The Mysterious Legend of Vladimir
Book Two
Chapter One
Silently, the three of them walked down the mountain road. Just before entering the forest, Nestor stopped. Running his trembling fingers through his long black hair, he cried out, “Oh my God, what have we done?”
A stranger's voice behind them said, “I would like to know that myself.”
Asius was the first to turn around. The dark stranger stood at least six-eight, his long black hair blowing in the wind, and when he talked he hadn't tried to hide his long fangs. In an arrogant voice, Asius shouted, “We did what we had to do to protect our families and the village we live in.”
The stranger laughed and said, “If you think that you will make it back to your village alive, then you don't know Marquis de Sade. Yes, he will allow the people of your village to live, but you on the other hand will die, and it will be brutal. You fools, you should have listened to your constable; he knew what he was talking about. Only Vladimir could have saved you, but no, you had to take matters into your own hands, and now you will pay the price. You had better hope that it's de Sade that hunts you down and not Vladimir.”
With a trembling voice, Nestor said, “What do you mean, Vladimir? He's dead.”
“You fools, he wasn't in the castle. Clotho, his wife and newborn son were the only ones home. You killed his family, and his son was only a day old.”
Nestor looked at the other two men and said, “We deserve to die.”
As he turned and walked away, Asius shouted, “You were always the weak one. Go, go get yourself killed; see if we care.”
The dark stranger laughed and said, “He's the only one that will make it out alive.” Swirling his long black cloak around his body, Rodolfo disappeared.
Nestor walked over a mile before he noticed the strange fog behind him, then he heard the terrifying screams of his friends. Turning around, he began to run to them, then he heard a voice emerge from the fog. It said, “There is nothing you can do for them; now go and tell your village that they are free.”
“I can't leave them; they're my friends.”
“Leave, or die with them. Believe me, they would walk away if it were you screaming.”
“But. . . ”
“Go now, or die!”
Nestor walked up the steps of the church just as the doors began to open. When Aether and Zephyrus came down to him he said, “It's over! They're all dead, including Vladimir. Marquis de Sade has spared me so that I could tell the story; the story of his brutality and how he does not tolerate betrayal. We are to never speak of this day to anyone.”
Aether and Zephyrus rode up to the mountain to see for themselves. Before they reached the castle, they could smell the smoldering fire. Zephyrus dismounted his horse and walked back to the garden that they had stood in the day they met Ivana. Bowing his head, he said, “Dear God, what have they done? Clotho was in there, along with Ivana and the baby!”
With his head bowed, he said, “Aerther, Vladimir was our friend; he didn't deserve this. He was a good man, and those damn fools led Marquis de Sade right to them. It's their fault.”
“Yes, it was, but they paid the ultimate price with their lives.”
“Nestor should pay for this.”
“You know that's not true. He would never harm women, let alone a new baby.”
“I know, but Aether, he came up here with those damn fools. That makes him just as guilty as the rest of them.”
“That's something he'll have to live with for the rest of his life.”
“It's not enough.”
Aether patted Zephyrus on the back and said, “Yes it is, my friend. Yes it is.”
Heeding Marquis de Sade's warning, they never spoke of the tragedy and loss they endured. Until one night, Nestor mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again.
Chapter Two
Vladimir awoke with a smile on his face, anticipating the feeding of Nikola. Rolling over, his smile suddenly changed to panic. Panic to grief, to anguish, to rage. His family was gone and he was alone.
The day sleep had healed his wounds, but his heart ached. He lay on the cave floor, unable to move. The pain was so severe; he lost the will to even feed. Nights flew by, and still Vladimir would not feed. All he could do was sit in front of the burned out ruins, hoping to hear Ivana's sweet voice in his head, but it never came.
On the fifth night, he cried his last tears for Ivana, Nikola, Clotho, and the burned out castle that held the memories of his parents. Just as he was about to walk away, a strange woman screamed in his mind, “This is no way to mourn my granddaughter; she would want you to live. Now, go and feed, you fool.”
She was right; Ivana would want him to live. The only time Vladimir would leave the cave he was sheltering in was to feed, then he'd come right back. Before he knew it, days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to years.
Ten years had passed, and Vladimir remained in the cave. His clothes were tattered, his hair long and dirty, and his body smelled like that of a cave dweller that he had become.
After feeding one night, Vladimir went to the banks of the Moldavia River. Sitting down, he looked at his forced reflection in the water of himself. He said out loud, “It's time to move on.”
A voice behind him said, “I totally agree.”
Jumping to his feet in a crouched stance, Vladimir snarled, “Who the hell are you?”
“I am Rodolfo. I was summoned to come to your aid.”
“Ten years too damn late, don't you think?”
Rodolfo's lips curved into a slight smile when he said, “What had happened to your family was written in the book of life. So, my being there would not have changed the outcome of events. I arrived right afterward and saw your grief, and that was when I decided to give you time to heal. Plus, I'm tired of watching your pathetic life pass by; it's now time for you to pull yourself together, and fulfill your destiny as a vampire.
My God man, you're a vampire; don't you smell yourself?”
“Piss off Rodolfo, I'm not in the mood.”
Rodolfo snapped his fingers and instantly Vladimir was clean, shaved, and had on new clothes and a long black cloak. Within a blink of an eye, Vladimir and Rodolfo stood in a large Gothic castle. It wasn't light and airy like his and Ivana's castle. The floors were black marble, the fireplace was large enough to stand in, and in it was a fire just as big. The black granite torches that were mounted on the black walls were lit. Everything was black, with the exception of the red flames; the castle looked like it had belonged to Hades himself.
“Where the hell are we?” Vladimir demanded.
“My home, and I demand respect while you're in it.”
“Respect, my ass. I didn't ask to be brought here.” Vladimir turned and tried to walk out the door, but it wouldn't open. No matter how hard he pulled, still it wouldn't budge. Twirling around, Vladimir shouted, “Open the damn door.”
