RICK JOHNSON

ADAPTION
5

by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717
RikJohnson@juno.com

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Table of Contents for Adaption.
Conversion. The arrival of Janice in Russia and the details of her curse.
Chapter One. Their leaving the Amazons and travels across Georgia.
Chapter Two. Their entry into the Ottoman Empire at Crimea. note: not finished
Chapter Three. Their travels within The Ottoman Empire.
Chapter Four. Their leaving the Ottoman Empire and visiting Translyvania.
Chapter Five. Their vacation in Bucharest.
Chapter Six. Their visiting Bulgaria.
Chapter Seven. Their visiting Greece. note: not yet written
Chapter Eight. Her visiting Venice. note: not yet written
Retreival. Their travels to Japan to rescue Janice's daughter

Characters in these stories. Here you will find who these people and places are.

Vlad Dracula

I liked Bucharesti despite my near-gang rape a week or so ago. As one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe, it was a prize to be sought by Byzantine, Ottoman and Wallachian. Currently it was Wallachian, having been re-taken by Vlad Dracula not too long before his death but the Turks wouldn’t let it be and were probably planning their re-conquest of the country and without Dracula to stop them, it was only a matter of time before the Star and Crescent flew again above the city.

In the meantime we were enjoying the sights and sounds and relaxing for the first time in weeks. Between vampires and living dead, fighting Turks and bandits, we were exhausted and needed a rest and with the money we had earned from the past few weeks, we could easily afford the best Bucharesti could offer. And even the sight of an intelligent rhinoceros could be accepted with enough silver.

Tonight we were drinking. We had seen a play that I didn’t understand, something about how Dracula had named the city a few decades ago, but it gave me a chance to dress up and I wanted that. Being a woman was hard, being a woman in 15th century Wallachia, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire was harder. And tossing my profession in as an adventurer on top of all that and being accompanied by a Jewish Beastmaster, an intelligent rhino and two Mohammadan servants from Bulgaria was harder still. So between the long days riding across the forests avoiding bandits and soldiers and whatever monsters lived or rather un-lived in this area of the world, I wanted to wear a gown, put my hair up and be stared at because I was attractive and not because I carried a sword.

Strange how two years ago I hated women like that and now I was just as superficial. If I kept changing like this I’d soon be bedding men. But that waitress who was serving us our drinks took most of my attention and she looked nothing like a man.

Tonight Gazelle was in our room, probably stuffing herself with wheat and barley because her half-ton weight required a lot of eating to maintain. Besides, she hated the theater. We were accompanied by Hansel and Gretel, my former slaves, now my overly loyal servants and part-time lovers. After all, I was Boyer, a noblewoman and it wouldn’t be proper for someone of my station to be seen in public without servants. Thus, tonight was me, Ruth and the twins. I wanted it to be a date but Ruth liked men so we could be only friends.

We were having fun despite the guys constantly trying to get intimate with us. Most took their rejection easily and with good nature because I was noble and Ruth was a Jew but occasionally someone would be too drunk or too stupid to understand. One man kept asking and even commented, “Why is a beautiful woman like you with a Jew?” So I commented to Ruth, “dung attracts flies,” and she smiled, concentrated and every fly in the room buzzed around the man’s head, into his mouth and nostrils, landing on his eyes, crawling into his ears until he ran from the room as we fall to the floor laughing. I was still afraid that Ruth would try to control me but until that happened, I’d enjoy her company and use her gift.

Ruth was bubbling over. She was wearing clothing that made most men ignore her faith and she was the center of attention which every girl enjoys. “Look at those men! See how they are staring at us. That one there, see how handsome he is? He makes my toes tingle. Would it be wrong to let him take me home? You take women home with you? What would be so bad for me to do the same with a man?”

Damn, I wanted to be her lover and she kept pushing me into the role of mother. Nothing left to do but take a big drink and give the birds-&-bees talk. “Ruth, my dear, sex is just sex. It’s fun and I do it as often as I can. I prefer women but if I am alone, I still enjoy my own fingers. Sometimes, even a man is fun but you must remember some things, Ruth. Most men see us as simply a mattress with breasts. Those kind that have the courage to approach and the ability to make our toes curl are the ones who have done so with a hundred women before you. To them, you are simply a notch on their bed, to be used and forgotten two minutes after they put a baby into your womb.

“And that, dear, leads me to two things you must ALWAYS remember. Pregnancy and disease.

“I’m far older than you are. Despite my appearance of a youthful woman (I looked 25 but was far older), I even have children older than you so I know these things. Pregnancy is first. There is only one way to avoid being a mother. And that is to keep your knees pressed firmly together when a man is near. Anything else, be it herbs you eat or moss you shove inside or even what your Rabbi’s call ‘the sin of Onan’ which is pulling out does not work. So, as the moon has cycles and at Full we see in the dark but at New we cannot, so too does your body and there are times when you will get a baby and times when you might not.”

I tried to remember the cycles but I had a daughter following that method so nothing was absolute. All I could do was tell her what I remembered from so many decades ago when I was still fertile then say, “Ruth, unless you wish to take pennyroyal to cause your womb to expel, try very hard to avoid pregnancy. Now for the hard part.”

Another drink then as the buzz took hold, “Dear, many are the diseases in the world. Plague still haunts this part of the world and only a few centuries ago, it killed half the people in this country. Some you catch from drinking bad water, some from the biting of insects and some from intimate contact. Two you must worry about are clap and Lues. I don’t know what you call clap or gonorrhea but women show no signs until they die. Lues has been here for a couple thousand years ever since some lonely shepherd in Palestine, maybe a Philistine, maybe a Jew, saw a yew he found attractive and brought this scourge to mankind.

“But with Columbus came a harsher form of Lues. They call it the French Disease because Columbus brought it from the Carribes to Naples, gave it to the whores there who gave it to the French soldiers that frequented their beds and bodies. Doctors treat it with Mercury but then, doctors are little more than a barber who thinks he is a midwife and surgeon. Most are butchers who should remain hair cutters and leave the flesh to those who know what they are doing. Lues drives one insane before it kills so be careful and remember that those who bed many may have bedded someone with such a disease.”

“But, My Lady Janice,” she insisted, “The Rabbis and even the priests of the Christians say that the Evil Pocks is punishment from god for our sins and we must pray for it’s cure.”

I laughed, “Ruth, dear, priests of Moses, Jesus and Mohammad would have all women barefoot, pregnant and on our backs with our legs spread to slake men’s thirsts and be their slaves. Both you and I would be burned at the stake for what we are and yet, have we both not done good and made the world better? Priests seek power. What they cannot do, they pretend is the will of god to hide their own incompetence. The Greeks of ancient times knew far more than those of modern times but it was the priests of the dead christ who burned their books and destroyed their knowledge. So take care of what you are told by anyone you do not know well enough to trust.

“And if you must bed someone,” I looked into her eyes, “try to choose your lovers for their mind and personality and be not confused by a broad shoulder or flat belly or sweet speech.”

One of the nice things about a city like Bucharesti is that you can find almost anything you want within the walls and even more outside them be they drugs, women, men, slaves, clothing or anything the mind can conceive and the body desire. Plus, being cosmopolitan, they were far more tolerant of women like myself, and my seeking a woman of a similar desires. I found one who returned my glances and as I left Ruth to seek my own pleasures, she said, “And what of that lecture you gave me My Lady?”

“Do as I say, not as I do.” I smiled and left.

It didn’t take long to interest the woman and I brought her back to my table where I saw a very attractive man and whispered in Ruth’s ear, “And has this man a sweet speech to unlock your skirts?”

She leaned over, “Oh yes, Lady, his words are so sweet I know he has had lots of practice. But until I send him away, I will enjoy the attention he gives.” Maybe Ruth wasn’t the naive girl I thought.

“My Lady, may I present Daniil Mihia. He is a great adventurer and swordsman.” She nudged my knee in conspiracy then continued, “Daniil, I have the great honor to present to you, the Lady Janice Obrien of Ireland, Baroness Innis. A woman of great fame and power. And, My Lady, who is your companion?”

“Ruth, Daniil, this is Elena. She is a pastry cook down the street. I thought that perhaps Gazelle would like to sample her wares.”

“Lady, with Gazelle’s sensitive nature, perhaps you should sample her.. wares first.” Ruth was enjoying herself.

We enjoyed the night with Daniil bragging about his conquests on the field and implying that he was equally skilled elsewhere and Ruth pretending to entranced by his words. He spoke mostly to me because I was I was better looking in his eyes, being a strawberry blonde with an impressive bosom and obvious wealth and position. But as I mostly ignored him, he decided that he’d have better luck with Ruth who would be grateful for the attentions of a handsome gentile. During that time of his attempted seduction, I focused on Elena and when she began to touch my leg under the table, I judged the time was right and said, “Daniil, it is late and I would like some sleep before morning so if you will excuse me,” I stood as did my companions and as Daniil bowed, Elena and Ruth curtseyed to me. “Elena, would you accompany me please?” I glanced at Ruth who added, “My Lady, you are right, it is late so I should get some sleep also. May I accompany you to our rooms?”

“Of course you may.”

Daniil stood and offered, “Lady Innis, it wouldn’t be safe for you and your companions to walk these streets alone and without protection. I’ll escort you home and see that no harm comes to you.”

“Thank you Daniil,” I replied to his kind and totally unnecessary offer. He escorted us back, him constantly flirting with Ruth who was enamored by his attentions. As we approached our inn, he began to search for danger as if by defending us from a mugging, we’d submit to his desires but as luck would have it, we arrived safely. I held my hand and he bowed, kissed my knuckles then touched his lips to Ruth’s hand and stood there as Ruth opened the door for me. “Elena, I’d like to discuss some business with you before you leave for your home. Would you please join me for a last glass of wine?”

