by their allure, all the better. A wolf who did not have to chase its sheep was bound for a longer and happier life.
With Elizabeth, he found the practice irritating. Of course, he found her irritating in general. That might have more to do with her constant requests to become his bed-partner and less with her decision to carefully maintain her personal appearance.
He was quite happy that he did not find himself a lonely individual. He did not find himself lacking when he woke up alone. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to give in to her constant banal flirtation.
That was not to say that he did not understand the desire to have a companion. He did not fault Vlad or Mordecai for their distractions. Even if they did come at an immensely inconvenient time. “I would prefer that our Master and the young girl come to an understanding. I wish to leave here. Taking this city is a dangerous ploy with little to gain from it. I would prefer he find his entertainment with the empath and not where it might put the rest of us in danger.”
“Well said.” Elizabeth leaned back on her hands behind her, watching him with her calculating emerald eyes. They were brighter than would be possible for a human, but if it weren’t for her pale complexion, she might pass as a mortal. Far easier than he ever could. Being the direct descendant of Vlad’s blood came with benefits and pitfalls.
Being his “right hand” came with even more.
“What do you believe the odds are that he might be successful?” she pondered. “He has taken brides before. They last either the length of their mortal years or one of a vampire’s. Either way, long enough for us to leave this place safely once he has her.”
“But this is a very different game he plays.” Walter walked to the window to look down at the city in its perpetual night. The library they had taken over and begun to corrupt into their own fashion of a fort had once been a beautiful structure sitting near the heart of the city. Now it was full of the odd and twisted angles that came with the corruption of Dracula’s power. The hallways and rooms were no longer what they were. Elements remained—such as the walls of books everywhere—but now corridors led to places the building had not formerly contained. Bedrooms, storerooms, a kitchen…a dungeon.
It, like the city, now served its Master.
Like they all served.
Save for one. Miss Parker. “He does not seek from her a bride. He seeks from her an eternal judgement. The girl can see the whole of him in a way that no one else can. Therefore, I do not know what will come to pass. The scales remain balanced. She has not yet condemned him…but she has not yet embraced him either. Who knows what she will think when she ventures deeper into his madness?” Walter shook his head. “I think this will get worse before it will get better.”
“Is it true that she could destroy him once and for all? I have heard Zadok whisper rumors that she can rip souls from bodies and send them to the void.”
“He believes that if anyone can, it would be her.”
Elizabeth swore quietly. “Then we should kill her immediately and end this game.”
“And defy Dracula’s wishes?”
“To protect him? Absolutely. If he dies, chaos will descend on the rest of us. We might all die as well if the source of our curse is removed!”
“At least you admit your desire to safeguard him is selfish.” Walter rubbed a hand over his face. He hated dealing with sycophants. Unfortunately for him, they were more common than not.
“We should go into that city now, find them, dispose of the hunter, and tear off the girl’s head. She is only mortal.”
“No.”
“Why? Do you wish him to die?”
“I am loyal to him. That is why. If this is what he wishes, then I will do all that I can to see it come to pass.”
“Which do you prefer to happen, then? That she loves him, or that she tears him apart? You said yourself you believe he cares not which occurs. Something I cannot fathom, but I believe you.”
“You do not know what he has endured. He has desired the kiss of death for thousands of years, Elizabeth. We may embrace our end at any point we wish. He is denied such a thing. It is a terrible burden to bear.”
“You