Before Vladimir's mind could even register what had happened, Rodolfo had slammed him up against the door and said, “I told you, I demand respect.”
No matter how hard Vladimir fought, Rodolfo held him back without any effort. Giving up, Vladimir slid down the side of the door, and sat on the floor. With a defeated look, Vladimir asked, “What do you want from me?”
“What I have said all along; respect. Now, you must get some rest; tomorrow your training will start, and until you have learned all of your powers, you will be staying in my home. I've hired you a squire; he'll be at your constant call.”
“I don't need a squire.”
Just then the squire walked in. Rodolfo said, “Vladimir, this is Nestor, your squire. He will show you to your room.”
After Nestor opened the door to Vladimir's room, Vladimir said, “Do I know you?”
“I don't think so my Lord. Master Rodolfo says all squires look the same with our silly uniforms on.”
“That could be; all my mother's guards looked the same, with the exception of my father.”
If Vladimir knew that Nestor was at his castle on the night of his family's brutal attack, the man would have been dead before he made it out of the vestibule.
Rodolfo erased Vladimir's memory of Nestor, and Nestor's punishment for his role in the attack on Vladimir's family was to serve Vladimir, for eternity.
Chapter Three
The squire entered Vladimir's room just as the sun went down. After laying out his clothes for the day, the squire said, “My Lord, your food is waiting for you.”
“Thank you, just put it on the table.”
“I don't think you understand. The lady is waiting just outside your door.”
Vladimir jumped out of bed and shouted, “I don't feed from humans!”
“Master Rodolfo said that feeding from humans will make you stronger.”
“I could give a damn what your Master Rodolfo thinks. I will not kill a human.”
Before Nestor could explain, Rodolfo appeared in Vladimir's room. Patting Nestor on the back, Rodolfo said, “I'll explain everything to him.”
After Nestor left the room, Vladimir said, “I'm not feeding off of innocent people.”
“You don't have to kill them. Just take what you need; you'll know when to stop.”
Before Vladimir could protest, in walked a beautiful woman. She was nothing like Ivana. Her hair fell in long blond ringlets, eyes as blue as the sea, and her skin was creamy white and smooth as silk. Without saying a word, he stood and glared.
When Natasha looked into Vladimir's dark eyes, all she could see was pain. Just as she was about to touch his hand, a low growl emerged deep from his throat. He said, “Don't touch me.”
“I'm sorry my Lord, I didn't mean to offend you.”
“No, it's not that, I just don't like to be touched.”
“I will remember that, my Lord.”
She knew why she was there, and what he was about to do, but she wasn't afraid. Her mother had been Rodolfo's lover since she was a small child. She learned one night what he was when she woke up in the middle of the night afraid. She ran into their room and saw Rodolfo drinking the blood from her mother's throat. Instead of being punished, Rodolfo carried her back to her room that he had decorated just for her. While rocking her to sleep, he sang a soft melody; she looked up at him and said, “Goodnight, Papa.”
Although he wasn't her real father, she loved him the same, and she knew he loved her. So, no, she wasn't afraid of the man he sent her to.
Months flew by, and the only thing Vladimir would touch on Natasha's body was her shoulder as he fed from her throat. When he was done, Natasha would leave the room hurt and disappointed that he had ignored her. Vladimir did not realize that every time he would feed from her that her heart, body, and mind intertwined with his. Until one night, Natasha looked up into his eyes. Doing what she had never done before, she stroked the side of his face. She knew she was to never touch him, so when he stared at her with his dark mysterious eyes, she was terrified he would reject her, push her away, tell her to get out. But what happened next, she would have never thought.
The moment Vladimir gently pulled Natasha into his arms, a surge of excitement ran down him. It wasn't the loving desire he felt with Ivana. No, it was hard, raw lust; he wanted to ravage her right here, right now, on the floor. Not his bed; his bed was for Ivana. His need was so strong, he hadn't realized that she was trembling. Looking down at her, he saw the tears that rolled down her cheeks. After shaking off the overwhelming urge to devour her in every way possible, he said, “I promise I will not harm you.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Slowly, he removed her clothes; laying her down on the soft rug in front of the fireplace, he began to explore her curvaceous body with his hands and mouth. He would not enter her body with his; that was only for Ivana.
Running her fingers through his long black hair, Natasha moaned from the pure ecstasy that had consumed her. Vladimir smiled down at her as he heard her musical pleas for mercy.
“Make love to me, Vladimir,” she moaned as her body burned for the release of the raging desire that ran throughout her.
As he continued to please her, he said, “Enjoy what I offer you, my dear.”
The moment Vladimir sank his long sharp teeth into her throat, she screamed from the raging release that left her body.
After taking only what he needed, he brushed her hair back behind her ears and said, “I can't make love to you Natasha, not yet.”
“I'll wait as long as it takes.”
Caressing the side of her face, he leaned down with intentional slowness and fed upon her mouth.
Chapter Four
A year had quickly passed by, with Natasha coming to Vladimir's room every night, and Rodolfo training him how to fight with weapons and hand to hand combat. Rodolfo even summoned a man from a small island off Japan to help show Vladimir a strange fighting technique that was taught in his country. With his constant training, Vladimir was lethal, and once a week he would drink a glass of Rodolfo's powerful blood. Vladimir was becoming stronger and stronger as Rodolfo's ancient blood raged through his veins.
Vladimir awoke to the sound of a raging storm; looking out his window that overlooked the Ligurian Sea, all he saw was the angry waves that slammed up over the bluff. A grin spread across his face when he smelled Natasha walking into his room. Immediately, he wanted her in a way that he hadn't wanted a woman in over eleven years. Turning toward her, he watched as she walked to him.
