-
Dracula entered his room to find his two beautiful brides, Verona and Aleera, standing there. "Not tonight, my loves." he apologized, brushing Verona's hand and kissing Aleera's cheek. "Why not my lord?" Aleera whined. "I have important business to attend to tonight." he responded, and took flight.
Dracula landed in Anna's garden a few minutes later. Anna herself was perched on a bench gazing listlessly off into space. Dracula sensed great distree coming from her and walked up behind her touching her hand. Anna flinched and whirled around to face him. "Count" she whispered. Dracula examined her tear-streaked face. "Why have you been crying my love?" "My brother is dead and I want you to leave." Anna said, back away from him. "Is that what you really want?" Dracula asked quietly. He moved closer to her.
"No" Anna said in resistance before his lips covered hers rendering speech impossible. Anna couldn't fight him. She just couldn't as she starting crying on him quietly. Dracula let her cry herself silent softly stroking her hair. "My love I know there is nothing that can replace your loss. But I would like to cheer you up a bit." Dracula started stroking her cheek. "I am hosting another mascarade ball tommorrow night at the palace. I would find pleasure in your attendance"
"No way." Anna refused. "Why not? Please say you will come." Anna began to refuse again, but he gently planted a kiss on the corner of her mouth, stopping her. He continued with this gentle torture until she finally choked out. "Yes, I will come"
"Splendid," Dracula said, smiling. "Then I will see you tommorrow night."
-
Anna found Van Helsing in the library the next day. "I know where Dracula is going to be and we have to kill him this time." Anna said. "I know. I received an invitation to his ball. I suppose you received one as well." Van Helsing answered. Anna gasped silently to herself when Van Helsing turned and she saw the invitation in his hands. What is Dracula up to? Anna worried. "You need to be on your guard Anna. He's inviting us into his own territory. He will have the advantage no matter what we do." Van Helsing warned her. "Of course." Anna replied.
-
Anna adjusted her pale cream-colored dress as she approached the doors of the palace. Van Helsing checked to make sure his weapons were well hidden beneath his costume. Van Helsing pulled his black mask over his face as Anna pulled her silver one over hers. They reached the doors and they were opened pulled open by the servants on either side. Anna stepped onto the marble floor and looked around at the other guests. It was a small group not as grand a ball as the last one she had attended. She turned around only to find that she had been separated from Van Helsing by a small group of guests. She watched as Van Helsing became engaged by a young woman in a rosy pink dress. Then she felt breath on the back of her neck. "You look beautiful tonight Anna." She turned to face Dracula wearing a gold mask. "Shall we dance my lady?" he said, taking her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor. Anna danced with him, but mostly ignored him as she tried to spy where Van Helsing had gotten to. "You seem distracted tonight my lady." he spoke drawing her attention back to him for a moment. "Why did you invite Van Helsing? What are you up to Count?" Anna questioned him. "Ah, well my brides insisted they wanted at least once dance with him. So I had to invite him." Dracula smirked. A shriek of high-pitched laughter broke through the music of the ball. The other guests cleared the room and shut the doors leaving Dracula, Anna, Van Helsing and his dance partner alone. Aleera's red hair spilled out from her elegant bun as she cackled again at Van Helsing. Aleera's pink ball dress was torn up straight up to her thigh. "My my Mr. Van Helsing," Aleera laughed. "Were you wanting to see something of me?" Van Helsing didn't answer just pulled out another stake. Verona launched herself from the balchony at Van Helsing in winged form. Van Helsing dodged her only to have Aleera attack him next in her winged form. "Van Helsing!" Anna cried and tried to go help him. Dracula held her against him, not allowing her to. "Now Anna just ignore them. They will settle their differences on their own and so will we." Dracula brushed her neck with his fangs. Anna swallowed hard. "Not a chance Count!" she said, pulling out her own hidden stake. Dracula playfully knocked the stake away. "Anna I only want to be with you. Isn't that what you want as well my darling?" He poised his fangs over her neck waiting for her response. Before Anna got a chance to answer Van Helsing noticed Dracula's movement and launched a stake at him. The brides swooped in on him again, but the stake pierced Dracula in the back causing him to snarl in pain and bite into Anna's neck. The world seemed to rush by before her eyes as Anna felt her life drain away. Dracula came to his senses and ripped the stake from his back. He crouched down keeping Anna's head up and bit his own wrist. He held his wrist to her mouth and she began to drink. The blood flowed past Anna's lips. She tried to stop, but it was so tempting to just keep drinking. She was so thirsty even though it felt like fire and glass were being forced through her veins. "No!" Van Helsing yelled as Anna drank the Count's blood. Aleera lunged straight at Van Helsing determined to finish him this time now that her master had what he wanted. Van Helsing dodged her claws and rammed his stake into her with all this pain and fury. Verona screamed and flew off. Van Helsing didn't miss a beat and ran at Dracula slicing into his arm causing him to drop Anna. Van Helsing grabbed Anna and ran for his life while hoping, praying he could still save her.