Captive of the Crimson Countess, Chapter 5: Not Jealous

Nadia waited at the edge of the dining room, watching as the other women pawed at Blair. It didn’t matter, Nadia told herself. A relationship was impossible. She was not jealous, she chided herself. They’d only now met. It would be silly to be jealous. 

She crossed her arms and looked away from the circle of women. 

It took more than twenty minutes before Blair extracted herself from the circle. She approached Nadia looking bewildered. Nadia found herself surprised. She hadn’t thought that Blair would want to talk with Nadia after meeting the other girls. None of the other girls had a link to the countess like Nadia did. None of the other girls were from Northern Karshvar. And none of the other girls had immortal blood in their veins. But here was Blair, looking awkward and adorable and, Nadia noted, looking apologetic. 

“That was a lot.” Blair said. “I thought you got new girls pretty often.”

“We do.” Nadia said. “We don’t get big muscular monster hunter women very often. You’re the second one I’ve seen. That makes for a welcome change from the usual scenery.”

Blair blushed and put a hand to her neck. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the view.”

Nadia felt her face light up like a lantern. And she looked away for a moment. “I’m glad you enjoy being viewed.” 

They stood in silence for several minutes. Nadia could hear the other girls whispering as they watched Nadia and Blair. They were gossiping already. 

Blair coughed. “You were showing me around the castle. Is the tour over? Or can we get out of here?”

Nadia bounced upright at the offer. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. I was distracted.”

Nadia led Blair out of the dining hall and the two continued their tour. Nadia showed Blair all the areas the countess allowed the captive women to go. She pointed out off limits areas, marked by the presence of guards or locked doors. 

Blair pointed at the guards. “I thought the castle was open to us, even to the inner courtyard? That’s what the countess said.”

Nadia sighed. “The countess lies. There are many places off limits to us.”

They continued through the cold and silent halls of the castle. Nadia pointed out the art on the banners and tapestries. They depicted House Battoria and its rulers. Blair noted that all the rulers were women, and all the rulers looked identical in the tapestries. In each case the countess was accompanied by a woman, the same woman. 

Nadia nodded. “The county has passed from mother to daughter for thirteen generations. At least, so the official records say.”

“Who is the other woman?” Blair asked. “I’ve not seen the countess with another woman.”

“I don’t know. But I do know that the countess flung the last girl who asked that question out a window.”

“So it’s a tender subject.” Blair said.

“It’s a taboo subject.” Nadia answered. 

“So, thirteen generations?” Blair did the math. “That makes the countess over four hundred years old, or even over five hundred. That isn’t good.”

Nadia let her head drop a little. “I did warn you that you couldn’t beat her.”

Blair shook her head. “No. Elder immortals acquire vulnerabilities in addition to powers as they age. Can the countess go out during the day? Can she stand sunlight on her skin?”

Nadia considered. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen her out in the daytime.”

“Then I may have a weapon against her. After a few hundred years most immortals are harmed by the sun. Not all. The power isn’t uniform or predictable. That would be too easy. But it’s something.”

They continued onwards. Nadia ran out of county history to tell Blair. And Blair brought the subject of conversation back to the captive women.

“So, am I going to have to beat the other women off with a stick or something? I’m not particularly comfortable in intimate relationships. And they all seem excited with such things. It leaves me- It leaves me unsettled.” 

“Well,” Nadia conceded. “If you keep my company too much, they will likely ostracize you. I am the most powerful of the girls, due to my position as the Countess' mistress. But the other girls hate me as a result. I do not have their respect. But they know the guards will listen to me over the other women and even obey my commands on small things.” 

“Are you suggesting I shouldn’t be spending time with you?” Blair asked.

Nadia took a breath and nodded. “I am. That’s my advice. Take up Hester’s offer. She’s the most influential of the girls. And I’m told she’s quite talented in the bedroom. This way, you’ll be able to spend your time in conversation and with companions around you before you-”

Blair shook her head. “You want me to avoid you?”

Nadia blinked. “Absolutely not. I hope you ignore my advice. I like talking to you. You aren’t catty like most of the girls used to court life. You have knowledge and interests I don’t. Which makes for interesting conversation. And you’re beautiful. So, No. I hope you won’t avoid me. But I would understand if you did.”

