The Blood Countess
Chapter One
Anna stood with her back to the corner of the room while sister stood in front of her with a knife in her hand. It felt like years ago when Countess Elizabeth asked her to do the unthinkable, even though it was only days. Mary’s eyes glimmered with a spark of hatred. For a moment, they sparked with sadness and Anna thought she would back down. Then it was gone. Anna felt it in her heart that she was destined to die here in this corner. Her mind wandered back to the first day she arrived at the castle.
Mary and Anna were sisters who came to the castle at age five. The maid took them in, and they lived there, helping with the cleaning duties around the castle. Countess Elizabeth Bathory had taken a special interest in them. At the age of ten they became her ladies in waiting. They followed her and attended to whatever she needed. Elizabeth had always like Anna better. Countess Bathory knew it, Anna knew it, even Mary knew it. Mary always smiled and told her sister how proud she was but inside grew a wicked hatred.
At the age of fifteen it began. Mary had been fetching tea for the countess while Anna rested. A servant had come in. She had folded Elizabeth’s clothes incorrectly. The Countess went into one of her fits. She had slapped her maid and her long nails had left a mark on the servant’s cheek. A splash of blood hit Elizabeth just above one of her cheekbones. The servant rushed out in tears as Anna went to find a small towel for Elizabeth. The Countess went to one of her many mirrors in the room. Anna walked into the room. She realized Elizabeth was smiling.
“Rachel,” Elizabeth began, as she wiped the spot of off her cheek, “do you think my skin is glowing even more where that servant’s blood hit me?”
“Yes, Elizabeth.” Anna lied. It didn’t look any different, at least not to her.
“Go call on the alchemist,” the Countess demanded, “Bring him here.” Anna turned to exit when Elizabeth said something else.
“And the young servant, bring her also.”
“Yes, Countess.” Anna replied. She hurried off into the castle as Elizabeth stared at her self in the mirror, examining every angle in her face. Mary came in. She served Elizabeth the tea.
“Here you are, Elizabeth,” Mary said. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Get out of here,” Elizabeth said. Mary left.
Days passed. The alchemist and Countess Elizabeth met several times. After the first meeting, the servant girl disappeared. No one in the castle seemed to notice. Anna soon began to take notice that Elizabeth was not herself when she began inviting peasant girls into the castle for etiquette lessons. Anna found it peculiar that Elizabeth told her they left at the midnight hour. She had stayed awake one night, to see the girls leave, but they never left. Anna asked Elizabeth about it the next day. She said once again that the girls had left that night. Anna was now aware that something was wrong, but did look into it any further.
The topic of the peasants soon came up again. Mary had just left the Elizabeth’s room after serving tea. Anna went in to dust the bed. When she walked in Elizabeth closed the door behind her then returned to her stool in front of the mirror.
“Do you know why I shut the door, Anna?” Elizabeth said, as she began to brush her hair.
“No, Elizabeth.” she said nervously.
“I want to talk to you.” the Countess said. Anna stopped dusting and turned to Elizabeth.
“I have a very special task for you, Anna.” she said.
“How I may be of assistance to you?” Anna asked. Her concern was growing.
“I’m going to share a secret with you. It is never to leave this room.”
“Yes, Countess.”
“I have discovered a new beauty remedy, and I need you to fetch the last ingredient for me.”
“Surely, madam,” Anna said. “What is it that you require?”
“Let me finish.” Elizabeth yelled. Anna knew her temper was flaring again. The Countess was usually calm, but her temper had been flaring up lately.
“Sorry, Elizabeth,” Anna said. Elizabeth picked a bottle from her vanity and held it.
“This is a very special remedy,” she said. “I need blood, human blood.” This worried Anna. Elizabeth was asking her to get blood. How was she supposed to get—
Her thoughts broke off as she noticed Elizabeth held a silver blade in her hand. Anna’s first instinct was to run from the room. She had even turned slightly. She not run thought. This was good thing. Elizabeth had locked the door behind her. Tears welled in Anna’s eyes. The Countess saw this.
“Don’t be afraid, Anna.” Elizabeth told her. “This isn’t for you.” Anna was happy, but only for a moment. Then it occurred to her that she had to get blood from someone else. This made Anna nervous. She was a small, slender girl with little muscle, certainly not strong enough to overpower most of the people in the castle.
“I have seen you in the room you and Mary share. You are a bit boyish. Am I correct?” Elizabeth asked.
Anna nodded to indicate a yes.
“You were wrestling with your sister a few nights ago. I saw you.” Countess Bathory said. Anna’s thoughts drifted back to that night. Mary and Anna had been playing together. A small argument grew into a playful wrestle. Anna had won despite the fact that Mary had pulled Anna’s long black hair.
“You beat Mary with great ease. I was impressed.” Anna nodded, still too afraid to speak.
“Have you ever wondered what is like to kill someone?” Elizabeth asked.
“No.” Anna stammered.
