Part Nine: Heir
I woke with a start just as the rain began to pour, thudding against the oriel window in the master bedroom, sounding for all the world like a thousand scrabbling mice feet scratching to get in. I had been Vlad's wife now for three months and we have been…happy, I would say. There are times, however, that he looks at me with such…desperation… I determined that on this night, we would talk, and I would find out what was wrong…was he, in fact, unhappy in our marriage? Did he wish we had never met? I was not one who usually suffered from fits of melancholia, but a profound sadness had seemed to settle over me.
Alina came in to help me get ready and I rose quickly…too quickly it would seem, as the room suddenly seemed to tilt, and I wavered with a hand to my forehead. She became quickly concerned and made noises about "fetching the master" but I waved her away and told her to bring me my clothing. When I was alone, I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to quell the nausea trying to work its way up from a nervous stomach. I usually had the constitution of a good brood mare, and rarely was sick, but here…I certainly was making up for it! I could not seem to get rid of this illness…
By the time I reached the dining hall, I had a spring to my step again. Vlad was the first person I saw when I came sailing through the door, and he turned with a smile on his lips.
"Soţia mea dulce, you look radiant today. Come and sit by my side." He captured my hand in his and raised it to his lips, but I noticed to my sorrow, that his smile failed once again to reach his cool eyes.
"Vlad…is…is something worrying you?" I asked hesitantly. I really had no idea how he would react to questions that could be construed as intrusive. My father always behaved…rather badly… He simply looked surprised and answered in the negative, but I knew it was a lie. And surprisingly…it hurt, a sharp pain that pierced both heart and soul. Determined not to let him know how it pained me, I merely nodded, and walked toward the sideboard, where the smell of the rich food was beginning to bother my sensitive stomach.
I hadn't thought about it, but ever since coming to this country, I had eaten less and less solid food; and was, in fact, in danger of becoming truly ill from lack of nutrition if I wouldn't eat. Regular food simply held no appeal for me. I had no idea what I wanted, I just knew what I didn't want. Vlad knew…knew and didn't tell me…and that's how it all happened.
That morning, as soon as I smelled the greasy sausages and pastries that only a month ago, I couldn't do without, I turned a ghastly shade of white and giving a little moan, crumpled to the floor. Vlad gave a shout, and ran for me, snatching me up into his arms and practically flew to our chambers; throwing orders over his shoulders, spitting out the words in Romanian so I couldn't understand most of it beyond the word for physician. The doctor was summarily dispatched and was sent to our room, he seemed quite taken aback that we shared a bedchamber…poor soul…and had to be soothed when my husband refused to leave while I was examined.
What transpired then, I shall never forget, indeed…I am hard-pressed to contain a smile of pure joy even now. He told Vlad and I that we were to have a baby! A child… I have never seen a look of such naked longing and elation as I had on my husband at that very moment. Tenderly he drew me close in his arms and kissed my forehead…my cheek…my lips.
"I am indeed the most fortunate of men…inimăa inimii mele (7). You are my heart, my soul…the very breath of my body. Without you I would cease to be." He had tears running down his cheeks, and they were matched by my own.
A child! His heart was filled to bursting with love for her…for them both. As he gazed into her tranquil eyes, he realized that he'd missed her open joy…her transparent nature allowed him access to her innermost thoughts and emotions, and he'd known of her sadness, her thinly veiled desperation that she'd done something to crack this tenuous relationship they'd been trying to forge since they met. With resolve he made the decision to talk with her soon about her past, and the secret they shared. It was imperative, both for him, as well as her and the child that they share a blood-bond as quickly as possible. He'd been content allowing time to dictate the pace of their courtship, but time was now a luxury they could ill afford…even now he had to use every ounce of his will to keep from joining those of his kin who gave up the fight over their darker instincts and gave in to the urge to hunt unmercifully. Some nights he lay awake sweating and praying for daylight as he heard their uncanny cries echoing in the vast mountainous regions of his small kingdom.
He sat with his love until her tears dried and she fell into a deep and restful slumber. Then, stretching out beside her, he gathered her close and cradled her within his loving embrace.
"Iubirea vietii mele, mama a copilului meu... As putea traversa timpul pentru tine, pot indeparta flacarile Iadului pentru tine, pot indura toata suferinta pacatosilor pentru tine, dar nu-mi cere sa traiesc fara tine."(8)" he whispered desperately into her hair as he breathed in her fresh, fragrant scent before succumbing to slumber.
7. Heart of my heart
8. Love of my life, mother of my child…I would traverse time for you, I would hold back the fires of hell for you, I would endure all the torment of the damned for you…but do not ask it of me to live without you
And now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint; now tis true,
I must here be released by you,
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands.
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from your crimes would pardoned be,
Let your indulgence set me free.
Prospero's Speech: Loreena McKennitt
Part 10: Vanished
I woke, my body burning with arousal, to discover my husband…my lover spooned against my naked flesh, nipping…sucking…and nibbling the tender skin that lay on the back of my neck. He had found my weakness the morning after our nuptials and, upon seeing the havoc it wrought upon my impassioned senses, exploited that fact without mercy. I shivered and moaned throaty approval as his hand wandered down to toy with the plumpness of my breasts, their dusky hued areolas puckered with the sensations caused by the roughened skin of his gentle palms. Softly, tenderly his hand skimmed down my torso in pursuit of the delights my flesh had to offer him, pausing only when he cupped at last my dewy mound and provided sweet torture where I desperately needed release.
