Calling
By Savari
"Count- Count Dragulia... Dracula?!" Elysia backed further away from the monster before her, breathing in sharp, panicked gasps. Everyone knew of the great and terrible Count Dracula. He was infamous in this region; the Terror of Transylvania. Many, many tales had been passed down through the old families of the horrors this monster had perpetrated upon the innocent people of the land. Stories full of rivers of blood and slaughter, torture and mayhem.
Shaking, she felt her back hit the wall and her eyes widened as she stared at him. His eyes swiftly trapped her, laying velvet-clothed hooks into her soul and tugging. A hot, trembling feeling enveloped her and she half-stepped towards him. He was frowning slightly, shadows crowding in his eyes. She couldn't decipher his expression; it was complex and full of conflicting emotions. She felt her mind loosening from his hold, but before she could decide what to do about her terrible predicament, he spun and stalked away. His shoulders were hunched, posture stiff as he waged an internal war with himself. Finally, suddenly, he left, barely a blur of black and porcelain white as he slammed from the room.
Elysia Ravenwood slumped against the wall and breathed deep, relieved breaths. What the devil had just happened? One moment she was trapped beneath the hypnotizing stare of a monster and the next she was alone, trembling and confused.
Shaking herself out of her fear-induced stupor, Elysia hurried towards the closed curtains and threw them wide open. Soft, cloud-muted light speared the dark torch-lit room, a rectangle of safety in which she hurriedly secreted herself.
----
It took Elysia a good twenty minutes to return to a state of at least semi-normalcy. Her heart-rate slowed to a much more healthy rhythm and her breathing evened out. She closed her eyes and let out a tense sigh. Almost at once her mind went to work. She had been too terrified to think before, but now she was alone and safe in her light-prison.
If she stayed here she would be killed, there was no doubt about that. These monsters were renowned for their ruthless and sadistic natures and she understood on a primal level that she was merely a game to them. And sustenance. Mustn't forget that. So if she stayed, she was dead. But how to leave?
With a sense of great dread Elysia ventured a single toe outside her safe-zone. When nothing came thundering into the room to grab her and haul her away to be eaten she grew bolder, hurrying across the space to the door. She turned the knob experimentally, surprised to find it unlocked. The Count must have forgotten when he tore from the room. A glimmer of hope alighted in her chest. Maybe the monsters were sleeping now; surely they must have to sleep at some point and according to legend they usually slumbered during the day. Frowning with concentration, she pushed the door open silently and slipped out, carefully closing it again behind her- just in case someone came to check on her, hopefully the closed door would fool them for a minute or two.
She was in a long, stone hallway lined with smouldering sconces and fearful, evil-looking paintings. Left or right? Huffing a tiny breath of frustration Elysia went right, deciding that it would be best to just pick a direction and stick with it. Surely all roads lead to Rome? Or in this case, all hallways lead to a way out.
Hurrying, soft-footed and silent-breathed, she rounded her first corner, relieved to find the space before her empty of monsters. Indeed, empty of anyone.
Soon she discovered a flight of stairs leading down and descended the curving, light-flickering spiral with a growing sense of dread. She came momentarily upon a gigantic hall- not, unfortunately, an entrance hall. Rather, this magnificent room was inhabited by an enormous mahogany dining table which was lined with rich-looking chairs. The cushioned semi-thrones were all crimson velvet and gold inlay, exquisite and yet unkempt, for they were covered in a thick layer of dust. Elysia, coming from a simple, hardworking and rather poor family was thoroughly disgusted at this display of carelessness.
"Such beautiful things and yet... so poorly cared for," She murmured to herself, approaching the centerpiece with a sensation of awe. Her respectful approach was led by one outstretched hand which she ghosted across the velvet seats and artfully carved armrests. I wonder... Are there other things of such exquisite beauty, locked away in this horrible place?
With a regretful sigh, Elsyia continued past the table and chairs and through one of the several doors which apparently led to this unused and unloved masterpiece.
Another hallway, this one just as dusty as the one upstairs but this time lined with intricately woven tapestries and yet more flickering sconces. She hurried along it this time, her success so far making her careless. The dusty, grimy air pressed upon her face and filled her lungs and she longed to feel the cool, clear breeze on her skin. The air here was stale from so long unmoving and only breathed by the dead.
The faster she moved the more adrenaline and fear pumped into her veins and what started as a brisk walk soon evolved into a trot and then into a heedless gallop. Elysia tore through the halls, oblivious to the abandoned beauty around her. Door after door, hall after hall, she ran, until her lungs ached and her heart roared in her ears. Careless feet stumbled and caught and pushed on, terror driving her ever forward, away from the monsters she imagined to be waiting on her, chasing her. Exhaustion soon sapped the fevered strength from her limbs and she stumbled for the final time in her flight, landing heavily on the threadbare crimson carpet that lined all of the hallways. Her hands, which had flown out instinctively to catch the brunt of the fall, were splayed before her and she knelt there, winded and weary. Too fearful and too tired to move.