Taking her hand, he led her to his bed. Smiling, Natasha said, “Not the floor?”
“I want to make love to you Natasha. Not with just my hands and mouth. When I feed from your throat, I want to be inside you, feel you all around me the moment our pleasure erupts into pure ecstasy.”
Natasha's emotions choked her as she realized what he'd just said to her. She wanted to make love to him the very first night, but she knew his love for his wife stood in the way. Natasha knew if she was patient, that one day he would want her. The only thing was, she hadn't thought that it would take over a year before he came to her.
Gently laying her on the bed, he slowly removed her dress. Opening her eyes, she said, “I love you, Vladimir.”
Caressing her face, he said, “I'm sorry Natasha, but those are three words I will not curse you with.”
With tears in her eyes she said, “Make love to me Vladimir.”
Melting away his own clothes with his mind, he slowly began making love to her with his hands. As she begged for mercy, he switched to his mouth, and just as she thought she couldn't take it, he slowly slid into her. When Natasha screamed out his name, he sank his teeth into her throat. The pleasure that the two of them shared ran through them like wild fire. Pulling his teeth out of her throat, he licked the small wound with his tongue.
With his thumb, he brushed the tears from her cheek, then said, “Why didn't you tell me that you never made love before?”
“I wanted to be with you, Vladimir. I thought if you knew that I was saving myself for the man that I would marry one day, you would push me away.”
“Oh, Natasha you know what I am, and I can't offer you what you need.”
“I need only you my love.”
Knowing that she was unable to bear his children, he made love to her all night, not fearing that she would awaken like Ivana did all those years ago. Weak, cold and with child, a child he would not want for fear of losing it. That was a pain he could not bear again.
As the nights passed, Vladimir found himself enjoying Natasha more and more, until it was her that filled his daydreams instead of Ivana. He had not even realized Natasha had taken away the pain of losing Ivana until the night he and Rodolfo were fencing, and a loud voice echoed throughout the castle. It said, “What have you done, you damn fool.”
Immediately, using his new powers that Rodolfo had taught him, Vladimir locked down the castle with his mind, and summoned Natasha and his squire at the same time.
Calmly, Rodolfo walked over to Vladimir, handed him the sword and said, “Protect Natasha and your squire. Vladimir, once I walk out that door, lock it behind me; if for some reason you're forced out of the castle, do not leave them behind.”
“That is one mistake I will never repeat,” he replied.
After hearing that Rodolfo was leaving the castle by himself, shocked, Nestor said, “Master, you can't hold him off alone.”
Rodolfo smiled and said, “There's a lot you still need to learn about the powers I possess.”
Before leaving the room, Rodolfo looked back at Vladimir and said, “If I'm not back by sunset tomorrow, Nestor will know what to do.”
Vladimir could sense evil in the air; grabbing Rodolfo's arm he said, “If you're in trouble, let me help.”
Rodolfo laughed and said, “My friend, it's not I who is in trouble.”
Before Vladimir could ask who, Rodolfo vanished.
“Damn it, I hate it when they do that. Clotho promised me that she would show me how.”
Vladimir stopped talking. He couldn't finish his sentence; the pain would engulf him if he thought of that time so long ago, a time just like tonight; but tonight he would not allow history to repeat itself.
Chapter Five
After his squire retired to his room for the night, Vladimir and Natasha laid by the fire. Sensing his anguish, she just laid in his arms without saying a word.
Just before surrendering to the day sleep, Vladimir said, “Promise me Natasha, that you will stay with Nestor throughout the day.”
Before she could reply, he had fallen asleep, but this time he awoke throughout the day. Confused, he summoned Nestor.
When his squire entered the room, Vladimir said, “Why is it that I'm awake while the sun is high?”
“It's the blood of the ancient one working through your veins.”
“What are you talking about, what ancient one?”
“Master Rodolfo is over eleven-thousand-years-old, his blood is ancient, and he has become accustomed to the sun.”
“Does that mean I can go out in the sun?”
“Soon, but not yet. The more you feed from the master's blood, the more immune to the sun you will become.”
“Has Rodolfo returned?”
“Not as of yet, but he has stored blood for you.”
The moment Vladimir drank Rodolfo's blood, a strange foggy day sleep consumed him. He dreamed that he was in a dense forest, tied to a tree. The limbs were bare and alive, whipping at his naked skin. As the blood from his wounds dripped to the forest floor, a strange wolf like creature emerged from the depths of the earth. Its gray, hairless body stood well over eight foot, and his long snout was filled with sharp teeth. Vladimir wasn't afraid when the creature began to lick the blood from his wounds with its long black tongue, and with each lick, his wounds healed. When the last drip of blood was licked clean from Vladimir's body, the creature slowly transformed into a tall dark man. In the shadowy realm of the forest Vladimir's powers were rendered useless. He could barely see the stranger; his shiny black hair hung down to his shoulders, eyes dark and wicked. His clothes were nothing like Vladimir had ever seen, black leather pants and shirt, black boots with silver buckles, and the long black cloak was lined with blood red silk. When the man stepped out of the shadow and Vladimir got a good look at him, he realized that it was Rodolfo.
Suddenly, a blinding light shined down through the trees. Terrified, Vladimir knew it was the sun, slowly moving toward him. As soon as the first ray hit the top of his foot, his whole body became rigid. It wasn't painful, just a strange electrical shock running through him. The more the sun engulfed him, the more his body surged with energy. The foreign twine that enslaved him to the tree snapped free. Falling to the ground, he landed on his feet, fully clothed in the same black Gothic attire that Rodolfo wore.
Rodolfo handed Vladimir a pair of odd looking eye covers. Not knowing what to do with them, Rodolfo pulled out a similar pair, and put them over his eyes. He said, “Put them on Vladimir, they'll protect your eyes from the sun.”
