Love, Blood & Brimstone Magic Awakening Read online

  “I am so sorry Vlad. I never meant to kill you. I only meant to teach you a lesson. Do not worry I will tell Elena you died valiantly.” He picked up Vladislaus’ hand and slid his family ring off his finger. “Just to prove you are dead.” he said and walked away.

  Vladislaus stared straight ahead. Elena stood before him.

  “I love you too much to let you die on me. You will come home to me. This I swear by the Goddess Hecate.” Elena then disappeared and an ugly looking demon appeared in her place.

  “Vladislaus Dracula, fiancé of Elena Stanislavsky and future Count Dracula. I have been sent by your fiancé to save your life. You have already received a little demon blood enough to make you immune to minor wounds. You have lost too much blood in order for you to live I must complete the transfer and make you immortal. You will have to sustain your life the same way I do with blood! What do you say Vladislaus Dracula, fiancé of Elena Stanislavsky, do you want to live forever and do you accept the consequences?”

  Chapter fifteen

  Gabriel left the camp. He had to get home and tell Elena about Vladislaus’ death. He decided to tell Elena Vladislaus died in battle; there was no need to tell her about the fight, he was ashamed of himself. There would be no need to tell his father about the person Vladislaus had become either. He spurred his horse on it was going to take him a couple of weeks to get home.

  ______________________________

  Vladislaus blinked and his mother appeared in front of him.

  “My darling son, my baby boy. I pray every day you are safe and will return to me in one piece. Be a good soldier and bring honour to your Father’s name.” she held out her hands to him.

  He closed his eyes. His mother was dead he knew that. Calandria had written to him to tell him, his mother died of a broken heart two months after his father’s death.

  He opened his eyes his mother was still there.

  “Do not blame Gabriel he was only protecting his sister. The time to die comes to us all young and old. We must embrace death” She faded away and his father appeared. Vultan repeated the last speech he had made to his troops.

  “We fight for our country, our loved ones, wives, children, mothers and fathers. We fight to keep our country Turk free and we must do this to the best of our ability. We must treat our enemy with the respect we would expect for ourselves. When you kill do it quickly just as you would expect to be killed and when death comes accept it as a reward for fighting valiantly and for your services to God. Embrace your lord as he accepts you into the kingdom of heaven.

  Now CHARGE!”

  Vladislaus closed his eyes again.

  He wanted nothing more than to return and marry Elena. Then one day they would become Count and Countess Dracula.

  She had sent him a demon to save him surely that was love. Then on the other hand his mother and father loved him or at least his mother did he had always been her favourite son. His father had never told he loved him; men did not talk about their emotions his father had always said.

  Death comes to us all. His mother had said.

  Embrace your Lord as he accepts you into his kingdom. His father had said.

  Vladislaus had always believed in God and the afterlife but now he was scared. What if there was no afterlife, what if when you died it was just total oblivion.

  Would his mother and father be there to welcome him into heaven?

  Would Elena get on with her life, find someone else and be happy or would she die as his mother had of a broken heart.

  As a good son and a faithful church goer death was the right choice to take.

  It would not take Elena long to find someone else he hoped.

  She was young she had plenty of time to get over him and find someone new.

  Yes death was the right decision to make.

  “Well.” The demon demanded. “I have better things to do than wait around here for you. If you wait much longer you will die anyway. Then I will have wasted my time.”

  “What will happen to Elena if I die?”

  The demon sighed.

  “What do you think I am a bloody fortune teller? Oh if you must know.”

  The demon waved his hand and Vladislaus saw a church in front of him. A carriage pulled up and Elena and Lucien got out. Elena was dressed all in white. She was getting married, she had found someone else. He could die in peace now.

  “Are you ready?” Lucien asked.

  “Yes.” Elena replied. “I just wish it was Vlad waiting at the altar for me.”

  Lucien patted Elena’s arm.

  “I know.” he said simply.

  They walked into the church and down the aisle towards a man with long dark hair not unlike the colour of Vladislaus’ own hair.

  She’s found someone who reminds her of me. I am so glad. Vladislaus thought.

  As he watched Elena and Lucien continued their slow walk down the aisle. Vladislaus had made his decision he was going to die a hero, he had led his troops into battle against the Turks and won. Elena would miss him but she would find someone else, the mystery man stood at the altar.

  Vladislaus welcomed death even if it was oblivion.

  Elena and Lucien reached the altar and the mystery man turned around.

  Now Vladislaus knew why the mystery man’s hair was so like his own hair colour.

  It was his own brother Viatcheslav.

  “No, leave her alone you bastard.” Vladislaus screamed. “Anyone but you.”

  “Do whatever you have to.” He said to the demon. “I will not die. I want to live forever with my little witch by MY side where she belongs. I accept the consequences it is a small price to pay to stay in the arms of my beloved Elena forever.”

  Chapter sixteen

  The demon bit into Vladislaus’ neck, drained him of all his blood and then fed it back to him. At first Vladislaus was not sure about drinking blood but as the hot, sweet and slightly metal tasting liquid travelled down his throat he began to enjoy it and found he could not stop himself from drinking it.

