Bitten by Magic (The Vampire Genesis

Chronicles Book 2) Lara Bronson

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 Contents

Title Page
Recap
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Glossary
Afterword
About The Author
The Vampire Genesis Chronicles
Bitten by Magic

Lara Bronson

Tacit Press, LLC

 Recap
Petra, an American student, travels to Romania planning to visit her hero, Vlad the Impaler’s
castle ruins. To her surprise, she finds a pendant and a ruby which accidentally sends her to the times
of the ruler she admires. At his castle, Petra becomes a maid while pretending to be mute. One night,
she bumps into a knight and accidentally divulges her secret.
Gabriel doesn’t lose the opportunity and asks Petra to meet him the following night. Though she
feels a spark, Petra is still unsure if she wants to have a relationship with Gabriel.
While he is gone, a nobleman takes interest in Petra to the point where she has to convince the
entire court she has royal blood.
Though she manages to convince Vlad the Impaler and gets to live at the castle, a magical being
with wings enters her bedroom every night.
Once they realize the being targets only unmarried maidens, Gabriel officially announces his plans
to marry her.
She finally gives their relationship a chance only when she feels she might lose him.
As their bond blooms, Petra wishes to retrieve her pendant from Boyar Dobre on the day when
Vlad the Impaler plans a purge for his scheming nobles. To her dismay, the boyar finds her in his
chamber and cracks the ruby, which makes Petra feel weak.
When Gabriel and Petra find out they need the help of Mother of the Forest, they embark on a
journey into the woods. They enter an enchanting meadow, and an older woman welcomes them.
 Chapter 1
The hustle and bustle of the Saturday market reminded me of the time when I went with my
parents Christmas shopping. Except I was in the fourteen hundreds, enjoying far less sanitary
conditions, and the present wasn’t a pair of reindeer socks, but a tall, red-headed man who somehow
could send me back in time. Or at least that’s what Muma Pădurii said.
Back when we arrived at Muma Pădurii’s hut, or rather her fancy cabin, we couldn’t believe
someone in medieval times could live such a lavish life. The sparkly new, wooden construction
resembled a king’s summer residence rather than a frail, old lady’s home. When she invited us in, I
couldn’t believe my eyes. Her entire living quarters were covered in crochet items: crochet curtains,
tablecloths, and a million crochet doilies—a grandma’s dream. And mine. Plus, the old lady
resembled my grandma so much that it rekindled many distant childhood memories.
She sat us at the kitchen table and prepared tea. Yes, the hot, amber beverage everyone sometimes
called coffee’s cousin. Okay, when I said everyone, I meant myself, but that was not the point. The
point was that Wallachian people didn’t drink tea. They preferred milk or wine. And when extremely
drunk, they mixed them by accident and still drank it.
This lady, on the other hand, knew what tea was and how to make it. Muma Pădurii’s tea wasn’t
made from actual tea leaves but from cherry branches and raspberry leaves. It was more of an herbal
tea but still a significant improvement from goat’s milk. No offence to Vincenta von Goat.
When Muma Pădurii placed the clay cups in front of us, Gabriel began smelling the reddish, hot
beverage, most likely fearful of poison.
“Do not fret, lad,” she said. “If I wished you dead, I would’ve sent a few more boars along your
way.”
“You were the one to send the rabid boar?” I asked.
“It is only expected for me to protect my forest,” she said.
“Your forest?” asked Marius.
“Why yes, most who come here are trespassing. But when I felt the presence of this young lady
here, I had to send a message.”
“A message in the form of eerily gazing forest animals?” I asked.
“It worked, didn’t it?” The old lady smiled.
“We’re here not because of the animals,” said Gabriel. “The seer sent us.”
“Is that so?” asked Muma Pădurii.
“Yes, but we also had an excellent fight with the boar,” Marius said, grinning.
“But why would a seer send you to me, especially since you didn’t heed my message?” Muma
Pădurii sat at the table next to me.
I took the cracked pendant from my trusty white bag and showed it to her.
“It’s the Eye of the Dragon. I haven’t held one of these in too many years,” the old lady said,
snatching the jewel from my hand. “But the stone is cracked. Who would do such a dreadful thing?”
“A man who has already met his fate,” said Gabriel somberly.
“Is that so?” The old lady peered at me and the stone intermittently. “I see you are linked to the
stone’s magic. It is why I felt your presence in my forest. But now, I see the magic is fading.” The lady
hit the nail on the head. On my head.
“We want to send Petra home.” Gabriel leaned and took the pendant from Muma Pădurii.
“Is that so? My powers are not strong enough for me to be of help. You must search for a
Solomonar who can guide you in your next steps.”
“Where do we find a Solomonar?” asked Gabriel.
“They usually roam around loud places, like markets or taverns,” said Muma Pădurii.
“Is he an unnatural being?” asked Marius.
“Last time I checked, he rode dragons and conjured rain at the snap of a finger. So yes, he is one of
us,” said Muma Pădurii.
“Dragons? There are dragons here?” I thought but wished not to interrupt.
“They prefer places with people since it is easier to hide in plain sight,” said Muma Pădurii.
“But isn’t the forest The Other Realm?” asked Anca.
“Not quite. Some magical beings live in the forest, but The Other Realm is far greater than that.
Many don’t know it simply because we avoid the world of simple people as nothing good ever comes
from it. Thus, most people wouldn’t even see us. One must be touched by magic or wish it greatly to
step beyond the threshold of ordinary appearances.”
“What does this Solomonar look like?” asked Gabriel, trying to get to the point.
“Once they were giants, but now are rather tall so they can blend easier among humans. They have
red hair and usually wear a white robe.”
How did a tall, red-haired man expect to hide in plain sight in a place where most were short and
dark-haired was beyond me. But, then again, if people weren’t looking for magical creatures
deliberately, Solomonarul could probably sit next to Vlad Dracula, and no one would even bat an eye.
No pun intended.
“Since the stone cracked, my wife is not feeling herself anymore. You might have a remedy for
her?” asked Gabriel.
Even after two years of marriage, hearing Gabriel say I was his wife gave me goosebumps. I was
indeed married to the perfect man.
“Is that so? Well, I have the perfect remedy,” she said and began rummaging through her
immaculate kitchen cupboards. “Ah, here they are.” She took out a glass vial with some greenish
liquid as well as a wooden box and placed them on the table. “First, you must drink this potion. It
will replenish your vigor.”
I took the bottle and analyzed its contents. Was this some kind of medieval energy drink? I hoped it
tasted like the ones I used to binge on during finals.
“For your own good, old lady, I hope you are telling the truth. For if you poison her, you will meet
the wrath of my sword.” Gabriel glared at Muma Pădurii.
“I am but a keeper of the forest. To deceive you is to put my livelihood and the rest of the forest
animals in danger,” the old lady said in a mellow voice.
“Gabriel, I’m sure she means no harm,” I said.
Gabriel growled but didn’t stop me from drinking the potion. I brought the vial to my mouth and
swallowed its components in one go. The taste was, of course, disgusting. A combination of
toothpaste, citrus, and mud still lingered in my mouth, and reenergized I had yet to feel.
“Now you must eat this.” She took two pieces of what looked like dried cranberries.
I did so. The sourness tasted worse than the warheads I munched as a kid. And right when I wanted
to complain about the complete lack of enjoyment in medieval times, I felt better.
“I can feel my arms and legs, and the floating sensation has disappeared,” I said with excitement.
Marius and Anca cheered, and Gabriel sighed in relief.
Muma Pădurii handed me the wooden box and said, “please eat two of these when you sense your
weakness returning.”
 I nodded.
“I believe my work here is done,” the old lady concluded.
“I am so grateful,” I went in to hug her, which took her aback—a common reaction in medieval
Wallachia. But when I did so, I felt something strange.
“Well, it’s part of my day’s work,” she said, trying to hide her embarrassment with a smile. “I hope
you find what you seek and don’t find the need to return for my guidance.”
“We could return to share the good news,” I said.
“No,” she yelped but mellowed her tone quickly, “I hope your journey leads you to a victorious
path. You do not need to waste your time on this old lady.” She then turned toward Gabriel, “you must
walk a different forest path to the next village’s marketplace.”
“I know the forest like the back of my hand,” said Gabriel as we got out of her house.
“That is if you do not include the places beyond your world,” she said.
“Then how large is the forest?” asked Anca.
“It is impossible to encompass it even from a bird’s eye,” said the old lady. “Please follow the owl
on that branch. He will guide you out of the woods.”
And so, after we exited the forest, we found ourselves in the middle of a busy marketplace
searching for what seemed like a unicorn. I’ve lived in Wallachia for almost two years and had yet to
see a red-headed, tall man in a white robe.
The market reeked of expired produce and sweaty armpits. That was one way to lose your appetite.
As we walked through the rows of apples, fish, bread, and wax, the merchants would holler to grab
our attention, and if we dared turn our heads in the slightest, we were expected to buy something.
Marius found himself the owner of a few candlesticks, a bag of wheat, and two fish heads (those he
got for free). On the other hand, I couldn’t take the smell so I held my breath and ran out of there as
fast as possible, before my insides decided to eject the entirety of my breakfast. Once my nostrils
denoted I was in the clear, I noticed with the corner of my eye a tall figure. When I turned, the figure
disappeared behind a shed.
“How are you feeling, Milady? You look ashen,” said Gabriel as he approached me.
“The smell here makes me want to puke,” I said as I continued to look at the corner of the shed.
“Puke?”
“As in, my body wants to say goodbye to the contents of my stomach,” I said, fanning my hand to
maintain a fresh stream of air.
“Could it be the potion and berries Muma Pădurii gave you?”
“Honestly, the perpetual sour taste in my mouth is helpful in such situations,” I said and walked
where my suspicions led me. “I think I saw a tall man just now turning around that corner.”
“We must go and see if it’s a Solomonar,” Gabriel said as he grabbed my hand and rushed in that
direction.
I turned around in hopes Anca and Marius weren’t far away, but I couldn’t see them anywhere.
When we got there, next to the shed stood an old house which we assumed might be a tavern. A
wooden board attached to its gates with a picture of a goblet clued us in on that. With such shrewd
astuteness, we put detectives to shame. As we stepped through the gates, we noticed a rowdy group of
men sitting at a long table cheering while a stout woman in her fifties poured wine into their goblets.
Above them, grape vines formed an arch. In summer, it would probably make for a great place to cool
off. Seeing their unruly disposition, I felt uneasy about going further, but Gabriel’s strong hold calmed
me. We approached the woman, and Gabriel asked, “did a tall, red-headed man come by not long
ago?
 “Huh? A tall redhead?” she yelled to distinguish her voice from the crowd. “You must be talkin’ of
the fool who didn’t pay since last fall. He’s sleeping in the back. I don’t know how he got drunk, for
I’ll better drown myself in wine before I pour him another cup.”
