Hello lovely readers! I'm still alive! I've been vey busy in the past months: travelling, exams, working, et cetera. Anyway, I hope you will like the new chapters, both new and old readers, and thank you very much for your patience! Love you all!
And this now is the second version...Thank you Fortune Zyne, it was a typo...
Agnes was sitting in the library of Castle Dracula, with her diary in her lap. Upon walking into the grand room that afternoon she spotted a row of windows among the bookshelves, high above, and regarded it as a nice place to spend her time. She found a ladder in one of the corners and climbed up, and seated herself next to the cold glass. The comforting heat from the fireplace did not penetrate to that particular spot, but a pillow was placed in the cool offset, and Agnes suspected she was not the first one to enjoy the view from up there. Rain clouds came to play above the castle again, their tears melted the snow and filled the dangerous depths around the mountain with cold water. For some time Agnes had been reading the previous entries in her diary that made her mind drift to endless forests, yellow deserts, and gorgeous cities, but she could not get herself to writing. She had determined to record the events of the past two months, but they still sounded unearthly. She read the last entry, and she did not recognize herself in it anymore. It was from the day before she had left Nádudvar, her home, and upon reading, her life from back then, which was now locked in lines written in black ink, appeared incomplete. Dracula's words from an earlier encounter still echoed in her ears, she could not, did not want to, erase them from her memory. The way the count locked his arms around her and whispered into her ear that he wanted spend eternity like that...
„ You want to marry me, or..?" Dracula gave a wide smile upon hearing the question.
„ In a way you would be my bride" he answered softly „All it takes, is a kiss.."
Agnes shivered when she recalled that, and thought of recording it in her diary. It was a strange love, an already faded kind of mellow that she felt from the inside, which was peculiar to live through, and she could not find the means to put it in writing. Agnes used to think her heart died with Aziz; it sounded odd that it would be somebody undead who brings it back to life, but she thought more of Dracula now; to her, he was not a heartless monster anymore.
„ Do I have the right to call anyone a heartless monster at all?" she asked silently of herself, and thought of her past. In many ways, she was no different from Dracula, several people had the right to call her heartless as well. The count's words came to her mind, from a starry night on an encounter in a small yard hidden in the castle. The little space offered a delightful view of the night sky, and the frozen ground hosted a lonely wizen tree with twisted stump and branches. She was alone, when Dracula showed up, from where Agnes did not know. She watched the light of the stars play in Dracula's jet-black eyes; cruel and enchanting. She began wondering what the count saw in her eyes, and she did not have to wait long to find out.
„You have the eyes of a killer." Agnes' was shattered that he could see into her soul, the secrets she hid from everyone, he saw it behind the tender brown disguise of her eyes. Agnes quickly turned the pages of her diary back to an entry from the previous year. That starless night in Baghdad quickly came to life before her eyes again. She was wandering in the streets, wearing a hooded cape, hiding her face from the world, when she recognized some familiar faces; faces from a nightmare she thought she'd never wake up from. Men sitting outside a cafeteria, just like any other Baghdad citizen, they looked all peaceful as they were sipping tea and chatting. But Agnes knew who they were, she would never forget the dreadful faces of the men who murdered her fiancé. She was grateful the master was not with her, she could settle this matter alone. Agnes has never before found any amusement in killing other people, but she couldn't help that demonic smile that would not leave her face as she slaughtered them in an alley only a few hours later. A cathartic feeling washed over her, as she saw the mangled bodies lying in the sand that was white in the moonlight, save the growing pools of blood that appeared black. She knew this would not bring Aziz back, but never to feel defenceless again…it put her in the mood she could actually have broken out in laughter which would have ended in an ocean of tears. Agnes walked back to where she way staying with the master, knowing she had changed forever. That was the first one added to the long-to-be list of the blood-curdling deeds of hers. Agnes' mind fell back to her body from the sky of memories as she heard the creaking sound of the doors' hinges. In trodded Igor with an envelope in his hands, which he placed on the table by the fireplace.
He looked up at the silhouette of Agnes, and „From the Master." was all he said and left the room as unexpectedly as he came.
„Why is he sending me a letter?" Agnes wondered as she stared at the envelope glowing in white in the velvety darkness around.
"I have to finish with my diary first" she whispered, trying to flap curious thoughts away. In vain, for a second later she was already climbing downwards for a tryst with Dracula's thoughts. She took the envelope from the table, broke the red seal, and began reading the lines written in red ink after having seated herself in the armchair she sat on the ominous day of her arrival in Castle Dracula.
Dear Agnes,
I would very much have preferred to have this done in person, but unfortunately because of certain duties, I had to depart earlier than expected. I would hereby like to invite you to my annual Winter Solstice Ball to Budapest, held on the 21st of December. A carriage will await you at sunset on the day you get this letter. For the ball, all will be arranged, and your comfort on the way will be tended to by Igor. I wish you a pleasant journey.
Yours truly,
D.
„And what if I decline?" ran through Agnes' mind. „That would be unexpected.." she grinned widely, and imagined Dracula's face. It made a good joke, but in actuality, she had no idea of declining the invitation. Just the contrary.
„To Budapest then.." Ten long years have passed since she had been to the Hungarian capital. She remembered a few places vaguely, but her stay with her father in the city had not been long; 1852 was not a happy time in Budapest after the defeat of the war of independence against Austria.
„ It is time my boots fretted the cobbles of Andrássy Avenue again." The second motivation she had fumbling in the back of her mind was the possibility of escaping.
