There it was, his cautiously pronounced words confirmed what I was thinking, what I knew. He had become one of them during my absence. Why? It wasn't fair!
"But you are not the same. You are not dangerous for me!" I exclaimed, feeling... betrayed.
"Why do you think so, Samara? I'm a vampire now, just like them."
"Because I love you! If you are one of them or not... " A few angry tears made their way down my cheeks, falling on the warm blanket wrapped around my body.
He came quite close to me again, embracing me, caressing my hair soothingly.
"Don't cry for me Samara, please," he begged. "It's my own fault that I have become what I am. After they had taken you away from me..."
His confession was interrupted, when he lifted me in his arms and noticed my bare feet.
"You crazy girl, are you not cold? Where are your shoes?" He asked, carrying me towards his bed.
"I couldn't find any," I told him the truth.
Sitting on his high bed I was brought face to face with him. He stood in front of me, massaging my frozen feet, trying to bring them back to life, his eyes never leaving mine. Something was telling me that maybe I should object, to stop him, and I wondered if I was starting to remember the morals and the proper behaviour of this era, before other, more important things... But whatever it was, it was too easy to ignore, and I just let my body melt under his gentle touch, closing my eyes.
When I reopened them, I caught him staring at me, a content smile playing on his lips, obviously enjoying the effect he had on me.
Vlad let go of my feet and leaned in very close, making my breath hitch. I reached out to him, resting my hand on his smooth hair, then his full lips. Letting my hand drop towards his heart, I found his bare chest, covered with a sprinkling of soft hair, through the still unbuttoned shirt he was wearing. Then I felt his unusual heartbeat pounding under my palm... His erratic heart seemed to have a completely different, strange rhythm, but at the moment it was racing as fast as my own. This man was awakening feelings inside me I didn't know I was capable of. I felt as if I had never been touched before I met him. No one has ever made me feel so... spellbound. Vlad leaned his forehead against mine, and I closed my eyes, impatient for him to kiss me...
But before our lips could meet, we were disturbed by old Katerina. She burst inside the room calling, "I can't find her, my lord, Lady Samara has disappeared..."
Then she saw me sitting on his bed and gaped, looking appalled. When she spoke again, the despair in her voice was replaced by a severe reproach.
"My lady! Well, never in my long life... You are not to come to his lordship undressed like this!"
I had to smile. This old woman seemed to be as strict as my mother, the one waiting for me back in London. And I have never met anybody half as authoritarian as her so far.
"Stop reproaching her. Is this the way you watch over her, woman? Where were you, and where are her clothes, then? Go bring her some shoes, at least!" Vlad defended me.
Mumbling to herself she walked off, leaving us alone again. Vlad's playful mood was gone, he was serious again.
"Samara, the guests are leaving, but there are still some around. I don't want you to meet any of them. Would you please stay in these rooms today? It's safer. Tomorrow we should be alone, I'll show you around the castle, we can do whatever you want."
"But will I see you again today?" I asked. I couldn't imagine a whole day without him.
"Of course, my love. I'll come to you as soon as they're gone." He said, smiling.
The nurse came back, handing me a pair of leather-and-fur, cosy looking flat shoes, or rather, slippers. Under Katerina's disapproving look, Vlad put them on my feet and I kissed him on the cheek before jumping off his bed. Then she took me by my arm and without further delay started dragging me out of the room.
"Katerina, have fires lit in all of these rooms, so your lady can come over here whenever she wants. And get her some breakfast!"
"Her food is ready my lord, she just needs to get dressed," she responded without turning around, still angry with both of us.
Comments (20)
See all