That last chapter was awfully short. How about another one, hmm? I think after the wealth of responses last week, you've earned it. ENJOY!
Warning - some lemony bits at the end of the chapter. Nothing to require a hard "M" rating just yet, but if you don't like that kind of stuff, you should probably just leave now while you can.
IV
She Knows Things
A dull pain throbbed in Hera's temples and stung along the column of her neck. Her mouth felt horridly dry, and the metallic taste of blood seemed to linger on her tongue. She felt neither cold nor hot – but a soothing temperature of perfection seemed to envelope her body and it made staying conscious all the more difficult.
Hera was on something comfortable; that was for certain. Cotton and wool – if she knew her fabrics well enough. The smell of burning pine reached her nostrils, along with the scent of forest that was carried in with the breeze that gently ran across her face and over her shoulders.
The young woman shuddered slightly as that coolness washed over her. She lifted her hand to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes when she felt something else that disrupted the voyage. It felt rough and warm – like an unshaven face. Hera's mind rebelled.
What? That couldn't be possible…
With some difficulty, she forced her lead-weighted eyelids to open, blinking a few times as her vision adjusted to the soft light of candles and the fireplace in the room and the… her eyes snapped open in shock.
"No," she whispered aloud.
No, this wasn't happening! It couldn't be!
She looked to her right to see the face she had touched and she noticed Velkan's head resting on the mattress and… Anna Valerious in the chair by the fire? Hera groaned in protest. Then it wasn't a dream? It was real! She had travelled back in time! But how?!
"No, no, no, no this isn't happening!" she suddenly exclaimed, covering her face with her hands. "Is there no end to this nightmare?"
Velkan and Anna awoke after her outburst and the Prince grabbed Hera's wrists to move them from her face.
"Hey, hey… it's all right," he said soothingly. "You're alright. You're safe now."
Hera looked up at the gypsy prince, instantly recalling what had happened – how he had rescued her.
"You're safe," he said once again and when Hera grew quiet, he released her.
Choosing to relax over panicking, Hera leaned back into the bed, not only because she knew he was right – she was indeed safe in the Valerious manor – it also helped that it was Prince Velkan Valerious that was saying it to her. He looked exactly like the actor in the movie – maybe even a little better in real life – and his good looks and genuinely kind eyes comforted her far more than his words of reassurance did.
Hera reached up and touched her neck, only to wince when she realized how tender the flesh was.
"Dracula had you by the throat," Velkan explained sympathetically. "You're lucky to be alive."
"Don't I know it," Hera replied, gingerly assessing the damage with her fingertips. "That sadist has one nasty grip," she added. Hera returned her attention to Velkan and smiled. "Thank you for saving my life."
He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"You are very welcome."
"What's your name?" Anna interjected, wanting answers instead of the pleasant formalities. "What were you doing in Castle Frankenstein?"
Hera shivered, suddenly realizing that her sweatshirt was missing – no wonder she was freezing.
"Where's my hoodie?" she demanded. Anna and Velkan sent her a puzzled look. "My jacket?" she clarified, recognizing that they had no idea what she was talking about. Anna stood up and grabbed it from off the bureau beside the bed and tossed it onto Hera's lap, watching as she pulled it on. "Thank you."
"Your name?" Anna repeated rather impatiently, ignoring Velkan's scolding expression.
"You're not going to believe me," Hera began, but Anna only folded her arms defiantly over her chest, standing beside her brother.
"We believe in monsters when the rest of the world does not," the princess pointed out. "I think whatever you have to say won't be as fantastical as that."
Hera shrugged and tucked her legs closer to her before beginning.
"Very well. My name is Hera Garret, and… I'm from the future."
Anna and Velkan stared at her for a moment, utterly silent – until Anna exhaled in disbelief and began to leave.
"You're right. That is crazy. Have one of the servants throw her out. I'm going to bed."
"I'm telling you the truth, Anna. You have to believe me!"
Anna stopped mid-step and turned to face the woman on the bed, a puzzled look in her eyes.
