Chapter7 Aleera's attempt and A Hidden plan.

A/n: This chapter is up at last.....I am kind of busy, so sorry about the delay. Okay......if you see the word 'transition' it means change of scene, from one to another. The time of the scene is still the same as the previous chapter; take the word 'transition' as 'meanwhile'

Transylvania, the village

Gabriel and Celeste-Celeste decided to tag along, while Carl listened to Gabriel and stay at the house, were now walking in the alley where Ana was taken away, hoping to find some clues or witnesses, but none was found. Just then, Gabriel sensed something......

"Celeste, something evil is heading this way......"

She looked at him with surprise, but before she could say a thing, he continued,

"C'mon, let's hide somewhere," he whispered and grabbed the both of them before retreating into the dark corner just behind them.

(Transition)

Dracula strode back to his room, silence anger burned within him, but he regretted his action as well, he had not yet learns how to control his emotions. He had been resurrected immediately after two years from his second death and now he had 'lived' for only a few months, 4 months, to be exact, and things had been happening, but he would not take things for granted. The devil told him to destroy the real last valerious, either by killing or by turning her into one of his, as in kind, or else he would pay deadly.

His task would soon to be complete tomorrow night, after the masked ball- that would be held in another location unknown to Gabriel, he knew he would save her, but even if he found out, he would be unsuccessful-where he would claim her. Walking across the velvet carpet to his throne-that was carved in stone, giving an ancient yet a royal look, he unclasped his stained cape and threw it to a corner before sitting.

His dark eyes flickered idly as he sat on his throne, in a grand room, draped in royal red velvet curtains. The room was dark, but a row of candelabras was place at one side of the room, giving it an eerie, flickering and almost gloomy atmosphere. The room was made as his personal study room or library, one might say. As he sat, he began to ponder about the incident, truly, he did go a bit far, but perhaps he will comfort her once again.

Sighing, he looked down to the ground, he was feeling hungry and need to feed but he could not help wondering about the strange things had happened and he could not explain it. He could feel and love...again. Just as he was pondering, muttering and sighing away, he heard a sound, looking up, he saw Aleera, standing at a corner, wearing a timid yet sly smile. She had somehow managed to lure Marishka away with one of her lies, one that gave her enough time to be together with her master.

The dark prince gave a frown, "Aleera, who gave you the permission to enter?" he growled lowly-in no mood to attend to her needs, gesturing to the closed door behind her.

"Master, I just want to know that you are fine," she whispered, looking to the ground. She was now trying to gain sympathy from him and well, succeeded.

He growled once again and she looked up at him with those innocent look, his growl changed into a frown when he noticed that he, himself could not bear to do that. Sighing once again, he spoke in a soothing voice, "Come here, Aleera," signaling her to come to him. He had enough of those and could not bear to hurt any of his brides anymore.

She looked at his master with hesitation and reluctantly came over and stopped in front of his throne, unsure of what to do next. Dracula smiled and gestured her to sit on his knees, which she did so willingly and quickly.

"My lord," she purred while rubbing her face against his, "What can I be of you?" She then tilted her chin back, so that her long throat passed against his lips, yes, she knew about his hunger from the color of his face.

Dracula's hunger stirred greatly within him and he could not help but mouthed her throat as they pass, his canines grazing and he grabbed both of her hands, which stopped her action, "Perhaps you would like to spare me some sweet blood of yours, my dear..."

Upon hearing that, she knew the chance of seducing his master was high, because ever since his latest resurrection, he had not drank from any of his brides nor mate and will do so sooner or later. She quickly began to free herself from his grasp-a dirty plan of hers forming, and leaped off his knees. Holding one of his hands; she began to lead him out of the room and into her chamber.

There, she walked to the side of her bed-all of his brides' room had a bed, which is for well, you-know-what, and threw herself upon it, where she smiled up at her master and tugged at his still linked hand. Dracula frowned once again, how could she though of such things?

"No, Aleera," he commanded in a harsh and cold tone, his hunger started to irritate him as well as his bride.

She whined and tugged at his hand again, sighing, he bended down, attempting to give her a kiss and somehow persuade her to let him go, he must really go and feed now. His hunger was driving him crazy and he knew that if she did not let go, he would ended up feeding on her and perhaps more.

She knew too, of course. Her hands wrapped around his neck as he bended toward her, she began to apply pressure to his neck, forcing him to lower his whole body, but as he was standing sideway of her bed, it was straining his back. "Aleera! Let go! "He growled, straining against her, but she lifted her head up and pressed her lips to his. Dracula was practically carrying the weight of her head as well, and the strain became more unbearable.

Growling, he had no choice but to move himself up to the bed to lessen the pressure she was applying.

"Aleera! Pray-let go!" He growled against her lips that had fangs gnawing against his, drawing small scratches of blood. She moaned into his mouth and added more pressure to his neck; she had never been this close to him and being that close led her to become crazier and to disobey her master. Dracula was aching, and his mind was spinning from the hunger.

"Aleera! Don't force me to do something that you will regret!" he hissed, she did not release, she knew what was to come.

He hissed once more in anger and how he must gave in and his hunger increased as he lowered himself, much to her delightment and she began to kiss his neck and wrapped her legs around his hip as he moved his mouth toward her neck.

She continued to moan as he kissed her neck, his canines slowly lengthened into fangs as his eyes changed to ice blue, he could not contain himself anymore; he must feed.......on her....

