Within the sanctuary, Bethany lied on a wooden table draped in a brown gown to keep covered.
When Ezra and Katerina entered the room, she ran over to the body and hugged it tightly. This most feeling of relief overcame her. She felt safer now that her cousin was back.
The herbs within the garden had abilities to heal wounds and sickness. It is a fast acting agent which is why Bethany looked like herself again. The skin, blood, and other bodily organs regenerated back to normal.
Bethany was still unconscience but she was going to be okay and Katerina couldn't wait for her to wake up.
Ezra stood behind her, allowing the space she wanted but Katerina turned around. She was forever grateful for the compassion Ezra gave her in order to save her life.
Instinctively, Katerina wrapped her arms around Ezra, pulling him down into an intimate hug. Her lips pressed against his ear as she whispered "thank you."
Her embrace made Ezra nervous. She hadn't shown this much affection to him but maybe it was just the moment of happiness shared.
Katerina lingered her lips there for a moment then withdrew her arms slightly to move her face in front of his.
Their eyes locked in gaze as if trying to read each other's minds.
"You're welcome." He breathed out.
Katerina felt drawn to Ezra in this moment. She felt an aspect of weakness that wanted to give into this vampire. The vampire that seemingly saved her life from treacherous perils. The vampire that wanted to hurt her but yet protect. He was only befuddled by his own emotions. He actually did care for her.
The elongated stare between the two led to a brief second of their lips brushing against each other ever so slightly. It shot a jolt of fire through Katerina's body. Her heart raced, and so did his.
Simultaneously, snapping them from their trance, the woman was sitting up from the table.
"Where am I?" She said groggily. Her hands rubbed her eyes vigorously. "Am I dead?"
Katerina released Ezra and ran to Bethany.
"It is me cousin. Katerina." She pleaded to her, hoping she'd remember her.
"Katerina?" Bethanys eyes perked up and swung her arms around to hug her. She felt safe now that she was with Katerina. The things she endured were nothing short of horror.
Bethany felt weakened as she attempted to stand. "Let's get you to a room." Katerina spoke.
Ezra motioned the servants to take Bethany.
"You rest and I will see you in the morning." Katerina reassured her and Bethany nodded in exhaustion.
"Come now." Ezra commanded. "It is time for you to sleep also."
—
The morning came slowly with the sun creeping around the corners of the mountains. It was mid-morning but there was ruckus afoot in the castle.
"What are you doing here?" Victoria stammered. She held her books tightly against her chest as she watched Astrid stroll through the castle.
Her facial expressions displayed a sense of determination. Every time Astrid took a step, her entire voluptuous body waved with it. She was certainly on a mission to speak with someone.
"Ezra!" She shrilled, filling the hallways with an uncomfortable aroma that even the servants cowered around the corners from.
"Astrid I don't believe he has awoke yet." Victoria chased after her, up the spiraling stone steps that led to Ezra's room.
Prince Ezra was sleeping peacefully when he heard an incessant pounding on the door. His eyes flung open but the doors were already wide open and a hysterical Astrid stood there with her mouth wide open in shock. Victoria quickly turned her heels to leave the area.
The human was sleeping in his bed, with him! How dare he even think about sleeping with other women. Especially a human pet. This only thickened the hatred Astrid had for Katerina and what she had planned to do with her.
"That wasn't pleasant." Ezra yawned and stood from the bed. His eyes brightened in color to state his annoyance with this wench.
"I..I.. I've come to see you!" She shrieked, throwing her arms around him like a young kid.
Katerina sat up slowly from the bed, unaware of the situation happening before her.
"You smell like a brewery." He stated plainly.
Astrid had quite a few bloody Mary's before arriving but the intoxicating fluid increased her boldness to confront Ezra.
"Don't mind that, darling." She hiccuped with a giggle. "I've come to see you. It has really been a while." She twirled her fingers between her locks of hair then pressed her chest against his.
"Do you think we could have some privacy?" She glared over to Katerina, motioning her to leave the room.
Ezra closed his eyes and sighed. "Your pathetic whining is very unattractive of you." He rustled his hair and yawned once more.
