so weak my father would not send me.” “His pride blinds him!”
“You should not speak so of the king, my lady.” He gave a tired sigh. What would have been an accusation of treason from fiery young Henry’s lips was weary observation from Arthur’s. “Now please, Catherine. Let me sleep. If I sleep well tonight, perhaps I’ll be strong enough to see you tomorrow.”
It was an empty promise and they both knew it. He was as pale and wasted as he had ever been. She kissed his hand with as much passion as she had ever been allowed to show. She pressed her cheek to it, let tears fall on it. She would pray every day for him. Every hour.
She stood, curtsied, and left him alone in the chamber.
Outside, however, she waited, sitting on a chair in the corner normally reserved for pages or stewards. Doña Elvira would be scandalized to see her there.
In an hour, the woman Angeline came. She moved like smoke. Catherine had been staring ahead so intently she thought her eyes played a trick on her. A shadow flickered where there was no flame. A draft blew where no window was open.
Angeline did not approach, but all the same she appeared. She stood before the doors of Arthur’s bedchamber as regal as any queen.
Catherine was still gathering the courage to stand when Angeline looked at her. Her face was alabaster, a statue draped with a gown of black velvet. She might as well have been stone, her gaze was so hard.
Finally, Catherine stood.
“Es la novia niña,” Angeline said.
The princess would not be cowed by a commoner. “By the laws of Church and country I am not a child, I am a woman.”
“By one very important consideration, you are not.” She turned a pointed smile.
Catherine blushed; her gaze fell. She was still a maid. That was certainly not her fault.
“I demand that you leave here,” Catherine said. “Leave here, and leave my husband alone.”
“Oh, child, you don’t want me to do that.”
“I insist. You are some witch, some demon. That much I know. You have worked a spell on him that sickens him to death—”
“Oh no, I’ll not let my puppet die. I could keep your Arthur alive forever, if I wished. I hold that secret.”
“You … you are an abomination against the Church. Against God!” She smiled thinly. “Perhaps.”
“Why?” Catherine said. “Why him? Why this?”
“He’ll be a weak king. At best, an indifferent king. He won’t be leading any troops to war against France. He will keep England a quiet, unimportant country.”
“You do not know that. You cannot see the future. He will be a great king—”
“One need not see the future to guess such things, dear Catherine.”
“You will address me as Your Highness, as is proper.”
“Of course, Your Highness. You must trust me—I will not kill Arthur. If his brother were to become king—you have seen the kind of boy he is: fierce, competitive, strong. You can imagine the kind of king he will be. No one in Europe wishes for a strong king of England.”
“My father King Ferdinand—”
“Not even King Ferdinand. From the first, he wanted a son-in-law he could control.”
Catherine knew it was true, all of it, the chess-like machinations of politics that had ruled her life. Her marriage to Arthur had given Spain another playing piece, that was all.
There was no room for love in any of this.
She was descended from two royal houses. Her ancestors were the oldest and most noble in all of Europe. Dignity was bred into the sinews of her flesh. She stood tall, did not collapse, did not cry, however much the little girl inside of her was trembling.
“And what of children?” she said. “What of the children I’m meant to bear?”
“It may be possible. Or it may not.”
“I do not believe you. I do not believe anything that you say.”
“Yes, you do,” she said. “But more importantly, you cannot stop me. You’ll go to sleep, now. You will not remember.”
She wanted to fling herself at the woman, strangle her with her own hands. Tiny hands that couldn’t strangle a kitten, alas.
“Catherine. Move away. I know what she is.” The command came in the incongruous voice of a boy.
Prince Henry stood blocking the chamber’s other doorway. He had a spear, which seemed overlarge and unwieldy in his hands. Nevertheless, he held it at the ready, feet braced, pointed at the woman. It was a mockery of battle. A child playing at hunting boar.
“What am I, boy?” the
<<Previous page Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 1 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 2 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 3 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 4 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 5 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 6 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 7 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 8 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 9 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 10 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 11 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 12 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 13 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 14 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 15 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 16 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 17 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 18 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 19 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 20 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 21 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 22 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 23 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 24 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 25 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 26 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 27 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 28 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 29 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 30 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 31 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 32 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 33 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 34 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 35 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 36 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 37 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 38 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 39 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 40 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 41 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 42 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 43 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 44 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 45 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 46 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 47 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 48 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 49 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 50 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 51 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 52 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 53 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 54 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 55 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 56 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 57 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 58 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 59 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 60 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 61 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 62 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 63 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 64 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 65 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 66 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 67 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 68 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 69 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 70 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 71 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 72 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 73 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 74 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 75 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 76 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 77 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 78 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 79 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 80 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 81 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 82 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 83 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 84 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 85 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 86 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 87 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 88 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 89 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 90 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 91 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 92 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 93 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 94 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 95 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 96 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 97 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 98 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 99 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 100 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 101 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 102 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 103 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 104 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 105 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 106 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 107 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 108 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 109 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 110 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 111 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 112 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 113 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 114 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 115 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 116 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 117 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 118 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 119 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 120 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 121 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 122 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 123 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 124 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 125 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 126 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 127 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 128 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 129 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 130 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 131 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 132 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 133 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 134 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 135 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 136 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 137 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 138 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 139 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 140 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 141 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 142 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 143 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 144 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 145 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 146 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 147 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 148 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 149 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 150 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 151 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 152 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 153 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 154 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 155 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 156 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 157 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 158 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 159 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 160 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 161 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 162 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 163 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 164 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 165 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 166 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 167 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 168 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 169 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 170 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 171 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 172 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 173 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 174 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 175 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 176 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 177 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 178 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 179 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 180 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 181 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 182 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 183 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 184 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 185 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 186 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 187 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 188 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 189 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 190 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 191 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 192 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 193 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 194 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 195 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 196 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 197 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 198 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 199 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 200 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 201 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 202 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 203 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 204 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 205 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 206 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 207 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 208 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 209 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 210 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 211 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 212 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 213 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 214 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 215 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 216 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 217 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 218 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 219 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 220 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 221 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 222 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 223 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 224 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 225 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 226 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 227 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 228 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 229 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 230 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 231 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 232 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 233 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 234 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 235 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 236 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 237 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 238 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 239 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 240 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 241 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 242 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 243 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 244 Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran - Page 245
Next page>>