Love, Blood & Brimstone Magic Awakening Read online

  His voice was loud and clear.

  “Make your choice Elena, Your FATHER or ME!”

  Chapter twenty

  Lucien rolled over and stroked Lady Zara’s hair, she was so beautiful; he knew Calandria would return one day but in the meantime he intended to enjoy Lady Zara’s company.

  Lady Zara purred like a kitten, Lucien snuggled up closer moving his hands over her body.

  Lady Zara screamed.

  “What is the matter darling? You did not have that reaction earlier.” Lucien joked. He sat up and gasped.

  Elena and Vladislaus stood at the door.

  Vladislaus’ eyes seemed to glow red in the light from the candles they both held.

  “Elena make your choice.” Vladislaus growled.

  Elena walked into the room. She stopped in the middle of the room and turned to her Father.

  “Papa come to me.” she almost whispered.

  Lucien found himself drawn towards his daughter despite an intense feeling of fear.

  Elena put her arms around her father’s neck. She looked at Vladislaus.

  “Do it or lose me!”

  Lady Zara opened her mouth to scream before she could make any sound, Vladislaus was stood over her with his hand over her mouth, if it could be described as a hand, his fingers were unnaturally long and his nails like claws.

  Elena took a deep breath.

  “I am so sorry Papa. I love you but if I lost my darling Vladislaus my heart would break, he means everything to me but then on the other hand so do you.”

  Vladislaus glared at her.

  “Elena this is your last chance. Make your choice.” He turned to Lady Zara.

  “Time to die my dear!” he snapped as his face changed.

  Lady Zara gasped as the man in front of her changed into a wild animal, opened his mouth unnaturally wide and bit into her neck.

  Elena looked at her father who was frozen to the spot with fear.

  “I am so sorry Papa this will hurt me as well as you. I am sorry this is the last sight you will see.” and with that she changed and drained her father dry.

  Vladislaus looked up, letting a dead Lady Zara fall onto the bed. He still had blood on his lips. He walked over to Elena and took her hands.

  “You have proved your love beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

  Elena moved closer to him and licked the blood from his lips.

  “I could not bear eternity without you. You are my life.” She laughed. “Or should I say my death.” she growled softly and bit into his neck.

  Vladislaus groaned with pleasure.

  “This must be what they call bloodlust.” He sniggered as he bit into her shoulder.

  They fell to the floor in a frenzy and gave in to their desires there and then.

  ____________________________________

  Several hours later Elena was woken by her maid. Her wedding dress was laid out ready.

  The maid put a breakfast tray on her bedside table. “Good morning my lady. It is a lovely day for a wedding. The sun is shining and the birds are singing.”

  Elena pulled the bed clothes over her head.

  “The sun!” she murmured.

  “Yes my lady. Shining like a summer day.”

  “Cover the window.” Elena muttered from under the bed clothes.

  The maid stared at the bed.

  “I beg your pardon my lady!”

  Elena peered over the bed clothes.

  “I said cover the window. Don not argue! Just do IT!!”

  “The maid looked around.

  “What with my lady?” she asked stupidly.

  “Oh forget it.” Elena stuck her hand out from under the bed clothes and waved it in the general direction of the wardrobe. The wardrobe floated across the floor and landed in front of the window.

  Elena pulled the bed clothes down to her neck.

  “Too much wine last night my lady?” the maid asked.

  “Yes too much wine.” Elena grasped at the excuse. “Get out I will send for you when I am ready to get dressed.” The maid opened her mouth to speak.

  “Get out!” Elena shouted.

  The maid left the room and Elena climbed out of bed. She walked over to the mirror. She saw the empty room reflected in it.

  “So it’s true. No soul, no reflection.” she said to herself. “Well I bet I can fix that.” she waved her hand at the mirror and opened her mouth to speak.

  A knock on the door stopped her. She dropped her hand and the mirror smashed on the floor.

