The Duchess of Arad Chapter 4 Fast times in Central Europe by Jenny Sugar Copyright © 2012 Jenny Sugar All Rights Reserved.

Rachel arrived in Arad and the first order of business was a meal, of course. She began to think that her eternal life would mostly be spent sucking stranger’s necks.

Maria was not amused. Rachel it is a small price to pay for what we gain!

No, but I have seen plenty of older women and we all know that we share their fate. Beyond that, our speed, strength, healing power, vision, and hearing are all improved. There is so much more than just living forever.

They chose a car thief that they caught breaking into a vehicle in a dark parking garage. Rachel steeled herself to watch yet another death but was surprised when Maria only took a few pints. It left the man unconscious, but alive.

Maria I am so proud of you for letting him live! Thank you, my friend!

It was nothing. I just need to practice not taking too much. I did it with my thralls when I fed on my favorites.

Rachel looked around the garage and decided that her rental car sucked and it was time to go car shopping for something more suitable for their travels. Richard’s rental car was small and was becoming quite crowded with the results of Maria’s shopping spree, so Rachel decided to return it to the rental agency and visit some dealerships.

After finding a dealer, she prowled through the rows of cars at the dealership, looking for something sporty yet practical. Practical began to win out over sporty when she considered all of the clothing, makeup, jewelry, and shoes Maria was collecting. The shoes alone would soon need their own trailer, if she didn’t slow down. That thought earned her an amused giggle from Maria.

Rachel ended up choosing a 2010 Dacia Duster, a nice SUV built by a Romanian car company that was now owned by Renault. It was roomy and had all-wheel drive, and of course she was able to get a fantastic price from the dealer once eye contact had been made. She convinced him to tint the windows to the maximum allowed by law in Europe.

I do not know if this ‘tinting’ will work, Rachel — but it was a good idea and we can test it!

No, just occasionally is good, Rachel. We appear to need some rest, but I have gone weeks without sleep and did not suffer many ill effects. During my captivity that is all that I did for the most part was sleep. Well, it was more like hibernation I suppose. I only awakened occasionally and… it was strange, Rachel. I still have faint memories of someone visiting me down there.

I don’t see how, Maria. The tunnel that I fell into had not been disturbed for centuries. Rachel shared her memory of entering the hallway then falling and finding the door and opening it to find Maria.

Yes, you are correct. The entrance was not disturbed the entire time that I was there. Maybe I dreamed of visitors because I was lonely.

After the car was purchased, they spent the better part of the evening and night cruising around Arad, mostly so that Maria could visit some of her old haunts. She was unusually quiet and Rachel contented herself to just drive where directed and let her companion take in the sights.

She had Rachel stop at an old building and was silent for a time. What is that building, Maria?

I assume you visited it, perhaps as a student?

Maria laughed. No, no. I helped fund it, Rachel.

Rachel was driving along the highway towards Budapest when Maria made an odd request of her.

Rachel, would you let me drive? The car, I mean? It looks fun, and I have never done such a thing before!

You really are a killjoy, Rachel.

After a four hour drive, Rachel found herself in Budapest, Hungary. Thanks to the European Union and their open borders, there was no issue at all crossing into Hungary. The concept of open borders in the EU was a shock to Maria but she was pleased that it made things easier for them. Rachel and Maria both enjoyed touring the city and seeing all the sights.

Rachel had explained to Maria in more detail about passports, identification, and the troubles that it could cause for her if she did not have any.

Rachel and Maria, after some debate, decided to go with United States citizenship. Rachel knew the country well, and they both felt that it was their best eventual destination. Maria claimed that they would never want for anything, or need to worry about monetary matters, and Rachel understood this so didn’t worry much about that aspect of things.

Rachel looked for and soon found the United States Embassy and had wisely chosen an overcast rainy day to explore. Upon entering, very little effort got her to the Ambassador’s office. After mesmerizing the Ambassador she gave him orders to speak nothing but the truth and to help her in any way that he could.

“You can get me a valid US Passport, yes?”

The man smiled and answered. “Oh, yes we most certainly can, Ms. Harrison. We just have to fill out some paperwork and I have to attest to your Birth Certificate, then-“

“You have seen my Birth Certificate, and it was valid. Do you need a copy or can you do this without it?”

“Umm, there really needs to be a copy filed with your other info…” The man looked very doubtful and Rachel cursed to herself. “I am sorry, ma’am, but ever since 9-11 security requirements have been much more stringent.”

