His eyes clouded over with so much pain again, that I could not stand it. He mustn't suffer because of me anymore. I raised my hand to silence him and blurted out, "I don't remember anything, please do not tell me what you want to keep to yourself. I know I can trust you, nothing can alter my feelings for you, they will remain the same, whatever happens. We belong together, and now I understand that I've always been looking for you, maybe for more than one lifetime."
I said this all, fluently, in the same strange language he had used. I stopped talking, covering my mouth with my hand, shocked and puzzled by my own words, my cheeks burning with a fast spreading blush. Have I said too much? Too soon? I have only just met him, but then again, I have always missed him...
"Does it make sense to you?" I asked, as he, the man I loved, remained speechless.
Vlad approached me swiftly and knelt next to my seat, covering my hands with kisses. Then he rested his head in my lap and I could feel his silent tears falling on my hands.
"I love you, Samara," he whispered, "I don't want to lose you again. This castle, this century, it's not safe for you. You shouldn't have come. I need to take you back, but today is already too late..."
His tears and breath were so warm, the warmest things on his otherwise cold body. The whole place was freezing. I shivered, and he noticed that I was feeling cold.
He stood up, and even before I realised he had left my side, he reached a door at the far end of the hall, opening it wide. I heard him giving orders to someone who had been waiting there.
"I want fire in this room and the Lady Chambers on the floor above. And bring us some food and wine."
His voice was interrupted by a surprised question, "Food and wine, Your Majesty?"
"Just do as I say, no more questions. Wake up the old nurse, too, tell her to prepare her lady's rooms. Go!"
I could hear a muffled sound of receding footsteps and then a loud metallic clang. Following the sound with my eyes over to the mantelpiece, I noticed it came from a tall, thin, burning candle placed in a metal holder, pierced by nails at regular intervals. A clock.
"It's midnight," Vlad said as he came back to me, sitting in his own seat by my side, "too late to take you back tonight." His voice sounded pained and tormented again.
"But did you ask me if I wanted to go back at all, Your Majesty?" I asked, teasing. "Because I have just arrived and do not plan to leave you anytime soon."
"Oh, Samara, you don't understand..." Whatever he wanted to say after, was lost in the sudden bustle created by two knights bringing our food and drinks, and another one lighting the fire. Are they supposed to move this fast? I wondered, observing their movements.
I wasn't hungry at all, but I gladly accepted a cup of steaming red liquid which Vlad handed me himself after all the servants were gone, and the large hall was warming up from the blazing, cheerful fire.
I paused infinitesimally before tasting the contents of my cup. The drink was so red and thick, it looked like blood. The thought of him being a vampire sprang up in my mind for the first time, surprising me. He is not. He wasn't while you lived with him! my slowly awaking memory screamed at me. Not wanting to hurt his feelings I brought the cup to my cold lips, inhaling its rich aroma at the same time. It was the sweetest, and strongest mulled wine I had ever tasted. It gave me the warmth my body had been craving and restored my lost strength momentarily.
I looked over to Vlad and saw him holding a similar cup. His drink, however, was not steaming like mine. Whatever he was drinking, it brought some colour back to his pale cheeks.
I smiled at him and he returned my smile, making my heart trip again. And for a moment, everything felt...perfect.
I reached over to him and held his hand in mine. Then we just sat there in comfortable silence, lost in rediscovering each other. I was unable to take my eyes off him. He looked so regal and proud, so noble and gentle...I had never met someone like him in my current life.
"Who are you, and where have you been till now?" I whispered, overcome by the profundity of my feelings for him, not realising I was speaking aloud until the words were out.
Comments (19)
See all