Chapter 8

Late 18th century

Transylvania

Small cabin in the woods

Bunic chucked watching his precious granddaughter pull the coverlet up to her nose and peer at him eyes wide over the top of the blanket. "Are you afraid little one?"

She shook her head no, and then lowered the cover. "I am excited Bunic. I want to know did King Johnny avenge his Mila and did he take Petofi's power from him?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "My little precious one, wait, the best part of the story is about to come." She smiled and laid back down getting comfortable and watched him with rapt attention.

"I am ready Bunic when you are." Her sweet voice held a tinge of excitement as she watched the old man become more animated as he began the story again. His eyes were alight and his face became more expressive as he continued with the story.

King Johnny's camp

Woods near Burgos Pass Transylvania

His voice was soft and enticing as he described the night that King Johnny would have a gypsies revenge on his enemies and honor of his beloved Mila.

King Johnny looked to his men and smiled, "Tonight my friends, we bring an end to the one man we fear. Tonight I introduce him to the heart of the Romano's. Together we will bring down the evil that has plagued us for these many years and we take from him what he values the most." He lifted up the shiny blade that glistened with its jewel and finely polished steel in the soft light of the campfire. The displaying of this weapon caused a soft gasp from some and an Ooooh and aahhs from the others.

"Now we dress with many clothing this night and leave no bare skin, I heard from the downstairs maid that he has hired company for the night. So once we know he is good and drunk we will sneak into his bedchamber, cover his head secure his hand, but at no time should any of you allow him to touch your bare skin. The bare skin will allow him to take control of you and then we will all be in danger and he would get away." He looked around the camp and noted that the six strongest men he had chosen to take with him this night were dressed in bulky clothing scarves and wore gloves.

Nodding his approval they all ate a good dinner and waited and when the night came on the night of a new moon, they knew under cover of darkness they could easily sneak into the castle of Petofi. Going to his bedchamber they found him naked and lying with his legs and arms around a poorly abused street whore. Lugo the largest of the men put his hand over the girl's mouth and took her from the room.

With the speed of a cobra they pounced on the evil Count, covered his head, threw a nightshirt over him, bound him and shoved him in a gunny sack tying off the end. Never once did the evil count have a chance to touch any of them. They threw him in the back of a cart and found every bump, hole or large rock to roll over thereby bruising and abusing his tender flesh."

He watched her smile and giggle at the thought of the soft Count being so ill-used and rather enjoyed the fact he could feel pain like her people. "Go on Bunic, tell me what happened next!"

He chuckled, "Grandpapa will tell you all just be patient my sweet Julianka." He sat back and his eyes grew distant. He to Julianka appeared to be gathering his thoughts for his story. She knew he knew it all too well it was a favorite story that was handed down by their people for over one hundred years. "Now, my sweet one, they rolled him to the center of the woods. Once there King Johnny had a table he put one of the count's finest velvet chairs on. He placed his crown on his head and he nodded to the others to take the bag off of the count's head."

The words flowed like wine from a cask and he continued to describe that night in vivid detail. King Johnny sat like a proud King to his people with a fire burning in front of him. He held the heart of the Romano's in his lap and waited as his henchmen dropped the gunnysack and lifted the hood from Petofi's head. Then the gag and he began to swear and curse and tell them, "You all will be put to death for this affront! Do you know whom you have kidnapped?" He blustered at the tribunal he was now facing.

King Johnny stood and roared back. Bunic stood and seemed to grow as big as the room when he spoke of how King Johnny had roared back at the evil count. "DO YOU KNOW WHOM YOU TRIED TO KILL?" He pulled his height up to a full six foot two and towered even more over the pathetic count now looking less sure of his situation. "Petru, read the charges against this worthless Gorger for his crimes against the people."

Petru was excited, he could not read but he had remembered the charges that King Johnny had told him earlier. "He is charged with assaulting our king, for raping an unwilling member of this tribe and trying to kill her when she was carrying a child in her body. His child he had given her, he is charged with crimes against the people for all the ill use he has practiced on him."

King Johnny waved him away and turned back to face the count. "You think that hand will protect you from our justice! I tell you now you have not only insulted the people but the benefactor and protector of the people who gave you your powers has given me, King Johnny power over you. Your judgment this night is forfeit your hand Count Petofi, your right hand shall become the trust of the people."

