Impaler

Preparation

The sun was slowly rising in the skies, and some of its rays hit the castle and went through a particular window. Vlad felt the warmth of the sun's rays, and it woke him up. His light blue eyes shined with the sun, but he immediately covered them and moved to the left side of his bed to escape the light. As he lay on one side of his body, he saw the 'phone' he left on his bed. Vlad couldn't help but admit that he enjoyed using the contraption. For something so small, it brought him much entertainment that he hadn't had in years.

However, the Voivode couldn't remember when he had actual enjoyment or happiness. Ever since childhood, the only one who brought him happiness was his beloved mother, Cneajna. He remembered his mother's dark brown hair and beautiful blue eyes that he had inherited from her. She was a beauty with a beautiful heart who always tried to shield her sons from the violence inside and outside their lives. Vlad also remembered his older brother, Mircea II, whom the family and the people loved. As a child, Vlad always respected his older brother, who was against their father's ideas to join the Ottomans. He was against having him and their brother Radu be sent as prisoners; Mircea was overruled. 

Vlad remembered his mother's cries and screams when they took him and Radu away from her. The brothers were taken away from their father's orders due to his mistake of breaking the treaty with the Ottomans.

A burning rage came up in his chest from the memory of his father, a man whom he despised with a consuming passion. A man who loved his pride and power more than his own family. His father, Vlad II Dracul, tried fighting for the throne of Wallachia and asked the Sultan for support. In return, their father gave him and Radu to be hostages to Sultan Mehmed II, where the boys were taught many languages, horseman riding, and, more importantly, Islam. Vlad refused the teachings of the Ottomans and refused to betray his faith; his mother always taught him that their God was the only one and would always be there to guide them. He took the teaching to heart and endured many punishments. However, when Vlad was in his adolescence, he learned of his father's and brother's murder; his mother committed suicide out of fear of being raped and killed in a deplorable manner.

Even though the Ottomans helped him regain the throne when his father and brother were killed, he still hated the Ottomans and his father. He hated how his younger brother Radu accepted the Ottoman way of life. There were times when Vlad lost the throne, but he still was able to regain it in the most brutal ways. He was able to get rid of the Saxons, but now the Ottomans were his biggest enemy.

His thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door. "Voivode, we have arrived with your clothing for the day."

Vlad sat up and permitted the servants to enter his chambers. There were four men with clothing in their hands. Vlad picked a particular outfit and was assisted in changing. While finishing, another male servant, who stood outside, entered. "Voivode, Lord Alexandrei wishes to speak with you."

"Let him enter."

Alexandrei entered the room and bowed to Vlad. "Good morning, Voivode. I hope you had a good slumber."

"Indeed, I have. It has been a while since I had good sleep."

"I see. I am certain you are aware what day it is."

The servants had just finished dressing him and left the two men alone, closing the door behind them. "Indeed. We have found the actual nobles and traitors that helped dispose of your father, and they have been invited for dinner."

Vlad smirked as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Good, everything must go perfect today. I have waited for this moment to have those traitors pay for helping dispose of my brother and father, driving my mother to take her own life."

"I shall inform the servants to make the dinner to your standards and I also have ordered the torturers to get everything ready."

"Good, I shall trust you with that responsibility."

Alexandrei was about to leave but noticed that phone on the bed. "What is that thing, Voivode? I have never seen such a thing."

Vlad forgot to put the phone away. He didn't want anyone to know about it or consider taking it. He had grown fond of the object since it intrigued him so. "It belongs to that woman. I made her a lady-in-waiting for Minah."

"That woman still lives!? You let her live after such disrespect that she has done to me!?"

The Voivode slowly glared at Alexandrei and slowly walked toward him. Alexandrei could feel his Lord's rage by looking at his eyes and looking down on the floor. "Forgive me, Voivode. I know I have spoken out of tongue, but I have said this because of the woman's disrespect."

"I have my reasons, Alexandrei. I have found that woman to be useful and I have a feeling that she will be more of use to me. Again, careful how you display your words at me or I will have your tongue ripped out and have it fed to the pigs. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Voivode. Forgive my impertinence."

"You are forgiven, for now. Now, make sure that everything will be ready."

Alexandrei immediately walked out, and Vlad immediately got the phone and put it in one of the many cabinets in his chambers. There was another knock on the door, and he permitted whoever it was. 

Ioana entered and bowed. "Voivode, good morning."

"Ah, Ioana, good morning. You have news about that woman, I trust." 

"Well, it is not much since you wish to know of her and her behavior. Last night, she intrigued the other female servants with a story."

This made Vlad raise an eyebrow. "A story?"

"I have heard parts of it, and I was about to stop it, but I couldn't help but be intrigued as well. She has gotten the interest of the other women, except for Daciana, of course."

He wasn't surprised that Daciana may have disdain for Angelina. Vlad took her as his mistress but grew bored of her when she began to ask for something more; she wanted marriage. He laughed at her stupidity. Never in a lifetime would he ask a mere, unattractive peasant for marriage. He tossed her away and threatened to have her tortured to death if she spoke more of the topic; it kept her shut. "Interesting, so she is also a storyteller. Perhaps I can use her for tonight's dinner. She can tell a story to make the guests more comfortable before knowing their fates."

Ioana felt a chill go down her spine. She couldn't believe that she had forgotten about tonight's dinner in the castle in the castle. However, it was the aftermath that was going to happen to the invitees. She failed to inform Angelina of today's activities and knew the young woman was unprepared or did not have the heart to see such atrocities. "A-Are you certain that is wide, Voivode? She is still new and-"

"I have decided that she will be tonight's storyteller. Tell her to think of a story, and do not tell her the true reason. Understood?"

"Yes, Voivode. I shall leave to wake the servants to serve Lady Minah." Ioana left to fulfill her duties but couldn't help but feel terrible about what was to come.