Chapter 19 – Lily of Hope
I was determined to keep myself from any living being in Castle Dracula, with the exception of Havard. He brought me my meals and updated me briefly on what was going on in Vladislaus's expansive estate. Several times I heard Jovan in the hallway, his heavy breathing giving away his secretive position. Dracula came once and knocked on my door. I ignored them both.
Much to my disgust, I experienced two more passing-out spells. I figured they were attributed to the lack of vampire blood in my system. My body was telling me that blood was my only chance for survival. I ignored its pleas and protests and confined myself to drinking water. This helped for a short while, but I could never fully escape from the excruciating thirst. I kept my mind busy with the small library that was supplied in my room.
Keeping to my room had its privileges. First off, I was able to battle my conscience without Vladislaus's overwhelming presence. I contemplated what I would do after Dracula defeated my father. Suicide seemed like the most enticing option, but I wasn't going to let my father's death be in vain. Perhaps I would take it upon myself to kill Dracula. But by that time he would be one step away from the devil, which made him invincible. Not even the 12 Lost Swords could stop him then.
These thoughts depressed me. I tried not to think about them and instead wondered if Tynan was enjoying heaven. Why Dracula had even bothered granting him passage to the eternal resting place was beyond me. If you even mentioned anything to do with God around him he would launch into a frenzy. God was as lethal as poison to his heart of lead.
But the demon does have a heart. Those words clouded my mind with uncertainty. I did not know where Dorian was, nor if he had blabbed to half the country about what Count Vladislaus Dragulia really became in the dark shadows of the night. I curled up in a ball and massaged my temples, trying to ease the splitting headache that was threatening to shatter my skull. I was not going to leave my room until the masquerade ball. And that was still two days away.
"Miss," a soft, insistent voice said. "Miss, please wake up."
My eyes fluttered open and I found myself hanging over the side of a chair, my chin rested on an open book. Havard was standing beside me, one of his small hands tapping my shoulder.
"I apologize for waking Miss but today is the masquerade ball and it is extremely important that Miss goes down to breakfast to talk with the master about tonight." His tiny voice grew even quieter as he said this.
"I wish not to see him till the ball," I said.
"That would most displease master, Miss, and I fear master would take it out on Havard." His ears drooped.
"Very well. I'll go. Where's Jovan?" I said as I went over to my closet to put on some clothes.
"Jovan is stationed with the swords so that no one might take them tonight. Jovan will not leave his post."
"I see. So I have no hope of conversing with him before the ball?" I said as I slipped a clean shirt over my head.
"Not that Havard is aware of, Miss. Unless Miss would feel so inclined as to go and talk to Jovan." His voice rose hopefully.
"Why do you want me to speak with Jovan so badly, Havard? Is there something going on that I should know about?" I looked at the dwarfish creature searchingly.
"N-n-nothing, Miss. Nothing at all. Havard is just rambling on uselessly, that's all." He moved swiftly out of my way so that I could pass through the door. "The master is waiting, Isabelle," he said shakily.
"He'll have to wait longer," I replied, ignoring his horrified gasp. I was curious about how Havard kept on brining up Jovan in our conversations. "I am going to go speak with Jovan."
Finding a hallway when it does not want to be found is tedious work. I explored the entire castle, careful to stay away from places where Dracula might be lurking. I was getting rather frustrated until a flicker of purple flame appeared in front of me, no bigger than my thumb. I attempted to touch it, but it eluded my grasp and led me out of the smoking room I was in. It moved rather quickly, so I found myself chasing something that resembled a semblance of a flame to the staircase, which then it went up. I followed reluctantly, not really sure what was going on.
On the landing of the staircase, I realized I was in the hallway. Jovan was standing guard in his demon form, which made my heart sink. The flame flickered at me and then disappeared, leaving me alone with a demon I loathed.
"You came to speak with me," was his greeting. I ignored him and went over to one of the knights. I touched the hilt of the sword and stared pointedly at Jovan, my lips curled into a smile. He glared back at me with his red eyes.
"You said you wished to talk to me. You said you were sorry. Sorry for what? My life was ruined WAY before you entered the picture, I just didn't realize it then. So what do you wish to say?" I ran my hand down the full length of the sword, still staring at him with malice. He seemed unnerved by my heinous intentions. "What CAN you say?"
He blinked his eyes solemnly. "That there is still hope," he whispered.
"What?" I snapped my head up. Had I heard him correct?
He lowered his head, his eyes changing to my personal preference, brown. "There is still hope," he repeated. "For Gabriel, I mean."
I gaped at him. "Why are you getting my hopes up? You know there is no chance."
He shook his head. "Yes, there is," he murmured. "You cannot loose faith."
Startled, I took a step back. Was the real Jovan coming through?
"I-I don't understand," I said quickly. "What you are saying is that..."
"HE is coming," Jovan said urgently, and he took a small step towards me. "HE will defeat Vladislaus."
"How-how do you know this?" I said, my palms sweaty. I looked behind me to make sure Dracula was not overhearing our conversation. Then again, there was always the chance we couldn't see him...
"It doesn't matter how I know. It is THAT I know. Rest assured, child of Aurora, your pain will not go unheard. You are blessed by many things, not all of them mortal."
"Jovan, you are betraying your master. Why are you doing this? Do you even realize what would happen if Dracula found out? Why risk your life?"
He cocked his head and almost seemed to smile. "Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety," he said. In his mouth appeared a white lily. He gave it to me and then went over and stood in front of Raphael's sword.
"The heart has reasons that reason does not understand," he said slowly. "Better face a danger once than be always in fear."
"You speak in riddles," I said. "I do not understand."
"Love has power that dispels death; charm that conquers the enemy," he whispered, and then he seemed to be disappearing, so that I could no longer see him clearly. I was being forced backwards, and each passing second tore me further away from him. My feet were rooted in place.
And that was when I woke up in the smoking room, clasping the lily in my sweaty hand.
I made my way down to Dining Hall with the lily hiding safely in my breast pocket. Vladislaus was sitting at one end of the table, his eyes peeking out from behind long strands of dark hair. It seemed he had forgotten to style his hair that morning.
"You most certainly took your time getting here," he said curtly, his canines flashing. "I thought you might have gotten lost."
"Well your overwhelming concern is quite heartwarming," I replied in the same tome as I sat down on the opposite end of the table. We waited in silence for quite awhile until I grew impatient.
"You wanted to see me?" I said.
"Ah, yes, of course. I was just in the mood for a leisurely breakfast chat. And to lay down some simple terms."
I yawned. "And those are?"
"I am warning you not to interfere with my 'rendezvous' with Gabriel. If you do, there will be severe consequences." His cackled softly.
"Such as?" I said.
He was by my side in one instant and slinked his hand around my neck. I struggled against him, fighting for oxygen. But he would not relinquish me.
"Do you really want to know?" he said, his voice a deadly whisper. "Do you really want to know, my little pet?"
I did not answer and this mellowed him down. He freed my neck and I clutched it, gasping for air.
"Your interference will result in the death of Jovan, Havard, and Carl. There will be no tolerance whatsoever."
I nodded stiffly and got up, tripping over my chair in the process. He took my arm to help me steady myself.
"And I do wish you to look presentable for the ball," he said, his grasp growing tighter. "I would be much displeased if you shamed me."
I nodded again and tore myself from his grasp. My weak legs carried me into the library, where I collapsed on the couch next to the fireplace. I stared at the ceiling like I was in a trance, random phrases and vulgar images passing through my head. But one stood out before all the rest, one that would not let me rest in peace: I looked and beheld a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death...