Chapter II: A Welcoming

It required the efforts of two men to unlatch the lock of the heavy iron doors of the gate and then swing the doors open for the carriage to pass through. A tall black fence surrounding the castle grounds had wickedly sharp spikes sticking out of it to prevent anyone from attempting to climb over. The horses seemed hesitant to pass through the gate into the yard outside the castle but more sharp lashes from the driver’s whip drew blood that spurred the equine beasts to enter. The carriage pulled to a stop inside a courtyard just outside the main entrance to the castle that was hemmed in by a smaller inner fence. The wheels of the carriage rumbled over the rocks and other mountain debris that covered the road until the ride smoothed out upon the dirt clearing of the courtyard. The carriage sat still for a minute while the sun disappeared behind a distant mountain peak and the remaining daylight slowly faded to black. Though the sun had not fully set, due to the solar position behind the far mountain it appeared that night came early to Sidexes. Mirela pinned the curtains back and looked at the courtyard through the window opening to find there was no vegetation within the gates except for some dead, gnarled old trees. Nothing living grew within the shadow of Castle Sidexes.

“Excuse me, sir?” Mirela called to the driver as she opened the door to the cab and leaned outside it.

Caine turned in his seat and regarded Mirela with a leer, blatantly staring at her slim but still womanly body. Mirela resisted the urge to cover her chest with her arms. “Yes, my lady?” the man answered in his creaking, raspy voice.

“May we get out of the cab yet?” Mirela asked. “I’m not quite sure what we are waiting for.”

“We are waiting for the lord to come out and meet us,” the driver explained with annoyance. “It looks like it will be just a minute.”

Mirela sat back against the hard seat inside the cab and shrugged at her sisters when they looked askance at her. A moment later, the last remaining rays of sun succumbed to the darkness and night took hold of the realm. Mirela noticed an ethereal, otherworldly light emanating from behind the castle and realized it was the moon already beginning to rise over the other side of the mountain. At this elevation and so far removed from any village the lunar object appeared enormous. Though torches lighted on braziers around the perimeter of the courtyard along with candles lit in windows of the castle provided some scant illumination, the moonlight provided the clearest vision and cast the world in an almost purple-colored glow. Mirela heard distant wolves howling from the forest, rejoicing at the reappearance of the moon. Mirela remembered the wolf from earlier staring at her and she wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered. The air had cooled rapidly since the sun completed its cycle. Though it was late summer, they were high enough in the mountains that the air always possessed a sharp crispness along with a swift wind that was constantly biting at exposed flesh.

With the sun now absent, the driver hopped down off the front seat and came around to the cab to open the side door. Mirela climbed out first, pointedly refusing the hand that Caine offered to her. But Mirela took a bad step while getting down and nearly tripped over her skirt as she lowered herself to the ground. The driver steadied her with a hand on her waist, which Caine squeezed before lowering his hand to caress her hip. Mirela twisted away from his grip and made a point to stand next to the cab to help her sisters down herself rather than allowing Caine to do so. The driver grinned devilishly and cackled at her efforts to protect her sisters.

First out of the carriage was Loredana and behind her Bianca practically dragged Bela to the door. Bianca carried Bela with hands underneath her armpits and she lowered Bela down to Mirela who grabbed onto her youngest sister’s waist. Together, the two of them helped lift Bela down to the ground as delicately as possible. The sisters stood side by side holding each other’s hands as they looked at their hopefully temporary new home. Now that they were closer, they were able to see how run down the castle really was. The stones of the castle were falling apart while cobwebs were abound near the castle entrance. Mirela noticed Bianca intently studying a large crack forming in the masonry of the entryway. How could the inhabitants living here let their home fall into such disrepair? Did any people actually live in this place?

A teeth-grating creaking and grinding noise offended the ears of the sisters as a wrought-iron door slowly swung open from the main entrance. The sound of footsteps echoed ever nearer through the doorway until a figure emerged from the dim entryway that was lit by a single torch. The horses harnessed to the carriage began whinnying loudly and rearing back before stamping their hooves upon the ground. Caine pulled roughly at their bits and threatened the use of his whip again to get the beasts back under control. Darkness silhouetted the approaching figure until it was close enough that the shadowy profile revealed its shape to be a man.

The stranger appeared to be approximately the same age as Mirela, either in his late twenties or early thirties. The man wore a fancy purple vest covered in golden buttons along with black tights and a dark cloak. His vest, black boots, and gloves were covered in lace and finery that made it obvious this man was a lord of wealth and taste. He was also strikingly beautiful, almost too pretty for a man. Wavy brown hair ran down his scalp so that his hairstyle appeared shaggy and unkempt yet perfect enough that some painstaking precision must have gone into styling it just so. His eyes were pools of moonlit blue that glowed brilliantly in the torchlight. His face was a touch too pale, but this only served to bring out the color of his full red lips that seemed permanently frozen into a cocky, playful smirk.

This young lord was the most handsome man that Mirela had ever seen. Though she was supposed to keep on her guard, Mirela couldn’t prevent her heart from skipping a beat as her and the man’s eyes met. His gaze was intense and penetrating. Mirela considered herself a strong woman but even she had to look away from the overwhelming intensity of the man’s blue eyes. His gaze made it look like he wanted to consume whoever he looked upon. Even Bianca had to admit the man was almost painfully attractive. She imagined Loredana must have wet through her underlings at the mere sight of him.

Mirela stepped forward and introduced herself. “My lord, I am Mirela Pierocent. Are you Count Turenau?”

The man gave her a slight bow and spoke with a strong, commanding voice, “I regret to inform you that you have mistaken me for his lordship. I am the Count’s great-nephew, Viscount Eduard Şarpe. The Count asked me personally to receive you upon your arrival and welcome you to the great Castle Sidexes.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Mirela answered back. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. We are so very grateful for your uncle’s hospitality.” She offered her gloved hand to Şarpe, which he took and raised to his lips.

“It was nothing,” Şarpe remarked after he kissed the back of Mirela’s hand. He rubbed his thumb against the fabric of Mirela’s glove before releasing her. “Though it is true we are a very distant relation, whoever would turn their back on family when they are in need is no better than a dog.”

Şarpe looked over Mirela’s shoulder and regarded her sisters one by one. His smile grew larger as he nodded toward Loredana. “And this is delectable creature is…?”

Loredana stepped forward, bumping Mirela with her shoulder as she slid by her sister. “Loredana Pierocent, my lord,” said the young woman whose face had turned flush at the sight of Viscount Şarpe. The red showing on Loredana’s face made her freckles appear even more prominently. “Are you as pleased to make my acquaintance as I yours, my lord?”

Loredana offered her hand to the lord. He stared at her and answered quietly, “Very pleased, my lady. Very.”

