Dark Ages 1457 - How do I look at you?

The following week was the hardest, I’ve learned one more of his traits, stubbornness! The wound on his rib cage got infected, and I had to deal with his excessive high fever, the wounds were still healing and barely closed, but nothing and no one could hold him in bed. Every time he felt pain and had to rest a flood of cursing would follow, and a very grumpy man would come out of his shell. On day ten, I had enough. He didn’t listen to me and the cut on his shoulder bled a lot, Liana and I waited for him to settle for a nap, and we strapped him to bed. I didn’t know what else to do to keep this man quiet for some time, and all hell broke loose when he woke up, and realized what I had done.

“What’s the meaning of this, Alizandra?” his glaring could roast me on the spot such was the anger there. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure anymore, if what I had done was the best approach for the situation. “Untie me, woman or…” I didn’t let him finish, as my words came out before I thought of them.

“Or what? You don’t listen to me. You can’t keep moving around, you won’t heal properly, Vlad!” and it was right there, that I learned one more little detail about him. His eyes became hooded, and he stared at me from across the room with fire blazing in those green eyes, a blush rose on my skin such was the intensity of his gaze. “Why do you look at me like this?”

“How do I look at you?” his voice was pure sin.

“Like a hungry wolf that just found a piece of meat after the famine?” I gulped, suddenly thirsty. 

“You put me in a situation that gave me lots of sinful ideas,” the husky words slurred from his mouth. “I can’t wait to wake ‘you’ up in the same way I am now…”

“Vlad!” I inhaled his name sharply, taking my hand to my neck and suddenly dreaming of his mouth there.

“Can you imagine you tied here, naked, your luscious body totally at my mercy, to do as I please. Can you, Liz?” the low, sensual, husky tone he used and looked at me, made my body go up in flames. My face burned, I knew I was crimson from head to toe, and not only for embarrassment, but also for all the carnal thoughts that crowded my mind! “I‘d start by your toes and slowly I’d travel up your legs licking and kissing that deliciously smooth, silky skin of yours…” and suddenly, right in front of me was the devil of lust personified, telling me in details what he would do to each and every part of my body, making my lady parts long for him. I stood up abruptly and ran out of the room, it was a shame we were on top of a hill, ‘cause right now I needed a very cold lake to throw myself in.

“Liz! Liz, come back here, woman!” and then I heard his carefree laughter in the background, and it just added to the burning state of my body. I had to ask Liana to go there and untie him, she didn’t want to go, but I wouldn’t dare get closer to him at that moment, not after he explicitly told me how my body aroused him, and made him want to do every one of his kinky wishes. Gosh, I’ve never blushed this hard in my life. A cold bath was in order, and he must have said something to Liana, since she came back all flustered, and as red as myself.

“Lady, I told you it was an awful idea to tie him to bed. Please, don’t do it again in the coming future,” and she left to the kitchen hurriedly. Believe me, a few days later, I paid the sweet price for making that devilish man a bed hostage.

Liana was my eyes and ears outside the castle, and she told me the gruesome details of the aftermath of that combat. Albu’s army had been defeated, the ones who could run away did, the unlucky ones perished, and once he was back to his healthy self he hunted Albu down mercilessly until he found him, killing and impaling him and his whole family, which he considered as dangerous as the traitor himself, then he helped to rebuild the village and some peasants get back on their feet again. One more story about their cruel, but nice ruler to pass through generations. And more and more I worried about him and his soul. 

Accidentally, he gave me a wonderful gift when he showed me that secret passage in the chapel. I was sick and tired of being inside the castle, and I’ve never had the chance to be in touch with the peasants since I've arrived here, so the next time he left for one of his crusades I went for a walk. I got a torch and headed to the pathway. It wasn’t a long walk until I got out in the woods and from there I made my way down. I loved it! Nothing like a different outing, different people, just perfect! I put on one of Liana's dresses, and a shawl over my head, so no one paid attention to me, I was one of them. I visited every stand in the little market, and talked to the villagers asking all kinds of questions, but first and foremost I wanted to know what they thought about living so close to Vlad, and to my surprise, they were happy. They felt protected, essentially after he helped them to rebuild the village, and hearing that brought joy to my heart, until I walked into the most horrendous scene by the river that cut through the region, delivering a grotesque view to that cute peaceful place, and I really came to know the other side of him.

The putrid odor hit me like a blast, making my stomach heave and water come to my eyes, the sight of such a bizarre scene would haunt me forever, rotten flesh on the ground and some still hanging, the earth screamed in blood, then I heard very low agonizing moans, since a few despicable punishments just had taken place. Suddenly I winced, and I felt a pair of hands steadying me back and leading me to the nearest tree to recompose myself.

“I see you’re not from here.” a soft and warm voice chuckled.

“Why would you say that?” I asked her puzzled. She was a short and little round lady with a happy face, and not bothered at all by the nasty view.

“Your reaction to that,” and she indicated with her head. 

“It doesn’t bother you?” I asked in disbelief.

“In the beginning, yes. But now, it’s part of the view.” she shrugged to my amazed eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me that way. He does that to warn off the invaders, the ones who want to take over our land.” she pondered for a few minutes and added. “And sometimes to remind everyone to keep their butts on the right path.”

“And are you ok with that?” I didn’t mean my voice to sound screech. I could not hold it anymore, so I turned to the tree and puked my lunch. The lady patted my back trying to comfort me.