"How do you know my name?"
"That's not all I know about you, Princess Anna Valerious," Hera replied knowingly, and with a marked degree of cheek.
The only way she'd get them to believe her is if she proved it to them, yet doing so could really go one of two ways: either they'd deem her crazy and would then throw her out into the woods and leave her for dead, or they'd believe her. But considering the fact that if she didn't say anything she'd still get thrown out of the house and left for dead, she decided to take the risk.
Hera looked over at Velkan. Though he was clearly the man of the house, Anna was obviously the one that ran the show. She needed an ally and Hera had a sneaking suspicion that the prince was far more willing to trust and defend her than Anna was. If she could convince Velkan, she could work on Anna later.
"You are Prince Velkan Valerious – her older brother," she stated gently, holding his gaze. "Your father's name is Boris. Your mother's name was Katarina. She died almost twelve years ago. She was killed by Aleera – Count Dracula's youngest, and if we're being truthful, his most psychotic bride."
Anna and Velkan both stared in wonderment.
"Your family is in a feud with the Count – has been for centuries. He was sired by your ancestor, Valerious the Elder, and your family has been trying to destroy him ever since. But now, the only survivors of your line are you two and your father, who has gone to Rome in search of assistance. How am I doing so far?"
"Who are you?" Anna asked very carefully. "And how do you know these things?"
The truth of it was, some of that information was completely new to Hera, and where in her brain it had come from, she couldn't be certain. Perhaps she had read it before and her survival instincts were allowing her to suddenly recall it? Either way, she wasn't about to let them know that.
"I'm from the future," she repeated instead. "Your past, present, and future are nothing but history to me."
"You really are not of our time, then, aren't you?" Velkan asked her, very intrigued. "What year are you from?"
Hera told them and Anna had to sit down.
"I don't believe it," she whispered. "So wait a minute, if you're from the future, how did you get here, to our time?"
Hera shrugged as she looked over at the princess.
"I have no idea," was her honest response. "I was over at my friend's house – her name is Hailey – and I was watching a movie… and the next thing I know I'm in the laboratory in Castle Frankenstein, and Dracula is feeding from the doctor and then the monster escaped and then Dracula blamed it on me, and the last thing I remember was Velkan saving me…" and the two women looked over at the prince who was just openly staring at Hera in astonishment.
He soon became conscious of their glances and he cleared his throat, regaining his composure.
"So you just… got here and you don't know how?" he clarified. Hera nodded.
"That's right."
"So wait a moment – if you know all about us and Dracula, does that mean you know the outcome of this war? Does it even end?" Anna asked eagerly.
"Yes, I know," Hera answered softly.
"So how do we defeat Dracula?"
Hera went to open her mouth and tell them but something – what exactly she couldn't be sure – but something kept her from saying it. She was thinking it in her head – werewolf venom… Van Helsing kills Dracula – but she couldn't get the words out. Something had stopped her tongue.
"I can't say," Hera finally managed. Anna shot her a look.
"You mean you won't."
"Get me a piece of paper and a pen. Let me see if I can write it out."
Anna fetched the necessary materials and handed them to Hera, but when Hera attempted to write, the ink miraculously dried up before the quill could even touch the paper. After getting over the initial surprise, Hera realized – if she told them the truth about Dracula, Van Helsing, and what was to come, she would severely alter the course of history, which would undoubtedly change the future. Perhaps that's why she couldn't speak.
But then why was she here in the first place, if not to change or do something?
"You really can't tell us, can you?" Velkan said.
"I'm sorry, but that appears to be the case. I wish I could, truly, but something seems to be stopping me."
"Perhaps we aren't meant to know?"
"Velkan, don't be ridiculous," Anna interrupted. "It's clear she knows something – you can see it on her face. She's just keeping it to herself. What do you want for this information? Money? Power? You are more than welcome to rule and lead this people if you can give my family a way to rid ourselves of Dracula once and for all. Or are you secretly working for him and the danger Velkan says you were in was only a ruse?"
