Dark sexual scene about three quarters down. Skip through if you must.
Chapter Four. Wrath & Madness
The night Katerina escaped, no one had expected it. No one but Trevor and I. Klaus had burst into Elijah's private study, erupting in a rage and even threatening to kill his own brother. He gripped Elijah by the throat and slammed him against the wall, vowing that Elijah would soon breathe his last breath if Katerina was not found. Klaus put the blame squarely on Elijah's shoulder. He had strong suspicions that Elijah was the one to tell Katerina and that he had aided in her escape. Of course, that was not the case. Elijah was Klaus most loyal ally, his second in command, his brother and bestfriend. He would have never betrayed Klaus. But I did.
The entire estate was in a flurry of activity. Men were called in, both vampire and humans to go for the massive manhunt. The doppelganger had escaped and she must be found, alive at all costs. Klaus had me locked up in the attic again, thinking it'd be best. I sat there waiting anxiously. I had hoped that Katerina managed to get on a boat fleeing for either Ireland, or France. She had the moonstone with her and at least three bags of gold. Ones I had given Trevor and he hid under the mattress of Katerina's bed.
Trevor came into the attic that night, informing me that Katerina had turned into a vampire. I had not expected that news. Katerina had hung herself after Rosemarie had given her blood. Trevor was in a panic. Klaus would know. He would soon find out of Trevor's involvement and the punishment would be grave.
"I have to leave Milady…" He said, his face filled with fear and anxiety. "Katerina had signed our death warrant. She is now a vampire. Utterly useless, she cannot be used for the ritual. Lord Klaus will have our heads! Mine and Rose's."
"No…" I shook my head. "No one knows anything and it will remain that way." I tried my best to calm him down. Trevor only paced about the attic anxiously.
"Her blood is all over Rose's cottage…" Trevor cried and stared at me. "They will smell it out like bloodhounds."
"Then you have to burn it down Trevor…" I told him.
"Rose wants to beg Lord Klaus for mercy…" Trevor was so dismayed. "I should have never involved her Milady. She is innocent in all this and now she will be hunted. Lord Klaus will see her as an enabler, an accessory to the crime."
"You have to leave at once Trevor." I stood up and went to the jewelry box where many priceless jewels laid. Ones given to me by Klaus. I had no need of them. I took two fistfuls and handed it to Trevor.
"Take this and pawned them. You will write to me and tell me where you and Rose are hiding and I will send for more." I said to him. "There is nothing to be afraid of, you're going to be fine." I smiled and held his face.
"Will you come with us?" Trevor asked.
"And risk both your lives even more?" I spoke and looked at him. "Klaus may be furious that he lost the doppelganger but if he knew I had escaped with you, you will never escape his wrath."
"But there's nothing here for you Milady…" Trevor said sadly. I smiled at him. "My husband needs me now, more than ever Trevor. Just go. Send Rose my love and be safe." I said and kissed his cheek gently.
"I will ask Mikael for help. Both of you will be safer under his protection." I promised him. Trevor nodded and I just hugged him tight. "You did the right thing you know…you saved Katerina's life…" I whispered.
"Yes…but she was willing to betray me and Rose…" He said in a mournful tone.
"It doesn't matter Trevor." I said. "You were willing to do it for love. It is the most noble of reasons."
Trevor gave a sad smile and sighed before he headed out, ready to leave. He turned and looked at me. "Will you be really all right here Milady?"
"I will miss both you and Rose terribly. You have been loyal and faithful friends…"
"Yes…you never treated us like servants…" Trevor muttered.
"Your safety is more important." I spoke. "You will find your own freedom, where you'll be under no one's command."
"But we'll be running for our lives, away from Lord Klaus…"
"And I will try to distract him." I smiled at Trevor. He gave a nod. "Take care Trevor."
"I will." He said.
"Don't forget to write…" I whispered but he had gone, disappeared in a flash. I was by myself in the attic. Two of my most loyal, closest servants, friends had gone, never to come back, running for their lives. Fearful of reprisal from my own husband. I started to hum the tune again and then I heard my sister's voice.