Şarpe raised the back of Loredana’s hand to his mouth and let his lips linger there several seconds longer than they had upon Mirela’s. Loredana placed her other hand over her mouth and began giggling childishly until Şarpe finally desisted. While still holding her hand, he stepped closer to Loredana so that they were face to face and then kissed her upon both cheeks. Loredana shivered as she felt Şarpe’s lips upon her and sensed his muscular body mere inches away from her. Loredana had been staring this whole time at Şarpe’s legs and she felt faint at the sight of his muscled thighs and the turn of his calves. He had a cute, tight little bottom too. Loredana breathed deeply and stared intently into the endless blue void of Şarpe’s eyes as she reluctantly stepped away from him, her prominent chest heaving with barely restrained lust.

Bianca stepped forward next and put herself between her stricken sister and the handsome lord. She introduced herself brusquely, “Bianca Pierocent.”

Şarpe smirked as Bianca pointedly refused to offer her hand to him. “No kiss for your long-lost cousin?” Şarpe asked with amusement.

“I’d rather kiss a toad,” Bianca grumbled.

“Bianca!” Mirela cried. “Show some manners for once in your life.”

Loredana simply shook her head at her rude sister, though inwardly she was happy to see that Şarpe paid more attention to her than to either of her older sisters. Maybe the stay at this dreadful castle wouldn’t be so bad if this was the company they would be keeping.

Bianca shrugged her shoulders and said with fake sincerity, “I guess I just have to warm up to our hosts a little more first.”

“I apologize for my sister’s impropriety, my lord,” said Mirela.

“I’m certain it is only a matter of time before she warms up to me,” Şarpe said with the same charming yet sardonic tone that seemed to be his default mode of speech. As if everything were a great joke that only he understood. Bianca stuck her tongue out at him once her sisters weren’t looking which made Şarpe bark a laugh in response.

Mirela stood behind her youngest sister and placed her hands upon Bela’s shoulders as she introduced her. “This pretty young flower is our little sister Bela,” said Mirela. “Can you say anything to Lord Şarpe, Bela?” Mirela asked tentatively.

Bela inclined her head in regard to Şarpe but gave no indication that she actually comprehended his presence nearby. He might as well be a tree or a rock for all the notice she gave him.

“So, this is Bela,” Şarpe remarked. “The Count informed me of her… condition.”

Bianca’s body tensed as Şarpe stepped closer to Bela. She had always teased Bela the most out of all her sisters but she had become fiercely protective of the helpless girl since the death of their parents and did not trust this Şarpe around Bela. Bianca didn’t trust him to be around any of them really.

Şarpe laid a hand on Bela’s shoulder, right over Mirela’s hand and told her, “Your worries and troubles are no more, Bela Pierocent. You will be safe here at Sidexes under the protection of Count Turenau.” Bela stared straight ahead blankly, providing no indication that she understood or even heard Şarpe’s words.

Şarpe turned around quickly in an about-face and declared, “You must be weary and starving after your journey. Let me show you the castle. I will have my servant haul your belongings to your rooms. You will each have your own guest bedroom.”

“Thank you,” Loredana and Mirela said in unison. They both recalled having to fit the four of them to a single bed at the inn the night previously and had no desire to repeat the experience.

Bianca was suspicious of even the most common generosity. “We can make do just fine on our own, Lord Şarpe,” she said. “You don’t have to help us with our bags.”

“I truly must insist,” Şarpe said. “You are surely famished after the ride up the mountain and it is already late. Our cook has prepared an exquisite meal for the first guests we’ve received in years.”

Bianca did not want this man or any of his servants going through her belongings. “I appreciate the chivalry, but we are not rich maidens with half a carriage full of bags for just our hats,” Bianca said. “Our few precious belongings are scant and easily transportable.”

“Bianca…” Mirela sighed as she tugged on the sleeve of her sister’s dress.

“I don’t trust him,” Bianca hissed at Mirela in a whisper.

“We have to trust him,” Mirela whispered back.

“Fine, we will bring our luggage to the entryway for your servants to move,” Bianca said in capitulation. “So will you be carrying all the luggage yourself, my lord?”

Şarpe grinned again with a smile that Bianca was already beginning to despise. “I’ll take your first bag,” he offered.

All the sisters aside from Bela helped Şarpe remove luggage from the trunk of the carriage and everything to the entryway. Mirela grimaced to herself throughout the task. It really should be the servants performing this duty, but this only proved again how far they’d fallen in such a short time. Bela stood in place and stared at her sister as they labored, providing no help at all. Once the sister’s belongings had been lined up by the door, a heavyset man who Mirela recalled had opened the gate stooped down to pick up the assorted bags, packages, cases and chests and began transporting the luggage to the guest rooms.

The carriage driver leaned back in the front seat with his arms behind his head and his feet up. He smoked his pipe throughout the transfer, offering no aid to the women. Şarpe hailed him and threw a small cloth bag filled with gold coins to him. “I trust you can make the journey back during the night without peril, Caine?” Şarpe asked.

“Never fear for old Caine,” the driver answered back with a tip of his hat. “As you know, I’ve done this ride in the dark plenty of times before.”

Şarpe raised his voice so the sisters could overhear him as he addressed Caine. “You will be back in ten days time to take the sisters back to their home as we planned?” he asked.

“Of course, my lord,” Caine agreed. “The Dumanica after next you’ll see me struggling up my old arse up this damnable mountain again.”

The driver winked at the sisters and slobbered his lips with his tongue at them a final time before cracking his whip sharply against his horse’s flanks to spur them around. The beasts galloped away from the castle grounds in fright as if they couldn’t wait to be rid of the place. Mirela turned back and looked at the long winding road down the mountain that the carriage departed upon. A single guard at his post pushed the gate closed behind the carriage after it left. There could be no escape for them now, Mirela realized.

Şarpe beckoned the women to follow him into the castle. Loredana trailed after him giddily while Mirela and Bianca followed more hesitantly. Something about this place disturbed Mirela, though she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly it was. She supposed she could endure the discomfort for a week and a half if it meant they could win their home back. Mirela took Bela by the hand and pulled her along, using a hold upon her sister’s hip to direct the senseless girl on which direction to go.

Şarpe led them through the entryway to a great hall filled with black stone columns stretching up to the ceiling and intricate stained glass windows covering the walls. The images imprinted upon the windows were barely visibly by candlelight but seemed to be commemorating some great military victory. The sisters followed their host through the hall into winding hallways that seemed easy to become lost in. As they walked, Şarpe pointed out some of the tapestries that were of historical note and explained how the stonework had been considered the greatest construction of its kind in Europe when the castle had first been built in the nine century.

Despite its opulence, it looked like ages since the castle had last been cleaned. A fine layer of dust permeated the floor and all the furniture. Cobwebs covered nearly every corner in the castle and hung from the ceilings. The sisters kept having to stop in order to pull away loose webs that became stuck in their hair. Mirela became so distracted tearing spiderwebs from her scalp that she neglected to do the same for Bela. She looked over at Bela groaned with frustration when she saw her sister’s hair looked like a web had been spun all around it and movements in her hair made it obvious that some spiders came along for the ride. For the first time, Mirela was glad the girl was completely oblivious. She recalled Bela being deathly afraid of arachnids as a child. Mirela asked the others to wait a moment while she pulled the webs and their creepy, crawly denizens from Bela’s hair until she was reasonably clean. Oddly enough, the webs didn’t seem to cover or affect Şarpe at all though he walked directly in front of the sisters.