= = =

Blair stared at Nadia, trying to assess the princess. She stared at the other woman’s bright eyes and perfect lips. Blair swallowed. Nadia was gorgeous. Blair wanted to describe her as pristine, which seemed at odds with their situation. And Nadia seemed nice, pleasant, and inviting. But Blair knew a relationship wouldn’t work. And that was not only because the two of them would likely be dead in short order. Nadia was of Thulean royal blood. Immortal blood. And trusting anyone with immortal blood was dangerous. She didn’t say this out loud, but Nadia’s bloodline unnerved Blair. 

Nadia continued to talk about the politics among the women of the castle. She took time explaining cliques and feuds and alliances that made Blair’s head whirl. Blair knew she should keep her distance. But she didn’t want to do that. She liked walking beside the smaller woman. She noticed how the other woman treated Nadia, and she felt protective of the princess. 

They continued to move through the castle and Blair felt eyes on her. She looked about and saw the Countess Battoria standing in an archway far down the hall. The immortal didn’t move, she only watched. Blair didn’t know which of them the countess was watching. 

“When do you plan to start your escape attempt?” Nadia asked.

Blair jumped. “Why do you want to know?”

“I want to know how long I get to see you before you die.” Nadia said. 

Blair pursed her lips, then said. “I bet the countess would love to know when I plan to try and escape. You did say that she doesn’t play fair.”

Nadia brought a hand to her mouth. “I would never tell the countess.”

Blair considered. “Then did you want me to take you on my escape? Is that why you’re asking?”

Nadia shook her head, “I like talking with you. And it’s obvious I’m not going to get that much time with you, because you’re going to throw yourself into the viper’s fangs.”

Blair squinted. “What’s the angle here? Why do this?”

Nadia put her hands on her hips. “You don’t trust me.”

Blair didn’t say anything. 

Nadia continued. “You don't. Our nations are enemies. I’m the countess’s favorite. The other women don’t trust me. I’m Thulean royalty. There are a dozen reasons not to trust me.”

Blair looked away. 

“Well. I’m right, aren’t I?” Nadia said, her voice rising.

Blair remained silent.

After a minute of excruciating silence, Nadia huffed. “Fine. Let’s finish this tour. 

They continued through the castle. But Blair noticed that Nadia now only talked as she explained where things were. Nadia told no stories about the tapestries and banners. She pointed out the layout of the castle. The princess’s comments were perfunctory and clipped. Nadia had been right, of course. Blair didn’t trust the princess. And for the exact reasons Nadia had said. And most of those reasons weren’t fair. Nadia couldn’t help where she had been born or who she had been born to.  

But Nadia’s position as the countess’s favorite was different. That was Nadia’s choice, a calculated move to keep herself alive. Then a thought struck Blair. What if it hadn’t been Nadia’s choice? The countess wanted to seduce Blair. Might she have demanded Nadia submit?

Guilt crept across Blair’s thoughts as she slouched alongside Nadia. Nadia didn’t seem to notice. In fact, Blair noticed that Nadia hadn’t met Blair’s eyes since the princess had called out Blair’s mistrust.

She should apologize, Blair knew. And she was trying to work up the nerve to do that when the countess slid in front of them. 

“Still providing a tour, are we? Such fraternization from the new arrival. Or is it my little Nadia who prolongs the tour?”

“I only seek to obey your excellency.” Nadia said, head down and hands clasped. 

“Do you indeed? And what about you, my little hunter? Are you enjoying the tour?”

Blair nodded. “Nadia is friendly and thorough in her duties.”

“Not too thorough, I hope?”

“Of course not, your excellency.” Nadia said.

And then the countess was gone. Blair spun, she hadn’t seen the countess move. She’d never interacted with an immortal this old. But still, she had expected to be able to follow the immortal's movements. Blair felt a stab of fear as she realized what this meant for her chances. 

Blair shook her head and returned her thoughts to the countess’s statements. 

“Was she being catty?” Blair asked.

Nadia nodded, but said nothing.

“She doesn’t like me playing with her favorite toy then?”

Nadia shook her head. “She doesn’t like me playing with her new toy.”

Blair shuddered at Nadia’s words. This was all a game to the countess, and now Blair has a real sense of the power imbalance between them. She was going to die.