Chapter 26 #2
“And this is how you care for that which belongs to you?” Mina asked. “You harm them?” Her voice rose. “This is how you treat your wives?”
A howl cut through the silence and Mina flinched, looking out into the darkness. Another wolf joined the first, and soon the howls grew louder, fiercer. A chill ran down Mina’s spine.
“Only the ones who need punishment,” he said. His eyes did not stray from her, and she could feel it, feel the way he was daring her to defy him.
“Punishment?” she spat out. “Who are you to punish them? You are no God.”
“Ah, my dear, that is where you’re wrong.
” He stepped even closer to her, his movements languid, as though he were completely at ease.
She couldn’t help but think of a predator who knew his prey had nowhere to run, no way to find safety.
“In these mountains, I am God. And you will treat me as such.”
Her heart thrummed in her chest, and the realization spilled through her—she was afraid of her husband. The man who she had slowly grown to know over these few weeks. The man who had only ever shown her kindness and gentleness.
But then she thought of the night of the raid, the night he had convinced her was all a dream.
“If that is so, why did those men attack the castle?”
He stilled, and Mina knew she had said the wrong thing. But in another way, it had been the right thing. The thing to truly unsettle him.
After several moments of silence, he said firmly, “Leave.” Mina swallowed, hesitating for only a moment before she took a step. He reached out, halting her path. He didn’t even look at her when he said, “Not you.”
The women began to move. Clarimonde slipped out of the door first, timid like a beaten dog.
Ligeia slowly walked past them, as though waiting to see if he would stop her too, but he did not.
Mina watched as the dark-haired woman carried on toward the door without looking back.
It was only the blonde who paused, watching them.
Another moment passed, and the blonde left the room as well, but her eyes were stuck on Mina’s the entire way until she disappeared from view.
“You forced the priest to perform our ceremony,” Mina said.
She thought back to the raider’s mention of the priest, his question as to the man’s whereabouts.
But now that she knew this, that the Count already had three wives, it made sense.
“He wouldn’t have done so willingly. Because he knew you were already married. ”
A slow smile crept across the Count’s lips. “I’ve always known there was something special about you, Wilhelmina. It was obvious from the first time I saw you.”
Mina paused, considering the words. He’d almost spoken as though he’d known her for some time. “Then how did you possibly think I’d agree to this?” she asked.
The Count exhaled slowly, reaching a hand up to her cheek. She tried to pull it away but he grasped her fingers, holding them there between them painfully tight. “What a strong spirit you have,” he said. “Such a shame I shall have to break it.”
He released her, walking past her into the center of the room.
“Don’t you see, darling? I don’t need your agreement.” His eyes were fixed on hers, his voice pleasant as he called out, “Oh, Sofia.” Footsteps sounded down the hall, and Sofia appeared in the doorway.
“Yes, master?”
Mina furrowed her brows, her body stiff with fear.
Without even turning around to face the woman, the Count said, “Come here, and get on your hands and knees.”
Sofia hesitated for only a moment before she walked nearer. “Yes, master.” She lowered herself onto the stone floor.
“Sofia, don’t,” Mina said.
The woman carried on, doing as he’d said.
Mina glared at the Count and found his eyes still on hers. He didn’t even bother to look down at Sofia—it was clear he only did this for Mina’s reaction.
“Bark like a dog,” he said.
Without pause, Sofia did as she was told.
“Enough,” Mina said.
The Count only smiled as Sofia’s barks sounded around them.
“You’ve proven your point,” Mina snapped, glaring at the Count.
“No,” he said. “I don’t believe I have.”
In the blink of an eye, the Count was across the room, holding Sofia by the back of her hair. He sank his teeth into Sofia’s neck, evoking a yelp of pain and surprise from the woman.
“Stop,” Mina said. But fear held her to the spot, sickened by the sight.
He held the woman to him like a lover, drinking from her vein as her face wore an expression of pain and distress. Mina’s stomach churned as she took in the beast before her, everything in her screaming to run, but she couldn’t leave Sofia to his madness alone.
The Count pulled away, his mouth dripping with blood as he held Sofia before him, the woman’s eyes going distant. Then, in one swift movement, he placed his hand on either side of Sofia’s head and jerked, a sickening crunch filling the room.
Mina’s ears were filled with the sound of her own scream as Sofia’s body hit the floor with a thud.
The woman landed in a heap, her lifeless body completely still.
“Do you understand now, my bride?”