What is the matter, Rachel? What is this 9-11? Wait, ah I see. Terrible tragedy, to use these airplanes to do such a thing!

Rachel was frustrated. I am not sure what to do now! If I push him hard he might come up with something but I am worried that when we actually try to use it things will fall apart fast.

I have an idea on that, Rachel. Thank him and make him forget you and let us go.

Rather than continue on or chase paperwork, Maria surprised Rachel by asking about nightclubs, and if they could visit one.

I was never one to go to such places, Maria. I am sure Budapest would have a few, well more than a few. The Hungarians that I’ve known did like to party.

Good. I saw these nightclubs on the television and it looked fun! I used to dance often when I was younger. Also, perhaps they would be a good place to hunt. Let us find one and visit.

The music was a pounding nightclub beat and Rachel’s entire body throbbed with the bass line in each song. The smoke in the air was thick and heavy, and it seemed every man and woman in the place was smoking. Rachel waved at the smoke in annoyance. Maria probed her mind to see what was wrong and was soon laughing.

It harms them but it certainly cannot harm us, Rachel! I agree that it smells bad but just ignore it. We are here to have fun, and perhaps snack a bit, yes?

Rachel agreed and she moved through the mass of people dancing. She was looking for a corner to hide in. Richard was very shy and had never once been in a nightclub and avoided bars and other such places in his lifetime. Though she was now Rachel, and a very beautiful woman, she only wanted to park in a chair somewhere and watch.

Maria didn’t like that at all and asked Rachel if she could drive while in this club. Rachel quickly gave her assent and soon Maria was on the floor dancing with the people there. Maria was having the time of her life flailing about to the music and Rachel noted that Maria was copying the best female dancers and doing it perfectly.

She had attracted quite a following and soon had several men vying to buy her a drink. Rachel simply observed as Maria picked one and led him to a darker corner of the club and into a booth. Soon they were kissing and making out, and Rachel fought down her discomfort at actually kissing a man.

To Rachel’s horror, Maria asked her if they could take him back to the hotel and have some more intimate fun. Rachel’s response sent Maria into peals of laughter, but she agreed that they would not do that, now.

Before Rachel knew it, Maria had the man in a trance, drained about a pint, licked his wounds closed, and resumed kissing him. Rachel felt a certain smugness from Maria, as she showed her how it was done. The man was sent off to dance, with orders to eat something soon.

Maria that was… incredible! You stopped so easily — after barely a pint, while I could not!

I would not say that it was easy, Rachel, but then again I’ve had much experience at this. I wish to dance some more!

Filled with energy from her brief snack, she hopped up and rushed back to the dance floor, a grin on her face and feeling more alive than she ever had in her existence. Rachel, too, felt much the same way.

Rachel was wearing a Little Black Dress cut way too short in her own opinion, a bit too long in Maria’s. She’d been a bit shocked that a woman from the 17th century was not more reserved in her clothing style.

This only brought raucous laughter from Maria.

Maria was not choosy about her dance partners at all, dancing with men and women and being felt up by both genders on many occasions. This would bring a smile or a musical laugh and Maria would often return the grope. Rachel simply took it all in, knowing that she had a lot to learn about being a woman.

Maria danced the night away, feeding once more and again only taking a small amount and sending her prey away with a smile, no memory of what happened, and an urge to eat some food.

Rachel was beyond pleased with Maria’s new feeding habits and said so, also praising her for making their prey eat so as to help replenish the missing blood.

Maria’s response was warm and happy. I am doing well at this, Rachel! It is a new thing, yes, but it accomplishes what we wish in many ways. It soothes your conscience, it feeds us, and it attracts no attention! Win-win you would call it, yes?

How so?

The dancing at the club, I would never have suspected that you’d be a dancer or that you’d adapt so quickly to modern music and dancing. There is so much more to you than I could have imagined when we first met.

Good, eventually I’d like to be with a man, again. You could let me drive and you could just watch if you wanted to. It has been so long, and I miss it.

Rachel told her that she’d consider it but she still felt revulsion at the idea. She was also beginning to see that Maria was not some one-dimensional horror-movie creature but was instead was a very complex and passionate woman, vampire or not.

As she came to her hotel room she started to unlock the door with the pass card when she sensed something strange. Maria did as well but thought it might be people in the next room. Rachel shrugged acceptance, swiped the card and opened the door.

