Elizabeth and Vlad E-Book

Sylvia Schwetz

• Herausgeber: novum pro Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 304

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Elizabeth Baker's life is turned upside down when her father tells her to travel to Romania to learn about her roots and her true destiny. For her, that means putting her career as a doctor on hold and leaving her boyfriend behind. And yet, the next day she's on a plane - destination: Bucharest. Once there, she meets Vlad. Immediately she senses that there is something special between them. But then she learns not only that he is a vampire, but also that he is married. Outraged, Elizabeth flees. But fate has other plans and brings the two together again. But Vlad has more than just a skeleton in his closet ... Is their love strong enough to survive more than one obstacle? And what is their destiny?

Leseprobe

Elizabeth and Vlad

Foreword

It's not easy to write down something you know you've been going through most of your life.

Quite simply, I have now decided to share my story and my secret with others. Maybe some will think I'm crazy and that I just want attention, but that's not the case.

So, now the beginning or motive would be told, why I would like to write down my history - which is by the way completely different.

But I also know- and I have no doubt about it - that there are other people in this world who have experienced something like I did and have gained courage through fates and humiliations even in such parallel worlds. In any case, it worked for me, because whenever I started therapy and I told my life story, the therapist was very surprised that I was still alive. She also asked me once if I didn't have suicidal thoughts. I looked at her for a long time and told her, "No, I hadn't, because I always told myself that it couldn't get any worse and life goes on."

I grew up in simple circumstances and we were a very happy family in the beginning.

There was my father, who had a job in a radio and television business, then my mother, who worked as a secretary. My sister and I were barely two years apart and had quite different characters.

I was the older of the two of us, but also the more unstable, which meant that I couldn't handle some situations as quickly as my sister, who was much more self-confident and stronger.

I don't want to write a book about my whole childhood and the incidents in the family, but only give this small insight, because I plan to write a completely different story.

Let me start by saying that I have been building a second identity since my childhood, which was anything but rosy.

I don't know why, but it has always helped me get over certain fates.

My childhood was marked by my parents' divorce and my mother's new acquaintances. We, my sister and I, were often alone at home and had nothing of our youth.

When I was about eleven years old - my parents had just divorced - one day I was alone in the apartment. And somehow I had the feeling that I wasn't alone, but that there was someone there. When I had just gone into the living room, I felt it more intensely and turned around, but there was no one there. Out of sheer panic, I started running and ran into the children's room, closing the door behind me and hiding between the bed and the window. When I realized that this something - at that time I couldn't put it any other way - had been following me and opened the door and stepped into the room, I made myself even smaller and put my face on my upraised legs.

I tried to breathe as little as possible so as not to make myself noticed. Then I heard the almost silent footsteps, since the room was carpeted, coming in my direction.

It was almost unbearable - I was shaking so much - that I almost lost my courage and ran away in panic. But I mustered all my courage and waited patiently to see who would be standing in front of me.

And then it stopped and I carefully lifted my head. When I then looked to the left past the bed to the door, I saw no one and the feeling I had before had also disappeared. Only one thing had changed: The door was wide open.

Could that be? Had I been so mistaken in this feeling of being watched? But then why was the door open that I knew I had closed after hiding?

So I rose slowly and went through the open door into the anteroom. Slowly and as quietly as possible, I moved back towards the living room and passed by the sitting room, where the door was also open, and, as I passed the room, I saw a shadow in the corner of my eye. Or did I? Were my senses playing tricks on me?

I wanted to know for sure now, so I gathered all my courage and turned to the right and walked into the room.

And this is now the moment when I fall into a new stage and my second identity begins.

Because when I entered the room completely, a story began in my mind's eye, which I would now like to tell here from the beginning.

First chapter

When I came out of the hospital - it had been another stressful day - the sun was just setting.

Finally I could get some fresh air and took a deep breath.

I went to my car and drove in the direction of home. Of course, the traffic was once again gridlocked, so I turned up the radio and listened to the sounds. As I did so, I thought back to my life. I was now a young woman and successful physician. My name is Elizabeth Baker. I lived with my father in a house on the outskirts of town and he was just always there for me when I needed him.

