Part 3 (2/2)

Finally, the mighty Prince fell to his knees in the stinking slime of the bog. It took nary a swift kick to fall him to his face in the gelatinous goop that was to become his grave.”

”So that he may see his slayer, I rolled the helpless Prince onto his back, taking little care to protect his painful wounds,” she sneered, finding intense pleasure in the memory of his suffering.

”His eyes began to glaze as I leaned over his dying body.

His expression clouded with confusion, as though he couldn't believe The Evil had forsaken him, leaving himdefenseless and frail on the brink of death. He almost seemed afraid, so I spoke to him softly, as though soothing a small child, explaining to him that it was time to pay for the atrocities he'd committed against my friends and family, against mankind itself.”

Ivona ran a shapely finger along the rim of the empty goblet beside her, lovingly stroking its smooth contour.

”His eyes widened with shock as I produced the chalice that had remained untouched in the Targoviste Square during his entire reign.”

She laughed then, the sound cruel and harsh. ”Even in his weakened state, he was instantly outraged, aghast that I had broken one of his ridiculous rules and dared flaunt it before him. I could see the condemnation forming in his gla.s.sy stare, the verdict he formulated, and the punishment he so desired to enact. However, his time for penalty was over. He would no longer pa.s.s judgment on anyone else, or derive pleasure from torturing the innocent. Sentencing was at hand, and I was the new executioner.”

A slow, satanic smile spread across her sensual lips. It looked as though the devil himself now filled her chair instead of the beautiful and mysterious woman of before.

Maintained only by the will of those in power, life is held in a delicate balance by the sentinels of good and evil. Ivonawas one such guardian, and all h.e.l.l was about to break loose.

Lucian understood the barely restrained power coiled within her. He knew what she was, what she had become through circ.u.mstance. What startled him even more was his own undeniable attraction. It was an awakening realization that left him reeling with confusion, and strangely wondering to which side he belonged.

”These were the final words heard by the mighty Prince Vlad Dracula,” she said, in an unearthly tone that rumbled from deep inside her immortal frame. ”You have murdered my people, preyed on the weak, and tormented the innocent. Your deeds have condemned you and your children to death, and I shall be the slayer. I will hunt your descendants until the end of eternity, and I shall stamp out all traces of your lineage. Your family shall be my prey, your loved ones my victims. Your blood shall taint no souls but mine. The Evil that worked through you shall be imprisoned within me. I curse you and all those to come. I am your deliverance”

Ivona's gaze became an unfocused stare as she recited her message. Her eyes flashed with anger and her nostrils flared with growing fury. A vaporous whine echoed each word like the sound of violin music spilling from the funnel of an antique phonograph. She appeared mystified and dazed, as though she were once again speaking directly to Prince Vlad himself.”Using the blade belonging to my dearly beloved Dragomir,” she explained, ”I slowly drained the lingering life force from the dying Prince, filling his golden goblet to the rim with his poisonous nectar.” Her eyes were still intent and distracted on an imaginary object viewable only by her.

Then her vision suddenly snapped back into focus, coming to rest on Lucian. Undaunted, he returned her stare, willing her to finish her tale. The prolonged antic.i.p.ation was almost unbearable. It took everything he had to remain in his seat.

”As I drank his essence, willingly accepting The Evil from his soul into mine, Prince Vlad's spirit slowly faded away into nonexistence. He became naught but a mortal man. The monster that had destroyed my life, the fiend who had taken away all I loved, was naught but a drained-out vessel. In conclusion to my ritualistic curse, I decapitated him and mutilated his lifeless body. I scarcely remember much else.”

Ivona became somber. ”His reign was finished.” Her voice dropped to a low murmur, forcing Lucian and the others to strain to hear the ending of her amazing tale. ”But mine...mine was just beginning. Bound by my promise to rid the earth of his kin, I'm cursed to walk through the miasma of eternity and fulfill my pledge. I a.s.sure you, it's no easy task. I dare not develop friends.h.i.+ps or fall in love. My engagements are nothing more than temporary indulgence,for whosoever lingers by my side eventually falls to the lure of The Evil that resides within my tainted soul.”

Her expression grew sad. ”My existence is little more than a vacuum of lonely isolation, interrupted only by the occasional lure of limited companions.h.i.+p from a temporary beau and the call of duty. I am a vestibule of The Evil, a knight of immortality. I am vampyre.”

Ivona tossed her head and gave an irritable tug at her sleeve. ”That is my story.”

Clapping instantly erupted throughout the tavern.

”Bravo!” one man called. ”Wonderful tale!” another chimed. Even the women seemed equally impressed.

Lucian could see why Ivona had survived as long as she had. She had just revealed her true ident.i.ty to a room full of people, and yet, none of them seemed to have really noticed. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, perhaps the alcohol. Whatever the cause, it was apparent how ignorant humans could be.

However, Lucian was not like the others. He did notice, and now, he understood why he'd come to the tavern that night-he had sought her, or maybe, they'd sought each other. It made no difference.

When the bartender called for the next storyteller, Lucian raised his hand. When no one objected, he settled back into his chair, stretched his feet out before him, and crossed his ankles. Then he stared directly at Ivona, pleased to see that she continued to watch him just as intently. Now he wantedher to see what he hid deep inside of himself. There was no denying their destiny.

Ivona...our paths have crossed yet again.

Seemingly hearing his thoughts, her eyes grew round with surprise. Then one shapely brow arched with intrigue.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him with an expression of challenge.

Lucian smiled and pulled the pendant free from beneath his s.h.i.+rt. With a newfound sense of purpose, ”My name is Van Dragos,” he announced. ”Lucian Van Dragos. I am Dragomir's heir.”

About the Author

Shannon Leigh Shannon Leigh is a practicing registered nurse who graduated with a B.S.N. R.N. from the Indiana University School of nursing in May of 1996. She lives in Indiana with her husband, four sons, two cats, and new chow-chow named Aysia. When she's not chasing after her four rambunctious boys, Shannon enjoys tole painting, drawing, reading, writing paranormal fiction, and watching vampire flicks. Coincidentally, one of her favorite movies, Dracula 2000, which stars Gerard Butler, was released on her birthday, December 22.

Shannon loves to hear from her fans!

You can write to her at: Shannon Leigh c/o Chippewa Publis.h.i.+ng, LLC.

678 Dutchman Drive, Suite 3 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729Chippewa Publis.h.i.+ng Our eBooks are MAGICAL!

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