"Anna, that's enough."
"But she knows how to defeat Dracula, Velkan! We can't just ignore that!"
"I would help you if I could," Hera promised, but it was clear Anna still wasn't sure.
"And how are we to know that? For centuries, our ancestors have fought to put an end to Dracula, to protect our people. And for centuries they have all died in vain."
"I understand that, Anna, but I…"
"Anna, back off," Velkan interrupted. "Let it go."
"Maybe you're asking me the wrong question," Hera offered in hopes of at least appearing more compliant. "I want to help you, Anna. Truly, I do. I can't tell you how to kill Dracula, but maybe I can tell you something else."
This seemed to placate the princess and her features softened somewhat, though she continued to stand in a defensive position. Anna nodded to Velkan, silently encouraging him to continue and the prince returned his attention to their guest.
"Hera, are you able to tell us who wins this war? Do any of us survive? Does it ever end?"
Hera paused for a moment, not because she didn't know, but because she wanted to know how best to articulate the truth. Anna was on the verge of getting impatient again when Hera finally spoke.
"That depends on what you mean. Everyone dies in this feud," and she looked into the eyes of both siblings before continuing, "Everyone on both sides."
The solemnity in the room was oppressive.
"I'm sorry to be the bearer of such awful news," she added. "But I do know how each of you dies… I may not be able to tell you directly, but perhaps I can help prevent it," she offered.
"Won't that change the course of the future?" Anna asked with noted bitterness, only earning another scolding look from Velkan.
"Perhaps – perhaps not. But I can try," she replied. "It's the least I could do. I can also tell you that the curse on your family is lifted when Dracula is finally defeated. Generations of the Valerious line will finally be able to enter the gates of St. Peter. There is peace at the end of this war, Anna… and maybe, with my knowledge, I can help make sure at least both of you can live to see that peace."
That silence lingered once more as the two women held the other's gaze, Hera's expression full of pleading for trust, Anna's terribly conflicted. The princess's instincts were telling her that perhaps this stranger could be trusted, but her suspicions continued to linger.
At long last, Anna finally looked away and started to head for the door, the movement dispelling the tension.
"The sun will be rising in a couple of hours. You should get some more rest while it's still dark out," she managed. "Velkan, come on. She's all right. She can sleep by herself."
"You mean I can stay?" Hera asked.
Anna and Velkan exchanged looks.
"For now, yes," Anna relented. "We'll discuss the details of your stay in the morning. Should you feel the need to go exploring, I suggest you stay indoors until Velkan and I decide what is to be done."
"Thank you, Anna. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you."
Anna said nothing and walked out into the hall. Velkan stood from his chair beside Hera's bed to follow after his sister.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," he said kindly.
Hera smiled warmly at him, the curvature of her lips doing astonishing things to his insides.
"Thank you."
Anna moved in front of her bother and grabbed the handle of the door to shut it.
"Good night," the princess said with as much civility as she could muster before shutting the door and heading down the hall, her brother following close behind.
"You know Anna, you don't have to be so cold. She didn't do anything wrong."
Anna turned around and sent her brother a censorious look.
"Velkan, let me clarify for you what just happened in the last few hours and then maybe you can understand how I'm feeling. First – you find some strange woman who claims to be from the future in the clutches of our family's greatest enemy and for reasons beyond both of us, he happens to spare her. Second – this woman happens to know things, things no person should know, and the most important details she can or won't share with us. Third – the fact that we all die trying to defeat Dracula I find – and I'm certain you will concur – very upsetting. And finally, have you taken a moment to consider what would happen if Dracula found out the truth about her, if everything she says happens to be true? What if he discovers she's alive and well and living under our roof? What if he learns who she is and what she knows – do you realize what potential danger that woman has placed us in? She is going to jeopardize our very existence, Velkan…"
"Actually, it sounds like our existences were rather jeopardized to begin with."
