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She tried to find the love in her heart, the thing that made her different from Asa Vajda or Prince Dracula, the constant throb she&039;d felt for Charles, and through hiht it was there no longer

&039;I&039;ve hurt you,&039; Kate said, reaching out for her cheek, fingertip touching a tear &039;I&039; You&039;re still alive&039;

Kate was crying too Penelope held her tight

Again, the three were joined by tears

&039;No one must weep at my party,&039; Asa said &039;This I decree All must smile, all ise, Princess,&039; began Penelope &039;My friend meant no&039;

Asa flicked out the tip of her whip and slapped Penelope across the face as if with her open hand

The whipcrack was like a gunshot

Bond flinched, hand slipping into his jacket Then he relaxed This omen&039;s business He could enjoy the show

Kate was suddenly calm She set the shocked Penelope, whose face bore a broad red mark specked with blood, down in a chair, and faced up to Asa Vajda, as at least eighteen inches the taller

&039;You old cow,&039; she said, and punched the Princess in the throat

Asa staggered under the blow, unsteady on her heels Her ied it off her shoulders A clasp at the neck snapped The Princess eain with the whip

Kate caught the leather snake with her forear on it like a lasso, further unbalancing Asa Both woia shoes and fight in her stocking feet She did so, and lost another three inches

Princess Asa&039;s face swelled at the sides, as if teeth were sprouting around her eyes and along the insides of her jaws

&039;It&039;s not a good idea to bash the bride,&039; Bond said &039;Why don&039;t you girls kiss andAsa toward her, within range of her clawed hand She got her fingers in the Princess&039;s hair and dis black strands over her face Red wheals were scratched across Asa&039;s cheek, but healed at once

With terrier-like ferocity, Kate lifted Asa off the floor and slaainst a column The Princess&039;s head slapped back and forth and she screeched with fury Kate dropped her and stood back, letting her recover a little

Asa kicked out with a booted leg and caught Kate behind the knees, sweeping her off the floor She fell badly, whip still around her wrist, and the Princess placed a boot-toe on her forehead

&039;Yield,&039; she said, an Aathered around, watching Flashbulbs popped Kate lay like a beached fish, the fight gone out of her

Genevieve felt h, Asa,&039; she said

&039;She must yield,&039; the Princess said &039;For that, I will reward her with a swift, merciful death&039;

&039;You can&039;t do that any more, Asa You haven&039;t been able to do that for years You don&039;t own serfs any ht to take their lives&039;

Asa looked down at Kate, then at Genevieve She was not a stupid barbarian That hat frightened Genevieve Nothing orse than a clever barbarian

&039;You are right, Genevieve of the line of d&039;Acques In this century, we have let things slip Peasants dare to strike their betters&039;

&039;I&039;led Kate &039;I&039;eoisie, Princess We superseded feudal chieftains in the eighteenth century&039;

Asa slipped her heel into Kate&039;schanges back,&039; decreed the Princess &039;This is where things becoht to be&039;

Genevieve knew she would kill Asa before the Princess could further hurt Kate And then she would be torn apart herself Dracula would arrive at his party just in ti blood

It had been the sa Put fe like cats

Princess Asa reached out a hand

&039;You there, fat enius was surprised to be singled out, but not displeased

&039;I have need of your sword,&039; Asa said

Welles held what looked like a silver-plated cavalry sabre, already stained red

&039;Let it be known,&039; shouted the Princess as she took Welles&039;s sword, &039;that, as in Moldavia, I am prepared to act as my own headsman&039;

She took her foot off Kate&039;s face and raised the sword

&039;So perish all who defy the Princess Asa Dracula!&039;

The sword flashed as it came down on Kate&039;s neck