Free The Bathory Curse by Renee Lake Page A

but
knew that the truth would be worse. She could not raise her child,
not alone in this day and age, especially not with her family
working against her. Nea was worried if she went against Anna’s
wishes it would make things worse, if that was even possible.
    “I don’t understand. I heard the cry.” Elizabeth
sobbed.
    “It wasn’t meant to be, get over it and be glad it
wasn’t alive to torment you like Istavan.” Anna growled.
    “Was it a girl?” Elizabeth asked, eyes swimming with
tears.
    “Just another in the long line of cursed Bathory
women.” Anna spat out.
    “Yes dear heart it was…Would you like to name her?”
It was the least Nea could do.
    “Yes… Anastasia… will we have a burial?”
    “Of course. We are not barbarians; it was the first
grandchild after all.” Anna came over and placed a hand on
Elizabeth’s arm, Nea noticed the girl flinched away, “now enough of
this, you must get better and fast for your upcoming nuptials.”
    “I can’t get married after this, mother,” the girl
started to protest.
    “It was your father’s dying wish to see you married
well. No argument.” Anna stormed from the room as a couple of maids
came in to help clean up and move Elizabeth back to her bed
chamber.
    “Help me Aunt Nea.” Elizabeth begged.
    “I can’t Lizzy…if I could I would, but she is your
mother. I will try talking to her again. You rest and heal.” Nea
kissed her forehead and followed Anna from the room, hatred
swirling inside her, she thought about talking to Anna again but it
would do no good. Anna’s heart was so frozen it would take a
volcano to melt it.
    As she left the house, she overheard Anna shrieking
at one of Lizzy’s sisters and her heart hurt. Anna had so much
potential as a girl, bright and interesting; she would have been a
good wife and a good mother. Now she was destined to destroy the
lives of her own daughters. Nea didn’t know what to do. If she left
Anna with Klara and Zsofia it would ruin them, they would turn out
just like her, if not worse.
    Nea was afraid the only possibility was to kill Anna
before any more damage could be done. The thought made her head
hurt. She was Anna’s friend, like family. She had watched her grow
up, get married, have babies. Wouldn’t it screw up the little girls
to grow up without a mother just as much as the opposite?
    Stopping at the market she bought some dried
currants and figs as a gift for another little girl she knew.
Looking down at the dark purple, almost black dried fruits she knew
that she had to take the risk. If Klara and Zsofia stayed with Anna
the curse was certain to take them. If they grew up in a more
loving, forgiving household, perhaps they stood a chance. Decision
made, she hurried off, but the weight in her chest was a heavy
thing.
    Nea had one more stop to make before she took care
of Anna. Anna’s older brother Christopher had a daughter as well.
She was five and Nea always tried to peek in on her. She wasn’t as
welcome in Christopher’s home, having been Anna’s best friend, but
he did allow her to leave presents and such. The side trip took no
less than an hour as she used magic to make little Gryzelda’s dolls
dance for her and present her with the dried fruits, a special
treat she didn’t get at home often. The little girl was adorable,
precious even, and Nea hoped she could keep the curse from her and
Anna’s daughters. Too soon she had to leave; there was much to be
done before the night ended.
    She walked into her front door and called her
granddaughter. She didn’t like the dark thoughts in her head, she
didn’t want to sign the death sentence of another Bathory female,
but she had no choice. Anna was like venom, in that she would seep
in and ruin those little girls if Nea let her
    “Yes, Bunica?” Ruxandra appeared.
    “I need you to find Imre,” she said, talking about
one of her nastier Strigoi, he hadn’t quite turned dark enough for
her to kill him, but he enjoyed feeding off