1600, Csejthe Castle – Hungary
High above the village of Csejthe, on the massive mountaintop of the Carpathian Mountains, a castle hides the beginning of a murderous rampage.
Elizabeth sat looking at herself in the mirror, admiring her beautiful reflection. Behind her a servant terrifyingly combed her hair, petrified of doing something wrong.
Elizabeth smirked; she knew the terror she invoked. The punishments she would force on these servants if they stepped out of place was legendry. Like her aunt, she didn’t just punish her servants for minor inconveniences, she would punish them for any reason. She enjoyed watching the pain in their eyes, aroused by the screams and pleas.
She stared at the young servant. Such beautiful unblemished skin. She was once like that. Unmarred by age and trials. Now she felt herself getting old, even though her beauty was known all over Hungary, she felt sure one day that too would fade. What would she have then?
Her husband dead, her children occupied with their own lives, and her beloved aunt brutalised and murdered.
She felt an inner resentment to this young child, the young girl’s hand trembling under her steady gaze. Dropping her eyes, she wanted to whack all the beauty from her. Suddenly, a sharp yank jolted her back.
Wheeling around, glaring at the trembling creature, “you fool. How dare you hurt me that way.”
Her large brown eyes widened in terror, “mistress, I didn’t mean to. I’ll try better, I promise.”
Elisabeth didn’t bother to listen to the girl’s pleas. Her hand whacked against the girl’s soft flesh. Tears trickled down the servant’s face. But Elizabeth wasn’t looking at her; instead transfixed by the small amount of blood left on her ring.
Touching the crimson liquid, she felt the rejuvenating properties of the young blood seep into her skin.
The young servant stared, terrified, wondering what would happen to her.
Elizabeth turned, gazing at herself in the mirror. She could swear she looked younger, healthier; a new glow started to appear.
Ignoring the frightened child, she rushed from the room, thoughts catapulting in her mind. Excitement filling her.
“IIona, I’ve found what I have been seeking. Come, we must begin right away.”
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