“I will kill you!”
“You were supposed to kill Rudolph!” Dorotyas threw the remains of the strap at Ruxandra. “You were supposed to help our lady out of this mess, and instead, you spent the night fucking her!”
“I did not!” Ruxandra’s skin began growing back, the pain of it even worse than the burn. It threatened to drive her to the floor, but she refused to fall. She would not show weakness in front of Dorotyas. Not this time.
“This morning, while you were in Elizabeth’s bed, Rudolph’s men came to tell us they need the rooms. We have until noon to pack, after which we will be escorted, under guard, to our new accommodations. Because of you!”
“What?”
“Elizabeth says we must obey them. She said nothing about rescuing you!” Dorotyas stomped to the door. “You sit there, bitch, until the sun takes you or Rudolph’s men find you. Then, perhaps, I can get my lady safely home!”
She walked out, leaving the door open. Ruxandra fell, her back twisting and arching, as the pain from the healing skin worsened.
“My lady?” Jana’s whisper trembled with tears. Ruxandra felt the girl’s hand on her shoulder. “My lady, how badly are you hurt?”
The Beast caught her arm.
DRINK!
No!
Ruxandra regained control before the Beast sank her teeth into Jana’s throat. She made her body hold the girl at arm’s length as she forced the Beast back into its cage. It fought hard, but Ruxandra used her rage at Dorotyas to turn her will into an unstoppable force. She made her hands loosen their grip, and Jana dropped to the floor beside her.
“I’m sorry,” Ruxandra whispered through gritted teeth. “I am so sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“No.” Jana shook her head, tears flowing down her face. “It’s mine. I was sleeping in the bed when you came in, and Dorotyas saw me. She said I needed to be put in my place.”
“She wanted to show me that she could hurt me.” Ruxandra’s talons retreated into her hands. “That she has power over me.”
“Your back, it’s . . .” Jana stood slowly, her legs shaking. “You stay there. I’ll fetch some clothes.”
“You’re bleeding,” Ruxandra reached for her, but the movement hurt. “You should rest.”
“You are hurt worse.” Jana went to the trunk at the foot of the bed. “I’ll get us clothes, money, and a cloak to cover you. We must leave before Rudolph’s men come.”
Ruxandra could only watch as the girl limped around the room, finding chemises and dresses and stockings and shoes and cloaks. She piled them up in the corner beside Ruxandra.
“I cannot dress yet,” Ruxandra said, imagining how much the touch of those clothes on her open flesh would hurt. “Come here. We’ll bandage your back first.”
Jana nodded. She brought over the water basin, towel, and pitcher. She filled the basin and dipped the towel in. She held out the towel to Ruxandra.
“What you need to do is—”
“I know.” Ruxandra took the towel and knelt beside Jana. “I did this for Adela, after she got caught with one of the farmer’s men. Lie down.”
“Adela?” Jana frowned as she lay on her stomach. “The girl you talked about—” Jana flinched.
“Sorry. It’s going to hurt.” Ruxandra dipped the cloth in the water again, leaking red into the clear white basin. “Adela was my friend from the convent.”
Jana twisted to look at her. “You remembered?”
“Yes.” Ruxandra pushed the girl back down and dabbed again at the ripped flesh. “I remember everything.”
“Then you can go back!” Jana sounded excited, despite her pain. “You can go back and see them.”
Ruxandra smiled at Jana’s excitement but shook her head. “They’re all dead now.”
“Oh.” Jana fell silent, save for the occasional hissed breath as Ruxandra cleaned her back. The water in the basin grew darker red with each dip of the cloth, but the bleeding grew less.
“Want to know what she was caught doing?”
“Was she”—the back of Jana’s neck flushed red—“doing it with the farmer’s man?”
“With her mouth, yes.”
“With her . . .” Jana’s flush turned bright red. Her hands went over her mouth. “Oh my God!”
“It’s not the only thing she was caught for,” Ruxandra said. “Once, her fiancé snuck into her room . . .”
