VROLOK (34 page)

“Hurry, come with me,” the young girl cried out.

“What has happened?” Csaba said anxiously.

“He beat her,” she answered. Csaba’s stomach sank; his worst fear had been confirmed. The pair ran into the banquet room which was now deserted except for his unconscious daughter. She was lying face down in a pool of blood. Her father ran to her and threw himself down onto his knees. He rolled his daughter over to look at her face. It was swollen and purple; she had been so severely beaten he hardly recognised her.

“How did this happen?” Csaba said to the other girl.

“The Prince must approve all marriages of his soldiers; your future son-in-law came tonight to ask for your daughter’s hand. The Prince asked who the girl was and Istvan pointed to your daughter. The prince said she was pretty and asked was that the reason he was marrying her. Istvan answered back that that was one of many reasons. The prince then asked him if she wasn’t pretty would he still be marrying her. Istvan replied of course. The prince then said he wished he could have proof of this unconditional love.

“Unfortunately, sir, you cannot,” your future son-in-law responded.

“Cannot is not a word to use with Princes,” said Báthory in response.

“You are quite correct sir. I apologise.” Istvan then left and everything seemed fine.

“However, from that moment Gábor was watching your daughter. He asked his friends how they could prove this man’s loyalty and devotion. One of his friends foolishly, stupidly suggested that if she was ever disfigured only that would prove his loyalty. This man regretted his words as soon as he had uttered them.

“Gábor said that was an excellent idea. The first thing he did was trip her up but Ella jumped quickly back on to her feet. She was unscathed and carried on with her work. She tried to get away and slip out back to the kitchen, but Gábor leapt up from his seat and chased after her. She dropped what she was doing and tried to run but he soon caught her, and yanked her back by the hair. She fell to the floor and Gábor dragged her back into the room by the hem of her skirt.

He left her in the middle of the room for all to see and started kicking her in the face. His guests, who up until this time were egging him on, were now stunned by the Prince’s violence. The raucous laughter that had been coming from this room now quickly quieted to an eerie silence. All you now heard was the sweeping sound of Gábor’s leg as it bludgeoned your daughter’s face. Gábor looked round to see the stunned and now sobered faces. One by one the soldiers asked for their leave. This made Gábor stop and he shouted in a foul temper, “You can all go then.” He left the room in a rage.

The room soon cleared of everyone except her and that is when I came to get you.”

At this Istvan ran into the room. ‘I just heard what happened,’ he said. Istvan was appalled when he saw his future wife lying on the floor bleeding. “I am going to kill him,” Istvan icily stated.

“I will help you,” said Csaba.

One of the servants who had witnessed the gruesome beating was a Slovak and had gone to tell Isabella what had happened. Isabella now entered the room as the two men were plotting the death of their sovereign. They marched out of the room, stern and determined. Isabella ran after them.

“Stop!” she shouted. The two men ignored her. “Stop!” she shouted again. Still ignoring her, they marched on. Isabella ran quickly and got in front of them. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“We are going to kill Gábor Báthory,” Istvan stated, not caring who knew.

“No, you cannot, not tonight.”

Csaba pushed Isabella from his path and Isabella quickly got in front of him again. She placed her hand on his chest stopping him walking any further and said. “You remember me Csaba, don’t you?”

An inexplicable urge made Csaba stop trying to get past Isabella and he looked at her face. He suddenly remembered her; he had seen her several times before. She had been there when he had discovered his sister‘s body. She had also been at Erzsébet’s trial and he had seen her more recently; she had been trampled by a horse. “You remember, don’t you, I am letting you remember me so that you will trust me,” Isabella continued.

“How can you still be so young?” Csaba asked.

“Never mind, that it is just a detail. You know me. You know I influenced Erzsébet’s trial.” Csaba’s head was now filled with memories that had been blocked out. He remembered this woman standing in the crowd at Erzsébet’s trail. He saw Isabella throwing off a body from the battlements so that Erzsébet would be discovered. She was letting him see these things.

“If it was not for you, Countess Báthory would have killed for many more years.”

“I don‘t know if that is true or not.”

“It is true; you saved many girls’ lives.”

“I want to save more people. You must trust me.”

“Who are you?” Csaba asked.

“Who I am is of no consequence. But I tell you, you cannot kill Gábor, not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because who will take over from him, another tyrant? Just like him, worse perhaps.”

“That doesn’t matter. Even if we wait, someone just as bad still could take over.”

“No, I know of a man who is good. Gabriel Bethlen is raising an army; you know he is a good man, Csaba,”

“He is,” Csaba acknowledged.

“Then give him a chance. If you wait, he will take over and bring tolerance to this land,” Isabella pleaded.

“I want to kill Báthory,” Csaba said. “I have a right to kill him.”

“You will, but just not yet, I promise you that.” At this point Istvan interrupted.

“Csaba, why are you listening to this woman?” Istvan protested.

“I know her and trust her, and she is right. We will wait for Gabriel Bethlen to return.”

“Listen to Csaba and you both will come out of this unscathed. If you kill Báthory you will also be dead by morning. His soldiers would not tolerate an assassination,” Isabella said.

“Do you have healing powers?” asked Csaba, thinking about his daughter.

