Bathory's Secret: When All The Time In The World Is Not Enough (Affliction Vampires Book 1)

by Romina Nicolaides

  “I need your life, Countess. How do you like my transformation into you?” I asked, doing a little twirl.

  “You are nothing but a cheap imitation. I don’t know what the cause of this is, but I assure you they will all see through your feeble disguise in a moment! You cannot pretend to be noble, nobility flows in the blood!”

  “And that is why I intend to drink yours right away madam!”

  She pulled a knife from inside the folds of her skirt and held out her arm in order to threaten me with it. Her hand was trembling. I approached some more as she waved the knife around amateurishly, slightly cutting the top of my arm.

  “Guards! Guards! Help me! There is an intruder in my room! Guaaaaaards!” Tears began to flow down her cheeks. Grabbing her arm I quickly disabled her and sank my teeth into her neck. Her noble blood filled my mouth and energized me in an instant. Oh how I loved to feed on the well-bred, they were such rich nourishment. I watched as life left her and her eyes deadened and I rejoiced in the fact that the first part of my plan had come together without difficulty, my primary obstacle overcome. After she was gone I carefully removed her dress and put it on myself. I also located the pearl headpiece that she was so fond of and secured it to my hair. It was truly a spectacular piece of ornamentation. I stood back and looked at myself in the mirror and I couldn't help but admire my immaculate transformation. I hoped now that the rest of the evening would go as smoothly and that I would not be found out. Her words rang repeatedly in my ears, “they will all see through your feeble disguise in a moment.” If they do, that will be the end of me. I wrapped her body in some spare bed sheets and hid it until I would have an opportunity to dispose of it. I did not trust anyone else to do this.

  The ball promised to be a casual affair in order to gather support for another one of the Emperor’s causes and an excellent opportunity for me to publicly appear as the now deceased Countess Erzsébet Báthory. I let Darvulia back in the room and she ensured that I was dressed correctly in the Hungarian fashion. She gave me some last minute advice about how the Countess carried herself in these events, down to the smallest detail.

  The Ballroom was brimming with members of the nobility when I arrived, all dressed in the finest damasks of silk, linen cloth and velvet bodices with fine gold and silver embroidery, bejeweled from head to toe and merrily chatting amongst themselves. I inhaled their noble smells mixed with the strong perfumes it was the fashion to use. I imagined drinking all their fine tasting blood in an attempt to help me deal with my small case of nerves. The music danced on the air and mingled with their chatter.

  After some time the music stopped and all the revelers turned towards the entrance before quickly falling into formation as the Emperor made his appearance. He was resplendent in his silk silver doublet and matching breeches which stopped at the knees and showed off his toned calves. The pronounced lower jaw I had seen on countless reproduction images of his family over the years a true flag of his pedigree. Descending the stairs he approached the line we had dutifully formed to greet him. He exchanged pleasantries with everyone speaking briefly of their affairs before finally reaching me.

  “Countess Báthory, how good to see you so soon after your husband’s untimely demise. Allow us to offer our condolences.”

  “Thank you Your Majesty,” I replied with a curtsy.

  “How go the campaigns against the Turks?”

  “Quite well, Your Majesty, we are going from strength to strength!”

  “Didn’t you suffer losses during that last skirmish this fall?”

  “Indeed we did, Sire, but reports to the Crown were greatly exaggerated by our detractors. A house as large as ours always suffers from the ill tongues of sycophants. There are many who would like to see our demise but that will never be the case. The skirmish, as you so rightly called it, was so small that it barely even registered in my mind as a battle. The force that attacked my few unarmed men was so weak they were taken by the cold some days later. My scouts quickly found their remains. As you are well aware the attacks to our lands have become so frequent and our victories so many, that a small defeat does not even register anymore. Fear not, I consider it my sacred duty to protect the Crown and thus we shall always remain an insurmountable obstacle to the Turks reaching the Empire.”

  “Well done, we are pleased to hear that. We thank you for your continued service. You really must visit Vienna more frequently, as your company gives us much pleasure, Countess.”

  “You flatter me Your Majesty,” I said with another curtsy and like that he quickly moved on to the next person in the line.

  My hands trembled after this exchange but I clung onto my fan and my skirts to stop them from showing. Being found out would mean instant arrest and execution as attacks on the nobility were the most severely punished crimes. I exhaled softly and continued to mingle with the other guests making a hasty exit only when the circumstances permitted and I believed I had spent sufficient time in there to be polite. With the Emperor's seal of approval and lack of suspicion, I was left feeling rejuvenated and inspired. I returned to Báthory’s apartments and disposed of her body by selling it to some anatomy students (minus the head) who were more than grateful for my contribution to the sciences and who by receiving it were breaking the law as much as I was. In the following days I wrapped up all of the Countess’s pending business in Vienna and prepared to travel back to Hungary. The old Countess had intended to stay for some weeks but I demanded that we head back as soon as possible as I supposedly had intelligence that the Turks were preparing another campaign against us.