We walked a few feet further when Gabriel said, “he must be in the summer kitchen.” Inside, next
to barrels of wine, lay a man who did not resemble Muma Pădurii’s description in the slightest.
Instead of the flaming red strands I imagined, the man wore a scraggly mutt on his head. His face and
body were so unkept they resembled a map of dirty stains and bruises from previous falls. The white
robe resembled the cloths I used to wash the castle hallways, but with patches sewn all over as a
bonus. After he hiccupped several times, he blurted, “oh, how wonderful, more good people I can
cheer with.”
“This cannot be him,” I said.
 Chapter 2
Marius helped the inebriated man stand on his feet, but as soon as a light breeze blew, it would
reinstate his horizontal position. Gabriel losing his patience, grabbed both sides of his arms, lifted
him to an eye level, and asked, “are you a Solomonar?”
“You want to go somewhere far?” the drunkard asked, releasing a sour stench from his mouth.
“So-lo-mo-nar,” Gabriel enunciated.
“You want to wish upon a star?”
When Gabriel saw there wasn’t much we could get out of the man, he loosened his grip. The man
fell to the ground like a rag doll, completely numb from the pain his fall might have caused.
“We must return to Muma Pădurii. She sent us on this wild goose chase. She, most likely, has all
the answers we might need,” I said.
“Indeed so,” said Gabriel. “But not today. It is getting late, and, at night, the forest becomes a less
welcoming place.”
Gabriel asked Marius to escort Anca to the castle while we decided to return to our home in the
village. As we rode our horses, I asked, “do you think it’s safe to send a boy of eighteen to escort
Anca to the castle? He might be a man, but he is still so young.”
“Everyone knows he is the son of Mircea Stoica as well as my brother. No one will dare touch
him. That cannot be said for Anca. Kidnappings of women have always been a threat, especially
when times become unstable.”
“But isn’t now, during Vlad Draculya’s rule, the most stable times in the voivodeship?”
“True, but things change like the sea tides. Nothing can predict what will happen next. Could you
reconsider unveiling some of the truths you know?”
“What if I do tell you, and the changes might be catastrophic? We cannot know who already had
their fate sealed like Boyar Dobre and who doesn’t. There must be a reason why history works in a
certain way.”
He understood my way of logic and didn’t pursue the matter further. Whereas for me, there was
something else brewing inside. Besides the rejuvenating properties of the berries, which helped me
regain control of my limbs, I developed a sudden urge to spend some time with my husband. We
couldn’t be together as much while trying to find a way for me to return. Gabriel hadn’t touched me
since we found out I was weak, fearing to aggravate the situation even more.
We arrived at our house when the sun’s rays had long hid behind a curtain of darkness. He helped
me dismount and went to the stables to let the horses eat and rest. I went inside the house as nights in
the spring were still chilly. I went to the kitchen and waited for him to come inside. When Gabriel
entered the house, he remained oblivious to the twinkle in my eyes as he passed next to me. He put on
a fresh pair of linen pants and went to the bedroom.
I, on the other hand, wanted to surprise him. I hadn’t felt attractive in so long, and now the energy
surplus begged to be released. The reduced number of clothes I owned didn’t exactly fit with what I
had in mind. So I had to improvise. I detached the wedding veil from my crown and wrapped it
around my body like a strapless dress. The veil would act as my body’s sole cover, for underneath, I
would remain with what Mother Nature had gifted me.
I felt pretty brave until the moment I stepped into the bedroom. He hadn’t noticed my presence as
he was busy searching for something in the commode. The moment I saw him, I chickened and
decided to retreat on my tiptoes. But, of course, I had stepped on the veil and bumped into the door
frame. I wasn’t clumsy per se but add one or more humans to the mix, and here came the circus.
Alarmed, Gabriel rushed to help me regain composure after my not-so-elegant entrance, but when he
embraced me, he noticed the skimpy attire adorning my body. His frown quickly changed to a
mischievous smile.
“What are you wearing?” he asked.
“Well, you see…In my time, we wear a special nightgown intended to impress our significant other
called a negligee.”
“You wanted to impress me? You could’ve entered the bedroom in Eve’s costume, and I would’ve
been enraptured,” he said as his eyes didn’t shy away from ogling my body.
“I wouldn’t be Petra if I didn’t take the extra mile, or kilometer, or …whatever.”
“I love when you talk modern,” he said and twirled me around. The man needed a full 360-degree
view. “May I undress you?” he asked.
I nodded shyly.
One tug at the veil, and his wish had been granted. I was indeed wearing my Eve’s costume. He
then embraced me tightly, offering a clear outline of his body on mine. I could feel the heat from his
bare chest, which contrasted with the snug feel in his pants area. Through them, though, I could feel
his strong leg muscles and something more. He bore deep into my eyes as if trying to find the universe
in its depths. And after, he planted the most scrumptious, most delicious kiss I had ever felt. The kiss
had such a strong hold on me I didn’t realize how Gabriel raised me from the ground and laid me on
the bed. My man had magic lips, and I was hopelessly hypnotized. Gabriel began caressing my body
with soft, intermittent strokes, which melted my body into a heap of mush. The man had magic hands
as well. His promise to worship me did come true in more than one way. His kisses descended from
my mouth to my neck and then to his favorite part of my body––my collarbone. In the meantime, he
began lowering his linen pants. Usually, it gave me immense joy to witness him in naked glory, but
today, I simply wished to be taken. The need to feel him inside me exceeded any desire for foreplay.
Muma Pădurii hadn’t mentioned any side effects the berries might have, but I could confirm there was
something more there than grounding my body. She should consider adding a label on it for future
reference. By the time I made a mental note, Gabriel had granted my wish once more and pressed
deep inside me, taking my breath away. An amalgam of pleasure and pain engulfed my body. Then he
stopped, giving me time to adjust. It had been a long time since we were together, and he knew my
limits. Truly an honorable knight.
Once he saw my face not writhing in discomfort, he continued with suave movements and slowly
raised the pace in harmony with the emotions my face exuded. Assured of my gradual increase in
pleasure, he began kissing me again deeper and deeper in consonance with the movements of the
lower part of our bodies. All the while stroking my breasts. The man’s multitasking talents knew no
boundaries. With our eyes locked on one another, our bodies engaged in an all-consuming dance of
passion. Without a hitch, he took it up a notch on all fronts, and I didn’t have a choice but to find my
blissful release. He followed seconds after and collapsed next to me, not forgetting to envelop me in
his arms. Immersed in the rapture of the afterglow, I wished to be able to stop time right at that
moment, never to leave and simply hide in the comfort of his embrace. To lean my head on his chest
and listen to his heartbeats forever, never to face the world's unfairness again.
The following morning, the four of us, Gabriel, Anca, Marius, and I, were up on our horses riding
once more to Mother of the Forest’s house. Gabriel already knew the road, so it didn’t take us as long
to reach it. As we arrived at the branch gates, we searched for the boar. The coast was clear. Then
Gabriel rearranged the branches in the form of a tunnel, just as he did before, and helped us enter one
by one. But somehow, everything seemed different than the previous time. The meadow looked
picturesque but not as lustrous. The animals looked like normal forest animals, not the idealistic
version we saw before. But the biggest change was Muma Pădurii’s house. The previous homey cabin
turned into a shabby hut. The luxurious wood in a coppery blonde color got switched by old,
charcoal-colored, mossy planks that could crack any moment.
“Is this the right place?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“Everything else looks somewhat like before, except for the house,” said Marius.
Without hesitation, Gabriel went to the house and knocked, but the hut stayed silent. Then he tried
the door. It opened without resistance. Once we entered, we noticed a big change in décor. The
beautiful doilies and crochet masterpieces were gone and replaced with scraggly linen curtains and
tablecloths, once the color of green but now the color of dust. Broken cupboard doors and a massive
number of jars replaced the pristine kitchen. Some were empty. Others were filled with undefined
substances. A battered caldron hung above an open fire with steam rising above it. We realized she
had to be here somewhere. She couldn’t just vanish. Then again, we still had to find out the rules of
how this Other Realm worked.
As we walked through the house, calling for Muma Pădurii, we heard an unusual sound. We hoped
it was the old lady, but a squeak followed the noise.
“I think it’s a rat,” I said.
When Anca heard those words, she immediately climbed on a chair.
“Since when are you afraid of rats? At the castle, we practically slept with them on the same
pillow,” I said.
“I always hated them. At the castle, I would place garlic under my bed to protect myself.” Anca
trembled on a chair she had put too much faith on.
Now she tells me I could’ve used garlic. While I had to go through the painstaking work of
befriending the pesky critters, Anca here hid secrets of her own. Suddenly, we heard another muffled
sound. Gabriel signaled to keep quiet and follow him. We went into the bedroom, which maintained
the same shabby aesthetic as the kitchen and started looking for where the sound emerged. Another
muffled noise clued us toward a closet of some sorts. Gabriel, the bravest of us all, opened the door.
Inside, we found Muma Pădurii hiding in what seemed like a closet full of brooms. What in the
witchy transportation vehicles was this?
Gabriel helped her stand, and she dusted off some spider webs from her patched apron. To my
surprise, this old lady did not have anything in common with my dear ol’ grandma. The wrinkles
covering her entire face reflected deep trenches of time, her aquiline nose was covered in various-
sized warts, and she had a hump on her back.
“Where was the old woman we saw before?” asked Gabriel.
“You’re standing in front of her,” said the old lady with irritation.
“Excuse my candor, but you do not resemble her.” Gabriel followed her into the kitchen.
“Last time, the house looked flawless. What happened?” I asked as we all gathered around her.
“I wanted to make a good impression on Milady,” she said and looked at me. “You’ve come a long
way.”
“Did you know you have a very large nose?” Marius asked.
One thing stayed true, medieval times and tactfulness did not go hand in hand.
“I sent the boar to hold you a bit so I could work up some magic. It was never meant to hurt you
badly. It was more of a trick of the imagination,” the old lady said.
Muma Pădurii took the expression “dress to impress” to a whole new level.
 “But why would you need to impress me?” I asked.
“Well…” the old lady said.
“Something doesn’t add up. First, you fool us into believing you are someone else. Then you send
us to search for a drunkard at the market. What are you scheming?” Gabriel asked.
“You got fooled by a drunk Solomonar? They’re not that bright even when sober,” Muma Pădurii
said.
“Well, I’m done with your deceits.” He pushed the old lady on a chair. “It is now or never. Speak
up, old woman.”
 Chapter 3

