The Divine and the Damned

NIS, SERBIA

YEAR 1482

Dragos sat with Rose in his study, enlightening her on the pros and cons of vampirism.

"The first few days would feel like hell on earth. Not only would you begin to hear sounds that are deemed inaudible, but you start to smell and see things beyond human comprehension" he explained. "The flutter of a butterfly's wings, the sound of a raindrop hitting the earth. Conversations said from afar become clear as day"

Rose listened attentively as he spoke.

"You shall feel stronger. Become faster. The ultimate predator at the top of the food chain, but it comes at a cost"

"Yes, yes, the bloodlust. I am aware"

"No, you are not" His golden eyes bore into hers "Every nerve in your body... every cell urges you to sink your fangs into the first human you lay your eyes upon. The hunger is like nothing you've ever experienced, especially as a new vampire. Is that something you're ready to put up with?"

"Yes," she looked up at him. "I thought you were born a vampire, how are you aware of the difficulties associated with being newly turned?"

"That changes nothing. I still went through the same painful process—the same physical and emotional changes. The difference is that I faced it all as a child, which was worse"

He looked at Rose "You are two and twenty years old, yes?"

"Yes"

Dragos rose from his chair, sauntering around the room. "Some years after my father's death, Azrael forced me to take the life of a lad as young as me"

"I am sorry"

"I couldn't live with myself for weeks. The guilt was like something I'd never known, and being a vampire, it was heightened" He explained wistfully. "I was at war with myself because despite the gut-wrenching guilt I felt that day, the maddening hunger for blood remained"

He walked toward her. "Do you still wish to be a nightwalker?"

After a moment's hesitation, she got to her feet slowly and replied "I do"

Dragos marveled at her determination.

"Why do you want this curse so bad?" He asked again.

"I don't see it as a curse, but a blessing" she answered. "Being a vampire grants me the strength I need to enact vengeance on those who have robbed me"

"Robbed you?" He moved to stand by her side.

"Yes" she gazed at him "Robbed me of my family, my home, and subjected me to a life of misery on the streets"

She released a deep exhale "The oldest son of a rich family in the region coveted what was not his. He intended to own my father's horse, but my pa would not sell"

Her calm blue eyes lifted to meet his. "In the dead of the night, he returned with dangerous men and murdered my family"

Her nails dug into the flesh in her palms to suppress her sorrow. "My little sister was just a decade and two"

Rose's eyes shimmered with tears as she continued her narration "I was not met with the same fate because of my beauty, so they made me serve in their household"

Dragos listened to her narrate her tragic tale.

"I served the people who murdered my family over a horse. I served them for three years before I was able to make my escape"

She sniffed and wiped at her eyes "I sneaked onto a wagon heading to Nis. That is how I arrived here"

Suddenly, her eyes took on a dangerously determined glint "It is my wish to hunt them down and kill them. Only then can I truly have peace. Now, will you still deny me my chance at retribution?"

"Deny you?" Dragos' face was rigid with anger "I will help you with this agenda of yours"

A month later, Rose drank Dragos' blood, died, and became his first sireling.

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(THREE MONTHS LATER)

"You're going to have to do better than that, Rose," Dragos said, positioning himself behind her and bending to whisper into her ear. "If you intend on capturing that hare, you need to work on your stealth. I've told you numerous times"

"Shh," she silenced.

"They are fast, but we are faster" He continued "Think of nothing else but what is right before you"

His nose drifted to nuzzle the crook of her ear.

"Dragos" Rose giggled "We are not exactly being stealthy right now"

Suddenly, he left her side and caught the hare nesting by a shrub within seconds.

He held it up. "What would you like to do with it?"

"Set it free"

He shook his head "You are way too kind for a vampire"

"What would you rather I do with the creature? I cannot feed on it"

Dragos released the hare and watched it disappear into one of the berry bushes.

