Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (11 page)

Juliet wiped at her cheeks with her hands. “I do not know where to begin.”

Romeo leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “Just take a deep breath and the words will come.”

Juliet did as he suggested and drew in a long breath, then let it out very slowly. She swallowed hard and began.

“There is an initiation rite that I have to perform by midnight,” Juliet said in monotone.

Romeo's eyes flashed with recognition. “Yes, your nurse had said something about that, but she did not fully explain.”

Juliet grinned a little. “She thought better of it, I suppose. She doesn't approve of our marriage, but she still wants me to be happy. And if she'd told you, well, who knows what would have happened.”

“Why do you underestimate me, Juliet?” Romeo took her by the hands and kissed them.

“It's not that. It's—”

The door to her chamber flew open without warning. Romeo dove for his trousers, hitting his head on the bedpost, as Juliet covered herself by pulling the sheet up to her neck.

“Juliet!” her nurse proclaimed as she barged into the room.

Romeo had no time to be embarrassed as he threw on his clothes. He could see how distressed the nurse appeared—perhaps he and Juliet had overslept?

“Nurse! What is the matter?” Juliet asked.

“Maribel just came and told me. A few of the prince's men are at the castle to interrogate the servants about Romeo's presence at the ball. Apparently, the Capulets believe there are Montague sympathizers in our ranks.” The nurse grabbed a robe from Juliet's closet and quickly handed it to her. “We must get him out of here.”

Romeo finished getting dressed as the nurse tended to Juliet. After she put on her robe, Juliet embraced him.

“My lord, my love, my friend,” she whispered into his ear. “Will you come back for me, despite the things you do not yet know?”

Romeo caressed the back of her neck. “I promise nothing will keep me away. Not even exile.”

Finally, Juliet was able to smile. “Good-bye for now, Husband.”

Romeo let Juliet go with great reluctance, and moved to the window overlooking the orchard. He would have to climb down the wall outside in order to escape.

“Wear this, sir. Just in case.” The nurse handed
Romeo a wooden crucifix pendant on a long leather band. “Most everyone has gone to sleep in their chambers, but there may be a stray or two.”

Romeo took the pendant and put it over his head. “But what about—”

“I tied the dogs up, sir,” the nurse interrupted. “Now go, before the prince's men find you.”

Romeo glanced at his precious Juliet, who was floating in front of him like an effervescent angel. “One kiss, and I'll descend.”

Juliet placed her hands on the back of his head, their lips touching much too quickly. Then Romeo slid between the curtains and out into the sunlight, which his bride would never be able to see again.

A
s soon as the sun set, Lady Capulet barged into Juliet's chambers, with her hands placed firmly on her hips and her lips tightly pursed. She floated straight toward her daughter's secret marriage bed and began fluffing the pillows, one by one.

“I'm sorry to inform you of this on your birthday,” she said matter-of-factly. “Tybalt was killed last evening. Prince Radu and I found his head in the street. How despicable.”

Juliet stood at the foot of the bed, marveling at how unfeeling her mother seemed. How could she deliver such tragic news so casually—as though she were giving one of her servants a list of chores to tend to?

Lady Capulet glided over to Juliet, her eyebrows raised. Juliet tugged at the collar of her robe, closing it
tightly so her mother could not see any of the pink love bites that Romeo had left on her skin.

“Do you have nothing to say about the loss of your cousin?” Lady Capulet asked.

Juliet did have something to say, but it was not about Tybalt. Even with moral corruption and starvation on the horizon, for a brief moment, she was tempted to tell her mother she had married Romeo.

How would her mother respond if she found out Juliet's husband was a Montague? Juliet knew that it would strike both her parents down like wooden stakes to their chests, but only after they killed her first.

Juliet had to do what she could to stay alive, so that she and Romeo could flee Transylvania together.

Which included tolerating her mother's insensitivity.

“The nurse told me about Tybalt's slaying,” Juliet said, her tone downtrodden. “My dull mood must seem strange, but I think I'm in shock.”

