1462
The sun came over the horizon as the last solider was impaled upon a spike. Blood dripped down to the unearthed ground in a steady rhythm, pooling under the shadow of the man's body. I watched as it fell, as I lost the new substance that I so craved. In anger, I grabbed one of my fellow soldiers and shoved him towards the body. He gasped in fear, quivering as he dutifully brought the chalice stained red under the stream. It began to fill with the man's blood and I watched with anticipation, my body craving what it held. The young man who had been loyal to me and my cause was now only that of a few that I had originally. The war had lasted far longer than I had anticipated but the violence of war was not what drove away my men. The fear of their master brought many of them to their death however, I could not find it within my self to care.
The chalice began to overflow, the crimson substance now dripping. I ripped it away from the man and brought it to my lips, sighing in relief as the burning began to subside in my throat. The few men who still stood beside me watched with wide eyes as the chalice was tipped back and I had consumed all it had held. I dropped it at the man's feet and he looked down at it, still quivering with fear. I smirked, drawing my sword from its sheath and pressed the flat of it under the man's chin. He gasped and slowly looked up at me. He looked in his early twenties, his eyes still held some innocence but I had done well to rid him of it. I grinned down at him, my teeth stained red from blood.
"We are victorious, you are alive…I am dead." I laughed which only made the boy whimper in fear. "You shall be rewarded, for I am your King now." I moved the sword back to my side and looked at the dozen or so men that still stood by. "I AM YOUR KING NOW!" They stared and then slowly bowed before me. I grinned and closed my eyes, feeling the accession of power course through my veins. The sun continued to climb over head and the warmth pierced the skin upon my face. Armor clad still, I began to feel uncomfortable. It felt far too warm so soon, stifling almost. My breath became hitched as my body stirred and I swear I could hear the faint cries of my beloved. It was only a few seconds yet it felt like minutes to me as I gathered my senses. My eyes snapped open and my men watched wearily. "Elisabeta…"
I commanded my men and we took off at full force on the journey home where my wife would be awaiting. It had been well over a year since I had gazed upon her beauty and the longing for her touch drove me on. Elisabeta was the epitome of beauty and there was nothing more powerful on this earth than our love. I pictured her locks of black cascading hair, her umber eyes that captivated my own. The luscious curves of her body and the tenderness of her touch. The way she fit perfectly under my chin and against my body. I swore that as soon as I returned from war that I would never leave her again. The fires of hell could not keep us apart for she was my soul.
We had a long trip ahead of us, well over a fortnight but with the determination I held to hold my Elisabeta once again, we made it within half of that time. My men and our horses were beyond exhausted but I did not care. When my home came over the horizon, I whipped my horse and drove it to the brink of its final capabilities. The gray stone of the citadel that was fast approaching was a welcoming sight, a familiar one. Once my father's home before he was murdered by our enemies, now belonged to me as I had slaughtered every last one of them. The night was soon to follow, the sun disappearing over the Carpathian Mountains. I had left my men behind in my eagerness to arrive home. The wind chill as we climbed began to bite at my skin. I dared not put on my helmet now, needing the last of the light to reach home. Just as the sun was lost over the peaks, I reached the familiar iron gates. "LET ME IN!" I roared at the guards. They were shocked to see me but quickly did as they were told. I raced in on my horse, each servant and guard staring. I quickly got down from my steed and ran up the steps of my home. "Elisabeta! My love!" I called out and pulled off my armor as I hurried along the corridors looking for her. The chambers were empty, with a frown I searched the dinning hall and the gardens where she so loved to ponder but I did not find my wife. The castle was oddly quiet and deserted which made my chest pound in concern. I had one last place to look, the chapel. Using what energy I had left after the trials of my year, I burst through the chapel doors, "Elisabeta!"
The chapel was far more crowded than I had anticipated. Three men of the cloth stood there, citing prayers, the only light coming from the numerous candles around the room. I froze as I came upon a sight that I had only imagined in nightmares. There, on the chapel floor, lay my love. She was soaked to the bone and blood spilled from her lifeless lips. My heart all but seemed to stop as I trudged forward and fell to my knees. With shaking hands I took hers, tears quickly falling down my cheeks. Upon her lay a letter in her script and I took it, barely able to read in my sorrow.
I cannot go on as I have received word of my husbands death. Life is not life at all without my love…My darling, we shall meet in the afterlife.
Elisabeta D.
The words cut through me like a knife and I cried out in pain. I took her body in my arms and wept for the loss of my love…my life. The men approached quietly in pause of their prayers. "She has taken her own life, fell to her death in the river below…that is against God's will. She will not be given grace with such a sin." His words filled me with such rage that I began to shake. I laid her down gently and stood, looking at the man with such hate as I had never felt before. My hand touched the hilt of my blade and I stalked towards them, "You did not save her! You are no men of God! To let her take her own life!" The men backed up until they were pressed against the closest wall.
"It was her doing…we were powerless to do otherwise! She received word from your enemies of your death…"
"MY DEATH? INDEED, I AM DEAD! AS YOU SHALL BE AS WELL!" I drew my sword and held it to them. Two of the men began to pray as they closed their eyes, the man in front stood strong but his eyes betrayed his fear.
"Murder is a sin-"
"I RENOUNCE YOUR GOD!" With a cry, the men fell one by one, the crimson substance that I had well become acquainted with began to pool around their bodies. Blood stained my own skin as I sank back down to my Elisabeta and took her into my arms.