Doing as Rodolfo said, he put the eye covers on, and instantly the bright sun was dimmed, as if a shade was pulled down. Vladimir's burning eyes felt an immediate relief. Looking back at Rodolfo, he said, “What are these things?”
“In the distant future, they will be called sunglasses.”
Baffled by his remark Vladimir replied, “How is it that you know the future?”
“In time you, yourself, will learn the powers that we possess, but for now there are more important things that need to be done. I'm in need of your help; go to Nestor, he will know what to do. Remember Vladimir, do not leave them alone.”
Immediately, Vladimir awoke from his dream, fully clothed in the black Gothic attire he had on in the dream, and on the end table were the sunglasses.
Chapter Six
With his new Gothic clothes and sunglasses on, Vladimir walked into the sitting room where Natasha and Nestor were waiting for him. The moment he walked in, Natasha gasped for air. He was wicked looking; dark, seductive, captivating, yet dangerous, with a slight edge of evil.
Walking straight to Natasha with unhuman speed, he swept her up into his arms. With her breasts pressed hard against his chest, he lifted his sunglasses up. Looking down at her with his dark seductive eyes, he whispered in an arrogant voice, “You look good enough to feed upon.”
She muttered, “MMM, I love this new look.”
After a long sensuous kiss, Vladimir scraped his teeth across her throat. Just before sinking them in, Nestor cleared his throat, and said, “The horse and carriage are ready, my Lord.”
Vladimir snarled at the interruption. He said, “If you can excuse us for a moment, we'll meet you out at the carriage.”
As soon as Nestor left the room, Vladimir pulled Natasha back into his arms with such speed that it was a blur. Rubbing his hand up and down the small of her back, Vladimir suckled on the lobe of her ear. Slowly, he began kissing down her throat. With her dress slightly pulled up, he slid into her just as he sank his teeth in.
Natasha screamed out his name as their bodies convulsed with pleasure. While holding her weak body, which was drained by the pure climax that raged through her, Vladimir licked the wound on her throat watching it heal right before his eyes. Revitalizing her with a passionate kiss he said, “We need to go, Nestor's waiting.”
Nestor stood, holding open the carriage door. As soon as Natasha and Vladimir climbed in, Nestor handed Vladimir five large pouches. Looking inside them, they were all filled with gold. Vladimir said, “What is this for?”
“It is yours my Lord. Rodolfo recovered your gold from the castle the night of the fire and has been holding it for you ever since.”
After Nestor closed the door, Natasha picked one of the coins up, studying both sides. She looked over at Vladimir and said, “I have never seen gold before. Rodolfo always made sure my mother and I had everything we needed.”
“What happened to your mother?”
“Nothing, Rodolfo sent her to my grandmother's until she gives birth to my brother.”
Vladimir's breath caught in his throat as he remembered the birth of his own son. Unable to speak, he leaned back and took slow, deep breaths.
Sensing his anguish, Natasha stroked the side of his face. Smiling, she laid her head on his chest and silently listened to his heartbeat.
The constant rhythm of the carriage ride rocked Natasha to sleep.
Sweat rolled down the side of her face as she cried out, “Please Vladimir, help us.”
Running down the long corridor with the baby in her arms, there were flames everywhere. She knew there was no escaping. Opening the first door she came to, Natasha and the baby ran to the far side of the room. When the flames burned through the door, Natasha kissed her baby's face. She said "I love you, Nickola.”
Just before the flames consumed her, Natasha jolted out of her deep sleep, screaming, “Nickola!!!”
With tears streaming down her face, she looked at a shocked Vladimir and said, “She took our baby.”
Rage slammed through him with such force that he hadn't realized how hard he grabbed a hold of Natasha until she cried out in pain. Before letting go, Vladimir shouted, “Don't you ever speak of my son again.”
Staring into her eyes, Vladimir was trying to grasp at the reason behind Natasha's hateful words. That's when he saw that her bright blue eyes were now identical to Ivana's. He shouted, “Who the hell are you?”
Cradling herself in the corner of the seat, she cried, “I don't know why you're so angry at me. I fell asleep and had a dream that I was in a fire. Just as the fire was about to engulf my baby and I, a strange woman appeared out of nowhere. She said that she would come back for me, but she never did. My baby's face looked just like yours.”
“You called out the name Nickola.”
“That was his name. Vladimir, I could feel the warmth of his skin, the smell of his black hair. The dream was so real, and the sense of his loss is so overwhelming, it's eating at me like a disease.”
Laying her head down on her legs, she began to cry. He saw the black bruises on her arms where he had grabbed her.
Wrapping his arms around her he said, “I'm sorry.”
“Vladimir, why are you mad at me?”
“My son's name is Nickola, and he and my wife died in a fire.”
Looking up at him with Ivana's eyes, she cried, “Vladimir, what is happening to me?”
“I don't know my love, but we'll find out.”
Chapter Seven
While Natasha slept in his arms, Vladimir couldn't stop thinking about his son. Was he alive, had Clotho made it to the castle in time? Why would she take him, and not Ivana? Maybe it was too late, she couldn't go back, but why not bring Nikola back to him? What does Natasha have to do with all of this; he could sense that she knew nothing. Strange things were happening, her blue eyes, why were they now brown, not just any brown, the same color brown as Ivana's. Vladimir's senses told him that if he found Ivana's family, he would find the answers and just maybe his son. He also wondered if Rodolfo knew, of course he knew, but how much of it did he approve of.
Natasha was bounced awake, as the carriage dredged up the rugged mountain road. With sleepy eyes she looked up at Vladimir, her heart broke when she saw the way he looked down at her. She knew that his feelings had changed for her, but why, it was just a dream, or was it. Without saying a word Natasha grabbed the blanket that was under the bench seat, covering up she stared out the window at the snow covered mountain peaks. As the scenery passed by Natasha saw strange images flashing before her eyes. It was as if she were someone else. She could see little girls that looked to be the same age playing in a field, one's hair was as black as night, and the other was shinny like the sun. The woman in the far distance yelled, “Ivana, Natasha, it's time to come in.”