The stories did their work, keeping Jana distracted from the worst of the pain as Ruxandra cleaned her back, and keeping Ruxandra distracted from the worst of her own pain as her skin knit together. She healed so fast now.
Because I drink human blood.
The thought stirred her hunger enough that she found herself staring at the bloody wounds on Jana’s back. Once or twice the Beast tried to reach for Jana’s neck. Each time Ruxandra drove it back into the darkness of her mind.
I will not hurt Jana. I am not like Dorotyas, who would hurt a young girl to show her power.
She remembered the people she’d killed in the dungeon. She had not known why they were imprisoned, had not cared. She’d murdered them and drank them dry.
Because I needed to survive. I didn’t hurt them for pleasure like Dorotyas.
Like Elizabeth?
She remembered the haunted faces of the girls in the castle. Remembered what Edda and Griffelda had said about Edda’s sister before they beat her and she had killed them.
No! Elizabeth would not do that. She told me. She doesn’t torture for fun.
Doesn’t she?
As she gently cleaned Jana’s wounds, she listened to the chaos in Elizabeth’s rooms. The maids scurried back and forth, packing as fast as they could. Dorotyas barked orders and occasionally lashed out with her hand, making the women cry out.
Ruxandra’s rage flamed high again.
I will kill her. I will come after her tonight and drain her dry.
Elizabeth would not like it. She did not want to hurt Elizabeth, but she would not let Dorotyas hurt Jana again. She’d kill her first.
Elizabeth needs her.
Ruxandra growled. She didn’t know what to do about Dorotyas or what do to about Rudolph.
Jana stopped bleeding, eventually. Ruxandra’s skin finished knitting together. It was so red it practically glowed, and still stung when she moved, but it had healed.
Together they helped each other pull chemises and dresses over their injured skin. When they were ready, Jana wrapped the cloak around Ruxandra’s shoulders and gave her the money.
“There,” Jana said. “Now we can go.”
Ruxandra didn’t move. Where do I go?
I must stay with Elizabeth.
But if Jana stays, Dorotyas will come after her again.
Damn her.
“Everyone out!” a loud male voice called. “Out, now!”
“We’re not done yet!” Dorotyas protested. “We were given until noon!”
“The king changed his mind. You’re leaving now. All of you. Men!”
Heavy boots tromped and armor clanked as the soldiers came into the apartment.
Anything I carry goes unnoticed when I want it to.
Is it the same when I touch someone?
Ruxandra grabbed Jana’s hand. “Listen to me. We’re going to walk through the halls. No one will see us, and no one will hear us. All we need do is keep walking and not speak. Understand?”
Jana looked to the door, then back, eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. She swallowed hard but nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
Ruxandra willed them unnoticed and led Jana through the halls.
The soldiers, the ladies in waiting, and the servants of the castle all looked away when they walked by. Not one saw them. Ruxandra looked at Jana. The girl was smiling, and her eyes sparkled with amazement. Ruxandra led her through the hallways to the door.
She froze, staring at the sunlight beyond.
Jana looked around before whispering, “There are shadows on the other side of the street.”
&nb
sp; Ruxandra nodded. Jana stepped outside into the sun. She looked both ways. “There is no one here. So, please, follow!”
She let go of Ruxandra’s hand and dashed across the street. Ruxandra gritted her teeth and ran after.
The skin on her back burned as the sunlight hit her cloak. She cried out in pain and put on a burst of speed. She reached the shadows before Jana. She hugged the wall, breathing hard. Even in shadow she felt the heat of the sunlight, digging into her flesh. She had even forgotten to stay unnoticed in her pain. Jana caught up to her and grabbed her hand again.
“I need to get out of here,” Ruxandra said. “I need a place in the dark.”
“We’ll find you something,” Jana promised. She took Ruxandra’s hand again. “There must be a cellar nearby.”
Together they maneuvered through the streets, staying in the shadows wherever possible. The light hurt Ruxandra’s eyes so much she could only look at the ground. Jana guided them forward, and Ruxandra concentrated on keeping them unseen.
“Here.” Jana pushed open a door. “It’s a tavern. They’ll have a cellar.”