"I don't care if I'm meant to die, but I will not die because of her!" she snapped quietly so the servants wouldn't overhear her.
Velkan started to smile. He always found that his sister looked rather hilarious when she was upset.
"Are you finished?" he asked teasingly.
"I suppose."
"You promise you won't interrupt me?" he added and she sent him a look, trying hard not to smile.
"I'm not making any promises."
"Anna, did you ever consider what would happen if she indeed got into the wrong hands?" Anna opened her mouth to speak, but Velkan's hand stopped her abruptly. "And another thing, did it ever occur to you that if Dracula got a hold of Hera, there's no telling what he'd do? She knows everything about us, Anna. Alright, perhaps not everything, but she knows more than we do. She knows how we die. She knows how to kill Dracula. She knows the outcome of this war – and probably how it ends and who will be there. She's from the future, so she has an upper hand on all of us, and if Dracula gets control of her, he could somehow force it out of her and then we really wouldn't stand a chance against him."
He could see the wheels turning in Anna's stubborn head and he continued to drive home his point.
"So she knows how we die – but think about it. The information she has I'm certain is what would happen without her presence in our lives. Maybe she can save us. Perhaps she can help us make our own history. Either way, whether you trust her or not, we can't let her go, Anna. You know that. If she ends up in Dracula's power, we don't stand a chance in hell. We're much better off with her at least in our possession than without her. I propose she stay with us, as a guest, at the very least until Father gets home."
The look his sister sent him was priceless.
"A guest? Are you mad? I say we throw her in a dungeon and hide the key until we can be sure of her allegiance."
"If we imprisoned her, she'd have no reason to help us."
"I could give her a reason."
"Trust me, Anna. We're much better off if we treat her like a guest, make her want to help us. Besides, we could use her insight, her knowledge. It would be better if we had her on our side of the board, because if we throw her to the wolves…"
"We're dead anyway," she finished reluctantly. "I know. I just… I don't like this, Velkan."
"You don't think she can be trusted?"
"I don't know. It's too early to tell. I just really don't like the idea of having her around us if and when Dracula finds out about her. And you know he will. He'll stop at nothing to get her once he knows."
"That's why we keep all of this really quiet for the present until we can devise a better plan. Maybe we can make an alliance with Hera and she'll allow us to protect her from the Count. She might actually be able to help us win this war, Anna. I genuinely believe that with her help, at the very least, one of us could survive to see the end of it."
Anna managed a smile as Velkan took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Can she stay?"
"You're leaving the decision up to me?" she practically shouted. He chuckled.
"I'm making you responsible, Anna."
She rolled her eyes in defeat, shrugging his hands off her shoulders.
"Fine, she can stay. But she's under your charge, Velkan. I don't need or want to baby-sit anyone."
"Fair enough. Shall I write Father, or do you want to?"
"Let me," she replied with a heavy sigh. Velkan wrapped his arms around his sister and hugged her before kissing her on the head.
"Thank you, baby sister."
"I'm not a child, imbecile," she exclaimed, punching him in the chest. Velkan laughed as he headed towards his private chambers.
"Goodnight Anna!"
"I hate you, Velkan," she teased and then they parted ways, disappearing into their respective rooms to get some much needed rest, totally unaware that three pairs of attentive ears had been listening in the entire time.
A slender hand with long nails pressed against the glass of a window, looking in on the woman who lay asleep in the guest bedroom. The watcher's teal colored eyes were fixed on the stranger, the scent of her master faint yet discernable. The observer's dark, silky hair blew in the breeze as she crawled about the outer walls of the house like some sort of creature not entirely bound by gravity. Another woman slinked over to her, her curly blonde hair and insanely yellow eyes almost luminous in the moonlight.
"Where is Aleera?" the dark haired one asked, clearly the leader.
The blonde shrugged, her fangs peeking out from behind her rosy lips as she looked in at the sleeping mortal in the guest bedroom.
"I don't know. But did you hear what the Valerious were saying?" she purred.