“Of course, My Lady,” she said with a curtsey as she followed us inside, leaving Daniil alone outside.

Once in our rooms, Gretel awoke and came to help me remove my gown, leaving me in my shift as Ruth sat and laughed, “He was so full of his own importance. Imagine, Lady, he thought you needed protection.”

“I was afraid that you were listening to his lines.” I added.

“My Lady, I’ve heard men like that before. They think that bedding a Jew honors us but they never see us as anything other than a night’s pleasure. I made that mistake once, I won’t do it again. Besides, he made it clear that he wished you and was settling for me. But he was beautiful and I enjoyed the attention.” She lay back and sighed.

I smiled at Elena, offered her a sip of my wine and asked, “Ruth, were you jealous then?”

“Never! My Lady!” she replied in total honesty. “Perhaps if he were a Jew or if you were a commoner but how could anyone be jealous of you? I would insulted if anyone chose me over your noble person.” She then stood, curtseyed to me and said, “If you will excuse me, I should get some sleep myself. Please enjoy your.. conversation.” Then I kissed her goodnight and she left with one last look. I glanced at Gretel who curtseyed and left also leaving me alone with Elena who I bade to sit next to me.

“Elena,” I touched her thigh and looked at her.

She smiled back and added, “Yes, my lady?”

“I want you to stay but will not force you to. You may leave if you wish.” I was looking into her eyes now which were deep blue.

“If my lady will have me, I will remain,” then she leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. Hers were soft and her tongue teased my lips open then touched the tip of my own tongue and retreated. I wanted to rape her.. no I wanted her to rape me for I always enjoyed being taken over taking, and preferred sex over making love but I didn’t want to scare her away. When we separated, I laughed and used the hem of my shift to wipe my lipstick from her face, then I wiped my own off and kissed her back.

I took her hand from my thigh and kissed the palm, then ran my tongue to the tip where I took it all into my mouth, teasing her tip with my tongue. Then when her breath quickened, I released her from my mouth and placed that hand upon my breast.

***

The next morning I stretched, looked at Elena, then rolled over to enjoy more of the previous evening. While thus engaged and crying my throat out, Elena screamed and pushed herself away and into a corner. I reached for her but she avoided me and pointed to the door. “Good morning, love,” I said to Gazelle. “This is Elena. She works in a bakery. Elena, this is Gazelle. Gazelle is the gentlest person you will ever see… unless you hurt her friends.. and what you did to me is far from hurt.” I tried to comfort her but she was too scared. Ok, “Gazelle, love, would you give me a few minutes with Elena please?”

When we were alone again, I handed her her dress which she donned in record time. “Elena, I do what Daniil bragged about last night. Gazelle comes from another world and was captured by some bad people. I rescued her in Aktau some hundreds of leagues east of here and am returning her to her home. She’s very gentle, really! She also loves wheat cakes. Can I bring her in again?”

“She scares me. She’s so huge and evil looking.”

“Gazelle,” I called, “can you bring Ruth and the Twins in please.”

It took awhile to convince Elena that Gazelle was safe. Having the twins essentially ignore her as they passed in and out to fetch breakfast helped. Still, she never did feel completely comfortable, even when I insisted that we visit her shop and bought about half her stock.

We spent the day sightseeing and shopping and enjoying the day. Bucharesti had some of the most beautiful buildings in Eastern Europe and I tried to see them all. Of course Gazelle attracted attention but little fear. After being conquered and re-conquered a dozen times, anything that didn’t rape, rob or kill them was to be tolerated. Especially if we paid in silver for what we wished.

Ruth was met in the morning by Daniil who may have slept in the street to ensure he didn’t miss her and went along with us. He was nervous with her around and somehow it never occurred to him that we were THE Janice et company. Maybe he was the only person in the country who had no clue but we enjoyed his company and his knowledge of the city. Bucharesti, it seemed, had been founded by some peasant named Buchi who had camped here then built a house. Centuries later Vlad Dracula re-named the city to Bucharesti to honor that man. Dracula had many quirks and naming such a huge and important city after a peasant was just one but no one questioned Prince Vlad. They never questioned him while alive, or at least those who did never lived to brag about it. And now that he was dead, even though excommunicated and damned to wander the Earth a ghost or vampyre he was held in such respect for stopping the Turks that they still respected his wishes.

Daniil told us about the churches and mosques and synagogues and even waited outside one when Ruth went inside to pray. While we waited, we had a light lunch and he, of course, switched his attentions to me again until I told him to his face, “Daniil, first of all, I am Boyer and you peasant so do you really expect me to submit to you? Second, I prefer the company of women and you are a man. Third, Ruth is a friend and I won’t betray my friends. So accept your place or leave.”

He sulked a bit then brightened when Ruth exited the synagogue. I hoped that Ruth wouldn’t submit to him. Even Gazelle commented, “Janice, that man seeks sex more than even do you.”

Early that evening I returned to the bakery and invited Elena to dinner. “Where?” she asked.

“Any place that you wish. Is there any eatery that you’ve always wanted to visit?”

“Well, My Lady,” she looked at the other workers then said, “There is a place but I could never afford to eat there. One meal costs more than I make in a month.” She told me that place and I said, “Then when you are finished here, clean up. I will return this evening.” I gave her a time then with her fellows envious of her, I left.

After the problem with Gazelle, I’d have to seduce her all over again but even here, woman-lovers were scorned and her employer tolerated her only because she was meeting with a noble and no one argued with a Boyer. I thought about this for a moment then found a dress shop nearby and entered.

The owner curtseyed to me and began the usual fawning that they do which I admit I enjoyed though Gazelle’s familiarity was also a joy. “Do you know Elena who works in the bakery down the street?”

“No my Lady,” she replied to which I said, “You will.”

I walked around the store then said, “This one I think. Please find one that will fit her and deliver it to her on the nonce.” Then I described her appearance, size and shape to the best of my memory and told her how to find my lover. I paid her handsomely for her work and left to find a coach for the remainder of my stay. Although I enjoyed walking around the city, sometimes you needed to make an entrance and nothing attracts attention like a coach and gown and jewelry.

I took a quick bath but chose to avoid any sex with the twins as I wanted to be ready for Elena that night and so dressed well. “Ruth, Gazelle, I have a dinner date tonight so you will have to entertain yourselves. Gazelle, please watch over Ruth. I’d hate to have to kill anyone for harming her.”

Gazelle looked up and said, “Ruth isn’t a child. If she were you’d not seek her body as you do. She can care for herself.” Then she returned to her art for she had recently taken up drawing though her fingers were too stubby to hold a brush well. I touched her, kissed her cheek and said, “You are right my love, sometimes I take my position as protector too seriously. Is that the bridge we crossed? It’s very well done.”

Gazelle couldn’t smile but she did touch my hand, her massive one easily dwarfing my own. “Yes it is. I’m glad you recognized it. I was afraid that I had no skill.”

“My Dearest Love, you have so many skills and talents that I grieve that we will separate before I learn them all.” Then I hugged her as tight as I could.

“Janice, you will be late,” she said and returned to her art.

With the twins to help, I was dressed quickly, my hair done and cosmetics applied though I made certain I had a hankie in my cleavage to wipe. Then I kissed them all good night and passed Daniil on the way out. On the spur of the moment I stopped and said, “Ruth means much to me. She is like a daughter to me and a sister to Gazelle.” Then I left and entered my coach not knowing if I was being too subtle. Men are pretty oblivious and unless you carve your message into their arms, they tend to ignore a woman’s words.

I had no idea of where Elena lived so had the driver return to the bakery where I found the place locked and darkened. Damn! “Driver! Come here please and awaken the owner.” The man was much larger than I and in less time than it takes to tell, the door was opened and the owner, still covered with flower was peeking out. “My Lady Innis, Elena isn’t here. She received your dress and begged time to change and ready herself. None of my useless girls could do any work so I had to close early despite the cost to my business.” She wasn’t happy but knew enough to avoid upsetting a woman who could have her business closed and her flogged.

“I understand and I’m sorry that my little gift caused you so much trouble. Here,” I handed her a handful of silver Drachmas and continued, “I trust that this will cover your loss and that Elena and her friends will remain in your good graces.” We both knew it wasn’t a request. She took the money almost as fast as she saw it and kissed my hand assuring me that any ill will against Elena had never crossed her mind. I then asked for directions to her home and entered my coach which left the woman wondering how far she could push before profit turned to loss.

Elena was waiting for me with her friends all of whom had helped her get ready. An attractive woman before, she was beautiful now and I wanted to…. Instead I took both her hands and told her how beautiful she looked. Being on the trail so often where we bathed only when we could find water or rain and wore the same clothes a week at a time, sometimes I forgot that people cleaned up well.

I led her to the coach and the driver helped us both inside then took us to dine. “No one has even treated me like this before,” she coo’d. “I don’t even care that they know I am with a woman. I wish this would never end.”

Dinner was excellent, it should be I spend enough money on it. When I thought about it, I could have bought a half dozen slaves, each one more beautiful that the last and every one willing to service me in any way I desired for less than that night. So why the hell was I trying to impress her so much? The most I would expect would be a few more days of bed-time passion then I’d leave her behind. Gazelle said that I thought too much with my loins but here I was doing more than that and couldn’t understand why.

We spent the evening in small talk, she of her life as a child indentured to the bakery then ten years later when she was released, remaining on, while I talked of my childhood in Ireland and occasionally of my children. She, herself, had none yet that lived though one had been killed as the Turks were driven from the city. So to change to a happier topic, she asked how I came to be here so far from Ireland and carrying Asian weapons.