  Before leaving I visited the Sanatorium one last time and made a hefty payment towards the care of my boy. I told them I would be away for some time, but would visit as soon as I could and that I would send word in a few days. I left my assistant in charge of my Vienna operations and told him to keep me updated of any changes.

  Kati closed the journal. She understood everything now; the Countess had come full circle and as time was passing she was being driven more insane by her despair. She recognized a lot of her actions as those of a prisoner awaiting his execution and seeing no redemption. She was clutching at straws for ways to give herself more time while the clock over her head ticked more loudly with each passing day. She had spent the majority of her life in a state of slavery and the remainder in a fruitless fight to find a cure for her child only to realize that it was not infinite and she would be out of time soon and would possibly die unsuccessful at having found a cure. The more Kati read about this woman’s life the more dumbstruck she became by her story that she almost felt compassion for her, but there was so much to assimilate. Wishing to read more but realizing her time was running out she worked hurriedly for the next two days and nights without a single break to try and bind the journals that were left before the Countess returned.

  Seventeen

  At the end of the summer the Countess returned from Vienna. It was about an hour past the six o’clock bell and the sun had almost set. Seeing the little lanterns that hung from the four corners of the carriage as it sped up the ramp, Kati now understood why the Countess only chose to travel and work at night.

  A kind of awe enveloped Kati knowing that Erzsébet Báthory would soon be in the castle again. Having learned her story she couldn’t help seeing her in a whole new light. Yes she was dangerous, but for a reason. Kati was divided. She almost felt as if she couldn’t betray her now. She remembered the old man’s words to her. Do as she says, and be indispensable to her. That will guarantee your survival.

  With that in mind Katalina went outside to greet the arriving Countess before she was called. The carriage came to a stop and the Countess didn’t wait for the coachman to open the door for her but simply let herself out. She was a vision in a gown of salmon pink which would have been simple had it not been for the elaborate gold embroidery that covered every inch of its surface from the stomacher to the exaggerated puffed sleeves and all the way down the skirt including the hem. The entire
dress was covered in glittering gold thread, down to the edge of the exaggerated ruff that she was wearing, the largest one that Katalina had ever seen her in.

  “Isn’t this quite the homecoming?” Said the Countess raising her brow.

  “Welcome Your Grace, you have been missed.”

  “Is that right?” She asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Kati nodded and then lowered her head obediently.

  “What’s got into you, little vermin? You are very agreeable today.”

  “I’m just glad to see you back safely, Your Grace.”

  “Of course you are,” confirmed the Countess with the same tone of voice. “Tell me Katalina, have you done everything that was expected of you while I was away?"

  “Yes Your Grace, exactly as you requested,” confirmed the girl, realizing that the Countess didn’t want to mention the journals within earshot of the coachman.

  “Why don’t we go have a look?”

  “Of course Your Grace.”

  Inside the binding room, the space no longer resembled a messy work room but a small, well-stocked library. On the bookshelves near the door stood several rows of the Countess’s journals all perfectly bound in the exquisite Viennese leather. Some were thin and tall, others were short and thick depending on the type of paper they were made of, but they looked like they’d been finished by a seasoned binder. Their only flaw was the lack of any distinguishing marks on the spines.

  The Countess stood silently and looked at them for a moment. Kati thought she looked satisfied for the first time since she had come to work for her. As opposed to the past where she’d felt lost and disoriented in her work, for the first time since being there, she felt like she could be of use to this fearsome woman. She felt a certain allure in belonging to someone important, though she didn’t understand why. She was itching to ask if everything was to her liking after the frantic work she’d done to finish on time but didn’t.

  “These are all of them?” Asked the Countess.

  “Yes Your Grace,” answered Katalina. Surely she knows how many journals she wrote?

  “And they’re in the proper order?”

  “Yes Your Grace, I made sure to do them in order and not mix any of them up.”

  “Very good, little vermin, very good!”

  Katalina couldn’t help but grin. She was standing a few paces behind the Countess and couldn’t be seen.

  “Maybe if you taught me what to write, I could even put some titles on the spines, Your Grace.”

  The Countess turned around and gave her a sharp look. Kati immediately lowered her eyes in shame and felt herself blush.

  “That will not be necessary.”

  “I apologize for speaking out of turn, Your Grace.”

  “Indeed,” said the Countess allowing her gaze to trace over the rest of the room, which was impeccably tidy. All the tools Kati had used had been cleaned and put away in their respective cases, the work area had been cleared of any debris. The only reminder that the room had recently been used was the repugnant smell of animal glue which was particularly hard to shift.

  Katalina followed her gaze around the room and noticed the thesaurus she’d borrowed from the Library under the table on top of one of the tool cases. She’d forgotten to take it back. Terrified, she held her breath and hoped the Countess wouldn't notice.

  “You’ve done very well, Katalina. I am impressed.”

  She’s impressed, by me! Her eyes were wide open and she was grinning again. She won’t be for long if she sees the book though.

