Bound By Night Part 17

aWell?a Elena asked.

aDefine a lot.a aMore than . . . ?a She paused. He was five hundred years old, handsome, virile, charming. A chick magnet. If head been with just one woman a year . . . the number was staggering.

He laughed softly as he drew her into his arms. aI do not remember any of them.a aWhy donat I believe you?a aBelieve me,a he said, his finger tracing the curve of her cheek. aI have not looked at any other woman, or wanted any other woman, since you came into my life.a She gazed into his eyes, those deep, dark, penetrating eyes, and knew he was telling her the truth.

The next few weeks pa.s.sed without incident. With the nursery ready, Elena went shopping for baby clothes. With Drakeas money behind her, nothing was out of reach. She bought fluffy pink blankets, diapers, nightgowns in a variety of colors, booties and socks, hooded towels and washcloths. Baby shampoo and soap and powder. And dresses. Dozens of pink dresses in varying sizes. And one delicate lace dress in white for the babyas blessing.

In addition to baby clothes, she bought maternity clothes for herself. It seemed she grew hungrier and heavier with every pa.s.sing day, and even though she told herself she was eating for two, she began to worry that she would outgrow her smocks.

Drake had laughed when shead told him that.

aWell, it could happen,a she lamented. aIam as big as a horse.a aNonsense.a aWell, I feel as big as a horse.a aYou are beautiful, more beautiful than ever. And I shall love you whether you weigh a hundred pounds or a thousand.a She stuck her tongue out at him. aIall hold you to that.a She was happy, happier than she had ever been. She loved the castle, loved being pregnant, loved her husband.

Life was perfect, she thought as she drove into town to buy groceries. Better than perfect. It was paradise.

She nodded at people she knew on the street, took a few minutes to chat with the owner of the grocery store.

She was walking back to her car when she saw the headline in the local paper.

FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE ESCAPES BORSA CASTLE.

Elena pressed her hands over her swollen belly as she read the headline again. And then again.

Paradise was gone, she thought numbly.

The snake had returned.

Chapter 33.

aYou donat think heall come here, do you?a Elena asked.

aHe will regret it if he does,a Drake a.s.sured her. aStop worrying.a aThe newspaper said he killed a patient and a doctor before he escaped.a She worried the hem of her skirt. aHeas been gone for three days.a aIt would not make sense for him to come back here,a Drake said, taking her hands in his. aThis is the first place they will look.a aOf course. Youare right. I know youare right.a She folded her arms protectively over her womb. She couldnat forget the barely veiled threat in her uncleas cold gray gaze when head looked at her in the courtroom, the hatred in his eyes when the judge handed down his sentence.

aI think you should stay close to home until Dinescu is apprehended,a Drake said. aI will drive you into town when you need to go.a aI thought you said he wouldnat come here.a Drake shrugged. aHe will not, if he is smart, but I would rather be safe than sorry.a In the days that followed, nothing else was heard of Tavian Dinescu. The newspaper speculated that he had left the area, and then other stories, more current, took over the front page.

Elena told herself there was nothing to worry about, that Drake would protect her, that her uncle wouldnat dare come to the castle after what had happened the last time.

Still, she spent her days inside the castle or in the garden. She took up knitting, intending to make a blanket for the baby, but it kept getting bigger and bigger, until she had an afghan.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldnat shake a sense of impending doom, and she began having nightmares. Sometimes her uncle showed up in the castle, intending to do her harm in ever-changing ways that grew increasingly grotesque as time went on. Sometimes he destroyed Drake before coming after her. Sometimes he waited until her baby had been born, and then he murdered her little girl first.

She tried to hide her worry from Drake, but that was impossible. He could read the anxiety in her eyes. And in her mind. Nor was there any way to hide her nightmares from him, not when she woke up screaming or crying every night.

One night, after a particularly horrible dream, Drake suggested they return to the Fortress until Dinescu was caught. The idea held a certain appeal, except that Elena didnat want to have her baby there, didnat want to be anywhere near Lilianaas corrosive influence.