“I had been to Nippon as a child then again as an adult and wanted to return hence my kimono and weapons. Nippon in the Spring is even more beautiful than Ireland. So I left for a visit and got diverted to Russia.” I explained but carefully avoided that Sarmatian God who had cursed me. “I traveled south seeking a way somewhere and met Stars, my Amazon lover. When our child was born, I was sent away for Amazons raise their daughters alone. I found Gazelle in chains and freed her and am returning her to her home and family and Bucharesti happens to be on the road. We’ll leave in a few days to return my servants to their family on Sofia then on to Greece for Gazelle. After that? I don’t know. I can’t return to my own family for another two years so perhaps I’ll visit Cathay and look up an old friend from the Caravan. Or maybe Italy. I hear they are doing wondrous things with fountains and art there and I’d like to see what’s new.”

I loved Venice despite the stink of the canals which were also the cities sewers, and the Morganti’s wouldn’t recognize me now though my name would give me away. The idea of assassinating the Morgantis made me smile and the Medici or Borgia families would probably pay well me to remove their rival to power. Yes, after returning Gazelle, Venice!

“Your life is so wonderful and exciting. Sometimes I wish I could live like you, not being afraid of people knowing,” she leaned over and whispered, “that I prefer women. Or seeing so many things and knowing that you make your own decisions and not having others tell you what to do.” She was so cute. She had no idea of what Adventuring really was like. Most nights you sleep on the ground eating stale food, people always trying to kill you. Half the time you cannot trust your companions and never trust your employer who will likely have you killed when you are done to avoid paying you.

“I can do what I wish for three reasons only,” I said. “First, I am a noble and in this world, nobility has power. Second I am a warrior and carry a sword and so long as I know how to use it, people are afraid to tell me what to do. And third, Gazelle is so intimidating that people rarely are willing to make her angry. If I were missing any of these three, my life would be far more difficult.”

Princess Erzsebet Batoria of Scejthe

Our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of a woman of noble personage. Her skin was as milky white as her hair was raven dark and her amber eyes seemed to see through everyone and everything. I was quite taken by her and as the employees bowed and curtseyed to her, she looked directly at me, her eyes glancing to my bosom which was mostly revealed by my low gown. She smiled at me, receiving one in return and then passed on. Moments later a servant approached and handed me a paper, saying, “The Princess Erzsebet Batoria of Scejthe requests your presence at her home for lunch tomorrow.”

I looked at the message, tucked it into my cleavage and said, “Tell the Princess that The Lady Janice Obrien, Baroness Innis of Ireland is grateful for her kind invitation and will be there with anticipation.” This might be fun. I smiled back to the Princess and then returned to my date and tried to make her forget that I had been flirting with another woman.

After dinner was over, I took a bottle of wine and we left the restaurant when I suggested, “It’s a nice evening with the moon overhead, let’s walk for awhile to settle our dinner. Driver, follow us please, but not so close that you disturb our conversation.”

As we walked, I wished that I could hold her hand or kiss her in public but even in Bucharesti, they were not that liberal. So long as we were subtle and kept our affections behind doors we could be together. But in public, we would be arrested or gang-raped, for too many men felt that the best way to turn a lesbian to heterosexuality was to hold her down and take turns until we realized that a rough violent man was better than a gentle woman. Strange because here, Islam accepted men loving men and their culture of harems encouraged that practice for lack of women. Yet they were offended by women doing the same. The ancient Greeks were the same. They kept women locked in the bedroom, pregnant and alone for fear that an empty womb would break free and choke the heart but encouraged men to love other men. So we could walk and talk but not touch, pretending to be friends only.

The night was still and dark and the droppings of the horses hadn’t yet been cleaned from the streets so there was the usual stink of horse manure and chamber-pots and so we walked a delicate balance between the filth on the walks and the fertilizer in the streets, all the while holding our dresses off the ground and avoiding alley openings. But still the company and conversation was pleasant and I enjoyed the evening and was trying to be subtle enough to ask if we should go to her place or my rooms to be alone when we saw a man lurching down the street. He was large and armed with a massive club and dressed in rags and his walk suggested not so much drunkeness but injury.

I kept my eyes on him as I loosened my wakazashi and tanto which I kept concealed in the folds of my dress. The shop doors were closed and there were few lights in the upper windows for people slept early and woke equally early here so absent the Watch, which was always elsewhere, if this man was a danger, we were on our own. So I turned and called, “Driver, we are ready to ride,” and motioned for him to approach that we could climb into the coach.

The coach stopped and the horses were nervous but he applied the brake and stepped down to open the door for us when the horses bolted in terror and in their flight, tore the brake free and we lost our carriage and our driver who ran off after his charge. Damn! Alone in the dark and no idea of where home lie. What was worse, the man on the street was rapidly approaching and even I could smell the stink of corruption.

Elena screamed and backed away against the wall, cowering in terror. Stupid girl. Run or fight but not cower. When being chased you only need to run faster than your pursuer or your slowest companion but standing still as you scream or looking behind as you run leads to death.

I wished I had brought my katana but it messed with the lines of my gown so I carried only the shorter of my swords. That meant I’d have to get in closer and avoid his club. I hiked my hem up, drew sword and knife and went on guard, “Begone, fiend for you face a Boyer and a Celt! Leave and live, continue and die.” I shouted. Ok, I could now see that I was wasting my breath. The thing was already dead and had been sewn closed in a number of places. It’s eyes were glazed and shrunken and so it could not see so must have other senses.

It swung at me and missed for I wasn’t fool enough to try to block. I weighed about 125 pounds, he weighed half that again and would break my bones with little effort so survival meant being faster. I dodged and slashed severing muscle but not bone and his club fell to the ground. As I moved away, he knelt and picked it with the other hand so I moved in and cut downward with both hands and his head fell to the ground. The body stood, shuddered, then collapsed to a heap at my feet. Well that was easy. I poked at him with my blade but nothing other than an increase in the stink as time caught up with him. I wiped the filth from my blade on his rags, re-sheathed and stepped back to Elena who was in shock.

“Undead,” was all she would say and that over and over. She wouldn’t even let me hold her but pushed me away. “Elena, we must flee this place and return home to safety. Which way do we go?” I had to shake her to get an answer then led her in that direction.

I kept my blades handy as we walked, her mumbling and me searching the streets for more of the monsters and a block later, I spied a wagon cleaning the street of the day’s droppings. “Man! I cried, I am Baroness Innis! A silver drachma if you take us safely home.” These people made pennies a day so they agreed immediately. I gave them Elena’s house and they easily turned their wagon around, lay rags on the seat for us and with the smell of horse dung filling our noses, we returned to her home.

She refused my embrace and entered the place she shared with others and closed the door in my face. I couldn’t blame her. I fought these things every week it seemed but she feared these nightmares more than life itself. But I was in need of release for I had spent the day planning and thinking of my time with her and killing that thing had my blood flowing more so I returned to my rooms miserable.

Hansel awoke when I entered and helped me undress then I looked at him. Dear Hansel, his cherries removed by the Turks to keep his figure boyish or girlish, and I thought, ‘why not?’ and asked, “Hansel, if you are not too tired, would you mind serving me tonight for I am in some need?”

“Of course, my Lady! I am honored to make you as happy as I can.” So I turned away and held my hair up so he could kiss my neck and cup my breasts then when I felt his hardness pressing into my buttocks, I pulled my shift to my hips and bent over to allow him access. “Harder!” I cried and when I was finished for the third or fourth time, I cried, “Enough! I’m not used to your attentions and fear awakening sore and bruised.” I kissed him and said, “Thank you my dear Hansel, I believe that now I can sleep tonight.” And he bowed and left me alone. As soon as he left, and I was in bed, Ruth entered and asked, “Lady, may I sleep with you tonight? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course, Ruth,” I offered as I lifted the covers for her. She slid in next to me and said, “I saw you with Hansel. He was rough with you and pulled your hair as if he were riding a horse.”

“That is how I prefer my pleasure, dear. Sometimes gentle, sometimes rough. I prefer the tenderness of a woman’s touch, the softness of her lips but when I am randy, I am like a cat in heat and …” I trailed off for we both had seen a Queen surrounded by Toms, fighting over their turns.

“Lady, if you prefer women, why Hansel?”

“Hansel has a girl’s body and though has a manhood, is lacking those parts that produce babies and body hair. Thus I can pretend, for I see little difference between a hairy man and a hairy dog. Both stink and think of naught but a woman’s loins and drinking from a chamber-pot.” The thought of Daniil or any other man still made my stomach turn.

“Daniil is hairy,” Ruth offered without my asking. “I find his body to be very.. nice.”

“Daniil?” I was almost shocked and not a little jealous.

“Oh we have done little more than kiss for his faith prevents him from seeing me as a woman so I know to him I am but a trollup he must work for. But he is a very good kisser.” She snuggled closer, inflaming my lust again then asked, “Why do you not enjoy men, Lady?”

How could I tell her what I once was. Stars had struck me when she learned and we had been lovers for months after I had rescued her from those bandits. My past wasn’t something that many people could accept. “It’s complicated. Let us leave it at that.” Men as sexual objects disgusted me, and my first experiences with men were nothing less than attempted rape. When I finally submitted to Yu, I almost vomited after the act, though in time I learned to enjoy his touch. But he was, I find, an exception and being with Daniil gave me the same feelings I would have were he a dog, though I did once have a friend who preferred the attentions of her own canines. She told me that they were more loyal than a man and she never feared raising puppies. Ruth would find that disgusting but then, she also found my desires for women disgusting too.

We fell asleep then and in the morning, I rolled over, looked at her then kissed her in her sleep. Then to prevent my taking advantage of the girl, I left the bed and sought Gazelle. I loved Gazelle for some reason that went beyond any physical bond. She was a gentle soul who evoked my maternal instincts and never failed to see in me what I was, not what I pretended. She also had the ability to smell magick and I wanted to talk with her about the previous evening.

