Awakening II

It was the third month of Transylvania's mourning, I did the rounds as per usual, guarding the night that I lorded over, placing candles and fresh roses at my brother's statue, when I saw her. A soul as blessed and bright as my brother's, fair skinned, and beautiful unlike any woman I had ever seen.

Saintess to the church that worshipped the god of man, she appeared as bright as a cross to me, a holy idol. 'Is the holy energy bothering you?' She asked softly as the light around her dissipated, and I could see her clearly. Her eyes, her scent, her aura, they held no fear, no disgust, no pity, simply warmth, a care and respect for all of life.

'They said a monster lorded over transylvania, a being not in the image of our lord, are you lord Dracula?' She spoke softly. I nodded, fearing my fangs would scare her off, I didn't expose them. 'Not in the image of our lord…what lies, if the lord were to take a human form, he'd surely be so beautiful,' .

She was bold, speaking freely, unlike any I had ever conversed with. 'Anyways, I'm sorry for your loss, the hero's death is a great loss to humankind,' She turned to leave after offering her condolences. I was held by doubt for a second, but the beat of a heart I thought lost awakened me from the stupor and I called out to her.

"Saintess!"

"Yes, lord Dracula?"

"Would you like some tea?"

My days with her were bright, my mind no longer held a yearning for the sunlight I could never experience, she was my sun, moon, heart and soul.

The church of course had qualms about our union, but the saintess was the highest authority below the pope, not a being they could ever offend. Transylvania's days were brighter, the flowers smelling sweeter, the trees growing larger.

Half a dozen winters later, she was with child. A beautiful pair of twins…the rest of should be experienced fully. My thoughts, my feelings, you'll feel everything.

It was the middle of a day in october, the windows in the mansion covered as per usual. And I was going through my routine, making sure no sharp edges that could accidentally harm my beloved remained, no nails, objects..etc.

"Vlad!"

She called me over, and with a single step through the shadows I arrived in front of her.

"My love?"

"They're kicking, come listen,"

She gently pulled me closer, and I placed my ear on her belly. The tiniest of movements could be felt from within, so beautiful my children were.

I never expected to create life in my entire span of existence, I never took myself as anything more than a destroyer until I met her.

"I feel them, my love, so lively." I was in awe.

"They'll be strong like their father, and heroes like their uncle,"

"All I need them to be is happy."

We stayed in until the evening, I read her and the children a book of stories. Until we were interrupted by a priestess seeking my love's aid. A blessing, a healing or simply a divine gaze, certain things required her presence on a daily basis.

On our way to the church, she looked at me with a worried gaze.

"My love, are you okay? Your hair is as white as snow,"

"It's okay, I can hold out for a few more days,"

Over the years, I learned to bare with the thirst I came into the world with, though it weakened me.

Once at the church, I waited outside, the brightness of the crosses, silver, and the barrier of their lord warding me off. We had a treaty that dictated clearly I was not to enter a holy place without an invitation or a war would ensue.

"I'll be back soon, my love." She kissed me goodbye and walked in.

I watched her and ignored the hate filled stares of the priests.

Inside, several extremely ill patients were lined up for her to heal, their states and rotting flesh triggering my nose for the scent of death. Yet, in the same way she healed my existence, she brought them back to life and recovered their bodies completely.

"*Cough!* *Cough!* *Cough!* *Cough!*"

She broke out into a fit of coughing after healing the third patient. I rushed forward instantly attempting to enter but the god of humanity's barrier had already been opened, burning my army to ashes.

"PRIEST! Open this door!"

The pain was nothing and my arm regenrated instantly, but the scent of death coming from my beloved only deepeend.

"No foul beast can enter the lord's home. The saintess will be okay, the healers in the inner sanctum will aid her,". The old priest refused to allow me entry.

"I promise you, if even a single hair on her head is harmed, I will bury this world and everything in it that your god holds dear!"

As the priests helped her into the inner sanctum, I could only stand watch.

'Destroy that bastard's home, these priests are planning something,' A whisper reached my ears.

"Quiet. They wouldn't dare harm her, the feud between the two of you has nothing to do with us,"

Lord of demonkind, the oldest evil, he carried many names and held great power, yet to me he was just an annoying voice in my ears.

I waited and waited until it was deep into the night, receiving no answer from the priests, but reassured by my ability to sense her life energy.

Until the darkness was suddenly split apart by a beam of light coming down from the sky towards the church.

"GOD OF MAN, HOW DARE YOU?!" The arrival of the light wiped away my love's life energy.

I summoned the shadows and broke apart the barrier, stepping in I was burned by the crosses and silver surrounding me, but I continued forward towards the inner sanctum.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! MY BABIES!!!!"

"ROSALIN?!!"