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"Leave us," Vlad said to the maid

She ile

Vlad rose slowly and walked to rabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet "Then if what you say is truth, you are a far erous creature than I realized And I erous creature in this room"

I tried to twist away from him, but he held ainst all rowing softer, crueler

I kneas going to happen next, but I truly could not help myself "Yes, I demand I demand that you treat me as the valuable property I am to you"

This drew out a loud chuckle fro across the room and hit the ith such force I felt bones crack Of course, they iain The pain had , but I continued to try and rise to my feet no matter how many times he struck me down

"I shall teach you what I deerabbed it, crushing it I screaed me across the room then used it to propel me onto the bed

"You are my wife, my servant; you shall do as I say Learn what I wish for you to learn Do what I wish for you to do"

My wounds were healing with va, but I knewin a tangle over my eyes

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master"

Then he was on ht hiainst ave myself to him to placate him To make him feel I was subservient His servant His wife His slave Ito me This time I found no pleasure in his touch

In the after onthe wounds he had inflicted upon me

"I shall make time to teach you the sword and some of our powers," he said toer How I ry I was that Vlad’s touch had nearly erased da entered the roo me up to rest in a chair wrapped in a blanket while she prepared a new bath for me

I wept at her kindness and at loriousness of natius and the freedom I had felt with him

I only feel true release now as I write this For the truth is in these pages and I have a testanatius I shall hide this new journal away and keep the other where Vlad can find it But this is my deepest secret My most wonderful of treasures

How I ht-

Buda, Hungary

12th of March, 1820

The sun was blazing in the skies over Buda when our weather-beaten carriage finally rolled into the courtyard of Sir Stephen’s mansion Before the driver could even dise door and leaped down onto the cobblestone drive Stretching lanced about at our new surroundings taking in the lush foliage,house before me

"He lives fairly well, this Sir Stephen fellow," thevoice of my companion careed Realizing my dear friend’s older bodyour journey, I held out my hand to hi as he forced his stiffened muscles into action, Dr Eround "I think I shall never again be able to walk"

"It was a rather awful journey," I conceded My red locks flopped into my eyes and I smoothed them back withood friend, Andrew I had to come for his sake and for your dear sister," Ey face quite solemn "Hmm, no one seems to be about"

"I sent word ahead I had expected a better reception than this"

I was anxious and on the verge of losing h, but soon after leaving Munich, terrible storms had haunted our travels We had been holed up in Austria for nearly a week as fierce storms made every mode of transportation impossible After such difficulties, it was almost impossible to believe I was finally in the city of Buda There had been many a time on this journey that I had wondered if I would ever survive to see my sister

There was a sharp cry and I turned to see a beautiful wo at me She had come from around the side of the house and she carried a basket laden with freshly cut flowers The startled expression on her fine features dissipated as a wonderful sraced her lips

"Oh ave ht your father had returned fro quickly toward us, she tucked her hair back behind her ears and smoothed her dress "I a you later this evening"

I could not help but return her s "It is lovely to ht and this is my companion, Dr Emil Baum, our family physician He has accompanied me to examine Glynis"

"How very nice to meet you, Doctor Baum," Maria said

"It is my pleasure, I assure you," Eht with lad to be free of the confines of the carriage and be breathing in the fresh afternoon air