"Yes. We must inform the master," the other replied and she continued to look in. "I can smell him on this one," she said softly, her fangs lengthening as jealousy began to course through her dead veins. "Her neck is untainted. Why would he leave this one untouched?"
"We mustn't question the master, Verona," the blonde replied. "He knows best."
"That's why the monster is dead and the doctor has gone with him," someone replied from the shadows.
The two women looked over to see a redheaded female had just joined them.
"Aleera, where have you been?" Verona asked.
"Keeping an eye out while you two eavesdrop."
"Marishka, are you sure there is nothing more to be heard?" Verona asked.
The one called Marishka nodded obediently.
"Princess Anna and Prince Velkan have gone to rest."
"What of the stranger?" Aleera asked.
Verona looked back into the bedroom at Hera.
"She could pose a threat to our master if we are not careful," Verona replied. "He should have killed her when he had the chance."
"He did not know, Verona. Do not be so angry with the master," Marishka said. "He is good to us. Do not fixate your frustration and disappointment of the experiment on him. It is not his fault."
Verona hissed angrily at Marishka and the two younger vampires cowered back slightly.
"Do not speak on something of which you know little to nothing about, Marishka," Verona growled, her eyes glowing. "The creature has been destroyed and the doctor is dead. Our children will never live. Does that mean nothing to you?"
"Of course it means something. I have been waiting almost as long as you for our children to live. You are not the only one who has been disappointed this night, Verona."
"Sisters, the sun will be rising soon. We must return to the master. He is expecting us," Aleera interrupted.
"Aleera is right," Verona concurred, masking her despair with a façade of duty. "Besides, we are not the only ones to have endured disappointment this night."
The other two nodded solemnly.
"The poor master," Marishka sighed.
"Come sisters. Let us go to him," Verona said, but before she could take off, Aleera replied,
"Can we get something to eat first? I'm famished."
The eldest bride rolled her eyes.
How that young one could be hungry at a time like this was beyond her. The mere thought of her children that would never live stole any appetite Verona could have had.
"No. We have lingered too long already."
"But Verona…"
"I said no!" she snapped, eyes glowing a brilliant teal and filled with violent impatience. The two younger brides cowered in submission until Verona took off into the night sky, Marishka and Aleera begrudgingly following close behind.
Although it was clear Verona's temper was born out of disappointment, Aleera was too proud to let Verona's brush-off go. She had grown weary of the eldest bride's sense of superiority over her. Although their master claimed to feel for them in equal measure, it was clear Verona had always been his closest companion, his confidant; which left Aleera to use her other wiles to vie for her master's attention.
She challenged Verona's authority whenever she could, quick to defy, but also eager to please her master by any means necessary. Aleera was determined to prove that her master only needed one bride – her.
As they neared the icy fortress, Aleera quickly picked up speed as if their arrival were a race. Verona usually landed first – she was often first in everything, since she had been with Dracula the longest. But in the last few months, Aleera had taken to turning everything into a competition with Verona and the eldest bride understood that the redhead was no threat to take lightly.
Like Marishka, Aleera's energy, feistiness, and bed-habits greatly appealed to their master, whereas Verona had always been more of the passionate, deeply devoted lover type.
But little did any of them know that their master viewed them all as little more than sumptuous bedfellows in the day and servants to do his bidding in the night. He cared for them on some partially superficial level or other, but Dracula had never loved them. His brides were an hour's worth of pleasure and conveniently free labor at best. The majority of the female sex – at least the ones he had come across in his four hundred years of living – proved to be little else.
Soon, the three brides arrived home, tens of thousands of unborn progeny hanging from the ceiling of the monstrous foyer as they walked toward the set of stairs that led to the master's office in the north tower. Marishka practically skipped and danced down the hall while Verona argued with Aleera about how wearisome her defiance had become.
"I had told you to stay close when we went to check in on the Valerious and you vanished during the entire duration of that time, only deciding to make an appearance just as we were ready to leave. Aleera, I have grown weary of your disobedience," Verona insisted.