"Of course you can. Some vampires sustain themselves with animal blood because they cannot bring themselves to feed on humans"

"I reckon it tastes awful"

He smirked "Would you like to try it?"

"No, Dragos, I would not like to try it"

She gathered her skirts and turned "Your mother requires my help in choosing a gown for the grand dinner tomorrow. I must leave you here"

Dragos appeared in front of her, blocking her path "My mother has serving girls to aid her in that. You should remain with me"

Rose bubbled with laughter "She doesn't seek the counsel of her serving girls, she seeks mine"

He pulled her to himself. "Tomorrow, at the feast, you shall be by my side"

"What if your people despise me?"

"They are your people too"

"But..."

"Speak ill of you, and they'll lose their tongues. Cross you, and they'll lose their heads. They'll show you the same respect they show me, or suffer the consequences."

Dragos pressed a brief kiss to her lips, and when he looked up, Azrael was standing at the entrance of the orchard glaring furiously at both of them.

He had just returned from his trip to Kyiv, his briefcase still in his hands, his dome cap on his head. He refused to tell anyone the reason behind his constant visits to Kyiv each month.

"Brother" Dragos called in surprise "You're back"

He clasped Rose's hand in his and they both walked towards him. She bowed gracefully. "Lord Azrael, welcome. Dragos has told me a lot about you. I am Rose"

He gritted his teeth and focused on Dragos, ignoring her "I leave for a while and this happens?!"

Dragos frowned. "Why do you flare up?"

Azrael's anger escalated "Who is she and what is she doing here?"

"She is Rose" Dragos replied in a firmer tone, pulling her to himself "And I love her"

Azrael released a forced laugh. "Do you jest with me?"

Dragos frowned "I do not. She is one of us now. Not just a nightwalker, but a part of the family"

Azrael's face paled and he spoke no words for a brief moment. "I need to speak to you," he said coldly, moving forward. "Alone"

"Anything you want to say, you say in front of Rose"

Azrael stopped in his tracks "If that is what you wish, then so be it." He turned to Rose. "Get out of our lives"

"Azrael!" Dragos warned.

"You're nothing but a..." He eyed her distastefully "... trivial distraction, unworthy of his attention..."

Dragos interrupted angrily again. "Cease this nonsense at once. You disrespect her, you disrespect me"

Azrael continued "Tell me, was it the coins in his pockets that attracted you to him, whore?"

Dragos shoved his brother's chest roughly and pointed a finger at him in warning. "Stop!"

"Now is not the time to take lovers!" Azrael yelled back "Bed as many whores as you like but there is no room for love interests! It should be the last thing on your mind"

"I'm capable of making decisions on my own. Rose is to be my bride and is not leaving this place. You will have to accept her"

Azrael released a pent-up breath and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I cannot believe Mother allowed this"

He shifted his gaze to Rose who had been silent all through the row. "You made the wrong choice coming here. Leave while you still can"

Then he brushed past them and headed for the house.

Rose turned to look at Dragos, her eyes filling with tears. "He despises me"

"Azrael despises everyone. Even himself"

He kissed her palm and wiped away her tears.

"But why?"

"He won't open up. Over the years he has only grown harder" Dragos explained. "Sometimes, my heart aches for him. He used to be very happy growing up"

He pressed a brief kiss to her lips "Enough talk about my vexatious brother. You will bear me heirs, running around the house someday"

"Your brother sounded very determined to make sure that never comes to pass"

"Whose words do you listen to now? Azrael's or mine?"

"Yours, Alesul"

He smiled "Then, let him bother you no more"

"He seems to express more interest in matters of your duty, than you. Why is this so?"

"He's been responsible for grooming me since my father's death"

"Oh" Her face softened "It must have been hard for him"

"It was" Dragos replied.

"I am sorry"

"The past is the past, my sweet"

Before she could respond, he gathered her up in her arms and headed for the mansion.

"Now, about that talk about you bearing me heirs…"