Lady Capulet examined Juliet from head to toe. “Now is not the time to grieve, Juliet. The last step in your transition is tonight, which means your life depends on the strength of all your senses.”

Juliet had no energy left to combat her mother, so she just nodded dutifully.

Lady Capulet floated away from her daughter and sat down in a chair. She conjured up a folded fan out
of thin air. Juliet flinched when it snapped open all by itself and began waving in front of her mother's unusually sallow face.

“Speaking of which, your father and I have talked about your distress over initiation,” she said matter-of-factly. “I think we've come up with a solution that might make you feel more comfortable with it.”

Juliet's mouth suddenly went dry. Had her mother and father actually found a way to spare her from cannibalizing some poor innocent person? Perhaps they were capable of some human decency once in a while. “Please, tell me.”

“Tybalt was slain by that wretched son of Lord Montague,” Lady Capulet said. “Thus, he is the perfect candidate for your first taste of blood. Don't you agree?”

If there had been any color left in Juliet's face, it would have faded from view that instant.

“You and Father want me to…murder Romeo Montague?” Juliet could not believe that those words had fallen off of her tongue.

“If you do not, another one of us will,” her mother said. “There are plenty of Capulets who are out searching for him now, ready to snap him in two.”

Juliet could not move a muscle. Her mouth hung agape and her breath caught in her throat.

“Why do you look so shocked?” Lady Capulet plucked the fan out of the air with her hand and
whipped it shut. “You need to feed on human flesh by midnight and this man slaughtered your cousin. Our family deserves revenge!”

“Not at the expense of my soul!” Juliet shouted before doubling over in sidesplitting pain.

“Look at you! You are in anguish and still hiding behind your morals. Romeo is not some innocent villager, Juliet. He is guilty of murdering your cousin, he deserves to die,” Lady Capulet said tersely.

“What gives you the right to decide what happens with people's lives?” Juliet snapped back through gritted teeth.

“Well, as your mother, I suppose I have the right to decide what happens with
you
,” she said coldly.

Juliet redirected all the physical agony she was experiencing and transformed it into the courage to stand up for herself. “But I can decide whether or not to obey.”

Lady Capulet leaned forward in her chair, her lips pressed together tightly. “I spoke to your father about postponing your marriage to Count Paris tomorrow, and he outright refused.”

“Based on what grounds?!” Juliet yelled.

“Look at me, Juliet!” her mother shouted. “Are you oblivious to the changes happening right before your eyes?”

“You appear to be fine,” Juliet replied.

Lady Capulet flew out of her chair, leaping at Juliet.
“I will not repeat myself again, Juliet. Look at me.”

Juliet's hands trembled as she studied her mother. When she observed Lady Capulet this closely, she did notice some oddities. There were visible cracks in the skin on her face. The red glow of her eyes was dimmer than it had been the day before.

“So it is true,” Juliet murmured as she touched one of the wrinkles on Lady Capulet's cheek. “Human blood is what gives vampires their power. But does this mean you are going to—”

“Die? No, we still have our immortality. But we are weaker and less able to protect all that is rightfully ours—this castle, the land, our riches, everything that we treasure. Which is why we need to put an end to this peace treaty,” her mother insisted.

“I still don't understand how my marriage to Count Paris will help.”

Lady Capulet sighed in frustration. “We suspect that Count Paris is turning women as a means of getting human blood. Once he drinks his fill from them, and they are given a taste of his own blood, they are transformed into vampires. And the more vampires there are, the more competition there is. Not for just food, but for status, power, and dominion over Transylvania.”

Juliet's eyes flickered with recognition. She was right—her parents were out to preserve their empire,
not just fighting for their physical survival. How selfish could they be?

“Your father believes that the count might change his ways if he settles down with a wife,” Lady Capulet continued. “Then perhaps he will be more motivated to pressure Prince Radu to overturn the treaty. Now do you see how important your role is in all this?”