Loredana squealed in fright as she felt something scurry between her feet. She looked back and saw a large, hairy rat with a long, worm-like tail running down the hallway. She turned pale and looked like she might faint for a second before Şarpe turned and smiled at her, setting her cheeks to blushing again. Even brave Bianca recoiled at the sight of the rat.

“Disgusting, filthy little creatures,” Bianca remarked. “No surprise to find them here.”

Loredana tried to put on a brave face. “Don’t be silly, sister,” said Loredana haughtily with her hands on her hips. “Show me a castle this size that doesn’t have a single rat in it.”

“Oh, there are definitely rats here,” Bianca said as her eyes bored into Şarpe’s back.

Şarpe paid the creatures no mind. The vermin were so far beneath him that their presence didn’t even deserve his notice. He turned a corner and they passed by an ornate set of doors built beneath an archway that seemed to lead down to some underground area. A large iron padlock hung outside of the bar that connected the double-doors and kept them locked in place.

“What is down here?” Mirela inquired curiously.

“The family crypt, of course,” explained Şarpe. “Eight generations of noble Turenaus rest down there in addition to the interred remains of the family that lived in the castle long before our time. I’m going to ask that you not attempt any venture below. The steps leading down have fallen into disrepair due to age and are quite dangerous to descend.”

“Why is it locked from the outside?” Bianca wondered aloud.

“Excellent question, my lady,” Şarpe answered quickly. From his tone, Bianca couldn’t tell if he was being serious of having fun with her. “Though we are difficult to reach this high up the mountain, we have seen bandits from time to time and we have no soldiers or guards garrisoned here. We are not stocking any wealth in these crypts, but there are some family heirlooms stored down there that might be construed as precious though they are quite worthless to anyone but those in our family. Surely you ladies can sympathize with not wanting to lose your most loved possessions.”

“I surely can, my lord,” said Loredana. “I have to say I’m surprised any bandits would attempt a robbery with you here.” Şarpe smiled toothily at her and struck a manly pose with his chest puffed out while Loredana giggled and clapped her hands in delight.

Bianca rolled her eyes up to heaven in reaction to her sister’s simpering, supplicating tone and the way Şarpe indulged her. Bianca did love Loredana, but that slutty sister of hers would be the death of them all someday.

“This way, my ladies, to the feasting hall,” Şarpe said as he indicated with a nod of his head toward a turn to the right down the next corridor.

Bianca noticed a light glowing from a room at the end of the hallway leading the opposite direction. “What’s over there?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing of importance to you,” Şarpe said too quickly. “This castle is quite large, you have not even seen the half of it yet. There will be plenty more time to explore during your stay as our guests. Come along now, dinner is past ready by now.”

“Oh, I’m starving!” Loredana squealed as she walked shoulder to shoulder with Şarpe into the feasting hall.

Mirela and Bianca filed in behind Loredana and Şarpe, pulling Bela along with them. Bianca took one last look at the light in the other direction before following her siblings through a doorway with a large, pointed arch that led the way into the feasting hall. The hall had large windows that stretched up so high you had to crane your next to see the top of them. They normally lent a spectacular view of the forest surrounding the mountain but night had fallen briskly and darkness had overwhelmed the view of the countryside. The windows were draped by enormous purple curtains that billowed down to the floor and appeared to be covered by centuries worth of dust. On the opposite end of the hall, a roaring fireplace with an elaborately crafted mantle provided light and warmth while candelabras on pedestals stood in each corner of the room to help illuminate the great hall. A massive oak table sat atop a tapestry that covered the center of the floor. Ornate high-backed chairs surrounded each side of the table. Though there were enough chairs to seat a party of over two dozen, only a man and a woman sat at the table.

As the sisters entered the hall with Viscount Şarpe, the man sitting at the table pushed his chair out and stood up. “Welcome, my nieces, to Castle Sidexes,” the man rasped in a crackling voice that sounded like boots crunching on dead, rotted leaves. He regarded each of the sisters individually and when his eyes passed over Mirela a brief look of surprise came over his face, but the expression disappeared quickly. “I am Count Nicolae Turenau, ruler of Sidexes.”

Count Turenau looked older than old. True, his face had no wrinkles marring its features but his eyes were heavily lidded, his face deathly pale, and his voice belonged to a man near his final gasp of breath. Every movement of his body seemed to require great effort, as if the state of living were almost too wearisome for the Count to bear. His scalp was completely bald, though he did cover the top of his head with a small, black felt hat. Turenau sported a small bit of facial hair, merely a short black beard on his chin with no moustache. He wore a long, flowing black robe and a dark cloak. His long, spindly fingers were bridged together in front of his chest and when Bianca looked at Turenau’s hands they reminded her a bird of prey’s talons.

The woman sitting next to the Count stood up alongside him and linked her arm around his. There could not be a starker contrast between the two. This woman was closer to the sisters’ age, probably in her early-to-mid thirties. She was stunningly beautiful. Long, straight black hair colored as dark as night flowed down to her waist. Her face looked as pale as the others living at the castle, which only served to emphasize her piercing blue eyes and blood-red lips. Her body was voluptuous, with slinky curves and a large chest which she highlighted by wearing an extremely low-cut black dress. A slit in the front of the dress reached all the way down to the woman’s abdomen and revealed the inside curves of her substantial bosom. The edge of the slit stopped just so to keep from uncovering her nipples though it appeared her breasts might spill out of the dress if she breathed too deeply. The dress clung to her form tightly and stretched all the way down to the floor.

Turenau lifted his free hand toward the woman next to him and introduced her. “This is my wife, the Countess Turenau.”

“Pleased to meet you, my girls,” said the Countess with a bright, sing-songy voice. “But please, we are family. Call me Viviana. Countess sounds too formal for my ears.”

Bianca’s eyelids narrowed at this woman who couldn’t be more than ten years older than her referring to Bianca as a girl. Girl? I’m all woman, Bianca thought furiously. Who does this cunt think she is, anyway? This Vivianna shouldn’t be acting so superior considering that in all likelihood the woman had married up by wedding a decrepit old man decades her senior in the hopes she would earn an inheritance once the Count croaked. For Mirela’s sake, Bianca held her tongue. For this time, at least.

Bianca’s sisters were far less dismissive of Viviana however. Loredana whispered to herself, “She’s soooo pretty.” Mirela appeared clearly relieved to find there was another female presence at the castle who could be a natural ally.

After the sisters made their own introductions, Turenau indicated the table with a sweep of his arm and stated, “You must be hungry,” he rasped. “Sit and rest yourselves while we eat.”

