The first thought that went through Vlad's head as he turned to look at the woman in the doorway was how beautiful she was.
And elegant.
Like Mina, she wore a white dress. But where Mina had selected something which she could wear without attracting too much attention, this girl had chosen the finest of materials and whoever had fitted it for her had been an artist.
The shimmering silk clung to her like a second skin where it would give the most advantageous showing of her body so that her petite frame didn't diminish her attractive curves.
Her long black hair was platted and glistened with health and scented oils. It framed a face which needed no makeup to hide any flaw. Still, she had painted her lips bright red. They drew Vlad's gaze and he found himself staring at her.
The promise of blood hovered in the air like the distant chime of a bell, and he knew without needing to ask that the blood he had been served had come from her.
His body thrummed with the connection.
How much of that was planned?
And by whom?
The woman's eyes were blue but so pale they were almost white. She glared at Roland and her fingers were balled into a tight fist.
"Lucy," Roland greeted his daughter with a sigh. "I told you not to come here."
"And now I understand why," she scowled. Her pale blue eyes slipped over Mina, then fastened on Vlad. "Are you so shameless that you will insult my family this way after all we have done for you?"
"Lucy…" Roland's voice carried a heavy tone of warning.
"No!" She stamped her foot, which made Vlad glance at Mina. Mina blushed, understanding the glance. "I will not be silent! You know what I wanted, father. You know! And you promised you would discuss it with the elder! Instead, you're telling me to be silent and praising some harlot they found on the street!"
"Lucy," Roland's voice was more firm. "Hold your words before you say something you will regret. Please. Some things, you don't understand yet."
"I'm not a child! You always treat me like a child! I refuse to be treated like one anymore!"
The scrape of Vlad's chair brought silence with the impact of a thunderclap.
As he rose from the chair, he gave Mina a gentle pat on the head and approached the woman in the doorway. He kept his steps slow and measured.
Moving like a predator.
You are prey, he told her silently. He knew she couldn't hear his words, but she would see them in his eyes. She would feel them in their crimson glow.
And her heart would respond.
It would beat fast in her chest.
Her face, already pale, drained of all colour as he fixed her with his gaze. A vampire's gaze can be hypnotic. It can bend a weak mortal's will completely.
Unfortunately, Vlad's new body lacked the power for this.
But he knew even the weakest vampire's gaze was still potent enough to cause fear.
"Vlad," the elder said softly. "She is a little girl. Barely of age. One should make allowances, don't you think?"
Roland gulped, clutching the table in panic.
As Vlad's hand shot out, pinching Lucy's face and pulling her into his waiting arm.
"Eep!"
Unblinking, he stared down at her frightened eyes and let his lips curl back to show his fangs. Knowing the effect it would have.
"How then," he asked, keeping his voice low. Steady. Gentle. "Would you like to be treated, Lucy?"
"Oh!" Her cheeks suddenly flushed bright red. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to summon coherent thoughts. But his face was close to hers.
Too close.
His lips right in front of hers, and she-
"I asked a question," he said smoothly. "Will you answer?"
"N-n-not l-l-like a… a ch-child!"
He pinched her cheek some more, like one might a little child. "Then why do you act like one?"
"What?" She blinked suddenly as the effect of his gaze slipped away. "Let me go! What do you think you're doing, fledgling?"
He chuckled as he released her. "You want something of the Court, little girl? Then tell us what it is you desire. But be careful. Your words will bind you…"
"You're just a fledgling," she sneered, trying to regain some of her composure as she brushed down her dress. The touch of the silk had been pleasant, he thought. "Why should I tell you anything?"
"If you say nothing, then the Court will assume we owe you nothing."
She opened her mouth to shout at him.
The words were on the tip of her tongue.
I don't want anything from you!
That's what she wanted to spit at him. How dare he touch her with his peasant hands? Fury filled her heart at the thought of what he'd just done.
Yet, she wasn't stupid.
There was a strange atmosphere in the room. She'd noticed it when he'd pushed back his chair. Her father would defer to this fledgling. But he'd do that gracefully to any member of the Black Dragon Court. Such was his admiration for them.
But the elder?
The elder, too, was saying nothing.
And he'd not given Vlad orders to leave her be. He'd only suggested he not kill her.
That thought struck hard.
Kill her.
Her father and the elder had thought this fledgling would kill her. And neither felt they could stop him.
Who was he?
He still wore the uniform of a fledgling, so should have no power in the Court. That's what all the books said. Were the books wrong?
His last words had also been strangely formal.
As though he was baiting her.