I could talk to him about everything and that was sometimes very important. But somehow I also felt that he was hiding something from me, something sinister that scared me.

I didn't want to call him on it either because I was embarrassed.

That I would soon find out what it was, I did not know at that time.

I had a date with George, my boyfriend, later. We were going out for dinner and then he had said that he had a surprise for me.

I finally arrived home and parked the car in the driveway and went into the house. There my father was already waiting for me and greeted me warmly. He said that he had to talk to me and I replied that I had an appointment and that I didn't have time at the moment because I had to hurry. He looked at me and I promised him that I would talk to him tomorrow. My father agreed and I went to shower and change.

After about an hour I was in the car and drove to the restaurant where George was already waiting for me.

We went inside, took a seat at a table, ate, drank and told each other stories. When we left the restaurant after a while, George looked at me for a long time and asked me if I wanted to stay with him tonight. Since I loved George very much, I agreed immediately and we drove to his house.

I had been friends with George for half a year now and I loved him like the first day. He had brown, short hair, gray eyes and a well-toned figure, so for me just to fall in love.

When we arrived at his house and got out, we immediately went inside. Suddenly George took me in his arms and kissed me. I returned his kiss and afterwards we looked at each other for a long time and I could tell that he wanted more and I made him understand that I was ready for it by holding him tightly against me. He then lifted me up and carried me up the stairs to the bedroom.

When I woke up the next morning, he smiled at me and asked if I had slept well. I answered in the affirmative and smiled back happily and kissed him for a long time. Then I got out of bed and went to take a shower. When I finished dressing, I went downstairs and entered the living room where breakfast was already on the dining table. A smile played around my lips.

We had breakfast together and when I said goodbye to him, I told him that I would call him. He nodded, accompanied me to my car, gave me a kiss, I got in and drove home.

On the way, I called my father, wanting to know if he was home. When he picked up, he told me he would wait for me and I hurried to get home.

When I opened the front door and stepped into the house, I found my father in the living room and, after grabbing a drink, sat down next to him on the couch.

My father turned to me and looked at me for a while before he began to speak.He told me that he had made a decision and that now was the right time to find out my true destiny. To do this, I would have to travel to Romania, where I would be picked up at the airport in Bucharest and then taken to a castle.

I looked at him with an astonished look and asked him how long I had to think about this decision and what my destination was. Father replied that my flight would be tomorrow and everything else would fall into place in due course.

"Very well," I thought, and told my father that I was going to pack now and then I had to make another visit.

I went to my room sadly, thinking of George and our first night together, and called him immediately. He was worried and said he would pick me up in an hour. So I started packing my suitcase until then and just wasn't in the mood to leave George so soon. I also called the hospital to let them know that I would not be available for an extended period of time, as I had to travel indefinitely. I was told there that it would not be a problem and wished me well and to get back to them.

When the suitcase was finished packing, my cell phone rang and George said he was already there. I told him that I would be right with him and closed the suitcase. I went back to my father in the living room and said goodbye to him. He got up, came up to me and took me in his arms and explained to me that this was the way of things.

I looked at him, nodded, and left the house to join George in the car. George gave me a kiss and we drove off. After a while we stopped at a park and got out. We walked in a good distance and then stopped at a park bench that, if you sat down, gave you a view of a small lake.

It could not be more beautiful and romantic. If I could now think of the right words to say to George, the moment would have been perfect.

I looked at George for a long time and he realized that I wanted to tell him something but didn't know how. He took my hands and indicated to me to just start. So I told him what my father had told me that day and that - and this part was especially hard for me - we would not see each other again. Then I started to cry and apologized to him.

George looked at me for a long time with sad eyes and couldn't believe what he had just heard. He was stunned that now, when we had just connected like that, it was just over. I couldn't look him in the eye any longer and lowered my head, but he lifted my chin and kissed me very long and deeply and then we hugged for a long while. We both knew we would never see each other again. Then we got up and went back to the car and George drove me home. When we got there, he gave me one last hug and told me to take care of myself. I looked at him and kissed him and promised to do so. Then I got out of the car and he left immediately. I went into the house and to my room. There I lay down on the bed and cried and cried.