It took two commands and a short flight of stairs before darkness enveloped them. Ruxandra heaved a sigh of relief and took off the cloak.
“Thank you.” Ruxandra spread the cloak on the ground and sat on it. She held out her arms for Jana. The girl sat beside her as best she could, her weight on her hip to keep the cut on her backside off the floor.
“We are safe, now,” Jana said. “Tonight we can go back to Elizabeth.”
Go back . . .
If I don’t kill Dorotyas, she will hurt Jana again.
But Elizabeth needs Dorotyas.
“Jana . . .” Ruxandra hesitated. She began again. “If you weren’t my servant, what would you be?”
“I am your servant.”
“Anything,” Ruxandra said. “Anything in the world. If you could do it, what would you do?”
“I don’t know.” Jana turned to lie on her stomach. “I should like to have money. And a family. Mine died. That’s how I came to be in Lady Bathory’s service. But I am your servant now, so I am happy.”
Ruxandra lay back and closed her eyes. “Take some of the money and buy yourself lunch upstairs. I’m going to sleep.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Jana slipped up the steps. Ruxandra watched her go and then closed her eyes.
Family and money.
I can get the second, easily, I think. But the first?
When night came, Ruxandra led Jana to an inn and got them a room. She tucked Jana into the bed and told her to sleep. Then she headed out into the streets.
It took little time to find the house in whose cellar she had stayed. She slipped inside, found the servant girl in the kitchen, made herself noticeable, and stepped up behind her. The girl started in surprise and opened her mouth to cry out.
“Hush,” Ruxandra commanded. “Tell me about your mistress.”
Two hours later, Ruxandra shook Jana’s shoulder until the girl woke, and told her to dress. She led her through the streets to the house. The servant girl stood waiting at the front door, and escorted them in to the parlor.
A short, plump middle-aged woman in a dark green robe sat waiting for them. She rose when they entered.
“This is the girl?” she asked.
“It is,” Ruxandra said. “Jana. My sister.”
“Sister?” Jana’s eyes went wide. “My—”
“Hush, sister,” Ruxandra said. “This is Madame Kovacs. She is willing to take care of you for the next few days.”
“What?” Panic rose in Jana’s voice. “I cannot leave you! I must stay with you!”
“You must heal,” Ruxandra said. “So you will stay here. I insist.”
“I want to stay with you,” Jana protested.
“You will die, Jana!” The words came out harsher than she meant, and Jana huddled back against the settee. “If Dorotyas doesn’t kill you, then Elizabeth . . .” Ruxandra bit her lip. Jana fell silent and looked at the floor.
“Elizabeth,” Madame Kovacs repeated. “Lady Bathory?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” Madame Kovacs sat back in her chair. She pursed her lips and then frowned. “I have heard much unsavory gossip about the countess from the other merchant families. It was not all unfounded, then?”
Ruxandra looked away and didn’t answer.
“I see.” Madame Kovacs pursed her lips again. “Why did you come to me at this hour of the night?”
“There was no other time, Madame Kovacs,” Ruxandra said. “I chose you because your servants say you are a decent woman, whose own daughters are grown and married. They say you are strong and successful and that you run a polite, firm household where servants are not beaten.”
“I see.” Madame Kovacs looked Jana up and down. “Show me your back, girl.”
Jana bit her lip.
“Do it,” Ruxandra said. “Please.”
Jana turned her back and undid the laces of her dress. She let it slip down, and Madame Kovacs gasped.
“Laryssa,” she said to the servant girl. “Take her upstairs at once to the blue bedroom. Wake Mrs. Egger and tell her you need her help, by my orders. I want those wounds cleaned and dressed immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t . . .” Jana’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to go, my lady.”
“Go,” Ruxandra said. “They will take care of you, and I will be back tomorrow night.”
“Earlier in the evening, if you please,” Madame Kovacs said. “I am not so young that I can stay up at all hours anymore.”
“I will do my best,” Ruxandra said. She turned to Jana and held the girl close, feeling her pulse racing. “It will all be right, Jana. Now go with Laryssa, and I will see you again tomorrow. I promise.”