“But the fan—you conjured it here without any difficulty. Your powers can't be waning too badly. Maybe there's some other explanation, or maybe there is a way to stop your strength from deteriorating,” Juliet said, her voice wavering.

“It would not be wise for you to pin your hopes on a parlor trick.” Lady Capulet pushed Juliet's hand away with disdain. “The prosperity of the Capulets rests on your shoulders, Juliet. I will not allow you to turn your back on us.”

“Perhaps there is something else the count wants.” Juliet tried to negotiate. “Like money or jewels or property. I would give everything I have to him—just not my heart, or my life.”

Lady Capulet responded to her daughter's pleas by floating out the door without another word.

Juliet breathed in deeply, trying to swallow the huge lump in her throat, and gripped one of the bedposts with both hands. She racked her brain for a way to stop her life from spiraling out of control any
further, and nothing came to her.

Truly, there was no hope. No hope whatsoever.

“Are you decent, my lady?” came a voice from across the room.

Juliet glanced at the door, which was opened just a crack. The round pink face of her nurse peeked through.

“Decent? Hardly. But you may come in anyway,” she answered solemnly.

The nurse came in carrying a large metal box with a long coiled handle made out of thick wire. She set it down on the desk opposite Juliet's bed and wiped off her hands with the bottom of her apron.

“What is that?” Juliet inquired.

The nurse's brow wrinkled as she cleared her throat. “Your father told me to give this to you for your initiation tonight. I do not know what is inside.”

Juliet was so distraught she could not bear to look at the contents herself. “Open it, will you?”

The nurse lifted the lid and peered inside, then bowed her head in dismay.

“Weapons, my child. Of all sorts,” the nurse mumbled.

Another surge of rage bolted through Juliet. She charged toward the nurse—practically knocking the woman over—and slammed the box shut with a terrifying animalistic growl that was quite similar to her father's. Then she flopped down on the gray wool rug,
her breath coming in short spurts.

“They want me to kill Romeo.” Juliet held back tears as the nurse sat down next to her. “Please, good Nurse, I need your counsel more than ever.”

The nurse stroked Juliet's hair with her fingertips. “Try not to worry, Juliet. If Romeo has any sense, he has hidden himself far from anyone's reach. Even you would be unable to find him.”

“But that's not the point,” Juliet said, pushing the nurse's hand away. “Regardless of who I take as my first kill tonight, tomorrow my parents will force me to marry Count Paris. There is just no end to their cruelty.”

“Madam, I think your passion is clouding your judgment,” the nurse said, her voice calm and soothing. “If you look at this situation with a clear mind and an unaffected heart, you'll see that Romeo has nothing to offer you, especially now that he is exiled. Count Paris is not perfect, but he can provide for you and help your parents protect your family. Please, take his hand, child. Spare yourself any more torment and choose security in the long run over happiness in the now.”

“Do you speak from your heart?” Juliet whimpered.

“And my soul, too. Or else curse them both.”

Juliet turned and looked directly at the nurse. She realized, then and there, that she could no longer go to this woman for help or even sympathy. Though still caring and nurturing, the nurse was on the side of
Lord and Lady Capulet, and nothing could be done about it. That meant there was only one person left who Juliet could trust. She must go to him—now—and see if he could assist her. If not, then she would have to face her fate alone.

“Well, then, you have convinced me,” Juliet said with a suddenly amiable spirit.

The nurse seemed quite baffled. “What?”

“I have found such comfort in your wisdom, friend,” Juliet explained as she slid the metal box out from under her bed. “I will venture into the forest and practice my hunting skills. Would you go into town and buy the finest wedding dresses you can find? I'll want to choose one later.”

“Yes, of course.” The nurse cracked a smile. “I am most happy to.”

“Speak nothing of it, though. I want my mother to be surprised when I tell her I've reconsidered,” she added.

As soon as the nurse left the room, Juliet reopened the box and marveled at the killing tools inside. She ran her thumb along the blade of a short sword, hoping she would have the will to use it on herself if her last grasp at good fortune failed her.