Peter Rakoczy: The Music of My Life

Chapter 30: The Price of Love

After Viktor's disturbing visit, Peter tossed and turned for the rest of the night.  He was trying to make sense of Viktor's words with respect to Nicolae... what did Viktor mean when he said Nicolae would have to bear the consequences of his actions?  And how would it affect Nina, if at all?

The next morning, Peter got up at dawn.  It was still dark outside, but he quickly descended the stairs, eager to speak to Nicolae.  He searched the entire area, but couldn't find him anywhere.

"Perhaps he's with Nina," Peter thought.

He then spotted Ion.  The valet was busy polishing some of the armor in the grand foyer.  Peter approached him and got straight to the point.

"Ion.  Have you seen Nicolae this morning?  I need to talk to him."

The valet raised his eyebrows.  "The Master is busy... as you can imagine."

"Is he with Nina?"  Peter asked.

Ion narrowed his eyes.  "Why do you ask?  What do you want from him?"

"That's none of your concern," Peter answered gruffly.

Ion scowled and turned his back on Peter.  He then continued doing his chores, while ignoring the young man.

"I'm sorry, Ion," Peter decided to try a different approach.  "I would like to speak to your Master about my own fate... I must find out if he's made any final decisions.  Please, could you tell me where he is?"

Ion stopped what he was doing and slowly turned around.  Peter regarded him earnestly with his big, innocent green eyes.

"The Master is with my future Mistress," Ion finally told Peter.

"In the upstairs room?  The one in the tower?"

Ion shook his head.  "No.  Master decided to move her to a more comfortable place. Follow me," Ion said as he sluggishly began to ascend the stairs.

Peter followed him anxiously.  He wished the old man could move faster, but had to keep his cool.  Ion slowly led him down the long hallway, heading in the opposite direction from Peter's bedroom.  He eventually stopped in front of a door and knocked on it gently.

"Master, it's Ion," he croaked.  "Peter Rakoczy wishes to see you."

"Let him in," Nicolae spoke from inside.

When Ion opened the door, Peter saw Nicolae sitting on the edge of a four-poster bed.  He had his back turned toward the door and didn't greet Peter.

"Go ahead," Ion gestured toward the room.  "I have to get back to work."

Peter approached the bed cautiously.  He caught his breath when he noticed Nina laying in it.  His niece's clothes had been changed.  She no longer wore the gypsy costume.  Instead, she was clad in an elegant butter-yellow nightgown.  Her dark hair was spread over the pillows like a halo around her pallid face.  Nina was still asleep, but Peter noticed that she no longer bore any bite marks on her neck.

Peter stopped and stood beside Nicolae.

"How is she?"  He quietly asked the vampire.

When Nicolae raised his eyes, Peter detected obvious worry in them.

"She should be waking up," Nicolae spoke hoarsely. "I did everything in the right order... just as Viktor instructed me." 

Nicolae gently caressed Nina's face, and looked at her longingly.

"But for some reason... she's not awake yet... I don't understand why," Nicolae's voice started to break.

Peter didn't know what to say.  He was still very angry with Nicolae for transforming Nina.  Yet, at the same time, he pitied him after seeing the despair in the vampire's eyes.