The sisters sat down on the opposite side of the table from Viviana and the Count while Şarpe took a seat next to Vivianna on the other side from where the Count sat. Decanters of wine and water had been placed around the table along with dishes of roasted eggplants and peppers and bowls of berries that must have been picked fresh from the forest. At the center of the table sat a roast beast on a platter with a knife and fork sticking out of its hide. Şarpe carved the beast with the knife and used the fork to lay a cut of the meat on each diner’s plate. He allowed the sisters to pour their own portions of wine into their glasses after serving them the main course. Normally this work should have been performed by servants, but in this castle any help was apparently hard to come by.

Mirela began slicing into her meat but when she parted the crisp outside with her knife she noticed that the meal had hardly been cooked. The beast was so pink that it was nearly raw. Loredana and Bianca had noticed the same and looked down at their plates in displeasure as they refused to be the first to try a bite of the main course. Bela played with her food using her fork, regarding the food curiously like she didn’t understand its purpose. Mirela didn’t want to appear impolite to her hosts, so she cut off a small portion of her meat and lifted it to her mouth. As soon as Mirela took a bite of the beast she nearly vomited up the contents of her stomach. The meat was cold, stringy, and chewy, like it had hardly been cooked at all. After recovering from her gag reflex, Mirela steeled herself and forced the meat down her throat as she attempted to chew on it as little as possible. Mirela chased the meat down her gullet with a long drink of water. The raw, bloody taste lingered in her mouth even after chugging from her water glass. Mirela pushed the meat to the side of her plate and instead picked at the fruits and vegetables, but found those dissatisfying as well. The produce was either overripe and rotting or else shriveled and dried of all flavor. The Turenaus didn’t seem to mind the meal at all. They didn’t eat their vegetables but they tore into their main course with a nearly bestial fervor.

After a moment, Şarpe raised his wineglass and declared, “A toast! To our guests and new family.”

The Count and Countess raised their glasses in answer and so all the sisters except for Bela did so in kind. The sisters murmured a toast in tribute to family and each sipped their wine. Mirela took a deep drink from her glass hoping to wash down the nauseating taste the dinner had left in her mouth. The wine was nearly as awful as the food. It was a dark red color and had a thick and syrupy consistency with an unpleasant metallic taste. Mirela gulped it down quickly and decided she would stick with water for the duration of the meal.

“How do you like the wine?” Turenau asked with amusement. “It is a local vintage quite unique to this realm.”

“It is certainly unique as you said,” Mirela answered diplomatically. She tried another sip to be polite and had to keep herself from retching as the fluid passed too slowly through her mouth and down her gullet.

Mirela looked over at her sisters as they sampled the wine and noticed that Bianca had no qualms about showing her true feelings for the local vine. Bianca took a sip, swished the wine around her mouth and then immediately leaned over to spit it out on the priceless tapestry sitting beneath them. Bianca spewed the entirety of her mouthful with a single spurt before drinking heavily from her water glass. Thankfully, the Count didn’t notice Bianca’s impropriety. Loredana didn’t seem to mind the taste of the wine at all as she conversed with Şarpe while taking deep sips from her glass. Loredana had never really cared about the flavor of wine as long as there was alcohol in it. The Turenaus didn’t seem to mind the taste at all though they were likely used to it. They swallowed the wine greedily with long gasping drinks, even the Count who seemed like a rather sober fellow.

“So please tell me Count, how did your family come to inherit this castle?” Mirela asked conversationally.

“An excellent question, my dear,” said Turenau as he leaned back in his chair. “Let me tell you the history of this place. The bones of this castle belong to a Roman fortress the empire constructed when they occupied this land over a millennium ago. A Hungarian prince who ruled this voivodeship razed the fortress after the Romans were forced out and built this castle upon its ruins nearly eight hundred years ago. His name was Alexander Sidexes of course.”

While Turenau gave his history lesson, Loredana grew bored. By some great turn of fortune, Lord Şarpe had been seated directly across from her. Loredana worked one of her slippers off her foot and extended her leg until her toes brushed against Şarpe’s ankle. The table was so wide that Loredana had to stretch her leg until it was nearly horizontal, which likely would have looked ridiculous if anyone happened to be looking underneath the table. Surprise showed on Şarpe’s face for a half-second as he felt Loredana’s toe brush against his foot but then he looked over at Loredana and grinned from ear to ear. Loredana gave the Viscount her most winning smile and winked at him.

“The Hungarians were driven out of these mountain holds a few hundred years later of course and the castle sat unoccupied until it was garrisoned during the invasion by those filthy Tatars,” continued Turenau. “The Turenaus were a group of brothers who were knights sworn to Pope Clement and the Catholic Church. The brothers and a group of soldiers loyal to them were enlisted to help push back the heathen Mongol hordes who had invaded Christendom. The brothers chose Sidexes as the most likely position where they could repel a sneak attack through the mountain entrance, and their inclination proved correct. The Turenaus fought in many a great battle less than a mile from where we sit, and three of the six brothers were slain.”

A heaviness came over Turenau and his eyes took on a far away look, like he was reliving all of these events himself.

“Though they had repelled the Mongols’ first three attacks, the Turenaus knew they were fighting a futile war against an innumerable enemy that they were destined to lose. It was only a matter of time before their army was destroyed and then the Mongol horde would pour into Transylvania. Legends tell that in order to defeat a seemingly insurmountable foe, the oldest brother (who was considered the strongest and bravest of the siblings) discovered an enchantment that granted him great power. With the aid of this enchantment, the Turenaus made their stand here on these castle grounds at the mountain path and threw back the invasion. The Mongols were routed so thoroughly that they never attempted to invade the province again. As a reward for his service, the oldest brother was granted stewardship of the castle and was made the first Count Turenau.” The Count sank into his chair and sighed. “And we’ve been here ever since. We’ve withstood further invasions by Eastern barbarians, local lords trying to expand their territory at their own peril and the slowly encroaching empire of the Turks. This castle has withstood everything… except time.”

As Turenau continued with his story, Loredana’s foot slowly moved up Şarpe’s leg until it rested between the thighs he had spread apart once Loredana’s intentions became obvious. Loredana pointed her toes straight out and rubbed them against Şarpe’s crotch where she could feel the slight bulge of his prick. The two smiled at each other clandestinely and gulped down their wine while Loredana’s foot played with Şarpe’s groin. After masturbating his crotch for a moment, the softness between Şarpe’s legs morphed into a satisfying firmness that Loredana massaged with her toes. Loredana tried filling the space between her toes with Şarpe’s prick but to her delight she found his girth too great for him to fit. Loredana’s face became flushed and she felt excitement rising in her chest as her heart beat faster. Wetness seeping out of Loredana’s cunny stained her underwear and the seat cushion beneath her. This leaking afflicted Loredana constantly, it seemed something she just couldn’t turn off and the slightest provocation made her body react with excitement.

The Countess glanced over at Şarpe and the redhead girl shifting in their seats and smirked as she realized what they were doing. Vivianna looked over at her husband and said, “I think you are boring our guests, darling.”

The count chuckled and said, “I suppose once I get started talking I have difficulty ceasing conversation.”

