Red dove:

Castle Dracùl February year 1460

Elena:
Justina is pregnant. The physician confirmed it this morning. My whole body trembles with pain. My soul has folded in on itself in agony.

No!
I don't have the strength to stop crying, I don't have the strength to keep breathing. My rival's pregnancy only confirms everyone's suspicions, my husband being the man he is, so virile, so young, the absence of progeny, the lack of descendants, was incomprehensible and the fact that she is now giving him a child shows that the impossibility was always mine.

I'm dry, I'm cursed, I'm dead inside.

A truce has been declared, peace prevails between the Ottoman army and my husband, however the bloodiest campaign has been unleashed against me and under my own roof. If Madame Anne hated me before, now she physically attacks me. She and Justina manage to trip me up, push me, spit on me or slap me.

I sob inside.

They miss no opportunity to highlight how useless I am and how wonderful their lives would be if I disappeared.

000

King Corvinus visits the castle frequently while Vlad is away. He says that he considers it his responsibility to ensure the comfort of his cousin and the well-being of the mother and first wife of his most valuable ally.

Matías has become my dearest friend and confidant. He found me crying one morning by the garden fountain and offered me his handkerchief to dry my tears, he's such a gentleman. He listened to my cries and moans, wiped away my sorrow and offered me his shoulder in case I wanted to continue feeling miserable.

Today we were sitting on a granite bench, my face still burning from Justina's slap, drying the torrent of humiliation and resentment that had flooded my cheeks when my husband entered the garden, Justina hanging by one of his arms and his mother, Madame Anne of the other.
Matías was hugging me affectionately and murmuring words of comfort, my husband stopped a few meters from us and silently contemplated us. A shiver ran through me and I looked for the direction I knew I would find him. His eyes were like a pair of icy blocks, his jaw was tense and his lips compressed, I knew he was angry.

—Do you not welcome our Lord, Elennah?-Justina asked, her every word charged with venom.

I looked at her impassively, seeing how she smiled victorious and haughty.

—Our Lord has in you who receives him, Justina.- I answered.- He doesn't need me.

Vlad tensed even more and headed towards the castle, taking with him the two most important women in his life.
In the afternoon a servant brought to my bedroom a cage covered with a cloth, explained that it was a gift from my husband, and left.

When removing the cloth from above it, I let out a scream and took a step back scared, inside the golden prison was a dead white dove. Someone had cut its throat and blood stained the bird's chest and wings, turning such a beautiful creature into a hideous and grotesque scene.

This same night my husband has slept with Justina. I know, because he didn't come to me like he uses to...and because I could hear her moans of pleasure echo through the hallway that separates our rooms.
I have heard the message loud and clear...I have lost my position and privileges as first wife, and now my life is also in jeopardy.
Hotel Dracùl Haus,2025

Eleni:

—Who is Elennah?- I asked Jerry as we eat lunch together.

—Elennah?-my friend shrugges. - I don't know anyone with that name. Where did you hear it?

I move closer to him to whisper across the table.

—Vlad called me that the other day. At first I thought he had misspelled my name but now I think he mistook it for one of his many a ex lover’s or something.

Jerry raises his eyebrows and shakes his head in exasperation.

—To be so pretty you are very insecure. An ex? I don't think so, rather I think that... well, it could be the Romanian version of Eleni.

I sit straight in my seat and press my lips together.

— Could it be? - I insist.

— I think so. Although I do not know. The man has lived centuries, he must have f*cked thousands, or millions of women. But...

I lean back across the table to gossip. Jerry checks that there are no vampires nearby and continues.
—...On the other hand, it would be totally disrespectful for him to confuse you with someone else while you're … him off. - He comments, making a gesture with his hand and his mouth at the same time.

—Hey! - I bark. I instantly regretted telling my friend what happened, and made the decision to keep everything that happened between Vlad and me a secret from now on.

Jerry laughes and slap him on the shoulder.

000

I've been tasked with preparing for next week's event. Vlad and Olenka had to travel to Russia as an emergency, according to rumors, Jimena has abandoned the twins and they have been making a ruckus for three days.


Woe to the poor mortals upon whom that plague fell! Mika and Olev's stay here at the hotel was one week and they didn't cause much damage because Jimena kept them at bay...I don't even want to imagine the destruction they have caused now that the Spanish woman has left them.