Free Covenant With the Vampire by Jeanne Kalogridis Page A

contrary, he fanned the flames. But
I had no idea - !
    Poor Arkady was so distraught last night that he stayed reading in the drawing-room
and did not come to bed until a few hours before dawn; and I am so accustomed
now to the sounds of his breathing and the feel of a warm body beside me in
the bed that I became restless myself. I considered lighting the lamp and writing
another journal entry, but my eyes were tired after hours of reading and writing
yesterday, and so in the dark I wandered over to the bay window, thinking to
crack it, that fresh air might help me sleep. While there, I was taken by the
sight of the near-full moon drifting through the clouds, and I sat on the velvet
cushion in the little alcove window-seat. The moon was so bright that the landscape
was lit up almost like the day.
    Our bedroom is in the wing directly across from Zsuzsanna’s; only a grassy
stretch of ground separates us, and I could easily hurl a stone into her room
from ours. Each bedroom features a large picture window that affords a lovely
view, but we have complete privacy behind our heavy curtains, and Zsuzsanna
behind her shutters.
    Yet last night, I pulled the edge of the curtain aside to better see the moon - and
when I did, my eye caught sight of something running across the stretch of ground
towards Zsuzsanna's room. Thinking it was one of the wolves Arkady so often
warns me about, I pressed close to the glass to better see. I was not afraid,
since the curtain hid me quite well and I doubted the animal could leap two
floors, but I was very curious, as being a city-dweller I had never before seen
a wolf except in picture-books.
    But before I could focus on the object of my interest, I was distracted by
movement at Zsuzsanna's window. I watched as she flung the shutters back and
pushed open the window, letting in the streaming moonlight.
    This gave me a fright, and I almost thought to call a warning about the wolf
when I noticed a figure beside her in the little alcove by the window-seat.
How it arrived there, I cannot say, but I can say who it was: Vlad.
    As I watched, horrified, they embraced; and then he reached for the ribbon
at her throat, and when it came undone and her nightgown fell away -
    To write further sickens me. I turned away, unable to bear the sight, and pulled
the curtains shut.
    I scarcely slept last night. I am torn. Arkady is already troubled enough by
some secret sorrow, and all I would be doing would be transferring my dilemma
onto his overburdened shoulders. Yet I cannot decide whether it is more appropriate
to confront Vlad or Zsuzsanna - or to remain silent altogether.
    My poor darling; you have suffered so much recently. Is this what torments
you? Do you already know?
    * * *
    The Diary of Arkady Tsepesh
    9 April.
    I am beginning to think that everyone in the castle is slightly mad.
    I went there early yesterday to familiarise myself with Uncle's affairs. Most
certainly I did not speak to either Zsuzsanna or Mary of the monstrosity I had
witnessed in the family tomb; they could not have borne the shock. Nor did I
feel that I could have borne it again, but on the way to Uncle's I found myself
compelled to drive the caleche past Father's resting place, and go inside.
    What I saw inside the tomb soothed my heart. The casket had been rebolted,
the roses lovingly replaced, and the marble floor cleaned; the horrible saw
and mallet had been removed as well, and all looked as it had before the desecration.
I felt a deep gratitude towards Uncle, who had overcome his own grief to deal
with this horrible matter, thus easing mine, and protecting the rest of the
family.
    When I arrived at the castle, my melancholy was rekindled by the sight of Father's
desk, which lay just as he had left it, in a small room in the east wing with
a magnificent view of the Carpathians. Everything was tidy and well organised;
I easily found all of Uncle's