I sat there in my shift, Gazelle naked and talked as Gretel brought us breakfast. Her, oats and hay and bread, me, eggs and cheese and bread and milk and some chicken from last night. It never bothered Gazelle that I ate meat though if I ate too much she commented that I stank like a dog or a lion.

“Love, last night as I was returning from dinner, Elena and I were attacked by a walking corpse. It lurched as if a stringed puppet and when I cut, it bled not though that limb was useless. I removed it’s head and it fell and decomposed as if it’s unnatural vitality had vanished. I’d like to solve the mystery of it’s existence. Mayhaps there are more that need killing.”

She thought of this for a moment then said, “We should bring Ruth along, and the twins for they may be useful.”

I listened to Gazelle because she rarely talked but what she said was always useful so I stood to fetch the two. As I neared the partially open door I heard Hansel talking to Ruth. He and his sister had been Bulgarian slaves of the Turks and Ruth was a peasant Jew so they felt more comfortable with her than with me, a foreign noble, and the three would often discuss their lives and dreams together when I was away.

Ruth had apparently asked him about last night for he was explaining, “I don’t complete as do other men because I lack those parts which the Turks removed to keep me a boy. But I enjoy the act as it feels like kissing. Soft or tender with smooth sensations. But I also learned to enjoy being penetrated as do women, though I prefer that to be gentle. Why do you ask?”

“I’m curious. I’ve been with only one man and that one time was more pain than pleasure, and Lady Janice is little help in these matters. I know she loves me as she does you and your sister but her desires for me are obvious as is her lack of experience with men. I find Daniil curiously desirable and dream of his touch. But I don’t know what to do or how.”

Hansel laughed, “Then you should speak to my sister for as a slave she must submit to any man who paid our masters price and would be whipped if she didn’t please him.”

“But you submitted too? You should know what a man enjoys more than she?” Ruth suggested.

As much as I wanted to hear this, I had business to do. Some night I’d bring us all together, open a few bottles of wine and compare notes, experiences and when drunk enough, experiment. But now, I knocked and called, “Ruth, Hansel, can you come here please. We have matters to discuss.”

I was dressing when they entered, this time in my working dress and not my gown. When Ruth saw me thus, she returned to her room and fetched her own clothing, this time, man’s dress to her normal Jewish Woman’s clothing. As we dressed I explained in detail what had happened and suggested that we visit the area and look around. Now we were no longer servant and mistress but companions in arms and though it made the twins more nervous at this near equality, Ruth became more confidant for she knew that I valued her this way as did no others.

I had the Inn harness the wagon and saddle our horses and prepare food and drink as we discussed our options. “Mayhaps it was a vampire seeking your vitality to prolong it’s life?”
“Or some magickian playing god!”
“Could someone have been buried on cursed ground?”
“Someone who was very bad when alive, or sold his soul?”

We discussed the possibilities for a while until I was notified that our wagon was ready and then mounting, proceeded to the area of the previous night. Or we tried for Daniil ran up and asked wither we were going. “Have you a horse nearby?” I snapped. When he answered in the affirmative, I ordered, “Fetch it quickly and catch up.” He left at a run then Gazelle said, “Jealousy does not become you. Be content with the love you have and seek not the lust you cannot.”

I laughed a bit, “You are right my love. A year ago Yu became angry when I bedded Stars and not him. I told him essentially the same thing and now, I suffer as did he. I shall try to live up to your words.”

Daniil caught up with us on a horse that was better than I expected of his station and asked Ruth, “What are we doing dressed so plainly and armed so?”

She laughed and said, “We go to hunt and destroy the undead that terrorize Bucharesti!”

“WHAT!” I didn’t need to see him to know he was terrified. In Ireland we have no vampires and few werewolves. Most of our problems come from the Fey and these could be appeased but here, you can’t kick a rock without some monstrous undead thing biting your thigh. Ruth handled herself well, considering that a couple weeks ago she was as terrified as he so she may be putting up a brave front to impress him.

When we arrived to find the corpse, it was, of course, cleaned up for those who collected the day’s horse dung also picked up the stray bodies left by assassin and mugger. In cities like this, only Vlad Dracula was able to enforce the laws against murder, rape and robbery and with him dead, the criminal element that had survived his impailings had returned.

I looked around then sent the twins and Ruth and Daniil around to ask questions. Few peasants would speak to a noble but they would speak to another of their class, especially with the copper coins I gave Hansel and Gretel to open doors and tongues. Ruth sought out the local Jews, which were few as even here, those of her faith were forced to live in their own neighborhoods away from the Christians who felt that the love they claimed their dead Christ preached applied only to them.

Gazelle sniffed around but couldn’t smell any magick. “Maybe there was none or it faded with the thing’s death or maybe all these people have walked it away,” she suggested.

I reached into our wagon for a flask of wine which was much safer to drink than the local water, and waited in the shade of an awning for our companions to return. Even though my dress was plain, it was of excellent quality and my jewelry marked me as Boyer so people stared at Gazelle, avoiding her but bowed and curtseyed to me. I looked around trying to remember which windows overlooked the scene and had been lit for hearing a woman’s scream would bring observers but no aid. “That one, love,” I pointed and we crossed the street where Gazelle stood outside the narrow door while I entered.

I casually glanced at the wares, candles I think, then when the owner was finished bowing and kissing my hand I asked, “Last night a man died in the street after attacking two women. Do you know of this?”

He turned pale and insisted that he slept through everything until I stopped him, “First, I was the woman who killed the thing,” I tapped my katana in proof. “Second, I know you saw what happened and third, I will pay for information.”

He looked at my purse which I was casually massaging to make the coins jingle and he had to wrap his pitiful brain around the fact that he could remain silent and risk my considerable wrath or speak and either be paid for information or punished for his lack of assistance to a noblewoman in need. I let him think as I examined my nails. The enamel was beginning to chip, perhaps another color was due? When I looked at him, my glance made him back away but when I didn’t follow he said, “My Lady, please forgive me. By the time I reached my window it was over and you had killed the thing so you needed no help…” he babbled on for a moment until I tired of his prattle and tapped him to stop.

“I don’t care much about that now. What I do care is what attacked me! Where did it come from! Who or what is involved! And How many others were attacked! So answer and be rewarded or remain silent and Gazelle will enter and probably crush every object in your shop, she being not as graceful as her name.”

The man near fainted with fear but finally stammered out what I didn’t want to hear but needed. Then I handed him a handful of coppers and left. We returned to the wagon and met our companions and then found a place to have a bite and a drink while we compared notes. It wasn’t much but more than we had to go on before. These undead had been stalking the streets for weeks, maybe months. Men they killed easily, probably due to the lack of weaponry the locals failed to carry. Women, young women, vanished as they were carried off. When they managed to stop one, they had to burn it or remove it’s head to kill it. No one knew where they came from but more attacks seemed to happen a mile closer to the palace than anywhere else and this is where the first were sighted. The police never came by in the evening, they always waited until daylight and then came in numbers and armed and armored and did nothing useful but left before dark.

Daniil could offer nothing to this as he had never heard of these attacks. Goddess! The man was useless sometimes. “Let’s pack up and check the area where they started.” Daniil’s horse started when Gazelle came close but Ruth calmed it with a glance. Daniil probably thought he did it himself.

We knew that we were in a better part of town because we saw the Watch here and there. There weren’t enough to make a difference but enough to say that they were pretending to protect the city. They stared at us but made no move for Daniil and I were armed as was Gazelle and those few Watch we saw were in pairs only and were afraid to act unless they outnumbered their victims.

We attracted more attention than before because adventurers generally avoided the better parts of the city. As usual the twins talked to the servants while I bought some beers for the watchmen who strolled by pretending that they were protecting the citizens. “I am Lady Janice, Baroness Innis staying in your city for a few days. I have heard that people are being abducted from the streets at night and that concerns me. Can you tell me anything?” I made certain that I left change from our drinks within their reach. When I glanced away, the money vanished. I set a couple silver Drachma on the table but kept my fingers over them and waited.

“Lady Baroness, All we know is that two months ago we received complaints that ghouls were walking these streets and that young women were vanishing with their escorts killed. The Prince ordered more patrols in this area which slowed then stopped the attacks.” One said, his eyes never leaving the money.

“And the other areas of the city?” I pressed.

They looked at each other then one continued. “There are stories of attacks and abductions in the poorer areas but we investigate and find nothing.”

“Do you investigate at night when these ghouls walk or in the day when it is safe?”

“My Lady, you must understand, I don’t get paid to risk my life for the poor people.”

I removed my fingers and said with some anger, “That is EXACTLY what you get paid to do.” Then I turned away in contempt. “Leave me.”

They left and I didn’t care to see if they bowed or not. I was afraid that the backs of their neck would be too tempting a target.

Soon after Ruth and Daniil returned with Hansel and Gretel and we compared notes. It appeared that this wealthy area was the center of the first attacks, then when the Watch increased patrols, they moved to other areas. Sometimes the ghouls turned out to be the men who had been killed by an earlier ghoul but the girls always vanished forever.

“Then it appears that this neighborhood is the center of the problem. Let us take rooms here that we may be nearby when the next girl is taken.” I suggested.

“But Lady,” Ruth countered. “If the attacks are no longer happening here, why not watch those areas where they are going on?”

“We will, dear. But whomever is at fault lives here and moved into this area but two months ago. We will seek those who arrived at that time and watch the streets for a ghoul carrying a girl. We will also search the other areas hoping for a sighting and follow the ghoul to it’s lair.”

“And who will be the bait?” Daniil asked.

“No one.” I countered sternly. “I want you all safe. The problem with setting one as bait is that the criminals are often smarter than the police and the bait dies before they can be rescued. No, we watch and if we see it, we ensure that it remains alive but cannot capture another victim. Then when it returns to it’s nest in frustration, we follow. Unlike the vampires we killed in Ploiesti, these appear to be dead in their brains so they can be outwitted. I don’t want them, I want he who controls them. Now, where can we find a good room?”