"Unless my dear pet would like to watch me defile you." He shot Katerina a glance to see her reaction which was nothing short of amusing.
"Then I suppose that would be a no. You should really go to the village trough and take a bath." He teased with a chuckled then motioned the servants to shovel this woman out of his room.
Astrid turned a bright shade of red then stared Katerina down with such intensity that she burst with anger.
"Have you been looking for this my darling?" Astrid held up a leather notebook, entwined with hemp to keep it closed.
Ezra gritted his teeth and swiftly appeared in front of her, grabbing her by the neck and shoving her against the wall.
"What gives you such strength as to thieve from me?" His fangs grew in hunger, ready to snap Astrids neck in two.
She immediately felt air escaping her lungs, but continued to hold her ground.
"Why don't you tell your dear pet about what you've done to her?.." Astrid flashed Ezra a fang filled smile back at him but coughed from losing air.
Ezra's eyes deepened in color, losing his strength to hold on. He never intended for someone to take his personal belongings and read them. His thoughts and memories are for him alone.
Ezra kept several journals over the past hundred years, documenting every emotion and killing. It was a way of remembering who he was and how he's changed. It was easy and quick to fill up one notebook and move on to the next.
"You've done something terrible Astrid. Now you will pay." Ezra lunged forward to tip her jugular out but a voice from behind them stepped up.
"Wait."
Astrid widened her eyes at Katerina speaking.
"What do you mean?" She questioned.
"Leave it, pet." He hissed, but Katerina was dedicated to knowing what this woman meant. Ezra scared her but Katerina was bold enough to defy him.
Astrid began to laugh maniacally. She dug her French nails into the skin of Ezra, forcing him to release her. She then regained her strength and ripped the journal open with such force that it turned to the exact page she needed to ready.
Ezra's back never turned around, he stood like a statue.
"Dated 1484." Astrid began as she watched Katerina's expressions.
She then continued. "I slaughtered an entire village last night. It was an exhilarating feeling and most pleasurable. I couldn't imagine a more plentiful place to feed on since traveling the kingdoms. These humans have the best blood further south."
Katerina listened intently but seemed confused.
"When I killed the last couple, I couldn't find the child they harbored. The house certainly looked like a child lived there but I couldn't find it. It's probably feeding a pack of half breeds with its own body by now."
Astrid walked around Katerina in a circle like motion, speaking slowly so that she would understand.
"You see young girl. Ezra was a menace."
Katerina already knew that, but wasn't afraid of him.
Astrid pouted for a moment at no sign of fear so she then continued.
"Your prince keeps a list of names of each person he devours."
"Astrid." Ezra growled.
"Quiet you." She hushed.
Astrid flipped the pages more then stopped to read names.
"This list is dated for the night of 1484. Tell me if these sound familiar." She took a deep breath and smiled. "Elijah Zir, Kai Zir, Freya Bulski, Anastasia Sirakov, Finn Sirakov.." Astrid continued to list names but Katerina froze in her step.
The names of her mother and father came out of Astrid's mouth. Did this mean?
Astrid smiled when her expression changed to worry as she snapped the book shut.
"Was it something I said?" She teased as she came back around to face Katerina.
"You see..I did a lot of digging these past several days." The hiccups came back to the drunken Astrid.
"And..found some interesting things." Astrid reached out to glide her fingers over Katerina's face.
"You look unwell…Katerina Sirakov."
Katerina still stood in silence. Her eyes never looked at Ezra who was searching for any type of forgiveness. He had known he killed her parents when he felt familiar with her maiden name the first time he met her at the shop.
Astrid handed the journal to Ezra.
"I'll see you soon, darling." She kissed his cheek and left the room.
The servants instinctively closed the doors, leaving them alone in silence.
Ezra quickly came to her aid.
"Katerina.." his voice cracked, feeling remorse for the first time in his immortal life.
"Katerina." He repeated. "I had no knowledge of who you would become to be before.." his words trailed off when she gave him no response.
A single tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek.
Ezra could see that she was broken inside and that he had broken her once more. An overwhelming feeling of regret swallowed Ezra whole. He tried hard to push those feelings away, knowing she would never trust him again.