Petofi laughed hearing this, "You cannot take this hand, nothing can take this hand. It is magical and cannot be cut off by any means!" Petofi laughed until he saw King Johnny pull the long scimitar like blade from his sash and wave it in front of the assembly.

"There you are wrong, as long as the heart of a Romano beats, as long as a Romano walks this earth, we shall have dominion over you Petofi. Tonight you will see with this blade one given to me by Prince Vlad will bring you to your knees and never again shall you harm on hair on any of the people's heads. You would do well once I remove your hand to leave this country and find somewhere else to spread your disease and evil darkness."

Nodding his head to those on either side of Count Petofi they jerked him forward and using the rope that had bound his hands, they stretched his arm out and tied the hand to a stump with a spike driven in the center. King Johnny jumped down from his throne and walked with confidence to Petofi. He smiled at Petofi. "Tonight I avenge my own people, I avenge my dearest Mila and I avenge my mistreatment by you!" Raising the blade up he brought it down over the wrist of Petofi who screamed out in pain and fear.

Petofi felt the blade cut through his wrist right through the bone. The minute that hand left his body, the arm did not bleed, the hand did not bleed, the magic was so strong that the fingers moved into a fist then relaxed. To all present they watched astonished as they witnessed something incredible. For around where the wrist of the hand appeared what would be a silver band and circled the hand!" The old man had acted out the slicing of the hand and then grabbed his wrist and smiled as he circled his own wrist with his thumb and forefinger. Demonstrating a band around the hand at the wrist.
"Nothing could remove that band. Lugo brought forth a box and with gloved hands they lifted the hand carefully and placed it in the box.

"From this day forward, this belongs to me King Johnny Romano!" He looked at the count watching him shrink up and cower down. He pleaded with King Johnny not to kill him but King Johnny was not as heartless as the Count, so he told his men to take him back to his castle and dump him in the dung pile in the back of the barn.

King Johnny did not take great pleasure in watching the man reduced to a quivering mass of jelly that was sobbing for his life. No one should have to plead for life. In King Johnny's mind even this poor bastard that had hurt his Mila did have to plead for his life. King Johnny did not need anything more than to show this gorger that he could not hurt a member of his tribe or the people and he sent a message from the dark one himself that Count Petofi was not that powerful he could face judgment from someone like King Johnny.

Julianka clapped and laughed, "He was given a boot was he not bunic?" Her wide dark eyes lighting up with the thought that King Johnny was a true hero for their people. He chuckled with her in her excitement.

"Now, now little one lay back down, the really good part of the story is about to happen." She had popped up from under her covers and was jumping up and down on the bed clapping when King Johnny took the evil count's hand. She did as she was bade and flopped down on the bed, curled over and grabbed the coverlet and pulled it to her neck. Eyes wide and filled with excitement she waited patiently for him to continue.

"Now the count did move from his castle for a long time, but King Johnny still held a heavy heart, because his Mila gave birth to the most beautiful little girl with thick black hair and dark eyes and a sweet smile. King Johnny fell in love with the child as did Mila. They named her Julianka Romano.

"That is my name too Bunic, what happened next?" She could imagine the pretty child growing up on the road with her people traveling all over the country.

"Patience my dear." He smiled indulgently at the child and continued with the story. "She was a bright child and she was a graceful child. She brought a lot of joy to those in the camp wherever they went." He continued to explain how she had grown into a smart child with a lot of prospects and it was soon the time of her coming of age. She had just turned fourteen and that was when her parents sent her to stay with her Aunt in the England.

She lived with her aunt until a month before her sixteenth year. That is when King Johnny and Mila were asked to full fill their part of the dark bargain that was made that night with Prince Vlad. A courier with a huge trunk arrived at the camp with a decree that in one months time a courier would arrive to take Julianka from them and she would no longer be a part of their family.

Now this devastated King Johnny because he knew to keep his honor he would need to turn over his precious Julianka. Though King Johnny and Mila had four other children three boys and one more girl child, Julianka had been their first-born in the time of trials. She meant a great deal to them. So it was with a heavy heart that they sent for Julianka. Like the dutiful daughter she returned to her father curious and filled with fear when she was told what was expected and why.