Natasha heard herself yell, “OK, Momma we're coming.”
She held Ivana's hand till they reached the house. That was when Natasha saw that it wasn't her mother, but another woman, a woman that looked just like Natasha. Suddenly, another vision flashed before her eyes, this time her and Ivana were being dragged away by three men, three men that she knew, one of which was their father and his two brothers. Natasha couldn't believe that her life was a lie, and that she had a twin sister whos husband she was in love with. Just before they arrived in the town of Turin, in the northern region of Italy, Natasha had her last vision for the day.
Ivana and her were sent to their cold bedroom without food. With Ivana being the smallest, she shivered and said, “I'm cold, and hungry Natasha.”
After covering Ivana with her own blanket she whispered, “There's berries down by the river, I'll go get us some.”
“NO, Natasha if Papa catches you, you'll get a beaten.”
Kissing, Ivana's cheek she said, “I'll be right back.”
Before she even made it to the bank of the river, Rodolfo grabbed her, instantly disappearing. Tears rolled down her face the moment she realized that her sweet sister had been left behind with that wretched family.
In her mind she whispered, “Ivana I would have never left you alone with them.”
Natasha jumped, when she heard Ivana in her head say, “I know my sweet sister I saw the man that took you that night.”
As Ivana's voice faded it was replace with Vladimir's, he asked, "Are you OK?”
Without looking at him she said, “I'm fine.”
The tears continued to stream down her face, she knew he could sense her anguish, but he didn't care to console her, not even with a gentle touch.
By the time the carriage pulled up to the inn, her tears had dried, but what shocked Natasha the most was when Vladimir rented three separate rooms. When Nestor brought her luggage up to her room he asked, “Is everything alright my Lady?”
Smiling she just shook her head yes, fearing if she spoke she would burst into tears. Closing the door behind her, Natasha climbed into bed and cried herself to sleep.
When Rodolfo appeared in her dream he said, “My sweet child why are you so sad?”
“Why is it that you lied to me my whole life, and what is happening to me, I feel so strange? Father please, help me.”
“My sweet child, at first light Vladimir will be asleep, that is when I want you to go to the stables, and there I will have a carriage waiting for you.”
“I love him father, but I fear that he will never return the feelings.”
“Patience, my dear daughter, and soon he will come to you.”
Rodolfo disappeared, and at first light Natasha was on the carriage, by the time Vladimir woke she was hundreds of miles away.
Chapter Eight
Still angry with Natasha, Vladimir couldn't stand the thought of feeding from her. Not understanding his own rage towards her he fled into the forest to feed. By the time he returned hours had past, and in his room, waiting, was an anxious Nestor. Jumping to his feet he shouted, “Did you not hear me summoning you?”
With the power of his mind, he slammed Nestor up against the wall, he said, “I'm the master, not you, I come to know one.”
“Because of your arrogance, Natasha is gone. If any harm comes to her Rodolfo will kill us both, so you better hope we can find her.”
When Vladimir tried to throw Nestor out of his room, he was stop by a resistance that he had not expected. This time it was Vladimir who flew across the room. Landing on his feet, he charged Nestor with so much force that the two of them smashed through the door. With his massive hand wrapped around Nestor's throat Vladimir snarled, “What the hell are you, and why is it, that my senses tell me that I know you?”
“I'm your squire, and in order to protected you during the day sleep I was granted powers equal to yours.”
“Great, I have a squire that can kick my ass.”
“No Master, I can only protect myself from you. If a squire turns on his master, he losses his powers, then dies a slow, painful death.”
Letting go of Nestor with a ruff shove, Vladimir snarled, “Go to the stables and buy two black stallions. Make sure that they are well groomed, fed, and fast as hell.”
“What about the carriage?”
“Give it to the inn keeper for the damages we caused.”
“But Master, the carriage is worth way more.”
The look that Vladimir gave his squire, told him to do as he was told.
Within the hour they were riding hard and fast, and in the direction in which Natasha had fled. As they raced down the mountain road, the horses' hooves sent plumes of dust spewing into the air. Their cloaks billowed behind them, creating a black ominous silhouette that frightened everyone that road up on them. Every town they came to, it seemed that they had missed the carriage by only a few hours. While resting the horses, Vladimir said, “Why is it that we can't catch up with her?”
Vladimir looked at Nestor and knew something was going on. Grabbing him by the shirt he said, “Is there anything you want to tell me?”
“No Master.”
Vladimir shouted, “Damn you Rodolfo, if you're keeping her from me I'll kick your ass.”
Before Vladimir knew what had happened, Rodolfo appeared out of thin air slamming Vladimir up against the wall, he said, “Never, ever threaten me, all I have to do is snap my fingers and your dead. Now what do you want?”
“I need to talk to Natasha.”
“You treated my daughter like shit, and now you want my help in getting her back. You're lucky I don't kill you.”
“She knows something about my son, and I want to know what it is.”
“You damn fool she knows nothing, but on the other hand, I know everything. Your actions, depend on if I tell you or not.”
Remembering what his father had said, “Vladimir you must always stay calm in the presence of your enemy, especially, if they have what you want.”
After taking a deep breath, calmly, Vladimir asked, “What is it that you want from me?”
“My daughter's life.”
“What the hell are you talking about, I would never harm her.”
“Not intentionally, but there are things going on here, that are more powerful than you or I. Vladimir if we don't work together on this, Natasha will die, just like her twin sister.”
“She never told me she had a sister.”
“She didn't know, until the dream. That's when she started to have visions. Vladimir, Natasha and Ivana, are twins.”