“Muri vampir jegos!” The man cried as he rushed forward with his sharp stake. Rachel was stunned but that allowed Maria to take charge and she used her arm in a quick block to shove the stake to the side. Within a few seconds Rachel grasped what the man had said with shock: “Die filthy vampire!”

The hulking man snarled and backed away, stake back up and pointed at Rachel’s heart. Rachel felt her fangs descend and hiss at the man. Maria tried to make eye contact but he would have none of it. He rushed her again and this time Maria kicked him in the chest, sending him flying across the room into the sofa.

He hit and flipped over it to the other side, landing with a crash and destroying the table. Maria wasted no time and leaped over the sofa and onto him, trying to make eye contact. He would not look her in the eye and struggled to throw her off. To Rachel’s surprise he succeeded and was up with his stake coming for her once again.

“Cacat cu ochi!” Maria yelled at the man, and when Rachel worked that one out she was amazed that Maria would use such language. The man snarled and tried to run her through and got knocked across the room again for his trouble. “Shit with eyes,” Maria, really?

There was no response as the man was back at her again. Rachel did not for a second contemplate taking over, as Maria was doing a fine job fending off their attacker. He switched tactics and Rachel’s vision crossed momentarily as the thick stake smashed into the side of her head, knocking her a few feet across the room. Maria shook her head and caught the stake as it was being shoved at her chest.

The man howled “vampir curva!” which Rachel instantly picked up, “Vampire whore!” and tried to yank his stake back from Maria. She grinned at him, fangs still out, and would not release it. The man cocked his arm back and punched her in the face, knocking her back several feet and Rachel was seeing stars for just a moment. The man was incredibly strong.

Maria yelled “de ce?” but asking the man “What for?” got her no answer but another rush towards her with the stake. She flipped him back over the sofa, and this time when he stood up he had his original stake and a broken-off table leg to use as a second stake.

He stalked towards Maria and paused, looking for an opening. Once more he rushed forward with both stakes raised, one aimed for her heart and the table leg for her eyes.

Maria once again sent the man flying with a snarl, and Rachel could tell her anger was building up to rage-level. Oh, you have no idea, Rachel!

The man panted and stared at Rachel’s chest with pure hatred, not willing to look her in the eye. Maria growled and stalked forward, intent on ending things. The man circled her and looked as if he was waiting on an opening. They circled and watched for nearly a minute when with a roar the man swung the stake at Maria’s arm, knocking it aside.

He shoved her hard, knocking Maria back against the wall, then raised the stake and ran at her, intent to plunge it in her heart. She moved faster than he could see, and he ended up impaling the wall instead. She immediately kicked him across the room, but his stake came with him, still clutched in his hand. She ran after.

This ends, now.

Before he could raise the stake she leaped upon his body, reached in with her nails and ripped his throat. He coughed up blood, which she ignored. She spit in his face and backed away to watch him die.

Um, Maria? Shouldn’t we, you know, drink that blood?

She didn’t answer but her emotions told Rachel the intent. It was her version of a grave insult to let him bleed to death in front of her while refusing to drink.

She repeated her demand to know why he was attacking but he ignored her. He still would not allow eye contact and was soon beyond any contact.

Rachel walked over to the sofa and dropped down, exhausted. She’d have preferred to drink from their unknown attacker despite Maria’s wishes — the fight left her feeling weak and hungry. The irony of her wanting to feed while Maria refused to was not lost on Rachel, or apparently Maria, who snorted but didn’t say anything.

After resting for a time, Maria finally spoke to Rachel. I hope that you noticed that our friend here screamed “Die filthy vampire!” before we had even fully entered the room?

ODD? You have a gift for stating the obvious, Rachel! Tell me, how did he know you were a vampire?

Rachel was silent, trying to figure that one out.

Indeed, it is a puzzle, no? He was not in the nightclub. I would have noted and remembered a brute that size! I do not like puzzles that could end my existence - and yours as well.

We had best leave tonight, Rachel. I do not like this, at all. Nobody should know what we are and yet this man came, recognized you as a vampire, and had a sharpened stake ready to attack. Search his body, let us see if there is anything to indicate his origin?

Rachel searched his body and found nothing whatsoever. Neither of them liked that, either.

Shall we head to Prague, then, Maria?

Let us leave, now. We are being hunted, Rachel.

They spent most of the drive to Prague debating about their hotel room visitor and how he could have known she was a vampire, where her room was, and also knew not to look her in the eyes. This troubled them both but they could not come up with a plausible explanation for what had happened.

Prague was much like Budapest, in that Maria wanted to see the city and they spent hours driving around, taking in all that there was to see.