Silent tears spilled, hot and bitter from wide grey eyes, dropping to the carpet and the backs of her hands; rivulets of helplessness and fear. Biting her lip, she managed not to sob, though she caught faintest tang of blood on her tongue. This was ridiculous! Surely the castle could not go on forever? Could it?
A faint, breezy rustle stirred Elysia and she sat back on her haunches, ruthlessly supressing the many tears that had yet to fall. She listened intently, frozen in wonder at that softest of noises. She glanced around warily. Nothing. What could have made that sound? There was no breeze-
"Well, well, vot do we haf here?"
A face dropped suddely to hang before Elysia's mesmerised eyes, upside down and trailing a long mane of brilliant red hair. The voice was distinctly soft and husky, nasty amusement and sickening sweetness all wrapped up in a pretty pink package.
Elysia scrambled backwards and shot to her feet, nearly falling again with her abruptness. A clawed hand landed heavily on her shoulder and a rush of cool, strangely sweet breath blew past her ear.
"Ah, but I told you about the little blood-bucket earlier, did I not, Aleera?" Deranged malice coloured the voice that I recognized; the blonde in the yellow and gold who had brought me my meal.
"Girls, please... Leave the little harlot alone. You know how angry the Master gets when we play with his food," A third woman stepped forward, all green and black and poison draped in finery. Her voice held a touch of command that the other two seemed to reluctantly respect; at least, the red haired one dropped gracefully, if petulantly, to stand on the ground and the blonde removed her hand from my shoulder. She did not, however, step away.
Elysia was feeling desperately outnumbered and clung to the thin thread of hope that the three monster-women would leave her be, if only to avoid incurring their 'Master's wrath. She hesitantly stepped away, removing herself from the middle of this strange stand-off with the utmost care; she was afraid to move too quickly for fear of attracting their attention. Unfortunately it appeared she had not succeeded.
"Where do you think you are going?" The blonde reached out and wrapped long fingers around Elysia's upper arm, taking care to dig her maginificent and specifically sharpened nails into the soft flesh as she dragged the hapless human back into the middle of their silent powerplay.
"Let her go Marishka, this instant, or I will call the Master," The raven-haired one hissed, her head lowering slightly as her jaw elongated and fangs grew out of her otherwise normal incisors.
The blonde, Marishka, hissed in return, her grip tightening further around Elysia's already abused arm. "No, I have suffered through enough of his betrayals... He has us- three of us! Are we not enough for him? Why must he go looking for others to satisfy his needs?!" Her voice rose with every syllable, desperate grief clinging to her like a shroud even while madness crept in. "Is it because we fail to give him children? Is that why?" She ended on a wailing shriek and tossed Elysia aside like a ragdoll, burying her face in clawed hands and sobbing with visceral despair. The other two women flocked to her and hovered helplessly, gently touching her hair and crooning in sympathy.
Elysia groaned and rubbed her arm gingerly, watching with wide eyes as these three so-called monsters grieved for their inability to have children. A sympathetic ache tugged at her chest and she curled up against the wall, hugging her knees to her body and trying not to despair with them. She knew she should run while they were distracted by their pain, but she couldn't leave them. They were hurting so badly and she in turn was almost to the point of tears. Her ordeal thus far was beginning to overcome her again and within moments she gave in and her helpless sobs joined theirs.
"What is going on here, my loves?" An incredulous voice broke through the overwhelming melancholy that pervaded the small corridor and Elysia looked up to see the Count frowning with obvious confusion at his three huddled wives. They broke away from one another and draped themselves against their Master with crooning sobs and gentle pleas. He merely shook his head and gathered them closer.
"You should return to your room, Miss Ravenwood," Dracula glanced distractedly at Elysia's huddled form on the floor, a flicker of a sympathetic smile briefly gracing his beautiful features. She was struck for a moment by just how exquisite he really was but she quickly blinked and stood on shaky legs, averting her eyes from the display before her.
He watched as she wordlessly hurried away, a vague blush staining her cheeks.
Had she any more energy to spare she would have been thoroughly mortified to have witnessed such a public display of affection. Exhausted as she was, though, she barely managed to be embarassed.
A/N: Four years. Four freaking years this goddamned chapter took me! Actually, just one night, but it took four years to get to a point where I could continue. Jeez, I suck. I know I do, you can all tell me so if you like. Anyway. If anyone is even still remotely interested (or even alive?) please R&R. You know... Reviews are candy. -eh heh- is sheepish.