  Eventually the demon pulled away. He looked down at Vladislaus “I have paid my debt to Enkillian. You are now immortal. You will shortly feel an overwhelming urge for blood in the corner of your tent is a girl drink from her and you will complete the transition from weak and feeble human to strong and powerful undead Vampire. Before you feed there are a few things I must tell you.”

  _____________________________

  Two weeks later the wedding was planned all that was missing was the groom.

  “He will be here Papa. He said he would and he always keeps his word.” Elena gushed excitedly.

  “He had better be. This wedding is costing me a fortune. He better be here before tomorrow night. What good is a pre-wedding ball without the groom?”

  “He will be here Papa. I know he will.”

  Elena left her father and went upstairs. Once in her bedroom she called Enkillian forth.

  “Where is Vlad? Is he on his way back to me? Will he be home by tomorrow night?”

  “The blood demon has been successful. Your Viscount is returning to you. He has changed but he is coming back to you.” Enkillian replied.

  Elena waved her hand.

  “Go make sure he returns to me safe and fast.”

  Enkillian bowed.

  Consider it done my dark priestess.” He said and disappeared.

  ___________________________________

  As Elena got ready the following evening for the pre-wedding ball, she wondered when Vladislaus would make his appearance, why he had not been to see her. Igor the Dracula’s butler had come round earlier that morning to say his young master had returned.

  As she contemplated these questions she heard a knock on the window. She could see nothing it was dark outside. It was probably a bat there seemed to be a lot in the grounds of the Stanislavsky manor lately. She waved her hand at the window and it blew open.

  She stepped back in shock, her mouth open, as Vladislaus climbed through the wind
ow.

  He held out his arms.

  “Elena come to me. I have dreamt of this moment since my father’s funeral.” he said seductively.

  He planned to say good bye to her. He still wanted to marry her but unfortunately that was not possible, the blood demon had told him he would feel nothing. He had rushed out to the nearest tavern to find a whore. He had tried two different taverns and two different whores but as the blood demon had said he felt nothing until he drank their blood then he’d felt alive. As he travelled home he had, had several women and felt nothing for them not even during sex. Only the drinking of their blood had satisfied the deep longing he felt.

  How could he go through life with Elena, feeling nothing? How could he watch her grow old whilst he stayed forever young? Even if he made her like him, if he felt nothing what was the point? He could not take the love she felt for him and leave her with nothing.

  Elena stepped into his arms. She put her hands on his shoulders and looked up into his eyes. Her eyes sparkled with her love for him. He bent his head to kiss her goodbye.

  He was surprised to find his body responding to her kisses. He pulled her closer and she felt his erection pressing against her through the thin fabric of her undergarments. He was amazed, all the love, admiration and desire he had ever felt for her came flooding back to him.

  “How is this possible?” He said almost to himself.

  Elena looked up at him with a confused expression on her face.

  “What is the matter my love?” she asked.

  He kissed her again and led her to the bed. He lowered her down on to it and lay down beside her.

  “Your demon has changed me so much my darling little witch but when I am with you nothing has changed.”

  He traced her lips with his finger.

  “Listen carefully my dear I have a lot to explain.” He explained to her everything the demon had said and done to him.

  Elena twisted a strand of his hair around her finger.

  “So you are truly immortal my darling? You will live forever?”

  “Yes unless I go out into the sunlight then I will burn and become nothing but a pile of dust. Unless this dust is scattered a few drops of blood can make me flesh again. Of course there is the down side, the taking of another life through the drinking of blood but one gets used to it and begins to enjoy it.”

  Elena shrugged her shoulders.

  -”It would not be so bad. I have done spells where I must kill chickens and use their blood. Besides if it means eternity with you I would endure anything absolutely anything.”

  Vladislaus traced his finger along the throbbing vein in her neck.

  “You are sure my darling.” he asked his voice husky with excitement.

  “Yes do what you must. I will endure anything to be with you.” she replied confidently.

  “Then let me sink my teeth into you and later I will sink something into you for the pleasure of us both.” He whispered seductively brushing her hair away and kissing her neck.

  He sank his teeth into her neck; she cried out as his teeth broke the skin, he licked at the wound feeling the taste of her blood on his tongue. Her blood was intoxicating. As he began to drink her blood he felt her strength and evil power flowing into him. He drained her almost completely as the demon had told him. Then as she lay like a ragdoll in his arms he drew his dagger from the sheath opened his shirt and cut his chest open. He lifted her head gently and placed her mouth over his wound. Almost instantly Elena began to drink as she had said she had done several spells that required her to drink chickens blood but this was different this was life intoxicating, powerful life. She could feel it pumping around her body touching every nerve filling her with life. She could hear her heart beat faster and faster until she thought it would burst. Vladislaus’ heart began to slow. He grabbed her hair and pulled her away from his chest.

  “That is enough.” he commanded. The wound in his chest was already beginning to heal.

  Elena was amazed.

  “How is that possible?” she asked pointing at his chest. The wound had healed and

  Completely disappeared.