“There, there, don’t get yourself all worked up. If they were good people they wouldn’t be there in the first place. Since he came to our village, he never mistreated nor hurt or killed any of us, on the contrary, he takes care of us and helps who’s in need. The people here are having more opportunities to grow their little business and feel safe. Come, let's go back to town,” I nodded unable to say anything else. “Where are you from, honey? I’ve never seen you around, I’d never forget someone with such interesting eye color.”

“Sorry, I have to go. Sorry,” and I left her there, wondering who was the crazy running away. I went to the woods, and back to the pathway. My mind screamed outraged with what I have seen and the situation of it.

Ok. From the beginning I knew who he was and what he was infamous for. I’ve known all the stories and legends that surrounded his persona, but seeing the real deal was another story. It got stamped in my soul forever. How could he? Did he feel remorse? If he did, he would never admit it to anyone, not even to himself. But probably, otherwise why was he so tormented? So worried about the fate of his soul? And if so, why did he keep doing it? Now comes the worst part, how am I supposed to talk to him about all these, he’ll know I’m using the escape route to sneak into the village. Damn! I needed to think and fast. He’s destroying himself and I have to stop it. My mind was in such chaos that I didn’t even pay attention I was already home, when Liana came to my encounter.

“Where were you, Lady? I looked for you everywhere.”

“Why is there something wrong?” I knew by the way she confided in me something was off.

“Master is home, he just got back. Here, let me help you take this dress off and put yours.”

“Fine.” I agreed, undressing myself.

Liana was my eyes and ears outside the castle, and she told me the gruesome details of the aftermath of that combat. Albu’s army had been defeated, the ones who could run away did, the unlucky ones perished, and once he was back to his healthy self he hunted Albu down mercilessly until he found him, killing and impaling him and his whole family, which he considered as dangerous as the traitor himself, then he helped to rebuild the village and some peasants get back on their feet again. One more story about their cruel, but nice ruler to pass through generations. And more and more I worried about him and his soul. 

Accidentally, he gave me a wonderful gift when he showed me that secret passage in the chapel. I was sick and tired of being inside the castle, and I’ve never had the chance to be in touch with the peasants since I've arrived here, so the next time he left for one of his crusades I went for a walk. I got a torch and headed to the pathway. It wasn’t a long walk until I got out in the woods, and from there I made my way down. I loved it! Nothing like a different outing, different people, just perfect! I put on one of Liana's dresses, and a shawl over my head, so no one paid attention to me, I was one of them. I visited every stand in the little market, and talked to the villagers asking all kinds of questions, but first and foremost I wanted to know what they thought about living so close to Vlad, and to my surprise, they were happy. They felt protected, essentially after he helped them to rebuild the village, and hearing that brought joy to my heart, until I walked into the most horrendous scene by the river that cut through the region, delivering a grotesque view to that cute peaceful place, and I really came to know the other side of him.

The putrid odor hit me like a blast, making my stomach heave and water come to my eyes, the sight of such a bizarre scene would haunt me forever, rotten flesh on the ground and some still hanging, the earth screamed in blood, as I heard very low agonizing moans, since a few despicable punishments just had taken place. Suddenly I winced, and I felt a pair of hands steadying me back, leading me to the nearest tree to recompose myself.

“I see you’re not from here.” a soft and warm voice chuckled.

“Why would you say that?” I asked her puzzled. She was a short and little round lady with a happy face, and not bothered at all by the nasty view.

“Your reaction to that,” and she indicated with her head. 

“It doesn’t bother you?” I asked in disbelief.

“In the beginning, yes. But now, it’s part of the view.” she shrugged to my amazed eyes. “Oh, don’t look at me that way. It's his way to warn off the invaders, the ones who want to take over our land.” she pondered for a few minutes and added. “And sometimes to remind everyone to keep their butts on the right path.”

“And are you ok with that?” I didn’t mean my voice to sound screech. I could not hold it anymore, so I turned to the tree and puked my lunch. The lady patted my back trying to comfort me.

“There, there, don’t get yourself all worked up. If they were good people they wouldn’t be there in the first place. Since he came to our village, he never mistreated nor hurt or killed any of us on the contrary, he takes care of us and helps who’s in need. The people here are having more opportunities to grow their little business and feel safe. Come, let's go back to town,” I nodded unable to say anything else. “Where are you from, honey? I’ve never seen you around, I’d never forget someone with such interesting eye color.”

“Sorry, I have to go. Sorry,” and I left her there, wondering who was the crazy, running away. I went to the woods, and back to the pathway. My mind screamed outraged with what I saw and the situation of it.

Ok. From the beginning I knew who he was and what he was infamous for. I’ve known all the stories and legends that surrounded his persona, but seeing the real deal was another story. It got stamped in my soul forever. How could he? Did he feel remorse? If he did, he would never admit it to anyone, not even to himself. But probably, otherwise why was he so tormented? So worried about the fate of his soul? And if so, why did he keep doing it? Now comes the worst part, how am I supposed to talk to him about all these, he’ll know I’m using the escape route to sneak into the village. Damn! I needed to think and fast. He’s destroying himself and I have to stop it. My mind was in such chaos that I didn’t even pay attention I was already home, when Liana came to my encounter.

“Where were you, Lady? I looked for you everywhere.”

“Why is there something wrong?” I knew by the way she confided in me something was off.

“Master is home, he just got back. Here, let me help you take this dress off and put yours.”

“Fine.” I agreed, undressing myself.