Lord of the Vampires Read Online Free PDF Page B

light. And when I rose to my feet, I did so easily, without the pains of age and creaking bones that have afflicted me these past years.
    Even my vision was enhanced; the glow from the ashes in the fireplace seemed impossibly bright and kissed by rainbow colours. Indeed, as I gazed around the room, I saw each object more sharply and in more detail than I ever had as a youth; each was imbued with a startling depth of colour and texture. I turned slowly, taking in each sight with a childs sense of wonder and laughing aloud at the sheer pleasure of it. I could see every sparkling grain of sand that comprised each stone in the hearth, every hair-fine crack in the mortar.
    Yet the light from the tapers (which were still burning, though half consumed and standing in pools of wax) dazzled my eyes so painfully that I blew out each but one. That meagre light proved more than sufficient, for the colour and detail faded not at all, even though a swift glance through the window showed darkness and swirling snow. The sun had set, and the storm come at last.
    I hurried to the mirror, eager to inspect my face for changesbut alas! When I peered into the polished metal surface, my visage was paler and indistinct, fading away as one might imagine a ghost dissolves into night. I had feared such might happen, for I had heard tales from my nursemaid and other servants about the faces of the dead not reflecting in mirrors. Was the undisclosed cost of my bargain invisibility?
    A discreet knock at the door: I called out and heard in reply the polite voice of my young assassin. The monks had returned from the forest and had been killed according to my instructions.
    As a test to see whether I remained visible to mortals, I opened the door and peered out at the scraggly-bearded soldier. Excellent, said I, expecting him to scream at my disembodied voice, or instead to walk past me and peer beyond me, searching for me inside the room.
    At the very least, I expected him to see what I saw: a disappearing man. Yet he gazed directly at my face, and bowed, giving no sign of distress or amazement. Very good, my lord, said he, and I told him to ready my horse and bring it to the palace, for I would be leaving the monastery shortly.
    But the snow has come, my lord. It is not safe for travel.
    I laughed in disdain, then repeated my request and gave him leave to go. I no longer possess any fear of cold or snow or Basarab. I fear but one thing: the Dark Lord.
    The horse stands ready now, but I am obliged to write the story of my transformation down first, for surely over the coming centuries I shall forget the circumstances and the wonder of it. One day soon the announcement shall be made that the Wallachian prince is dead, for it is only a matter of time before Gregors headless body is discovered in the forest. I have no doubt that Basarab has laid waste to my army and my castle at Bucharest, but I have my victory. In a generation, he shall be dead, whilst I shall live forever. I have sent a courier with a message for Ilona and my sons to meet me at our new estate in the Carpathians.
    And now I ride north, to become Legend.
    Chapter 1
    Letter from Vlad Dracula, Bistritsa, to E. Bathory, Vienna:
    15 April 1893
    Dearest Cousin:
    It seems like centuries since last we corresponded, and longer still since you and I met in the flesh. Much has happened since that time; I have encountered difficulties of a grave natureso grave, in fact, that I know not whom to call upon for aid save you, my shrewd and talented cousin.
    Will you come, Elisabeth? Unfortunately, I find myself too compromised to travel at present, or I would have gone to Vienna to make my request in person, to spare you the journey here. I promise you sweet reward, and the delight of meeting my charming niece Zsuzsanna and her maidservant Dunya, who have both become my eternal companions. I promise also that I shall be as beholden to you as I was to your ancestor Stefan of Bathory, who so long ago fought by