"If you continue to spew lies, you will give me no choice but to take you to His Majesty for a fair
trial. His Majesty will never accept betrayal,” said Gabriel.
The old lady looked at him with a puzzled expression. “You believe I fear the punishment of your
world?” she asked. “In your realm, son, I can die once. In this one, I can die a thousand times. At first,
when old age seemed but a distant dream, all our dwellers: Solomonari, dragons, vârcolaci, and even
strigoi, lived peacefully in The Other Realm. Then everything changed. The order turned to chaos.
Laws became obsolete. Many have died, and the dragons passed into extinction. I, myself, had no
choice but to become Muma Pădurii after my grandmother was killed by the one who resembles the
likes of you.” The old lady pointed at me.
“Like me?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t know?” Muma Pădurii asked. “I believed you knew when you showed me the Eye of
the Dragon stone.”
“Know what?” Gabriel asked.
“Why, there is another time traveler amongst us.”
“Another time traveler?” asked Anca.
“Marius and Anca, could you please wait outside?” asked Gabriel.
“We will explain later,” I told them.
Once they went outside, Muma Pădurii continued, “the one who has terrified The Other Realm for
too many years. Her name is Vedoma. She is the daughter of a famous witch who stole one of the three
Eye of the Dragon stones.”
“There’s more than one stone?” I asked.
“There were three made for each member of The Order of the Dragon.”
“You mean the one where His Majesty’s father, Vlad Dracul, was part of?”
“Indeed so.”
“Wait, so I have one. Vedoma and her mother have one, but where is the third stone?”
“No one knows. It has been lost to time. Also, Vedoma’s mother is no longer alive.”
“She isn’t?”
“It is the reason why all of this started. A dragon killed her. In retaliation, Vedoma murdered all the
dragons and Solomonari who rode them, punishing many with time curses.”
“Ti––” I wanted to ask, but the old lady interrupted already knowing the question.
“A time curse is when a person lives through the same time frame over and over, unable to change
its outcome. It is Vedoma’s most cruel punishment. Though her army of strigoi might be a close
second.”
“Now the stakes have been raised,” I said.
“The stakes have always been high. We simply didn’t know about it,” Gabriel said.
My head began spinning. So much information disclosed at once didn’t leave me time to digest it
properly.
“Was this why Solomonarul ran away from us?” asked Gabriel.
“He must’ve sensed the stone, thinking you were an ally of Vedoma. But he is the only one who can
restrengthen the stone and send you back in your time.”
“But how are we to find him now that he thinks we’re on the evil side?” I asked.
 Muma Pădurii’s patience grew thin. “Fine, I’ll tell you an incantation that will convince him you
mean no harm. After, I expect you to leave and never return to my home. Given you’re not on her side,
I already have risked the safety of my forest by having you here.”
She told me the incantation twice and made sure I could repeat it. “We are so very grateful, Muma
Pădurii,” I said. “Once we find a way out of here, we hope you never hear from us.”
“I wish you good weather on your journey,” she said as she nudged us to leave. But before we got
out of her hut, as if after some deliberation, she gripped Gabriel’s forearm and said, “you do not have
long, my lord. The time will come soon. You’d do better if you left as well.”
Gabriel looked at her in bewilderment but didn’t pursue an answer. He probably thought what
everyone thought, the lady was weird, and it wasn’t clear if anything she said resembled the truth.
When we got further away from Muma Pădurii’s house, Gabriel proposed to return home, as it
wasn’t clear how long it would take to find Solomonarul again. The weather had been sunny for most
of the month (an unusual occurrence given it was still spring), but going on a new journey in the
middle of the day would guarantee a middle of the night return. So, it was decided, like before, for
Marius to accompany Anca to the castle, and we would return to our house.
At home, when the night settled behind the windows, I prepared an herbal tea from cherry branches
and cuddled beside Gabriel on the bed. His thoughts, though, traveled somewhere else.
“A penny for your thought?” I asked.
“A penny?”
“A coin for your thought?” I corrected myself.
“That makes it more confusing. You wish to pay me?” he asked.
“No, I wanted to know what you are thinking,” I said, moving closer to him.
“Muma Pădurii’s words still fester in my mind.”
“You shouldn’t let it get to you. Most of what she spoke was probably nonsense.”
“You might be right, but her last words still cling to my thoughts. What if there is a chance for us to
travel together?”
“Didn’t we consider it as an option already?” I asked.
“We did, but we still don’t know how to send you home. How can I even hope to join you?”
“I never considered traveling by myself. I can imagine my future only with you by my side.”
“Truly?” he asked with the innocence of a young boy.
“Yes, whatever Muma Pădurii said simply means we’ll have to be faster in fulfilling our plans.”
A knock at the door startled us, given it was quite late. Gabriel went to see who it was while I
followed behind. When he opened the door, a very shaken Marius appeared before our eyes.
“What’s wrong, brother?” Gabriel asked.
“Quick, you must come to mother and father’s house.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Father has been wounded.”
For a moment, what Marius said seemed unreal since Lord and Lady Stoica had been living at the
castle for most of winter and spring. Marius was permitted to stay at the manor with a few servants
only to aid Gabriel. But why would they return home so soon? A wound could be treated at the castle
just as well, if not better. Nevertheless, we followed Marius to the Stoica house.
Once we entered, we were met by a devastated Lady Stoica. I had never seen her in such a state.
She paced back and forth, mumbling a prayer to herself while tears trickled uncontrollably down her
cheeks. When she saw Gabriel, she threw herself into his arms. “Gabriel, my boy. Your father is
greatly ill. He is only in God’s hands now.”
 “I’m here, mother. Please do not fret,” Gabriel said.
“We were so grateful Marius was at the castle. He helped your father on the road,” Lady Stoica
said.
“But what happened?” Gabriel asked.
His mother had a hard time speaking, so Marius took it upon himself to explain.
“They went hunting in the forest with His Majesty, and when father dismounted the horse, his leg
got caught in a bear trap. The only way to get him out was to cut the leg below the knee.”
“Is father awake?” asked Gabriel.
“For now,” said Lady Stoica.
As we entered the bedroom, I could barely swallow the knot in my throat. We saw his father lying
in bed, covered with a quilt, sweating, and breathing shallowly. He looked nothing like the previous
man I so greatly dreaded.
“Father,” said Gabriel.
“Son, finally, you are here. I feared God would take me, and I wouldn’t get to see your face again,”
he said, trying to raise himself to see us better.
“Father, please, do not strain yourself,” Marius said.
“How bad is the wound?” Gabriel asked.
Marius went to his father’s bed and removed the quilt. What I saw broke my heart. The wound,
though bandaged, still bled profusely.
“Father, you are still bleeding,” said Gabriel.
“We must stop the bleeding,” I said. If he didn’t die from the pain during the amputation, he would
die from the infection.
“I must speak to Gabriel immediately before my powers leave me. Come closer, son,” said Lord
Stoica.
Gabriel came closer to the bed and kneeled beside his father, trying to withhold the heavy emotions
brewing inside him.
“I do not know how much I have, but one thing is true, I cannot be second-in-command anymore. I
wish you to become my successor.”
“Father, as much as I cherish the honor you bestow upon me, it is not you or I who can decide.”
Indeed, only Vlad could decide who was to become his right hand.
“Before I left the castle, His Majesty ordered you to take my place. You are to be at the castle
tomorrow at dawn.”
 Chapter 4
Many thoughts began swirling in my head. If we were to return to the castle, we couldn’t
continue our journey in finding Solomonarul as freely. But becoming Vlad the Impaler’s second-in-
command would be the greatest honor for Gabriel and his entire family. It was a difficult decision for
me. I couldn’t imagine what Gabriel felt at the moment. Still, as of right now, his father needed
medical attention. After the situation was abated, we could continue ruminating on the future.
“My lord, it is not late. If we do this right, you might be saved,” I said.
Lord Stoica looked at me with a doubtful gaze but didn’t say anything.
“Listen to her, father. Milady could know something from her homeland that could help,” said
Gabriel.
He again didn’t say anything but lay down, which we took as a form of approval. I rushed to a
servant and asked for lots of clean cloths and boiled water. Then I returned to the bedroom and asked
Gabriel, “is there some kind of strong alcohol in the house?”
“There must be palinca in the cellar. I’ll go bring a bottle,” said Gabriel. I already knew palinca
was some sort of Wallachian moonshine and would work perfectly in such a case.
“We also need a thick salve,” I said.
“I’ll go ask the servants,” said Marius.
I forgot to ask for a knife, so I went to the kitchen. There I overheard Lady Stoica’s voice. “They
wanted to treat him at the castle, but he refused,” she said.
“What?” Gabriel’s voice resounded.
“He wanted an honorable death and not become a burden to you or your brother.”
I returned as fast as possible to speak with my father-in-law before anyone else.
“My lord,” I said as I kneeled beside the bed, “please forgive my brazen ways, but you must not
give up. Your sons still need you. Even if you will not have the same physical vigor, your prowess
lies here.” I pointed at my head. “Gabriel will need your wise words to become, if not a better, at
least as good a second-in-command as you. And Marius is still a boy who needs a father to teach him
and help him become the brave knight I know he can be. House of Stoica only births great people,
especially great men.”
He stared at me as if I had shot an arrow into his heart. “You are nothing from what I expected,” he
said.
“Let me tend to your wounds, my lord,” I said.
“Call me father, Milady,” he said. “And I wish you not to dirty your hands with this old man’s
blood.”
“It would only be an honor.”
“Call in the servants. You can aid me by helping them,” Lord Stoica said.
I rushed to the kitchen, where one servant was pouring boiling water in a basin while another
finished cutting long pieces from a large cloth.
Lady Stoica sat at the table looking almost catatonic. I sat beside her and stayed silent for a while,
but I couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Lady Stoica, we must save Lord Stoica,” I whispered.
“If one does not wish to live, how are we to make him?” she said, looking aimlessly ahead.
“With faith,” I said. “Come, let’s be close to him now when he needs us most.”
We went together to the bedroom. The servants were already there, undoing the blood-soaked
bandages. Behind us entered Gabriel holding a bottle of palinca. Marius followed with a small box
of salve.
“Here, father,” said Gabriel handing him the bottle. “Let’s start with a drink to ease up the pain.”
The ailing man took the bottle and drank with thirst, then lay down, and let us tend to him. I joined
the servants as they cleaned the wound. It wasn’t bleeding as profusely as everyone assumed the first
time, which gave me some peace of mind. I poured what was left of the palinca all over the wound to
disinfect it, dried it with a clean cloth, smeared a large amount of salve, and helped the servants
bandage him once more. Nothing more could be done but to hope.
“I will not allow you to stay here for me, Gabriel,” Lord Stoica said. “His Majesty needs a
second-in-command now. You must depart tomorrow, no matter if I live or die.”
“Yes, Father,” Gabriel said, holding his hand.

