from her Strigoi was what fueled her own
magic.
“Emotion drunk are you? Well, hopefully that will
just make you seem younger to Anna.” Ruxandra teased. They both
heard the knocker of the front door and the murmured voices of
people in the hallway. Anna Bathory came in at a quick pace. Her
navy eyes lighted on Ruxandra and annoyance filled them, but when
they tracked over to Nea there was worry and delight.
“I will give you two some privacy.” Ruxandra rolled
her eyes and left.
“Nea! It has been ten months since you were here
last!” Anna rushed over and took her friends hands. Her dark blonde
hair was in a deep orange snood, she wore a long bronze gown over a
linen chemise that matched the veil.
“I know. I’m sorry, but I don’t get away as often as
I’d like to see my cousin, Mama wants me married by the summer.”
Nea easily fell into the lie she had created.
“Well you are 18 now, it’s time I guess,” Anna
seemed depressed and they sat down.
“What’s wrong?” Nea asked, “I’m here now, we have
all winter season to do what we’d like”
“No, we don’t. My parents have decided I am to be
married well before the Winter Holidays.”
“That is in less than a month!” Nea exclaimed,
shocked, “To whom?”
“To Gyorgy Bathory,” Anna huffed.
“He is a Voivode of Transylvania and from a
prominent branch of your family.” Nea nodded, approvingly, even
though she knew he was 33, much older than Anna.
“I know. He is rich and handsome, but I don’t feel
like I can get married yet and I want a spring wedding.” Anna
complained.
“Then talk to your mother. I am sure plans can be
changed. It will be exciting to help you with a wedding.” Nea tried
to tease the girl.
“No, it has to be now,” Anna murmured.
“Why? What aren’t you telling me…I can keep a secret
you know that.” Nea had a horrible feeling.
“I am pregnant, at least three months.” Anna
admitted.
“What?” Nea felt tears well in her eyes. That was
the ping she had felt. Anna’s realization she was pregnant, a girl
becoming a woman. She would have to talk to Bendis about a more
accurate warning system.
“During the Fall Feast, I had too much to drink in
celebration of Gyorgy proposing. He and I danced, then he kissed
me. Before I knew it we were in the barn with him rutting on top of
me,” she admitted, shame filling her cheeks with pink.
“Did he take you by force?” Nea asked, angry, this
she could do something about.
“No! I wanted him…the next morning he seemed so sad
and angry with himself I just….well…I have seen my maids…I knew how
to make him happy again. He showed up at the house that night and
spoke to my parents. They were furious, but Gyorgy simply told them
we would push up the wedding date.”
“And now you are pregnant. Have you told anyone?”
Nea asked.
“No. I need your help…You’ve mentioned you know a
bit about herbs and such…I tried by myself but it didn’t work…I
have to get rid of it…I don’t want to be a bride and a mother right
now.” She gripped Nea’s hands tighter.
“What…wait...you already tried?” Nea was aghast;
without proper guidance and knowledge her actions could have
damaged her and the baby. She quickly took hold of Anna’s mind, as
weak and fragile a state it was already in this wasn’t hard. The
girl whimpered briefly as Nea laid her back on the settee and
called for Ruxandra.
“Bunica, what’s wrong?” Ruxandra burst in the
room.
“Get Valora,” she demanded, speaking of the
housekeeper. A Strega’s magical gifts were great but what was
greater was the staff that Bendis provided.
Valora was the main housekeeper for Nea’s three
homes. She travelled in between them making sure the minimal
permanent staff was doing what needed to be done; like the ordering
and seasonal cleaning. Valora was from 2003, she had been blinded
in a freak accident. Bendis gave her back her sight and in payment
she had come into service for
magic.
“Emotion drunk are you? Well, hopefully that will
just make you seem younger to Anna.” Ruxandra teased. They both
heard the knocker of the front door and the murmured voices of
people in the hallway. Anna Bathory came in at a quick pace. Her
navy eyes lighted on Ruxandra and annoyance filled them, but when
they tracked over to Nea there was worry and delight.
“I will give you two some privacy.” Ruxandra rolled
her eyes and left.
“Nea! It has been ten months since you were here
last!” Anna rushed over and took her friends hands. Her dark blonde
hair was in a deep orange snood, she wore a long bronze gown over a
linen chemise that matched the veil.
“I know. I’m sorry, but I don’t get away as often as
I’d like to see my cousin, Mama wants me married by the summer.”
Nea easily fell into the lie she had created.
“Well you are 18 now, it’s time I guess,” Anna
seemed depressed and they sat down.
“What’s wrong?” Nea asked, “I’m here now, we have
all winter season to do what we’d like”
“No, we don’t. My parents have decided I am to be
married well before the Winter Holidays.”
“That is in less than a month!” Nea exclaimed,
shocked, “To whom?”
“To Gyorgy Bathory,” Anna huffed.
“He is a Voivode of Transylvania and from a
prominent branch of your family.” Nea nodded, approvingly, even
though she knew he was 33, much older than Anna.
“I know. He is rich and handsome, but I don’t feel
like I can get married yet and I want a spring wedding.” Anna
complained.
“Then talk to your mother. I am sure plans can be
changed. It will be exciting to help you with a wedding.” Nea tried
to tease the girl.
“No, it has to be now,” Anna murmured.
“Why? What aren’t you telling me…I can keep a secret
you know that.” Nea had a horrible feeling.
“I am pregnant, at least three months.” Anna
admitted.
“What?” Nea felt tears well in her eyes. That was
the ping she had felt. Anna’s realization she was pregnant, a girl
becoming a woman. She would have to talk to Bendis about a more
accurate warning system.
“During the Fall Feast, I had too much to drink in
celebration of Gyorgy proposing. He and I danced, then he kissed
me. Before I knew it we were in the barn with him rutting on top of
me,” she admitted, shame filling her cheeks with pink.
“Did he take you by force?” Nea asked, angry, this
she could do something about.
“No! I wanted him…the next morning he seemed so sad
and angry with himself I just….well…I have seen my maids…I knew how
to make him happy again. He showed up at the house that night and
spoke to my parents. They were furious, but Gyorgy simply told them
we would push up the wedding date.”
“And now you are pregnant. Have you told anyone?”
Nea asked.
“No. I need your help…You’ve mentioned you know a
bit about herbs and such…I tried by myself but it didn’t work…I
have to get rid of it…I don’t want to be a bride and a mother right
now.” She gripped Nea’s hands tighter.
“What…wait...you already tried?” Nea was aghast;
without proper guidance and knowledge her actions could have
damaged her and the baby. She quickly took hold of Anna’s mind, as
weak and fragile a state it was already in this wasn’t hard. The
girl whimpered briefly as Nea laid her back on the settee and
called for Ruxandra.
“Bunica, what’s wrong?” Ruxandra burst in the
room.
“Get Valora,” she demanded, speaking of the
housekeeper. A Strega’s magical gifts were great but what was
greater was the staff that Bendis provided.
Valora was the main housekeeper for Nea’s three
homes. She travelled in between them making sure the minimal
permanent staff was doing what needed to be done; like the ordering
and seasonal cleaning. Valora was from 2003, she had been blinded
in a freak accident. Bendis gave her back her sight and in payment
she had come into service for
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