Read Online Lord of the Vampires by Jeanne Kalogridis - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeanne Kalogridis
Ads: Link
even to hunt. For half a century I have trusted him, thinking that he had honest concern, even love, for me. He is my own uncle, whom I adored without reserve during my life, and he has preyed upon my affection in order to deceive me.
As I spoke, she came to a stop and listened intently to my words, her full lips compressing gradually into a thin line. I told her of his generous offer to hunt for us all, and of his cruelty to me and to poor Dunya. And when I had ended, she said slowly, It is as I thought. The stupid mediaeval bastard! And she took off again at full speed, dragging me along.
I broke into explosive laughter despite my weakness, and though I gasped, I could not catch my breathor stop my gigglesto reply. I had never heard anyone refer to him without awe or fear, and to hear him so bluntly described startled and pleased me without end.
Ah, the term amuses you, she said, her perfect forehead marred by the crease of a frown. But think: Is my term for him so inaccurate? The year is 1893, but Vlad thinks it is still 1476. He treats women like chattel; I would not be surprised to hear that he has kept his serfs.
Still grinning, I confided, No, they fled fifty years ago, out of fear when he broke the covenant
She drew her head sharply up and back, her gaze keen and searching. The covenant? His agreement with the Dark Lord? Is this why I was called?
This has nothing to do with the Devil, I said, and paused to gesture at my chamber door, for we had arrived at our destination. He had broken his vow not to share immortality with one of his family, and the villagers all feared that he might begin to feed on them. Why do you laugh?
For she had pressed a hand to her white bosom, spreading the blue-gloved fingers there, and begun to laugh without reserve. Indeed, she flung back her head, causing the cascade of golden curls to fall behind her shoulder and spill down her back. I drew my face close to hers and peered, mildly insulted that she should find mirth in such a serious thing.
But injury soon changed to amazement, for at that proximity my weakened vision could clearly detect her teeth: small, blindingly white, and even. And precisely like a mortals, without the sharp, elongated eyeteeth.
You are not a vampire, I marvelled.
She sobered then, though her lips still curved in a half-moon crescent; and keeping one arm round my waist, with her other hand she clasped mine, infusing me with her warmth. Zsuzsanna darling, I am what I wish to be. As for my laughterit is directed not at you but at Vlad, who obviously has infected you with his mediaeval idiocy. My dear, there is no Devil.
Then what of the Dark Lord? I had never encountered Him myselfin truth, I would be afraid to do so but I had overheard many of His encounters with Vlad.
Her lips twitched with faint amusement, but she restrained her merriment out of consideration for me. He is called the Dark Lord because that is what He prefers to be called. And He is not necessarily a he.
I stared at her, confounded, as she pushed open my chamber door and drew me across the threshhold. Come, my darling. You have much to learn.
* * *
3 MAY 1893, CONTINUED.
Returned, returnedall my strength, all my power, all my joy and beauty, returned!
Elisabeth led me inside my own chamber (which, appropriately, were now the old servants quarters), where my polished black casket lay open beside Dunyas. Again she worked to repress a grin at the sight of the coffins, and was not entirely successful. At my questioning glance, she murmured, How very dramatic and how like Vlad. He has always been more obsessed with death than life. She turned to me. Zsuzsannaare you able to keep a stunning secret from Vlad?
I am. My thoughts are my own; he is not privy to them.
I did not mean that, my darling. I could protect your thoughts from himthough this is indeed better, for it will not provoke his suspicion. I meant: Can you keep patiently silent, even in the face of the most thrilling
As I spoke, she came to a stop and listened intently to my words, her full lips compressing gradually into a thin line. I told her of his generous offer to hunt for us all, and of his cruelty to me and to poor Dunya. And when I had ended, she said slowly, It is as I thought. The stupid mediaeval bastard! And she took off again at full speed, dragging me along.
I broke into explosive laughter despite my weakness, and though I gasped, I could not catch my breathor stop my gigglesto reply. I had never heard anyone refer to him without awe or fear, and to hear him so bluntly described startled and pleased me without end.
Ah, the term amuses you, she said, her perfect forehead marred by the crease of a frown. But think: Is my term for him so inaccurate? The year is 1893, but Vlad thinks it is still 1476. He treats women like chattel; I would not be surprised to hear that he has kept his serfs.
Still grinning, I confided, No, they fled fifty years ago, out of fear when he broke the covenant
She drew her head sharply up and back, her gaze keen and searching. The covenant? His agreement with the Dark Lord? Is this why I was called?
This has nothing to do with the Devil, I said, and paused to gesture at my chamber door, for we had arrived at our destination. He had broken his vow not to share immortality with one of his family, and the villagers all feared that he might begin to feed on them. Why do you laugh?
For she had pressed a hand to her white bosom, spreading the blue-gloved fingers there, and begun to laugh without reserve. Indeed, she flung back her head, causing the cascade of golden curls to fall behind her shoulder and spill down her back. I drew my face close to hers and peered, mildly insulted that she should find mirth in such a serious thing.
But injury soon changed to amazement, for at that proximity my weakened vision could clearly detect her teeth: small, blindingly white, and even. And precisely like a mortals, without the sharp, elongated eyeteeth.
You are not a vampire, I marvelled.
She sobered then, though her lips still curved in a half-moon crescent; and keeping one arm round my waist, with her other hand she clasped mine, infusing me with her warmth. Zsuzsanna darling, I am what I wish to be. As for my laughterit is directed not at you but at Vlad, who obviously has infected you with his mediaeval idiocy. My dear, there is no Devil.
Then what of the Dark Lord? I had never encountered Him myselfin truth, I would be afraid to do so but I had overheard many of His encounters with Vlad.
Her lips twitched with faint amusement, but she restrained her merriment out of consideration for me. He is called the Dark Lord because that is what He prefers to be called. And He is not necessarily a he.
I stared at her, confounded, as she pushed open my chamber door and drew me across the threshhold. Come, my darling. You have much to learn.
* * *
3 MAY 1893, CONTINUED.
Returned, returnedall my strength, all my power, all my joy and beauty, returned!
Elisabeth led me inside my own chamber (which, appropriately, were now the old servants quarters), where my polished black casket lay open beside Dunyas. Again she worked to repress a grin at the sight of the coffins, and was not entirely successful. At my questioning glance, she murmured, How very dramatic and how like Vlad. He has always been more obsessed with death than life. She turned to me. Zsuzsannaare you able to keep a stunning secret from Vlad?
I am. My thoughts are my own; he is not privy to them.
I did not mean that, my darling. I could protect your thoughts from himthough this is indeed better, for it will not provoke his suspicion. I meant: Can you keep patiently silent, even in the face of the most thrilling
Similar Books