“Actually, I find this quite interesting,” Mirela remarked. “Where exactly does our family fit into this tale? You said we had a distant relation.”

Turenau sighed and a sadness came over his face as he looked directly at Mirela. His story continued, “There was a Turenau sister. A beautiful, lovely sister. She did not approve of her brothers or the… methods they used to win at war. She fled from Transylvania and then of course wedded Viscount Pierocent, a French noble living in Bulgaria. I suppose this must have been nearly four hundred years ago. That family lived in the Bulgarian region up until the time your great-great-grandfather returned to this land to reclaim your ancestral heritage. I believe that is about the time your manor was built on land that the Turenaus had once claimed.”

“Fascinating,” Mirela remarked honestly as her finger swirled around the rim of the wine glass she wouldn’t be drinking from. “So there was no contact between the branches of the family once my ancestors departed this land? I never heard any mention of the Turenaus from my father or grandfather.”

“No,” Turenau answered slowly. “We are isolated from the rest of the realm here and hesitant to leave the home we fought and died for. The price the Turenaus paid for victory was a great one. It was only when your family recently suffered your troubles that we even learned you had returned to Transylvania. That is why we wanted to help, to repay an old family debt.”

“I want you to know that we are so very grateful for your kindness, Count Turenau,” said Mirela. “You don’t know how much this means to us.”

Turenau inclined his head toward his distant relation. “It was nothing,” he said. “I was sickened to learn that none of the other lords were willing to help one of their own. Not so very noble of them for all their power and pretty titles. I have purchased the debt on your manor so I suppose I am the true owner of the property now. But I will gift your home back to you debt free.”

Mirela looked over at her sisters with wide eyes. Free from debt! They could keep their home! Even Bianca couldn’t help smiling at the prospect, though oddly Loredana’s mind seemed to be fixated elsewhere because she made no reaction to the news. Their troubled times were over and soon they could all be on with their lives.

Bianca broke the silence she had maintained throughout most of the dinner when she asked asked, “What exactly are you expecting in return for these great services you’ve rendered unto us, my lord?”

For the first time tonight, Mirela saw Turenau’s face break into a wide grin. “The pleasure of your company is all I desire,” he said. “Let me get to know my nieces… or perhaps cousins would be more accurate. Stay on for a while and enjoy the hospitality of Sidexes for a few more days and then we will send you on your way back home.”

“That’s not much of a price,” Bianca remarked.

“Isn’t it, though?” Turenau asked ominously.

Bianca pushed her chair out, stood up, and said, “Well, I think that’s plenty of sustenance for us. Need to watch our delicate figures and all. Would you kindly show us to our guest rooms?”

“Bianca…” sighed Mirela.

“Of course,” said Turenau. “You must be very tired from your travels and it is getting late. Your rooms are easy to locate. Go up the staircase you passed before entering this hall and take the first right down the hallway. Your four rooms are right next to each other.”

“Do we have to go already?” Loredana whined. “I’m actually enjoying myself.”

Loredana took another drink of wine and spilled a trickle down her lips to her chin on purpose. She licked her tongue around her mouth deliberately slowly for Şarpe’s benefit as she retrieved the spilled wine. Loredana collected the dribble flowing down her chin with her finger and stuck that digit inside her mouth to suck the wine off her finger. Şarpe had become fully erect from Loredana masturbating him with her toes and she could tell he possessed a large, thick cock. He performed admirably at masking his reactions to what Loredana was doing to him with her foot though he couldn’t help grunting quietly a few times. She couldn’t wait to see and touch Şarpe’s prick and maybe put it in her mouth too.

“Loredana can stay and visit with us for a while longer if you three would like to go up and slumber,” Şarpe suggested. Loredana seemed very agreeable to this idea as her chin nodded up and down vigorously.

“No!” Mirela cried with more insistence than she had intended. She looked at the rest of the table apologetically. “Forgive me. I’d just rather us stay together. For tonight, at least.”

“Of course,” Şarpe said as he scooted his chair out from the table and stood up. He had willed his cock into deflating so no one would notice the bulge of the erection that had been showing through his pants less than a minute ago. Loredana wore a pouty look on her face. She did feel reassured knowing they would be here for several days longer though. Plenty of time to make the Viscount hers. Loredana vowed that before the week was out she would feel the tremble of Şarpe’s body and listen to the quickening of his breath as he moved inside her.

The sisters stood up and bowed to the Count and Countess. Turenau said, “I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, my ladies. I find the nighttime to be when Sidexes is at its most beautiful.”

“Thank you, Count,” replied Mirela. “We shall visit again in the morning I am sure.”

Bianca tugged on Bela’s arm to compel her to stand and the youngest sister trailed behind her siblings like a sheep as they exited from the hall. Loredana turned back before she left and gazed longingly at the beautiful face of Viscount Şarpe. She blew him a kiss and sighed with resignation before following behind her sisters.

The Pierocents approached the staircase leading upward to the guest rooms and stopped. “Here we are, sisters,” said Mirela. “Follow me.”

Bianca wasn’t listening and instead of stopping she continued walking down to the other end of the hallway. “Bianca, what are you doing?” Mirela called.

“I want to see what is down this way that these Turenaus are so intent on hiding,” Bianca explained. “You all can run along now, you don’t have to follow me.”

“We need to stay together!” Mirela said insistently. “Plus we shouldn’t just be wandering around in someone else’s home, poking our heads in places where we may not be wanted.

“Mirela is right,” Loredana agreed. “If they don’t want us down there I’m sure there is a good reason for it.”

“If you lambs want to go upstairs and get tucked in to bed like good little children, be my guest,” Bianca said patronizingly. “I’m going to explore.” Bianca turned away and continued walking down the corridor.

Mirela stood in place seething with anger before throwing her hands up in the air. “Damn you!” she cried.

Loredana gasped. She could never remember Mirela cursing or losing her composure this much. Mirela took Bela by the hand and more forcefully than she intended Mirela pulled Bela along as she rushed to catch up with Bianca.

“Come along, Loredana,” sighed Mirela. “We will indulge Bianca for a moment and then I’m finding the key to open that crypt and locking her down there for the rest of the night.”

Mirela, Loredana, and Bela quickly caught up with Bianca. Mirela glared at Bianca but Bianca merely smiled back at her sweetly. Bianca had to admit she did feel better with her sisters accompanying her. This castle was too creepy to be walking around alone in. They reached the end of the hallway that opened into a small chapel lit by candlelight from two stands on either side of the altar. There were thirteen rows of pews before a set of steps leading up to a stone altar. Several narrow stained glass windows stretched high to the ceiling similar to the rest of the windows in this castle. The strange thing about this chapel was there was no Christian symbology to be found anywhere. Nothing displayed on the stained glass, no crosses, no crucifixes, nothing.

“What is this place?” Bianca wondered softly.

