Page 72 (1/2)

"It is May first, wife Walpurgis Night When the devil walks the night," Vlad said with a sardonic sh "Dracula returns hoht How appropriate"

"Perhaps," he answered wryly "Many would say I areat, broken castle, the bonfires becah into the air The gypsies were dancing wildly to music around the fires and I could smell, even froreat dark carriage with its black horses clattered into the courtyard, the ribald ypsies rushed out toward us I was not sure of their intentions, but Astir’s guards ypsies fell to their knees before him in shock and relief I followed and saw Ilona cross herself as I stood beside Vlad

The guards fro in their black uniforh the crowd of gypsies, touching thee, almost surreal ht around us

"You have returned," Ilona sobbed when he touched her cheek She kissed his hand eagerly

Looking beyond the shadows and firelight that twisted and intertwined in an exotic dance, I saw the door to the castle was open Slowly, I ypsies and drew reat black mouth that opened intomy eyes as I saw at lastaway froes of the door fraether Ariana lay against the door fraypsies that were beyond her reach The women were tattered, shriveled crones The horror of their condition envelopedto reach out toward me, but stopped by the ward of power Vlad had about the castle Shrieking, she fell back, her body twisting in terrible spasms of pain

Cneajna, her hair nohite and brittle, bared her long teeth ather cheeks

I wept at the sight of my sisters and covered my face with my hands I felt Vlad’s hand on my back and I turned to him He kissed h my despair

The Brides cowered at the sound of his voice and began to weep They clung to one another, a twisted heap of bones and dried flesh, their tattered dresses lying limply over their desiccated forms I cried out to Vlad to help the just beyond their reach, he said their names one by one and they cried out as if it pained theuard near hiuards e trunk and opened it Gruffly, they yanked out a s He reeked of fear and piss Vlad must have had him asleep until this point for I had not even been aware of hiuards approached the castle

"I do not suffer fools who dare try to steal from me," Vlad told the -like wo

"He atteuards caught him," Vlad explained to me

I kneas to coain, as I to dictate any sort of decoruht before?

Vlad took hold of thethe ery was beyond anything I could have ie gouts of blood sprang frorily upon hih to plunge their faces into his body to drink It was horrible, yet I could not look away Blood splattered their grotesque bodies and the ground I watched mes the cobblestones to slide up their skin into their mouths They feasted desperately and before an to flush with life and their hair turn froolden blond, and raven black Their rew cold and jewel-like, vibrant with color and fire They consumed every last bit of his blood and licked it froues

They were not fully restored yet, but I could see their beautiful features finally eaunt, but they had flesh upon their bones

"Vlad, Vlad," Cneajna called out to hi hold of my hand, he moved toward the entrance way There was not much left of the man who had attempted to rob us He was a dry husk I stepped over hi to life The Brides cooed and whispered softly to Vlad as they crawled to hi

Vlad stood over thes and kissed his hand Their eyes gazed up at hi Only Cneajna held back, her head bowed low as she knelt before hiive us," the two dark haired Brides whispered

Vlad drew his hand away froht of you"

The tomen moaned in despair at his words and sank away fro

"Vlad, forgive us if we displeased you," she whispered, tears in her eyes

"Go, feed! Now! I cannot stand the sight of you!" Vlad ordered in a harsh voice He continued to hold ontolorious go a ruin of rags Her face was pinched and her full lips pale She nodded slowly and took hold of the other tolided out into the night With one last look cast over her shoulder, Cneajna disappeared

Alone, hand in hand, Vlad and I stood in the foyer of the decrepit castle My gaze swept over the great hall with despair and I felt hten The last time I had entered this castle as a visitor, my family had been alive and I had been mortal

"We shall only be here for a short time," Vlad assured me "As soon as your brother has done as he proland"

I nodded slowly "Very well"

Vlad released my hand "I will have Ilona prepare a chaer be in the Brides chambers"

"They will know then," I answered swiftly

Vlad nodded "Yes, they will"

I tried to speak, but could not find words He gazed atand hard, then walked on into the depths of the castle

I closeda terrible sense of dread fill me