"You're not my master!" the redhead snapped back.
"No, but he left me in charge. You never do as you're told and your indolence and pride are going to get you or the rest of us killed one of these days."
"I'm not lazy! How dare you question me! Who was it who took care of one of those men who tried to kill us the last time the master sent us out? Who was it who broke the prince's weapon when he tried to shoot the master?"
"You seduced the man! You played with him instead of getting to point," Verona contended.
"Either way, I do my share around here, Verona! Just because you're the oldest, doesn't make you our ruler!"
"Master!" Marishka squealed as they entered the room, Count Dracula sitting at a beautiful oak desk in a large, black leather chair, the material as smooth and slick as him.
The Count looked up at his brides as they entered the room and he didn't even bother to fake a pleased smile. He had been enjoying the reprieve from their mournful cries and though it seemed like Aleera had quickly moved on from the travesty of the evening, Marishka was at least pretending to be happy for his sake and Verona looked thoroughly exhausted.
Marishka was the first to approach his desk, leaning against the edge, clearly in need of attention.
"You'll never guess what news we got for you," she began.
The Count looked over at Aleera and Verona, who he noticed had just been arguing and though their presence did little for him, the tension made him smirk. He secretly loved watching these women fight. It was more amusing than anything else that went on around here, and though he was still put out by the events of the evening, he welcomed the distraction.
"How pertinent is this information, Verona?" he asked his eldest as Marishka stood behind him and massaged his shoulders while Aleera took her seat on the floor at his feet, resting her head obediently on his thigh. The Count instinctively stroked his youngest bride's head as she showered his remaining hand in kisses.
"It's nothing to worry about master," Aleera chimed.
"I didn't ask you, Aleera. I asked Verona," he replied with a noted degree of ice and the woman hushed immediately as he looked back at Verona, who had what appeared to be a slightly satisfied curve in her lips. "Continue my dear."
"I believe it could be of grave importance if we do not remain attentive."
"Let's start with the woman's name."
"Her name is Hera Garret. She appears to be about five-and-twenty, and she's from the future."
"What year?" Dracula asked casually.
When Verona told him, he stood up from his seat suddenly; much to his two younger brides' dismay and he began to pace about the room.
"Does she pose any kind of immediate threat?" he asked, making this an open question now.
"Well, considering she's from the future, that means she knows things," Marishka chimed in.
"Yes, but what kind of things? Is she ignorant to the past, or is she knowledgeable?"
Verona sat down on the sofa, watching her master pace.
"I fear she knows things," she confirmed gently, her voice unsettling and slightly deep. "Things that could prove detrimental to all of us if we are not careful."
The Count noticed the hint of concern in his eldest bride's voice and he didn't like it. Verona sounded worried and the last thing he wanted was all three of his brides being too afraid to obey his commands.
He allowed a sympathetic smile to curve his thin lips as he made his way over to the sofa and sat beside her, tenderly caressing her hair out of her face.
"What kind of things, my pet?" he asked with noted gentleness, his face inching towards hers where he placed a soft kiss on her forehead in an effort to soothe her. He ensnared her with tremendous ease, banishing her fears, her uncertainty, and her disappointment from this evening with an ardent kiss.
The other two brides began to whine and croon when the Count led Verona onto his lap, each taking a seat on either side of him so they could fawn over him, vying for the attention they so desperately sought.
"What does she know, Verona?" he repeated in sensuous tones.
"She knows the outcome of the war, who dies, when they die and how. She even knows your weakness, master," Verona purred and she nuzzled her face into his neck.
The Count's eyes widened somewhat at that piece of news, but he hid his concern well.
"Did she tell them, my sweet?"
"No, master. Though she tried, but something prevented her."
"At least for the present."
"She's dangerous," she whimpered into his neck, gently stroking his chest with her hand.
