Chapter 6

I was trained to walk on the ceiling like all vampires. To us, gravity is nonexistent. I knocked on the door and waited. Someone opened it but didn't bother to look up. I slipped out the moment the door opened. The window was opened so I became a bunch of bats and flew away. I heard a frightening wail that shook me to the core.

I quickly landed and searched around to hide. This was Dracula, not just any vampire, he was the deadliest vampire ever existed. If he came after me I have nowhere to hide. I found Deidre and she arrested me. I was brought before wolves so huge they made werewolves look puppies. They came and licked my face with affection. The others relaxed and uncuffed me. I was brought before the council of defenders. I explained the reason I snuck out and they seem to believe me. The Fenris wolf who licked my face came and exonerated me. He declared that I was as innocent as virgin snow. This made the others order my immediate reinstatement and resume training.

I was met with an angry William. He wanted to yell 'groupie' but chose not to since the Fenris Wolf that examined me was his father. I was taken to the training center in Russia where I met Yuri, Antosha, and Oleg. The triple threat as they were labeled since they had fought Dracula numerous times and with extreme difficulty gained the victory.

I found Will after a grueling training session about why his dad chose to be that. He explained that when his mother was killed by witches his father nearly went insane. He gained some semblance of sanity when he became a Fenris wolf. He said nothing further. So I leaned in to look into his eyes and he hugged me. He kissed my forehead like someone had pronounced us husband and wife. He asked me to chose him instead of James. I told him that I had no intention of marrying James. I was only interested in finding him for the sake of answers. This put a smile on his face. I gave him a wink and walked towards the back garden. The seer asked me who I was talking to since the foyer was empty. I explained it was William. And he came out of the library with "The art of war" in his hands. He winked at me, "Hey groupie, did you miss me?" I was shocked, "How did you get over there? I just talk to you in the foyer." His face went from a smile to a frown. "He has made a connection with your mind? Did he drink from you?" I stammered a yes and he cursed so badly the seer hit him with her walking stick. I explained that I did get away but he tracked me. I was rendered unconscious and he drank from me. He punched the wall and ran to find James. I turned to talk to the seer but she had left. So I walked to the back garden and focused on Dracula. It was not as easy as it looked. He was surprised that see what a quick study I was. I bargained with him to spare the others in exchange for my compliance. He asked me why I ran away. I blurted out that he was consorting with people who have been trying to kill me for the past few days. He swore the witches will burn. He will kill every last one of them for breaking their oath. He asked me to meet him at the train station that goes from Moscow to London. He will be there four days from now. I was asked to remain in the apartment I was assigned to stay till then.

Suddenly, the connection broke and I opened my eyes to see James's angry eyes looking back at me. He asked me what HE wanted. I mumbled, "I told him about the witches hunting me for some sick ritual. This was all we talked about. He was angry and asked me not to go roaming around. He was going to exact irrefutable vengeance on them." This made the others start question Dracula being a bad guy. When you become the lost one. You lose your conscience as well. But Dracula had a sense of right and wrong. Which meant he could be the first to come back from the darkness. They encircled the seer asking if he could come back to the light and she said it is a high possibility if I agree to Dracula's terms. This made James shout bloody murder. But for the sake of humanity, he stepped back without further drama.

I did as he asked. I waited for four days but I decided not to go with him. I went on a shopping trip to Izmilovo Kremlin. I was looking at pocket watches when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to see Dracula looking less like a monster and more like me. He asked me why I was here. I happily prattled that I always wanted a pocket watch but my family always bought me wristwatches. Now that I have the money to buy I want one. He smiled and bought me one he felt would look beautiful. He leaned over and kissed my neck. I shuddered at the thought of his bite. He snickered, "I have no intention of biting you. I still have to learn how to control myself. I have relinquished the desire to be a monster. So I will drink from you when the time is right. I promise you will enjoy it" I asked him how he can hear me. He retorted, "When I sipped a little bit of your blood I felt a connection with you. I usually break the connection because it is too annoying. But you are my sanity, holding on to you is everything to me and much more. I would happily do anything to be by your side." I told him that I would like to go back to Switzerland and not London.

He laughed merrily, "Yes, in the stories I usually end up there. I thought I would try it. But if you feel uncomfortable we can go to Bern."

He escorted me to his motorcycle and he drove me to the airport where we hopped on his plane. We landed in Bern a few hours later and he carried me to his limousine. I was taken to a picturesque castle and a pristine lake. I felt James was watching me the entire time. So did Dracula because he turned into a monster and screamed in an unusual language. I felt the connection break.

He carried me to our room where there was a walk-in closet waiting for me filled with designer wedding outfits. He asked me to chose. I picked a sheath dress with a Queen Ann bodice. He wore a tux and had his hair tied was back to a ponytail. He looked amazing and nothing like the beast of terror he was a few minutes ago. We got married and carried me to our bedroom where we consummated our marriage. He was delighted to know I was as innocent as the Fenris Wolf described. I felt a strong hand on my face and I struggled to remove it from me. Everything went black.

The next morning, I came down to see the defender's council talking to him. They managed to convince him to come back. They explained what the seer had shared with them but I must not know any of it. This made me mad. I barged in and demanded an answer. They brushed me off and wish us a happy marriage. He promised to meet them first thing next week to discuss the change from darkness to light. I felt like I was in a nightmare and reached out with my mind. I felt a red hot poker in back of my head.

I felt like I fell from the sky. I looked around to see I was once again lying on fur. Dracula had kidnapped me. He didn't bite me but he just had flit into my mind and made me see all those things so he could get an answer. He looked deeply angry that the witches betrayed him. He had an ironclad promise from the witch queen if I am found I will not be harmed. I blurted, "If you wanted answers just ask me." He shrugged, "I would believe that this was an illusion. You would sneak out and I would get violent." I asked him, "Did you like what you saw in my mind?" He smiled, "I loved every moment in your beautiful mind. You broke through the mind maze and sought me out. You still prefer me over all others. And no you are not a groupie. I hate them. They are the most annoying people I have encountered in my life." He gave me a teasing wink as I laughed.

He sent for the witch who tried to stab me. He slit her throat and made me drink until I wanted to hurl. We the defenders don't drink like the lost. We drink just enough to keep up our strength. But if we are injured we might drink till we rejuvenate. To drink in excess all the time is asking for trouble. He had a female guard placed inside the room till he came back. He still speculates that this is a figment of his imagination. He came back after a day of shrieks and finally tasted my blood he accepted that I was not something that was playing tricks on him. Things were about to get deadly, the question was for who?