Dracula Retold

All's Fair

Princess Caterina left with her father and mother on towards Transylvania, meanwhile Vlad lead his convoy from Wallachia, both parties meeting at neutral grounds in Transylvania. They set up camps in the bare lands, each royal and excellent, representing the prestige of either principality. The Draculs showed their proud red colors in every aspect conceivable, the setting sun giving it a bloody hue. The Danesti had a big, green presence. It was night by the time they'd settled, so it was more proper to meet in the morning.

Vlad had come there with Niklaus and the priest as his council, unfortunately having to leave Lupei behind. Father Marc spent his every waking breath teaching Vlad the proper etiquette of courting: what to say, what to do, and everything in between. Lucky for him, he had Klaus by him too, to joke with about girls and sex and boys being boys.

His bride across the camp was not as lucky. Her father taught her the politics of marriage, while her mother was teaching her the more intimate realities of marriage. What entertained Vlad was what Caterina told herself when she was alone. He smiled to himself, her attitude reminding him of his wife.

Vlad frowned.

No, he shouldn't be thinking of his past now; it wouldn't be fair to his future. It wouldn't be fair to Caterina. It wouldn't... the Impaler was confused. He'd lived in the shadows for centuries; war was always the same. Men, always the same.

But this was new. Relationships were new. He loved Mirena; always would. Had he lived a normal life, he would never have even thought about remarriage if he'd outlived her.

This was not a normal life. He shouldn't even be alive. But he is, and he's alone. What defines fair? What's fair for him? What's fair to Mirena? What's fair to Caterina?

He was feeling for Caterina, the girl he'd met on the battlefield. But it didn't make him love Mirena any less. So the answer was up to him... if he lived long enough to see the morning.

§§§

It wasn't fair! Why were women limited to marriage? Men got to do so many things. So many things that she wanted to do. Caterina was not sent on Earth to serve a father, a husband, ten sons. She would be her own person. She would represent herself. She could get out of it, if she got rid of the prince. No prince, no proposal, no alliance. And after two abandoned proposals, surely father would grant her the choice of her own husband. And Caterina had someone in mind.

It was late, no noise around that she could hear. Caterina got out her special Persian daggers and hid them in her hooded cape. She'd never used them before. Special blades for a special kill. Her cape was black, which would provide easy camouflage in the night. Caterina wore no shoes as she slipped out of her tent, swiftly hiding around the side as a guard came for rounds.

She ran across the field, lifting her skirts so they didn't ruffle against the grass. The main entrance was guarded, obviously, so she needed another way in. Caterina scurried around to a side, trying to find loose tarp to slide under. She quickly hid against the tent when a guard exited the camp. A bat fluttered past it and she quickly covered her mouth, trying her all to not scream. She had to prove them wrong. She couldn't be a 'woman' now. Cold hearted assassins didn't shriek at the sight of bats.

Having recovered her courage, Caterina slipped into the tent and quickly got on the floor. Now the job was to find where 'his highness' was sleeping. She crossed two small, unmarked sections, and crawled past them. An infamous prince wouldn't live here. And then she saw it.

A black veil, marked with the blood red emblem of the House of Dracul. That was where her prize lay. Caterina smirked and lifted as she made her way to the room. She wouldn't be caught dead on her knees in her enemy's presence.