Bitten under the mistlet.., p.1
Bitten under the Mistletoe (The Vampire Genesis Chronicles), page 1
Bitten under the Mistletoe
Lara Bronson
Tacit Press, LLC
Contents
Title Page
Recap
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Glossary
Afterword
Read Wings of Enchantment
About The Author
The Vampire Genesis Chronicles
Recap
Petra Costin, a history student, travels to Romania for a well-earned vacation. While admiring the country’s stunning castles and ruins, she discovers a pendant that sends her to medieval times, specifically to Vlad the Impaler’s second rule. There, she pretends she can’t speak, becomes a maid, and falls in love with a courtly knight, Gabriel. Forced to deal with a perverted noble, Petra presents herself to the court as a Hungarian princess. While living at the castle, she is attacked by an otherworldly being and is forced to marry Gabriel. The prospect of their marriage brings them closer, and they fall deeper for one another.
During a coup, Petra fails to retrieve her pendant, which is crushed and makes Petra ill. Having no choice, Petra and Gabriel embark on a journey to send her back to her time. During their quest, they meet many creatures of The Other Realm who agree to help them in their pursuit.
Even though the times become more difficult each day, Gabriel and Petra’s love grows, making it even more challenging for them to accept their separation. They agree to leave together. Eventually, they gather all the components for the moon eclipse ritual, only to be separated at the end when Petra fails to grab Gabriel’s hand.
Once in her time, Petra discovers a different Gabriel. At first, she questions him but realizes he has become a vampire and waited for her for centuries. They start living happily, but the fairytale fades when secrets rise, and Petra seeks to find the truth. Through multiple trying events, Petra and Gabriel find a way to be together as a family in medieval times as Gabriel’s fate to become a vampire is fulfilled.
Chapter 1
Mornings were my favorite time of the day. Because each day, I woke up with my love sleeping next to me. Truthfully, after turning into a vampyr, I didn’t need much sleep. But the indulgence of seeing Petra’s serene face illuminated by the sun’s first rays was worth the hours spent in darkness. Afterward, I would kiss my sleeping wife’s forehead and get up to prepare her a cup of coffee. I knew the modern life she led before gifted her great privileges, but even in rudimentary ways, I loved to spoil my queen.
By the time she got out of bed, Xavier and I would be all dressed and sitting at the breakfast table. Even though we had maids, we reserved mornings just for us. Another pleasure for me to indulge in. Thus, I was the one to prepare our morning meal, and I took great pride in it.
Up until not long ago, Petra had her hands full with Xavier. She wanted to be the perfect modern mother. We were in medieval times and couldn’t risk bringing too many modern items into this world. Thus, my darling wife had to care for our baby the old-fashioned way. The most she complained about was diapers. Whatever those might be. But in the end, with the help of my mother and nursemaid, we got through it.
As Milady entered the dining room, her sleepy smile could compare only to the rays of sun glimmering behind her. I loved to call it my second sunrise. Each morning resembled the past ones, but I could never get enough.
“The cup of coffee is waiting for you on the table, my love,” I said as I fed Xavier a spoonful of porridge.
“How did my life become so perfect?” she asked as she grazed her lips on mine and kissed Xavier on the forehead.
With her gaze aiming only at the dark amber liquid, she sat at the table and took her first sip of the day. She kept her eyes closed for another minute while reveling in its taste. Her entire demeanor cleared, and she hummed in approval. I still didn’t understand what value she found in the bean beverage. I never got to try it during my human days, and the smell was too potent for a vampyr. Still, seeing her face change after just one sip inspired me to make it every day.
“So much better.” She exhaled in relief.
Once the coffee entrancement had dispelled, I asked, “What would my love like to do today?”
“I’m thinking of taking Xavier for a morning stroll in the village while you finish work. We’ll have our English lesson in the afternoon and then I’ll prepare the rooms for my parents and Athena.”
“I’m still in awe of how you convinced your parents to visit. They usually adamantly refuse, citing elaborate health issues,” I said.
“I took their presumed health issues and turned it on them.”
“How?”
“I simply said time-traveling cleanses your aura like nothing else,” she said with pride in her tone.
“That was it?”
“Yep. My mom would sell a kidney if it meant a thorough aura cleanse.”
“I can hardly believe she would do so to her body.”
“You’re right. She wouldn’t sell her kidney. She would sell Dad’s kidney.”
“Milord, excuse the interruption, but the boyars are here,” said one of our administrators.
“Indeed. I must attend to the matter, my love. I will see you and Xavier later,” I said as I kissed them both.
“Make sure to wear a wool coat, the snow has settled for a few days now. It must be freezing,” my doting wife said.
“You are so sweet in your humanness, my love. The only part of my body that can get cold is my heart when you’re not close.” I winked and left.
