The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (Vampire Bride 2)

“If it has a name, it does not tell us what it is,” I confessed. “Though I would be honored if it would let me one day know. ”

The horse neighed its delight and bumped my shoulder with its nose.

This elicited a girlish laugh from Magda despite her misgivings. “I think it’s mocking you. ”

“I am sure it is,” I conceded, running my gloved hand affectionately down its mane.

Magda relaxed her wary stance and approached slowly. I grabbed hold of the saddle and slung myself up, settling onto the back of the great beast. Enre handed me the reins as Magda waited. Reaching down, I took hold of her hand and lifted her easily onto the back of the beast. She clutched my waist as she arranged herself behind me. Like the countess, she rode with her legs slung to one side.

Bothersome women should learn to ride as a man in this world fraught with danger. I vow that I shall teach both of them before the warm months are done.

“Enre, we should return before nightfall. If we do not, send word to Astir and take the countess to Vienna without hesitation. Understood?” Though I was certain of a successful outcome, I would never wish to endanger the countess.

Enre inclined his head. Satisfied with his obedience, I dug in my heels, flicked the reins, and the horse raced down the busy streets of Bistri?a. Magda gasped, clutching my sides tightly as the beast easily maneuvered around carts, pedestrians, small herds of goats, and wandering chickens as it galloped through the narrow streets. The sights and sounds of the living filled my senses and my heart soared with pleasure. I could almost allow myself to believe I was in Turkey, though the sun will never scorch me here as it did in the homeland of my youth. The windows of the white washed buildings were flung open and the fragrance of cooking food and boiling laundry mixed with the stench of the streets. I found it exhilarating and I laughed.

Magda ducked her head down between my shoulder blades. I felt her heart thudding with fear, but I could also hear her laughter when children shouted as we passed by where they played. Though we are minions of supernatural creatures, we are both human

and to be free of the darkness filled us both with joy. I could hear it in her laugh, and I touched her hand lightly in camaraderie.

Once out of the town, the horse increased its speed until we were just a flicker of color to the eyes of mortals. The cool wind tore at our faces and Magda’s scarf trailed behind her like wings. She recovered from her fear and pressed her chin against my shoulder so she could see our terrifying, yet thrilling journey along the narrow lanes of the countryside. As the horse pounded up the road into the mountains, she pointed to the high summits, amazed at their beauty.

At last we reached the road that would lead us to the castle perched so precariously along the top of the mountains. In my previous journeys with the countess, I could not always see the home of Count Dracula. Depending on her mood, it was either completely hidden in darkness, or like a mirage, shimmering in and out of my sight. Today I could see it in all its ruined glory. It still retained its imposing stature despite the crumbling facade. It was only one of Vlad’s castles he had inhabited during his mortal years, but it was the one his Mistress had banished him to when he had fallen from her favor.

“Is that it?” Magda gasped.

“Yes. ”

The side of the road fell away to reveal the glorious greenery of the valley below with the Arges River sparkling in the sunlight. The castle loomed majestically before us as we neared the vast structure. Drawing up on the reins, my horse companion obeyed and slowed, trotting briskly across the courtyard to the far side of the castle. I felt a pang of sorrow when I considered that this was where the dear countess had lost her family and her mortality.

We found the outer buildings that dwelt in the shadow of the former fortress abandoned. The inhabitants appeared to have recently vacated. Wagon wheels and animal tracks indented the moist soil and an oven still smoldered in one hovel.

“Who lived here?” Magda wondered.

“Vlad’s gypsy servants,” I ventured. “They are gone now. Odd. ”

I held onto her hand as she slipped off the horse. I dismounted and released the horse to do as it pleased. I knew it would not wander far. It tossed its head and trotted over to a trough to drink. Magda arranged her scarf and attempted to tidy her long skirt. My hand resting on the hilt of my sword, I surveyed our surroundings. All the small buildings had the windows tightly shuttered under wreaths of garlic and vervain. Large, hastily-made crosses were secured to all the doors.

“If they are Dracula’s servants, why were they protecting themselves from vampires?” Magda knelt down to examine a shattered door. A cross was bashed to splinters near a building that was partially demolished with the windows ripped away and the roof a burned wreckage.

“It does appear that they brought down the fury of the vampires upon them,” I surmised. Peering into the destroyed abode, I smelled and tasted the coppery reek of the blood sprayed across the walls and destroyed furniture.

Magda crossed herself as she regarded the castle with dread.

I wondered if perhaps the Countess had done more than merely ward the castle so it could not be entered from without. Perhaps the ward had also not allowed those within to venture beyond the crumbling walls. All indications were that it was just this morning that the gypsies had found that they were free to flee, which would coincide with when Countess Dracula had agreed to allow me within the ruined castle. I was now certain that the countess held the power of her husband within her veins and my curiosity about his unknown fate grew.

Looking upon Magda’s expression, I could see she was startled, afraid, and attempting to piece together the puzzle about us. Whatever her thoughts were, she kept them to herself.

“We should make haste. We do not need to be here any longer than necessary,” I said.

I walked to the door that led into the kitchen with Magda following in my shadow. The crumbling wall around the castle must have been impressive at one time, but now it was the roosting place for birds that called out as we passed.

“The house in Buda was nothing like this,” Magda observed. “How could he make her live here?”

“His power is tied here,” I answered. “He can never be too far from his native soil. ”

“Is that why he carries it with him?” Magda furrowed her brow. “I wondered why he always brought boxes of soil with him. We would have to lay it about the outside of the house and the platform of his bed was filled with it. ”

I found this to be intriguing and arched my brow at her. “Truly? That is fascinating. ”