Second chapter

At some point I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up, it was dark in my room and I turned on the bedside lamp. Then I stretched and got up. I took off my clothes and went into the bathroom where I stood under the shower and just let the warm water run down me. I was so sad that I didn't want to waste a single thought on anything pleasant. A world had collapsed for me.

After a while I turned off the shower and took a towel to dry myself. Then I slipped into my bathrobe and stood in front of the mirror, looking at my face. It was frightening to see how I looked, my eyes red from crying, my face pale and that sad expression was beyond description.

I decided to end this sight and went back to the room, where I threw myself on the bed and started crying again. It wouldn't stop, but on the other hand it was probably quite good, so maybe I would get better faster, at least I hoped.

Then as I sat up in bed and let my eyes wander around the room, I only now noticed that there were some things on my desk that I knew I hadn't put there. So I got up and went to my desk and looked at it. There were some documents like plane tickets, a few lines from my father and other little things.

When I looked at the things more closely, I now knew again what they were for: for the trip to Romania.

But somehow I didn't feel like going there. If only because I didn't know what to expect there - or who.

I took my father's letter in my hand, sat down on the bed and began to read:

"My dear Elizabeth,

I am sorry to have pushed you to this journey so quickly, but you are now grown up, have chosen a great profession andnow is the time for you to realize and know your real family roots. I have always tried to be a good father to you and to fulfill your every wish. Unfortunately, your mother did not live to see this, as she passed away shortly after your birth. But you know that, we talked about it once.

It's hard for me, but I can't give you any more clues at this point other than to please travel to Romania and find out your purpose there.

Elizabeth, dear, please grant me this wish and remember: I think of you every day.

Your father"

I read the letter again and tears welled up in my eyes. What was I to make of it? It was written so mysteriously and lovingly at the same time. Since I have always respected my father, I therefore wanted to show him that I would do this for him.

I definitely wanted to prove this to him in a short note as well. So I wrote on a piece of paper:

"Dear Father,

I thank you for this letter that you wrote to me, although it shows me that I do not find in it the answers that I would like to know. But you have made it clear to me that I will find them in Romania. I hope so.

It's hard for me to leave you here, but I've always respected you and your choices, and I'll grant you this wish.

I will miss you terribly and will also think of you every day.

Your daughter"

By now it had become light and I quickly got dressed. I looked at the plane tickets and realized that my flight left in three hours. I grabbed my suitcase, my handbag and the note to my father and left my room after one last look.

On the way to the front door I passed my father's study. There I wanted to deposit on his desk the lines written to him.

So I entered the study, which was open, and went to the desk. As I crossed the room, it was only today that I noticed this gloom that this room showed. Was it the figures, some of which were terrifying, or was it just a silly impression of mine. I couldn't really interpret it and put the note on the massive desk and left the study again as quickly as possible. I took my suitcase and went to the front door. Before I opened it, I turned around once more and let my gaze wander.

Somehow I could not yet imagine that I might never see all this again. But mostly it's the inner voice you should listen to, and it told me that I would never see all this again.

When I finally woke up from my stupor - I don't know how long I had been standing there like that - I finally opened the front door and went outside. There a cab was already waiting for me and the driver took my luggage and stowed it in the trunk. Then he opened the car door for me and I hesitantly got in. The driver closed the car door and took a seat on the driver's side, started the car and drove off in the direction of the airport.

As he drove down the driveway, I turned and looked out the back window at the house one last time, and it occurred to me as I looked along the windows that my father was standing behind one of the windows. But why hadn't he said goodbye to me? I didn't know, but there was again the inner voice or the gut feeling that I would see my father again very soon after all.

When the cab arrived at the airport, I was already awaited by two gentlemen who introduced themselves to me as escorts. They were my father's employees who were in charge of our private jet. I greeted them and one of them took my suitcase, which the driver handed him from the trunk, and I said goodbye to the driver. Then I went with the two gentlemen to the airport concourse. There we went to the VIP area and, after I showed my passport and plane tickets, a stewardess came and escorted us to the private jet. It then turned out that she belonged to the on-board service.