"You used him Elly…" Karina spoke. I turned and looked at her. She shook her head and gave me a look of disapproval, almost of chastisement. Still dressed in her wedding attire, she looked beautiful and serene. That was my sister, the paragon of grace and virtue while I was the crazy, morally corrupted Monster's Bride.
"I had no choice Karina…" I sighed. "And besides I never forced Trevor to do anything, he didn't want to. It was his choice."
"You manipulated him." She said and narrowed her brown eyes at me. "That is much worse. You knew where his vulnerabilities lie and you twist it around and used that against him."
I smiled back at my sister. "You make it sound like I just murdered someone."
"His blood will be in your hands Sister, should any harm come to him or Rose. Katerina's too and anyone else that Klaus will harm because of this."
I rolled my eyes and Karina sighed. "When will you ever learn Sister? Using people who trust you the most as pawns in your endless games…"
I hated what my sister was insinuating and I glared angrily at her. "You were the one to tell me that Katerina needed to run…"
"Did I?" Karina said and gave a sly smile. "Maybe it was all in your imagination Elly. You just needed someone to blame…"
"It was you Karina!" I screamed angrily. "You told me that Klaus will be vulnerable and that he will need me…"
"Elly…I've been dead five hundred years." My sister smiled and shook her head. "How can I ever tell you to do anything?"
"Stop it Karina! Stop pretending! You told me that while we were sitting by the window! You told me to! It was you!'
My sister laughed softly and I grew even angrier. I started to push her and beat at her with my fists. Karina only laughed more as I pulled her down to the floor. "Go away Karina! Leave me alone! Go! You're dead!" I cried.
"Elly!"
"Go away!" I screamed. I heard someone calling my name. It was a male's voice. Someone had pulled me up from the floor.
"No!" I yelled. I struggled against such strong arms that were holding me. "Let me go!"
"Elly stop it!" It was Elijah. He had pulled me up.
"Karina was here!" I told him, my eyes widened. "She was mocking me! Taunting me! She was here!"
"Elly…no…" Elijah said and held me in his arms.
"I'm not lying Elijah! She was just here. She was right there!" I pointed to the ground but my sister had gone. I looked around the room and Karina was nowhere in sight. Where did she go? Why did she disappear? Why did my Sister leave? She needed to show herself to Elijah. Only then he would believe me.
"Karina!" I called for her. "Karina! Come back! Show yourself!" I turned and stared at Elijah who shook his head.
"She's not here Elly. It's all in your head!" He told me.
"No!" I screamed and stamped my feet. "No!"
"She's dead Elly. Karina's been dead five centuries…" Elijah spoke calmly. His sad eyes looking at me.
"No…" I shook my head and the tears fell. I wanted my sister back. I didn't mean to beat her. I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't care if I had to be out of mind and fall into madness just so I could see her again. I needed my sister back.
"Karina come back!" I sobbed terribly. "Please come back. I'm sorry Sister…I am so so sorry…"
I waited for my sister but she never appeared for days. Was she truly angry with me? Was she upset with my behavior? That I had somewhat made use of Trevor and even Rosemarie. But I didn't meant to. I swear it. Rosemarie's life was in danger. Klaus was going to sacrifice her and Karina did tell me that Katerina needed to run. She did. I remembered that she did. I just sat there at the attic, calling for her. Whispering even but she never came. Sometimes I cried, hoping Karina would hear my tears and stopped being angry with me and appear before me.
It was just me, alone in the attic for two days. The servants brought food up but I refused to eat, starving myself again. Then about two nights after Trevor had left, my husband came storming into my room in anger. I was standing by the window staring out, seeing the bright full moon that graced the dark sky.
"What happened Darling?" I turned and asked Klaus softly. It was a moot point. Because I already knew what had happened. I had engineered it. I planned it all. But Klaus did not know that of course and I had hoped he never would.