  “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  “You may return to your bedroom to rest now.”

  “You won’t be needing me anymore this evening?” She asked feeling a little dejected. She wanted to receive more praise, but was keen that they both exit the room as soon as possible.

  “No, that will be all. I have work to do.”

  “Yes Your Grace,” she said stepping back allowing the Countess to leave before closing up the binding room and going to her bedroom.

  Once in her bedroom she changed for bed and picked up Virgil’s Aeneid to read, having also clandestinely taken it from the Library. Oriana had talked to her about the merits of the classics and she was keen to read it. Though she was tired, she would have to wait a bit for the Countess to retire to her chambers so that she could sneak up and take the thesaurus out at the earliest opportunity.

  When she was certain that enough time had passed she pulled her shawl over her shoulders and went up the stairs as quietly as she could. The beeswax candles were half way depleted so she realized it must have been quite late. She was about to put her key in the keyhole when she heard a spine chilling scream. It was just like the night she fell asleep in the binding room, but this time she was wide awake, there was no mistaking this for a dream. She'd definitely heard it this time. It seemed to echo from within the belly of the castle quite a distance from where she was but it was clearly the scream of a girl in anguish.

  Running back down towards the stairs she descended to the ground level when she heard it again. It was coming from even lower down so with some hesitation she followed the descending stairs to the unknown basement.

  At the end of the stairs she was greeted by a large hall. The door, though large and impenetrable when closed, was wide open. In the center of the place stood the Countess who, in contrast to her composed and neat appearance from earlier in the day, now wore a long white chemise dress and her hair fell unbraided down her back secured loosely mid length by some plain string. She was standing in front of a young girl who was suspended from the ceiling, her body punctured and cut in several places, her abdomen partially cut open and her blood spilling over the Countess’s white chemise, her arms and her face. Erzsébet’s eyes were a glowing green.

  Seeing Kati the Countess hissed revealing two sharpened fangs in a blood stained mouth. In the space of a single breath Erzsébet lunged at Kati who had frozen to the spot. Before she knew what had hit her, she felt the Countess’s warm mouth on her neck and then the sharpness of the fangs as they sank into her soft skin severing the veins beneath its delicate surface. Her vision went black and she fell to the ground.

  ***

  The twelve o’clock bell roused Kati from her slumber. She opened her eyes but the light from outside smarted. She didn’t remember going to bed and she felt tired and weak. Her body ached and shivered and she was feverish and sweating. Having difficulty keeping her eyes open, she fell asleep again.

  When she woke the sun was very bright. She felt like she’d slept for days but had no way of telling. Her earlier infirmity was gone and she felt rested and energetic and her skin felt cooler than it had ever been. A bit like coming out of the lake after an afternoon swim. Sitting up on the bed she felt a pressure on her neck and picking up the small handheld mirror beside her bed she looked at herself and saw two silver dots on her skin which resembled healed cuts surrounded by a little bit of yellow bruising. Looking at her face she saw that her previously grey eyes had taken a crystal hue and her skin glistened with pale luminosity. Her mouth felt slightly wetter than normal and her canines gave her the impression that they had become sharper while her jaws had a slight pronouncement. Her vision was also enhanced, as though she could see better in the dark. Her entire body felt different, almost…new.

  Then the memories from the night before came to her and she gasped dropping the mirror on the floor causing it to shatter. She pictured the poor girl hanging from her arms, the blood and the tormented expression on her savaged face, and finally she remembered the Countess coming towards her before she passed out.

  Convinced that she’d died, she thanked God for taking her and got out of bed in order to walk outside preparing to meet all the other souls she was told would be there to receive her when the time came. She visualized her uncle, her grandmother who used to live with them up to five years previously and who would sit on the front porch most days mending clothes, struggling through her failing eyesight. Kati remembered
how she would call her over to thread the needle for her and together they would sit while Granny showed her how to do elaborate embroidery stitches on the tired fabric, trying to fix the tears and refresh the cloth so that they could still get some use out of it. Then she thought of her father and hoped he wouldn’t be there. She didn’t want to be stuck with him for all eternity, but then again he would probably have gone to hell for all his slothful behavior. What if I’m going to hell too? She wondered, thinking of all the times she’d been told she’d sinned. With immense trepidation she made for the door handle, prepared for anything except for what she really saw there. On opening the door she was greeted by the Countess, the sight of whom was too much for her and she promptly fainted.

  When she came to, Erzsébet Báthory was on the ground in her favorite white silk dress with pearls and rubies densely embroidered in its rich skirts. Her dark hair was pulled up in an elaborate do and was also decorated with rubies and pearls. Her stomacher was firm and tight and was pushing her ample breasts up in a fleshy cascade. She was clutching the poor girl in her arms and rocking her backwards and forwards as one would do to soothe a crying child and patiently waiting for her to wake up, again. When Kati opened her eyes the Countess looked in them and exclaimed, “Ah, the Affliction has almost completed its work. Excellent!”