“NO!! That can't be.”
“It's true. On the night that I was sent to rescue the girls, I could only get to Natasha, from that moment on The Three Fates erased their minds of each other.”
“What are, The Three Fates?”
“They are the goddess of fate, and believe me they can be cruel. The twins' mother was also a goddess, and because Ivana was the first born she has the power to consume the second twin's life if the first one dies. Vladimir the transformation has started, and only you can stop it.”
Vladimir hadn't heard the last part when he said, “I can have my Ivana back.”
Rodolfo knew he had to stay calm, his daughter's life depended on it, he said, “Vladimir, Ivana has been dead for over eleven years, if she takes over Natasha's body, Natasha dies. Is that what you want, are you telling me that Natasha meant nothing to you?”
Vladimir turned his back to Rodolfo, running his fingers through his hair he said, “No, I don't want Natasha to die. I care for her, but I love Ivana. Rodolfo, what am I to do?”
“You know what is right, you must save Natasha.”
“But how?”
“You must tell her, that you love her.”
“I can't.”
“Yes you can, I see how you look at her. Vladimir put your feelings for Ivana to rest, she's gone. Then you will see how much you love Natasha. Your daughter's life depends on what you choose.”
“I have no daughter.”
“Yes, you do. She grows inside of Natasha.”
“That's a lie!! I could sense that she could not carry my child.”
“You are right, she can't carry your male child, but a daughter, yes.”
“I know the symptoms, and she had none.”
“I will bring her to you, you'll sense the baby growing inside her. She herself knows not of the baby, if you tell her she will think you love her only because of the child. Then she will die.”
“I need to think, can you take me to my castle back in Romania?”
“I can give you a few days, that's all. We don't have much time Vladimir.”
Rodolfo left Vladimir standing in the once beautiful garden that belonged to his sweet Ivana.
Chapter Nine
Vladimir stood, gazing at the land around him. It had been over a hundred years since he had seen the mountains and forest when the sun was high in the sky. His mind drifted back to a time, where things were more simple. Hearing the memory of his father's voice brought a smile to Vladimir, a smile that hadn't spread across his face since the fire. He sat on the stone bench that he had retrieved from the mountains for his mother's garden over a century ago. Resting his head in his hands, Vladimir said, “Father I wish you and mother were here, I don't know what to do, what to think, or feel. I wish you could tell me what to do."
Silently, he waited for his father's voice, but Vladimir knew it wouldn't come. Standing up, he began walking through the ruins of his burned out castle. Vladimir bent down to pick up a chipped teapot when he saw the reflection of a silver object. Putting the teapot down, he pushed the debris aside reveling his father's sword. Raising the sword, it looked as if it had been well kept, polished, stored in its glass case, instead of lying in the ruins. Running the tip of his finger over the priceless find, he heard someone behind him. Reeling around with the sword raised in his hand, Vladimir stumbled back, struggling to suck air into his lungs, he gasped loudly.
Laughing, at the shocked look on Vladimir's face Nickola said, “Son, you know what the right choice is. You don't need your mother nor I to tell you what to do.”
“I love Ivana, but I don't want harm to come to Natasha.”
“Are you sure that Ivana is what you want. Think about it my son, she came to you when you were lost and alone. She eased your pain, when there was no one else. I know you love her, but Vladimir if she showed up with Natasha which one would you have chosen?"
“It was Ivana that came to my rescue, Ivana that loved me, and Ivana that gave me a son. Not Natasha.”
“That is true, my son, but it has been Natasha for over a year, it's her love that has saved you from a life of loneliness. I fear if you choose Ivana, and Natasha dies, that is when you will realize that you made a mistake. Can you live with that mistake, knowing that you could have saved Natasha's life, but instead you let her die? Ivana is your past, leave her there. Natasha is the future, go and find her, before it's too late.”
When Nickola vanished, a tear ran down Vladimir's face, he said, “I love you father.”
In his mind, Vladimir heard Nickola say, “I know son, I love you to.”
With the need to rest, Vladimir walked to the cave where he had lived the worst ten years of his life. The moment he surrendered to the day sleep, he began to dream. Vladimir was relaxing in a hot spring. With his eyes closed and his head lay back on the rocks, he enjoyed the bubbles that fizzled around him, massaging his body. Opening his eyes he saw Natasha swimming to him. Sinking down under the warm water, she came up right in front of him. In the warm clear water he could see her body, she looked more seductive than ever. Her swollen breast pressed against his hot skin, and when she sat on his lap Vladimir could feel her hot wetness inviting him in. Lowering herself onto him, she threw her head back and cried out his name, “Vladimir, drink from my throat, until you feel the essence of my blood running through you.”
The slow rhythm, of their bodies rocked in the water, while his hungry mouth and hands explored her breasts. Their bodies screamed for release and just as he sank his teeth into her throat, he thrust deep inside of her filling her with his seed. Laying her head on his shoulder Natasha said, “I love you Vladimir.”
“Oh, Natasha.”
When she slowly rose up off of him, she felt empty, bereft without him. Natasha knew, he would never return the feelings, and in that she found terrible loss, the pain of heartache engulfed her, threatened to bury her. She choked on a sob, when she said, “It's alright Vladimir, I will take only what you offer. Maybe someday you'll learn to love me.”
Slowly she disappeared into the mist, and Vladimir was startled out of his dream, and at that moment he knew what he had to do.
Chapter Ten
Eleven thousand years had passed, and still Rodolfo remembered the room he now stood in as if it were just yesterday. The cold, horrifying memories flashed before his eyes. He could see the warm, sweet blood flowing from the throat of his beautiful wife, Gaia. Looking down, he could see her blood covering his hand and bare chest. The taste of her essences in his mouth screamed out to him. To this day, he remembered her taste, her scent, her touch; everything about her still lingered in the room and in his mind. If only he had known how to control his hunger back then, she would still be alive. His senses became engulfed with pain, a pain that not even the eleven millenniums could erase. When the door behind Rodolfo slammed, he snarled when his senses filled with her sweet scent.