"Katerina is gone! She has turned into a vampire! I heard from Elijah that Trevor and that wench Rosemarie aided her. I want them dead!" He screamed banging his fist hard on the newly replaced table that it broke. I stared at my husband seeing the rage in his face. He looked so furious, as if he would break down and erupt into anger at the same time.
"Hush now Niklaus..." I said and smiled as I walked towards him. I bent and kissed his lips. "It doesn't matter Darling you still have me..."
"I have waited centuries Elly. Centuries.." He said. I saw the fury in his pale blue eyes.
"The time will come soon. You know it will." I told him. I touched his face gently and embraced him.
I never felt the comfort that only being in Klaus' arms would bring. And I needed it. I needed him more than ever. Maybe even more that he needed me. I felt so lost, so alone without my sister. And now with my dear companions, Rosemarie and Trevor gone. I had no one left. Only Klaus. Always Klaus. Maybe Klaus was right. The only person that I really, truly, ever needed was him and for him, me.
"I love you so much Elly..." He whispered. And I hugged him tighter. Klaus pulled away slightly so he could look at me as he cupped my chin and tilted it up.
"Tell me you didn't have anything to do with this Elly? Tell me you're not involved in Katerina's escape?" He asked in a soft yet firm tone.
His pale blue eyes probed mine. I knew Klaus was trying his best to compel me or have me speak the truth. But of course I could not be compelled and I had learned to lie so well the past five centuries, it became second nature to me. I shook my head.
"No Niklaus...I was not involved in any of it." I told him, my eyes staring straight back at him. Klaus looked at me. He was doubtful of course, suspicious even but in the end, he relented. Klaus bent down and kissed my lips deeply. It grew passionate and I felt his anger turning into lust and passion as his desire for me rose.
I grew needy, desperate even and started to tear his clothes off. I needed to feel his skin on mine. I needed him to vent his frustrations on me. I needed him possess to me, make me his, to mark me even. Take me in ways he took his concubines. I wanted to be everything for him. Not just his innocent wife, or his blushing bride. I wanted to be Klaus' equal and yet I also want to submit to him and be all his in every way imaginable. It was such a contradiction. A conundrum even. My obsession with Klaus. It was pure madness. And I didn't think there was a cure for that.
He brought me to the bed, never breaking the kiss and pulled the nightgown off my shoulders. Klaus ran his tongue over my breasts and I closed my eyes and moaned feeling his wet mouth suckling on my nipple. I pressed his head nearer to me as he suckled and nipped with his fangs. Blood streamed down, teeny droplets and Klaus just licked it up. I winced. The pain was like a pin prick. He moved up and kissed me. It was a fierce, demanding kiss. I pulled away and breathed heavily.
"Take me like you did them, your vampire concubines..." I whispered. "Please Niklaus...I want to be yours. All yours."
Klaus stared at me, this feral look of lust in his eyes. He grabbed my face and kissed me again roughly before he pulled away. Klaus then flipped me over, my back facing him and I was on all fours, on my hands and knees, offering myself up to him. His hand caressed my back and spine and my naked buttocks. I felt his fingers probing my folds and I was soaked from the anticipation. I was surprised when his fingers spread the wetness from my folds into the other forbidden hole. His finger probed in and I moaned.
"It's going to hurt Elly..." Klaus told me in a disemboweled tone as two fingers started to dig in as well, making sure I grew used to the invasion.
"I don't care Niklaus. Punish me..." I murmured. I felt him move behind me and the tip his member pressed against the opening of my rear cavity.
He entered slowly and of course I felt the pain. A dull, blunt pain that ripped my insides. But it gave him pleasure it must have. I could hear him grunt and sighed while I was trying my best not to scream in agony. Tears flowed and I bit the edge of the pillow. Klaus was easing slowly inside. He soon found his rhythm and he thrust deep as his hands gripped the cheeks of buttocks.
"Oh God Elly..." He groaned as he moved in my bowels. "You feel so good Darling..."
"It hurts..." I seethed in pain. "It burns..." I sobbed as my cheek rested on the pillow.