  The maid burst in.

  “My lady, are you all right?” she gasped.

  “Fine just a spell gone wrong. Did I not tell you I would call you when I needed you?” Elena snapped.

  The maid began to cry.

  “I am so sorry my lady.”

  Elena glared at her maid.

  “For God’s sake it is only a mirror. Get a hold of yourself. My father will buy me a new one.”

  The maid began to cry even harder.

  Elena flicked her hand at the mirror.

  “Emendo!” she yelled and the pieces of the broken mirror forged together, the mirror jumped back onto the wall.

  “Now stop sniveling and get out of my room.”

  Elgin the butler stepped forward.

  “My Lady, I am well aware of the fact that I should not be the one to bear you such ill news. I most humbly apologise but in the absence of any members of your family I have to inform you that your Father is dead and your mother and brother are missing.”

  Elena took a deep breath.

  My Father is dead?” she gasped. “Where, when, how?”

  Elgin moved closer.

  “His Valet found him when he went to wake him. He was with the Lady Zara.”

  “She is dead too.” he added almost as an afterthought.

  Elena put her head in her hands and began to cry.

  “Take me to him?”

  “I realise in the absence of your brother you become The Baroness Stanislavsky and I should obey you but on this occasion I must defy you and disallow you to go to him. Dead bodies are not for ladies to see, especially these two bodies. The priest has been sent for.”

  Elena continued to cry.

  “Then go and get my lord Dracula and bring him to me. I need him!” she sobbed.

  Elgin bowed.

  “As you wish my lady.” He left the room followed by the maid.

  Elena took her hands away from her face they were red. Tentatively she licked them it was blood, she was crying blood tears.

  ‘Good job I put my head in my hand,.’ she thought.

  Chapter twenty one

  Vladislaus entered Elena’s room followed by Elgin and the priest, Father Dominic.

  Elena was dressed in black, her long blond hair pulled up on top of her head with an ornate black comb. She held a lace handkerchief to her eyes which were red rimmed, Father Dominic and Elgin assumed from crying, Vladislaus knew better.

  Father Dominic bowed.

  “My Lady.”

  Elena looked up.

  “Baroness!” she snapped.

  Father Dominic nodded.

  Of course your Excellency. I am so sorry to bother you at such a terrible time but I must ask you if you recognise this.”

  He held out a small circular silver object.

  Elena took it from him. Vladislaus sat down on the bed next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

  Elena turned the silver object over in her hand. It was a miniature portrait of herself she had given to Gabriel the last time he was home.

  She looked up at Father Dominic.

  “I gave it to Gabriel.” she said. “So he would not forget me while he was away. Why?”

  Count Dracula found it in the Baron’s room your excellency.”

  Elena turned the miniature over in her hands.

  “So you think my brother killed my father?”

  “I am very sorry. It looks like he had supernatural help.”

  Ele
na put her head in her hands to hide her grin.

  “I am so sorry Baroness but I must ask. Where you were last night?”

  Elena turned towards Vladislaus and buried her face in his chest.

  “She was in her room all night and she does not appreciate all these questions and neither do I. Elena was to be married, we were to be married today. What possible reason could she have for murdering her father? It is obvious it was Gabriel. Why else would he go missing on the day of his sister’s wedding and his mother too? Look no further for your supernatural help we all know Calandria is a witch. I have already told you he had an argument with Lucien and Lucien threatened to disinherit him. Now leave her alone. I am taking her to castle Dracula she will be safe there.”

  Father Dominic nodded.

  “That would be a good idea. Gabriel and Calandria may return and at this point we have no way of knowing their intentions towards Elena. I will leave you to mourn. If I need you, I know where you are.”

  He bowed again.

  “Your Excellencies.” he said and left the room followed by Elgin.

  “Great performance Baroness!” Vladislaus stated when they left, his voice half sarcastic,

  half proud.

