Angelina's eyes widened as she saw the man before her, Vlad Dracul III. "How can this be!? Is he the real Vlad the Impaler!? No, I'm dreaming. All this is a nightmare."
Vlad noticed that Angelina had a light honey skin tone, long black curly hair touching her waist, and soft hazel eyes. She had an average body figure; her skin was clear, smooth, and shined with the sun. Her slightly round face was youthful with a hint of maturity, showing bits of her age. She wore clothing he had never seen before. What made her noticeable was her slightly plump body; she looked well-fed. The women he was used to had a thin figure, so much so that they looked gaunt. "Who is this woman?" asked Vlad sternly and commandingly.
"Voivode, we found this woman in the forest. She speaks with an accent and wears strange clothing. We didn't want her to escape, for there is a possibility that she may be an Ottoman spy," said one of the men.
"I-I'm not an Ottoman spy! I just got lost in the forest. All I want is to go home!"
"Silence! Do not speak without permission of the Voivode!"
Angelina looked up at Vlad, who eyed her with no emotion. He then stood up and walked around the table before the young woman. The two looked at one another for a while, but Vlad's look became intimidating, making Angelina look down. "Speak your name."
"I'm Angelina, sir. Please believe me; I just got lost."
The Voivode put his hands behind his back; Angelina considered herself innocent. She looked different, but he had to see if she spoke the truth. "Take her to my chambers. I wish to speak to this woman alone. All of you may continue with the festivities." The two men motioned Angelina to stand. They followed Vlad toward a pair of stairs leading to the upper part of the building. Fire torches lit the walls and structure.
They arrived at a room that looked luxurious. "Unbind her, but shackle one of her hands to the wall."
The men did as they were ordered and left the room.
The two were alone.
Angelina noticed that Vlad was 5'9 "tall. His face was slightly broad, with his signature long black mustache and trim beard beneath his lower lip. His black hair was wavy, with curly bottom tips past his shoulders. What caught Angelina's attention were his light blue eyes. They were so beautiful that it made Angelina feel she was looking at clear ocean waters.
"Wow, you're good-looking in person," Angelina whispered. Vlad raised an eyebrow; no one ever complimented his looks. "Oh, I'm sorry! I tend to speak to myself aloud without realizing it!" She looked down, trying to refrain from blushing.
"Well, you are the first to speak such a thing. I was thinking of having my way with you and then torturing you until your blood stains the floor. However, your words have made me in a better mood."
Angelina felt a chill go down her spine. All the books and articles about Vlad being ruthless were true. Vlad's soothing and confident voice and appearance made it difficult to discern whether he was sincere or cruel.
"Hm, you hold no fear."
"On the contrary, sir, I am. You are well-known everywhere, and you have quite the reputation."
The Voivode chuckled. "My reputation seems to have crossed the lands. Tell me of your home; you don't seem to be from my kingdom."
She debated whether or not to tell Vlad where she came from. However, Angelina didn't want to risk being caught lying. "I was born far from here, sir. My parents abandoned me as a child, but my grandparents raised me. When they died, I began to work and travel independently."
"You still haven't answered my question, woman. I am not a patient man."
"He's more intelligent than I thought." Angelina sighed. "It's true that I'm not from here, sir. Would you believe me if I told you I am not from this country?"
"It is obvious. I am losing my patience."
"Okay! Okay! Would you believe me if I told you I am not from this time?"
Vlad stilled. "What are you speaking about?"
"I am from a country called the United States from the year 2022 AD. I crossed oceans to come here to travel. I walked to the Hoia-Baciu Forest and suddenly came here in your nation and your time. I don't know how in the hell it's possible, but here I am."
The two were silent. Angelina hoped Vlad believed her. Suddenly, Vlad laughed hard and loudly until he couldn't continue. "You jest."
"Look, I have my bag here. I can show you something to prove I am telling you the truth. Will you let me reach for it?"
Vlad went to her. "No, I shall do it." He got her bag, confused about how to open it. With Angelina's instructions, he eventually opened it. Inside were notebooks, clothes, snacks, and technology. He took something out. "What is this?"
"It's called a Samsung cellphone, from my time. We use it to make calls, play games, and take pictures. We need wifi internet to make it work. Unfortunately, there is no wifi in your time."
Vlad pressed a couple of buttons, turning on his cell phone. His eyes were curious and fascinated by the object. Slowly moving his fingers, he saw the many apps and pictures. "This is extraordinary. I have never seen such a thing."
"Do you believe me now?"
Vlad put the phone back in the bag. "Hmph, it is still difficult for me to believe you, which is why I decided. You shall come to me to my castle."
Angelina gasped. "You're kidding?"
"What did you say?"
"It's a slang we use in my country. What I meant to say is, why? All I want is to go home."
"What I say is final. You shall come with my men and me to my palace. You have information that intrigues me. I will make sure that food is brought to you." Vlad left the room, ordering his men to keep watch and to give her food while he was away.
Vlad returned to the celebrations and watched as everyone ate and drank with content. He found it pathetic that they celebrated for something inconvenient; the war against the Ottomans wasn't over.
Memories returned to him when his father, Vlad II, gave him and his brother to Sultan Murad II. Vlad bit his lower lip as he remembered when the Sultan and his council forced him and his brother, Radu, to learn the ways of the Ottoman culture. Radu accepted the teachings and welcomed the thought that Wallachia would benefit from them.
As an adolescent, there were rumors that Radu was a concubine for Mehmed II. He didn't want to believe it. Vlad wanted to protect his brother and constantly reminded him of the importance of their family and culture: to never stray away. One day, Vlad wanted to visit Radu in his quarters until he saw something strengthening his hatred. Vlad saw Mehmed and Radu having intercourse; the rumors were true.
Vlad made a vow to God that he would kill the Ottomans.
Slowly, the people in the building began to go to their rooms to rest. Tomorrow, they would all return to Wallachia.; Vlad decided to go back to his room and rest for tomorrow. His thoughts then turned to the young woman, Angelina. He had difficulty believing she was from a different time, but the objects in her possession made him think otherwise.
When she returned to his room, Angelina lay on the floor with an empty plate beside her; she was asleep. Was it possible that she was from another time? If so, what was her purpose? Vlad could have woken her and forced her to answer his questions, but he was exhausted and not in the mood. He wanted to have a peaceful sleep. Vlad undressed until he had his undergarments, got on his bed, and tried to sleep.
Minutes passed, and he was about to close his eyes when he heard Angelina snoring. The snoring was not as loud, and he tried to fall back to sleep, but then her snoring got louder and rougher. Vlad sat up from his bed and looked at the young woman. She was dead asleep, saliva dripping from her lips. "Woman, quiet yourself."
Angelina was still asleep and snoring. "Grandma, Grandpa..." The Voivode didn't understand what she was saying but knew that whoever she called out was essential to her. Angelina eventually calmed down after a few more tears, and her snoring became quiet. Vlad waited a few moments and decided to lay back on his bed, and sleep overtook him.
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