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The Infamous Meeting Dracula
It was he!
His attire had altered; now he stood in a long, flowing black soutane, a purple grosgrain sash about his waist, an ornate crucifix around his neck, but it was unmistakably he. The expression in his eyes had not changed, there was yet that infinite patience that had so maddened me only hours before. And yet there was a difference. It was the way he was looking at Kelantha, the disbelief that could not mar the immeasurable tenderness as he marveled over her transformation. Her smile was so serene as she gazed at him, even as she carefully withdrew her hand from his. So this was the good archbishop, I mused, coming down the stairs slowly and taking in the scene before me. The one who had occupied her thoughts since we entered the borders of her city, who had been a second father to her and was now articulating the words, with astonishment he could not suppress, �Your husband?� �An honor, You Grace,� I intoned, my voice low. He glanced at Kelantha quickly, then at me, then Kelantha once more. His recovery was swift, and soon he advanced toward me. �A great honor, indeed. I am Archbishop Gutierre de Vivero, His Holiness�s Legate in Spain.� I found myself smiling then, keen as I am on introductions, for it was all too perfect. The proud accent with which he pronounced his blessed name, the regal swish of the soutane, the flourish of his hands as he unfolded them elegantly. Too rich, all of this�this beautiful archbishop with his impeccable manners and complete, perverse immunity. I bowed deeply in return. �Count Vladislav Dracula.� He smiled warmly and held out his hand, a kind gesture that was expected and filled me with dread. Of course, one does not greet a prince of the Church with mere courtesy, one must drop on one knee and kiss the sacred ring on those slender fingers. It had not taken me multiple lifetimes to learn that. It was the very thing I could not do. I could not kneel before anyone, it was contrary to my entire nature. My very existence depended upon it. And to be forced, out of obedience to an institution I had never loved in life, to kneel�before an archbishop, no less!�and kiss the ruby given him by some pompous cardinal at his coronation�no! I could not, I would not, I would never� Kelantha emitted something of a half-strangled moan, and only then did I notice the horrified dread on her countenance. She began breathing very rapidly, gasping for air with exaggerated, ragged breaths�a display surely unnecessary, but it diverted the Archbishop�s attention from my unyielding form. Raising both hands and pressing them against her temples, she did the absolute last thing in the world I expected her to ever, ever do. She promptly fainted. The Archbishop gasped and knelt beside her in a moment�fortunately for myself, as for one full instant I could only raise my eyebrows and mentally applaud her performance (and it certainly would not have done to have anyone think me an uncaring husband). One of the servants had entered with a tray of coffee, but upon seeing Kelantha on the floor, ran out again at once. I leaned forward and raised my actress from her position, holding her closely before gently setting her on one of the chairs. She was nowhere near unconsciousness, but only I knew that, and soon Cristina had rushed into the room and dropped her knees. �Querida, �que te pasa?� she asked breathlessly, taking Kelantha�s face in her hands and peering worriedly into her eyes as they fluttered open. �Cristina, do not let me inconvenience you�I am sorry to have caused such trouble,� Kelantha started, only to be immediately hushed as Cristina shook her head firmly. �You, an inconvenience? Never. Only do tell me what happened�Your Grace, I apologize, I did not notice you,� Cristina interrupted herself, kissing the ring I hoped never to see again without a second thought. �Kelantha fainted,� the Archbishop said simply, sorrowfully. �I fear I ought not to have called.� �No!� Kelantha objected, �Please, it is no fault of yours.� �Your mother is absent, gone to confession. But what shall I tell your father when they return home?� Cristina asked anxiously, �He cannot bear to see you ill�and neither can I.� Her concern touched Kelantha, for she stared at her sister-in-law for a moment in a mixture of surprise and appreciation. I had vowed within myself not to do anything which might endanger this time with Kelantha�s family, but at that moment, I spoke directly to Cristina, my inner voice pronouncing her name so only she would hear it. Cristina. She looked at me instantly, almost startled she had heard me at all. I touched her hand sympathetically, reminding myself to speak audibly. �It is all right. You must not worry so. Occasionally black headaches strike Kelantha�she is very prone to them.� �Yes,� Kelantha agreed, in all seriousness, �I regret my constitution is not all that I could wish. I fear I overexert myself.� You brazen little actress! I laughed inwardly. She
pressed her lips together firmly. Don�t
distract me. If I am to play
the frail little countess, you have to support me! With pleasure. And I tilted her chin toward me, kissing her forehead lightly. �My darling, I know what it means to you to be surrounded by your loved ones again, but you must promise me you will not allow your excitement to overtire you.� �No, my love,� she answered, favoring me with a brilliant smile. �I have you to care for me. I will be very well.� She pressed my hand, and with a slight gesture, motioned for everyone to rise from their anxious vigil. Cristina and the Archbishop both moved away, and even as I followed suit, sinking into my chair and leaning against the armrest, I would not have noticed if they spoke or not. It was a game. It had to be. She had never looked at me that way before. Why had I never seen her looking so purely happy before this morning? What perverse hand of fate would allow the only genuine smile she shed upon me to be under the guise of pretending? I knew all too well what she felt�what she had always felt. At the very beginning, I transfixed her; she watched me with a strange fascination, waiting months before allowing her emotions full sway and giving into silent longing. One summer night crossed the boundary into astonished bliss, a pleasure tainted with pain, life shadowed by death. That was where the fairy tale ended and reality began. If I asked you now, would you follow? I did not speak these words to her; she had no notion of them; I merely thought as I looked at her, sitting across the room. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, the perfect expression of good breeding. There was an intensity I had not realized I harbored. Would you join me once more on that level known only to ourselves? Or is that lost to us forever? �What were we speaking of earlier?� Kelantha�s voice rang out brightly. �You were about to tell me about your husband,� the Archbishop answered a smile. Now that was certainly false; Kelantha had said nothing of the sort. Our polite exchanges were interrupted by her efforts to save me from my own resolute will. Perhaps the Archbishop�but no, he could not have noticed, in that brief moment, my wordless refusal. It was too incredible, even for him. ��although I must confess,� he continued, �I always cherished the hope that I would one day perform your marriage ceremony.� Kelantha averted her eyes. �It would have meant a great deal to me.� �Kelantha�s marriage was a surprise, even to us,� Cristina spoke up, �I believe she happened to be at the correct place at the perfect time.� The Archbishop�s eyes lit up. �The hand of Providence! Tell me, Kelan�forgive me, countess�where were you when this realization struck?� �You would not believe me if I told you,� Kelantha grinned wryly. �Most assuredly not here, then. Why, my child, did you at last fulfill your dream to travel?� Kelantha leaned forward. �I have. There have been so many things I wanted to tell you! So many times I wished I could have asked for your thoughts. But you have done wondrous things in Rome, I am sure.� He shrugged his elegant shoulders. �Ah, well, I am glad you have such confidence. I do not know if His Holiness would agree with you, but I have tried. If only I could have seen my little friend during those times; I am sure her bright eyes would soften the entire Vatican.� Standing up, he smiled wistfully. �I have taken up enough of your time for one morning�no, don�t leave your seats, I will see myself out. Please tell Sr. and Sra. Cabrera I will call again later.� Cristina left the room quietly after the Archbishop�s departure, but Kelantha remained rooted to her seat, gazing and very likely wondering at my prolonged silence. �What is it?� she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper. �What does it signify? You did not mean it.� �I only pretended�� �I know you did,� I interrupted her. I rose to leave, for I was not about to have this conversation with her here, nor did I wish to upset her at a time when, by rights, she should have been resting. Passing through the doorway, I added softly, �I did not realize how much I had believed you.�
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