So, just let you know, one of my other characters from one of my other stories is mentioned in this chapter. I wanted to show a more playful side to Dracula. I hope you all enjoy.

...

Vlad looked around as he tried to find Gwen. All he could see were gravestones, some of which he would recoil from until he found her. She was staring up at a peculiar statue as he cautiously came up behind her. He looked up, wondering why the statue of a näcken was in a cemetery and why it looked so familiar.

"I suppose her family didn't want her to be lonely," she muttered.

"What?" he questioned as he looked at her.

"All of her family is paired off," she pointed out, "but she isn't."

He looked around to see that she was right, and then looked at the script on the headstone itself.
"'Demeter Evegene McNair, born May 13, 1725 and died December 30, 1788. A rebel until the very day she died.' Hmm, it's a shame that I never got to meet her. She sounds like my kind of woman."

"Vlad," Gwen scolded.

"What?" he chuckled before pausing, "I had heard of a pirate by the name of McNair… Wonder if she has any relation to him."

"Who knows," Gwen responded. "Where is this cemetery?"

"Scotland," he answered. Upon gazing at the statue, he smirked as he playfully shoved Gwen. "You have his eyes."

"What?" she asked before looking, "No I don't."

He laughed as he guided her away from the grave with her smirking up at him before glancing over her shoulder at the grave. "How have you been since I last saw you?"

"They sent me back to the orphanage that morning," she replied as he winced. "I want to say thank you if you were the last nail in the coffin. So, thank you."

"You're welcome," he mumbled in confusion.

"Other than that, it's been rather uneventful," she commented, "How about you?"

"Trying not to get slain lately," he answered as they sat on a bench and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"How often do they try?" she asked.

"I've been slain more times than I can count," he muttered before smirking, "their problem is that I keep coming back."

"You must be a very powerful vampire if that is the case," she mentioned in a moment of awe.

"I am," he replied in a prideful tone.

"That must be exhausting from time to time."

"It is. That is why I tend to travel after a while. It breaks the monotony."

"I'd like to travel. It would be nice to get away from everything for a bit."

"It gets lonely, though."

"Is it more lonely than being surrounded by people and feeling like you're not even there?"

Vlad thought about it before he sighed, "No, it's not."

They sat there in silence for a while, just thinking. Vlad turned as Gwen intertwined her fingers into his over her shoulder. He smiled softly before looking out over the graveyard, watching the mists come in. He didn't think anything of it when she leaned against him. They simply enjoyed the quiet as well as the scenery, but mostly they were enjoying the company. Vlad was enjoying not having to worry about keeping appearances or show that he was still Lord of the Vampires. Gwen was enjoying not having someone judge her as they were few and far in between.

He didn't know how long they sat there like that before he realized that he was supposed to be teaching her how to dance. She looked up at him in confusion as he stood until he offered her his hand, which she took. As he twirled her around, the scenery changed to a massive ballroom full of his many servants. He had her in an ornate, red ball gown as he wore more formal attire as well. She looked around at their surroundings before looking up to him in uncertainty.

"But I've only had one lesson," she objected.

"You'll be fine," he countered, "Just trust me."

He made sure to start off slow for her sake as she followed his lead perfectly. He could tell that she was having some difficulties, especially with the dress, but he paid them no mind. His servants thought nothing of it, except for maybe her young age. However, they had enough intellect to know better than to comment to him about it. She was catching on quick as he decided to up the ante and challenge her with something more complicated. At first, it threw her off, but eventually she caught on and started keeping pace. He was very impressed that she was doing so well.

"I can't believe it," she stated, "I never catch on this quick."

"Is that so?" he inquired.

"Yeah, I always have to keep on trying until I finally master a move," she answered. "I love dancing, but I'm just not very good at it."

"What makes a dancer good is their passion," he stated, "not their talent."

She blushed with a smile as she lowered her head. He twirled her around when a grin on his face as he pulled her in closer. He told her that as she got older, he would teach her more complicated dances. She smiled in excitement at the thought as she beamed up at him. They continued to waltz amongst his servants as they turned to watch him and her. Slowly, they had begun to fade all around them as they continued on dancing.

Vlad turned when it was only the two of them left as he finally stopped. With a turn, they were back in the cemetery again at the bench they were previously at. He wrapped an arm around her as she snuggled into him. Looking back at the statue, he sneered as he realized why the näcken looked so familiar.

"Vlad?" she questioned.

"I just realized why that statue looked so familiar," he growled.

"Oh?"

"He is a ruler of the faeries, the Erlkönig. I had faced him and his brother once before when I resided in my original form."

"Your original form?"

"Yes, it was destroyed ultimately and I had received this one, which I have held onto greedily." He grinned evilly as he prodded her, "Do you want to know the funny thing now?"

"What?" she asked.

"I look like I could almost pass as his brother's twin now," he chuckled. "It has been a thorn in their sides ever since they found out."

"You are positively prime evil," she stated.

"I hope that was two words," he warned teasingly.

"But of course," she countered, pulling another chuckle from him.

He paused when she stood and then crawled into his lap as she snuggled against him again. He hugged her close as he leaned back. She was still too small for him to recline his head against hers, but he had a feeling that she would reach her growth spurt soon enough. He breathed in her scent nonetheless as she relaxed. He knew he was getting ready to lose her as she snuggled some more against him. For as long as he could, he held onto her as she faded in his arms.

Gwen opened her eyes sleepily and rubbed them as she sat up. The children around her were in various stages of waking up. She looked up to see Miss Kari walking up to her. She sat there waiting, knowing she was going to call her, "Lazy Critter," her favorite nickname for her and then tell her to hurry. As she suspected, everything played out as she walked to the phone to talk with Mr. G. She was rubbing her eyes as she put the receiver to her ear.

"Being lazy again today, are we Gwennie?" Mr. G teased.

"I like sleeping in, I hope you know, Mr. Early Bird," she replied, sticking out her tongue.

He chuckled, "I know that very well, my little Night Owl." She beamed at that. "So, what have you been up to lately, besides being lazy?"

"I'm starting to learn tap dancing, and Mr. Renaldo has me practicing opera," she answered, "and DJ took me out to lunch yesterday."

"He went for tacos again, didn't he?" he implored.

"Uh huh," Gwen commented.

"With his love for tacos, it's a wonder his other choices," he stated.

"That is surprisingly dirty for you, Mr. G," she muttered.

"I've had a bunch of the youth hanging around here," he admitted.

"Red?" Gwen asked anxiously.

"Now, you know that she doesn't like me Gwennie," he remarked.

"Oh," she pouted before she thought about something, "Mr. G could you tell me about the Erlkönig, please?"

"Did your dreamscape friend tell you about him?" He implored.

...

MsN: Yay!

Alucard: Well aren't you just peachy?

MsN: I am!

Chase: Good, then GET BACK TO MY STORY!

Alucard: Your story?