The Bathory Curse by Renee Lake Read Free Book Online

up.” She said. He murmured in
his sleep, moved, but did not wake.
    “Mihail, awaken now!” This time she was a bit
louder, he seemed to rouse a little bit, and peered at her, not
quite seeing her.
    “Smaranda, I thought I told you, I won’t sleep with
my brother’s wife, go away.” He told her, preparing to go back to
sleep.
    “As glad as I am to hear that, not quite the
greeting I had hoped for.” Nea raised her eyebrows, planting her
hands on her hips.
    Mihail jerked up in bed, hand reaching for something
under his pillow at the thought of an intruder. Eyes wide he
recognized the figure standing before him. His gaze darted to the
portrait of his mother and then back to the apparition before
him.
    “Mother?” He stood, shakily, and then shook his
head, “Be gone spirit, how dare you take such a form!”
    “Mihail, lower your voice. Do you want the whole
house in here? I do not.” Nea took a step forward and instantly met
the tip of a large sword.
    “You cannot be my mother; she was thrown from a
window when I was five.” Mihail held the sword sturdy, but his
voice quaked.
    “You have grown into such a handsome young man.” Nea
sighed, his dark hair was in the style of the day, and his beard
was close to his face and trimmed neatly. He was much taller than
she and in good physical shape.
    “And you must be the devil.” He swore.
    “Close, enough. Mihail I am your mother. The Goddess
Bendis saved me that night, I am now a Strega.” Nea admitted,
saddened when he made the sign of the cross. She wasn’t surprised
though; she had fought her new life by brandishing her Christian
beliefs like a torch, one that eventually fizzled out.
    “No, I can’t believe it, had my mother lived she
would have come back for me, not left me with my father.” His words
denied the truth, but his eyes were struggling.
    “I was not allowed to come for you until now Mihail.
I am sorry for that; I missed you, you and Mihnea.” Tears
threatened in Nea’s eyes.
    “Prove to me you are she.” Mihail wanted to believe
her; desperately, the years without her had been so difficult. He
had stopped believing in a God years before and stopped himself
when he went to make the sign of the cross a second time. This was
either a miracle or a temptation derived to steal what was left of
his soul.
    “When you were four I got sick and you made cook
teach you to make soup and tea to bring me, she and I had to swear
secret oaths to you not to say a word, you were so afraid if your
father found out he would be mad. You told me ‘mama, boys don’t
cook.’” There was a hitch in Nea’s voice as she recited the
tale.
    Silence filled the bed chamber as Mihail looked at
his mother. Dropping the sword he moved closer to her, peering at
her. It could still be some sort of trap, by the devil himself from
what Mihail had seen of life.
    “You have not aged a day since I saw you last.”
    “I know, and I have many things to tell you and
explain, but it has to wait, you are in danger here and must come
with me.” Nea held out a hand. Feeling like a small child again
Mihail took it and embraced his mother, eyes burning but refusing
to cry. She smelled the same, like a mixture of dog rose and
Transylvania sage. He had often watched her make her own soaps and
perfumes. The feel of her skin and smell of her fragrance quelled
any doubts in his mind. If this was an illusion or some jade
trickery then please, bring it on, it was worth it.
    “I have missed you Mihail, I love you.” Nea told
him, holding him close, he smelled like sage.
    “Did you keep my oil recipes?” Nea teased gently,
feeling him nod into her shoulder.
    “I love you too.” he murmured against her cloak,
praying this was real and not a dream.
    “Come, we haven’t much time, pack your things.” She
loathed pulling away from him.
    “Why do I have to leave? Is Mihnea coming?” Mihail
hated that he sounded like a little boy.
    “No, Mihnea is not coming,” his mother was sad,