The rest of my morning I spent negotiating with boyars about the lands I inherited from my father. The discussion revolved around the same two topics: producing more grain on the lands already owned or expanding our territory. I never felt the need for either. My father’s inheritance and the fortune I gained as Vlad the Impaler’s second-in-command assured us a comfortable living. My needs revolved around protecting my family and assuring a meal once in a while. And Milady wanted to discover everything her history books wrote about. She and I agreed, we would find far greater fortunes if we traveled. But living close to family and friends befitted Xavier’s needs. And raising Xavier around his aunts, uncles, and grandma meant far more than riches of any kind.
No one in the village or castle realized I wasn’t of the human kind anymore. And even if they found out, a simple entrancement would cut short any rumor. And we had around twenty years till the people would become suspicious of our ever-young looks. So all in all, we felt good about our decision. The only issue was I had to act human and continue the lordship I inherited. A much displeasing occupation.
But in honor of my father and at my mother’s bidding, I agreed to meet with these nobles every day and discuss the same trudged subject over and over until, hopefully, they would tire. And though I tried my best to focus on their impetuous speeches, a time would come when I would inevitably catch a glimpse of my love walking with Xavier, and then my world would stop.
Their morning itinerary consisted of visiting Vincenta and feeding her, then roaming through the garden, and finally a walk through the village. However, given it was winter, the walk meant a sleigh ride, which Xavier thoroughly enjoyed. His rosy cheeks and mitten-muffled claps pulled at my heart’s strings. I could never express in words the love I harbored for the family I had gained because of one woman. A Milady whose noble roots might not descend from royalty (as she initially said) but from the future’s vastness. To be chosen as a Timekeeper meant far more than any title the nobles might conjure. And I was her proud husband.
My vampiric side didn’t change me. I rarely used my powers. Or better said I rarely needed to use them. The beings in The Other Realm learned to stay in their territory and not try my patience.
Thus, most of the time, I trained to control my powers. At the beginning, my superior agility ended with trees being ripped out of their roots and floods happening in unnatural places. And the overbearing infusion of smells attacking my nostrils, made me nauseous for months. But the hardest one was by far, my blood cravings. No amount of animal blood could compare to the smell of Milady’s blood pumping in her veins. Numerous nights, I would sprint out of our bedroom fighting my beast and feeling like I would lose myself forever. Once Milady found out, she came with the idea of biting her. But the risk of ending her life in a flash, at the expense of my hunger, put that idea to a halt.
In the end, time and arduous practice helped me regain control of my body and senses, and I could finally affirm––I was the King of the Undead in title and power.
Now, my only care were Xavier and Milady, and…Athena. How I missed my daughter. Spending summers with her meant the world to me, and still, I was greedy and wanted more. But having a one-year-old daughter who never got old would create suspicion and put her life in danger. Her inborn ability to time travel without the need of magic made her a target. And since she was born in the future, she couldn't grow old if she lived in the past. An adult with exquisite powers would be exposed to surefire danger, but a baby? I didn't even want to imagine. The safety of her world w
The morning came and went. The numerous discussions didn’t lead to a conclusive decision, which displeased the boyars and allowed me to enjoy the rest of the day without their sour faces. I simply bowed and went to look for my favorite humans.
I walked to the kitchen, where our cook kneaded the bread dough, but my Milady was not in sight. Then I went to the common room where she usually enjoyed crocheting. She loved handiwork so much that I feared she would crochet us into one big spiderweb of yarn. Except, she wasn’t there either. Then I went to Vincenta, who slowly chewed her food and was oblivious of her surroundings. Still, no Milady patting her back. Lastly, I went at full speed to the nearest grove, and I found Milady and Xavier making some kind of round snow monster.
“What are you making? And why are you in the grove alone? You know strigoii don’t have enough sentience to realize you are my wife.”
“But we’re having so much fun,” she said as steam blew out of her mouth. She didn’t wear a hat, so her brown hair strands adorned specks of snowflakes. At the same time, her ears were so red it seemed like they bled.
“My love, your ears. Are you in pain?”
“No, I don’t feel them.” She smiled innocently.
“That’s even worse.” I rushed to cover them with my hands. At the distance of a steamy breath, I couldn’t help but be enthralled by the beauty of my wife. I could spend years looking at her and would not stop being in awe. “You are so beautiful, my love.”
“Your hands suit me. They’re like my personal earmuffs,” she said.
“You’re my personal everything,” I said, leaning closer for a kiss. Except, Xavier’s loud cries woke us up from our reverie. When we turned, we found a very sad Xavier sitting beside a broken snow monster.
“What happened?” asked Milady. “Did the snowman break?” She rushed to console him. “Don’t worry, we can rebuild him.”
“You call this snow monster a snowman? It doesn’t even have arms,” I said.
“It’s not yet finished,” she said, looking at Xavier. “Sweety, go get those branches we collected earlier so we can show your father our finished creation.”
As Xavier scurried to bring two branches, I realized Milady’s ears were still red. In one blink, I returned to our home and brought a hat for my love.
She realized it only when I began placing it on her head. “What are you…You brought a hat? And a knitted one at that?”