Dracula couldn't help but smirk as his three brides soon began to do what they willed with his clothes and to his body. He let them, understanding their need for reassurance, though his mind was more agreeably engaged with the memory of those sharp, honey colored eyes of this Hera he had met earlier in the evening. So she was eager to help the Valerious, was she? Even after he threatened to take her life.
The Count would never admit it, but he admired her bravery… or stupidity, whichever it was.
"She was probably bluffing," Dracula assured his brides. "I am certain that this Hera Garret is of no real threat to us."
"Shall we gather her for you, my lord?" Marishka purred in his ear. "She could make a lovely play-thing."
"No. The Valerious will be on their guard now, so just leave her be for the present. But I want you to keep an eye on her my lovelies… I want to know everything about this woman, what she is really about. We must determine if she is neutral in this war or not and if the latter, we will need to persuade her to our side."
"Why not just kill her and get it over with?" Aleera asked, hand slipping between his and Verona's bodies so she could reach his belt.
"Because we may need her as leverage if the Valerious brats thwart any more of our plans."
"How will we convince her to help us?" Marishka breathed, voice hitched when her master unfastened the front of her top, revealing her full and flawless breasts to his greedy eyes.
As Aleera's hand boldly found Dracula's length within his pants, Verona continued to kiss and suckle his neck. He took Marishka's recently exposed nipple between two fingers and lightly pinched, the action inspiring her to seek his mouth with hers as he fondled the sensitive flesh.
"You leave that to me," the Count replied between kisses. "When the time comes, leave all of that to me."
Hope you enjoyed these last two chapters.
Now, some answers to a few of the questions that cropped up in the last round of reviews:
IOAP Veteran – yes, that quote you mentioned was part of the original. I'm pleased you remembered! I may resurrect my conversations with the muse, but that depends entirely on him. ;) He's been hard at work, helping me in reassessing and plotting out Eternal Night. Sadly, we haven't had a proper dialogue in some time. May need to rectify that.
ForeverACharmedOne – I was channeling old Rumple in light of the way A&E have totally massacred that character and the show. It's the only thing I can do to keep myself from angrily weeping each time I think of the most recent season finale. That show. That freaking show.
Angels in Parachutes – The original version was 52 chapters + an Epilogue. The newest version (in which I broke up some of the lengthier sections) is now 64 chapters + the Epilogue, so 65 in total. You're all in for quite the ride! Also, yes, Isis was a new addition. When I rewrote the first chapter, I had this need to give Hera a furry companion and thus, Isis was born. Glad you approve! As for the additional changes, I plan to point out the major rewrites and alterations for certain chapters as they come, but there is a lot of subtler stuff spread throughout. If you catch something you don't recognize and want to know if it's new, feel free to ask! And lastly – for musical inspiration while editing – I was listening to a lot of dark string pieces, and quite a few piano solos. If I have music on at all while I edit, I try to have it be strictly instrumental, so I don't get distracted by lyrics, and the volume is very low – always on the fringes, so it sets a tone but doesn't disturb my process. I also try to read aloud when I can to make sure things flow properly.
MissVD – I comb through each chapter a few more times before finally posting them and as of right now, my current schedule does not allow me to do more than one update a week (for the present, anyway). But if that changes, you'll know :) Best of luck on your exams! And for the record, your English is very good for it not being your first language! You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your grasp of the language appears to even be stronger than that of some native speakers!
FaillinAngelGirl - I believe the story you're referring to is The Eighth Deadliest Sin - and it was an Dracula/OC romance. I would certainly like to revisit it someday - give it a thorough scrubbing and tightening up - but I fear that won't be happening any time soon. Right now, I'm up to my eye-balls in my Eternal Night trilogy (which is still in the earlier stages). I'm happy you remember these stories though and I hope that you'll enjoy this revamped version of Ink on a Page as much as you did the original! :)
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If you guys have any more questions, let me know! I always love hearing your thoughts on the chapter(s) – your impressions, any changes you noticed, what you liked and didn't like, any suggestions for further improvement; I'm open to all of it, so send me a review!
Thanks again for stopping by and I'll see you in the next chapter.