"I'll go slow Sweetheart," Klaus said softly. His fingers started to probe my folds. It felt a little better but the pain was still there.
"No..." I shook my head. "I want you to hurt me Niklaus!" I cried. "I've been such a bad girl..."
"You have, haven't you?" I could hear his anger as he thrust deeper. "You're a bad, bad girl Elly."
Klaus then spanked my buttocks hard and I almost came. It was strange this pain that brought me pleasure. It was new even to me. Klaus spanked me again and again and I cried out each time. It hurt but it felt good. I must really have darkness in me to be engaging in such perverse intercourse and deriving pleasure in it. Klaus bit my shoulder as he neared his climax. My blood flowed in his mouth He finally released himself deep inside me, a different place this time then where he normally did. I felt sore and it was still painful but I was smiling when he turned me around and kissed me. He nipped his wrist and fed me his blood. The pain and soreness magically disappeared as soon as I latched on and drank.
Klaus ordered the maidservants to set up a tub filled with hot water and we lied in there, soaked till our skins were that of dried prunes. We made love a couple of times, the usual way men and women do. Klaus drank my blood and I drank some of his. I leaned back against my husband's chest as he feathered kisses on my shoulder and neck. I heard Klaus sighed.
"Elijah is keeping something from me..." He said and rested his chin on my shoulder. He sounded so unsure.
"What do you mean Niklaus?" I was curious by his admission.
"I think he might have something to do with Katerina's escape," Klaus said. "He cares for her. So it's obvious he does not want her to die or be sacrificed." I heard the anger in his tone.
"Now Darling..." I told him softly and touched his hands, kissing them. "You have no proof."
"Elijah wanted me to spare her life Elly. He went to the witches and got some silly elixir from them so that even when drained of blood, the doppelganger would still survive. What other proof is needed?" Klaus fumed.
I turned around and embraced him, pressing my naked body sensually on his, eliciting a moan from him. "Calm down my Love...You cannot be too rash..." I told him sweetly.
Klaus smiled and leaned to capture my lips in a lustful kiss, nibbling my bottom lip as his tongue probed and licked mine. He pulled away and looked at me. "Do you think Elijah would ever betray me Elly?" He asked.
I kept quiet for a while, pondering in my head. It would be better to shift the suspicions to Elijah then to have it on me. I smiled at my husband, a sweet smile that hid whatever deceitfulness inside. "Oh...I don't know Darling...he is your brother and he loves you...but maybe Katerina does remind him a lot of my sister...there is a slight chance that he could try to save her..."
I looked at Klaus and gave an exasperated sigh. "But like I said Niklaus, there is no proof and we shouldn't be rash and jump to conclusions."
"It is good enough proof for me..." Klaus gritted and slammed his fist into the water causing violent splashes that I frowned at him. "What's going to happen now?" I asked.
"We're going to hunt Katerina, Rose and Trevor down." Klaus spoke and held me close to him. "And I'm going to give them the longest drawn out and most painful death ever." He said cruelly. "I'm going to make them beg me to kill them but I won't."
Klaus tilted up my face so I could look into his eyes. "Remember my old friend Vlad?"
I cringed hearing that. Vlad Tepes the infamous Impaler. The prince of darkness himself, Voivode of Wallachia. He gave me nightmares even decades after his death. His method of punishment was probably the most barbaric cruelty I had ever seen. Klaus laughed seeing my reaction. I remembered that afternoon, decades ago when we were in Wallachia.
Vlad had invited Klaus to lunch in his castle in the capital, Targoviste one afternoon, not so long ago and Klaus brought me along. Right in front of the table where a feast laid in the court yard, dozens of wooden stakes mounted high and people staked, or impaled right there, bleeding slowly to death. Men, women, some elderly and even young children. I had vomited. It was too grotesque for me. The stench of corpses and the blood that dripped on the ground.
"What's wrong with your wife Niklaus?" The prince asked Klaus.
"Women..." Klaus shook his head and pulled me closer as I covered my face in his chest. "You know how they are..."
