Chapter 7 Chills

• Transylvania, present-day Hungary, year 1450.
• Elena:
• After a meeting with our lord Juan Hunyadi, the Wallachian prince departed. The other servants speculate that young Vladislaus and our vaidova quarreled over the latter's refusal to reveal the name of the murderer of the prince's father and older brother. Weeks have passed since his departure and my wounded heart seems to have no intention
• of stop throbbing painfully or healing.
• 000
• He’s returned! Just a month after his abrupt disappearance, the prince has returned. His return has caused quite a stir in the castle because he has publicly announced his intentions to marry... me!
• Oh, I have been walking on clouds for days, Lord Hunyadi has consented and we are to be married in two days. The seamstresses work day and night to modify the wedding dress that belonged to our vaidova’s late wife, I have been perplexed by such an act of generosity on his part.
• Although, the prince wishes to marry me, he is strangely surly with me, he doesn't look at me, he
• barely speaks to me, I thought he would like to spend more time in my company as future husbands do, but no. He's not even staying here at Castle Hunyadi, he's taken a room at the village inn and it's rumored that he takes one of the serving wenches there to his bed every night.
• I really don't understand him, why does he avoid me when very soon we will be husband and wife? Why
• does he entertain himself with other women when he’s determined to make me his wife? I have never been able to understand the way noble men think and behave.
• 000
• The ceremony took place this afternoon in the village chapel. We exchanged
• vows, he put his ring on my finger, kissed my lips briefly, brought me to his room at the Hound and Fox Inn and left.
• I've waited for him all night. I have taken off my wedding dress and waited for him in my petticoats. He has not come, he will not come. For some unknown reason my husband hates me so much that he left me on our wedding night. I curl up on the pillows and close
• my eyes, sobbing uncontrollably.
• I fell asleep and was startled by his touch. His hands are cold, all his skin feels icy, he has climbed my body and has surrounded my neck with one of his icy palms. I opened my eyes and I stayed motionless, looking at him open-mouthed.
• —Here you are, wife.-he hisses against my ear.-You
• deceived me with your innocent façade, with your lost dove's eyes...
• —My Lord, what...?-I stammer.
• —Silence!- he barks, squeezing my neck in his hand. I gasp raggedly, his grip has cut off my air and threatens to strangle me.-Not another word viper, or by Christ's nails I swear I'll kill you tonight.
• My whole body freezes with terror.
• He loosens his grip, allowing me to breathe again, bringing his face closer to mine and inhaling my scent heavily. I hear him sob. His expression suddenly changes completely. He opens his eyes and looks at me longingly, his breath quickening and his warm breath brushing my chin.
• —Come, come to me, cobra.Come.- he murmurs, taking my lips and kissing me desperately. — Don’t you know how much I’ve thought of you? What is it about you that I cannot forget you? How have you bewitched me that despite your poison I come to you?
• His hand leaves my neck and I breathe a sigh of relief. My husband is drunk, his breath smells of liquor, and he slurs his words. He
• undresses slowly and comes back to me, getting under the duvet beside me. His icy skin gives me chills.
• He takes me in his arms, imprisoning me possessively.
• —Come my viper, give me your sweet poison.-He gives me a fleeting kiss.-Come and kiss me.- he
• pleads, taking my mouth in an overwhelming kiss. He bites me and licks my lips. His cold hands slip under my petticoats, seeking the warmth of my skin. I let out a moan, it's... it's... oh for the Blessed Virgin!
• His hand sneaks between my legs, resting on my hot and wet sex. He breaks the kiss and hisses through his teeth.
• —Here is your power.-he mutters angrily.-the source of your charm.
• He sticks a finger into me and I shiver. He moves it slowly looking into my eyes, I look at him open-mouthed and panting.
• Oh, how I want him!
• Only he could threaten to strangle me first and set my body on fire with his lustful caresses later.
• —I thought you were an innocent little dove but you turned out to be a conniving cobra ... come, nail me the poison of your desire, I will die poisoned, but I will die happy.
• He climbs on top of me, spreads my legs with his knee and takes me. I grunt of happiness. I thought that I would never feel him
• again, violent and hardened inside me. I arch my back to accommodate him, his lips taking my hardened nipple and devouring it. The contrast is exquisite, his whole body is frozen, but his mouth is an oven. He moves over and within me, filling every corner of my sex and thrilling my senses.
• He places his hand on my neck again, this time more delicately and with his
• thumb brushes my lower lip forcing me to part my lips and moan loudly. He possesses me viciously, moveing in me like he hates me but can’t get enough of me and I...and I...
• Oh by the virgin! I arch my back to receive his thrusts more deeply, pating my legs offering myself totally to him as I moan my pleasure shamelessly, because there is no longer any need
• to hide what we do. I am his wife, I am totally his. I hug his muscular back, runing my nails across his skin, and moving my hips against his insane thrusts.
• —
• Yes, cobra, moan for me.- He purrs in my ear, his lips glue to my neck.
• Oh, I can't take it anymore. I explode with pleasure around him, I imprison his
• hips with my legs and squeeze him tightly in my arms.
• I sob with pleasure and I feel him release inside me, he trembles uncontrollably on my body and collapses on my chest, exhausted, I see him smile a couple of times as he catches his breath.
• His body is no longer cold, it has taken my heat and that of our spirited activities
• and is now a furnace above me.
• I bite my lower lip and gasp. He turns his face and looks me in the eyes, I look back at him, expeessing in my eyes all the tenderness that I hide in my heart.
• —What troubles you, my Lord? Tell me, maybe I can help you. - I whisper caressing his long,black hair.
• —Don't look at me like that, little dove. - he whispers against my lips, his expression is tormented.—don't love me, I warn you. If I suspect your heart belongs to me, I will destroy you.
