Night fell quickly in the mountains.
Bianca could feel it as the darkness crept through the old fortress. Could feel the painful sunlight disappear on the horizon, as the shadows in the vale deepened and reached out to encompass the surrounding landscape.
It was then that she moved from her chamber.
No torches burned in the hall; Bianca had no need for them. She walked quietly, listening. If all was as she had instructed, no human should be in the corridors tonight. With her new senses she could still sense them though. It was rather like scent, but also like touch as if the heat of their bodies was faintly registering on her skin. The closer she drew the more intense it became. And then the scent of blood hit her.
Bianca had to resist the urge to lurch forward, as hunger like she had never experienced before surged through her.
Around her the stone walls where beginning to change, as she moved deeper into the fortress toward the Keep. The mason work disappearing as the passageway tunneled into the mountain. Torches burned in wall sconces here continually.
No enemy had ever taken the Keep of Wraithburg by force of arms. It was built back into the mountain in an enormous natural cavern, with the only entrance through a pair of iron bound oak doors.
Bianca found the blood right where she hoped it would be in front of the Keep's closed doors. As she had instructed the vat sat covered on the table by the door, with goblets arranged around it.
It had not been easy to get cooperation on this part of the plan. Bianca hoped that she would never have to witness that look of disgust on father Tespian's face again. Henriech the castle steward, loyal soul that he was still looked doubtful, at her instruction to drain the blood from a fattened steer and serve it in the best silver cauldron, with the master's own cup beside it. She had been insistent, however, and as the Lady of Wraithburg for several years since her step mother's death, he accepted her authority.
Despite her craving, Bianca did not hurry to approach the table. She surveyed the setting and made a few adjustments, feeling the need for a particularly nice looking arraignment. Even with the overwhelming smell of the kine's blood, she could still sense the humans beyond the door. Hopefully, the entire population of the fortress, enjoying the feast that she had ordered prepared.
The lightest of treads was all that warned her of the approaching vampires.
Her father, and Markus came into view first, but they were not alone. Three other figures flanked the two men. The most striking of the group a tall, dark haired woman with exotic looking eyes, walked just behind Markus, and carried a small, elegantly crafted crossbow. Bianca recognized the other two walking behind her father as two of his captains.
Then her father spoke, and she had no attention to spare.
"What is the meaning of all this Bianca?"
Bianca bowed her head respectfully, and tried to work moisture into her mouth.
"It is a feast in honor of your recovery, my father." She gestured to the arraignments before her.
"All is prepared for your refreshment."
Her father cocked his head and looked beyond her at the closed doors of the Keep.
"It is generally my practice to feast within the banquet hall rather than the corridor outside."
"My lord, for the sake of those who rely on your protection, I have taken the liberty of providing refreshment here."
"Insolent little minx…" Markus began moving to step forward, but Victor's hand on his arm stopped him.
"This is my domain, Markus!" The lord of Wraithburg snarled. "And you will speak respectfully of my daughter!"
Bianca stood still, waiting. Shock seemed to have paralyzed Markus Corvinnus. Her father mover foreword, and sat at the head of the table, waving his captains to sit also. He nodded to her, and waited. With trembling hands she began filling the goblets from the large vessel.
When everyone was seated, including Markus and his female companion, and had drunk from their cups, Victor turned back to Bianca.
"Very well daughter, you did not bring all this together today, for no other reason than to celebrate my "miraculous" recovery." His lips twisted over the irony. "What have you to say?"
Bianca set her cup down carefully and licked her lips.
"Father, I worry for the safety of my sister Sonja and the other's in the castle now that we have been changed." Her father's eyebrow rose.
"I came very close to biting," She closed her eyes and made herself go on. "Biting Sonja today. And since you must turn most of your warriors, it seems to me that the danger to ordinary humans will soon become very great,"
Victor held his hand up and she stopped.
"As to the situation with your sister, there is no question that she must be turned, and quickly."
Bianca dared to speak without leave.
"My lord, she is very young."
Her father brushed that aside.
"Of what matter is that."
Markus spoke up indolently from his end of the table.
"None what so ever, if you desire for her to remain a child for all eternity." He traced the pattern around a jewel with his finger, and didn't look up.
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"What do you speak of?"
Markus still didn't look up.
"I already told you, immortality; never to grow older, never to die. You shall never change from how you are now." He smiled and took a sip.
"I myself have been in this excellent condition for nearly two hundred years. My father is older than most gods' and still hale. I suspect that when the world eventually destroys itself in fire, he will be there to look on in disapproval."
There was a period of silence as Victor considered this, before Bianca ventured to speak again.
"Father, if the women and children could just be sent away…" She pleaded.
He snapped his head in a vehement negative.
"Don't talk nonsense girl, the fortress would fall apart. Just because we are no longer mortal does not mean we can do without the necessities of life."
"The children at least?" She tried again. He didn't shake his head at once, so she continued.
"I would see to all the details, father…Please." She added at last. The nod when it came, made Bianca sigh with relief, but then her father raised a hand.
"Not Sonja though." Bianca couldn't help the noise of protest, but he ignored it.
"There is not a single noble family I know of that is fit to foster and educate my daughter. Venal, ignorant houses, that hate and envy our family. "
He set his goblet down on the table with a sharp click.
"The church then," Bianca said, speaking quickly. "She could be educated like my mother, with the Sisters of Saint Ursula."
"The church," Victor sneered, but Bianca persisted.
"Just a few years with the sisters. She would be safe; and many accomplished women have spent time in the cloisters."
Her father glared at her a moment before tossing his hand up.
"O very well, a few years shouldn't cause too much damage. Women and their religion." He muttered.
"Is that all you wished to speak with me about Bianca?" He asked sarcastically. She ducked her head, and moved to fill his cup again.
"I hope that the repast has been to your liking, father."
"It's passable." He answered cautiously.
"Livestock." Markus muttered dismissivly. Victor's eyes flashed.
"Livestock it shall remain." He said turning on the other man.
"You may have been able to prey on humans as you roved through the land, but I will not allow my army to become a scourge of the countryside." He picked up his goblet.
"All it would take is one band of peasants attacking during the day, and all that so called immortality would go up in smoke."
Bianca sighed as she felt the tension in herself ease.
"Thank you, father." She breathed. He ignored her, and finished the blood in his cup.
"Very well, now that we have some things settled we shall waste no time in facilitating the change of my warriors." He rose as he spoke, followed quickly by everyone else at the table.
"Night will not last forever." Without a backward glance he headed for the broad oak doors.
Bianca stood by the table as the others moved past. The tall woman alone looked at her in passing, and remarked.
"Well played."