It was always more suspicious to me, as I had been on my father's private jet many times and the staff kept changing, which I never understood, but as long as nothing happened to me and I could enjoy my comfort, I gladly took the motto "you enjoy and keep quiet".

So I climbed the stairs to the plane and took a seat in one of the chairs. I fastened my seat belt and leaned back. Then the stewardess who accompanied us came to me and asked me if I wanted something to drink or needed anything else. I told her I didn't need anything, but that she could bring me a glass of water and a pad later when we were in the air. Otherwise, I asked her not to bother me. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts and now I had time to sort out everything that was still going through my mind.

The jet took off after about twenty minutes; after I had spoken to the stewardess. And as requested, after we reached the final altitude, the stewardess came back and put a glass of water on the table and put a pillow between the back of my head and the seat back. I thanked her and she disappeared again. I took a sip of water and then leaned back and closed my eyes. I fell asleep immediately and had a strange dream.

I must have slept for a long time, because when I opened my eyes again, the stewardess immediately came to me and told me that we would be landing soon and that I should put the seat back straight again. When she noticed my questioning look when she replied that with the backrest, she apologized and said that while I had been asleep, she had put the backrest back a bit so that I could sleep better. I indicated that was okay and she didn't need to apologize for that. She thanked me and left.

So I put the seat back upright again and looked out the airplane window. The view was breathtaking. There was a huge city below us, which turned out to be Bucharest after I looked at the display board. On it I also saw that we would be landing in about ten minutes. Could it be that I had been asleep for so long? That's crazy.

After a while, the pilot announced via loudspeaker that we were on approach. So I fastened my seat belt again and sat upright. The stewardess came to get my water glass and the pillows and then disappeared again.

During the landing approach, I was looking out the window the whole time, and I was overcome again by this feeling that I would rather not get off and we should turn around and fly back. But I was also curious about what was waiting for me in this country, and I thought to myself, "If you don't like it, you can always fly home."

The pilot landed the jet gently on the tarmac and we came to a stop after a few meters. After a while, I unfastened the seat belt and stood up. While I was getting ready to get out, the pilot opened the aircraft door and lowered the stairs.

I took my handbag and went to the exit, where the stewardess and the pilot were already waiting for me. I shook hands with each and stepped out onto the gangway. I went down the stairs and crossed the tarmac. The pilot had parked the jet not far from the airport hangar, so fortunately I didn't have far to go there. When I was in the hangar, I went to the baggage department and got my suitcase. It was handed to me immediately and I went to passport control, showed my passport and could pass immediately. After I had the passport control behind me and stood in the arrivals hall, I had to orient myself first, because there were so many people, who shouted through each other and held up signs, that it was very oppressive at the moment.

When I stopped and looked around, I spotted two dark figures holding up a sign with my name on it. I went straight to them and asked them who they were, and they replied that they were to pick me up and take me to the castle. One of them took my suitcase and we left the arrival hall and went to the car. I was amazed at the car the two of them headed for - it was a black stretch limousine that was blacked out. One of the two men opened the rear car door and I got in. It was like getting into a moving coffin. Everything was so dark in it and, although there was plenty of room, you felt kind of smothered.I could only hope that the ride wouldn't take too long, because otherwise I might have gotten anxiety attacks.

We drove off. I looked out of the window and the landscapes and villages passed me by.

After a few hours of driving, the car suddenly stopped and I realized that we had stopped right in a wooded area. The passenger got out, came to my car door and opened it. I looked at him and he gave me to understand that they would only drive until here and then I would be picked up by a carriage.

So I got out of the car and the man closed the car door behind me again, wished me well and got back in at the passenger side. Then the car drove away.

There I stood and only now realized that they had not given me my suitcase. I couldn't believe that they just made me wait here without my suitcase, but at least I had kept my handbag.