∞∞∞

We were already on our horses and heading toward the castle at dawn. Usually, we would bring our
belongings with us, but given the time restraints, we had to resort to the help of a servant. I glanced
several times in the direction of the Stoica household. Everything was quiet and I didn’t dare to ask
Gabriel to check on his father. But after a few more steps, he turned around, dismounted the horse at
the gates of the Stoica household, and entered. I wasn’t sure if I could follow him, but I decided to
ride closer to the gates. After no more than five minutes, Gabriel returned with a radiant smile on his
face. “He looks better today. His fever is down, and he even smiled. What a glorious day,” he said.
I dismounted immediately and rushed to hug him. I lived for moments like this. I would fight
everything to witness glimpses of pure happiness on my beloved’s face. But as much as we wished to
stay forever in the moment, we had to put all emotions aside and continue with our journey. With the
roads being dry, we didn’t encounter any obstacles along the way, so in a relatively short amount of
time, our horses trotted through the castle gates.
After we handed the horses’ reins to the new stable lad, we walked inside the castle. An eerie
quietude descended between its walls. Before, the nobles' commotion with their engaged discussions
made the castle come alive. Maybe it was too early, but then Mama Nica’s girls should’ve been at
work already. Gabriel went to search for His Majesty while I decided to look for Mama Nica and
Anca.
The kitchen maintained the same level of commotion as I remembered: Mama Nica warming the
milk, Anca prepping the dough for the day’s bread, Teodora cutting cheese, and Lia braiding her hair.
When they saw me, they stopped everything and rushed to greet me.
“You returned,” said Anca excitedly.
“I heard Lord Stoica is not well,” said Mama Nica. “Is Gabriel back to replace his father?”
“Indeed so, and Lord Stoica is better. We hope he will recover soon,” I said. “Are you able to
handle the added amount of work since Smaranda disappeared?” I asked.
“Most of the nobles wound up on the stakes, so there’s not much to do around here,” said Lia.
“Child, stop talking,” said Mama Nica in a lower tone. “Go fetch two buckets of water.”
“Why me?” Lia asked with resentment.
“Must I speak twice?” asked Mama Nica. We all could feel the cloud of Mama Nica’s wrath
approaching.
Lia didn’t wait long for the cloud to get too close. By the time we turned toward her, she had
already vanished from the kitchen. Weirdly, I felt a sense of nostalgia from their interactions.
“Sit. You must be tired from your ride,” said Mama Nica. “Anca, pour some milk and put some
cheese on a piece of bread for Milady. How have you been?” she asked, “I’ve heard you weren’t
feeling well too.”
“We found a way for me to heal for the time being,” I said and blushed at the memory of the other
properties the berries had bestowed upon me.
“I assume you are here to stay for some time. I will make arrangements for your living quarters.”
“I would appreciate it greatly. How are things at the castle? It’s been almost two years,” I said.
“His Highness has welcomed a few Hungarian nobles recently. He spoke highly of you and wanted
to present you to them.”
“Hungarian nobles? How wonderful,” I said as I swallowed a knot the size of an egg. “I cannot
wait to meet them.”
“Or maybe they’re on the side of your usurpers?” asked Teodora.
“I’m sure they’re not. Enough time has passed. They probably think I’m dead by now. Or something
like that,” I babbled.
“Good, the castle hasn’t been as lively since your departure. I’m glad to see your return,” said
Mama Nica.
Mama Nica and her golden heart. I turned toward Anca, who had a giant question mark on her face.
Oh, right, I didn’t explain to her I was a time traveler and what it meant. Might as well tell Mama
Nica. “I must speak with you and Anca when you can spare me some time,” I said.
“If it isn’t too much to ask, could you come to my room after sundown? Anca will be there too,”
said Mama Nica as she glanced at Anca. She nodded in response.
“It is better so. I’ll see you then,” I said.
After leaving the kitchen, I went on my next mission of finding Gabriel. It didn’t take me a long
time to spot him talking and laughing with a lady dressed in a garb quite different from the traditional
Wallachian style. She had to be one of the Hungarian nobles. And based on how she openly flirted
with Gabriel, a married man nonetheless, she was in dire need of a hair makeover. I could offer an
original Petra updo called the Wallachian Mohawk. “Hands off, my man, lady,” I thought as I rolled
up my sleeves. But then I stopped. “Come on, Petra. You were never the one to be jealous. Plus, I
am a princess now. I should behave like one.” I exhaled deeply, put on one of my sweetest grins, and
approached them.
Gabriel saw me from afar and took a step back. He knew what was best for him.
“Lady Arany, this is my wife, princess Petra,” he said in a rush.
“An honor to make your acquaintance, Milady,” she said in broken Romanian. Then she bowed
graciously.
“Likewise,” I said.
“I heard from His Majesty you can read, write, and sing. I never knew Albert the Magnanimous
took such great care of his bastards,” Lady Arany said.
“Only of the smart ones,” I said as she sneered at my response.
“Who knows how many brothers and sisters you might have? You must have been his favorite. De
lehet, hogy hazudsz,” she said with a smirk.
I didn’t understand Hungarian, but it didn’t sound like she had something nice to say.
“Please excuse us, Lady Arany. Milady is tired from our trip. We can meet once more later,” said
Gabriel, my savior.
She hissed but kept her face statue-like. “Very well, I will see you around,” she said. Then she
came closer to me and whispered in my ear, “you and I know very well you are not from the
Hungarian Kingdom. I do not know your reasons for pretending, but I will make sure to find out. And
when I do, I’ll be delighted to witness the impalement of a betrayer.”
A shiver of dread went through my spine as she finished her words. What I feared for most of my
stay here could become a reality at the most inopportune of times. I was done for. Again.
 Chapter 5
After dinner, I told Gabriel I needed to talk with Anca and Mama Nica. He kissed my forehead
and asked me to be careful. The castle was half-deserted. Not much threat lurked around except for
the Hungarian menace that suddenly appeared in our lives. I exited the castle and greeted Stan, who
guarded the gates as usual. Then entered the servant’s quarters. Mama Nica and Anca were already
waiting for me.
Mama Nica’s room remained as messy as before, maybe messier. She welcomed me and asked me
to sit on her bed, the most comfortable spot in the room.
“You have been weaving more rugs than before, Mama Nica,” I said as I looked around.
“After you got married so fast, I didn’t have a choice but to make more. What if all my other girls
suddenly get married, and I don’t have enough dowery for all of them,” she said.
“It seems reasonable. But aren’t you overworking yourself?”
“My whole life is work. My rest is just a different kind of work,” Mama Nica said as she
suppressed a cough.
“Are you still coughing, Mama Nica?” I asked.
“Yes, she’s been trying to hide it from us,” Anca said. “As if we wouldn’t realize it.”
“I’m an old woman. A cough here and there is just part of life,” Mama Nica said.
“Not quite. The cough went untreated for a long time,” I said.
“Winters are harsh in Wallachia. I’m glad I’ve survived it. But enough about me. What did you
want to talk about?”
“Anca already knows, but I wished to tell you as well,” I said.
“Are you with child?” Mama Nica asked.
“No, no. There are already too many things happening. A baby would be a disaster,” I said.
“Don’t say that. A baby is a blessing,” said Mama Nica.
“Indeed, but it is not the point I wish to make,” I said. “As you know, I am not from these lands.”
“You come from Hungarian lands,” said Mama Nica.
“Not quite. I come from faraway lands and from faraway times.” I looked at her with trepidation,
hoping she won’t douse me in holy water.
Mama Nica began coughing profusely. “What does it mean?” she asked.
“It means she came from the future,” Anca answered.
“You already surprised me when you declared to be a Hungarian princess. Now you tell me you
are from the future?”
“I was never a princess, but I have always been from the future.”
“Then you must be a witch,” Mama Nica said.
“Not quite. The pendant helped me travel.”
“The one Smaranda thought you stole?”
I nodded.
“And I sent you to Boyar Dobre because of it?”
I nodded.
“God Almighty, I almost ruined your life.”
“It did work out in the end as I found Gabriel. And he is the best person I could share my life with.
But Boyar Dobre cracked the stone in the pendant, and now in order for me to return in my time, I
need the help from creatures in The Other Realm.”
 “Does Gabriel know?”
“Yes, and he, Anca, and Marius are helping me a lot. But we will need your help here at the castle.
Lady Arany is suspicious of me and does not believe I am Hungarian royalty. She eagerly tries to find
out the truth and bring me in front of His Majesty as a betrayer. If you could watch her and let me
know what her plans might be, I would be most grateful.”
“I sure can do,” said Mama Nica, “but are you telling me you are preparing to leave our world.”
“My health is stable now, but it will not last long. For me to survive, I must return soon.”
Mama Nica’s eyes started to well up, and it hit me. After my travel back in time, I won’t see Mama
Nica, Anca, or any of my friends again. I mirrored Mama Nica’s reaction and kneeled at her feet.
“Thank you, Mama Nica, for everything you’ve done. You’ve been more than a mother to me, and I
will cherish you for as long as I live.”
“You don’t need to bow to me, dearie. Now, it’s time to find a way for you to return home. Your
family must be missing you so much. And only after, right before falling asleep, you can remember us.
Life goes on with or without us. There isn’t a reason you should focus on the past,” Mama Nica said
and placed a warm hand on my head. “What are you planning to do next?”
“We must find Solomonarul. He knows the answer to our next step,” I said.
“The legend says Solomonarii prefer to live in the valleys of the mountains, and most dwell in a
bordei.”
Anca realized I didn’t know what a bordei was, so she explained, “it’s a small house half-buried in
the ground.”
“But I don’t know if there are any Solomonari left. Everyone believes they’re just a myth,” said
Mama Nica.
“You would be surprised what someone can find in The Other Realm,” I said. “But I’m so grateful
you told us your knowledge. Once we depart, we will aim for the mountains.”