As the days slipped into weeks and then became a month, Elenaas fears gradually subsided. Worry over her uncle receded into the background as the reality of the baby she carried grew more real with her growing waistline. She could feel the baby moving now and thought how awesome it was that she carried a new life beneath her heart, a child born out of her love for Drake. Although the idea of being a mother was a little frightening, she could hardly wait to hold the baby in her arms. Shead had little to do with babies. Never taken care of an infant, only held them on rare occasions when she was growing up.

Sitting in front of the fire one night, with Drakeas arm around her shoulders, she gave voice to her fears. aI donat know how to be a mother,a she said, gazing into the flames. aIave never even changed a diaper. How will I know what to do? Babies are so fragile and need so much care. I scarcely remember my own mother.a aElena, you will be a wonderful mother. You have a tender heart, a generous nature. You will love our child and that will be enough.a He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. aYou should be more worried about the kind of father your child will have.a aWhat do you mean?a aI come from a family where expressions of love and affection were rare. My father ruled the Fortress with an iron hand. He had little time for us, or for my mother. His neglect made her bitter and she took it out on us. Once we reached maturity, we saw little of our parents. I know nothing of children. You have given me the only real love I have ever known.a aWe make a fine pair, donat we?a she asked with a rueful grin.

aWe will learn as we go along,a he a.s.sured her. aPeople have been having babies for thousands of years. Most of them survive, one way or another. Ours will be rich in love, if nothing else.a Rich in love, Elena thought. Perhaps that would see them through. But, to be on the safe side, she had Drake drive her to the bookstore in the city the following night.

Drake shook his head as she handed him one book after another. aAre you sure we need all of these?a he asked, perusing the t.i.tlesa"Your Baby from Birth to Teen, Doctor Spockas Baby and Child Care, Your Babyas First Year, How to Be a Successful Parent, Doas and Donats of Rearing Your Child, The ABCas of Baby Care.

aI just wish they had a few more.a aMore? Good Lord, woman, we are only having one child.a aI want to know everything there is to know.a Wisely, he didnat argue, just paid the bill, and prayed that the baby would be born strong and healthy and that Elena would survive the birth of their child.

For the next two weeks, Elena immersed herself in reading. Shead known she had a lot to learn, but she had no idea how much she didnat know.

She said as much to Drake when they were in bed one night.

He laughed softly as he stroked the curve of her cheek. aYou do not have to learn all of it before the baby comes,a he said. aYou only need to learn what you need right now. No point in worrying about raising a teenager until the time comes.a aYouare right,a she said with a sigh. aI know youare right. Itas just such an awesome responsibility, raising a baby.a Taking his hand in hers, she placed it over her womb. aFeel that?a aQuite a l.u.s.ty kick for a little girl,a he remarked. Surely that was a good sign. aI hope she looks like you.a aDrake?a aYes, wife?a aWhat will she be?a He knew what she was asking, knew she was wondering if their daughter would follow in her fatheras footsteps when she turned twenty. aI do not know if she will become vampire, Elena. To my knowledge, there are no half-vampires in existence.a aDoes that mean they are born either human or vampire?a He drew her closer, afraid to tell her the truth, yet certain that keeping it from her would do more harm than good. She needed to be prepared for the worst, should it happen.

aDrake?a aAs far as I know, no child conceived by a vampire and a human has ever survived.a Elena stared at him, her hand pressed tightly, protectively, over her stomach. aNo! No! That canat be true!a Tears flooded her eyes. aI donat believe you!a she said, sobbing. aI wonat!a He drew her into his arms and held her close. He should have taken precautions, he thought, should have remembered what had happened to Stefan, but matings between vampires and humans were rare, and conceptions rarer still. . . . He cursed softly. If anything happened to Elena or their baby, he would never forgive himself.

Tavian Dinescu huddled under a tree in the forest behind Wolfram Castle. Clad in rags, his body gaunt from lack of food, his beard thick, he stared at the lights burning in the window on the second floor.