  “We can heal instantly” he replied. “Put your fingers to your neck feel the puncture wounds, will them to heal and they will.”

  She did as he told her. She concentrated hard and was amazed as she felt them heal beneath her fingers. Vladislaus kissed her, moving his hands over her body as he did so. She groaned softly as his hand moved over her barely covered breasts and moved her hands down to rub his throbbing erection.

  Reluctantly he stopped kissing her and pulled away.

  “Get dressed my love; When I return I will teach you to feed and then I will teach you what to do with that.” He said removing her hands.

  “Teach me now. I want you Vlad. I cannot wait any longer.”

  Vladislaus held her hands in his and groaned.

  “Please do not make this harder than it already is Elena!”

  “It is very hard!” she whispered seductively.

  Vladislaus pushed her off the bed.

  “Get dressed!” he commanded. “I must go and speak to your father. I will see you at the ball.”

  Chapter seventeen

  Vladislaus entered Lucien’s study. He bowed.

  “Sir. I must speak with you.” he said.

  Lucien looked up.

  “So you have finally arrived.” he growled.

  Vladislaus sat down without being asked and leaned on Lucien’s desk.

  “Sir I have some bad news about your son.”

  Lucien looked worried.

  “Is Gabriel dead? “He asked his voice shaking slightly.

  “No Lucien much worse.” Vladislaus stood up and paced the room. “Gabriel turned into a vicious killer. Killing Turks for no particular reason, torturing them for fun. He chopped off the heads of the Turks and impaled them on spikes around the camp. I cannot explain it. I can only think it must have been temporary madness but the worse thing was he tried to kill me, he left me for dead. I am sorry to have to tell you this on the eve of my marriage to your daughter. I just thought you ought to know Sir.”

  Vladislaus looked down at the floor a look of sheer devastation on his face.

  “He tried to kill you?” Lucien gasped.

  “He entered my tent just as I was packing to come home. We were the only one’s left. The men had all gone home earlier that day. He challenged me to a fight; he seemed to have gone mad. He was shouting at me, shouting that he would not let me marry Elena that he had to protect her from Evil. I did not want to fight him of course but he kept on shouting at me until I had to fight just to defend myself.

  After a while I tripped and banged my head. He left me for dead. When I came to he had ripped my family ring off my finger. I can only assume he meant to show it to Elena to prove I was dead. I am sorry to have to bring such bad news but I thought you ought to know Sir.”

  Lucien’s face darkened.

  “Thank you for telling me Vladislaus. I will talk to him when he arrives home. Now go get ready for the ball. You have given me much to think about.”

  Vladislaus bowed and left.

  Lucien picked up his letter opener and began to fiddle with it. Gabriel had bought it for him on his fortieth birthday, it was shaped like a dagger, the handle was encrusted with rubies apparently his birthstone.

  He could understand the killing even the torturing of Turks, they were the enemy after all and Vultan had often said that being at the front line of a battle could make a soldier go temporarily mad but to want to kill his best friend, his sister’s fiancé. How could Gabriel have fought Vladislaus and left him for dead. He loved Elena as they all did, he would have done anything for her. How could he try to kill Vladislaus knowing how much it would hurt Elena?

  Lucien slammed the letter opener into his desk point downwards, it stuck in his desk. He stood up and walked out of the room. He had to get ready for the ball. The guests would be arriving soon. When Gabriel finally
arrived home, Lucien would have it out with him, and then he would throw him out of the house.

  Later when all the guests had arrived Elgin announced Elena’s arrival.

  Everyone looked up as she descended down the spiral staircase. Most of her blond hair was piled high on top of her head, ringlets fell about her shoulders, and her dress was blood red. The bodice fitted tightly below her breasts, showing off her tiny waist. At her waist the skirt flowed to the ground skimming the stairs as she descended.

  Vladislaus gasped. He had never seen Elena look so beautiful. Her skin was so pale against the blood red of the dress; he was surprised that no one else noticed just how pale she was. ‘I must get her to feed soon or someone else will notice.’ He thought.

  Lucien clapped his hands.

  “My Lords and Ladies, I give you the Lady Elena. Lord Vladislaus Dracula’s bride to be and the light of my life. Elena pecked her father’s cheek as she passed him.

  She glided across the floor towards Vladislaus ignoring everyone else.

  When she reached Vladislaus she grabbed his arm.

  “Everyone smells so good. I can smell their blood and I want to drink from them all!” She whispered.

  “I know my love but you cannot act on that urge. We must keep secret what we are for the moment.” he whispered back, whisking her on to the dance floor.

  “I do not think I can control myself they all smell so good.” she whispered.

  “Well go and feed on a servant then. Someone who will not be missed and stay away from mirrors, we have no reflection.” he whispered back as he let her go. Immediately someone else grabbed her for a dance.

  Not long after Elena’s grand entrance Elgin walked over to Lucien and Calandria.

  “Your son is here my lord.” he announced.

  “Tell him to go to my study.” Lucien snapped.

  “Yes sir.” Elgin hurried away.

  Calandria stared at her husband.

  “Never mind your study darling he should be here dancing with his sister and congratulating his friend.”