Nine

Dark Ages, 1457.

The following week was the hardest, and I’ve learned one more of his traits, stubbornness! The wound on his rib cage got infected, and we had to deal with his excessive-high fever. They were healing, but barely closed. When pain beat at him he had to rest, but nothing, and no one could hold him in bed. The cut on his ribs bled a lot. It was a complicated place to heal.
I came up with a plan, and Liana didn’t like it in the least. We waited for him to settle for a nap, and we strapped him to bed. I didn’t know what else to do to keep this man quiet for some time, and all hell broke loose when he woke up and realized what I had done.
“What do you mean by this, Alizandra?” His glaring could roast me on the spot. Vlad got beyond angry with me and I wasn’t sure anymore if what I had done was the best approach for the situation. “Untie me, woman or…” I didn’t let him finish, as my words came out before I thought of them.
“Or what? You don’t listen to me. You can’t keep moving around, you won’t heal, Vlad!” It was then I learned one more little detail about him. His eyes became hooded, and he stared at me from across the room with a fire blazing in those forest greens. A blush rose on my skin because of the intensity of his gaze on me. “Why do you look at me like this?”
“How do I look at you?” His voice was pure sin, and his left eye twitched as he stared at me.
“I’ve always thought of you as a bear, but now, you’re more like a hungry wolf that just found a piece of meat after the famine.” I gulped, thirsty.
“You put me in a situation that gave me lots of sinful ideas.” Husky words slurred from his mouth. “I can’t wait to wake you up in the same way I am now… You messed with my beard and tied me to bed. I believe you deserve a delightful punishment, don’t you think, dragă?”
“Vlad!” I inhaled his name sharply, taking my hand to my neck and dreaming of his mouth there.
“You’ve been a bad girl. Can you imagine you tied up in this bed, naked, your luscious body at my mercy, to do as I please. Can you, Liz?” The low, sensual, raspy tone he used and the way he looked at me made my body go up in flames. My face burned. I was crimson from head to toe, and not only from embarrassment, but for all the carnal thoughts that crowded my mind!
And he kept going, “I’d start by your toes and travel up your legs licking and kissing that silky skin of yours.” In front of me was the devil of lust personified, telling me what he would do to each and every part of my body, making my lady’s parts long for him. I stood up abruptly and dashed out of the room. It was a shame we were on top of a hill, because right now I needed a freezing lake to throw myself in.
“Liz! Liz, come back here, woman!” Hearing his carefree laughter in the background just added to the burning state of my body. I asked Liana to untie him. She didn’t want to. But I wouldn’t dare get closer to him at that moment, not after he told me how my body aroused him, making him want to do every one of his kinky wishes. Gosh, I’ve never blushed this hard in my life. A cold bath was in order, and he must have said something to Liana, since she came back all flustered and as red as me.
“Lady, I told you it was an awful idea to tie him to bed. Please, don’t do it again in the coming future.” She left for the kitchen in hurried steps. Believe me, a few days later, I paid the sweet price for making that devilish man a bed hostage.
***
Liana was my eyes and ears outside the castle, and she told me the gruesome details of the aftermath of that combat. He defeated Albu’s army, and the ones who could run away did, the unlucky ones perished. Once he was back to his healthy self, he hunted Albu down until he found him. Killing and impaling the man and his entire family, which he considered as dangerous as the traitor himself. Then he helped to rebuild the village and some peasants to get back on their feet again. One more story about their cruel but nice ruler to pass through generations. And more and more I worried about him and his soul.
He gave me a wonderful gift when he showed me that secret passage in the chapel. I was sick and tired of being inside the castle, and I’ve never had the chance to be in touch with the peasants since I’ve arrived here. So the next time he left for one of his crusades I went for a walk.
I got a torch and headed down the pathway. It wasn’t a long walk until I got out in the woods, and from there I made my way down. I loved it! Nothing like a different outing, different people, just perfect! I put on one of Liana’s dresses, with a shawl over my head. No one paid attention to me, and I was one of them.
I visited every stand in the little market and talked to the villagers, asking all kinds of questions, but I wanted to know what they thought about living so close to Vlad, and to my surprise, they liked it.
They felt protected, and he helped them to rebuild the village after the invasion. Hearing that brought joy to my heart until I walked into the most horrendous scene. It was by the river that cut through the region, delivering a grotesque view to that cute peaceful place, and I came to know the other side of him.
The putrid odor hit me like a blast, making my stomach heave and my eyes water. The sight of such a bizarre scene would haunt me forever. Rotten flesh on the ground and some still hanging. The earth screamed in blood, as I heard very low, agonizing moans since a few despicable punishments had just taken place. I winced, and I felt a pair of hands steadying me back, leading me to the nearest tree to recompose myself.
“I see you’re not from here.” A soft and warm voice chuckled.
“Why would you say that?” I asked her, puzzled. She was a short, round lady with a cheerful face and not bothered at all by the nasty view.
“Your reaction to that.” She signaled to the scene with her head.
“It doesn’t bother you?” I was in disbelief.
“In the beginning, yes. But now, it’s part of the view.” She shrugged into my amazed eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me that way. It’s his way to ward off the invaders, the ones who want to take over our land.” She pondered for a few minutes and added. “And sometimes to remind everyone to keep their butts on the right path.”
“Are you ok with that?” I didn’t mean to make my voice sound scratchy. I could not hold it anymore, so I turned to the tree and puked my lunch. The lady patted my back, trying to comfort me.
“There, there, don’t get yourself all worked up. If they behaved, they wouldn’t be there. Since he came to our village, he never mistreated, hurt, or killed any of us. He takes care of the villagers and helps who’s in need. The people here are having more opportunities to grow their little business and feel safe. Come, let’s go back to town.” I nodded, unable to say anything else. “Where are you from, honey? I’ve never seen you around. I would never forget someone with such an interesting eye color.”
“Sorry, I have to go. Sorry.” I left her there, wondering who the crazy girl was, as I ran away. I went into the woods and back to the pathway. My mind screamed, outraged by what I saw and the situation.
Ok. Since the beginning, I knew who he was and what he was infamous for. I’ve known all the stories and legends surrounding his persona, but seeing the real deal was another story. It got stamped in my soul forever.
How could he? Did he feel remorse? If he did, he would never admit it to anyone, not even to himself. I was sure that was the reason for his tormented self. So worried about the fate of his soul. If so, why did he keep doing it? Now comes the worst part. How am I supposed to talk to him about all this? He’ll know I’m using the escape route to sneak into the village.
Damn! I needed to think, and fast. He’s destroying himself, and I have to stop it. My mind was in such chaos I didn’t pay attention that I was already home when Liana came to my encounter.
“Where were you, Lady? I looked everywhere for you.”
“Why is there something wrong?” I knew by the way she confided in me something was off.
“Master is home. He just got back. Here, let me help you take this dress off and put yours on.”
“Fine.” And I undressed myself.