Silent Soul

Chapter 5: Insanity

Rorick

She was hesitant as she grabbed my hand and shook it, but when she wrote her name on the floor, I knew she was willing to see this through. Her violet eyes looked up into mine as she hesitantly smiled. I grinned back at her as I released her hand.

“How well do you know this place?” I asked again. She smiled and pointed to the back of her hand. “Got it, like the back of your hand.” She smiled as I chuckled at the gesture. “Guard rotations? Exits?” She nodded.

“How about where the portal is outside?” She nodded again before writing in the dirt once more.

I know it all. She assured me. I carefully studied her face, and there wasn’t an ounce of uncertainty there.

The problem is outside the portal. The King rules this country. Vampires are everywhere on the other side. We are not safe until we leave the country. I frowned reading that.

“Where are we exactly?” I wondered out loud. That wasn’t exactly information that I was provided on my comfortable first-class flight here. I had tried counting the hours that passed and attempted to judge from the weather, but I wasn’t sure where I was to start. I only know I was in some cave system but there are plenty of places in the world like that. I’m also no geologist, so it’s not like I could have looked at a rock and guessed. I watched that delicate finger as she elegantly traced the words in the dirt. Her handwriting was impeccable.

Romania. f**k. I looked up at her.

“I don’t know the language. Nor do I have any money or a passport on me if it isn’t obvious.” I said as I patted my torn jean pockets. She paused for a moment.

I think I have that covered. She wrote. I looked up at her.

“Why do you need me than? Why haven’t you already left?” I asked. She frowned before clearing her writing space.

I would never make it outside the castle grounds. The King values his possessions. Any attempt to take them away from him is met with death, even if that possession is you. She wrote. She erased that and continued. I need help getting out of the castle, then the country. Protection. She added. I looked up at her and grinned.

“So you need muscle to get out, I need the knowledge.” I tapped my chin and nodded. “Okay. I use you and you use me. I protect you while you lead me out of the castle then the country. Where to after that?” She looked down and started writing again.

US. That was exactly where I was hoping she would say.

“Why there?” I looked up at her. She looked at me like I was missing something painfully obvious.

His rule is weakest there. That is your territory. I paused, looking up at her, thinking she realized who I was until I realized she meant my kind, not me in particular.

She is so desperate to get away from them that she is willing to literally run into the wolf’s den to hide. I looked at this beauty and compared her cheeks and nose to Vlad's. They were similar but that could simply be a coincidence. I have a feeling that she is his daughter. Maybe illegitimate? He could have easily caused her silence to ensure that knowledge never reached anyone’s ears. She could also have been a pretty thing he collected over the years, maybe even an offering from a wealthy family.

“Do you have access to money?” I asked. She nodded. “Papers to get on a plane?” She nodded to that as well.

“Anything else I should know about?” She smiled.

They will try and kill us both before letting us leave. I grinned at that and looked up at her.

“Sounds like a challenge.” I snickered. She blinked at me before frowning.

You’re not all there, are you? She wrote before looking up at me. The laughter that followed had me wondering the same thing. I felt erratic. Things I knew I would never normally do or things I was doing at this moment. I was trusting a vampire with no hesitation. I slaughtered how many in the caves when I woke up. Hell, I antagonized Dracula himself without a moment's pause to reflect if that was a good idea. I even liked it.

“Probably not.” I told her. She narrowed her eyes on me, almost debating if I was a risk or not before looking back down at the floor. She started drawing on the floor and it quickly turned into a floor plan of the dungeon. Next to it, she drew another floor plan before pointing to the one on the left before pointing to me and then herself.

“It’s the dungeon.” I guessed. She nodded. She moved her fingers like they were walking along a path she drew until she reached a part with parallel lines through it and pointed the stairs behind me.

“The stairs,” I muttered as I followed along. She walked down the hall before turning and going towards me and out into a walled-in area. She wrote the word ‘garden’ in it. She then walk her fingers over the wall and back around the castle from the outside, across the road I’m assuming I entered from as she drew what looked like a drawbridge, and into the woods. She drew a circle there.

“The portal is in the woods? What is that, West of the gate?” She nodded. I pointed to the path she walked.

“What is here?”

Corridor for servants. Leads to the kitchen. I nodded. I looked up at her.

“When?” She frowned as she looked up at me.

I can have a key and be back the night I am released.

“When will that be?” I demanded. She shrugged and wiped away the evidence of our plans to escape. I frowned at her shrug.

“That’s not helpful.” She rolled her eyes.

I’m never down here long. A day or two. They won’t keep me while the party is going.

“Why is that?”

Spoiled brats need help with their party dresses. My eyes narrowed on her.

“You can guarantee that?” She shook her head no.

Can you guarantee we will live to see America? I chuckled.

“No.”