We found an excellent Inn nearby but there were problems. “My Lady, you must understand. Both you and your servants are welcome to remain but the Jewess and your…” he trailed off as I leaned forward. “Baroness, we do have standards.”

I lay gold on the counter and he looked at it but was adamant until Daniil offered, “Lady Innis, perhaps if I could speak to him alone?” and dragged the clerk to a corner where he talked quietly. Then they returned and the clerk took my gold and said, “Our inn is at your service. Please make yourself at home.”

I sent the twins to our former room and asked Daniil, “What did you say to make him give in when I could not?”

“I simply reminded him that this inn could easily be purchased by an Irish Noble or a Wallachian Jew who would gladly throw him and his family on the street and ensure by gold that he never found another position outside a chamber pot.” Perhaps this man was useful after all.

We sought our rooms and the clerk not only bowed to me but to Daniil as well and so I decided to bathe as I waited for our gear. The clerks remembered the Turks and so weren’t shocked at my demands for soap and hot water and as Gazelle snored in our new room, Ruth and I lay in the tub and sipped wine and ate pieces of fruit and nuts.

“Ruth,” I apologized. “Perhaps Daniil isn’t so bad after all. He convinced the Inn to take us all in. We’ll see what more happens when we confront the ghouls and their master.”

Shortly after the twins arrived and Ruth was so used to them she never cared that Hansel could see her naked body. For a moment I wondered if Daniil had seen it too but buried that thought as unpleasant. Hansel began to wash Ruth’s hair as Gretel did mine and as I relaxed under her expert fingers, said, “Hansel, Gretel, you know I value you in so many ways. You are excellent servants, the best I ever had and I truly enjoy what you do to me in bed. But here is where I value you the most. You can gather information from the other servants and slaves, information that no police or Noble could hope to learn, and this information will help us solve this mystery. I need your help in this manner. Please ask around and learn what you can. BUT, and I must make this clear. Do NOT endanger yourselves in any way. I need your help and I want you alive and safe. You are not bodies to be tossed aside but valuable assets and friends whose love I cherish. So please be careful as you investigate for me.”

Gretel leaned over and kissed me, her lips soft and tasking of roses as she caressed my lips with her tongue before she pulled away. “My Lady, we are at your command in any and every way. I would gladly give my life for you but we shall take great care for I know you would risk your own life to save us and neither my brother nor I wish you to endanger yourself unnecessarily.” Then she rinsed my hair and then moved to my feet and rubbed them for my hair, being just below my shoulders was washed faster than Ruth’s which flowed to the small of her back.

I was relaxing when Ruth pulled her leg from the water and looked at it. “Lady,” she asked as she turned it this way and that. “Do you think I’d look prettier with my legs and arms shaved as yours and Gretel’s are?”

“What brings this up?” I asked. The truth is that she would. European women rarely removed any body hair, especially Eastern European and Jewish women. Gretel did so because Turks preferred their girls and boys to look very young so both of my servants took care to remove all hair, including that on their private areas to look as children. I found this bare skin to be exciting, save that with Hansel it reminded me of what had been removed so I rarely looked at him there. Gretel and Ruth, however, I stared at often, Gretel’s total hairlessness revealing her nether lips which invited a kiss, Ruth’s overly hairy area promising an exploration that I could not perform.

“I was wondering. You are very beautiful and your bare legs and arms and trimmed female area adds to that beauty. I look like a man with all this dark hair.” She commented as she placed her leg, covered in dark hair next to my bare one.

“Ruth, you are beautiful as you are. I have no hair because I prefer the contrast though before my curse I was as hairy as are you, more so even. If for me and as a lover, then please do so for I find Gretel’s hairless body a definite sexual excitement. But if for you, then decide how YOU wish to look. Though, I will tell you that hair, especially that between your legs, itches when it regrows and the look requires constant attention as both Hansel and Gretel can attest.”

“Daniil doesn’t seem to mind, though he has been with only hairy women. He does, however, stare at you often. When I told him about your bare skin, he got very excited and so I slapped him and pushed him away saying that ‘when you are that excited about me, I shall consider your desires.’ I was afraid to describe your pierced nipple for fear he’d loose control.” She kept looking at both our legs then lifted mine and ran her cheek along my calf, causing my nipples to harden and me to become wet even under this water.

“Lady, is bare skin so sensitive that even my caressing your leg excite you?” she asked.

“Ruth, I have only a certain amount of skin on my body and I love to have every inch touched, caressed and kissed. Hair or lack of hair matters little in that area. So stop, or continue and loose your virtue.” I commanded.

She lay my leg back in the water, laughed and said, “I wish I could be as excitable as are you. My one time I wasn’t ready at all and I find Daniil to be too aggressive for he gives me not enough time to relax and want him. So I push him away to slow him down.”

“Tell that man that love is not a race to see who finishes first but a song to share the same cords and harmonies together,” I suggested. But then, who was I to talk. Ruth was right, with Stars I often climaxed a dozen times before she did once and sometimes I didn’t care if my partner was ready, I simply dove in to slake my rutting lust.

“I think you should nap so tonight you and Daniil, Gazelle and I can remain awake to watch for these monsters. I wish I could but I have a lunch date with Princess Erzsebet that I must hurry to meet. Hansel & Gretel, neither of you are warriors so please remain safe here and use your talents to ask questions.” I commanded as I rose and dried. I’d have to hurry to make my appointment.

“But Lady,” Hansel offered, “Ruth is not a warrior either and you send her onto the streets?”

“Ruth has other means to protect herself. She can bring a flock of ravens or a pack of dogs to protect her, assuming that Daniil will leave her alone long enough to watch for the monsters we seek. Or should I ask Ruth to leave him alone? Speaking of which, Ruth, it occurs to me that an unburied dead brings flies and rats. Can you tell if there are more than the usual number in an area? And with Gazelle smelling out magick, we can use both your talents to find they whom we seek.”

“I shall try, My Lady. I cannot hear their thoughts but I can tell if they are happy, hungry or fed and I can know numbers.”

“Then Please try. How do I look? Good enough to impress a princess?” I asked.

“She would be blessed to be seen with you and ashamed that your beauty outshone her own,” Ruth replied.

She was so sweet to say so. I kissed them all and left in the coach that Erzsebet had sent for me. It was much nicer than the one I had rented the night before and I enjoyed the ride as we approached a fine manor where another servant awaited to open the door and show me inside. “The Lady Janice Obrien, Baroness Innis of Ireland,” he announced as I entered and curtseyed to the Princess. She came to me, took my hands and kissed my cheek and said something in a language I didn’t understand. It sounded Slavic but wasn’t the Romanian I had been speaking since I arrived. I tried Latin as a universal and she smiled and replied in that language, “I’m so happy you are here, and that we can speak without a translator. I, myself, speak Hungarian, German and Latin but not the local language. Come, sit and let us talk as friends. Thorko, refreshments for our guest.” She commanded the servant who bowed and left.

We sat upon a couch next to each other and she asked, “Tell me about yourself, your family and your ancestors.” Slavs were obsessed with family history. Perhaps it was their own ancestry which is varied or maybe they were conceited but I began, “I was born in Ireland and fought the English who had conquered my country for we Celts are a warrior race and our women are not afraid to take up the sword and stand beside their men. I am descended from the great High King Brian Boru whose name I bear but with the conquest of my nation, so have our fortunes fallen until I hold the rank of Tiarna which can be anything in your language from Baroness to Duchess for we Irish have a different rank of nobility than do your own people. I choose to bear Baroness because I left my lands behind when I travel.”

Thorko returned with wine, cheese and fruits, all cut into smaller bites with tiny skewers that we wouldn’t be forced to use a knife or fingers to eat. The wine was deep red and a bit bitter to my palate but then, I had drunk fermented mare’s milk during my travels so could handle almost anything.

“For reasons of my past, I enjoy travel, seeing new places and meeting new people. I was returning to Nippon which lies beyond the Empires of the Mongols and Mandarins but never made it that far as I met an Amazon with whom I became enamored (may as well let her know about my preferences early) then met Gazelle whom I promised to see home to her own people. There is little else to tell for I fear I lead a dull life.” This last was a lie but she’d not understand the truth.

She poured another glass for me with her own hands and laughed. “So too are we similar for my father was Prince Stephen Batoria who helped return Prince Dracula to his throne in 1546. I am Magyar Royalty and although I bear the title ‘Princess’, there is little of my kingdom left but Castle Scejthe and the surrounding provinces. I travel seeking knowledge and take my pleasures where I may. I have had my servants seek out information about you and your reputation is interesting and endlessly fascinating. You are a warrior woman yet dress as a noble woman instead of those others who wear men’s clothing. It is said that you hunt vampires and ghosts as men hunt deer and elk. And it is said that you take as your lovers women, beasts of the fields and even pagan gods. But peasants make up stories to while away their drab lives and I would know the truth.”

“Highness,” I began but she touched my hand and interrupted, “Please call me Erzsebet and I will call you Janice for I hope we will become friends and closer than friends.”

I nodded in compliance for she was a remarkably beautiful woman. “Then Erzsebet, I have killed man and beast and even undead in my time though I prefer not to face any of these. I seem to be in their way and have little choice. As for lovers, yes I have bedded a God upon occasion and after Him, men are found wanting. But I prefer the soft curves of a woman to the harsh hair of a man. Aradia, the Daughter of my God and Goddess took me to her bed long ago and She was different from Her Father but just as enjoyable. Men, I find seek their own pleasure then sleep before I am satisfied but a woman knows the value of long hours of love-making. Though I wish some women would be less gentle at times, for a man, at least, knows how to make a woman feel like a woman. Pity they have not a woman’s stamina or understand a woman’s pleasure areas. As for the beasts of the field, no, I take my pleasures with my own race.”