The prince laughed. "Ah yes...they do not have the stomach for this. Definitely the weaker sex."
"How high are the stakes?" Klaus asked. He moved to examine one. I just sat there, horrified by everything. Klaus even touched the blood that trailed down the wood and licked them.
"Ten, twelve feet..." The Voivode replied and walked towards where Klaus was standing. Klaus turned and smiled. "Very creative Old Friend. I never thought of this impalement."
"It works..." Vlad shrugged. "Slow and agonizing death. They'll bleed for days. You should try it...Your enemies will fear you."
"They already do." Klaus grinned. Vlad laughed and embraced Klaus. "So this immortality thing that you said..." He asked my husband and led Klaus back to the dining table.
They were discussing about it on the table, dipping bread in blood. Klaus had promised to turn Vlad in return for more land in the Carpathians. I could not even eat. I just stared at my bowl. I heard the crows and cawing and I looked up. Vultures were pecking on the corpses. It was just so horrible, I cringed and covered my eyes and tried my best not to vomit remembering that the Voivode had punished diplomats for complaining about the stench. He had a Polish ambassador impaled on the highest stake far above the rest so he couldn't smell the other rotting corpses since he had found them unpleasant. The two men said their goodbyes and I sat on the carriage as we were driven back to the castle. My husband hummed that haunting tune as he looked out the window seeing the mountains.
"Are you really going to turn him?" I asked Klaus. He gave a shrug. "I could use someone like Vlad."
"He is a cruel, crazy man Niklaus." I fumed. "I do not like him."
"Whatever he is. His methods work. Crime rate has been low through out the kingdom and he managed to defend the land against the Turks. Even the Lycanthropes fear him." Klaus snickered. "I've heard rumors that The Alpha wants an alliance with Mehmet to oust Vlad out."
"With good reason Niklaus." I said and stared at my husband in shock. "If he ever becomes immortal, all of Wallachia and the surrounding kingdoms will be doomed."
"Oh Elly..." Klaus sighed and kissed me. "If Vlad the Impaler becomes a vampire he will be under my command, because I am his Sire. Vlad would be the least of the people's worries."
Of course, it did not happen and for that I was grateful. Klaus did give Vlad a bottle of his blood and I was sure he drank it but the Sultan had assassins to hunt the Voivode down and severed his head. Assassins that were loyal to Kael and hired by Mehmet the Conqueror himself. They were Lycanthropes who could sniff the cruel bloodthirsty prince down. With his head severed, he could not go into transition as he was truly dead. A victory for the Lycanthropes. I stared at Klaus as we sat in the tub.
"I'm going to impale them Darling..." Klaus smiled at me and described in detail how he would punish them. "I'll get a large stake and pierced it from their bottom up to their mouth. Plant it vertically indoors, making sure it doesn't touch their hearts and watch them bleed...and maybe I'll watch as they roast above the fire..."
I was so angry, hearing his cruel intentions that I moved away from him, causing the water to splash in the tub, Klaus pulled me back to him. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked me in a soft but infuriated tone.
"I'm cold Niklaus..." I told him and shivered. Klaus immediately stood up and lifted me in his arms. He wrapped me in warm sheets and dressed me a woolen nightgown. We snuggled close that night. The wind was blowing coldly and I shivered again. The estate house was still rather drafty and despite the fire burning, I was still as cold as ice.
"Maybe we should go back home..." Klaus told me. "Back to the Carpathians...back to my family castle..." He sighed.
"But I like it here..." I whined and snuggled closer into Klaus. England was a nice country. A bit wet for my tastes. But it was lovely.
"I need to go to Bulgaria anyway..." Klaus yawned.
"Why?" I asked him. I wondered why would he still want to go to Bulgaria. Katerina had turned. She would be of no use.
"Revenge Elly." Klaus smiled evilly. "Katerina took something precious from me and now I'm just returning the favor."
"What are you going to do Klaus?" My eyes widened as I looked at him.
"I'm going to kill every single person in her house, all of her family and maybe even her entire village."