Here we are again, another Sunday evening, and here, once again - it's raining GRRRR. I think it's fair to say that I'm sick to bloody death of winter and I cannot wait until next month and the start of spring. Oh well, not long now (I tell myself this over and over). To say that I suffer from the winter blues is a little bit of an understatement (as you can probably tell). However, this week I've been trying to change that and I've started to see what book conventions I'll be visiting this year. I've applied for a couple and if I'm accepted I'll drop a post of the dates and places :-)
Okay, well I guess that's enough of the chit chat - here's chapter 8 of Vampire - In the Beginning. Enjoy.
Charmain x
Chapter
Eight
My excitement grew as the king’s visit came closer. I had a choice of
gorgeous fabrics to choose from, to be sure that I had suitable gowns, and so
that I did not look out of place when our important guest arrived.
I was it seemed very lucky, in that although I was in my sixth month
of pregnancy, I had not gained very much weight and my condition, although
noticeable was not pronounced and unsightly. Robert had given me over to
Matilda’s expertise for the choosing of the gowns, and I made my way to her
quarters when the tailor arrived with the fabrics. I had never seen such fine
materials, and watched in awe as Matilda chose the finest green velvet and
muslins, threaded with gold and silver.
Finally, after she had chosen her materials and had talked at length
with the tailor about the designs of her own gowns, she beckoned me to her with
the words, “Come here, brood mare.” This was, it seemed, her preferred name for
me, I did not protest, well there was no point. Matilda was a beautiful monster
and could tear me limb from limb if she chose to do so.
She looked at me critically, her eyes straying from my face to my
slightly protruding belly and back, her eyes then rested on my stomach for what
seemed an age, and finally her cruel but mesmerizing eyes returned once more to
my face. I straight away noticed that a ruthless snarl had twisted her sultry
mouth into a thin line, and jealousy and anger shone from the depth of her
glittering green eyes.
“So what colour do you imagine would suit you, dear brood mare?” she
said in a sarcastic tone. I walked towards the table that the materials were
spread out upon and let the richness fall through my hands in appreciation, I
was instantly drawn towards the dark and light blue materials, knowing
instinctively that with my dark hair and light blue eyes, these would be the
colours that would suit me the most. Turning towards Matilda I said, “I would
like the dark and light blue please, Matilda.”
A callous, sharp laugh escaped from her lips, and she said, “Oh, would
you indeed? Well I’m sure that can be arranged, but,” she said turning towards
the old but steely-eyed tailor, “She will have no adornments, she and the
company we keep must remember that she is in a delicate condition, and of
course she should never be allowed to overstep her station in life, which was,
I believe, a lowly cow maid!” On ending her statement Matilda once more
laughed, which it would seem signaled to the women present that they also must
laugh, because each of them tittered in turn.
I felt my face flush at the obvious insult, and I stammered out, “Thank
you”, whilst making my way rapidly to the door. I had thought that I had made
it out of her quarters when suddenly I felt myself lifted by my throat off the
floor and held up against the cold of the wall. Matilda’s face had changed into
that of a monster, I recalled James’s face looking very similar on my very
first encounter with him at the farm, but this was different, I knew that
Matilda would love to see my demise, in fact she wished for it.
“Please be kind enough to remember that you shall address me as Lady
Vanike…Little milkmaid, you shall regret it if you do not.” Her eyes blazed
into my own, but they had changed from glittering green to a rather opaque
jade, her fangs dripped with saliva, and the veins in her neck and face stood
up and pulsed.
“Did you hear me, brood mare?” I nodded, and took a deep gasp of air
as she loosened her grip and let me fall to the stone floor. She disappeared as
quickly as she had appeared, and I heard her telling the women of my fear, and
their delighted laughter in response to her tale. Slowly I got to my feet, and
quickly made my way to my own room, the incident reaffirmed to me how careful I
must be when I was around Matilda, and just how much she hated me. I knew I
must always be on my guard, because the first chance she had she would take
great delight in killing me.
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