∞∞∞

Though Gabriel and I looked forward to finding Solomonarul as soon as possible, we had to stay
at the castle. For Gabriel had to settle in his new position as Vlad the Impaler’s second-in-command.
I realized the further time passed, the less I would be able to see him. But, for now, I made sure to
cherish every moment we spent together. In about a week, we got the approval to leave, but due to
time restraints, we had to leave Anca and Marius behind on this journey. The first thing we did was
go to the same old tavern where we last saw Solomonarul. To our dismay, the market, as well as the
tavern, were pillaged. When we asked a peasant who did it, he told us about a group of Turkish
mercenaries who rummaged through Wallachian villages. With heightened awareness, we advanced
toward the closest mountain. As we got closer to the foot of the mountain, we saw rows of bordei huts
built in such a way they seemed to emerge from the actual cliff stone.
“How will we find Solomonarul’s bordei when the number of houses reaches more than a dozen?”
I asked.
“There’s always a way,” he said as he dismounted his horse. Gabriel went to the house closest to
him and knocked. A man with a long beard and a round belly opened the door. “Have you seen a tall
man with reddish hair? He owes me some coins,” Gabriel said.
“You too got fooled by that filthy fox? Of course I know where he lives. Find the most wrecked
bordei, and that’s where you’ll find him,” he said as he slammed the door in Gabriel’s face.
 After I dismounted my horse, we both went by foot in search of the most dilapidated hut. The last
one in the row resembled the man’s description. Gabriel rushed to knock at the door, but there was no
response. He then pushed the door a tad. It opened with ease. He signaled me to stay outside while he
went inside. At first, silence pervaded my surroundings, but only after a few minutes, a cacophony of
noises resounded inside and slowly moved outside through the door, where a barely covered man
emerged from the hut while Gabriel chased after him. They ran in circles, with the presumed
Solomonar zigzagging every time Gabriel got too close. As a final form of attack, Solomonarul threw
his robes into Gabriel’s face, which slowed him down. I assumed it was from limited visibility but
also the retched smell. I wished to end both of their misery, so I recited the spell Muma Pădurii told
me. Solomonarul stopped instantly. But since Gabriel was still struggling to free himself from the
stinky piece of clothing, he didn’t notice the sudden stop of the naked man. As a result, they both
tumbled to the ground, generating a glorious cloud of dust. I assumed the way in which they fell on top
of one another would embarrass Gabriel, but as chivalry and honor flowed through his veins, he
didn’t pay much attention to the naked buns of the other man. On the contrary, he helped Solomonarul
stand up, but not before throwing the robe back into the man’s face.
I approached the squabbling men and said, “I am princess Petra. What is your name?”
“I don’t need a name since I’m the only one left,” said the man with a dejected tone as he furiously
tried to dust off his body and robe.
“So, you are indeed Solomonarul?” I asked.
“I might be, I might be not.” He refused to look at us and simply put on his robe, continuing to dust
it.
Gabriel and I began to doubt if we had made the correct choice in assuming he was Solomonarul.
After the robed man deemed himself clean enough, he finally gazed at us. “How do you know the
spell?” he asked.
“Muma Pădurii told me,” I said.
“Then you’re not on her side?” asked the man.
When he said, “her side,” I realized he wasn’t talking about Muma Pădurii but Vedoma. “No, we
are not. Though I have a similar stone to hers,” I said and proceeded to take it out of the bag.
“No, not here. I can smell them. Even during the day, they like to lurk in the shadow,” Solomonarul
whispered.
“Who? The Turkish mercenaries?” Gabriel asked.
“As if. Those kill you fast. These ones feed on you little by little till you die a slow, slow death.”
Solomonarul signaled to follow him into the house.
We listened and entered the house fast. Once inside, Solomonarul said, “they’re not going to come
inside my house.”
“Is it because they have to be invited?” I asked.
“Who filled your ears with this twaddle?” he said, irritated. “No, I cast a protective spell on the
house so no strigoi can enter.”
“Are the strigoi a serious threat?” asked my strategist husband.
“They’re the sorceress’ lackeys, which makes them the most serious threat. Besides her, of course.”
“But how does someone become a strigoi?” I asked when I realized my previous source provided
flawed information.
“When a human who committed atrocious sins dies, their grave misdoings do not let them perish
completely––”
“Their grave misdoings literally raised them from their grave,” I said.
 Both men looked at me, baffled.
“Excuse me, I couldn’t help it,” I said as I lowered my head in embarrassment.
“Their souls couldn’t leave their bodies. Thus, they remained trapped between life and death. We
call such beings undead. After they turn into a strigoi, they usually escape their burial site and look
for the one thing that can grant them life––blood.”
“Can a strigoi turn a living person into one?” I asked, greedy for more information.
“No, but they can drain your blood in mere seconds if they wish to do so. Though they’re not as
bright, they are stronger and faster than any human, which is why Vedoma chose them to form her
army. She would keep an eye on the worst living sinners around, and when their demise would
unavoidably happen, she would remove them from their grave and train them according to her rule.”
“Is it true that garlic and silver can protect humans from strigoi?” asked Gabriel.
“It is so, but garlic is not the only one to banish the strigoi. Any strong stench will do the same.
People use garlic garlands because it’s easy to find.”
“Is this why you smell like a stale puddle?” I asked.
He looked at me offended, and I wanted to curl up in a ball, but then he smiled and said, “indeed
so.”
Phew, that was a close one. “What about silver?” I asked.
“Silver makes their skin burn, but doesn’t kill them,” said Solomonarul.
“How do you kill a strigoi?” asked Gabriel.
“A stake to the heart, or if you dare, you can pull their heart straight out of their body. They will die
instantly. The heart is the center of their life force. It is where the saying ‘he has a rotten heart’ comes
from. From these bloody strigoi.”
“Literally,” I said.
“You are having fun all by yourself and not even sharing,” Gabriel said and smiled.
Mesmerized by the beam of his radiant smile, I froze and simply ogled at the gorgeousness I loved
to call my husband.
“How lovely, two strigoi fodder enjoying each other’s presence,” Solomonarul said.
We woke from our short-lived love spell and turned toward him.
“We are here due to a very important quest we must accomplish. Would you be willing to help us?”
asked Gabriel.
“You see, I am quite a busy man. I must take care of the weather and such. My day is quite full, I’m
afraid.”
“We could negotiate. We could fulfill any request if you consider helping us,” said Gabriel.
Solomonarul shook his head. “Are we done here? I am in dire need of a garlic and onion bath.”
“Before we leave, I must ask. If someone knocked at your door, how would you know it’s not a
strigoi?” I asked.
“Pfft. Strigoii are dumb creatures. They wouldn’t know how to do such a human thing as knocking
on someone’s door,” said Solomonarul.
“They were humans before, no?” I asked.
Before he could answer my question, we heard a knock at the door.
 Chapter 6
We all looked at one another, unsure of what to do next. I wondered if my question triggered a
reaction from otherworldly creatures.
Solomonarul’s fearful trembles cued Gabriel to rip off the band-aid and ask who was at the door.
“It is the neighbor you spoke with before, young sir,” said a male voice behind the door.
Solomonarul and I signed in relief, but Gabriel wasn’t as easily convinced. “Could you tell me
what exactly we spoke of at that time?”
“About that filthy fox. Since you had the trust he might return the debt he owed you. I thought I might
as well ask him to return mine.”
Convinced the man was indeed Solomonarul’s neighbor, Gabriel opened the door, much to
Solomonarul’s displeasure. The neighbor entered, and when he saw his person of interest, he lunged
at him. “Where’s my coins, you bastard,” the neighbor said as he grabbed Solomonarul by his arms
and shook him vigorously.
“Soon, soon. I swear on my mother’s grave,” Solomonarul said.
“You’ve said it so many times, at this point, I believe you don’t even have a mother, or she would
have to become a strigoaică to repent for your sins.”
“Do not speak of my mother like that.” Anger rose in Solomonarul’s tone.
“You give me no choice––” The bearded neighbor raised a fist.
“How much does he owe you?” asked Gabriel.
“Thirty coins.” The neighbor stopped and turned toward Gabriel.
“I will pay off his debt, but you must leave immediately.”
The neighbor rushed to Gabriel, who took out a leather pouch, counted thirty coins, and gave them
to the man.
“Thank you, my lord. Thank you. Grace be with you,” said the neighbor as he bowed profusely and
left.
“Now you are indebted to us,” said Gabriel, looking at the distraught man lying on the floor. “I
have more than enough proof that you are Solomonarul. Thus, you will help us in our quest. You either
pay off your debt by aiding us, or you will be forced to meet His Majesty’s wrath. You know well
how much he despises thieves and traitors,” said Gabriel.
“Fine,” he said with a bitter tone as we helped him stand up. “What do you need, and how may I be
of help to such dignified guests?”
I took the pendant out of my bag and showed it to him.
He drew in a fast breath. “It’s the Eye of the Dragon,” he said, holding his tears. “Where did you
find it? I thought it was lost forever.”
“I found it in a time far from this one,” I said.
“You are like her, but not with her. Hmm. I see it’s cracked,” he said and looked at me. “You don’t
have a lot of time left.”
“It is why we need your help,” said Gabriel.
“Indeed, you do. You should’ve started with this. Those who own a piece of dragon history and
stand on its good side receive all they can get from me,” said Solomonarul, trying to hide a pained
face. “We must leave now before it’s too dark. Let’s go.” He slung his bag around his shoulder,
swooshed between us, and went out the door.
“Wait,” Gabriel said. “Where are we going?” We both rushed to mirror his quick steps.
 “Into the depths of the Forest of the Celestial Rites.”
“Doesn’t Muma Pădurii live there?” I asked, panting.
“Indeed, but she lives closer to humans, whereas we are going up the mountain. Good thing half the
travel has a decent road.”
“What about the other half?” I asked, but he didn’t answer.
“Maybe we should consider taking the horses instead of walking?” asked Gabriel.
Solomonarul stopped. “That might be faster indeed.”
“But who are we looking for?” I asked curiously.
“To see a friend of mine, of course. He’s a vârcolac.”
“A what?” Gabriel and I interjected.
Gabriel handed him the reins to my horse while I joined Gabriel on his horse. The last time we
rode together on one horse, we were running from hypnotized animals. Now we were deliberately
searching for magical creatures in The Other Realm. Great. My inner grandma is not too happy about
it, but my inner child is having a field day.
The road up the mountain was strenuous and perilous, with serpentine roads that slowly narrowed
into smaller paths while maintaining a steep angle. I realized how helpful our horses had been.
Unfortunately, we were forced to leave our horses behind due to an extremely narrow path ahead.
Gabriel tied each of the horses to a tree in a pasture, after which we treaded warily the one-person-
sized road surrounded by a rock wall on one side and an abyss on the other. I realized why few
people risked their lives to get to the vârcolaci (or werewolves). It wasn’t worth it. Also, weren’t
werewolves a predatory species? Weren’t we going by our own volition into the literal wolf’s
mouth?
While Gabriel and I maintained a somber and wary demeanor, Solomonarul enjoyed every second
of it. He skipped along the road while he sang joyful songs. The man had the energy of a bison. “We
are almost there,” his jolly self said.
I couldn’t even respond, so I simply exhaled heavily. Though exhausted, Gabriel, who walked
behind me, still tried to support me. After another mile of walking (though my walk resembled a
crawl more times than I wished to recognize), we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a hidden
meadow with three caves in front.
“I told you it would be quick,” he said while we lay glued to the ground, gasping for air. “Tiberiu, I
have arrived, my friend,” Solomonarul yelled.
At first, we didn’t see or hear anyone, not even the rustle of a leaf, but then out of nowhere, tens of
wolves surrounded us, growling and ready to tear us apart. Gabriel pulled me behind him. What
could I say? The man couldn’t stop being a chivalrous knight.
“I come with peace,” said Solomonarul with his palms up. “These are my companions. They mean
no harm. Call for Tiberiu, for I am an acquaintance of his.”
“The man tells the truth,” said a man in his forties, walking out of a cave. He was almost naked,
except for a cloth covering his groin area. His skin was quite tan, and there was hardly any fat left on
his entire body, only pure muscle. I could see his abs dancing as he walked toward us.
“We finally meet again,” Solomonarul said. “You haven’t changed at all.”
“And you reek just as bad,” said Tiberiu.
“What doesn’t a man do for protection.”
“If you had listened to me and joined my pack, your trouble with those undead fools would’ve
ended long ago.”
“It looked like a fine prospect until you told me your kind doesn’t drink wine,” Solomonarul said.
 “Who are your companions?” asked Tiberiu, not listening to Solomonarul anymore.
“Ah yes, this is…wait, what was your name again?” asked Solomonarul.
“My name is Gabriel, son of Stoica, and this is princess Petra,” Gabriel said.
The werewolf shook hands with Gabriel, but when it was my turn, he stopped to appraise me.
“What a beauty you have brought to us, Solomonar. I’ve been in need of a wife for some time now.”
He bowed and kissed my hand slowly while maintaining eye contact. I could feel my cheeks burning.
What in the werewolf love triangle was this? At this point, we might as well turn myths into history
textbooks.
Unsurprisingly, Gabriel didn’t like someone slobbering his wife’s hand. “She is married,” he said
and hooked an arm around my waist, bringing me closer to him. His words woke me from my
daydream. These unnatural creatures were trouble. Gorgeous trouble, but trouble, nonetheless.
“What a pity,” Tiberiu said. “You would’ve made a great mother for my two sons.”
“Sons?” I asked.
“Yes, except they are ill,” the werewolf said dejectedly.
“What happened, my friend?” asked Solomonarul.
“There has been a great drought on my land. The kids are hurting the most.”
“What about the stream your pack always used to quench thirst?” asked Solomonarul.
“It has dried out, and we cannot find another around here. Many must shift and carry water from
faraway places. But it is never enough for us, even if we ration it.”
“You see, werewolves need lots and lots of water to survive. Thus, they usually settle next to a
river or lake,” explained Solomonarul. “I could summon rain for you and your pack. It’s the season,
anyway. She won’t know it was me.”
“I sure hope so, otherwise…” Tiberiu’s voice trailed off.
I realized they were talking about Vedoma, which meant every creature in The Other Realm knew
and feared her greatly.
“Wait,” I said. “Even if you summon rain now, it won’t be enough for the pack to survive in the
future. We must find out why the water is not descending from the mountain peak and into the stream.
It is not possible for the stream to not produce water after such a snowy winter. The mountain snow
should’ve melted by now.”
“Milady might have a point,” said Gabriel.
“We’ve searched up the river but didn’t see anything,” said Tiberiu.
“You are free to decide, but I believe we should verify one more time,” I said.
“You have a feisty wife, Gabriel,” Tiberiu said. “She would’ve been perfect for the pack.”
This time, I could see Gabriel release steam through his nostrils. I tightened my grip on his hand to
give some assurance, and he mellowed a bit.
“There are only two people in the pack who can shift anytime. Rita and me. I’m going to call her,
and we can commence our journey,” said Tiberiu. He was halfway turned when he removed the cloth
revealing a perfect set of buns. Gabriel had no choice but to cover my eyes. When I removed his
hand, Tiberiu had already transformed into a grey wolf. He was much larger than the average wolf
and, I assumed, much stronger. He ran into one of the caves and emerged minutes later with another
shifter.
When they approached us, I noticed they couldn’t speak. They only kneeled in a way so we could
climb on them easier. Tiberiu intended me to ride on him, but Gabriel would rather kill him than let
that happen. So, I chose to climb on Rita, while Gabriel and Solomonarul went with Tiberiu, who
also was the larger wolf.
 The speed the werewolves reached resembled the gallop of a horse, maybe even faster. Since they
also knew all the shortcuts, we quickly arrived at a place where the river split in two. The wolves
made it clear this was as far as we could go. I looked up the stream and noticed how the stream's
banks were covered with tree trunks.
“I’m sure a boulder or a tree trunk is stopping the water from flowing down the stream. But it’s
impossible to get to that place by foot,” said Tiberiu.
“Are you sure it is not drought?” asked Gabriel.
“The clearings higher up the hill are greener. So it would make sense an obstacle is at fault,” I said.
Thus, together as a team we went on a massive cleaning spree of the river. I did my best with what
I could carry. Gabriel and the werewolves took care of the heavier stuff. But the massive boulder
standing in the way was impossible to move.
“I’ll do it,” said Solomonarul.
 Chapter 7
Gabriel and I looked at each other confused, wondering how Solomonarul would manage to
move a boulder larger than two of him. He took out a jar from his leather bag. On top of that, the jar
was empty. He tried to pry open the wooden cork but didn’t succeed, no matter how much he tried.
“It’s been a long time since I opened this one,” he said.
“I could help you,” said Gabriel.
“No, it must be done by me,” Solomonarul said.
After several more tries, he opened it, but nothing happened. We weren’t sure what to make of this.
He could’ve been a sham from the beginning. There wasn’t a way to prove he was a Solomonar
unless he used his powers. Solomonarul looked in the empty jar and said, “I know you’re there. Come
out. If not for me, then for the children.” He shook it once more and then aimed it at the dried stream.
For a second, it seemed like a lick of smoke emerged.
Then, out of nowhere, a strong wind burst out of the jar, almost pushing Solomonarul on his back.
The wind force sped toward the boulder and cracked it to pieces. We expected a flood, but nothing
came.
Unfortunately, Gabriel was correct. The stream had dried out. Probably due to insufficient rain.
“What are we to do now?” I asked as everyone scratched the back of their heads.
“I know,” said Solomonarul and took out another jar.
Goodness. How many jars did this man have? When he opened this one, we only saw a flicker of
light.
“What was that?” I asked.
“It is my lightning jar,” Solomonarul said. I sent it to the top of the mountain to fetch us some
melted snow. And now we wait.”
And wait, we did. It reached dusk when suddenly a massive rumble resounded and what looked
like a flood came rushing down. Solomonarul’s plan worked a little too well.
The wolves nudged us to mount them. We had to leave as soon as possible. The decision to avoid
the trail next to the river and go deeper into the woods proved to be a great idea. We stopped to look
at what had transpired. After the initial flood, the river's flow calmed in matter of minutes and looked
as quaint as any other. Solomonarul guaranteed the water will be sufficient till the next big rain. And
everyone exhaled a deep sigh of relief, especially Tiberiu.
By the time we got to the caves, it was deep into the night. The wolves entered the cave in wolf
form and exited as humans carrying Tiberiu’s children in their hands. Others followed their alpha’s
action, and all the werewolves headed to the stream to quench their thirst. We could see how relieved
and satiated the pack was. They took their kids back into the caves to get some much-needed sleep.
After, they lit a massive fire and prepared some kind of roast for us.
“I cannot thank you enough,” said Tiberiu. “Each of you has helped us solve a threatening problem
plaguing my family. But I cannot let you go tonight. The woods are too dangerous of a place at night.
Stay till tomorrow, and I give you my word, I will help you with whatever you came here for. For
now, let’s eat, feast, and celebrate today’s triumph.”
Indeed, exhaustion hit me hard after the perilous trail. Gabriel and I nodded, but Solomonarul had
to double-check. “Are you sure you’re not hiding a bottle of wine in those caves of yours?”
Tiberiu laughed. “One night with good company is worth more than a bottle of wine.”
 ∞∞∞

