then turned my gaze sharply out the window. Damn them all! They never believed me. I was not fanciful. I was merely much more observant than any of them cared to be.

I felt the presence of the night all about me: a living, breathing entity, whispering soft words against my flesh. I had never before felt the silken touch of the night caress me as I did now. It was a frightening, yet exhilarating experience. It was as if the night itself were attempting to seduce me.

As the horses’ hooves thundered and the night sky rumbled, all those within the frail carriage cowered except for me. Instead of feeling terror, I felt very much alive. I leaned out into the darkness beyond the carriage once more; my hands gripping the window frame as the cold wind pressed stinging kisses against my cheeks.

“Glynis! Sit back!”

I pointedly ignored my mother and watched as the forest began to thin. I could see the dark impression of the valley beneath us. For an instant, I thought I saw a flash of white. I strained to see and witnessed a glimmer of something pale racing th

rough the trees. It had to be the ivory wolf.

“Let me see you, please,” I called out, not truly understanding the meaning of my words.

“I am here,” the wind seemed to answer me, and I felt quite mad.

I saw a woman standing next to the road. A beautiful woman with her long blond hair and white gown billowing on the wind. The carriage sped past the apparition, and, impulsively, I stretched out my hand. To my surprise, the ghostly woman reached out as well, and our fingertips touched.

With a gasp, I plunged my frozen finger into my mouth.

The carriage lurched unexpectedly as the forest disappeared. I found myself staring down into a dark chasm. Glancing ahead, I saw the road was leading directly to a great castle resting on the edge of a precipice.

“There is a castle ahead!”