• His threat causes a lump to form in my throat.
• —Would you prefer that I loved another, my Lord? - I
• ask in an almost inaudible whisper.
• His expression turns stony, his hand tangles in my hair, pulling at it violently. His gaze has a demonic shine to it, his smile is that of a wild wolf.
• —I will kill him. I will kill the man you love. You are mine now, dove or cobra... it doesn't matter what you are. You are mine now.
• —Yes, I'm yours, my Lord.- I reply, taking his lips.
• Hotel Dracùl Haus, Romania year 2025
• Eleni:
• A fortnight has passed since Mr. Tepes' return to the hotel, I must say that I really don't see him around much, apart from the morning meetings once a week
• that I have to attend to report incidents, the man remains locked in his office. I'm not complaining, on the contrary, I prefer an absent boss to a nosy one.
• Today in the afternoon group after group, after group of VIP guests began to arrive. According to what Olenka, Vlad's assistant and second-in-command, informed me, these select people have paid the sum of half a million dollars to
• attend a very exclusive event called Red Night, which will take place next Sunday. It has caught my attention that all the guests are human and not just any kind of human, among the most distinguished are sheikhs, billionaires, Hollywood stars, tycoons and even personalities from the entertainment industry. The arrival of at least one hundred, in total, is expected.
• Preparations are in place. The hotel shines, the crockery is exquisite and the staff is prepared. I oversaw the development of the welcome dinner, making sure there is no shortage of caviar on the buffet table and that champagne stays frozen.
• I walk between the guest tables making sure everything is in order. Olenka enters the dining room, wearing a red dress, which has
• a slit that goes up exposing one of her very long legs, she also walks in impossibly high black heels. Mr. Tepes comes up behind her, he's wearing a completely black evening Armani suit, I suspect it was tailor made. The only splash of color in his outfit is his red tie.
• —Is there a problem, Miss Amíntoros?- Olenka asks
• me, running her hand through her perfect hairstyle.
• —None. Everything runs smoothly. - I answer firmly.
• Mr. Tepes comes to her side, puts an arm around her waist and begins to whisper something in her ear. Olenka pays attention to him, but the whole time he whispers close to the blonde, his green eyes are fixed on me.
• —Yes, right away, sir.- Olenka whispers and heads toward the table where the only Romanian guests sit.
• Justine Sziláy , supermodel acclaimed on catwalks around the world and official face of Chanel, and her cousin Matthew Corvin, businessman and Romanian television mogul.
• I remain standing, next to the dining room door, Mr. Tepes stays by my side and an uncomfortable silence reigns between us.
• —Here they are, my lord, as requested.- Olenka announces, returning and bringing the cousins with her.
• The woman is slender, blonde, with delicate features and a sensual walk,
• the man is brown-haired and good-looking.
• —Mr. Tepes, it is an honor for me to have been accepted among your most distinguished guests this year.-says Matthew, extending his hand. Vlad shakes it for a few minutes.
• —Allow me to introduce my cousin, Miss Justine Sziláy.- offers the tycoon, stepping aside, allowinging the model to come closer.
• —Mr. Tepes, it's a pleasure.-the woman purrs. Extending her hand, as if she were the queen of England.
• She gazes at Vlad with such a blatant hungry expression on her face it’s downright laughable. I turn my face away to hide the my smile.
• —Justine, the pleasure is all mine.- Mr. Tepes replies, raising her hand to
• his lips. His eyes sparkle with admiration and my smile turns into a frown. Well, it looks like the boss likes the guest...Horror!
• —Olenka, aren't you going to introduce us to this... fiery creature?-Matthew reproaches, staring at me.
• —Oh, excuse me.- Olenka says blushing-This is Eleni Amíntoros, our new manager.
• The cousins turn to look at me almost in unison. Shocked expressions on their faces.
• —Amintoros?- Justine whispers. - Isn't that the last name of the Mégas, Matthew?
• —Yes. We appear to be in the presence of one of his human relatives.
• Then it dawns on me, all these people, all the VIP
• guests tonight, all these humans know. They know vampires exist, and what's more, they've come to enjoy the hotel's activities for precisely that reason.
• 000
• At one point during the night one of the waiters bumped into me and accidentally spilled the half
• glass of champagne from his tray onto my blouse. I left the dinning room, where the guests exchange with each other and some have even become enthusiastic about dancing.
• I'm looking for the workers' break room, I growl. Great, my first major event and I end up in a mess. Well Eleni, you are doing very well. I sarcastically chide myself. I take off my clothes and step under the
• hot shower to get rid of the smell of champagne. I lather up and rinse quickly, then proceed to dry off. I get out of the shower, open my locker and start to get dressed, thank God I'm a cautious person, I prepared a second uniform for eventualities like this. I put on my panties and skirt...
• A normal person, a normal woman would fasten her bra up front and save herself the pain of struggling
• with the little hooks but I'm special, and frankly an idiot.
• I had been trying to insert the hooks on one side into their corresponding rings on the other for five minutes when cold fingers brushed the skin of my back.
• I turned my face to the side and saw him. My eyes widened.
• Vlad Tepes, my boss, the owner of the hotel, and the most notorious vampire of all time, gazes at my bare back with open desire.
• An intense chill runs through my entire body, goosebumps brake all over my skin and I tremble.
• He bites his lower lip and looks at me through his thick black lashes. I swallow hard. His fingers trace the contours of my sides,
• and then I feel them tug on my bra. In a quick movement he has fastened it to my back.
• —Mr. Tepes... I...
• —Thanks are not necessary Miss Amíntoros, finish dressing and return to the main salon. Night is still young.
• So saying , he disappeared.