It was sunset when Vladislaus's horse trudged into the stables of Gabor Manor. He had made a day and a half's journey in seven hours. His horse was ready to collapse, and dove its head into the water trough the moment that Vladislaus got off of it.
The door opened just as he was walking up to it. A servant beckoned him inside.
"Good evening my lord, we were unsure if you would be coming," the man said.
"I guarantee you, the company of the king could not keep me away. How is she?" he asked anxiously.
"I do not know much, only that she has seen several doctors, all of whom seem to say the same thing," the phrasing of the letter flashed through his mind, " the doctors hold out little hope," If Verishka was surrounded by people who had no hope for her, then he would give her that. He had to believe that she would survive.
As they reached the top of the stairs the servant spoke again, "I feel I should warn you my lord. Since it has been awhile since you last saw her, her appearance is rather... disturbing."
"Thank you, however I feel that almost nothing can be done to make me find her appearance disturbing," Vladislaus said. The servant nodded and opened the door into Verishka's chamber.
Although he was not disturbed, the servant had been right. The woman that he saw lying in the bed bared little resemblance to the one he had seen a month ago. Her face was flushed with fever. Although her face was thin before, now her cheek bones protruded more than ever and the skin around her eyes seemed purple. Her deep, rich brown hair was soaking wet along with her face from a combination of water and perspiration.
"Count Dracula, I am so relieved, I feared the king would not permit you to leave," Bela Gabor said.
"Yes, prince Draco was most generous in allowing me to leave," Vladislaus said.
"She's right over here," Lord Gabor said, showing him a chair placed directly next to Verishka's bedside.
"I'm here darling, I'm here," he said, taking her hand from where it lay resting on her stomach. Bela let out a tearful sigh and said,
"After all of these years, I cannot believe I'm going to outlive my daughter." Not looking away from her, Vladislaus said,
"She is your daughter, how is it you have so little hope?"
"Every doctor in Bucovina and Bistriz combined has told me my daughter is dying, what do you want me to believe?" he snapped. Vladislaus took a cold cloth out of a water dish and gently wiped her face off. He then felt her grip on his hand tighten.
"She's been drifting in and out of awareness for days," Bela said, "if you wish to leave, I'll understand."
"What?" Vladislaus asked.
"Unlike you I've come to grips with reality. Your father and I made an arrangement that bound you both together. Obviously in the event of her death, you can leave," Verishka's father said.
"What are you saying?" Vladislaus asked, appalled.
"You can leave now, go home, seek out another bride. I just thought you seemed so attached to her, you might want to see her one last time," he said.
"Lord Gabor, I'm not sure you realize, this isn't just a deal I'm in because of my father. I love your daughter, and I am staying right here," he said, angered at how easily he was giving up on her.
"I am grateful that you care this much for my daughter. It is not easy for me to accept that she may die. We will discuss this more later. I haven't slept in two days," he said leaving the room.
Vladislaus looked around. The red-orange persian designed drapes covered the two windows, and they blew towards them from the wind outside. The fire blazed and caused the shadows to rise up against the walls.
Adjusting his grip on her hand, he saw her eyes start to twitch. Her head turned slightly towards him, she gave a weak smile and spoke, "What are you doing here?"
"That's not exactly the welcome I was hoping for," Vladislaus said.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"It's all right, your father sent word to me, and the king let me leave," he said softly.
"Hmmm, that was nice of him," she choked out.
"Shhh, darling rest," he said, caressing her face.
"Why did you come though?" she asked, weakly.
"Because I love you, I wasn't going to let you suffer alone," he said.
"I though you would be off, finding someone else to pledge your love to," she whimpered.
"Verishka, do you not know me at all?" he asked.
"I'm dying Vladislaus. I of all people should know this," she began to say but started coughing. Dracula gently sat her up and massaged her back until she stopped. She gasped for air again before saying, "I'm going to sleep this night, and then I probably won't wake up in the morning," she started to cry while being cradled in his arms, "I just wish, I'd had more time," she whimpered.
"Verishka no, I refuse to let you think this way. I have to believe there's a future for us," he started to lightly cry, "you are going to live to see our wedding night, you are going to live to see our children's first steps, and you will live to see me prove my love to you for our entire lives."
"Darling, how is it we are so alike and yet so different? We want the same things, the same goals, and yet I've learned one thing you have not," she cried.
"What is that my love?" he asked.
"To say goodbye," she whispered.
"I want more time with you my love. I refuse to believe it ends here," he said.
"What ever happens tonight Vladislaus I'll still love you. Death cannot stop my love for you," she said.
"Nor mine, now sleep my love. You need your rest," he said gently laying her back in bed.
"I love you," she said, as if she intended it to be her last words to him.
"I love you too," he said, leaning in the chair that he would sleep in all night. The fire would make his eyes soar, the chair would hurt his back. But he would stay with her all night. Whether this was the end, or the beginning.