So, on the night of her sixteenth year of her birth, she opened the trunk and inside was a white gown of the purest brocades, satin with ribbons of gold. In the center of the trunk was a golden crown covered with beautiful jewels. Dressing in the gown she did so with a heavy heart. All the finery in the world did not mend her broken heart having to leave her family behind. Brushing her hair to a brilliant shine, she pinched her cheeks to take the paleness out of her face.

Down the road to the camp a magnificent carriage arrived, and from the carriage a lady's maid appeared and looked the girl over critically. "My Lady Mina, which will be your name from this day forward, you cannot go to the castle looking like that!" She promptly set her down and began to dress her hair in long ringlets and braids weaving ribbons into the hair and placing tiny pearls to accent her hair. When she had finished no one recognized the young girl that had been Julianka.

With a tearful goodbye to her mother and her father she went to the carriage and watched the camp until it disappeared into the darkness. The old man sounded as sad as Julianka must have been. He looked at the sadness that fell across his Granddaughters face. "Oh do not despair little one. It seemed to be the end for our little Julianka, but she like you had fortitude and a will to see her family again never left her heart or her thoughts."

She was taken to the castle high upon the hill in the mountains where she was treated like a princess and when she reached her eighteenth year she was wed to the Prince. He had groomed her for two years and when he deemed she was ready to accept his life style but not way of life he married her making her a queen of his domain. She was given the status of a queen and was treated as such.

"But Bunic, he was an undead blood sucker, a strigoi! Did he not wish to bring her over to be what he was?" She had heard this part of the story before but not quite explained this way. She watched as her grandfather's eyes lit up.

"He had plenty of brides to share his life for an eternity but he wanted her as his wife to be his guardian during the daylight and protect those he had brought over. Which she did and by being as loyal as she was he allowed her to go visit her family for two months out of the long year. So the queen that was a gypsy would go home and live the life of a traveler for two months and then return to her husband's side at the castle.

For ten years she faithfully followed her husband's dictates but even one as young and beautiful as Julianka would draw attention and there were many young swains that wanted to be her lover. She was faithful to her husband and she wanted children. She begged her husband for a child. He finally gave in to her pleas, you see he had fallen completely in love with his Julianka and could not deny her anything.

This did cause jealousy from his undead brides and they always wanted to drain her body but Vlad made his feelings known. So in one month's time of their trying to have a child, Julianka was pregnant. Nine months later she bore him a lusty son. Which made Vlad happy but there were complications from that birth and soon Julianka had fallen ill and was not so quick to spring back to her old self.

Julianka frowned, "Bunic did she die?" She sounded so sad and afraid for Julianka. He smiled and cupped his grand daughters chin and squeezed it lightly.

"No child she lived to be a very old age, but she could never have another child. So she loved the children of the village and would allow them to play in her garden in the daylight. But warned them not to be there after dark." He watched her brightened.

"She died a very old age?" Julianka wanted to have a happy ending. She watched her grandfather nod slowly, but before her death, she was told who her real father was. She was also told what had happened to her mother. Which had enraged her so much that she ordered the count to be thrown out of the country. On the night she went to him, she was in her middle years and her father had grown older and appeared to be infirmed.

She confessed to him as he sat before his fire in a run down castle that she was his daughter and promised him as long as there was a heartbeat left in her real family that he would never be the power here. That the only power was another! That was her husband and she promised him that she would see him in wrack and ruin for thinking he was superior to her beloved husband Prince Vlad. When she left his broken body that night she told him as long as the heart of the Romano's beat that King Johnny would always have dominion over him.

She had left him a broken man. Or so they thought. People like Count Petofi never stay down for long. He began to research how he could get out of the broken body he had and into a younger more fit body. He found someone that could do just that for him. It required that he leave the country, so boarding a ship he set sail for an island in the Caribbean and there he found a witch, who was able to help him switch bodies with another. He also found a painter that had a special talent.

He watched her yawn and smiled. "It is time for you to sleep now my sweet one, sleep and remember that Count Petofi is out there still and he is looking for the remaining Romano's so he can get the power to his hand back and take the heart of the one that keeps him in perpetual fear." The old man leaned over and kissed the small girl's forehead.