The dark walls of the caves did not betray the sun’s rays. It was impossible to know if it was day
or night. For this reason, when we woke up, we didn’t realize it was the middle of the day. The bear
skin we slept on felt quite cozy but waking up in Gabriel’s embrace felt much more pleasant after the
previous day. When we left the cave, Solomonarul was already holding a clay cup, talking excitedly
with Tiberiu.
“Good morning. Why did you let us sleep for so long?” I asked.
“I could never wake my guest while they rested so peacefully. It would be unforgivable,” said
Tiberiu. “Solomonarul said Milady is not from our times. You used the Eye of the Dragon stone to
travel here?”
I nodded.
“And now it’s broken, and you need my help to send you back in time?” Tiberiu asked.
“And if you could send us both, Gabriel and I, it would make us infinitely happy. Do you believe it
is possible? I asked.
“Why wouldn’t it be possible? You simply must be in the same spot as when you arrived and hold
your beloved’s hand.” Tiberiu smiled.
What a relief. I rushed to hug Gabriel, unable to contain my happiness and excitement.
“I do not wish to disappoint you, but it is far more complicated than that,” said Tiberiu, assuming a
somber demeanor. “We must replenish the stone with the same celestial force as from the falling star.”
He had to be talking about Haley’s comet. But this celestial body would return only after seventy
years. Unrealistic, to say the least. “And how do we do that?” I asked.
“The stone isn’t badly cracked. So it won’t need as much force. A simple moon eclipse would
suffice to send you both back into the future,” said Tiberiu. “If Solomonarul is a man of the weather,
the moon is our territory.” The confidence in his voice sounded like a song to my ears, though I was
still waiting for the catch.
“The eclipse will be enough force, but we will need help from The Other Realm creatures,” said
Tiberiu.
And there it was.
“I’ll explain how we must carry out the ritual in order for it to work,” Tiberiu continued. “On usual
full moons rituals, we mold a plate from white clay filled with ingredients like werewolf fur and
herbal potions. We all gather in a circle and recite our power-summoning chant. When the moon is at
its peak, I as the head of the pack will throw the moon dish as high as possible, and due to the magical
properties of the potion, the dish will float for a short time. In the meantime, I will jump and bite into
it. The moon dish usually crumbles into pieces as it falls to the ground releasing a dome-like
protective shield. Many humans believe we are biting the actual moon.” He chuckled. “You can’t help
it. Humans like their stories and myths.”
“But why do you need a protective shield?” I asked. “You look strong enough to fight anyone.”
“In terms of numbers, humans have proved us wrong too many times. Kings are ready to sacrifice
hundreds of men to get just one of us, but we cherish even our weakest. It is an unfair fight from the
start. But it is not only humans we need protection from. When Vedoma killed the entire dragon race,
we realized we didn’t stand a chance.”
“But how were we able to enter?” asked Gabriel.
“Because of this man over here.” He pointed at Solomonarul. “He is an honored guest in our pack.
Another random document with
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of Hannis
Heimkehr
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Title: Hannis Heimkehr

Klänge aus goldenen Jugendtagen

Author: Anna Schaeder

Illustrator: T. Buschberg

Release date: December 3, 2023 [eBook #72298]

Language: German

Original publication: Hamburg: Agentur des Rauhen Hauses,

1914

Credits: The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at

https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HANNIS

HEIMKEHR ***
 Anmerkungen zur Transkription
Das Original ist in Fraktur gesetzt. Im Original gesperrter Text ist so
ausgezeichnet. Im Original in Antiqua gesetzter Text ist so markiert.
Weitere Anmerkungen zur Transkription befinden sich am Ende des Buches.
 Hannis Heimkehr

Klänge
aus goldenen Jugendtagen
Meinen Kindern erzählt von

Anna Schaeder geb. Sellschopp-Kiel

Mit Illustrationen von T. Buschberg

Hamburg
Agentur des Rauhen Hauses
 Alle Rechte, insbesondere das der Übersetzung
in fremde Sprachen, vorbehalten.
Copyright 1914 by Agentur des Rauhen Hauses, Hamburg.