She screamed, “How dare you come here!”
With blinding speed, Rodolfo crossed the room. Inches from the goddess, he sucked in the very essence that surrounded her. Her beauty was like Natasha's. Blond hair, eyes blue as sapphires, skin creamy white and soft as silk. Unlike Natasha, her temper was short fused, vicious, and she could strike as fast as a viper. She showed no fear as he snarled in a husky growl, “Believe me, Aradia, this is the last place I want to be, but I warned you to never send Drago to my land.”
“You knew it was time to bring Ivana back, yet you threw Natasha into Vladimir's arms. That's why I sent Drago, to try and stop you.”
“Aradia, do you actually believe that Drago could have stopped me?”
With her arrogant laugh, she said, “NO! But it worked. You left them alone, and Natasha is with Drago as we speak.”
“That can't be. I sent her back to my castle in Italy.”
Stroking the side of his face with her long slender fingers, the goddess laughed and said, “Yes she is, and the transformation has begun.”
Wrapping his massive hand around the five-foot petite goddess, he lifted her up off the ground. Once their eyes met, he snarled, “If harm comes to my daughter, I will kill you and all of your family, starting with Ivana, leaving you for last.”
Before throwing her to the floor, Rodolfo said, "Aradia, enlighten me, why is it that you hate the women in your family that look like you?"
Looking up at him she growled, "My daughters and granddaughters that look like my husband Apollo can mate with vampires, and only then can they have a male child. The others who look like me, will only have females, no matter who they mate with."
As he disappeared, he could hear her haunting scream, “Vladimir will never choose Natasha over Ivana, never!!”
Chapter Eleven
The bed that Natasha laid in wasn't as comfortable as the one in her own room, but it would do for now. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered to herself, “I love you Vladimir, but I'm too good to play second best. I thought I could love you enough for the both of us; I can't, and I won't.”
Her eyes grew heavy, and just as they closed, she heard a soft voice say, “Come to me, Natasha. I'm just outside of the village that you're in.”
Obeying the soft seductive voice, silently she slipped away, and there, at the end of town waiting for her was Drago. After climbing into the carriage, he caressed the side of her face. He said, “Vladimir was a fool to let you go the way he did. I, on the other hand, know how to treat a beautiful woman.”
Captivated by his spell, she purred from the mere touch of his hand.
Smiling down at Natasha, he said, “Yes, my dear, I could please you, but not yet. I want to see the rage in Vladimir's eyes when I'm deep inside you. When your body shudders with pleasure, and it's my name you call out, I want to see pain in his eyes. Now sleep; our journey is almost complete.”
The carriage pulled up to a large cobblestone cottage that was nestled deep in the dark woods. The sound of the raging river that wound around the cottage was nothing but tranquil. The trees that flanked both sides of the banks whispered an ominous creek and groan. As the wind from the mountain blew its angry breath off the frigid peaks, the barren branches swayed to the constant beat, as they scraped across the window pane. Suddenly, the bedchamber that Drago had brought Natasha into lit up from the flash of lighting that streaked across the sky. The earth shook from the loud rumble of thunder that boomed. Just as quickly came the raging onslaught of the ice cold rain, hammering the cottage with a forceful beat. Through it all, Natasha heard nothing, for Drago held her in a deep sleep, a sleep that nothing could awaken.
Drago leaned over her, breathing in her sweet feminine scent of juniper and honey. His fangs surged from his gums with the need to taste her delicious essence that flowed through her veins. His mouth lingered on her throat, feeling her essence pulsating on his lips. Drago's tongue swept across her delicate skin just before he sank his fangs into the soft hollow part of her throat. The moment her blood, Vladimir's blood, touched his lip, Drago screamed. Vladimir's blood burned like acid in his mouth. Stumbling backward, he fell to the floor just as Aradia appeared in the room.
Looking down at Drago, Aradia said, “You fool, do you not know that Vladimir feeds from her. She is his soul mate, making her blood poisonous to other vampires. Now go and clean her blood out of your mouth before it kills you.”
After Drago left the room, Aradia walked over to Natasha. With the tips of her fingers, she stroked the wound on Natasha's throat. Instantly, the teeth marks disappeared without a trace. Stirring from the touch of her great, great grandmother's healing hands, Natasha muttered, “Vladimir.”
Looking down at the sleeping Natasha, Aradia said, “Yes my love, Vladimir is coming, but by the time he gets here, you will no longer be Natasha. Ivana is who he will find.”
Throwing her head back, Aradia's wicked laugh was so loud that Drago could hear it over the raging storm.
Chapter Twelve
Nestor appeared in the Transylvania cave just as Vladimir became fully awake. Surprised by the appearance of his squire, he jumped to his feet and shouted, “What are you doing here?”
Fearing Vladimir's response, Nestor braced himself for an attack; he said, "It's Natasha! Rodolfo is unable to find her!”
With lightning speed, Vladimir had Nestor slammed up against the cavern wall. With a loud growling snarl, Vladimir said, “What do you mean he can't find her? He told me she was at his castle in Italy.”
“She was supposed to be, my Lord, but she's gone. Rodolfo needs you back in Italy, now.”
With Vladimir's hand still around Nestor's throat, Nestor disappeared, along with Vladimir, back to Rodolfo's castle. He knew he had to seize the opportunity before Vladimir had the chance to protest.
The moment Vladimir realized where he was, he threw Nestor to the floor and snarled, "What's Rodolfo's plan?”
Standing up, Nestor brushed his hair back and glared at Vladimir. He said, “Vladimir, you are the master, and I'm your squire, but I will no longer put up with your abuse. You must understand that we are a team, and if we are at odds with one another, it won't work.”