Old House Barnabas' bedchambers

The dream disturbed Victoria, so much so she rose from Barnabas warm bed and in a trance like state moved silently from his room down the hallway to the stairs, down the stairs to the front door and opened them. In the distance she could hear the roll of thunder and overhead was a flash of lightening. Walking on bare feet, the wind whipping her gown around her body she headed for the one place that was known for destruction. She was headed for Widow's Hill.

Collinwood drawing room

Henri studied the fire; there was something about this night and this family that was beginning to wear on him. He knew he wanted the absolute destruction of the family but they were secondary to his mission. Having met Victoria and then Penelope, he knew that one or the other would give up their heart to him to be kept in a box as his hand had been so long ago. They were both a descendent of Johnny Romano and their hearts are what kept the power to the blade. The only thing hat could destroy his power and control.

Feeling restless he walked to the front doors of Collinwood, grabbed his coat from the hook, opened the door to a gust of wind that heralded the arrival of yet another storm. He smiled; somehow this was appropriate for his mood. Stepping out into the night, he took was possessed to take a stroll.

Widows Hill

Vicki walked in her trance like state, in the back of her mind she was still remembering the vivid details of King Johnny and Julianka and something in her subconscious told her that the little girl was her. She stopped at the edge of the precipice of Widow's hill, the wind whipped at her gown and her hair lifting it away from her face and pressing her gown against her body. She looked with unseeing eyes over the wide expanse of the eastern seaboard. Eyes fixed to a point on the horizon she was unaware that another had joined her from behind.

Henri stood and watched her standing close to the edge of the hill. It would be so easy to step forward and shove her over and watch her fall to the rocks below and take her heart thereby taking King Johnny's power. He stepped forward and she turned. When she turned she looked at him and spoke softly, the words were not from her they were from Julianka, his daughter from so long ago.

"Look upon the purity of soul and body that you will never touch or know father, look upon the face of one that is stronger than you and is protected by many."

Henri ne' Petofi was stunned. "Who are you!" He whispered against the impending storm of his mind and the very area around him. It could not be her, the one he had fathered so long ago, was she reborn in this woman that now stood before him.

"You know full well whom I am in this woman's body. You know that I was your daughter so long ago, for now I possess her and she will know of your treachery and when she is able to put it together you will no longer have power over her or any member of her family. Be warned father we guard well those we consider family." Vicki's head lifted and she collapsed.

Henri rushed forward catching her before she fell to the ground. Lifting her in his arms he began to carry her back to Collinwood. Walking with the lifeless woman in his arms something new edged into the darkness that was his mind. He felt something he had not felt for a very long time. He wondered at this new emotion that was now haunting him like a wet blanket wrapped around him in a snowstorm.

Shifting the burden he now carried he walked to the front door and leaned in to open it and carry her inside to lay her on the sofa in the drawing room. He rubbed his hand over his hair and looked down at the helpless figure that was presented for his view and a part of him wanted to suffocate her while she was unconscious. Yet another part of him wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He was guilt ridden and then he was fearful over what had just happened.

He had not tasted or known fear like this is a very long time and he wondered whom it was that was sending these feelings to him. Glancing up his thoughts went to Josephine or Angelique who was in their room and rage filled him, if she was trying to cast a spell over him for this woman he would wring her neck. Leaving Vicki after covering her with the afghan from the back of the sofa he went to the stairs and took them two at a time, rushing down to his bedroom to throw open the door.

There she stood in front of that same desk with a set of cards piled up appearing like a House of Cards. What enraged him was she stood in front of the house of cards and was muttering softly. At first the words were indistinguishable but were obviously a spell of some kind, she had stacked the cards on the table in the shape of a house and was using a long match to start burning the house of cards. Slamming the door behind him he watched her turn eyes wide and now she was the one filled with fear.

"I told you what would happen the next time you tried to meddle in my life without my permission." He growled low and walked towards her the very air around him filled with cold hatred and rage.

"Wait, it is not what you think! I was doing a protection spell, there were ghosts here threatening you and me. I was merely putting up a protection spell around us!" She stood with her back to the table, the cards tumbling down and when they finally landed on the desktop the feeling of guilt and fear was no longer a part of him, the only thing he had left in him was hatred and rage and it was totally directed to Angelique.