“Well, today you are going to learn.” Elizabeth said as she careful passed the blade to Anna, as a mother would pass down a family heirloom.
The next quarter of an hour Elizabeth spent teaching Anna basic sword techniques. Anna’s hand shook when she held the blade. She did not want to learn, but feared what might happen if she refused.
“You are working on a very special task for me.” Elizabeth said. “You need to fetch me the blood of Mary.” Anna stood in stunned silence. Could she kill her own sister to remain faithful to Elizabeth? She turned her eyes toward Elizabeth. Elizabeth was already at her vanity, brushing her hair again.
Anna turned to leave only to discover the door had been cracked open. Someone had seen her and Elizabeth with the blade. As she left the room she pushed the thought out of her mind and scurried down the hall. Anna wanted to talk to the old maid who had taken the role of mother in her life. She hurried down to room where she was laying in her bed.
Time had not been kind to Maria. The day Maria had adopted the sister, she a lovely young woman with dark skin and even darker hair. Now her skin was wrinkled, and spotted with age. Her once shiny hair was now short, just barely touching her neck. Maria had been afflicted with a disease that left her bed ridden. She often talked nonsense that the doctor had diagnosed as a problem in her brain. Anna knelt by her bed.
“Hi, Maria.” Anna said as she clutched one of Maria’s hands between her two hands. She had caught Maria during one of her lucid moments. Anna could tell she did not have much longer to live.
“Anna.” Maria whispered.
“Hush, save your breath.” Anna said. She glanced behind her. The door was closed and locked securely. She removed the blade that was tucked into her dress. “I need to talk to you.”
Maria’s eyes grew wide. Anna knew the thoughts racing through Maria’s head were the same thought that raced through her head not too long ago.
“Don’t be afraid.” Anna said in a voice that sounded familiar. “It’s not for you.”
Maria closed her eyes and sat in silence. Anna relayed the story of what had happened in Elizabeth’s room to her. She took a deep breath once she had finished her story.
“I need to tell you something,” Maria said, her voice was low and weak. Anna strained to hear.
“What I have told you before, about how you arrived here. It was not the truth. You came to be in this castle under very different circumstances.” Anna stared blankly at Maria as she continued her story. “You were born from the womb of someone within the castle walls. Mary had come later. Her story true, but you are not sisters.” Anna tried to speak but Maria interrupted her.
“Have you ever wondered why Elizabeth liked you best?” Maria asked.
“Yes.” Anna said. She wondered where this conversation was going but Maria interrupted her thoughts.
“You are the daughter of Elizabeth Bathory.”
Chapter One
Anna stood with her back to the corner of the room while sister stood in front of her with a knife in her hand. It felt like years ago when Countess Elizabeth asked her to do the unthinkable, even though it was only days. Mary’s eyes glimmered with a spark of hatred. For a moment, they sparked with sadness and Anna thought she would back down. Then it was gone. Anna felt it in her heart that she was destined to die here in this corner. Her mind wandered back to the first day she arrived at the castle.
Mary and Anna were sisters who came to the castle at age five. The maid took them in, and they lived there, helping with the cleaning duties around the castle. Countess Elizabeth Bathory had taken a special interest in them. At the age of ten they became her ladies in waiting. They followed her and attended to whatever she needed. Elizabeth had always like Anna better. Countess Bathory knew it, Anna knew it, even Mary knew it. Mary always smiled and told her sister how proud she was but inside grew a wicked hatred.
At the age of fifteen it began. Mary had been fetching tea for the countess while Anna rested. A servant had come in. She had folded Elizabeth’s clothes incorrectly. The Countess went into one of her fits. She had slapped her maid and her long nails had left a mark on the servant’s cheek. A splash of blood hit Elizabeth just above one of her cheekbones. The servant rushed out in tears as Anna went to find a small towel for Elizabeth. The Countess went to one of her many mirrors in the room. Anna walked into the room. She realized Elizabeth was smiling.
“Rachel,” Elizabeth began, as she wiped the spot of off her cheek, “do you think my skin is glowing even more where that servant’s blood hit me?”
“Yes, Elizabeth.” Anna lied. It didn’t look any different, at least not to her.
“Go call on the alchemist,” the Countess demanded, “Bring him here.” Anna turned to exit when Elizabeth said something else.
“And the young servant, bring her also.”
“Yes, Countess.” Anna replied. She hurried off into the castle as Elizabeth stared at her self in the mirror, examining every angle in her face. Mary came in. She served Elizabeth the tea.
“Here you are, Elizabeth,” Mary said. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“Get out of here,” Elizabeth said. Mary left.
Days passed. The alchemist and Countess Elizabeth met several times. After the first meeting, the servant girl disappeared. No one in the castle seemed to notice. Anna soon began to take notice that Elizabeth was not herself when she began inviting peasant girls into the castle for etiquette lessons. Anna found it peculiar that Elizabeth told her they left at the midnight hour. She had stayed awake one night, to see the girls leave, but they never left. Anna asked Elizabeth about it the next day. She said once again that the girls had left that night. Anna was now aware that something was wrong, but did look into it any further.