“I told Rodolfo that I'm in no need of a squire, so you're free to go.”
“Why must you be such a damn fool, Vladimir? This is not about you. It's about saving Natasha, or don't you care?”
Rodolfo appeared in the room; as the arguing continued. Just before Vladimir's rage spun out of control, Rodolfo shouted, “That's enough, damn it. The two of you need to pull yourselves together and work as a team. Vladimir, Nestor is your squire. He is who you need to depend on, as a confidant, a friend, and most of all, an ally. If the two of you can't figure that out, then one if not both of you will die when we go to war with Drago and his warriors.”
Rodolfo disappeared without saying another word. Calmly, Nestor said, “I'm turning in for the night my Lord; if there is anything you need, I'll be in my bedchamber.”
Quietly, Nestor turned around and walked away. Before he made it to the stairs, Vladimir said, "I do care about Natasha.”
Without turning around, Nestor said, “I know you do; now rest, for tomorrow will be a long night.”
Without feeding from Natasha, Vladimir quickly succumbed to the day sleep. The moment his eyes closed, he began to dream. He saw Ivana walking through the garden, picking her favorite flowers. Gently placing them in the basket that she carried, she looked up and saw Vladimir standing in the window watching. Suddenly, his smile faded when he felt the evil presence. He heard a voice say, “She's mine, and you will never find her.”
Terrified, Ivana dropped the basket and began to run toward the forest. The black sky was constantly lit up by vivid lighting, and the thunder's echo bounced off the mountains with a mighty roar that was deafening. By the time Vladimir reached the forest, she was no-where to be found. He could neither see, smell, nor hear her, she was gone, gone forever. His heart weighed heavy with the pain of her loss, yet he knew he had to let her go, but how?
Chapter Thirteen
Natasha tossed and turned, trying to wake from the forced sleep that Drago held her captive in. Unknown to her captors, the moment Drago tried to feed from Natasha, her subconscious mind woke. She could now hear all that was being said. In her mind she called out to Rodolfo, she said, “Father, where are you? Please help me.”
“I hear you my dear, but I sense nothing. Natasha, I need you to calm down and tell me where you are.”
“I'm not sure. They have me in some kind of sleep, but yet I'm awake. Father, a woman name Aradia is talking to me, the only thing is, she's calling me Ivana. She said that the transformation has already begun. What is she talking about?”
“It's nothing you need to worry about. Natasha I need you to call out to Vladimir, his blood flows through you. Only he can sense you, but because you're so far away you have to call out to him.”
“I would rather die than to call him for help. I allowed him to use me, but never again. It's Ivana he wants, not me.”
“That's not true, he loves you; I can sense it.”
“You can sense it all you want, but I know the truth. He used me to fill a void, and the moment I needed him, he let me down, he turned his back on me without thinking twice about it. That Father, is not love”
“My sweet Natasha, you must understand that Vladimir has been deeply wounded. Ivana was all he had; he'd been alone for over a hundred years when she saved him from a life of loneliness. His love for her grew deep and fast, and when he lost her and their son, Vladimir lost everything. When I found him eleven years later, he was broken and barely living. Until he met you, you changed him, he found a reason to want to live. It's you he loves; it's just going to take time for him to figure it out.”
“Father, if he hasn't figured it out by now, he never will.”
“Natasha forget about Vladimir for a moment; it's you that need the help. Call out to him so we can find you, afterwards if you don't want anything to do with Vladimir, I'll send him away. For now we need him to help find you. Please, Baby call out to him.”
Between the forced sleep and the tiny baby that now was growing inside of her, Natasha fell into a deep sleep before she could call out to Vladimir.
Chapter fourteen
Rodolfo stormed into Vladimir's room, kicking the side of his bed he shouted, “Get up! We need to find Natasha and only you can sense her.”
Vladimir's eyes flow open, and with a husky snarl he said, “What the hell do you think I'm doing. Before you came barging in I could feel her heart beating with mine. Damn it I lost her.”
Rodolfo sat at the foot of Vladimir's bed, with his head bowed he said, “I can't lose her. Natasha and her mother, Isabella, are all I have. I was a lot like you when I meet Isabella, lost and alone. She saved me, and when I took Natasha from her abusive father, the three of us became a family. I love her as if she were blood, of my blood, and flesh, of my flesh.”
Rodolfo looked back at Vladimir and said, “You know how it feels to lose a child, please Vladimir, help me find her.”
Vladimir lied back down, closed his eyes and said, “Leave me to my thoughts so I can try and reconnect with her.”
Before
leaving, Rodolfo left a glass of his ancient warm blood. The moment
Vladimir drank it, he laid back down, closing his eyes he could feel
her heart beating in unison with his own, but what surprised
him was how calm and peaceful he felt. The thought of his heart
beating as one with someone other than Ivana was strange for him.
Until he heard the small flutter of another heart, his chest
tightened, his lungs gasped for air, his fist clenched, and his eyes
flow open. Sitting up he screamed,
“NOOOO!!!”
Both, Rodolfo and Nestor appeared in Vladimir's room at the same time, Rodolfo Shouting, “What's wrong!”
Vladimir kept the heart beat to himself, when he said, “I found her! They have her back in Romania, she's in a cottage in the northern part of the Carpathian Mountains, but I'm not sure of the exact location. We need to head into the mountains now! The closer I'm to her the more heightened my senses will be.”
“We will, just not yet, we need a plan. Vladimir try and talk to Natasha, tell her we're coming. Nestor prepare a plan, I need to talk to someone first then I'll be back. The two of you need to be ready for war, and that means you need to settle your differences now.”
Rodolfo disappeared without another word. Before walking out the door, Nestor looked at Vladimir and said, “I will fight to the death by your side my Lord,”
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