The sisters fanned out and inspected the chapel, with Mirela keeping a tight grasp on Bela’s hand as she looked around. Mirela noticed that this room had been in use more recently than others in the castle. The layer of dust and cobwebs that seemed to permeate nearly everywhere in Sidexes were not present within this worship hall. Loredana seemed to only want to inspect the stained glass windows. The pictures were strange and nonsensical, showing beasts like snakes and wolves rather than the lambs and angels that were more typical of these types of chapels.

Bianca wandered to the front of the chapel and walked up the steps to the altar. Rather than the ornate altarpieces that were found in every church in Europe this was a simple stone slab that was about five feet long and a few feet deep. There were no symbols or writing upon it, and certainly no Christian imagery. Bianca did find some unexplainable dried black stains covering the altar as well as the floor surrounding it. Bianca’s foot accidentally kicked up some dust or soot piled beneath the slab and uncovered something written on the floor near the altar. Bianca got down on her knees, uncaring that the dust would cover her dress below her shins. She cleared the majority of the soot away with her hand and gently blew the rest of the dust away. Written on the floor near the altar was the words of a strange language that Bianca didn’t recognize and etchings of pentagrams and other unholy symbols.

“Pagans,” hissed Bianca.

“What?” Mirela asked.

“These people are heathens and heretics,” Bianca said as she raised herself to her feet and pointed at the etchings.

“Bianca, this chapel is probably original to the castle,” Mirela said skeptically. “You heard Turenau when he told the history of Sidexes. The Turenaus didn’t live here until over three hundred years after it was first built. Who knows what Prince Sidexes did or didn’t believe.” Mirela wouldn’t admit it, but seeing these devilish symbols disturbed her greatly and made her begin to rethink the Turenaus’ hospitality.

Bianca scoffed. “I don’t believe a single word the Count says.”

“Why are you so intent on hating them?” Loredana asked. “Their ways may be strange, but they have shown us nothing but kindness since before we even arrived here.”

“I don’t hate them,” Bianca explained. “I just don’t trust them. The only people left in this world that I trust are standing in this room with me.”

As they spoke, a strange wind blasted through the hallway and into the chapel. The wind chilled their bones and snuffed out the two candles, plunging the room into darkness.

Bianca said, “You know, sisters, I think it might be time to go to our rooms now.”

“Finally we agree on something,” replied Mirela.

The Pierocent siblings traversed back down the hallway and climbed the stairs to the upper floor. They followed Turenau’s directions and soon found four guest bedrooms in a row with the doors hanging open. They peered inside and were relieved to find their luggage lying on the beds in each room and also to discover that the rooms had been cleaned recently. The furniture was thankfully dust and spiderweb free and the linens and bedsheets had recently been washed clean. Each room was lit by candles on the windowsills and the nightstand.

“Unpack your things and use the privy if you require it. Then meet me in my room before you prepare for bed,” Mirela instructed her sisters. “I have a few things I want to go over before we spend our first night here.”

A few minutes later, the sisters convened in Mirela’s room where they ate some of the food they had packed for their travels to compensate for such a dissatisfying meal. Bianca fumed. “They went through our luggage!” she complained. “I’m missing jewelry, a pocket mirror, and one of my knives!”

Mirela sighed. “Yes, I’m missing some jewelry as well,” she said. “The silver crucifix that Mama gave me for my eleventh birthday is absent.”

“These servants must have very light fingers,” Loredana said. “They are living so remotely here, I doubt they can hire the best help and must make do with whatever servants they can find.”

Mirela was beginning to become quite annoyed with the way Loredana explained away every fault they were finding in the Turenau’s household. In truth, Loredana was very upset that her favorite silver necklace was among the stolen items but didn’t want to be too quick to blame their hosts.

“There are no mirrors in any of these rooms,” Bianca lamented. “How are we to ready ourselves for bed and then again in the morning? Tell me what kind of good Christian household doesn’t have a single cross adorned on any of the walls either, Mellie?”

Bianca began pacing back and forth across the room while her sisters sat on the bed silently watching her. “I’m sorry Mellie, I know you were trying to do the right thing but we should never have come here,” Bianca stated. “That carriage won’t be back for over a week and there is no way we can stay here that long. We should raid the larder tomorrow and collect as much food and supplies as we can find so we can start making our way down the mountain path while it is yet morning.”

“Mirela,” pleaded Loredana. “Talk some sense into her. If we try to make the path on foot we’ll die from either starvation or exposure or else be torn apart by wild animals. We have nothing to fear if we stay at Sidexes.”

“I…I…” Mirela hesitated before answering. “I agree with Bianca.”

“What?” Loredana and Bianca asked in incredulous unison.

“I don’t for one second believe Count Turenau’s generosity is purehearted,” Mirela admitted. “They want to use us for something, but I just haven’t figured out for what yet. Turenau isn’t telling us everything.”

“Thank you!” Bianca cried as she gestured with her arms outstretched. “Finally there’s someone else who sees it.”

“This is madness,” Loredana groaned as she placed her head in her hands.

“Tomorrow I wish to speak with some of the servants and try to learn more about our benefactors,” Mirela explained. “They may know more than the Count is telling us. Then maybe we can find some way out of this place and so we can make our way back home. I hope you all realized the implications of Turenau owning our manor. We can’t go back there now. We will have to make our own way now. Just like we have been doing these last months, only without a home.”

Loredana began to sob. Bianca wasn’t made of stone. She sat down next to her sister and held her close. Bianca stroked Loredana’s long, pretty red hair while she wept against Bianca’s shoulder. “There there, dear one,” Bianca whispered. “We’ll be okay. Everything will be fine. You don’t have to be afraid, I’ll protect you.”

“Until we know the lay of the land I don’t want any of us going off by ourselves,” Mirela commanded. “Always keep a sister close by. Always. That includes even when you are sleeping or making your toilet. I suppose we will have to share one room for at least this night.”

Bianca looked down at the bed she sat upon. “We aren’t going to be able to fit four to a bed,” she observed.

“Hmm, even just three would be awfully uncomfortable,” Mirela admitted. “Fine, one of you can sleep with me in my bed tonight. The other two will move their things to the room adjoining mine and sleep there so we can all be close by.”

“Good plan,” Bianca replied.

Mirela said Loredana’s name to get her attention. Loredana looked up from the shoulder of Bianca’s dress that she had soaked with her tears. Even with red-rimmed eyes and tears staining her cheeks she looked gorgeous. Loredana wiped the teardrops away using the sleeve of her shirt and replied, “Yes?”

“I want you stay away from Şarpe,” ordered Mirela. “I mean it. He clearly has intentions toward you and I don’t like it. Keep him at arm’s length. Be polite as you would be to any lord but don’t allow him to take advantage of you.”

“O-” Loredana breathed deeply and sniffled before continuing. “O-o-okay.”

“Who is going to room with Bela tonight?” Bianca asked as she indicated the youngest sister. Bela sat upon the bed with her hands folded in her lap as she stared at the wall completely oblivious. “Somebody needs to take care of her.”

“I’ll do it,” Loredana said quickly as she raised her hand.

“Thank you,” said Mirela. “I appreciate you volunteering. Please keep her safe and remember to lock your door.”