“I remember you said fur wasn’t to your taste,” I said.
“Can you stop being so perfect?”
“Only when you stop.” I grinned.
“The perfect specimen here is our snowman,” she said as she presented their creation. Three different-sized snowballs were stacked upon one another, with branches for arms and pebbles for eyes, a mouth, and a row of buttons down the front. “Wait. I forgot one last thing.” She pulled a carrot, out of her coat pocket, of all things, and shoved it in the middle of its face. “Now it’s perfect.” She and Xavier began clapping like proud sculptors.
“What do you think?” she asked, looking at me with doe eyes.
“I think it’s the best sculpture you’ve made to date,” I said.
“But we’ve never made any sculptures until now,” she said.
“Exactly.” I grinned. But not for long when my smile got attacked by something cold. A snowball? When I looked at Milady, I couldn’t believe my eyes. From a sweet, lovable wife, she transformed into a warrior ready to annihilate me with an unlikely weapon.
“Xavier, we have declared a snowball war against your dad. Prepare your weapons,” she said as she began smoothing another snowball in her mittened hands. The glint in her eyes told me it would soon land on me. And so it did, right in my eye. Weirdly, how, even with minimal training, Milady never missed. Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.
Chapter 2
"If you wish to attack me, you’ll have to catch me first,” I said. The corners of my mouth rose on their own.
“Xavier and I are ready to take you up on the challenge,” she said, looking at me with a wicked grin. Milady was so adorable in her ambitions.
With the snowball arsenal already prepared, Milady and Xavier began a vicious attack against me. But as one expected, I was faster.
Sometimes, I stood to their left, sometimes to their right, and one time, I stood behind her as I whispered into her ear, “Your efforts are admirable, but not enough. Maybe tonight you can show me more.” As I uttered my words, I could see goosebumps raising on her skin. But, at the same time, I knew Milady wasn’t the one to back out. The snowball was thrown in the blink of an eye, but it didn’t reach me. Instead, it attacked an innocent tree.
“Are you attacking our flora now?” I teased.
The darling growl that followed made me chuckle. But suddenly, she lowered to Xavier and whispered something into his ear. I knew she changed tactics, but I didn’t know how.
Then, while holding two snowballs in his hands, Xavier sprinted toward me in an all-or-nothing attack. He didn’t quite reach the goal and fell on his face. The cry that followed broke my heart. Instantly, I kneeled before him and tried to help him get up. Only when I saw him smiling, I realized it was a ruse. And I would pay dearly for it.
First, Xavier threw those snowballs at my chest, and then my amazing wife smeared one in my face.
“Gotcha.” His mischievous laugh resounded across the entire grove.
“If I’m already kneeling, might as well finish the job,” I said.
They didn’t need a second invitation, as they both jumped on me and began covering my entire body in snow.
“You’re a snow mummy now,” she said.
“Snow mommy?” Xavier asked.
“No, mummy. I’ll explain later, sweety. Now we have to save Daddy from a complete freeze.” She removed the snow from my face and kissed me. “Now you are woken up, sleeping beauty,” she said.
“This must be one of your fairytales again,” I said dejectedly and rose to my feet, trying to remove the heap of snow off my body. We’ve been reading those for some time now during our English lessons.
“I don’t need to read a fairytale. You are my fairytale.” She beamed and kissed my cheek.
And just like that, my wife made me forget everything, including the melted snow traveling down my chest.
“Let’s change, have lunch, and then we can start our English lesson,” she said as she hugged me.
After lunch, we sat at our writing table with Xavier across us. Milady loved including him in our lessons, hoping he would catch a word or two in English. But most of the time, Xavier preferred drawing with wax crayons his mom usually brought from her time.
“Okay, so today we will start reading Dracula by Bram Stoker,” she said excitedly.
“But didn’t you say it is a difficult read? I’ve been reading Cinderella and Snow White for this very reason.”
“Firstly, I needed you to read fairytales because I need someone to understand my references. I’m tired of laughing on my own like an idiot. Secondly, you have to get acquainted with all the princes, as they are your peers.”
“I believe I am a king.”
“Yes, but you are a king with Prince Charming energy.”
“Let me see. Prince Charming is Cinderella’s betrothed.”
“Yes, yes,” she squealed. “Now you get it.”
“I do understand the reference. Still, I am closer to a dark prince rather than a charming one.”
“One doesn’t negate the other. But now, I believe you’re ready to read something more difficult,” she said. “But if you need more time, we can always take it slow.”
In reality, I learned how to read a long time ago, English and Romanian. Being a vampyr improved my memory tenfold. When I read something, even if for the first time, it remained embedded in my mind forever. But I could never refuse to have Petra as my teacher. I could freely admire her beauty while she eagerly tried to teach me. I still waited for those philosophy books she told me my future counterpart enjoyed. But for now, I resumed my pleasures of ogling at my beautiful wife and behaved like a good student.