Do you speak Czech, Maria?

No. During my time this was part of Hungary and I never travelled this far north.

They spent much time driving around Prague, looking for what Maria had in mind. Rachel let Maria question quite a few people after she put them under her spell, and soon they were pulling up to a modest-sized building, about five stories tall. They went in, leaving a trail of admirers and finally ended up with the local crime boss they’d hoped to find.

Maria addressed the man in German. “I need a passport and a European Driver’s License, as fast as you can get them. And they need to be real, not fake ones that are easily spotted.”

The man smiled at his new goddess on earth and nodded. “I will have these for you in twenty four hours, my Lady. We need to take a picture and write down some information.”

You see, Rachel? As you would say, a piece of cake.

I suppose that I am. But whatever does that MEAN?!

Rachel sighed.

As Rachel was walking along the street, the rain stopped but luckily the sun did not come out. She wasn’t overly worried as she had large sunglasses on, a scarf, and sunscreen. As she strolled along, looking at old buildings she was approached by a beggar. As she was about to brush him off Maria demanded that she give the beggar a coin, so she did. The man smiled his gratitude and scurried away.

Ok… why?

I did.

Rachel decided to let Maria have the last word on this one.

They went back the next evening and soon Rachel sported a shiny new Driver’s License and a valid passport for one Rachel Maria Harrison. She was from Romania, of American parents. This would allow her free travel and help avoid sticky situations with the police.

Maria kept staring at the License once they went back to the hotel room, and expressed amazement that this license was needed to prove who you are to the world and that you were capable of driving a car.

Rachel was sleeping soundly when something caused her to awaken, becoming immediately alert. She sensed someone nearby in some fashion. She also heard the door lock click and the door was eased open slowly.

The room was pitch black, as it was 4 AM and she’d just gotten into bed a little while earlier. Maria had demanded to visit a nightclub in Prague and they’d danced, and fed, nearly all night. Rachel had enjoyed herself nearly as much as Maria, and had finally managed to take some blood without killing the man. He’d passed out from blood loss but Maria said that he would be fine after some rest and food. They had come back happy and ready to rest.

Luckily her night vision was excellent, and Rachel could see into the infrared spectrum quite easily now.
She saw four men slipping into the room as quietly as they could. To her their breathing was loud but she doubted that they knew that. They were all carrying extremely thick chains. Not a single stake was to be seen. Her first thought was ninjas.

Ninjas? Japanese martial artists? I think not, Rachel. Hmm, these men have chains. They mean to capture us! We need to question one, this time. Allow me?

Rachel gladly handed control of their body to Maria without hesitation. True, she was learning more and more, but this was best left to her experience.

Maria chose the man furthest on the left and gathered herself to leap when he reached her chosen spot. As soon as he had taken another quiet step she leaped and landed on the man and they both tumbled to the floor.

Rachel knew Maria was serious when she clawed his throat open and then leaped to the man closest. This one she forced back to the entrance and beat his head rapidly against the door till he was unconscious.

The two remaining men wasted no time and dived at her with their chains. On each chain was a manacle and they nearly managed to close on around her wrist before she took the chain away. She used it as a weapon and spun it in circles, snarling at the men.

“Why are you here? What do you want with me?” she yelled in English.

The lead man replied in English with a slight Russian accent. “We do not intend to kill you, Maria! Surrender and you will not be killed. This I promise you.”

Her answer was to wrap the chain around the man’s throat and jerk, hard. Rachel heard his neck snap. The final member of the quartet had switched tactics and was trying to sneak a manacle around her ankle. As a reward he got a boot heel in his face, kicked with so much force he flew backwards, blood pouring from his face. She leaped on him before he could move and was soon draining him, fast. Need energy.

Maria tossed the man aside and turned back to the man she’d left unconscious in the entry area. He was gone.
“Fute!”

Maria walked over to the bed and sat down, still cursing out loud.

Rachel timidly voiced her own thoughts to Maria. Maria, he knew your name!

Her response was dry, rather than angry. I had noticed that, yes, Rachel. Do all Americans go around stating the obvious all of the time? “The sky is blue, the water is wet!”

Rachel was not amused at all. Very funny, Maria. Ha ha. I’ll laugh if we make it another day without being staked or chained up. Did it also cross your mind that this bunch has found us twice now?

What’s up with you and Russians, anyway?

Maria sent Rachel the memory of the Russian priests chaining her up under the castle.

Oh. Sorry.