30th December, 1610
“They are coming for you,
Elizabeth. They are coming… for you,” I say to the Countess, who lies prone on
the huge bed.
“Why did you do this, Mihaly? Why,
szerelmem? I thought you loved me,” the Countess replies, looking at me with
her brown eyes, turned red because of the tears flowing down her beautiful
face.
“I do love you, Elizabeth. I love you
like I will never… love another woman on this Earth. That’s why… I had… to do
this,” I reply, feeling the hot tears flowing down my own cheeks.
“No! You are lying, Mihaly! You are
lying to my face! You would never have done this horrible thing if you really
loved me! Never!” she shouts in reply, and then buries her head in her hands.
“In a few hours from now they’ll be
taking you away, forever. I’m never going to see you again! You think I like
this? I don’t. But they know what you did, Elizabeth. They know, and there is
no way out for you, but to surrender and take responsibility,” I reply.
“No! Never! I am the Countess
Bathory de Ecsed! I never will bow in front of anyone…not in the least those
perfidious fools who think they can arrest me and put me on trial!” she shouts
again, this time getting out of bed and standing beside it, her beautiful face
livid with rage.
“Those perfidious fools are from
the highest court in the land, Elizabeth. The court of the King of Hungary. You
can’t do anything but accept your fate and do as they say,” I reply.
Immediately there is a loud knock
on the bedroom door.
“Your Excellency? The Countess
Erzsebet Bathory de Ecsed?Kindly open the door!” a man shouts from the other
side.
Elizabeth and I look at each other.
They have come earlier than I anticipated.
Elizabeth reaches one hand towards
me, as if trying to bridge the distance between us- which appears to be more of
a chasm.
“Your Excellency? I am Gyorgy Thurzo,
and have come here for you. Please open the door!” the same man’s voice came
again.
“ Please, Mihaly, please save me...”
Her last words are drowned out by
the door of our bedroom flying open.
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