  “You too Count!” she laughed. “Why did he call you Count? You are not Count yet, Viatcheslav is.”

  Vladislaus slammed his fist down on the bed.

  “So true!” he growled. He composed himself and took Elena’s hands in his.

  “The priest called me Count and I did not correct him. Now we must hurry back to Castle Dracula. Mikael is waiting with the carriage…”

  “Did you put the miniature in my Father’s room?” Elena interrupted she could not understand where it had come from. Her brother had promised to always keep it with him.

  “Yes, little witch, I took it from Gabriel’s tent along with several other valuable

  possessions, when I thought he was dead. I thought it a good touch, everybody now

  thinks that he killed him. We are in the clear.”

  “And everybody knows Gabriel and my father argued and then Gabriel left. So they will assume that he returned later to kill him.” She put her arms around Vladislaus’ neck. “Oh my love you are so clever. I should hate you. You made me murder my father but every time I look at you all I want to do is sink my fangs into you and feel you inside me.”

  She kissed him passionately her fangs grazing his lip. Vladislaus kissed her back biting her tongue as she slipped it into his mouth, for a moment he allowed himself to enjoy the sensation of her blood bubbling into his mouth. All he wanted to do was just what Elena said, to feel her dark powerful blood flowing into his veins as he plunged deep inside her. ,

  He groaned as he reluctantly pushed her away. His desire for her was insatiable since becoming a vampire.

  “Pack what you need, put on your cloak and meet me at the door. We must go to castle Dracula, we have much to prepare for. Gabriel and Calandria will not let this rest. If I know Gabriel and I do, he will want his revenge.” He stood up and walked to the door. As he turned the door handle, Elena stood up and with preternatural speed walked to his side putting her arms around his neck. Vladislaus removed them.

  “No!” he said forcefully. “Kiss me now and we will not leave. Unfortunately we must.” he walked out the door leaving Elena to pack.

  _________________________________

  A carriage pulled up outside the tavern in town and Marishka and Ivan stepped out.

  “Gabriel and Calandria will be waiting for us when we get in there so let me do the talking and for God’s sake do not stutter.”

  Ivan glared at his wife.

  “You know very well the potion you gave me stops me from stuttering and the less I have to say to him the better.” He said sulkily.

  Marishka took her husband’s hand and squeezed it.

  “Oh Ivan you must stop this jealousy every time Gabriel is mentioned.” she planted a kiss on her husband’s cheek and walked into the tavern.

  Ivan pulled a face at her back.

  He had every reason to be jealous of Gabriel. His wife ignored him when Gabriel was around and he was sure something had happened between them. Something more than just cousins.

  “If you did not drool all over him then I would have nothing to be jealous of.” he muttered as he followed her in.

  Gabriel and Calandria sat in a corner with a hooded figure.

  Gabriel stood up as Calandria rushed over to him.

  “Gabriel please tell me you did not murder your father. I could not bear it if you did.”

  Gabriel hugged her.

  Do not worry dear cousin, it was not me. Although who it was is just as worrying.”

  Marishka rested her head on Gabriel’s shoulder and sobbed.

  “They say it was you and Aunt Calandria. They found a miniature given to you by Elena by the body. She says she gave it to you.”

  Gabriel nodded.

  “She did give me a miniature of her but I left it behind when I left camp to come home. I left all my possessions except one.”

  He looked over at Ivan then bent his head close to hers and whispered.

  The handkerchief you gave me has never left my pocket. I will never forget that night.”

  He helped her to a chair and waved a hand at Ivan.

  “Sit. We have disturbing news!”

  Ivan sat down next to the hooded man. It was the only chair left at the table.

  “Mother tell them what you saw!” Gabriel commanded.

  “

  “And explain to me how a man who is categorically dead appears at my father’s house to marry my sister?”

  Marishka stared in shock.

  “So what your saying is Vlad is dead but still walking around, he has been possessed by a monster which has also possessed Elena.” Ivan stated.

