24. Some wounds never heal
As I went to bed this night I felt sick and weak. I fell asleep quickly but horrible nightmares haunred my dreams. I talked in my sleep until...
"Titiana, wake up!" Elena´s voice rang in my ears. I woke up and my body was wet of sweat. "You just dreamed. Noone died", she said. "Who ahould have died?", I asked and tried to sit up. Quickly she pushed me down again and laid one hand on my forehead.
"You broke into a fever. And while you were sleeping you said something like "Vladislaus did suicide because of me!"", she told me. "Because of me?"
"Yes. But know I´ll fetch the abbess. She has to look at you now", said Elena and left my room.
After a few minutes she returned with the abbess and a nurse. They turned me on my stomach and opened my nightgown. Carefully they looked at my back.
I didn´t hear their words but the nurse said: "It looks very bad. The wounds are already infected. We can do nothing but wait until she´s dead. I will clean her wounds to give her at least a few days."
Elena began to cry: "It´s all my fault!" - "Do you know who did this to her?", asked the nurse. Elena shook her head.
Probably she didn´t want to give Van Helsing the fault of it. "Don´t tell her that she´s going to die", said the nurse and began to clean my wounds.
Then they left the room again. Only Elena stayed at my side the whole night.
Another day was dawning as I woke up. I looked up to Elena who had tears in her eyes. "What´s wrong?", I asked. "Nothing. I just... got something in my eye", she said, wiping the tears away.
I blinked to the sunlight that floated my room. Slowly I got up and walked a few steps. "What did the nurse say?" - "Your wounds will heal again and you´ll get better", she lied.
But I believed her. "I have good news for you. You can leave the convent today." At first I was surprised at Elena´s words. Then I gave her a big hug. I was so happy that I could see Vladislaus again and stay with him forever. "Do you want to come with me?", I asked her. She shook her head: "I can´t. And now go. I´ll miss you."
"But it doesn´t mean that I won´t see you again. I can visit you in a month." She cried a few tears and then said: "No. Enjoy your life. Goodbye, Titiana."
"Bye", I said ,too. Then I got dressed quickly and left the convent.
I passed Van Helsing´s house and hoped not to see him again. As I arrived at Vladislaus´ castle I knocked on the great door. Noone opened. I knocked again.
This time I heared footsteps from the inside. But as the door opened a tall woman with long black hair stood in front of me.
"Who are you?", I asked in disbelief. "My name is Verona. You have to be Titiana. Vladislaus told me a lot about you", she said and held her hand towards me. I strode past her.
Vladislaus stood on top of the stairs and looked down at me. I climbed the stairs to him and pulled him into a passionate kiss wich he returned.
Then I took his hand, turned towards Verona, smiled an innocent smile and pulled him in the nearest room. "I see you found a woman you can betray me with!", I spat at him. "I didn´t betray you with Verona nor with anyone else", he said calm.
"Then, why else is she here?", I asked. "It´s a long story." - "And I have much time."
Thanks for the reviews! The same procedure with this chapter? - The same procedure with every chapter. I hope you understood what I mean - 5 reviews!