“And do you take pleasure in killing? Even now I see you carry a blade.” She asked.

“Mostly I kill out if necessity because they will not step aside or they chase me down. But I must admit that there have been times when I took pleasure in the killing of certain men. Unfortunately, these are times when nations war upon each other and to survive, I must know how to fight and be willing to kill those who will not leave me be.” I touched my wakazashi then returned to her eyes for they were the most sensual amber I had ever seen. I wished to dive in and roll around naked in their beauty.

“And what of your companions? I can understand your servants but you travel with a Jewess and I don’t know what to call your other friend.”

I was glad she was polite for despite my growing desire for her I wouldn’t allow physical lust to allow anyone to insult my friends. “Gazelle is my dearest friend. She saved my life on a dozen occasions including a couple weeks ago in this very city when she saved me from brutal gang-rape. Ruth is under my protection. She is companion and sees me more as a mother than friend I fear. We Irish are loyal to our friends unto death regardless of station or faith or race.”

She leaned over and whispered in my ear, her breath causing my heart to race, “Your loyalty does you credit. I hope that I will engender in your breast that same loyalty.” I felt her breath upon my neck and her hand lightly touching my thigh so I lay my hand upon hers, equally lightly and turned so our lips touched. I closed my eyes and moved closer until I could feel her lips then I moved her hand to my breast. When our first kiss was done, her hand remained upon my breast as she said, “I learned the joys of a woman’s body when I stayed with my aunt Klara. I learned much that year. May I share my knowledge with you?”

I was breathing so hard I barely managed to whisper, “Please do.” She released my breast too soon but stood and said, “Follow me then,” and walked away. I finished my wine with a gulp and near ran after her.

***

Her coach returned me to my inn as the sun set. It still stung to sit from her spanking and my wrists were red from the ropes she used and my nipples carried the marks of her teeth but I was so satisfied I cared not and had to be helped into the Inn then to my room. I hadn’t felt this good since Stars and wished I could remain the night but I needed time to heal, or build my strength.

When I fell to my bed, Ruth stared at me and demanded, “What were you doing? I see bruises and scratches on your neck and breasts. Were you molested?”

“Only a little dear Ruth. But it was delicious.”

Gazelle entered, looked at me and said, “Are you ready to seek the ghouls that haunt this city or would you prefer to sleep away your exertions?” I could never tell if she spoke in disapproval or not but sat up quickly, “Damn! I forgot all about that. Gretel, fetch me water and cloths please, Hansel, my working dress! I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

I dropped my gown and Ruth gasped to see the stripes upon my back and cheeks as I laved my face and neck and breasts. At least little blood had been shed and the scratches would heal quickly though I smiled at the memory of Erzebet licking the scarlet drops from my breasts with her tongue. Gretel washed my back for me then helped me dress and laced my vest as I adjusted my breasts within and then I stood and said, “I’m ready. Is Daniil helping tonight?”

“Yes Lady, he awaits outside,” she responded, her tone speaking of displeasure for my actions.

“Then I suggest that you and Daniil seek one area, Gazelle another and I the third. We watch for an undead, interfere with any abductions and when the thing returns frustrated to it’s lair, we follow. BUT, and I must emphasize this very strongly. Do NOT risk your own safety. We cannot stop them if you die before you can tell of what you discovered. Ruth, I worry for you so and if I cannot love you as a wife or mother, then allow me to love you as a friend. Please be careful and come to no harm.”

My words must have softened her anger for she smiled and hugged me, evoking a gasp of pain as my back and breasts were still very sore. Then she apologized and kissed me. “My dear,” I asked Gretel, “Can you fetch a cushion for my saddle? Thank you. When I told Ruth to be careful, that also applies to you as well. I don’t want either of you to suffer either for I love you also.” Then I kissed them both and left with my cushion for I feared I’d not be able to sit without it.

Outside in the stable, we chose our areas of search then made plans to meet at breakfast to compare notes. I also told them to leave notes as to where they were in case we had to search for them. And with this, we separated and began our watch.

I rode slowly for my arse was sore and couldn’t take the jolting of a trot but I managed to reach my chosen neighborhood easily. Although I kept thinking of the previous hours, I did manage to see and hear my surroundings as I crossed every street and alley until I was lost. Unfortunately, it was late and everyone was locked in for the night so I wasn’t able to ask directions of anyone. Well, to be truthful, on two occasions small groups of men came from an alley or the darkness within an alley but a tap on my katana and my position on my gelding convinced them to leave me alone.

It was long after midnight when I saw the thing I sought. It was heading towards the area of the original kidnappings but carried a girl in it’s arms. She didn’t fight so had swooned or had been rendered unconscious. I couldn’t allow it to harm her so approached the fiend. Rock, my gelding, refused to approach but I found a stick along the street which I used to good effect. I moved away then charged hoping to get close before my horse chose to avoid the thing and just as he began to act up, I flung the stick with all my might and struck it in the legs causing it to fall and release the girl.

I jumped off hoping Rock wouldn’t run too far and took the girls’ hand and dragged her to freedom until the thing reached out and took her hem in it’s hand and pulled back. Despite it’s being dead, it was far stronger than I and would easily win so I released her, pulled my katana and severed it’s hand with one stroke, then I took her hands again and pulled her to safety as it stood up.

I tossed her over my shoulder and staggered under her weight towards my horse which I called to little avail. “Get back here you stupid horse! I need you!” It smelled the thing following and refused to come close so I had to run to put distance between me and it. By the time I caught my gelding, if he hadn’t been castrated before I would have done it then, with a dull knife or my own fingernails. I was exhausted so barely managed to toss her over the saddle and climb on myself when the thing again panicked Rock who started and ran off with me clinging for dear life. I got control after a block and then poured wine from my canteen over the girl’s face until she awoke. She also panicked and struggled until I was able to calm her. “Be quiet, do you want it to find us again?”

She settled immediately and I helped her move to behind me where she grasped my waist with a death grip. “I must follow the thing to it’s lair. When you see a place you can be safe, tell me and I will take you there, but for now, be calm and let me work.”

“Yes lady,” she said, her voice trembling. She was terrified but obeyed.

I decided that leading it around in the hope it would catch me would be preferable to allowing it to run wild seeking further prey and so walked Rock to where we believed it lived, or un-lived with it following. The girl eventually pointed and said, “Lady, my brother lives down there, I will be safe with him.” So I turned and advanced a bit ahead to allow us time and once under their window, she shouted for her brother until the window opened. “Let me in, for god’s sake, the creature follows!” He looked and saw it approaching then vanished and a moment later the door opened, the girl was off and inside and I continued to lead the thing, now unencumbered.

We reached a wooded area which indicated wealth for in a walled city, land for building was at a premium at which time the thing left chasing me and wandered away on it’s own. I didn’t know if it was seeking it’s lair or new victims but I couldn’t ride into those trees and so had to tie Rock and pursue it on foot.

I was under a tree when I heard a voice call, “Lady Janice! Up here!” I looked up and around and saw a shadow move and wave at me. “Daniil?” I asked. “What are you doing here?”

“The same as you Lady. Come here and I’ll pull you up to me.” I approached and reached up with both hands. He held a branch with one hand, reached down with the other and, taking my wrists in his hand, easily pulled me into the tree and held me until my flailing feet found purchase on a branch. Then we climbed higher and he pointed to a large house hidden among the trees. “The one Ruth and I followed went there as does yours. I believe that the fiends are based in that manor.”

“And where is Ruth?” I demanded.

“Seeking you and Gazelle.” He answered. “I felt it safer for me to remain and she to leave seeking you two. If the fiends seek young girls, I want her as far away as possible.”

I touched his arm in the darkness and said, “I’m sorry I doubted you. Have you any thoughts on the matter at hand?”

“For now, no girls were taken that I know of so they may be desperate. If we wait and watch until morning, then we can search this woods for an opening or path that they took and follow in the daylight.” He offered.

“A good plan. You are not the fool sniffing at skirts that I thought. I’m tired, can you watch while I nap?”

“Easily. Unlike you I slept this day to prepare. I’ll awaken you in need.” His sarcasm wasn’t wasted so I gave him a dirty look in the darkness, found a crook and quickly fell asleep despite the aches in my back and nethers.

I awoke as the sun rose and found Daniil still awake but now with Ruth sitting next, their arms around each other and lips tightly together. I yawned and said, “It’s impossible to do more than that in a tree. I’ve tried. What news?”

“Nothing since your fiend passed by. Gazelle wanders the wood smelling for magick. I pity the fiend that seeks her as a prisoner.” Daniil explained as Ruth fastened her bodice.

“Then let us follow and seek what we may find. Daniil, can you lower me please, my dress catches on the branches.” I asked.

Ruth climbed down easily and Daniil lowered me to the ground then followed. Our horses came to Ruth’s silent call and followed us as we searched. We found nothing but Gazelle who said, “This place stinks of magick, evil dead magick but I cannot tell from whence it comes.”

I thought a moment then said, “I have an idea. Ruth, ride back and ask the twins to bring thread, lots of thread. And food and drink as well if you would.” As she left I directed, “we must await their return so let us continue to search for body parts, rotting rags or any trail until then.”

We searched for an hour until the three returned and as we ate I explained. “When you follow someone into a dungeon, you don’t search every passage, you look for disturbed spider webs broken in the passing. Let us tie thread at chest height all over between the trees. When the fiends pass, they will break the thread and tomorrow we can return to follow them to their lair.” The others saw the wisdom of my plan and we spent a couple hours tieing lengths of thread between trees until the place looked as if mad spiders had chased each other around the woods. Then doing all we could, I suggested that we return to our rooms and rest until our next plan.