1914
Druckerei des Rauhen Hauses
 Inhalt

Seite
1. Verschiedene Meinungen 7
2. Abschied 13
3. Auf dem Lande 30
4. Der Einzug 39
5. Neue Freunde überall 49
6. Hundstage 57
7. Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen aß 77
8. Im Wald und auf der Heide 80
9. Das Wetter muß weggetanzt werden 91
10. Dunkle Wolken 101
11. Die Schatten des Todes 106
12. Weil ich Jesu Schäflein bin 113
13. Advent und Weihnachtszeit 121
14. Bittere Enttäuschung 136
15. Konfirmation 151
16. Über den hohen Bergen 158
17. Jeder für jeden 166
18. Allerhand Bekanntschaften und Tante Luciens Nöte 171
19. Immer höher hinan 184
20. Im Regen und Sonnenschein wachsen die blauen
Blümelein 195
21. Der Ludwigstag und seine Folgen 205
22. Am Kreuzweg 212
23. Stille Zeiten 217
24. Meine Gedanken sind nicht eure Gedanken 226
25. Wie Käte doch recht behielt 237
 1. Kapitel.
Verschiedene Meinungen.

»Aufs Land, Hanni? Weit weg von uns allen – von allem, was
schön ist und groß! Kein Kränzchen mehr, kein Tiergarten, kein
Theater! All unser Spaß in der Literaturstunde vorbei! – Kannst die
kleinen Gänse und Ferkel pflegen und bist in drei Jahren selbst ein
Gänschen vom Lande! – Das finde ich greulich von deinem Papa; er
sollte auch an deine Zukunft denken!«
»Ja, Vater sagte, gerade für mich freute es ihn. – Aber außerdem
ist auch gar nichts daran zu ändern. Tante Ida mag schon längst
nicht mehr wirtschaften und bat Vater oft, das Gut zu übernehmen.
Bisher konnte er sich nicht entschließen, den Dienst zu verlassen,
jetzt aber hat er allerhand Gründe, die ihm den Abschied erleichtern,
und da nun der alte Inspektor in Schönfelde ernstlich erkrankt ist, so
soll die Übersiedlung nächstens vor sich gehen. – Ja, euch alle zu
verlassen, ist wohl schade, aber Mutti meint, dort gibt es soviel zu
tun, daß es zur Langeweile gar nicht kommen wird.«
»Na, das sind so Tröstungen – denk an mich, du armes Tierchen;
und wenn dir in den langen, dunklen Winterabenden die Zunge
festfriert, dann flüchte dich zu uns – wir werden dich schon wieder
zum Menschen machen mit unseren tausend Abwechslungen.«
Sie wurden unterbrochen durch Hannis Mutter. »Guten Tag, kleine
Ilse; Mademoiselle Senn ist draußen, um dich abzuholen. Da müßt
ihr euch für heute schon trennen. Aber nicht wahr, du kommst im
Herbst mit deiner Mama, dich nach uns umzusehen?«
Ilse war noch keineswegs bereit. »Die langweilige Person ist
immer da, wenn man sie nicht wünscht! Liebe Frau Major, sie darf
doch noch ein wenig warten?«
»Nein, liebes Kind, sie ist deine Erzieherin, und du mußt kommen,
wenn sie ruft. – Und dann versprich mir eins: sei zuvorkommend
gegen das gute Mädchen. Du machst ihr das Leben zu schwer, und
sie trägt es so still und vornehm!«
»Vornehm?« meinte Ilse sehr gedehnt; »eine Gouvernante? – Es
ist überhaupt eine Plage, sie zu haben. Mit vierzehn Jahren kann
man doch unmöglich so einer noch gehorchen!«
»Liebes Kind, sie kann doch nicht dafür, daß sie deine Erzieherin
ist, sondern deine Mutter hat sie dazu gemacht. Deren Wille ist es
doch, gegen den du dich auflehnst mit deinem schroffen Wesen!
Und das junge Mädchen scheint mir so vertrauenswürdig und lieb.
Als sie mich neulich nach Hause begleitete, erzählte sie mir auf
meine Frage von ihrer Heimat. Es kam kein Wort der Klage über ihre
Lippen; aber daran, wie die Gestalt sich aufrichtete und das Gesicht
strahlte, als sie von ihren Lieben sprach, merkte ich, unter welchem
Druck sie sich in der Fremde fühlt, und wie nur der Gedanke an ihre
Mutter und die kleinen Geschwister, denen sie ein wenig helfen
möchte, sie hoch hält. Denk doch, wie würde es dir sein, mitten aus
allem, was dir lieb ist, herausgerissen zu werden und allein und
unbekannt dein Brot verdienen zu müssen!«
»Mir? Aber das ist doch ausgeschlossen!«
»Woher? Sie hat es vor einem Jahre auch nicht gedacht, als ihr
Vater mitten in seinem großen Wirkungskreise stand und alle
möglichen Gäste in dem angeregten Hause kamen und gingen.
Dann ist er ganz plötzlich gestorben. Die Mittel, die der Witwe
bleiben, braucht sie nötig zur Ausbildung der fünf Brüder. Da mußte
das junge Mädchen den ersten Weg einschlagen, der sich ihr bot.
Aber sie hat es sich nicht so schwer gedacht, wie sie es jetzt findet,
ohne den Rückhalt des Elternhauses zu sein! Man sollte doch mehr
daran denken, denen, die in der Fremde leben, eine Heimat zu
bereiten!«
Ilse sah sehr erschrocken aus. Ihr war nie der Gedanke
gekommen, daß eine Mademoiselle auch Eltern, Heimweh, ein Herz
habe. Sie hatte sie nur als eine Last empfunden, der sie sich
möglichst viel durch stachliches Wesen zu entziehen strebte. Mama
hatte auch nichts weiter mit ihr besprochen, als »was ihre
Obliegenheiten wären«. – Bei Gerloffs sah man alles so ganz anders
an. Und gerade die sollten nun fort. –
Eiligst raffte sie Handschuhe und Sonnenschirm zusammen und
wollte Mademoiselle aus dem Vorzimmer befreien. Aber diese war
längst durch Hanni in Anspruch genommen, die in ihrer natürlichen
Herzlichkeit es als unpassend empfunden hatte, das junge Mädchen
draußen warten zu lassen. Sie hatte die Französin in ihr Stübchen
geführt und zeigte ihr Bilder von dem großelterlichen Gut, das nun
bald ihre Heimat werden sollte.
Als Ilse mit ihrer Gouvernante eben den Vorsaal verlassen hatte,
wurde so heftig an der Klingel gerissen, daß Mutter und Tochter
erschrocken auffuhren, und schon im nächsten Moment meldete der
Bursche: »Das kleine Fräulein von Platen.«
Aber schon hatte sich an dem ungelenken jungen Menschen ein
blonder Krauskopf vorbeigedrängt.
»Hanni, ist es wahr? – Ihr geht wirklich fort von hier? Auf immer?
Du, die einzige im Kränzchen, die noch nicht affig geworden? Das
halt ich nicht aus! – Dann will ich auch von dem ganzen ollen Berlin
nichts mehr wissen! O, das überlebe ich nicht!«
Stürmisch fiel sie der heißgeliebten Freundin um den Hals und
erstickte sie fast mit Küssen und Tränen.
»Guten Tag, meine liebe kleine Käte! Nun, ist das Unglück denn
wirklich so furchtbar? Es ist ja doch keine Trennung auf ewig! Und
freust du dich denn nicht mit Hanni auf den großen Garten, den See
mit dem Ruderboot, die Stachelbeeren, den Pony? – Denk, was das
für Hundstagsferien gibt, wenn ihr uns dort besucht!« –
»Ach, liebste Tante Else, daß es aufs Land geht, ist ja himmlisch.
Aber wie lang wird das Jahr sein ohne Hanni! Und die Ferien sind
immer so rasch herum! – Ach, und unser Kränzchen soll dann lieber
auffliegen!«
»Meinst du das wirklich? Sieh, Herta Kähler ist doch nicht ›affig‹?«
»Nein, aber reichlich görig ist sie!«
»Ja, sie ist aber auch jünger als ihr!«
»Und Lena läßt sich völlig von Ilse ins Schlepptau nehmen!
Letzthin kam sie auch schon mit langen Handschuhen an und
erzählte, ihre Tante wolle ihr einen Sonnenschirm schenken.«
»Käte, sei da auch nicht zu ungeduldig. Sieh, Ilses große Fehler
sehe ich ganz gewiß, und sie betrüben mich. Aber im tiefsten Herzen
ist sie ein ›guter Kerl‹! Und glaubst du, daß sie sich sehr wohl fühlt
bei ihren Torheiten? Manche entspringen sicher nur aus
Langerweile. Du weißt ja, ihre Mutter muß sie viel allein lassen.«
»Muß?« fuhr Käte auf. »Tante Else, würdest du dir so ein ›Muß‹
vorschreiben lassen, wenn es sich um dein einziges Kind handelt?«
Frau Gerloff lachte laut auf.
»Käte, was hast du wieder gelesen? Du redest wie ein Buch! – Du
siehst ja, ich lasse mich nicht von meinem einzigen Kinde losreißen;
aber deshalb maße ich mir doch noch kein Recht an, Frau von
Herders Leben zu verurteilen. Sieh, Vorstandsdamen muß es auch
geben, und manche von ihren Geselligkeiten sind wirkliche Pflichten.
Dazu ist sie von Kind auf in so völlig anderen Gedanken erzogen, als
deine liebe Mutter und ich, daß notwendig ihr Leben anders
verlaufen muß als unseres! Sowohl sie als auch Ilse tun mir oft leid.
Desto mehr wünsche ich Ilse eine treue, feste Freundin, die ihr
zuweilen die Augen öffnet. Meinst du, man hat Freundschaft nur, um
zu genießen? Sicher nicht! – Aber du bist mein liebes Kind,« fügte
sie hinzu, indem sie eine Träne wegküßte, die sich von neuem
hervorstahl. »Du verstehst mich schon! Und wenn ihr dann zu den
Ferien kommt, haben wir uns so – soviel zu erzählen!« –
Auch Käte ging stiller und nachdenklicher, als sie gekommen war,
die Treppe von der schönen, freundlichen Gerloffschen Wohnung
wieder hinunter. Ach, daß all die frohen Stunden, die sie dort verlebt,
nun auf immer vorbei sein sollten!
 2. Kapitel.
Abschied.
 Es kamen unruhige Tage. Ganz gegen ihre Gewohnheit mußte
Frau Gerloff viel unterwegs sein, und Hanni machte alle Stadien der
Ungemütlichkeit und daneben all die kleinen interessanten
Wichtigkeiten durch, die einem solchen Ereignis vorangehen. Auch
für sie gab es Trennungsstunden der verschiedensten Art. Jede der
Freundinnen wollte sie gern noch einmal bei sich haben.
Bei Admiral Kählers, Hertas Eltern, gab es ein vergnügtes
Abschiedsfest. In dem weiten, hellen Kinderzimmer war eine lange
Tafel mit Schokolade und Kuchen hergerichtet. Herta und Lilli hatten
selbst Blumen aus dem hübschen Garten holen und alles festlich
schmücken dürfen. Auf Hannis Platz lag sogar ein Rosenstrauß, den