Using her emotions so she would say those words in a hurry. Like he expected them to fall from her lips. And he was staring at her in a way which made her feel like he knew exactly what she was going to say.
I don't want anything from you!
Then he'd dismiss her.
Vampires, she'd read, were like the fey. Their words were carefully plotted. Their bargains tightly bound. But they were tricksome.
He wanted her to tell him she didn't want anything from him!
She lifted her chin as the thought gave her an ounce of bravery. Then she forced herself to smile back at him.
"I want to be your Bride," she said. Then frowned. She hadn't meant to say your. She'd meant to say a. A Bride. A female member of the Black Dragon Court.
Not his.
As she opened her mouth to take back the words, the elder cut in; "The Black Dragon Court accepts your desire," he said. Again, it sounded formal. What was happening? It was happening too fast. She had to correct their assumptions. Even the fledgling, Vlad, was scowling at the old vampire's words. "Our debt to your father is fathomless. As such, a thing such as accepting you into the Court is a trifle in the face of our debt. This fledgling has already accepted one Bride-"
"I didn't accept her," he hissed, a bit waspishly.
"Take responsibility!" Mina cried. "Don't you dare try to toss me aside for a merchant's daughter!"
"What did you call me?" Lucy's eyes bulged.
"It's what you are," Mina said, looking surprised. "And did you not call me a harlot? I want you to beg forgiveness for that. I am his First. That's how it works, doesn't it?"
This question was aimed not at Vlad, but at the elder. Who smiled a smile of understanding as he nodded. "Although it is wiser to be softer when considering one's hierarchy. To prevent longterm grudges forming."
"I'll try," she sniffed. "But I'm not a harlot! I'm a- Well. I'm not a harlot."
"What you are, both of you, is not my responsibility," Vlad insisted. "I will take you to the Brides. Both of you. From there, it is up to them."
The words rang hollow, even in his ears.
"Forgive the fledgling," Elder Miklos said to Roland. "He is young. He has no experience in these matters."
Vlad's eyes almost shot out of his head.
I have more experience than you, you withered toad!
Clenching his jaw so he didn't scream, he whirled on the old vampire and aimed a hard look at him. "There are traditions for this! None of which have been fulfilled. I haven't tasted the blood of either. Except…"
Lucy's.
He'd drunk Lucy's blood.
"You drank mine," Lucy purred, seeing his understanding grow. "But not hers? Then I am the first!"
She shot Mina a triumphant look.
Which faltered as Mina's face grew crafty. She shook her head and wagged her finger. "He drank my blood the first night he was here."
Vlad scowled. "Devout nun?"
"I don't know what that is. But I gave my blood to Harriet in exchange for a bed when I came to Bistritz."
"Then you have drunk their blood," Elder Miklos said, not trying to hide his amusement. "There you go. Tradition fulfilled."
"Not willingly!"
"We follow the letter of the tradition, Vlad," he said. "I will explain it to you on the way back. For now, you will shoulder your responsibilities as any member of the Court will do. There is no room for argument here."
The sun could not burn hotter than the rage in Vlad's heart in that moment.
How could he explain?
I am from the past. I do not want more Brides as I watched mine die in front of me in the war which destroyed my Court?
It sounded sane to him.
But to Elder Miklos?
It was ridiculous.
Insane, even.
And when a vampire went insane, there was a tradition for it.
Involving a stake, some chains, and a wide open space for the sun to come turn everything to ash.
Could he stop Elder Miklos?
Possibly.
But all the elders? And the count?
He wasn't sure. His vampire powers were still too simple. He could only use Icy Touch. He needed to grow.
And for that, he needed blood.
Better blood than what he was getting.
Closing his eyes, he sighed. He was trapped. A predator should always know when it was trapped. Then it should have the patience to wait for the hunter.
Then it would consume the hunter.
Nodding slowly, grinding his teeth. "I will wait for your wisdom, Elder Miklos."
"I'm sure you will, Vlad," the elder said drily.
"Does this mean I'm going to be a Bride?" Lucy asked softly. "Truly?"
"The Court keeps its promises," Vlad said, trying not to sound bitter.
Then he let out a startled choke as she launched herself into him, her arms wrapping tight around his chest. Her head burying itself in his shoulder. He could feel warmth there.
Wet warmth.
As she started sobbing, he realised it was her tears on his skin.
Not knowing what to say, he gently patted her back until she looked up at him. Her eyes red and still leaking, she sniffled wetly and cried; "I'm so happy!"
At least one of us is, he thought.
But he wasn't too stupid to voice it.