Theodoric knew that Elizavett’s kind smile was not meant for him. He had fallen in love at first sight, but the deep emotions of the woman in the portrait had nothing to do with him whatsoever. Theodoric, however, was a methodical individual when he had a goal in mind. He knew back then that a neophyte Temple Knight like himself had no authorization to lead an expedition to some ancient, forgotten castle. First, he resolved to prove himself dependable on mission after mission, earning the approval of his superiors, in order to advance through the ranks as quickly as possible. In ten short years, he had obtained the rank of Captain. With his natural-born charisma, it wasn’t long before he became the real authority behind the Temple Knights.
The rest was simple. He used the Holy Church’s believers as an information network to learn everything he could about beautiful scarlet vampires. Most of it was vague rumors, but it was enough for him to identify the location of Elizavett’s castle.
He set out with his Temple Knights. Publicly, it was an expedition to slay the Corpse Princess Elizavett, an archenemy of the Holy Church who had survived into modern times. Theodoric, however, had no intention at all of consigning Elizavett to the flames. His many years spent nursing his longing for the woman he’d glimpsed in a painting long ago had twisted those emotions into something self-centered and altogether nasty. In order to wed himself to the beautiful vampire, he would have to employ extraordinary means. On paper he would have her exterminated, but secretly he would spirit her away. He would keep her captive, hurt, and weakened, and train her like a dog until she broke and submitted to his will.
The knights spent the day soaking the old castle with oil, and waited until the sun went down to set it aflame. Perhaps it seemed strange to not attack during the daytime, when a vampire would be at her weakest, but many elder vampires were able to suppress their weaknesses, and those that weren’t were likely to keep their coffin somewhere safe, protected by a multitude of traps. The best time to attack was the very moment the sun sank beneath the horizon, aiming to strike just as Elizavett was rousing from her slumber.
The plan had gone off without a hitch. The knights ran her through with their holy spears, wounding her heavily. Theodoric had been prepared to lose dozens of men just to weaken her, but strangely, Elizavett offered no resistance whatsoever. Now all he had to do was lure the vampire into the open, weaken her to the greatest extent he could, and take her away.
Elizavett was every bit as beautiful as her portrait made her out to be. The spear wounds and the burns did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. Theodoric wanted to run onto the field and take her in his arms, but with her inhuman strength, he knew she could tear his body to shreds—hardly the outcome he desired at all.
Theodoric’s knights executed his strategy exactly as they had been ordered, sending Elizavett plummeting from her castle window, pierced by spears and consumed by flames. It pained his heart to hurt his beloved Elizavett so, but it was an ordeal he would have to overcome if his unrequited love were to come to fruition. Outside the castle was a great horde of knights keeping Elizavett surrounded. She had nowhere to run, and her assailants were armed with holy silver. All he would have to do was stab her until she could no longer move, then nail down her arms and legs in a crucifix position and have her secretly carried to the Temple Knights’ headquarters, where he would lock her away in the basement. He really believed that when he had her there, and thoroughly broke her will, his profound love for her would touch her heart.
However, there was a flaw in his clever plan—a black-haired young girl who abruptly forced her way onto the scene, accompanied by some absurd balls of fluff. And given the choice between the Temple Knights, the champions of justice, and the wicked vampire Elizavett, she had chosen the vampire in a heartbeat. That choice in itself was proof that she was definitely some kind of witch.
The next thing Theodoric knew, the girl had whisked Elizavett away using some ancient supermagic called teleportation. What did this girl intend to do with such a precious creature? She must be subjecting her to cruel torments even now. The very thought of it pained Theodoric’s heart.
“Elizavett,” he said. “Where has she taken you? Don’t worry. I will come to rescue you at once...”
† † †
“This form does allow me to overcome my weakness to sunlight,” said Elizavett, “but by the hells if it isn’t hot!” It had been several months since Kanata had left the Royal Capital on her journey and the weather was starting to feel like summer. The sun felt hotter on their backs by the day, and they were starting to see the shimmers of heat haze when they gazed out at the road ahead. “Still...” Elizavett added with a shiver, “these strange chills keep running down my spine... Perhaps I am coming down with a cold.”
“Kanata,” Zag’giel said, “we know you said you know a place, but will this area truly do?”
The wagon was rolling along a narrow path between fields of wheat growing tall in the late spring sun. Kanata had teleported them here immediately after they left the High Cathedral and said goodbye to Marianne. It seemed the destination she’d had in mind was this wheat field.