The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 12/A little light reading

For a day or so I was told that Sadismann was 'busy' with coven issues. You've got to love vampire's and their ability to understate things. I told Mary to hide the jar of venom the high priestess had given me.   I lay turning in bed unable to sleep, thinking about the assassination. I craved the desperate illusion of peace venom would briefly give me. I was unsure if my vision was anything more than a coincidence that Mary was convinced it was.  The vampires believed it to being visions truth, what might I learn if I returned to this vile poison ? I sweated. 

Sadismann arrived to break my worries and this time Mary drew her short sword  and the two dog head guards locked their guns ready. As promised in through the door came Sadismann. 

 "Such a delight highness to see you in good health. I thought I would join the custom of my people and give you, my new guest, this" said Sadismann. He picked up a large book and handed it over. I held the old book with both arms, it felt like a stone.

"Thank you" I said. " I needed something to keep the door open with" 

"I realise you spend a lot of time here alone so this is by way of saying you can visit my library anytime. You can read can't you?"

"Yes! Well " I began "no not my self exactly, I was told  it wouldn't be right for a woman to read and anyway if I wanted something read I could always get a servant to read it for me"

Sadismann was shocked or at least he pretendedto be  shock well, "You're not a woman, you're a future Queen. Mistress Mary, teach her, don't stop until she reads as well as you do. I will send an instruction desk up to you." said Sadisman.

Mary said smiling impishly and curtseyed  "Yes lord". 

A messenger came and whispered in Sadismann's ear.

"I'm sorry, events have over taken my time here. " said Sadismann "I will return as soon as I can. Good bye oh and enjoy your lessons". 

 With that Sadismann left the book as a echo of his presence. 

*********

After lunch two familiars appeared carrying a peculiar piece of furniture. It looked like a lectern joined to a low vaulting horse.

"This looks just like the one I was taught on. The way of teaching is a ceremonial one which is part of the tradition " said Mary "It would be a sacrilege to teach you in any other way understand."

Mary waved. 

Before I could say anything two guards grabbed me and a leg was either side over the old leather vaulting horse and the book placed in front of me. My hands and feet tied to the desk. 

"I  don't have to be tied down I would have got on" I said. 

"I said it's traditional"  Mary. Crazy vampires. 

Mary turned the page and flattened it. Written on each page was a cryptic character. Mary pointed at each letters and told me the sound they made.

"Now, I point you make the sound. Each time you get one wrong I slap you with the cane" said Mary. 

"Tradition?" I said 

"Tradition" said Mary.

We started, Mary was quite light with the use of the cane, I was grateful to do something and my parents had told me of books and reading with great fondness. Now with no computers or  paper.  writing was near impossible reading useless and most of your time was spent leaning how to fight vampires and familars.   After a while I stop. 

"Do we have to do it like this?" I said."Perhaps we could start with a cat in the hat?"

"Sacrilege, if it's any comfort I went through the same experience" said Mary.

"You're enjoying this" I said.

"I'm trying not to" said Mary supressing a smile. 

Then following pages had simple words. Each word was a vampiric one which I also had to learn. Every failure resulted in Mary using the cane . After getting the letter sounds right They switched to an od book and Mary began prompting me through each word. Mary moved to a page pointed at the top line, I knew much of the alphabet and was able to begin making a stab at the words. "Tu-let Mar-cus ub-re-um"

"Took Marcus my breast" Mary translated from the ancient shadow tongue.

I paused "Is this what I think it is?"

"Of cause it is" Mary said matter of factly "ninety out of one hundred of the books in every Vampire library is like this,"

"I am supposed to be  a noble  lady of the court, I'm not reading this filth" I said. Mary slapped my ass hard.

"That's no excuse you're going to learn to read if you like it or not. Now get started or you can spend all night hanging from the wall" Mary spoke like she had buried pity in a graveyard.

"et tu-ic el-do" I said.

"good. 'then stroked'.." Mary translated.

I read the passage slowly and then when the page finished she returned to the top. This time I had to read the words and at the end of the sentence then I had to read out the translation. Each time I read out the word wrong or got the translation wrong I was pinched or spanked. Clearly I was never going to sit again. 

After an unforgivable age Mary applied some cool soothing ointment to my hot raw behind and I was let off the infernal machine . 

After a rest and a drink I was tied back down again. While I was I asked Mary "When Sadismann said as good as you what did he mean?"

"I can read without speaking or moving my lips" Mary said absently.

 "Even my father doesn't read that well"

"And you wonder why lot you lost" said Mary.

"We didn't loose, at worst it was a draw" I said. 

This time Mary pointed at the words. If I knew them I was supposed to read them out, if new I would guess the pronunciation. Then I had to guess the translation.

"Then the woman put something to her face?" I tried. 

Mary delivered punishment for each wrong word and corrected the translation.

"No! look at the dot above the 'O' this is means lips not face"

my education continued.