Then we are both insane. She smiled smugly before wiping away her words and scooting back onto the think straw cot on the floor. She curled up and tilted her head up to look at me.

“I guess we are. A match made by the Moon Goddess.” I snickered. She rolled her eyes and wrote.

She does not smile down on me. She blew the dirt away and rolled until she faced the wall, clearly done talking. I scooted back to and rested on mine. I laid back and looked up at the ceiling as I smiled.

“She turned her back on me a long time ago too.” I told her before falling silent for the rest of the night.

Vladimir

I watched my wife with amusement as she paced my study in anger. Her face, normally a perfect porcelain color, was red with rage as her eyes flickered from me back to her fingers, which were gripped her dress so tightly I could hear the seams ripping.

“Catherina, why don’t you speak since you seem to have such a strong opinion about my decision?” I prodded, knowing full well she would not have the gaul to push my decision. She might be my wife, but she knew I was not about disposing of family that no longer served their purpose. I did so with my Father, and I would be happy to do so with her, too. Brides were easy to find.

“No, my Husband. You have stated your reasoning.” She almost bit out. I stood approaching her until I placed a hand under her jaw. She flinched as I lifted her head until she had no choice but to look into my eyes.

“No, I want ot hear it my love.” I smiled down into her deep blue eyes, striking against alabaster skin and deep golden hair. I had choice her not only for her wealth and political connections to the human world but her immense beauty. As I gazed into her eyes, ther thoughts came spilling into mine. Mind reading was a rare gift of our kind. All vampires could do it to an extent but it was limited with glimpses into a weak mind that was worn down by drug or alcohol. Few were strong enough to force their way into a prepared mind that was tightly bound against such an attack. I was one of those few. I pushed into her mind, not caring when she screamed in pain at the intrusion. She nearly crumpled to the floor as I held her up and smiled.

Her thoughts were filled with her pain but pushing down beneath that I could hear her real thoughts.

It’s Iris’s right to marry first! That wrench can’t even speak. She will only soil the Dracul name! Why does he favor her? Why does he give her the world? I chuckled as I pulled out and watched as she fell to the floor. Her golden dress billowed out around her as she clutched her hands to her head and cried out in pain. I walked to the other side of my desk and sat down.

Of course, she was worried about our precious firstborn. Catherina would have been happy with only one daughter. She didn’t know what I did. I knew of her plotting. I knew once my eldest gained enough power, she and my wife would try to overthrow me. That is why I keep them close and weak with little power and promises of a future that will never come.

“Iris is not yet ready. And Amaryllis is nothing more than a pawn to keep Laurance under control. Do you know who it is he has brought to me?” Catherina looked up, blue eyes filled with hateful tears.

“A mangy mutt?” She snapped. I laughed as I leaned back in my chair while she struggled to stand.

“Rorick Varner.” Her brows furrowed for a moment before her mouth fell open in shock.

“I thought he was killed by the current King?” She murmured, still wobbly on her legs. I nodded. Her eyes looked me over carefully.

“The Necromancer?” She asked. I nodded.

“I still have use for him,” I told her. She carefully stepped forward and sank into the antique armchair.

“He failed the first time. Was he worth the trouble?” She asked. I tapped my fingers on ym desk and nodded in agreement to her concern.

“I have a feeling he will be.” Catherina nodded.

“And what does Amaryllis marrying Laurance have to do with that?” She asked. I smiled. She didn’t need to know that I will never let Iris marry. The power my wife and her would gain would place me in danger of losing the throne, but I can satisfy her in knowing I am not giving that power to my useless second youngest. I had hoped the prophecy spoken of her when she was born would come true, but that doesn't seem like the case anymore.

“Laurance lied about finding him. I tipped them off. I sent them there to retrieve him. Not only has my general proven that he is untrust worthy, I have sources that claim he has also hired a witch to gain goblin toxin. Do you wonder what that might be for?” I asked. She frowned.

“An assassination? Of who?” She hissed. She knew it would take more than goblin toxin to kill me, but should he marry one of my daughters and they die, he would gain the land gifted to him from his wife and be free to marry a second.

“Think my dear wife. Why request to marry Amaryllis after bringing me such a prized gift and purchase Goblin toxin?”

“To marry her then kill her for the land.” She whispered. She looked up at me.

“And which daughter would you sacrifice?” Her jaw locked shut ,and she glared at me.

“You would never sacrifice any of them like that. Not your precious trophies.” She hissed. I nodded.

“Because he would need to wait for the land to be gifted, and I need a marriage to convince the people it is still a possibility. They grow restless, thinking there is no way to gain the throne. We kill him after, blame the wolf, and get the war we always wanted.” My wife smiled, but only slightly.

“We could still use Iris. Think of her reputation if her younger sister would wed first, even if it is all a rouse.” She pouted like a child,d and I rolled my eyes, tired of arguing with her any longer.

