Chapter 9

The vessel

Lord Niklaus was in love. That's what I heard some of the maids saying when they were gossiping. This Katerina Petrova who had came from some uncivilized country, they didn't seem to be sure which one, had somehow managed to charm the notorious lord. Klaus had invited Katerina to stay in the castle. She had her own chambers of course and Klaus had given her many beautiful gowns. But something didn't quite add up.

Maybe I didn't know so much about human behavior, or vampire behavior, but even I could tell that something else was going on here. I have listened to Klaus' vampire lackeys more carefully than usual but apparently they didn't know what Klaus' plan was. They only knew that Klaus had been looking for Katerina for a long time. Why, that they didn't know.

I heard someone mentioning the full moon. There was almost four weeks for that. Obviously something would happen then. I heard Thomas saying something about the journey to Bulgaria. Somehow I didn't think that Klaus wanted to go there to ask Katerina's hand in marriage. Elijah had been very distracted as well so I had spent last few days mostly by myself. I was in the library reading when Klaus walked in with Katerina. They were both laughing.

"My lord, that is not an appropriate thing to say", Katerina giggled.

Klaus grinned.

"Forgive me, my dear; I seemed to forget my manners."

"Oh, hello", Katerina said when she saw me.

I greeted her with a nod.

"You can read?" she asked curiously.

I nodded. Klaus smirked.

"Yes, for some reason my brother saw it fit to teach her to read and write. I do not understand why a woman would need such skills."

"Forgive me, my lord but I think those are important skills to anyone, a man or a woman", Katerina said.

Klaus smiled.

"Really now? Can you read?"

Katerina blushed.

"It is my wish to learn some day", she said quietly.

Klaus touched her cheek.

"My dearest Katerina, someone who possess such beauty, have no need to learn boring skills like reading. "

Katerina looked hurt but she smiled.

"Yes, I suppose you are right, my lord."

Klaus smiled and kissed her hand.

"We shall have a supper soon. Perhaps you would like to wear one of your new gowns?"

"Yes my lord, I shall go and get ready."

She smiled at me before she left. I looked at Klaus. He seemed amused.

"She might be beautiful but she certainly is not very smart", he murmured. "Fortunately it is not her mind that interests me."

What did interest him then? He noticed me looking at him and smiled.

"Do you like her?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Well, it is not wise to get too attached to her, little girl. She will not stay here for long."

I looked at him curiously. He sat next to me and ruffled my hair.

"Can you keep a secret, sweetheart?"

I nodded, which made him laugh.

"Of course you can, surely you will not tell anyone." He leaned closer. "Soon I will be invincible."

I looked at him closely. What did he mean? He smiled looking very pleased with himself.

"What do you think about that, little girl?"

I had no idea how he wanted me to react so I just shrugged. Clearly that amused him.

"Hmm, I believe I am starting to like you sweetheart. There is something about you…well; we have time to find out what that something is after the ritual."

He just stood up and walked out without saying anything else. The ritual… I hated rituals. If his was anything like the ones they used to perform things wouldn't end well.

...

Romania, 10 months earlier

Lucian looked at his faithful followers and smiled.

"Brothers and sisters! The time has finally come! Tonight we shall reveal its full power!"

All of his followers, who were wearing black robes, cheered.

"For years we have waited but now the waiting is over. Brothers and sisters, I give you, the perfect, pure vessel!"

Sebastian, who was Lucian's second in command, carried the vessel in. It was wearing a white dress, just like he had ordered. It was looking at him with those damn blue eyes. He hated when it stared at him. His followers were standing around him, forming a circle. They were in a catacomb under the ruins of an old church. There were torches burning on the walls and candles on the ground. Sebastian placed the vessel in front of him.

"Let the ritual begin!"

All his followers started to chant. Lucian marked the vessel by burning its skin with a hot blade. He knew that it could feel pain but he didn't care. He took its hands and hold on tightly when its body started to shake.

"I can see…" he murmured. "It is happening!"

Then its body collapsed.

"No!" Lucian shouted furiously.

Everyone was quiet. Ravena was the first one who spoke.

"Its body is still too small", she said calmly. "We must wait few more years…"

Lucian silenced her by raising his hand.

"Yes. We shall wait but not here. Everyone get ready, we shall leave in the first light."

"To France?" Ravena asked.

Lucian shook his head.

"No, to England. It is time to go back home."