I was so busy with my thoughts that I did not notice that something was approaching. Only at the last moment, as I turned my head a little, I saw in the corner of my eye that a carriage was approaching, stopping right in front of me. The carriage was simply beautiful and the horses pulling it were black and their coats were incredibly shiny. The carriage looked like it was from centuries past. The coachman looked a little somber to me as he got down from the coachman's seat and opened the door to the inside of the carriage. As I moved to the carriage and stopped in front of the carriage door, the coachman pulled out his top hat and bowed and I extended my hand to him. When he took it to help me into the carriage, I realized how ice cold it was. Even when I tried to look into his eyes, he kept his head bowed so I couldn't catch his gaze.

I got into the carriage and made myself comfortable. When I had taken my seat, the coachman closed the door and took his seat again. He cracked his whip and the horses and the carriage started to move. I really enjoyed the ride, although it didn't last very long and we were soon there - which was very disappointing.

The carriage slowed down and we passed through a huge castle gate. When we passed it, the carriage came to a stop. In the next moment, the carriage door opened and the same scenario as at the entrance was repeated at the exit and again I was denied a look into the eyes of the coachman.

When I left the carriage, the coachman pointed to the huge castle gate in front of us and took his leave. I walked toward this gate and pulled on this long bell. While waiting for someone to open it for me, I turned around and was amazed to see that the carriage had already disappeared. I was sure I hadn't heard any pattering of the horses or the carriage wheels. I shrugged my shoulders and turned around again. Just as I did so, the castle gate opened.

Third chapter

I stood there and waited - curious to see who had opened the gate. Then I saw a shadow moving in my direction and in the next moment an older, handsome man was standing in front of me, greeting me politely and indicating that I should enter. I smiled at him and stepped over the threshold into the castle interior.

I followed the man who went ahead; we crossed the hall and he then opened a large double door on the left and went further into the room. I looked around the hall and was amazed at how gloomy and oppressive it was. I was fascinated by this hall because, when you entered the hall, you saw a big wide staircase on the right side and if you looked straight ahead, there was another wide staircase leading down into the depths, probably into the crypt or the basement, I couldn't tell at this point. Where the stairs on the right led, I would perhaps soon find out. I was about to move to the left to the double door, when I then saw that there was another staircase that, if you faced the double door, led up to the right of it. If you then followed the stairs from below, you saw at the end of the stairs that they led into a narrow hallway. Furthermore, I looked up and there was a huge chandelier, which, studded with precious stones, just shimmered. But it was so high up that the gloom in the room still had the upper hand.

I tore my gaze away from that beautiful chandelier and entered the room through the double doors.

To enter the room, one had to go down three steps and then stood in a kind of dining room. Straight in front of me at some distance was an enormous dining table made of dark wood with eight chairs, all of which had armrests and looked quite massive - just like the table. To the left of this table were two large windows with thick black velvet curtains on each side. These velvet curtains were pulled straight closed by the man who had opened the door for me. As a result, the gloom I had already experienced in the hall became present in this room as well. Next to the front window was another old reclining chair with red upholstery that looked very comfortable.

Then, when I turned my gaze to the right, I saw another door. I asked the man where it led, and he answered that behind it was the library, but he also said - pointing to the table with a wave of his hand - that it could wait and that I should sit down and enjoy the meal. I nodded and followed his hand gesture and only now saw that the table was set with plenty of food and that there was also a bottle of wine.

I sat down and took some of the food on my plate. The man sat down to my right and watched me eat. Although I had not eaten for a long time, I had to torture myself with every bite, because I was just tired and only wanted to sleep.

Apparently I must have looked very tired; the man rose and said he wanted to show me my room. I put the cutlery on the plate and slowly rose from my chair.

We left the room and went up the narrow stairs on the left and turned into the hallway. There was not much light here either and I hurried to stay close behind him. We walked down the hallway and suddenly the man stopped abruptly and I almost ran into him. I was able to stop just in time.

