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Are they actually feeding on the maid and the chef? What the hell is going on, Adrian?
He sighed. I might as well tell you, Maura. The servants are willing, but they re food. My
parents need blood to survive and the servants are poor villagers who have nowhere else to go.
They kill them?
No. Absolutely not. They feed on them a little bit at a time. They d never kill them. They
need them to live.
What do the servants get out of it?
A place to live and a lot of money. The work isn t hard, so they probably consider it a decent
job. They are even treated like part of the family.
Adrian stood behind Maura and kissed her neck. Don t worry, darling. I won t
leave your side. I already promised I wouldn t let anything happen to you.
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How many servants do they have? she whispered
Only three that I know of at the moment. They have a gardener too.
They have a gardener? Someone should be fired.
Adrian chuckled. Yes. My reaction was the same as yours.
So you re saying this is a good thing for everyone involved. It helps the local
economy or something?
Or something.
Unexpectedly, Adrian reached over and squeezed her breast.
Hmm& Let s skip the dungeon, Maura. There are much pleasanter things
awaiting us elsewhere.
What? Forget it.
Maura, please& I m getting edgy about what kind of hell awaits us down there.
Besides I can t wait another minute to make love to you.
She laid her head to rest on his shoulder. I know, lover. But as your father said, we have
lots of time for that. Maybe not eternity but&
Adrian inhaled sharply and blew out a long breath, as if trying to hold his temper.
Oh, stop it. You re being silly!
A massive iron key ring clanked in Vlad s hands as he unlocked the dungeon door.
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Vampire Vintage
Chapter Thirteen
Adrian heaved a giant audible sigh. He wasn t going to spoil Maura s fun and he
did want to test her to see if she could handle whatever might come up, right? The
dungeon door squeaked an ominous greeting as Vlad heaved it open.
Adrian waited to be the last one in line before descending into the dank and moldy
darkness. He had to bend over to fit through the door and his posture remained
slumped on the way down the rickety stairs. The quiet murmurings of nervous
excitement among the guests spiked his own anxiety.
Echoing growls from below stopped the parade in its tracks. Maura turned and
grabbed on to Adrian s jacket, frantically searching his pocket for her pencil stake .
Grateful for his vampiric eyesight, he was able to pierce the blackness and see what
the crowd was reacting to. Oh bloody hell, it was only a dog. Wait a minute. It s not just any
dog!
Strudel Adrian cried. He pushed his way through the crowd and ran to his
boyhood best friend.
I told you I had a surprise for you, son. When Adrian rose, holding the adorable
black Yorkshire terriera souvenir of his father s trip to Scotland, he enjoyed a thorough,
tongue-lapping face bath. Vlad clapped him on the back.
But how& ?
We turned him as soon as you left home. Of course, he ran away for a few
decades, probably trying to follow you. But he came back, just as we knew you d
eventually come back too. You had to go find yourself or something. No hard feelings
son, see? We re just delighted you re home, even if it took over five hundred years.
More than a few tourists gasped. Roland was the one brave enough to speak up.
Five hundred years, Adrian? Does that mean you re a&
Vampire? Yes, my friend.
Roland s eyes widened. We just thought you were related to someone who
worked here, or maybe it really was your family s castle but there were actors that play
vampires. I never imagined the real thing even existed!
I m afraid so.
Vlad bristled. Afraid so? Aren t you adjusted to the wonders of this privilege yet?
I thought that s what you set off to do.
I m sorry to disappoint you, Father. I set off to find a cure. And I have.
Adrian set Strudel down. He trotted over to his bowl of pig s blood and began
lapping it up happily.
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Vlad turned to see the stunned tourists, forced his frown into a jovial expression
and laughed. Yes, well, you can tell me all about that later. Not that I doubt you or
anything.
Adrian rolled his eyes.
Enric clapped his hands twice. What incredible luck, people! We have a real
vampire on the tour with us! Perhaps you can be persuaded to add your own unique
insights as we travel along, Adrian?
I m sorry. I won t be continuing on from here. I ve decided to stay with my family
for a long overdue visit.
After a five-hundred-year absence I can certainly understand that you vould. And
Maura? Is she staying vid you?
Maura stepped forward and took Adrian s hand. Yes, I am.
That small comforting gesture helped Adrian relax. Well, that and no prisoners
chained to the walls or in the iron maiden. Whew.
Enric clapped his hands. People. May I have your attention? As you can see, now
that our eyes have adjusted to the darkness, there are two cells on the left-hand side.
The first one is empty. You re welcome to go inside to see how it would feel to be
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