He had hidden here for days, leaving the cover of the trees only late at night to scavenge in the forest, or creep down the hill to the town to steal whatever food he could find.

Sitting there, shivering in the cold, he tried to make sense of his muddled thoughts, but it was hard to think, hard to concentrate. He recalled the trial, but could not remember why he had confessed. Even when they showed him the confession, written in his own hand, he could not remember writing it. Deep in the far recesses of his mind, a faint memory niggled, something to do with the lord of Wolfram Castle, but when he tried to remember, it made his head hurt.

He hated all of them, hated the whole town for their treachery. He had protected them, kept them safe, and they had all turned their backs on him.

But the worst offender was Elena. He had opened his home to her, fed and clothed her, offered her his name and what had she done in return? She had testified against him, the ungrateful brat! Sent him to that awful place for crazy people. He clapped his hands over his ears, shutting out the echo of tormented cries in the night, the moaning and groaning of the sick, the dying, the sobs of the hopeless, the helpless.

They would pay, he thought, rubbing his hands together with antic.i.p.ation. Oh, yes, they would all pay. And Elena most of all. When the moment was right, he would strike. She would not escape him again.

Chapter 34.

November turned to December, bringing a flurry of snow that quickly covered the ground and clothed the trees in gowns of white. In spite of the fireplaces and heaters in every room, the castle was chilly. Elena spent most of her time in the main hall, curled up on the sofa in front of the hearth, sometimes reading, sometimes napping.

Strangely, Drake, in his cat persona, had returned. He spent his days sitting beside her, or stretched out along the back of the sofa, sleeping. She was glad for the company.

She had asked Drake about the return of the cat the first time it appeared. He had said only that he missed her during the day and wanted to be near her. She suspected it was more than that. Her uncle was still out there, somewhere, and even though Drake claimed not to be worried, she knew he was.

Drake appeared late one afternoon, when the sky had turned dark and overcast. aThis will be our first Christmas together,a he said, helping her into a heavy winter coat. aI thought we should have a tree.a Excited at the idea, Elena pulled on a pair of fur-lined boots and gloves, put on a fur-lined hat, and followed him outside, where he picked up an ax and laid it on his shoulder. aReady?a aReady,a she said.

She followed him down a path he had cleared earlier to the edge of the forest.

aWhich one do you like?a he asked.

She glanced from tree to tree. aThat one,a she said, pointing. aBut how will you ever carry it into the house?a she asked, and then grinned sheepishly. To a vampire, carrying a ten-foot tree was akin to a mortal carrying one-half that size.

It took only a few strokes of the blade to bring the tree crashing down.

Returning home, he shook the snow from the branches, then carried the tree into the main hall. aWhere do you want it?a aThere,a she said, pointing to the far corner of the room.

He quickly built a stand and nailed it to the base of the tree.

aWe donat have any ornaments,a Elena said. aOr lights.a aWeall take care of that tomorrow night,a he said. aFor now, you need to get warmed up.a aIam fine.a aOf course you are.a Even as he was speaking, he was helping her out of her coat, boots, and hat, settling her on the sofa, covering her with the afghan she had made, bringing her a cup of hot tea.

Elena smiled up at him, thinking he was the most wonderful, sweet, caring man in the whole world.

She was about to tell him so when she sensed a familiar ripple in the air. Moments later, Andrei materialized in the room.

Elenaas smile of welcome faded when she saw the expression on his face. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

aThe baby was born tonight,a Andrei said, his voice flat.

He didnat have to say anything else. She saw the sorrow in his face, the pain in his eyes.

aHe came too early, and lived only a few minutes. Just long enoughaa"Andrei swallowed harda"along enough for me to hold him.a aHow is Katiya?a Drake asked.

aFor a time, I thought I would lose her, too. But she will be all right.a aAndrei, Iam so sorry,a Elena murmured. aIs there anything we can do?a aNo.a He sank down on the edge of the sofa beside Elena, his head cradled in his hands. aHer mother sent me away, told me Katiya needed to rest. I wandered around outside the Fortress and thenaa"he shruggeda"aI found myself here. We were happy here.a Feeling helpless, Elena looked up at Drake, who was standing near the hearth. What can we do?