He took a key from his jacket and unlocked the door. When I stepped behind him into the room, I was speechless, because it was a beautiful bedroom that you can only wish for as a young woman. There to the right of the door was a large double bed made of black solid wood and with beautiful decorations. Straight ahead there was a secretary with a chair that stood between two windows. On the left side of the wall, near the window, there was a dressing table with all kinds of things on it, such as a brush, perfume and creams. To the right of the bed there was a large wardrobe and, when I opened it, I found my clothes in it, which someone had already put there. When I turned around and looked ahead, I saw a door. I opened it and found myself in the bathroom. There were a shower and a bathtub to the left of the door and opposite the door was a sink and to the right of the sink was a toilet.

I closed the door again, turned around and beamed all over my face. I let the man who had probably been watching me the whole time know that I was excited about this room. I walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it, dying to know how soft the mattress was, bobbing up and down on the edge of the bed. I was so busy doing this that I didn't notice the man moving in my direction and suddenly sitting next to me on the bed. I looked at him in amazement and asked him what he was doing here. Suddenly a thought occurred to me how rude I had actually been, because I had not even introduced myself to him.

I shook his hand and apologized for not telling him my name when I greeted him, and told him that my name was Elizabeth Baker and that I had been sent here by my father. Then I asked him his name. He looked at me for a long time before answering that he was Vlad Tepes and that he was a vampire.

I could not believe what he was saying, because I had seen documentaries and heard Bram Stoker describe Vlad Tepes as his Count Dracula. He explained to me that he was not Count Dracula and did not want to be compared to him.

I looked at him and saw something flare up in his gaze that excited me a little. Suddenly he bent to me and kissed me passionately. He gently took my shoulders with his hands and pushed me onto the bed, so that I came to lie under him. He kissed me more and more and I lost my senses. When he then let go of me and looked at me, I first had to catch my breath. I turned my head to the right and stretched my neck towards him. But nothing happened and I turned my head back again and looked at him questioningly.

He returned my gaze, looked at me urgently and said, "I won't bite you, because I don't want to destroy something so beautiful and precious." With that, he kissed me passionately and more and more demanding, until at last we made love and then fell asleep tightly embraced.

Fourth chapter

When I woke up the next day, I was lying alone in this big bed and first had to orient myself where I was. Then it came back to me and I had to laugh at myself what I had done there last night. Also, I could not believe what this man calling himself Vlad Tepes had said. Was it so, was he a vampire, which I had assumed was a fabrication? Well, I was going to find out soon enough later. I got out of bed and went into the bathroom where I showered, and then came back out and looked in the closet for something to wear, and then left the room. I walked back down the hall to the stairs and looked down into the hall. There I discovered that the double doors to the dining room were open and I went down the stairs and on through the double doors. As I stepped down the three steps into the room, I stopped in amazement. Now I saw the room in daylight and it was stunning. Now I could also see further back into the room and there was a huge fireplace with two comfortable chairs. I looked at the dining table and it was set for breakfast with everything my heart desired. I took a seat again on the chair I had used last night and poured myself a coffee. I took some things from the trays onto my plate and began to eat.

Suddenly I was startled, because I hadn't even noticed that someone had stood next to me. When I turned my gaze to the right, an older woman stood there and smiled at me. She told me that her name was Luise, that she was the innkeeper and that she was pleased to meet me, because it had been a very long time since anyone had been a guest in this castle who also ate something. I looked at her big and greeted her as well. I told her my name and that I was also happy to make her acquaintance. She told me that she would be there for me anytime I needed anything. I thanked her and she said goodbye with a curtsy and left. I finished my breakfast and then got up, because I really wanted to see more of this castle. There were certainly many rooms to explore.

So I went straight to this door on the right and opened it. It was tremendous - this smell of old paper and the meter-high shelves where one book after the other stood and then there was a reading corner with a small table and a chair and a couch and a reading lamp. I was thrilled with this room - the library. Since I loved to read and also loved to be inspired by a good book, I knew now where I could retreat to when everything got too much for me. I left the room again and closed the door, turned around and left that room as well. Then I turned - because I wanted to know what was down there - to the wide staircase that led down. I slowly descended the steps and, when I reached the bottom, I looked around.