Chapter 4 - A night to share forever

For the next few weeks Lana felt like she was in heaven! Playing a dangerous game. Suddenly the thought of doubt entered her mind; what if the Count only thought of her as a harlot? It was uncommon for a Scottish woman to be in London, studying and not already have a man and taking care of a house hold! And well, the Scots and the English didn't exactly have a very stable relationship but they could tolerate each other to a certain extent and she still saw many English women turning up their noses at her, thinking they were better and it hurt. She didn't speak of it, but it hurt. A letter came for her, no return address. She hastely opened it.

"My dearest Selkirk,

I must go back to Transylvania for a while. I have matters to attend to and home is always so lovely. However, I shall miss you but keep your smile in my mind always. I hope you will wait for me.

Yours,

-D"

The brunette frowned and let out a sigh; it would be a while before she would see her Count again.

Lana didn't change her activities, she returned back to normal as her friends liked to say. Her paintings and drawings became more detailed, her grades went up and her teacher praised her work! She was on her road to success.

A month had passed and miss Selkirk sat on the patio with a cup of hot cocoa and cream, with a hint of whiskey in it. Her eyes were red and swollen; she'd had an argument with her room-mates and some of the things they had said had hurt her deeply. She sniffed and took a sip of her cocoa, wiping her tears and staring into the cup. Lana stood abruptly and flung the cup off the patio, the drink spilling and she saw the cup land in the mouth of an alley across the street and stormed inside; unaware of the shadowy figure just behind the cup staring at her. The Scottish woman went to her room and opened the window, looking down to the ground, hesitating before going to sit on her bed. Her bags were already out and fresh clothes for the morning were hung up neatly. She was leaving back for Scotland in the morning.

A gentle breeze blew in from the window and she felt as if she were being caressed; a touch so gentle it made her think of the Count, she hadn't thought of him in a while. She felt drowsy, with a yawn she laid down and started to dream of the Count; she dreamt she stood, having heard his voice from the window. Then she swore he had flown up to her, she took his hand, gasping as she was pulled into an embrace. She was flying! London was so beautiful at night from above. The flight ended when they landed on top of Big Ben; it was just before 2.30 in the morning.

"My Count, when di' ye come back?"

"This morning, it was a long trip so I rested. I had no time to come sooner."

"I'm gooin' home taemorrow… I-"

"Sh. Marry me, become my Countess. I want you by my side. Forever."

"Dracula! Y-ye.. I do!"

"I am glad."

She could remember a dance, and then a kiss to her neck. It felt good!

Elizabeth knocked on Lana's door, a carriage was there for her and she had no idea why; perhaps it was because of the words exchanged the evening before.

"Lana, your carriage awaits. I wish we could talk this through. Lana? Come on, please open up! Lana!"

The woman huffed and opened the door, letting out a scream. There, on the bed lay the motionless, pale body of her friend.

Lana Selkirk's body was sent back to Scotland with cause of death being natural cause. Miss Selkirk's parents were grief stricken and torn about the sudden death of their daughter. Her body was kept at the mourge of the funeral home and the man overseeing it shook his head with a frown to have such a young woman in his chambers. What he did not expect was for the girl to wake up!

"Miss Selkirk! Yer alive?!"

"W-where am I? Wha' happened? My head… I feel dizzy… please, help me."

The man rushed over, helping the young girl sit up.

"It cannae be! The English said ye were dead! We- I must get someoone!"

"Nay, stay… I … Ah'm so cold.."

"Me dear, yer freezing!"

The brunette felt an urge she could not explain and placed her lips upon the man's neck, she heard him sputter but his hands moved up her thighs and that's when she bit down. Moaning as she felt the warm blood gush past her lips and into her mouth before letting his lifeless body drop to the floor.

"Wha' happened tae me?!"

She nearly screamed and looked up to see-

"Count!"

"Come, my Countess. I will explain everything."