Free Lord of the Vampires by Jeanne Kalogridis

describe what I saw. Dunya had been right that my portrait did not give proper tribute to my beauty.
    For fifty years I had not seen the woman in the mirror: a raven-haired young beauty, black tresses agleam with electric indigo, sharp teeth of pearl, lips of ruby, brown eyes asparkle with molten gold. My skin was as delicate and porcelain as Elisabeths, and shimmering with mother-of-pearl glints of colour: rose, turquoise, seafoam-green. Even the sharp features I had inherited from Vladthe thin hawkish nose, the pointed chin, the thick black brows were softened now to delicate perfection.
    I gazed up from this wonderment to see Elisabeth grinning broadly in approval, like an artist greatly pleased with her creation. She reached for the mirror, but I would not let it go; at that, she laughed softly.
    I was tempted to change the teeth, said she. But I left it to your discretion, in case you found them aesthetically pleasing.
    But I must have them! How else shall I feed?
    Her voice lowered as though she were indulging a dark secret, and feared that someone might overhear. My dear. There are as many different ways of feeding, as you call it, as there are those brave enough to attain immortality.
    But Vlad created me, I protested. And a vampires bite begets another vampire. How else can it be?
    It can be however you desire it, Zsuzsanna.
    But how?
    Vlads pact with the Dark Lord need not control you.
    The thought of that mysterious creature, Devil or no, terrified me; I lowered the looking-glass and recoiled, whispering, The Dark Lord
    To distract me, she took my free hand and pressed the palm to my own cheek. Tell me what you feel, my darling. Tell me what you feel.
    For a full minute I was too overwhelmed to speak. At last, I sighed, Warmth. My eyes had filled with tears; one at last spilled onto my cheek, my fingers. A hot tear.
    Is that not more pleasant than being cold as a corpse? Vlad is so obsessed with the ghoulish.
    You must revive Dunya! I cried, grasping her arm and pulling her towards the closed casket. I returned her mirror to her and flung open the lid to reveal the sleeping occupantso withered and frail.
    Elisabeth approached and peered inside. Ah A sweet young peasant girl. She gazed up at me. You must be patient. I have restored you in full and Vlad in part; my reserves of strength are diminished. I shall have to rest now, but I promise you I will deal with her tomorrow.
    But dawn is only a few hours away, I protested, eager to remain in her company. And then you can rest all day
    No, I shall be up in time to enjoy the sunrise. I only require two hours rest as a rule, more when I have exerted myself as I have tonight. Dear me, child, Vlads silly notion that you are restricted to the night hours has taken quite a toll on your enjoyment.
    But it is truethe sun pains me horribly. Yes, I can venture out if I must, but it weakens me and is dreadfully unpleasant.
    It need not be. Why should you not be able to enjoy both night and day?
    The question gave me pause. I remembered my one journey to Vienna a quarter-century before, and the disappointment I felt at not being able to ever go into the Konditorei and sample the buttery pastries, or enter the dress shops, with their glorious new fashions. The one dress I purchased in Viennafrom a trembling old tailor, near blind, the only one who would venture out at midnight to a hotel to fit meis now two decades outdated. I looked at Elisabeths gown, with its more modest decolletage, fitted hips, and narrower skirtand a flounce of gathered fabric at the derriere, which I had never before seen.
    But how I began.
    She shook her head. We have much to talk about. Dont worry, darlingfor my disappointment was no doubt visiblewe will meet again tomorrow night. Until then
    And she took my hand, bent down, and kissed it as a man might; a disturbing and undeniable thrill passed through me as she did so.
    Dear God, I am in love!
    * * *
    4 May 1893.
    I woke at sunset to find Elisabeth