Page 24 of The Doctor and the Devil
Memories came hard and fast then, and my knees nearly buckled with the remembered pleasure of making love. Rafael had thought himself Hades …dark, forbidding, cold, and immortal. He’d called me his Persephone and told me I’d bloomed at his touch. I was so young, so naive, so much like spring to his hellish winter.
How much I loved him.How angry I am at him.What kind of life was he imagining for us? We would be parted by time or some unnatural death. I would age, gathering wrinkles and aches, and he would simplybe.Trapped like an insect in amber.
I wouldn’t pretend the idea of the transformation hadn’t crossed my mind. In all my work and research, I’d considered making the change. But each time, I would think of the warmth of the summer sun and the vibrance of a rainbow after a thunderstorm and reject the idea of living without those wonders. Certainly, the night held its charms, but I wanted it all. Sun, moon, stars. Day and night. Spring and winter.
Myself…and Rafael.
I’d reached the top of the staircase and cast one long, dizzying look back down. Then, steeling my courage for what I knew lay ahead, I pushed open the trap door and stepped into the chilly April morning.
* * *
After the somewhat awkward descent with the windlass and no small amount of complaining on my part, I found myself facing Rafael’s impressive carriage. Four sleek, black horses, so perfectly matched they could have been two sets of twins, stamped impatiently in front of the large black conveyance. A footman helped me inside, and I frowned at the beautiful interior. Deep, plush seats covered in red velvet and satin cushions spoke to Rafael’s early years as a tempting rake. I didn’t want to consider how many women he’d had in this carriage.
Thick fur blankets and a small basket of almond cakes sat on the empty seat, needling me with even more guilt. He’d obviously ensured I would have every comfort, even if I treated him abominably. As much as I felt like I didn’t deserve such kindness, I wouldn’t want to snub him any more than I already had, so I sat back, wrapped myself in the cozy blankets, and nibbled at the sweet pastries.
The carriage lurched forward, and I leaned back against the cushions. My mind swirled with the chaos of the previous evenings, making it hard for me to focus long enough to examine my feelings. Emotions clashed and my heart pounded, but I suspected some of that had to do with what I knew would come when I showed up at Charlotte’s château. I was certain Charlotte and Daphne hadn’t been involved in my kidnapping, but I was even more worried the Order had managed to plot and carry out a mission without their knowledge. That meant there was a chanceles DDhad underestimated the old fools.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. There was nothing I could do until I arrived, and though I had no idea what I would say to her, I trusted she would at least hear me out when I explained everything. At least, I hoped.
The gentle rocking of the carriage soothed me, as did the small charcoal heater tucked beneath the cushions, and it wasn’t long before I drifted off. I awoke sometime later with the sensation of the carriage slowing and noticed that the light filtering in through the curtains had brightened to a silvery cold afternoon. When we finally stopped, the driver climbed down and opened the door for me.
I wondered what Rafael’s servants thought of him, and of me—if they’d heard us arguing and thought badly of me for it. I started to say something to the driver but thought better of it. It was just as well as I was knocked off my feet by the most horrific-looking wolf creature that anyone could imagine. It was as if a normal wolf had mated with a demon, with long gangly limbs, massive jaws, enormous claws, and murderous red eyes. I would have screamed if I didn’t already know this particular beast.
“Comtesse,” I huffed. “Forgive me for my impertinence, but in this form, you are rather weighty. Would you be so kind as to get off me?”
The terrifying beast whined and licked my face, upsetting my spectacles. Then, with a horrendous bark, she sat back on her haunches. I got up and brushed myself off, frowning at the huge tears her claws had made down the front of my lovely lemon-yellow gown.
“Merde,” I swore. “This was a new gown, Charlotte, and I rather liked it.”
She whined at me again, then trotted off toward the front of her ostentatious, yet stunning, estate. Once we entered the grand foyer, she shifted shape—a gruesome process that I was completely entranced by. Her lupine snarls of pain became human bellows as she turned back into the beautiful chestnut-haired Comtesse I knew and loved.
Once in human form, she ran to me and threw her arms around my neck, holding me in an impossibly tight embrace.
“Oh, Mina!” she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. “We were so worried! We’ve all been out searching for you! We knew something was wrong, but we couldn’t figure out what happened or where you went! Where have you been, my friend? What has happened? Are you well?”
“Yes, Charlotte, I’m well. I will tell you everything,chérie,but…don’t you think it might be easier to have this conversation with a few more…” I waved vaguely at her nudity. “…layers?”
She sniffled and wiped her tears, then giggled.
“Of course, Mina! Our attitudes toward clothing in my household have become rather lax since Antoine and I have grown accustomed to shifting. Don’t worry—I did speak with the household staff about it at length.” At that moment, a young maid rushed forward with an exquisite dressing gown of shimmering pink satin. Charlotte donned the gown and led me upstairs.
“Daphne and Étienne will be along later this evening. We’d organized search parties, you see. Antoine and I took the day shifts, and Daphne and Étienne took the night shifts. We were able to follow part of your trail, but…” she grew quiet, then offered me an anxious smile. “Well, we can all discuss things when everyone arrives. Let’s get changed, and I’ll have lunch laid out in the dining room. I’ve had some gowns tailored for you—don’t look at me like that, Mina, this is as much for my benefit as it is yours—and they’re in the lilac guest room down the hall, where you usually stay. I’ve taken the liberty of having some of your things brought here. Nothing special, just some of your books, notebooks, toiletries, and your doctor’s valise. Anything to make you more comfortable here,chérie.Daphne left a notice on your clinic door and informed your neighbors that you would be taking a short holiday away to visit family in the country. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of things soon and you won’t have to take too much time away from your patients. Mina, darling, is this all too overwhelming? I’msosorry—listen to me, prattling on when you’ve been through God-knows-what trauma. Are you simply exhausted? Do you need to rest first?”
Charlotte capped this loving tirade with another fierce hug and a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you, Charlotte,” I replied. “No, I am well. I wouldn’t say no to lunch and a clean dress, but I’m ready to tell you everything.”
9
MINA
April 17, 1768
Château de Ruisseau Magdelaine
Charlotte waseager to hear my story but had insisted I take some time to rest, bathe, and put on one of the new gowns she’d had made for me. Despite the fact that I avoided spirits most of the time, she persuaded me to take a snifter of brandy into the large copper bathtub the servants had set in front of the fireplace in my guest room.
“It’s the best way to warm up,” she had said with a wink. “Now, off you go, and take your time. It’s hours still before Daphne and Étienne will awake. I’m sure Antoine will return any moment now, and you can tell us all you need to.”