“Speak of this again,n and I will do more than rip your thoughts from your head.” I wanted her. If it were possible, she got even paler before dipping her head.

“Yes, my Lord.” She muttered.

“Leave my sight. Fetch Amaryllis tomorrow at noon and make her presentable. I will be announcing the betrothal tomorrow for all. And tell the girls if they touch her and Laurance sees, I will rip their minds apart.” I threatened darkly as I allowed the anger to bleed into my eyes. She shivered before curtsying and hurriedly leaving the room.

Amaryllis

I was hard to sleep that night. My mind kept worrying about what I had just done. I just plotted to run away. If it weren’t for me carefully checking Rorick’s mind earlier, I never would have agreed for fear that he would tell Father for freedom or a reduced sentence. I wouldn’t even put it past him to plant someone down here just to see if they could convince me and then punish me for it later. I shivered as I remembered the beating. Father not only used his hands and feet to kick and punch but his mind to create the most intense pain. He would surely kill me if he ever found out.

I carefully reviewed in my mind all the guards rotations and paths. I thought of the best time to leave and what path to take. Exiting through the kitchen was a must and out into the garden. If we were lucky, we would get to the portal before anyone even noticed our absence. I rolled over, listening to the even breathing of my new ally and wondered just how much I could trust him.

I waited until I heard the door swing open and the clicking of heals. I would recognize Mother’s footsteps anywhere and quickly stood up and waited by the door. She was probably still furious that I was ruining Iris’s reputation marrying first. I could imagine the slap I would get and how much more she would turn her head from when my sisters would torment me. She stopped by the door and opened it, not saying a word as she glared at me. I followed silently as she led me away and I glanced over my shoulders to find Rorick’s hazel eyes watching me as I left. I mouthed out tonight before turning back.

“Take a shower.” Mother snapped. She was in a more modern gown for tonight. It was form-fitting and red with a crown of thorns on her head. I nodded and hurried off to my room. I quickly entered and shut the door, locking it. When I was sure I was safe, I grabbed for a bag and searched through my clothes. Modern clothes were right at the front. I pushed inside a few jeans, T-shirts, and a few of my favorites. I made sure I had a simple lace choker packed to hide my scar and other necessities. I also reached around my heavy mirror and pressed on the stone there. I pulled until it fell out and quickly moved almost ten stones out of the way to reveal my secret. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t planned for this moment. I had me basic exit route planned, the money stashed, even knew where to get papers in the city, I just never had the right moment to be able to run. Or maybe it was the right motivation? I was always a coward when it came to my family. There wasn’t much I could do to fight back so I just let them kick me while I was down. I had two daggers, some scarves to protect me from the sunlight and about ten thousand dollars hidden away. Three hundred years meant I was able to steal things here and there and no one knew because it was so little at a time. The blades were silver-plated and dipped in wolfsbane and Goblin toxin. It was enough to kill a vampire or a werewolf. I pulled the bag out, checking everything before stuffing it all in my bag with my clothes. Once I was satisfied I had everything I climbed up on the dresser and placed it on my armoire. I pushed it back enough that it was hidden from anyone below.

When finished, I entered my bathroom and stripped off my dirty clothes. The bruises on my body were yellowing and would be gone soon. I carefully stepped in and breathed deeply at the warm running over sore muscles from sleeping on the hard stone floor. I washed my hair and scrubbed all the sweat and grime from me to look presentable for tonight. I needed to make an appearance first before I could slip away.

The more I thought about it, the more my plan solidified. All I needed was to be seen, to mingle like how Mother wanted me to do, then disappear like I always did. I exited the shower and changed, pulling on a pair of black pants and a T-shirt as I grabbed my bag from on top of the armoire. It was still daylight so I needed to make this quick. I opened the window and paused for a moment as I listened carefully.

When I was certain no one was coming, I leaped down to the roof below. I stayed in the shadows as much as possible as I carefully made my way over the rooftops to the other side. I moved with the speed and grace only our kind was capable of. Not a sound was made as I nearly danced across the roof to where the ballroom was. I could hear the music and laughter of those still partying as I gracefully leaped and landed without a sound. I slid down the roof and dropped to the tree just by the water fountain. I hooked my bag in the tree, high in the thick branches where no one would see before leaping back up onto the roof ledge.

I paused for a moment, watching to be sure the wind could not wiggle it loose. When I was satisfied, I made my way back across the roof and to my open window. I slipped back inside and closed it, stripping off those clothes before finding an acceptable dress for the party. I unlocked my door and pressed the call button beside it to summon my maids. Even though Father loved the old ways, he saw the use for modern tech and we all were glad when he caved to have some installed in the castle.

I sat in my chair and waited for them to arrive and fix my hair and make-up again. This time, though, I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about this being the last time. I will never be a puppet again.