The topic of the peasants soon came up again. Mary had just left the Elizabeth’s room after serving tea. Anna went in to dust the bed. When she walked in Elizabeth closed the door behind her then returned to her stool in front of the mirror.
“Do you know why I shut the door, Anna?” Elizabeth said, as she began to brush her hair.
“No, Elizabeth.” she said nervously.
“I want to talk to you.” the Countess said. Anna stopped dusting and turned to Elizabeth.
“I have a very special task for you, Anna.” she said.
“How I may be of assistance to you?” Anna asked. Her concern was growing.
“I’m going to share a secret with you. It is never to leave this room.”
“Yes, Countess.”
“I have discovered a new beauty remedy, and I need you to fetch the last ingredient for me.”
“Surely, madam,” Anna said. “What is it that you require?”
“Let me finish.” Elizabeth yelled. Anna knew her temper was flaring again. The Countess was usually calm, but her temper had been flaring up lately.
“Sorry, Elizabeth,” Anna said. Elizabeth picked a bottle from her vanity and held it.
“This is a very special remedy,” she said. “I need blood, human blood.” This worried Anna. Elizabeth was asking her to get blood. How was she supposed to get—
Her thoughts broke off as she noticed Elizabeth held a silver blade in her hand. Anna’s first instinct was to run from the room. She had even turned slightly. She not run thought. This was good thing. Elizabeth had locked the door behind her. Tears welled in Anna’s eyes. The Countess saw this.
“Don’t be afraid, Anna.” Elizabeth told her. “This isn’t for you.” Anna was happy, but only for a moment. Then it occurred to her that she had to get blood from someone else. This made Anna nervous. She was a small, slender girl with little muscle, certainly not strong enough to overpower most of the people in the castle.
“I have seen you in the room you and Mary share. You are a bit boyish. Am I correct?” Elizabeth asked.
Anna nodded to indicate a yes.
“You were wrestling with your sister a few nights ago. I saw you.” Countess Bathory said. Anna’s thoughts drifted back to that night. Mary and Anna had been playing together. A small argument grew into a playful wrestle. Anna had won despite the fact that Mary had pulled Anna’s long black hair.
“You beat Mary with great ease. I was impressed.” Anna nodded, still too afraid to speak.
“Have you ever wondered what is like to kill someone?” Elizabeth asked.
“No.” Anna stammered.
“Well, today you are going to learn.” Elizabeth said as she careful passed the blade to Anna, as a mother would pass down a family heirloom.
The next quarter of an hour Elizabeth spent teaching Anna basic sword techniques. Anna’s hand shook when she held the blade. She did not want to learn, but feared what might happen if she refused.
“You are working on a very special task for me.” Elizabeth said. “You need to fetch me the blood of Mary.” Anna stood in stunned silence. Could she kill her own sister to remain faithful to Elizabeth? She turned her eyes toward Elizabeth. Elizabeth was already at her vanity, brushing her hair again.
Anna turned to leave only to discover the door had been cracked open. Someone had seen her and Elizabeth with the blade. As she left the room she pushed the thought out of her mind and scurried down the hall. Anna wanted to talk to the old maid who had taken the role of mother in her life. She hurried down to room where she was laying in her bed.
Time had not been kind to Maria. The day Maria had adopted the sister, she a lovely young woman with dark skin and even darker hair. Now her skin was wrinkled, and spotted with age. Her once shiny hair was now short, just barely touching her neck. Maria had been afflicted with a disease that left her bed ridden. She often talked nonsense that the doctor had diagnosed as a problem in her brain. Anna knelt by her bed.
“Hi, Maria.” Anna said as she clutched one of Maria’s hands between her two hands. She had caught Maria during one of her lucid moments. Anna could tell she did not have much longer to live.
“Anna.” Maria whispered.
“Hush, save your breath.” Anna said. She glanced behind her. The door was closed and locked securely. She removed the blade that was tucked into her dress. “I need to talk to you.”
Maria’s eyes grew wide. Anna knew the thoughts racing through Maria’s head were the same thought that raced through her head not too long ago.
“Don’t be afraid.” Anna said in a voice that sounded familiar. “It’s not for you.”
Maria closed her eyes and sat in silence. Anna relayed the story of what had happened in Elizabeth’s room to her. She took a deep breath once she had finished her story.
“I need to tell you something,” Maria said, her voice was low and weak. Anna strained to hear.
“What I have told you before, about how you arrived here. It was not the truth. You came to be in this castle under very different circumstances.” Anna stared blankly at Maria as she continued her story. “You were born from the womb of someone within the castle walls. Mary had come later. Her story true, but you are not sisters.” Anna tried to speak but Maria interrupted her.
“Have you ever wondered why Elizabeth liked you best?” Maria asked.
“Yes.” Anna said. She wondered where this conversation was going but Maria interrupted her thoughts.
“You are the daughter of Elizabeth Bathory.”
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