The arrangements with luggage were all made with Mirela and Bianca helping to move Loredana and Bela’s things to the bedroom adjacent to Mirela’s that was originally intended to be Bianca’s room. After moving Bianca’s belongings to Mirela’s room, Mirela and Bianca gave their younger sisters hugs and kisses on the lips good night before retreating to their room. Once Mirela closed the door and locked it, Bianca pushed one of the armoires across the floor until it blocked the door from opening. Mirela raised an eyebrow at her sister.

“What?” Bianca said with a shrug. “You can never be too safe.”

The sisters stripped down to their shifts and readied themselves to slumber. Mirela let her hair down and Bianca couldn’t help staring at it. She didn’t understand why Mirela always wore her hair up in a bun when it looked so pretty long. In the absence of a mirror, Mirela and Bianca took turns stroking each other’s hair with a brush until their tresses were tangle free. They giggled throughout their brushing as they recalled they hadn’t done this for each other since they were little girls. Servants had left pitchers filled with water and more of that horrific wine on the nightstand before they arrived. Mirela and Bianca used the water from the pitcher and mixed it with soda powder they had packed to wash out their mouths and they decided to just spit the mixture into the wine pitcher. They both laughed uproariously as they did so, with Bianca making the most exaggerated facial expressions as she spat to try and make Mirela laugh even harder. Mirela was glad that despite all the darkness that had infiltrated their lives they could still find joy in small things.

As Bianca unpacked the rest of her clothes and folded them into the dresser, Mirela kneeled beside the bed and clasped the palms of her hands together with her elbows resting on the mattress. Mirela murmured imperceptibly softly to herself as she rocked back and forth.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Bianca asked.

Mirela shushed his sister and replied, “What does it look like?” before returning to her prayer. When she was finished Mirela nodded to herself and stood back up.

“Do you actually think that works?” Bianca wondered. “If our prayers were ever answered we never would have been in this predicament.”

“Of course it works,” Mirela answered fervently. “God is just testing our faithfulness. We will be rewarded as long as we continue to follow His way.”

“What do you pray for?” Bianca asked seriously.

Mirela regarded her favorite sister and said, “I pray for Mama and Papa of course, that their souls will find peace. I pray that Bela will someday recover and become the sweet, gentle girl she once was again. I pray that Loredana might find satisfaction of the spirit rather than of the flesh. And I pray that you will find love again.”

Bianca looked away from Mirela’s eyes and down to the floor as her sister spoke of love. The thoughts brought up too many uncomfortable feelings and memories. Without looking up, Bianca asked, “What do you pray for yourself?”

Mirela was silent for a moment before replying, “I pray that I might find clarity and guidance to help my family. I pray that my piety will be rewarded.”

Bianca knew her sister too well and knew that couldn’t be the only thing troubling Mirela enough for her to pray for. Her sister must feel so lonely all the time and Bianca’s heart went out to her. Bianca made her own little prayer that Mirela might someday find a man not intimidated by her strength and intelligence who actually deserved her. Bianca knew of one who would love and appreciate Mirela the way she deserved, but she wouldn’t, couldn’t speak of it.

“It’s been a long day,” Mirela said with a yawn. “I’m going to bed.”

Mirela put out all of the candles except for the one next to the nightstand. She pulled the bedsheet away from the mattress and plumped the goosefeather pillow before snuggling beneath the covers. Mirela laid there for a minute with her eyes closed before realizing that Bianca hadn’t joined her. She looked over and saw Bianca sitting in an armchair with a blanket draped over her legs. Bianca sat watching the door with a long dagger clasped between her hands.

“What are you doing?” Mirela asked. “And where in God’s name did you get that knife?”

The dress Bianca wore had been cunningly designed by the same dressmaker that had designed her nightgowns. It had several hidden pockets stitched within it that Bianca used to store items of discrete importance. The dagger itself had been one of her late husband’s favorite hunting knives.

“Someone should keep watch, just to be safe,” explained Bianca. “I’ll watch the door for the next few hours and then wake you when it’s your turn.”

“Don’t be silly,” Mirela said. “The door is locked shut and furniture is blocking it from opening. If anyone attempts to get in we will be well aware of the fact. Come to bed. If you’re half as tired as I feel you’ll need the rest sorely.”

Bianca bit her lip and looked worried. She said, “I just want you to feel safe, Mellie.”

“I…I’ll feel much safer with you in bed close to me,” said Mirela. She pulled the bedsheet covering the other side of the bed away and patted the mattress with her hand. “Come on.”

“Fine,” Bianca relented. She left the dagger sitting nearby on the nightstand and used her fingertips to snuff out the only candle left burning. The room plunged into a darkness so deep that Bianca shivered. Night seemed to go too well with this accursed place. Bianca dove beneath the blankets and scooted over to snuggle up close to her sister.

Bianca curled up with the blankets around herself and laid on her side facing her sister. Mirela stroked the blonde curls of her younger sister’s hair and listened to her shallow breathing. She had always been jealous of the pale golden locks of Bianca’s hair that when compared to Mirela’s own tresses made them look rather plain. She had no inkling that Bianca thought Mirela possessed the most beautiful hair she had ever seen.

“I really am sorry about those things I said earlier today,” Bianca apologized quietly. “I didn’t mean any of it. Please say you forgive me.”

“I know you meant no harm,” Mirela said. “I forgive you and I love you.” Mirela leaned over and kissed her sister upon the brow. “You’re right though, I am not perfect.”

“I think you are,” Bianca whispered. She seemed about to say more but hesitated. She swallowed loudly and then started to speak again, “Mellie, do you remember when we were younger and I used to come to your bed whenever there was a bad storm?”

“Of course,” Mirela said with a smile of remembrance. “I could never understand why the storms made you so scared. You’re not afraid of anything.”

“I don’t know what it is,” Bianca said. “The thunder frightens me so. One of the only things I’m afraid of.” The only other thing she feared was that she might fail her older sister in some way. Bianca reached out and caressed Mirela’s cheek.

“Why did you always come to me rather than find Mama?” Mirela asked.

“I don’t know,” Bianca said with a sigh. “I guess you always just made me feel like I was protected whenever I was close to you. You all think of me as the brave one, but I’ve always thought you were the most proud and courageous of us.”

“You’re sweet, Bianca,” said Mirela with a satisfied smile at Bianca’s compliment. “I’ve always admired you for your passion and how you speak your mind freely. I’ve never been that way but often wish I could be.”

Bianca traced the back of her fingers down Mirela’s cheek until her hand rested upon Mirela’s bare shoulder. Bianca caressed her thumb up and down Mirela’s shoulderblade and let her thumb linger where Mirela’s breast started to form. “Do you still remember the night of that terrible storm?” Bianca whispered haltingly.

Mirela ceased caressing Bianca’s hair and removed Bianca’s hand from her shoulder, leaving it resting on the mattress in between them. “I’ve tried to forget that night,” Mirela said.