He withdrew his touch, to my dismay, and smiled into my hair when I squeaked in protest. "Relax, all is well my love." His honeyed words fell upon me as I moved restlessly in his grasp trying to turn and face him. He took one of my hands and placed it between my outstretched thighs…where it yearned for his touch alone… "Touch yourself for me…" his whispered plea made me yearn in ways too explicit for words. Speechlessly I obeyed, hesitant at first…strokes tentative and light…until a bolt of searing pleasure shot through my system and his burning kisses robbed me of rational thought.
He watched me with eyes that glittered with love and lust…a heady combination in a lover. His hand crept lower and he covered mine with his own, working both steadily...rhythmically...between my thighs until I was gasping and pleading for surcease.
"Dulceata, inimămea, let go…I will catch you when you fall, this I vow…"
So focused was I on the task at hand, that I didn't even realize that he had never uttered a word…the entire sentence had been spoken inside of my head… For now, as I dissolved in his embrace…none of it mattered. He gently rolled me over, and as I lay gasping for air, mounted and entered in a long, smooth thrust. Within moments we were rocking toward oblivion, each staring fixedly into the others eyes. His thrusts were sure and deep, his touch infinitely precious. He held my face between very capable loving hands as he rode my body ceaselessly. I cried out as I came again, and again…nerve endings firing off in a nearly endless wave of pleasure. Finally…finally, he grasped my knees, and bringing my legs up over his shoulders until I was laid open to him as I had never been before, he surged into me one final time…wrenching a primal scream of ecstasy from my soul, and answering with a shout of triumph as he poured his seed within my body.
Eight months later
Vlad walked into the library, knowing where he would find her. Sure enough, she was lying on a comfortable divan, a forgotten book on her lap, fast asleep. Her firm, round stomach lie temptingly under her loose and comfortable gown, and he couldn't resist placing a gentle hand on its slope, closing his eyes and feeling the life beat of his child nestled within.
For an instant, he felt a familiar twinge of longing…longing for blood…for the feeding frenzy…for the child, must take the child and the woman…must feed…must take…must have…must…must…nooooooooo! It was only through extreme effort, that cost him greatly, that he had the ability to keep the monster away. The desire was coming quickly now, she had not responded well when he had told her of the prophecy…of her part in their world.
Flashback
Finally unable to put it off any longer, he had approached her. He'd found himself at an impasse. The visions…the desires to take…to feed…to kill…were getting stronger. Soon there would be nothing he could do to prevent disaster from occurring. She was everything to him…everything…without her, he would cease to be.
That evening he sat with her…confided everything…silence reigned supreme. Was there forgiveness to be had? Would she understand her part in the Grand Scheme?
"Do you comprehend, Soţia mea iubita, what this means for you? Your mother was Carpathian, a race whom were shown grace and destined by the gods to hunt the demonic, unnatural creatures which seek to destroy their creation. You are, by birth, a part of that! It is your destiny! We are united for that purpose…to hunt together." Then he told her the rest. What they must do together to make their bond strong.
Far from being captivated, however, she looked shocked, nervous, terrified and disgusted. He did not reflect on this at the time, merely had given her some time to work it out…arrogantly sure she would see it his way.
He finally went upstairs to bed when the clock struck twelve. The bedchamber was dark, still, and quiet…too quiet. Used to the sound of her soft breathing, he hurriedly lit the lamp and stared around the room in horrified disbelief. Gone…no telling where…no telling when, no telling in what shape—if any she'd return in. With perfect clarity, he recalled the terror that had flooded his entire being…
For that night, she ran. Stumbling over rock and ravine…tumbling down hills, tripping over tree roots and falling several times. She knew not where she was headed, but she could\not, would not face the truths which were forced upon her this evening. Blindly, she sought only refuge from a decision to horrifying to make.
"Nicolae! Nicolae…" the sheer panic in his voice had his manservant running to heed the call of his master, his pale face alight with worry. Vladislav met him halfway down the corridor to grasp his upper arms for support. "Have you seen her? Have you seen my Evangeline?"
Already, the answer was not the one hoped for. None of the servants interviewed that night had seen her, none had witnessed her tear-filled flight from the imagined terrors that awaited her and the child she carried within her. He strove to push aside the panic, the awful certainty that gods were punishing him for daring to love her. Please…he begged, I offer myself in her stead…take me for your sacrifice if you must, but she is innocent.
He searched the surrounding woodland for hours, until the waning shadows announced dawn was near. Throat raw from shouting her name, he retreated to his bedchamber for a hot concoction which included fine, wild honey from his own local farms. Exhausted, heart-broke, and sick with worry he'd nearly fallen to sleep when a visitor was announced.
In his mind, he heard the voice of his manservant call out to him…it is Lucian…he says he has news of utmost importance…what is your wish?
He perked up at this…what could the old one want of him…the truth slammed into him with the impetus of a tidal wave. "Show him in…show him in immediately…"
Their conversation held little in the way of actual assistance. Lucian had become concerned when his eldest son had taken to threatening the Voivode's spouse in order to enact revenge for his brother's death.
"I knew what my son was…it is to my shame that I allowed the curse which had befallen my family for four generations to live on in my children." He looked down at his clasped hands for a moment, before raising anguished eyes to Vlad's own. "My wife…begged me to let them live. When I would have slaughtered my own sons…she begged me… Would that I had been able to do it still, and earned her eternal damnation in the process…perhaps then my soul would not have this dark stain that can never be washed clean…" He took his leave then, closing the door quietly on a grieving, distraught man.
As Vlad's hunt for me continued throughout the days that followed, I realized that I could not hope to survive out in this wilderness on my own. I looked for sustenance during the day and either slept or traveled at night, keeping to the shadows, the howling of the night creatures showed they were steadily gaining ground. On the sixth day of my perilous journey…I was found.