He shook his head. He needs time.

aI should go back,a Andrei said. aI just thought you should know.a Biting down on her lower lip, Elena slid her arm around Andreias shoulders. To her surprise, he turned into her embrace, his arms going around her waist. He held on tight, his body shaking uncontrollably as sobs racked his body.

aSheall be all right,a Elena said, patting his back. aSheas young and strong. And she loves you.a Andrei took a deep breath, then drew back. aForgive me.a aThereas nothing to forgive.a Andrei rose heavily to his feet. aI must go back.a aYou may stay, if you wish,a Drake said.

Andrei shook his head. aKatiya will be missing me.a aHow are things at the Fortress otherwise?a Drake asked.

aAll is well. Your plan to free the sheep was a good one. The transition has gone smoothly. I must go.a He bowed in Elenaas direction, and then he was gone.

aPoor Andrei,a Elena murmured.

Drake nodded. He had never fully understood Stefanas pain, he thought, perhaps because he, himself, had never been in love, never lost anyone he cared for, but he understood it clearly now. He had seen Stefanas pain reflected in Andreias eyes.

Needing to hold Elena, he sat beside her and drew her into his arms as he faced the very real possibility that he could lose Elena, and the baby, too.

Later, lying in the dark in Drakeas arms, fears about her baby, about the birth itself, rose in Elenaas mind. Katiya had been young and healthy, in her prime for bearing a child. If Katiya could not conceive and carry a vampire child, what chance did a mortal woman have? Elena placed her hand over her womb. Would her baby be born too early, as well? Take a few breaths, then slip away, its life over before it had even begun? And what of her own life? Andrei said they had almost lost Katiya. If a vampire, who had the strength of twenty and was nearly invincible, was at risk, how much more so was she?

aElena, you must not worry.a He was reading her mind again, but she didnat care. She hadnat wanted to worry him with her fears, but now that they were out in the open, she needed to talk about it, needed his rea.s.surance.

aDo not be afraid for our little girl,a he murmured, stroking Elenaas hair. aShe will survive. I can hear her heart beating, strong and steady.a Elena nodded.

aShe already knows your voice,a he said. aWhenever you speak, her heartbeat speeds up a little. I know she is eager to see your face, to be in your arms.a His words brought tears to Elenaas eyes. True or not, it was what she needed to hear. Content to be in his arms, she closed her eyes. How blessed she was, to have Drake in her life. What more could she ask than to spend the rest of her life with this incredible man?

What more, indeed, but a life as long as his. She stirred restlessly. She would not think of that now. She was still young. Old age was far in the future, yet she grew older every day. She had rarely given much thought to death. It was, after all, a fact of life. Unless you were a vampire. Tears stung her eyes. The day would come when her youth would be gone, and her health with it. What would become of them then?

aWhat troubles you now, wife?a aNothing,a she lied.

Sitting up, he used the pads of his thumbs to wipe the tears from her eyes. aSince when does nothing make you weep?a aIam pregnant,a she said, sniffling. aIam always weepy these days.a aI can feel your sadness.a His gaze searched her face. He could see it clearly, even in the dark. aDo I need to read your mind to find out what is bothering you?a aIad rather you didnat.a aThen tell me.a aWhatas going to happen to us when I start to get old and you donat? Will you still love me then? Will you still want me?a With a sigh, he turned on the bedside lamp, then drew her up beside him, his arm circling her shoulders. Fool that he was, he had put the future out of his mind, content to live in the present with the woman he loved.