Jana cried, but she went. Ruxandra thanked Madame Kovacs and left.
Her hunger was growing, but she couldn’t eat yet.
A quick walk back to the Stallburg and a pair of commands got her directions to Elizabeth’s new accommodations. It took a bit longer to get across the city, but she found the place easily enough. Lights shone in all the windows, despite the late hour. Men came and went from the front door. In the windows above, Ruxandra saw girls, waving to the men on their way in.
King Rudolph sent Countess Bathory to a brothel.
She will be furious.
Ruxandra sniffed at the air. She sorted through a hundred scents until she found the one she wanted. She followed it around to a stable behind the building. Light from a lantern shone through the open door.
Ruxandra slipped inside and stopped in shock.
Dorotyas hung, naked from a rope around her wrists thrown over the beam above. She swayed gently, and moaned in pain. A dozen oozing cuts crisscrossed her back.
“Oh, thank God.” Elizabeth rose from a stool near one of the stables. Dorotyas strap, dripping blood, hung from her hand. “I thought you’d never come.”
“What . . .” Ruxandra stared at Dorotyas. “Why did you . . .”
“Is it enough?” Elizabeth’s sounded fragile, as if any harsh word or touch would break her. “I want it to be enough.”
“Enough for what?” Ruxandra asked.
“Enough that you won’t leave me.” Tears filled Elizabeth’s eyes. “Please, Ruxandra, don’t leave me.”
“I won’t,” Ruxandra stared at Dorotyas, remembered how much Elizabeth depended on the woman. For Elizabeth to beat her like that… “I wouldn’t.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth wavered on her feet. “Good.”
Her eyes rolled up in her head, and Ruxandra caught her before she hit the stable floor.
“HELP!” RUXANDRA SHOUTED. “Someone help!”
“No,” Elizabeth whispered. “Ruxandra, no.”
“Elizabeth!” Ruxandra sank to the ground, cradling Elizabeth in her arms.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth whispered. “I am . . . so very tired.”
?
??Let me get you inside.”
“No.” Elizabeth sat up. “You cannot let anyone see you. Not here.”
“But—”
“No arguing.” Elizabeth looked at Dorotyas. “I found out we were to be moved while I was meeting with Gyorgy. Rudolph’s men took me away and escorted me here. When Jana was not here, and you were nowhere to be found, I confronted Dorotyas and . . .” She shook her head. “Help me up. I should prepare for morning. I must keep going. I must protect my lands and my family.”
She tried to rise, but her legs shook. She sat back down on the dirt floor of the stable. Ruxandra held her close.
Elizabeth needs to get away from this life. These conflicts, all the danger of the court. She needs to get away from Dorotyas. Then she’ll be better.
“You never tire, do you, Ruxandra?” Elizabeth reached up and caressed her face. “But then, you have no responsibilities, do you? You are free to go whenever you like, wherever you like.” Tears formed in the corners of Elizabeth’s eyes. “Oh, how I wish I was like you.”
“If you were”—the words slipped out before Ruxandra could stop herself—“would we travel?”
Elizabeth blinked in surprise. Then she smiled. “It would be wonderful to travel. I have never seen Venice or Rome. I have ruled, and that is all.”
She tried to stand again. Ruxandra lifted her and brought her to her feet. Elizabeth wobbled a moment and then found her footing. Her vulnerability slipped away, hidden beneath a layer of polished nobility that returned the moment she straightened her back.
“But I will not travel. Instead, I will go to Gyorgy again, and with his help, make an arrangement so King Rudolph will allow my children to inherit my land. Then perhaps I may be allowed to go home and live out what life I have left at Castle Csejte.”
But I do not want to go back there.
Hunger, sharper and more demanding than before, panged in Ruxandra’s belly. She looked back at Dorotyas. The smell of the woman’s blood caused her mouth to water.
That would take care of half my problems.
“No!” Elizabeth said sharply. “Not her. Take one of the girls if you need to, but not Dorotyas. I need her.”
Ruxandra’s eyes never left Dorotyas’s bloody back. “Why is she so important?”