die süße kleine Lore eiligst herunterzog, um ihn mit großem Eifer
selbst zu überreichen, wobei sie begeistert rief: »Da Bümi soll Hanni
haben! – Da!«
Daß sie dabei ein bißchen an die Tasse stieß und einen kleinen
braunen See über die Tischdecke und ihr reines Kleidchen ergoß,
wurde nicht sehr tragisch genommen. Sie war ja erst 1½ Jahre alt –
und solche Zwischenfälle waren auch zu häufig, um viel Aufsehen zu
erregen. Nur Lena Wallis zog entsetzt ihr seidenes Kleidchen in die
Höhe und rief: »Git, du kleiner Schmierfink, bleib mir vom Leibe! Was
würde Tante Sophie sagen, wenn du mein neues Kleid
beschmutztest!«
Da konnte sich wieder Käte von Platen nicht halten: »Das wäre dir
ganz recht! Warum bist du so albern, dir zum Spiel ein seidenes
Kleid anzuziehen.«
»Bitte, du bist nur neidisch, weil du so was nicht hast,« versetzte
Lena schnippisch.
Da zog aber Hanni ihre geliebte Käte rasch zurück und flüsterte ihr
zu: »Du hast doch Mutti versprochen, nicht so heftig zu sein – und
nun gar hier, wo Kählers alles so reizend gemacht haben. Wie würde
es sie betrüben, wenn ihr euch zanktet!«
Kätes Zorn war auch bereits verraucht. Sie murmelte nur noch
leise: »Ach ja, laß die alberne Puppe,« – und mit einem schnellen
Griff hob sie die kleine Lore auf ihren Rücken und sprang unter
lautem Jauchzen der Kleinen mit ihr als Huckepack um den Tisch.
»Hoppe, hoppe, Seiter!« rief die Kleine immer von neuem, indem sie
ihre goldigen Locken schüttelte, und wollte nur unter der Bedingung
endlich absteigen, daß Fräulein Lottchen ihr erlaubte, »danz dicht
bei Pferdchen zu sitzen«, worüber Käte sehr beglückt war.
Nach der feierlichen »Kuchenschlacht«, wie der freundliche
Admiral, der hereinkam, um die Truppen zu inspizieren, die Sitzung
nannte, kommandierte er mit rauher Donnerstimme, die gar nicht zu
seinen freundlich lachenden Augen paßte: »Nun alle Mann an Bord
und das Deck klar gemacht!«
Alles rieb und putzte die Händchen und Mäulchen, und sogar die
kleine Lore bemühte sich nach Kräften und reckte gegen Käte die
gespitzten Lippen in die Höhe: »Is säuberlich?« – »Fein!« bestätigte
diese entzückt, und belohnte sie mit einem kräftigen Kuß, wonach
die Kleine zu ihrem größten Pläsier von neuem mit Reiben begann,
indem sie murrte: »Böse Käte, nich wieder einmutzen.«
Aber schon erscholl neues Kommando: »Nun die Anker hoch und
vorwärts in See!« Alles erhob sich stürmisch, und mit großem
Gepolter ging es über die Veranda in den Garten.
»Na, wenn ihr in unserer Wohnung wäret,« sagte Käte, »Frau
Dommbersky schickte aber sofort herauf um Ruhe!«
»Ja, Vater sagt, wenn wir zur Miete wohnten, so knüpfte uns die
Wirtin am ersten Abend alle in der Reihe am Treppengeländer auf!«
meinte der kleine, dicke Rolf treuherzig. – »Das möchte ich nicht!«
Käte schüttelte sich vor Lachen: »Nein, das wäre auch greulich!«
Aber mit leisem Seufzen dachte sie dann an ihren »unleidlichen«
kleinen Bruder Ernst, der so viele trübe Stunden wegen Lärm und
Unruhe hatte. – Könnte er so ungehindert spielen, dann wäre sein
Leben auch anders!
Für Betrachtungen blieb aber keine Zeit. Unten hatte bereits eins
der kleinen Mädchen die Augen verbunden. Es wurde blinde Kuh,
Eins, zwei, drei und all die schönen Spiele gespielt. Herr und Frau
Admiral saßen vergnügt in der Laube, halfen hier und dort und
lachten selber am herzlichsten über jeden lustigen Spaß. Aber als
dem kleinen Karl etwas nicht recht war und er den Spielverderber
machte, faßte sein Vater ihn mit einem schnellen Griff am Kragen,
und ehe er sich’s versah, steckte er in dem niedrigen Verließ, in dem
Harken und Spaten verwahrt wurden. Käte meinte, er würde ein
schreckliches Geschrei erheben, wie Ernst es so gern tat, aber alles
blieb still. Er wußte genau, daß dann das Stöckchen gekommen
wäre und die Sache noch viel schlimmer gemacht hätte. Erst am
späten Nachmittag wurde er wieder sichtbar und verhielt sich sehr
bescheiden im Hintergrund.
Der Höhepunkt des schönen Abends kam, als die kleine
Gesellschaft ihre Erdbeeren mit Schlagsahne verzehrt hatte und
eben meinte, Abschied nehmen zu müssen. Die breiten Glastüren
wurden geöffnet, und da blitzten ihnen von draußen ungezählte
kleine Flämmchen entgegen, die wie Glühwürmchen im Grase
saßen, wie eine leuchtende Schnur die kleinen Beete einfaßten, an
der Laube in die Höhe kletterten und das Häuschen auf dem
Tannenhügel zauberisch beleuchteten. Mit einem entzückten »Ah!«
wollten die Kinder hinausstürmen. Aber: »Alles in Ruhe!«
kommandierte wieder die Donnerstimme des Hausherrn. »Einzeln
angetreten – an die Gewehre!« Damit übergab er jedem kleinen
Gast ein rotes Papierlämpchen, und mit dem eintönigen Singsang:
»Laterne – Laterne!« zog man durch die beleuchteten Gartenwege.
»Aber dies Lied ist doch für heute, für ein Abschiedsfest, viel zu
profan! Willi, du als Fähnrich mußt doch wissen, was sich gehört.
Hole mal dein Waldhorn!« Das war nun dem schneidigen, jungen
Fähnrich eigentlich gegen den Strich – vor den »dummen Mädels«
seine geliebte Kunst zu profanieren. Aber er wußte, vor Vater gab es
kein Fackeln. Bald stand er in dem Hüttchen und schickte die
weichen Horntöne in den stillen Abend hinaus. Ein Lied folgte dem
anderen, und als zum Schluß die herzige Melodie von »Morgen muß
ich fort von hier« erklang, stahl sich hier und da ein Tränchen über
die rosigen Backen. Sie alle fühlten zum erstenmal, was
Abschiednehmen heißt. Aber »Soldatenkinder dürfen nicht heulen!«
schluchzte Käte, und küßte hastig zum Abschied die Hand der
freundlichen Wirtin, der sie und Hanni eben hatten danken wollen für
den herrlichen Tag. Vor Weinen konnte sie kein Wort herausbringen,
und als der Admiral und Willi nun auch herbeikamen und feierlich
Lebewohl sagen wollten, waren die beiden, um ihre Tränen nicht zu
zeigen, längst über alle Berge.
Die Gesellschaft ging still auseinander. – Scheiden tut weh!
Als Lena Bunsen ihrer Mutter am nächsten Morgen von den
Erlebnissen bei Kählers erzählte und hinzufügte, zu Herders sollten
sie in der nächsten Woche auch einmal kommen, da gab es ein
großes Hin- und Herreden.
»Ja, wenn sie alle ›etwas‹ geben, darfst du auf keinen Fall
zurückstehen. – Wie würde das aussehen!«
»Ja, Mama, dann muß es aber auch ebenso großartig sein, wie
bei Kählers, sonst lieber gar nicht!«
»Das ist aber sehr schwierig für uns. Kählers haben eine Villa.
Unsere Räume sind doch nicht groß genug für so viel Bewegung.«
»Ich meine, da räumten wir etwas aus – das hört man doch öfter,
wenn es sich um Gesellschaften handelt.«
Die Mutter sah kleinlaut aus. Was würde das für einen Umstand
geben. Aber nun ließ Lena nicht nach. »Erst müssen wir mal die
Einladungen schreiben!«
»Haben denn Kählers schriftliche Einladungen geschickt?«
»Nein. Weißt du nicht, der Bursche kam doch und bestellte es.«
»Aber einen Burschen haben wir ja nicht.« –
»Das ist eigentlich schlimm! Regierungsrats oben schickten
voriges Jahr zum Ball einen Lohndiener mit Karten herum. Ich habe
sie gesehen; er zeigte sie der Hulda auf der Treppe!«
»Ja, ein Ball ist dies ja nun nicht! Aber Karten könnten wir am
Ende mit der Post schicken!«
»Ich will gleich welche besorgen; vorgedruckte, mit ›beehren sich‹,
so ist es schick!«
Sie machte sich zum Ausgehen fertig, was eine ziemliche Zeit
erforderte, denn »mit der alten Fahne kann man unmöglich auf die
Straße«, meinte sie! »Bitte, Mama, noch Geld für die Karten. Unter
1.50 Mark wird es kaum gehen.«
Mit leisem Seufzen erhob sich die Mama von ihrem bequemen
Sitz am Kaffeetisch. Sie ließ sich so ungern von ihrer Morgenzeitung
aufstören; »aber was tut man nicht für das Kind!« sagte sie in
solchen Fällen. Ob sie ihm gut tat oder nicht, darüber machte sie
sich weiter keine Gedanken.
Die Karten waren mit viel Umständlichkeit geschrieben und alle
mit »ja« beantwortet; und schon am Morgen des großen Tages
prallte Lenas Vater erschrocken zurück, als er das Eßzimmer betrat.
Noch nichts war in Ordnung, und das Mädchen trug gerade eilig die
Tassen in sein Zimmer.
»Was soll denn das bedeuten?« fragte er unwirsch.
»Ja, heute wird ja alles umgeräumt wegen der
Kaffeegesellschaft!«
Wohlweislich war dem Hausherrn noch der große Plan
verschwiegen, weil er es durchaus nicht liebte, in seiner gewohnten
Ordnung gestört zu werden. Aber wenn erst alles eingefädelt wäre,
würde er sich schon in sein Schicksal finden. Was blieb ihm auch
übrig?
»Ach, lieber Mann, wir dachten, am Freitagnachmittag gehst du
doch in deinen Klub. Da hat Lenchen für heute ihre Freundinnen
eingeladen, weil die eine von hier fortkommt. – Aufs Land, das arme
Ding! – Wir hätten ja gern die Umstände gespart, aber die anderen
tun es alle – da war es nicht gut zu vermeiden!«
»Charlotte, du mit deinen ›anderen‹, die alles tun. Wenn die
anderen alle anfingen, auf dem Seil zu tanzen, würdest du von mir
das gleiche verlangen! Ich verspreche dir aber, es nicht zu tun!«
schalt der erzürnte Gatte.
Seiltanzen verlangte sie ja auch einstweilen nicht, sondern war
zufrieden, daß die ungemütliche Kaffeesitzung bald ein Ende fand
und die umfassenden Vorbereitungen beginnen konnten.