“I’ve never forgotten it,” Bianca whispered. “Nothing we did was wrong.”

“What we did was very wrong,” Mirela countered. “Women are not supposed to do that sort of thing with each other. Especially not when they are sisters.

“We were just in the midst of developing from girls into women,” Bianca explained. “We were simply curious about our own bodies and how they felt.”

It had all started innocently enough. Though Mirela was three years older than Bianca they were best friends as girls and always played together. From the time she could walk, Bianca was climbing into Mirela’s bed at night whenever there was just a hint of thunder and under Mirela’s blankets they whispered to each other and giggled in secret. When they grew older, their bedtime conversations changed to topics like the boys they wanted to kiss. The sisters lamented that all the boys they liked were unavailable either due to the girls being too young still or too high in the social order for the peasant lads of the nearest village. When Bianca turned eighteen, her and Mirela began playing kissing games in the dark with each other, just for practice and preparation for someday kissing boys of course. It started as a dare but then turned into something more regular. They even practiced using their tongues like French lovers were said to do, licking each other’s lips and tasting the inside of the other’s mouth.

Mirela and Bianca both began looking forward to these encounters, with Bianca finding any excuse to hop into bed with Mirela so they might exchange kisses. Mirela was innocent and naive enough that she didn’t realize what they were doing was wrong though she sometimes felt bothered by how much she enjoyed it. The truth was she loved feeling Bianca’s lips against hers and longed for the caress of Bianca’s hand on her face, hair, and shoulder. Sometimes when Mirela felt Bianca’s tongue moving within her mouth a tingling sensation prickled her between the legs. Mirela assumed this was a natural reaction to being kissed. It couldn’t possibly be because she desired her sister sexually. But whenever Bianca entered her room at night, Mirela always felt so happy and received her sister with open arms.

One night about six years ago there was a fearsome storm with winds that battered the walls of the manor and struck lightning directly over the manor grounds. The fury of this powerful storm ignited Mirela and Bianca’s passion as lightning crashed all around them. Normally when they were trading tongues between each other’s mouths their hands remained planted on each other’s cheeks or shoulders. But that night, their hands started roaming all over each other’s bodies. Mirela and Bianca cupped and squeezed each other’s breasts, ran their hands up the inside of each other’s thighs, tickled and pinched each other’s bottoms, and then moved their hands inevitably toward each other’s burning loins.

When they had kissed before it had been enjoyable simply to feel the lips of another but the experience had been primarily chaste. This time however, there was a fiery passion as the sisters stuck their tongues deep inside each other’s mouths and alternated between biting and sucking on each other’s necks. Bianca thought she might die from the pleasure when Mirela ripped the top of Bianca’s dress down and suckled upon her nipples. They took turns placing their thigh between the other’s legs and allowing that sister to grind her cunny against the other’s thigh until arousal seeped from their openings and soaked through their underlings.

Mirela and Bianca tore each other’s nightclothes off and moaned as their naked flesh joined together. Bianca rolled atop Mirela and started grinding her crotch against her sister as if Bianca were the husband and Mirela the wife. Mirela reached around and clutched Bianca’s buttocks firmly to aid her thrusting. As they pleasured each other, Mirela looked up at Bianca and they stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Mirela expected to see desire and lust in Bianca’s gaze but instead what she found was pure love pouring out of her expression. Mirela leaned upward and kissed her sister as passionately and ferociously as she could muster. The sisters soon used their fingers to discover each other’s womanhood. They stroked, fingered, and rubbed each other’s sex until gushing wetness spurted out of their cunnys and covered their hands. They silenced theirs moans of ecstasy by clamping their mouths together and grunting like animals while they climaxed.

Once the ferocity of her passion had been sated, Mirela felt an intense sense of shame as the still warm seepage from her sister’s cunny dripped down the palm of her hand. While Bianca was no stranger to the act of masturbation, Mirela had never touched herself despite the desperate yearnings she often felt. The pleasure Bianca gave her was almost too powerful and overwhelming, it couldn’t possibly be a good thing but more likely was a terrible sin. Mirela felt like she had taken advantage of her younger sister and knew with certainty that what they had done this time was wrong.

Mirela tried to ignore how good the kisses Bianca was leaving on her breasts felt and tuned out the reckless declarations of undying affection her sister made to her after their lovemaking. Mirela pushed Bianca away from her bosom and rolled over and pretended to sleep. Bianca was left wondering what she had done wrong. Thereafter, Mirela still allowed Bianca to come into her room and sleep next to her at nights but Mirela refused to touch her and shied away from Bianca’s advances. Bianca seemed hurt at first, and then eventually she became resigned once it was clear that Mirela was finished with this childhood game they had been playing. Bianca stopped coming into Mirela’s bed at all and soon after was married off while Mirela became even more devoted to her religion. They had never again spoken of these illicit encounters until now.

“I don’t feel like discussing this right now,” Mirela said in a monotone voice. “Why did you even bring it up?”

Bianca sighed and rolled over onto her back. “No reason,” she said.

It had been almost two years since Bianca’s husband had been murdered and she returned home. Since her husband’s death, Bianca had yet to feel the touch of another and was practically dying for sex by this point. But it had to be with someone right. She wasn’t like Loredana, who would give herself to whoever was nearest once she felt that familiar tingling in her groin. Bianca had never forgotten how wonderful it felt to have Mirela in bed next to her. Bianca thought of her sister constantly, even when she had been married she couldn’t get Mirela out of her mind. Though she knew it was indecent, Bianca was certain Mirela was the only person she could ever be happy with.

When they were girls and young women Mirela and Bianca had been inseparable best friends but after the night of that storm their relationship was strained. Then Bianca was married and they didn’t see each other for years. Bianca knew Mirela would never admit it, but she knew her sister had been jealous of Bianca for finding a husband so easily while Mirela seemed destined for spinsterdom. Bianca hoped inwardly that Mirela had been jealous of Bianca’s husband as well. If only Mirela knew who Bianca had truly desired. When Bianca came back home after her husband’s death she held some small hope that her relationship with Mirela might be rekindled but instead they were awkward and stilted around each other. They still loved each other, but it was a different love than they used to share.

How idiotic to think Mirela desired pleasure (especially with me) after all we have been through, thought Bianca. Mirela was practically an angel, she would never indulge in such sinful ways again. What Bianca truly needed was someone who could make her come, hold her close, stroke her hair and whisper to her that everything would be alright. Was that too much to ask? But Bianca knew that Mirela was the only one she could ever be that vulnerable with.

“Good night, Mellie,” said Bianca. She had been calling Mirela by that name since Bianca was a toddler. “I love you.”

Mirela murmured something unintelligible and purred as she pulled the pillow and blankets tighter around herself. She was already asleep, but Bianca was wide awake. She reached over and plucked the dagger sitting on the nightstand. Bianca held it tightly in her fingers and stared up at the ceiling. She wouldn’t let anything happen to Mirela or her other sisters on her watch.

Bianca laid there. Watching. Listening. Waiting.

THE END OF CHAPTER TWO