Chapter Text
The castle hall he had been told to enter proved unoccupied and unlit until the sense of cold needles pricking his skin hit Stefan. He stiffened and a touch of dread bubbled in his chest. Stefan turned slowly in his anticipation, yet a tinge of disappointment intermingled with his fear as he saw the shadowed figure. The lack of fire and the fading stream of sunlight beaming in through the open window allowed Stefan only a small glimpse of the vampire, enough to discern he wore a long leather duster and, surprisingly, even in boots stood at a small height compared to Stefan. The only visible feature of the vampire outside of his clothing was the pallor of his face.
A rusty-sounding guttural noise filled the silence of the room, a sound of disapproval emitting from the vampire.
“You have sought me.” The raspy voice proved harsh on Stefan’s ears.
“Yes, yes, I have,” Stefan confirmed, proud of himself for not stumbling over his words. “I have a proposal I wish to present to you.”
The vampire moved his shoulders back. “A proposal? And what makes you think I am receptive to the dealings of mortals?”
“Please.” Stefan licked his lips. “My name is Stefan Valescu. I wish to know more of your kind. My research revolves around the role of vampires in our history.”
Radu stayed silent just long enough to make Stefan think he would refuse to answer, let alone consider the idea.
“You have not answered my question on why you think I should grant this desire, nor why you think yourself worthy of it.”
“I only wish to know the truth and to record it—with your approval. I know our kinds don’t mix well,” Stefan winced at his lame word choice, “but there is nothing I would rather have than this. I don't even have to share the knowledge. I can simply record it and give you all the documentation of it.”
“I don’t find myself in need of a historian, Valescu.”
Stefan took a step forward. “Please, sir. I’m willing to do anything for it.”
“And you have something of value to me? Something you think I have not been able to obtain in my centuries?”
Stefan’s mind raced, thinking of what he could offer in sacrifice.
“I don’t have much, sir. I doubt you need my coin and you have rejected my services. My wife and I have only just arrived here and—“
Radu stalked out of the shadows, revealing more of his face to Stefan. His russet hair contrasted with pale blue eyes, red lips, and the blotchy gray skin draped over sharp lines, forming lines around his mouth and a crease at the intersection of his nose and hairless brow.
Stefan found himself staring at the distortion of human features. The vampire revealed his set of razor sharp fangs, two on each side, as he spoke again. “You have only one thing which interests me and it would result in your demise.”
“Please. I only want to help you in any way possible. I’m willing to give up anything — only that you spare me.”
A harsh laugh came from the vampire. “How pitifully you beg. It would almost be a shame to leave your bride a widow.”
Stefan’s eyes widened and he stammered. “I-I, you can have her.” He realized his words and their implications only after he had spoken them and the vampire cocked a brow.
“The corruption of mortals. Trading your bride to the monster.”
“We have only been wed long enough to travel here.” His head hung as he admitted the truth. “The truth, the search for it and the mysteries of this land, those are my passions, my love. I would give her to you in exchange for them.”
Radu gritted his teeth. “I am not in the habit of bartering, especially not with humans.”
Stefan dug around in his coat pocket and hurriedly slipped out the image of Michelle from his wallet. Perhaps Vladislas thought his bride untempting. “This is her. She is in the village inn.”
He saw Radu narrow his eyes, yet noticed his gaze at the small photo even in the darkness.
“She is fair enough.” Radu said finally. “Tell me this, Valescu. Has she remained a maid?”
Stefan’s face reddened at the implication. “Yes, we have not—“
Radu exhaled. “This is a most unusual situation I find myself in.”
Stefan braced himself for rejection and watched as the vampire removed his hands from his own coat pockets, revealing the same pale skin, yet extended, spidery fingers with long talon-like nails. Stefan’s chest constricted with the mental image of those monstrous hands on Michelle’s bare flesh.
“Here are my terms. You shall either accept them or remove yourself from my castle immediately.”
Stefan nodded.
Radu watched him with a dubious gaze. “You will bring her here tomorrow night with no expectation of what is to occur. You will have made your decision before you exit my abode this night for you shall not cross me. You will forfeit all rights to your bride in exchange for this knowledge you seek. I will grant this only after she is secured in my keep.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Very well. And understand this, you will not try to remove her from my holdings at any time for she will no longer belong to you, and I do not take kindly to liars or cheats, nor will you approach my castle in the day hours.”
Stefan nodded. “I won’t, I swear it.”
Radu grunted. “Then you accept?”
“Yes. Anything.”
The vampire stepped back in the shadows. “You have made your choice then and you must keep it.”
Stefan went to answer in the affirmative, but by then the vampire had disappeared into the night.