  “Yes and they obviously set me up for the murder of my father. We must assume that they murdered him.”

  Ivan shook his head.

  “No!” he shouted surprising himself as well as everybody else.

  “Ivan keep your voice down. We do not want to draw attention to ourselves. No one must know we are here. How are we supposed to stop what is going on at the manor and probably Castle Dracula, if Elena and Vlad know we are here?” Gabriel snapped.

  Ivan glared at his cousin in law.

  “Elena is beautiful in every way. A truly sweet girl and I will not here a word against her. I do not believe these things and I will have nothing to do with this.” He stood up.

  “Marishka come I have heard enough. We are leaving.”

  The hooded man finally spoke.

  “There are more things in Heaven and earth than mere mortals can understand. If you go back you go back into Hell.” he said sinisterly.

  “I will risk it.” Ivan snapped. “Marishka are you leaving with me or staying with them?”

  “Leave and go back to Elena. She has been spiraling into darkness for a long time. If you feel that we are in the wrong then you do not belong with us. Marishka is staying with us in our fight. If you are against us we have no further use for you.” Gabriel stated gruffly.

  Ivan took one last look at his wife, she was holding Gabriel’s hand, and he walked out of the tavern. Back to Elena who genuinely cared about him. He knew that because somewhere in the back of his head a voice told him so.

  Chapter twenty two

  When Ivan left Gabriel turned to Marishka.

  “Are you with us or your husband?”

  Marishka turned to look him in the eyes.

  “With you as always dear cousin.” she replied.

  Calandria saw the look that passed between her son and her niece. She said nothing; she had enough to worry about right now.

  Gabriel turned to the hooded man. “Do you have a plan?”

  The hooded man looked up. Marishka tried to see his face but the cloak revealed nothing all she could see was blackness.

  “I think somebody should go and talk to th
e Count to see if he knows about his brother. Your mother and I will talk to a few demons to see if we can find out who or what has done this to Vladislaus and Elena and find a way to reverse it or destroy them.” he added quietly to himself.

  “I will go and talk to the Count.” Marishka volunteered.

  Gabriel shook his head.

  “If Elena and Vlad are there it could be dangerous. I will not allow you to go Marishka.”

  The hooded man spoke again.

  “If they are what I think they are they will probably not be around, they will burn up in sunlight but you MUST leave before sunset. You Gabriel would be employed speaking to the villagers. See if you can find anyone still loyal to you and your mother, we may need help.”

  Gabriel nodded.

  “There are a few men who served under me who would be willing pledge their lives to me again and maybe a few villagers who have no loyalty to Vlad.”

  The hooded man nodded and stood, offering his arm to Calandria.

  “Come.” he said. “Let us hit the books.”

  Gabriel turned to Marishka.

  “Be careful!” he said.

  “She will be fine my son so long as she does as I say and leaves before sunset.” The hooded man shouted over his shoulder as he and Calandria climbed the stairs to the upper area of the tavern.

  Gabriel and Marishka left the tavern.

  “Why did he call you son?” Marishka asked.

  “He is my father. It is a long story, I will tell you another time.”

  Marishka stared in astonishment.

  It is past midday. You should get a move on.” Gabriel said quickly changing the subject.

  Marishka smiled at him.

  “I will be careful.” She said and turned to go to the castle.

  Gabriel grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. He kissed her quickly but passionately on the lips.

  “Good luck!” he grinned as he turned to walk in the opposite direction.

  _______________________

  A carriage pulled up outside Castle Dracula. Mikael stepped down and opened the carriage door. Elena and Vladislaus climbed out, their cloaks pulled right over their heads, and walked quickly into the castle. Mikael followed closely behind, his black gloved hand on his sword. He was a tall intimidating man dressed in black leather. Always ready to defend and protect Vladislaus, his commander, whenever and where ever possible even now the war had ended.