“No, I don’t, I’m sorry, but let me see her.” Csaba led Isabella back down the corridor to see his daughter. The girl was badly beaten but Isabella could smell no signs of death. “She’ll live,” Isabella stated.

“What about scarring, will she….” Istvan asked.

“Will you allow me to touch her face?” Isabella asked.

“Yes if it will help.”

Isabella touched the girl’s head and took her pain. The girl opened her eyes and Isabella smiled. Not her usual wry smile, but a warm comforting smile. She then felt her cheek bones and nose. “I don’t think there are any bones broken that will not heel. She may have some slight scarring from the cuts, that is all, but her mind may never recover from such a viscous attack.” The girl smiled at her future husband and he wept; he could hardly bring himself to look at her. Istvan clasped her hand and held it to his chest.

“How long do we have to wait to kill him?” asked Istvan.

“Not long,” Isabella answered.

Gabriel Bethlen was already on his way home. He had gone straight to the Turks as Isabella had suggested and found the Sultan more than willing to support him. He had raised an army and was now nearly home. Isabella was waiting for him. Unfortunately, while he had been away his wife Zsuzsanna had died. She had been very ill before he had left, but she had hidden how serious it was from him, not wanting to stop him from fulfilling his destiny.

Gabriel stationed his new army a few hundreds yards outside the Hungarian border. Gabriel, wanting to see his wife, sneaked in under cover of darkness to his old home. A Slovak informed Isabella that he was on his way and she, Csaba and Istvan went to his house to wait for him.

He opened the door quietly, not even wanting to wake up the servants. Csaba lighted a candle, alerting Gabriel to their presence.

“Did you do as I asked?” Isabella asked and Gabriel nodded.

“Where is my wife?” Gabriel asked.

“I am afraid she is dead.”

Gabriel sat down in shock.

“You can weep for her later. We have no time now,” said Isabella.

Gabriel tried to compose himself as best he could. “Who are these men?” he asked.

“They are the men who will assassinate Báthory.”

“Why assassinate him?” Bethlen asked. At this Istvan interrupted. He slammed his fist down on the table.

“I have waited long enough,” he shouted. “I want his blood.”

Isabella smiled. “You are not the only one,” she said. “But you must wait just until tomorrow night. Everything is in place. You attack tomorrow and I will ensure that Báthory dies.”

“Why does he have to die?” Gabriel asked again, sensing that Istvan was slightly calmer.

“He has to die because the Turks cannot be trusted; if after tomorrow he escapes he could flee to the Sultan and they may be just as accommodating with him as they have been with you. Their loyalty is to whoever can give them the most power. The Turks know you are a strong-willed man and you will do as much for your people as you can, whereas Báthory will grant them anything to regain his throne. That is why he must die. And these two men have most definitely earned the right to kill him,”

“Till tomorrow night,” Gabriel whispered.

“Tomorrow night,” Isabella answered.

Isabella sat waiting for Vlad’s return. He did just before sunrise.

“Is everything in place?” Isabella asked.

“Yes. Bethlen has surpassed himself; that is a mighty army he has raised. I noticed quite a few Slovaks.”

“I sent out word that they should join with him.”

“You are becoming a very powerful woman. Isabella.”

“I am getting to be more than that, I am becoming a very powerful Vrolok,” Isabella smiled. “You will fight with him tomorrow?”

“I will, but I don’t think you need me.”

“I do. If I was not needed here to ensure Báthory is dead, I would be fighting with you.”

“You are a leader of men, Isabella.”

“No, the allies that I have do not know where their instructions are coming from. No doubt they would not follow me if they knew who or what was commanding them.”

“I think you are wrong. The Slovak people respect you or they would not be fighting with Bethlen otherwise.”

“Perhaps, but I believe they may turn against me yet.”

“Walking among them tonight I realised they would sooner kill their own kin instead of you. They call you Alexandru, the defender of mankind.”

“They presume I am a man.”

“They do.”

“How archaic of them.”

“If I go and fight them tomorrow they will presume it is me, you realise this,” Isabella smiled.

“It doesn’t matter. In part it has been you, and I don’t want any glory. Go and fight with them, for they need you.” Vlad walked towards Isabella, took her hand and kissed it. He turned and headed towards the door.

“Vlad,” she called out after him. Vlad turned back towards her.

“Yes?” he answered.

“Make sure you only kill Báthory’s troops.” Vlad smiled and bowed at Isabella; she knew him too well.

“As you wish, my lady.”

Isabella waited to hear the first explosion of gunpowder. Within a few moments of the start of the fighting, Báthory came running through the hall half-dressed. Isabella tripped him and he smacked his head on the stone floor. He quickly got back up onto his feet and turned to face the Vampire.

“That was the first cruel thing you did to this man’s daughter,” said Csaba, who had been standing in the corner.

“What are you talking about?” Báthory answered. “I will have you executed for this!”

“I am afraid you will not be in the position to do that,” Isabella stated, and she knocked Gábor to the ground again. This time he did not get up so quickly. Istvan came running into the room, rage surging through him. He kicked Gábor in the face. Isabella touched him on the forehead and gave him the pain of the girl he had beaten. Istvan and Csaba started to kick him in the face over and over again. The vengeful father and husband beat Gábor to death. When the two men had exacted their revenge Isabella asked.