Margaret felt the waves sloshing back and forth as she laid in her dark space. Waves sounded like thunder as she imagined what this marriage was to provide to her life. Her mind riddled with memories of Bradford and her new founded family. Her father traded her. Margaret felt a pain deep inside her soul. “How could he do this to me?” Tiny streams of bloody tears began to fall from her eyes like waterfalls. Suddenly her sleeping place wasn’t hers alone. She tensed up as the profound strength of her paramour exposed his intentions to her. Reaching down and touching her cheek, he spoke, “I have many wives. They will be like sisters to you. The bond you will feel with them will be similar to the blood bond you will feel with me now.” “Vlad Tepes was my name. Most call me by some other formidable names. I am the Walachian Prince. My enemies know no mercy. I am not as old as some of the creatures you know. I am the father of all our kind. It’s been hundreds of years longer than I’ve al
Margaret went up to the deck to think more clearly however that was not to be. Vlad himself rarely allowed anyone to witness him in his full moon glory. What a sight she was to behold. Margaret’s long ringlets danced in the wind as the moon flashed off of her glass like eyes. Marble skin seemed to allow light to pass through it. Her dress moved and swayed with each gust of wind. The sailors whispered amongst themselves, “Tis mighty bad luv to have a woman aboard.” “That’s not the worst thing aboard, men. You’d better mind your tongues for no whispered thing is hidden here.” The captain scolded the men and tipped his hat to the Lady. Margaret watched as the Captain was keen on what she was. His biggest worry was how many of them would make port before the destination had been reached. Margaret moved past piles of ropes and sails hoisted holding the wind to move them along quickly. She imagined she could blow into them to hasten their journey. Margaret walked over to the edge of the
Raven sat reading her mothers books while nestled in her corner covered in furs. Candlelight flickered in her eyes scanned the words of her ancestors. The language was long lost to anyone outside of her family. Her mother came in from hanging the herbs she had just harvested so they could dry. The sweet soothing scent of lavender and lemongrass filled the room. As Mama wiped her hands on her apron a smile grew across her face. Watching her only child absorb the family knowledge so eagerly warmed her soul. "I'm going to run out of books for you to read soon, aren't I?" Raven glanced up at her Mama and broke her attention from the book smiling. “I hope you have been stirring the stew. The potatoes seem to be ready." She poked them with the two pronged fork. One plump potato clung to the fork glistening in the candlelight. Ravens stomach growled. Hearing how hungry her daughter was she held up the potato and asked Raven to come taste test the stew. Taking two beat up metal plates, Raven
Bradford thought to himself how she had great strength to be able to make it inside her house after the waves of his hypnotism. Seeing Ms. Bellavonnes charms are still active meant she was still alive somewhere and he had to get that cure. "Your blood ties are like maps. With your blood, a path to her will reveal itself and I can present my request to her. I will be able to calm the madness in return." Raven pulled the strands of hair that had fallen out of her braids behind her ears. Saving her words, she replied in thought, "One more question." Knowing anyone who means her harm can not pass the charms, "Why haven't you come inside by force?" Barren was found out. His intention to take her blood whether she agreed or not would not let him move forward. "I'm afraid I can't. I will require the invitation. How about this?" Bradford chanted a truth binding spell and stretched out his palm to shake her hand. Then he said to her mind, " Come out and ask me, as I cannot lie to you now."
Energy coursed through Bradfords veins. From inside a flame licked and curled through the tunnels of life giving tendrils. Bradfords head shot backwards as the steering burning pain ravaged him momentarily. Raven looked curiously at his body contorting. He seemed to ignite internally. Sweat kissed his skin and she wondered if her mother’s blood caused such pain. Suddenly, Bradford stood at attention and began sniffing the air. Following the pull he began to follow a path. Raven snatched his coat as she ran out the door after him. A strange soft glow appeared in front of him as the wind picked up swirling the leaves around them. A disembodied voice echoed through the dancing leaves, “Leave me be or find your end.” Tossing his coat over his shoulders as he kneeled against the pain, her ears honed into her mamas voice. “Mama?!” Raven closed her eyes and tried to see her. Through the trees she pushed her vision, past the broken creek and over the barrows. Still nothing. Bradford seemed
It was chill on the air this night while a soft fire glowed in the hearth. The soup still boiling, Mama asked Raven, “You can’t forget to stir. My dear child, I hope you’ve absorbed all these books. You’ve read them many times.” Alexandre looked wistfully at the pot. This soup had been cooking ever since they settled here. The cabin was half covered by moss and Ivy when she acquired it. The wild flowers grew and the trees made a dome of beautiful protection. The Forrest has only grown since then. The magic has filled the space with such a warm safe feeling. “I did stir it. And added a few things. Found some mushrooms and grabbed some more herbs“ Raven didn’t even look up from her book as she twirled a loose curl around her left index finger while she held a book by the spine absorbing the words from the pages. Alexandre admired her child. One day they would talk more about her father and why he was really gone. Her thoughts shifted to more painful thoughts, “This mission may keep me
Bradford noticed the glowing light disappaiting before his eyes. He either had found her or she worked a spell to conceal herself. The aroma of lavender and lemongrass filled the air as he slowed his pace once again. Alexandre listened for Ravens breathingl. “It’s steady but labored. Her heartbeat seems to be strong enough to handle the elixir.” Stepping from behind them out of the trees, Bradford sensed her and immediately turned to face her. He watched her eyes dart over her daughter looking for a bite or something to indicate her state. “She was trying to find you. I gave her a small amount of my blood so she could keep going. I feared you would detect our arrival and flee before I could speak on my Elder Lord’s behalf to you.” “If she dies…Stop wasting precious moments stumbling over your words and tell me which fate befell her? Poison? Enchantment? Did you bite her?” Her eyes flashed with dark hues. Her eyes peered into Bradford’s thoughts and she spoke clearly in his mind,
“Mama? Is that really you?” Licking her lips Raven began to open her eyes. Looking around the surroundings looked familiar as she batted her eyes. It smelled like home. Her mama moved her hair off of her face. The tendrils had loosened in her journey. It had only been a few short years and yet her daughter hair had grown and she was a woman now. The little girl she left behind was gone. Bradford watched the scene and felt like he was seeing firsthand what maternal love and protection looked like. It had been too many years since he had experienced these feelings and the discomfort was his alone. Shuffling his hands he waited patiently as Alexandre tended to her daughter. Raven awoke. She stood up timidly. She looked at the hearth containing the same carvings as home. The glow illuminated a small cauldron over the fire. The mantle held books and melting candles. Wax danced down their stalks. Vases held dried flowers and herbs. The enchanted bookcase had a place here as well. “Why?”