Gazelle looked to me and said, “I was unaware that you enjoyed pain with your pleasure?”

I was a bit embarrassed but tried to say, “My love, you know I enjoy my sex rough and hard, this was simply rougher and harder than I am used to. It was unexpected and as you said, I think with my loins far too much.”

She touched my breast, caressing the scratches with a gentleness unexpected of her size and said, “She hurt you.”

“Not much love, but the pleasure overwhelmed the pain.”

“And the spell she did?”

I stopped, “Spell! What spell?”

“I smell magick on your breasts. She hurt you and did magick too. You’ve only had magick with sex once and that was when your God took you in that Circle. Was Erzsebet a God or a Witch as are you?”

“Just a woman with extreme tastes, or so I thought. Tell me more if you can.” Now I was scared. I refused to think of the obvious.

“I don’t know. I only smelled a spell on your breast,” she buried her nose between my breasts, pushing me back easily. Although I am well endowed and make Ruth look like a boy by comparison, Gazelle’s nose dwarfed my bosom easily as her hand dwarfs mine. “I can’t tell. Just a spell.”

“Hansel, Gretel! Attend me please. What did you learn? And did you hear anything of Princess Erzsebet?” All gathered for they were more scared than was I.

“Lady, servants talk as do slaves and they speak to feel the importance that their lives lack. People are always arriving and leaving the city, some remain a day, some years. The Princess Batoria arrived just before the first girls were captured. It is rumored that her servant, Thorko, is a Witch and she worse for she is known to love young beautiful women with large bosoms.” All looked at me. “It is also known that she loves the whip but only upon the bodies of her lovers.” Again that look. “And she is obsessed with youth and beauty. But she is of noble birth and her father is famous for helping to drive the Turks out and placing Prince Dracula back upon the throne of Wallachia.”

“As to the vanishings. Not all are women and not all are young and beautiful. Some are men but how many are related and how many are simple murders or enslavements no one can tell.”

I thought about this and commented, “I see we have two options. One is to wait and see where our trap leads. The other is to confront the Princess and see if she is involved. The first we cannot follow until the morrow, the second I can do after I bathe, sleep and eat. I hope we are wrong and she is innocent for I hate to think that I am that stupid.” I waited for questions or comments but none came.

As I bathed, Gretel took care for my stripes and scratches and bruises, washing them carefully and tenderly. She had been beaten many times as a slave and knew how they felt, though mine were not to punish and so were not as painful. I touched my breasts, feeling the scratches and remembering how she had licked away my blood, giving us both thrills and wondering why she did that. Ruth looked at my scratches and said, “Lady, where is your ring?” I looked at my hands but couldn’t tell which she meant then understood. My breasts were bare, the hole in my nipple sore but not bleeding. I reached between my legs almost hoping to find it there but nothing. “Oh well, I was planning to remove it anyway,” I commented casually. I didn’t remember her or I removing the thing and wondered what else I didn’t remember.

Then I dressed for sleep and went to my bed alone.

It was long hours later when I awoke refreshed and dressed in my nicer dress. I had a knife strapped to my thigh and another to my ankle and my wakazashi hidden in my dress. Daniil was there and asked, “Lady Janice, what did you tell her?” I knew what he meant and so replied looking directly into his eyes, daring him to judge me, “Nothing. She asked no questions and I was too busy screaming in pleasure to answer if she did. Besides, we can’t be certain she is guilty.”

Ruth jumped in, “She is, Lady. Daniil returned to the woods and keeping the manor in sight, circled it. At the front he saw the same carriage that took you to and from her home. We believe that the Princess Erzsebet is somehow involved. Why we don’t know how yet.”

I sighed then said, “Well, then that is my task, to find out the extent of her involvement and stop her. You must follow her fiends and prevent any more abductions and follow them to their lair. Perhaps she is a vampire? In my country it is believed that you stop vampires with a cross but not being a christian, I doubt that I’d have much success there. Well, I never saw a monster yet that couldn’t be killed by removing it’s head.”

Daniil commented, “My Lady, you are taking this quite well. Better than I would expect.”

I snapped at him then, “Am I some doe-eyed schoolgirl to open her heart and legs for the first sweet talk I hear. No, I’m too old for that foolishness. The princess was simply a means to slake my carnal lusts, nothing more. If she is responsible, we turn her over to the Watch. If she tries to harm me or you all, I kill her with no regrets. I will go and see what I can find and this time, I remain unbound and free to act.” I stalked off in anger but he was right to worry. Tied as I was yesterday, I was helpless so anything that happened today would find me free with naked steel at the ready.

“The Princess Erzsebet is not stupid. Before she invited me over she sent servants to ask questions about us. She knows who we are and what our past is. I don’t know if she suspects our seeking her ghouls for she approached me even before I saw the first of them. So she may simply be interested in my body for the pleasure it yields. Still, be alert.” Then I mounted my horse, wincing, and rode to her manor.

When I arrived, I dismounted and handing my reins to a servant, approached the door which opened before I could raise my fist. Another servant, not Thorko, answered, bowed and said, “Her Highness is expecting you. Please enter. I handed him my cloak in the entry-way and he added, “Her Highness requests that you leave your sword here. None will touch it save you.”

I snapped at him, “Am I some peasant to be disarmed out of fear? Have you knowledge of who I am and how close I am to your lady? And you demand that I, Boyer myself, give up my sword!”

He stood there and said, “It is her Highness’ wish. If you wish to see her, you must follow her wish too.”

Damn! I pulled my wakazashi and lay it on the table then strode off forcing him to run to remain ahead. In the lounge, I was alone and looked around. I hadn’t noticed before but the signs were unmistakable. There were books on the shelf and in a world where only a few priests were literate, this was an anomaly. Jars littered the shelves and when I looked inside one I found things that only my aunt in Ireland possessed. Items of magick and sorcery but were they her’s or Thorko’s? And where was my nipple-ring? Were they using it against me or was it lost during the games of yesterday?

My lover entered wearing a dressing robe so I curtseyed to her and said, “My lover, I have rested from yesterday and had to see you. My skin still tingles from our encounter and I would like to enjoy you again if I may.”

She smiled and held her hand which I kissed, then took her finger and sucked lightly with a lewd smile. I wasn’t acting. I really wanted to bed her again. “Sit with me Janice,” she directed. I sat across and leaned forward to give a view of my bosom for she loved large breasts even more than I did and I wanted her distracted. “Were you about to bathe?” I asked. “Would you enjoy some company?”

“Your words are tempting but not yet. What is it you wish more than anything in the world?”

“I never really thought of it. When I was very young I wanted one thing then when I got it, I found that I wanted something else. I think the seeking and striving was more important than the having.” I said.

“For me being is the most important thing and being young and beautiful is the greatest thing. Anything I can do to remain young and beautiful is worth the price.” She insisted on this point.

I thought about this and began to be concerned. “How do you plan to manage this? You are still young and beautiful and need no help for your body is desirable.”

“The secret,” said she, “is to remain young. To never age. And to accomplish this, I need help, your help. Come with me.” She commanded and in curiosity, I did so.

She led me to the basement and as we entered the passageway I smelled the stench of rotting meat. I started to turn around but saw Thorko behind with my drawn wakazashi. It was clear I was a prisoner so rather than be bound, I followed. At the bottom was a bathtub clean and waiting and next to that a bottle and cloth. Erzsebet dropped her robe and stepped naked into the tub, her body a marvel of perfection. “It was while I was a young girl barely a woman, my maid pulled my hair as she combed my tresses. I struck the clumsy girl with such force that I split her lip and her blood splashed upon my hand. I wiped it off and found that my skin was smoother, softer than before. I took her in my arms and kissed her hard, smearing the blood from her split lip onto my own and rubbed it in. Never were my lips so soft and full.” She talked as she opened the urn and poured some red liquid I now knew was blood onto the cloth and began to wash her skin with the fluid.

“I rushed to my aunt Klara with my discovery and she revealed that I had stumbled upon the secret of eternal youth. I must daily bathe in the blood of young, beautiful women. She took me to her own private room and Thorko, who was a young man then, dragged in a virgin whose throat he slit. The girl’s blood sprayed over our naked bodies and my aunt kissed me and rubbed the girls blood over my body as I did the same for her. That day she introduced me to the pleasures that only a woman can give another woman. We became lovers and daily would make love in the scarlet shower of yet another virgin.

“She also introduced me to the pleasures of pain, the sensuality of the whip. You know what I speak for you too love the caress of leather, the command of ropes. I heard it in your voice as you climaxed when I beat you and took you violently yesterday and you begged for more. We would give ourselves such pleasures from the screams of the girls before we bathed in their blood. Drank of their lives.” She spoke as if in a dream, then…

Her voice hardened. “Then one day the peasants burned Klara’s home. They were stupid people who didn’t understand that their pitiful lives meant NOTHING if it would prolong our own beauty. And so I continue, alone. I remain in a place and drain it of their girls then move on. Sometimes I stay a month, sometimes a year, sometimes longer.”

She looked at me, she covered in the blood of an innocent and stood. “When I tasted your blood from your own breast, I knew I had found a replacement for Klara. You have strength, power and passion. Embrace me, love me, taste of the elixer of life from my own breasts and womb as I did of yours and we will remain young forever.”

I stepped back then asked, “And how do you fetch these girls? I cannot believe that they would agree.”

She pointed behind me where Tharko stood with my steel in his hand. “Tharko is a Witch just as you are. He prays to your own devil as I pray to Jesus and he has taught me so much. Can you bring the dead to a semblance of life?”

“No, Erzsebet, my talent is in the reverse. I can take the living and give to them the reality of death.”

