Dracula's Tears

Chapter 9

A gleaming pair of bright crimson eyes shone in the dark room, analysing each and every crevice, until they stopped at a small bed lamp. The gentle light shone next to your sleeping form, with a book sprawled across your chest. Vlad's eyes softened as knelt at your bedside, gently moving your hair from your face and softly ghosting his fingers along your delicate brow. He swallowed, fingers trembling at the softness of your skin.

"Could it really be you?", he whispered," My sweet wife?" His attention then turned to the book rising up and down with your chest with a title inscribed 'Vlad the Impaler'.

A soft smile spread across his features as he picked it up, reading the page where you fell asleep with. 'The great King had found himself gazing at his son, who already had distinct identical features that clearly highlighted him as his child. A child who was not born from his beloved wife, but rather, his mistress. '

A low, deep growl escaped him at the line.

'Ionela, swept by greed and jealousy, pushed the queen and quickly fled as a shrill cry for help from the Queen's maid resonated through the castle. Puddles of crimson liquid began to form around the queen, who was heart-stricken with the betrayal of beloved husband.'

His mind flashed back to that shout from the maid, remembering the terror he felt when he found his beloved losing their child and her own life. Nothing could ever compare to that day, nothing. Distraught, he abruptly shut the book and placed it on the bedside table. He gently took your warm hand in his and closed his eyes.

He wanted nothing more than to turn back time. He wished he had never taken Ionela into his bed during his time away in battle, where you had waited ever so diligently and prayed for his safety every night. You were always faithful, always looking at him with such loving [e/c] eyes. He was young and foolish, weighing his chances of living each day and craving for your touch. Ionela, that blasted wrench, took advantage of his weakness. How he could have thought she was like you was a complete mystery. She was nothing like you; she was the very definition of evil. Those nights where he had her in his bed, he always whispered your name during his liaisons with Ionela, wishing that it were you. Gods, he wished he could go back and change everything.

You would have been alive; you would have had his children. He would have had you in his arms. Instead you were ripped away from him, all because of his idiocy. "... if you l-loved me truly you would not have been unfaithful." Those last words you had uttered while bleeding in his arms had haunted him till this very day.

"Sleep well my sweet love," he whispered softly in Romanian, brushing his lips against your temple. He turned off the lamp beside you and disappeared through the window, closing it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dream ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where are those cloths!" Came the shrill cry of the head maid, a short stout woman who seemed to have an infinite grim expression adorning her face. With a gulp, you answered, "They are still drying." The head maid's face turned into the colour of a tomato; her lips pursed in a tight line as she glared at you. "The feast is tonight you little twit! How can we set the hall up without the darn tablecloths?" Eyes lowering to your feet, "I was only told two hours ago by Catalina to wash the cloths." The head maid pinched the bridge of her nose," I guess there isn't much to be done then to wait. When I see Catalina, she will receive quite an earful. Could you please go and fix the master's study?" You nodded, immediately grabbing two buckets. One with water and the other filled with cleaning utensils.

How on earth were you going to find the master's study in this huge castle? All the other maids were busy in preparation and would not be pleased if you hindered them.

There were so many doors and corridors, that it could take you days to find the right one!

"Need help?" A gentle voice disturbed you from your thoughts. Placing a hand on your thumping heart, you turned towards the speaker. It was a girl who was about your age, dressed in maid attire.