„Budapest is big enough for me to disappear..." Agnes knew too well, that she would miss Dracula, but she never lost her love of freedom. Her wild heart was happy only, when the air of liberty filled her head with dreams of places she has to visit. Agnes folded the letter, put it back into the envelope, and left the library to pack a few things.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Valerious was sitting in another library, reading something else. The day was already drowning behind the mountains around Vaseria and he last orange rays sneaked into the Valerious manor's library, illuminating the young man's careworn face. The sound of laughter coming from downstairs penetrated into the lonely kingdom of books, reminding Nikolai of the past days' events. Fortune rewarded his brother more amply than ever before. All dwellers of Vaseria have been cheering him as a hero since he managed to kill a werewolf two days before. And on that sunny morning, the youngest of the Valerious was born. Boris' son, Velkan. Nikolai has never earlier been so jealous of his brother. The first-born son, who received the title of their father, next to whom he felt like a nobody. He wished to step out from the shadow of his brother, showing the courage that dwelt in his heart to all, and earn their respect, as well as his own. Nikolai gave a sigh when it occurred to him that his mind should be on the on the black lines in front of him
„ We still haven't made any progress to hunt Dracula down..." His troubled mind would not let him relax for a single second; Nikolai kept rereading the pages of the book that lay on the table, over and over again. It was the diary of their great-grandfather, the one from their family line to fight Dracula over a hundred years ago. Fyodor Valerious left many helpful writings behind that contained his ideas on how to kill Dracula, the behaviour of werewolves, and possible means to reach Dracula's hiding place. It helped Boris in defeating the werewolf, and since reading these passages, both brothers spent much time in front of the grand painting of Transylvania's map in the manor's weapon portico.
„If only I could get near enough to drive a stake through his vile heart..."Nikolai gave a bitter laugh at the improbability of the idea he toyed with. He got back to reading with furrowed brows, but was soon interrupted. The library door opened slowly, and his young cousin, Katina slipped in. She was a black-haired filly of not more than five summers. She gently walked up to Nikolai's table, and put her fingers on the edge, tilting her head upwards, and gazed at the books and papers curiously.
„Good evening Katina, how can I help you?" asked the young man as his face softened and a smile appeared on his lips.
„Uncle Boris told me to get you. He said you would surely be up here sitting alone. Come on downstairs, its very fun. What are you doing here anyway?" asked Katina crinkling her little nose, and putting her hands to her hips. Nikolai stared at Katina for a while, with love and concern in his eyes. „I'm reading about...Dragons." he said finally.
„Dragons?" asked Katina with wide eyes. „I'm afraid of dragons!" She ran to Nikolai and embraced his knee, and looked up at him. „Will you protect me from dragons Uncle Nikolai?" Nikolai petted Katina on the head; she knew nothing of the shadow that hung above them all the time, taking possession of their thoughts and hearts, day and night, even if they forgot about it momentarily.
„ I will never let dragons hurt you. Tell Uncle Boris I will be right down." said Nikolai with a heavy heart.
„Okay, I will." Katina let go of Nikolai's knee and ran towards the library door. She turned back before leaving.
„Why don't you come down with me now?" she asked with curious eyes.
„I have to put the dragons to sleep." Nikolai answered with a mysterious smile.
„Ooo.." answered Katina, and seemed to be touched by the answer "Then...be careful."
The little girl shut the door behind herself, and Nikolai was left with the dead silence of the library once more. He finished reading the notes, packed all away, and already haunted by the need for company, he set off towards he dining hall, where all people probably were. Walking down the stairs that lead to the entrance hall, he noticed one of the servants enter at a quick pace with an envelope in his hands. The middle-aged thin man was taking his coat off in a rushing manner when Nikolai walked up to him.
„Good evening Usor, what did the mail-coach bring?" he asked casually.
„Oh Sir, good evening, I was in such a hurry, I didn't notice you. This was not brought by a mail coach, but a pursuivant. He said it was very urgent, it is from our men in Budapest."
Nikolai's eyes lit up, and he took the letter from the man.
„ Thank you for your swift measures, you may leave now. Have some dinner."
„ Thank you for your kindness, Sir." Usor said, and left after a bow.
Nikolai ripped the envelope open, and found a letter from their loyal captain, Raban.
Dear Sirs,
I do hope this letter reaches you in time, for your presence here would be very much needed. We have discovered that Dracula is to hold a masked ball on the 21st of December, and all the aristocratic families from Budapest are invited. It will be held in his palace in the outskirts of town, surrounded by a lonely grove. We have spotted the Count himself two days ago as well, he is able to mix with he elegant people in the streets perfectly, who welcomed him as a new member of the elite already. The best way to attack Dracula would be to mingle with the ball crowd and the first one to get close to him, would drive a stake through his heart. I suggest you depart from Vaseria at once, and I hope to welcome you in Budapest as soon as possible with all the men you can bring so we can organize an attack.
Yours faithfully:
Captain Raban Ievlevich
Nikolai could hardly believe his eyes.
„ A ball in Budapest...Dracula..." Nikolai knew what a ripping possibility this offered...a chance he would not let anyone else have. He would be he one to free their family from this curse that took the form of a vampire. All of their people would cheer him as a hero when he returned. Suddenly he realized how little time he had left.
„Today is the 18th...There's no way I would make it with the stagecoach. But if I rode day and night...the monster is not here, the night is safe again."
Nikolai creased the letter, and hurried up to his room. He tossed the letter upon his bed, and started to pack.
„ Boris is not likely to notice my absence until tomorrow. He might be worried, but he'll forgive all if I return with the count's death-rate."
Within an hour, Nikolai Valerious was already galloping away from Transylvania on the back of his grey mare, Anaeste. The sounds of the night surrounded him, and the wind played with his hair as it whispered into his ear, of grand things to come in his future.
Thank you very much for reading my upate! Do let me know what you think: can I still write in the way I used to? The way you liked it? Please review. And thank you once more.
