When she had time in the library, Vero investigated some of Elizaveta great record books. She was charged with taking the measurements for them while she assisted in the research. The histories of numerous different natural phenomena were listed there, determined by several curious apparati.

  Vero was astounded just learning all the clever means of measurement which could be devised. Most, Elizaveta crafted based on other’s designs or ordered from afar, and Vero knew some of these. Others, were inventions totally of her own.

  Vero noted the weather, the amount of snowfall, took the windspeed, measured the vaporous water in the atmosphere, and the pressure subtly exerted by the elemental air around her. She also collected samples of the soil for examination.

  All these little numbers were written down into one of the massive books dedicated to each subject. The records kept in the library were only the most recent, although the dates went back centuries in certain categories.

  Most entries before her arrival were written in Elizaveta’s pristine and flowing script, but when she looked in the oldest books, she found they were made by someone else. The writing was bulky and masculine. The tradeoff occurred more than eight hundred years ago, probably the time of her father’s destruction. Vero suspected there were more books entirely written by Hector kept somewhere else, probably in a secret vault hidden in the labyrinth beneath the castle with his journals.

  Perhaps protected by that grotesque enfant terrible in the undercroft.

  “Snooping into my things, dear one?” Elizaveta wrapped her arms around Vero from behind, and pressed against her back.

  “Snooping implies deceit, mistress. I was only trying to learn.”

  Elizaveta started kissing her neck. “Learn what, sweet one? It’s my pleasure to teach you.”

  “Do you have more old books of records somewhere?”

  “Why do you ask, pretty?”

  “Some of the older measurements I see here are so different from ours today.”

  “The climate changes over time, my dove.”

  “I understand that, mistress. But this change in air pressure couldn’t be explained, unless…”

  “You already know the answer, beloved. You saw this place as it was over a thousand years ago, in the nymph’s dream. A millennia ago, these were only the foothills of the Star Mountains.”

  “Mama said that mountains grow over the course of millions of years. In the space of a thousand years any change should be imperceptible. What could cause this?”

  “I’m not certain. The mountains radiate out from a central point. Something powerful must lie beneath it, but I know not what. That’s what this research means to answer. I’ve rebuilt this castle many times, and it was rebuilt many times before that as well. You climbed through the remnants on your way here to me.” Elizaveta stroked Vero over the skirts of her dress.

  “When did you first discover Adeana?”

  “I met her when I was a child. My father was already a vampyre when I was born. When he realized he was dying, he sired a living child while he still could, then arranged for his transformation before my birth. Don’t ask me how he managed it, because I don’t know. My mother died in her labor, and I was raised here alone. My father cared for me, of course. Or at least, he did in his mind. Vampyrism deadens feeling, do you understand?”

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  “Yes.”

  “When I was small, I was terribly lonely. My only companions were my tutors… and Adeana. She was… like a mother to me. She’s beautiful. Though not so beautiful as you.” There was a desperation in Elizaveta’s voice which could be both useful and dangerous. “I love you, Veronique. Do you love me?”

  “Of course I do, mistress.” The infusions were still making her very sensitive.

  “I wish that I could believe that, my love. I know it cannot be, and I don’t understand why you must keep tormenting me this way?”

  “I don’t mean to torment you at all. I could never deny anything to you.”

  Elizaveta's voice was shaking with desire. “Don’t you see how dangerous it is to tease me this way? What could happen to you if my discipline were to slip for but a moment? I’ve planned this all so carefully, and we’re now so very near success. You risk everything we’ve worked for by doing this to me, and yet you insist on playing these games.”

  “I’m not playing any games with you. Ask anything of me, and I shall give it to you freely. I love you. Isn’t that what you wish of me?”

  “More than anything I’ve wanted in a very long time. When I looked into your memories, I saw what I needed to prepare for. Yet I find myself just a bewitched as the Marquis. You’re an enchantress the likes of which humanity has not produced in generations. But we have the same enemies, you and I. You can trust me. I swear that I’ll protect you.”

  “I know you will, mistress.” Vero turned and let her weight rest in Elizaveta’s embrace, the vampyress held her up effortlessly. “You’re so kind to me.”

  “I won’t let anyone harm you, not even myself.”

  “Your time is here. They’ll come for you soon,” said Elizaveta, as they reclined in her bed.

  “How can you tell?” Vero asked.

  “I can smell it. The scent shall drive them mad. After they take you away, I will do what I can for you, but I must first deal with the thralls before they realize what has happened.”

  “One last kiss then, in case we do not see one another again.”

  “Vero, I- please be safe. I’ve never held a lover so close to me before. I would be loath to lose you.”

  Vero kissed cold lips. “You’ll keep me safe. I love you, so I know you shall.”

  “This is serious, Veronique. When I devised this scheme, I didn’t intend on falling in love with the one who was sent. Why should I have, when I've gone so many centuries before never loving another? I’m certain you’ll believe all I say are lies, so be it, but I do love you. When this is over… I don’t wish there to ever be conflict between us.”

  “Nor do I.” Vero tried to kiss her again, but Elizaveta held her back.

  “I meant it. I know what your hunt means to you.”

  “It means everything to me. But you’re not my prey tonight. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “But you will.”

  “If I need to. I hope that will not be.” Luna’s own truth.

  “We may not have time to speak again before they take you, which is why I must tell you this now. I did not lie to you when I told you that this poison shall work as you have been told, but it was not originally so.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The poison I originally designed would have killed the bearer. Someone altered it for your unique humors to enable you to survive at some time after I sent it to the Curia. I know not how, nor why. Only that it is someone with greater knowledge of occult science than even myself, and that they were intimately familiar with the alchemical workings of your biology.”

  Vero felt a cold sweat of anxiety. Iosephus fit that description, but if he did change the spell to preserve her life, why did he not tell her? Was it the work of someone else?

  Can you even trust Elizaveta in the first place?

  Vero looked at Elizaveta, directly into her eyes. “Do you swear to me this poison is not fatal?”

  “I do so swear. I would not send you if it wasn’t safe. I couldn’t bear to, now.”

  Vero believed her.

  They passed the Black Palatine’s chambers that night as normal to collect their air samples, and chart the most recent stellar movement. As they descended back down the tower the Landgravine Sidonie was waiting for them, as expected. When she appraised Vero, there was a feral look in her eye.

  “The master wishes to see you.” She turned to Elizaveta. “Alone.”

  Elizaveta gave her hand one final reassuring squeeze, then Vero left with the Landgravine. Sidonie closed the door behind them, and darkness fell.

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