“Pity. What we do here is only the beginning. We return a sham of life to the dead and send them out to fetch our victims. But they are easily avoided and destroyed. I had hoped that you would improve upon our techniques. No matter, we have centuries together to experiment.” She tore her breast with a fingernail and commanded, “Come to me and suckle at my breast as I did at yours. Then, sharing the vitality of life we shall be sisters and lovers forever.”

I approached and asked, “You were my lover and my teacher yesterday. Today you wish to be my mother as well? You ask much of me, Erzsebet. I fear that I am not up to your strength or desires. I wished from you pleasure and that you gave, willingly in a way I could never believe existed. I don’t want eternal youth, not this way. There is another way, dear lover. One that doesn’t require such death and suffering.”

She ranted and screamed, “They are but peasants who exist solely for our use. You are Boyer, your ancestors were kings as were mine. You know the thrill of absolute power. Come, Janice, my lover,” she walked to me, naked and reddened with the life of some young girl who once had dreams of her own. “Yesterday you learned the pleasures of being bound, whipped and violated. Now let me teach you the thrill of whipping a virgin until she bleeds her life into our mouths, her screams of pain a symphony as we bathe in her life’s flow. Never have I met a woman as strong as you, yet so docile in the bedroom. The Turks fear your anger as they never feared Vlad Dracula. We can use your strength to rule within the Ottoman Empire and they will send us tribute, armies of virgin girls to keep us young forever. Love me as I love you!” She held her arms to me and had she not been covered with human blood, I would have flung myself to her embrace.

I approached then grasped the urn, turned and threw it at Thorko with all my strength. As soon as the urn left my hands, I ran to him for we Witches are healers, midwives and seers, not soldiers and his defense was clumsy. I was easily able to get in under his guard as he tried to duck the missile and I drove my dagger into his belly and ripped upward, spilling his entrails onto the floor. Erzsebet screamed and I screamed back, “Here is life! If you would bathe, do so with the blood of your evil servants!” I picked up my sword and advanced upon her. “I loved you and did for you what you wished and I loved it because it made you happy. We could have been lovers and happy but this,” I waved my blade around to the rooms walled up to hide their grisly secrets. “This is an abomination to my God, my Goddess and all that we hold sacred.”

I turned and drove my wakazashi into Thorko’s throat, already dead and yelled, “For your betrayal, I curse your soul to remain as a stone. No more shall you know rebirth. Go to the Hell of the Christians for your actions.” Then I withdrew and advanced again upon the Princess. “Elzsebet, surrender to the authorities and face their mercy or face my merciless blade.”

She screamed and called for her undead to save her. “Destroy her, I command you! Obey me who am your mistress!” but all that came were Daniil and Ruth, he with sword drawn and she surrounded by a dozen fierce dogs.

“It’s over.” Said Daniil. “Princess Erzsebet Batoria of Scejthe, in the name of the Prince and the Lords of Bucharesti, I arrest you for the murders of scores of men and women. Your undead are now truly dead. Submit or die.”

Ruth ran to me and cried, “We were so afraid for you. We feared that you’d… but all is well.”

I placed my arm around her as Daniil bound the princess and then covered her with her robe. “You are of the Watch?” I asked.

“No, Lady Innis. A special investigator for the Prince himself. I have been seeking the source of these killings for a month and when you arrived, I knew you would succeed where I failed. I just had to follow and help. Your plan of the threads led us to the hidden entrance so while a pack of dogs destroyed the ghouls outside, Ruth and I followed others inside to find you doing my task. I admit that I was afraid that you would have turned to her side and if so, you could easily kill me. Eternal youth and beauty is a gift that few would turn down.”

“I am not as other women, Daniil.” Then I looked at Ruth who whispered, “I spent the day as you slept gathering dogs from the alleys and bringing them here. When night fell, and the ghouls walked, I turned the pack upon them and destroyed them all. Then I sent others to smell the path of the dead here where we arrived to help you.”

She had kept that a secret in case I told Erzsebet. I then asked, “And what of Gazelle?”

“She entered the manor through the front door to capture her servants. I fear few will stand trial for she feared that you were in thrall to the Princess.” She explained to me.

I crossed to the new masonry and pondered, “I wonder how many innocents lie behind these walls? At least her reign of horror is over. Come, I need a bath to purge the stink of this place from my soul.”

***

I was in my room, lying against Gazelle as she drew another picture, feeling her warmth and listening to her great heart beating when Ruth asked me, “Lady, what hold did the Princess Erzsebet have over you that you would submit to her in such a way?”

I looked at the scratches still healing on my breasts and sighed. “Ruth, why do you travel with me? You could remain home, in comfort and wealth yet you brave danger and hardship with me.”

“I admire your strength, My Lady. You do as you wish and care nothing for the commands of others. Home my father would marry me to some elderly merchant to increase his wealth but with you I can be as I wish… oh, I see.” She brightened.

“Yes, I admired that same strength in Erzsebet that you admire in me. Women here do as they are told. They are chattel to be sold by their fathers for political reasons. When married, they are property of their husbands and when widowed, their brothers rule them. Erzsebet denied all that convention and did as she wished. I admired that strength in her. She had passion and drive and determination and these excited me in a way that… It is a pity that she used that strength for evil.” I missed her already. “Ruth, you were stupid when you gave yourself to Petre and I was equally stupid when I gave myself to Erzsebet. All we can do is hope that we have learned our lessons.”

Hansel arrived with a message. “My Lady, the Princess Erzsebet Batoria send regards and requests that you visit her in prison.”

I stood and Ruth asked with some concern, “You are going?”

“Yes, please help me choose a dress proper for such an audience.”

***

I was required to leave behind my sword and knives then left alone with her in her room for her station required that she be imprisoned in a comfortable apartment and not in the goal where a lesser person would be chained in a cell. I’d never seen such a prison though I heard that in London, The Tower was better furnished than many manors. I curtseyed to her and waited for her command to rise.

“Sit Janice. I bear you no ill will. You had much to think of and little time to accept the gift I offered. Soon I will be free and then we can be together again.”

“Lady, I think the Wallachians have other plans. The memory of Prince Vlad and his forest of the impailed is still fresh. They may or may not execute for you preyed on peasants who are angry and threaten riot but they will probably seal you in this room forever.”

She laughed and walked to the window, barred to prevent suicide or escape. “I miss my whips. Do you?” When I didn’t answer she continued. “The Prince and the magistrates forget that they are married and their own wives age. Women, even here, have power, Janice. They use it differently than do you and I but they have it still. And for the secret of eternal youth and beauty, they will see me free. You are still young, barely twenty if that so you don’t know the terror of wrinkles and age. Soon as your breasts sag and your hair grays and wrinkles appear, you will return to me and then we will be lovers as we both desire, living forever, young forever, beautiful forever.”

I stood and pulled my gown to my waist. I wore no support and needed none and Erzsebet stared at my breasts for she loved them as much as did I. Many of her victims had been full-bosomed. “So beautiful, they are,” she sighed. “Larger and firmer than any have a right to be, still pointed, still soft,” she touched an ear and I saw my nipple ring hanging there. “what will you do as they rest upon the floor?”

“My lady, my lover, there are other ways. I am not as I seem. I am older than your own father and a grandmother of six. I became as you see me by the will of a god who was neither your Christ or my Herne. Perhaps it was a joke he played upon me but I need not bathe in the blood of innocents. I need to sever no promising dreams, drink from no veins. I live my life seeking enjoyment as did you but when I kill, it is out of necessity and those I kill are evil and deserve death for what suffering they have placed upon the innocent.” I replaced my gown, adjusting my breasts, firmer than most younger or smaller than my own and turned to the door. “I would have loved you as you aged, helped you remain young if I could and gladly endured your whip but… This, My Lady Erzsebet, is a punishment for your crimes that is greater than any that men can bestow, the knowledge that you are condemned to age and wither while I, who loved you, remain young and beautiful. In years to come, when you are an old hag, destroying mirrors to avoid the sight of your own hideous face, I shall return, looking as I do now and you shall see in the mirror I will hold your own damnation.”

I curtseyed to her for she was still a princess and said, “Until that day, my lady, my lover no more, dwell upon my curse of youth and yours of age.” Then I turned and left.

When I returned to the Inn I said, “Hansel, Gretel, please pack for we should leave now. Bucharest weighs heavily upon my soul this day and I would see new lands with fresh air. Sofia and your family lies to the southwest.”

***

We were camped a few leagues from the Danube River, planning to cross to Giurgevo in the daylight when a rider arrived from the north. “Are you the Lady Janice Obrien?” he asked as he bowed.

“Yes, and you?” I replied.

“My Lady, I am a messenger sent by Daniil Mihis, captain of the Prince’s Royal Guard.” He handed me an envelope, bowed and remounted, “And to the Lady Ruth, he says, “I shall always treasure our time and regret that it wasn’t longer and he cares not who knows.”

I read the letter then burned it in the fire. They looked at me and I said, “Erzsebet has escaped. They search still but Daniil thinks she went north to Hungary and will be soon beyond their reach.”

END

---

Table of Contents for Adaption.
Conversion. The arrival of Janice in Russia and the details of her curse. note: hidden until someone wants to read it.
Chapter One. Their leaving the Amazons and travels across Georgia.
Chapter Two. Their entry into the Ottoman Empire at Crimea. note: not finished
Chapter Three. Their travels within The Ottoman Empire.
Chapter Four. Their leaving the Ottoman Empire and visiting Translyvania.
Chapter Five. Their vacation in Bucharest.
Chapter Six. Their visiting Bulgaria.
Chapter Seven. Their visiting Greece. note: not yet written
Chapter Eight. Her visiting Venice. note: not yet written
Retreival. Their travels to Japan to rescue Janice's daughter. note: hidden until someone wants to read it.

Characters in these stories. Here you will find who these people and places are.

To contact me or to request topics to be covered, send to RikJohnson@juno.com
by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717

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