Fighting back her tears, she eased out of his embrace.

aElena . . .a She shook her head. aYou donat have to say anything.a Did she really expect him to stay with her, be content to be with her, when she was seventy or eighty and looked it, and he was still a virile male with the face and body of a thirty-year-old?

aIt does not have to be like that,a he said quietly. aThere are ways . . .a Eyes widening in horror, she scooted backward. aI donat want to be a vampire.a aYou cannot become what I am. As I told you before, I was not made a vampire. It is what I am. But there are ways to prolong your life. Your youth. You are young yet. We have years before you need to decide.a aWhat ways?a she asked, curiosity mingling with revulsion.

aIf you drink from me, it will slow the aging process, so that with the pa.s.sing of each year, your body will only age one day.a aHow often would I have to drink your blood?a aEvery night for the first year, then every week, then every month, then only once a year for as long as you wish.a aAnd when I stop drinking?a aYou will begin to age normally again. But, as I said, you neednat worry about it now.a Reaching out, he took her back into his arms, aligning her body with his. aWhatever you decide, I will never leave you. Do you understand ? Never. If you choose to live a normal span of years, I will be at your side. The last face you see will be mine, I swear it.a It was a lot to expect of any man, Elena thought, but Drake was not really a man.

aSo, wife, have I set your mind at ease?a aYes, I guess so.a The thought of drinking blood was repulsive, but to age only one day for each year she lived . . . The idea was mind-boggling. Could it be true?

aIt is a carefully guarded secret,a Drake said. aYou must never tell anyone.a She nodded. If people knew there was a way to live practically forever, they would be hunting vampires relentlessly for their blood. Greedy men would make a fortune selling it. People would kill for it.

aSo, no one elsea"no other human I meana"knows about it?a aNone living.a aBut others have done it?a aYes.a aWhat happened to them?a aThere have only been five that I know of. One grew weary of living and reverted to being human. Three died in accidents. One was killed when she decided to share her knowledge with the world. When her vampire mate discovered her intent, she was destroyed.a Elena nodded. aBut the blood . . .a She shuddered in revulsion.

aIt is a small price to pay for immortality, is it not?a Elena thought about what Drake had said the next morning while doing the laundry. What would it be like, to live virtually forever? She had asked Drake a similar question once before. His reply had been that it could be challenging after a few hundred years because, by then, one had seen everything and done everything.

She tossed a load of damp clothes into the dryer, piled another load into the washer, added soap and fabric softener as she considered something else Drake had said when shead asked him about living so long. He had told her that vampires sometimes buried themselves in the ground. To rest. Buried alive, she thought with a shudder.

Still, it would be nice to be virtually indestructible, she mused. If she was a vampire, she could do all the things she was afraid to do, like scuba diving and skydiving and rock climbing. But she couldnat become a true vampire. Not that she really wanted to be one, of course.

But living for centuries, that was within her grasp, if she could just overcome her disgust at drinking blood. She sighed. Maybe it wouldnat be so bad if it was Drakeas blood. . . .

She shook her head. It would still be disgusting, she thought. If she didnat have to drink it directly from Drake, maybe she could mix it with a little wine to make it more palatable. But, palatable or not, it would be worth it if it meant a longer life with the man she loved.

Going upstairs to the main hall, she opened the door and peered outside. It was snowing again.

She stood at the door a moment, watching the tiny white flakes settle on the trees and the ground. She had been cooped up inside for days. She was wondering if she dared go outside, just for a few minutes, when a movement to her right caught her eye. Before she could register what she was seeing, a hand clamped a rag over her nose and mouth, stifling her startled scream. Her nostrils filled with a sickly sweet smell, and then everything went blank.

Chapter 35.

Elena awoke, not knowing what had happened or where she was, only that she was cold. A quick glance at her surroundings showed that she was in a wooden shed of some kind. Pale sunlight filtered through a small, dirty window set high in one wall. A chill wind howled outside, rattling the door, creeping through the cracks in the old building, making her shiver.

A shiver born of fear rather than the cold slithered down her spine when she realized her hands were tied behind her, and that the brown lump in the corner was moving, standing.

As Elenaas vision cleared, a scream rose in her throat, but no sound emerged.

Hatred mingled with l.u.s.t in Tavian Dinescuas sunken eyes. And then he slapped her. aYou little wh.o.r.e,a he said with a sneer, and struck her again, harder this time.