Her kissing continued as was his, his fangs brushed against the tender skin of hers, but not for long, when he descended his fangs down upon her neck, she struggled and began to push him away, but he held on to her and drained her until she stopped struggling and was moaning weakly. Dracula did meant his words when he said them.

Wiping the blood away from his mouth, he lifted himself up and walked out of her chamber. He was filled, warm, and full of the human blood that Aleera had taken.

He gave a sly smile as he walked toward a window and stared out, perhaps having his emotions rekindled was not that bad after all, but his undead heart was not beating, which he did not mind, what he had said to Anna: 'perhaps it just needs to be rekindled', was untrue though .....But at least he could control some of his emotion....but now; he wondered where his other two brides and Ana had gone to....

"That Aleera....what is she thinking?"

(Transition)

"Ana, you shall wait in the alley where no one shall find you, while I find some food...." Verona told her in her shrill demon tone as they approached toward the village and into the alley in a silence swoop and landed-Verona changing into her human form before touching the ground, with Ana in her arms. Ana leaped from her cold arms and nodded, with that, Verona stalked off into the village.

Gabriel peered out from the corner; he had seen the white winged form and knew at once, it was a bride, but not alone. With caution, he moved out and saw a figure of a lady, he continued to advance when suddenly Celeste dashed out from behind him and toward the figure.

"Celeste! No!" Too late, she had reached there and the figure was now staring at her. He ran....quickly toward them.

"Celeste?" Ana said softly as she looked at her friend, for the first time, since the incident happened.

Gabriel saw the figure, and he stopped beside Celeste to look at her, "Anna?"

Ana looked at the stranger, with a slight frown," No, I'm her twin sister, Ana."

Celeste looked at the both of them and then to Ana, one would think that she would ask a question of concern, but what she said was, "Ana.....are you a...vampire?"

Gabriel's looks turned serious upon hearing the word 'vampire', stepping closer up to her, he held her chin and looked into her grey eyes, searching for an answer.

"I.....don't....know..." came her reply as she looked back into Gabriel's brown eyes.

"No, she is not, yet," Gabriel murmured as his gaze wandered over her blood stained clothes, till a small red mark caught his attention. With one of his hands, he gently pushed the small bits of cloth up her arm, so that the mark was exposed to him fully.

He gave a frown as he studied it, "She is under a curse, the curse of a vampire....she is bonded to him..."

Ana looked up at him, a look of hope upon her face, "You are Van Helsing, aren't you?"

Gabriel looked back at her and nodded rather warmly, "Yes, I am. Now, tell me, have you ever drunk directly from a living?"

"I- ...No."

He nodded before continuing, "Good....but the most important of all, did you mate with Dracula?" Gabriel's tone was serious, he was not mocking her.

Her face flushed as she gaped at him, "M-mate....with him?" she quickly closed her mouth as the anger gathered within her, "No, never!" But her anger soon died and she added with a whisper, "But he did try..."

At that statement, Celeste gave some sort of an angry sigh, and the two looked at her for a brief moment.

Gabriel gave a smug look and said," You are strong....but that is indeed strange of him to do that.....Something is not right...."

"He is not hollow anymore....I somehow helped him to regain it back..."stated Ana, as she moved one of her hands to her head to touch the bleeding wounds.

"You fought him, didn't you?" asked Gabriel as he took out a piece of cloth to wipe the blood off her face.

Celeste stood watching them for a moment before asking, "Do you know the plans of Dracula's?"

Ana watched as Gabriel wiped the blood off her face before answering, "I heard something about the preparation for the masked ball....."

"That's it!" Gabriel whispered suddenly, he toss the blooded cloth away from her now clean and blood free face as he figured out the plan, his eyes wide with determination and hope, "tomorrow is All Hallow's Eve! He will be holding a masquerade ball. That's when we can save you, Ana!"

"But, he held it before, didn't he? He knew that you will save me like Anna, surely he does not want history to repeat itself?" she replied, brows furrowed in deep thought.

"I know, Ana, but tomorrow night, after the ball, he will make you his fully. I know his plan. We must save you, but in a surprise attempt, to catch Dracula off guard."

"Why not now? Take me away now, when Verona is still away," she snapped at the thought of having to spend one more day in that creepy and cold castle.

"Really Ana, if we rescue you now, that will cause lots of trouble and we aren't prepare for that. Trust me Ana, I'll rescue you tomorrow night, but whatever you do, don't drink directly from the living or mate with Dracula, resist him," he whispered as he handed a small silver crucifix to her. "Here, keep this."

She smiled and held the crucifix in her palm tightly before placing it in a secret place just in the inner side of her leathered riding boots, she had no other place to put, except for there and she hoped that it will somehow protect her from harm till she was rescued

"Well, I guess we should be leaving now, Gabriel," Celeste stated suddenly as she watched Ana, whom was looking at her rather sadly.

Gabriel nodded and gave a hug of comfort and trust to her, Ana smiled once again as the hug broke and turned to look at her friend, Celeste.

Celeste smiled and went to hug her as well, but it was not as warm as Gabriel's, it was as though she, her friend, was not willingly. But perhaps, Gabriel had hugged her with all his might, so the feeling was different, but still, Celeste was behaving a little odd.....

With that, Gabriel and Celeste walked away to their villages. Ana sighed as she watched them, time passed slowly as she stood in the alley, the pale light of the moon glowered above her.

Not long after, a white figure appeared in front of her instantly. Startled, she gave a gasp and stepped backward, hitting her head gently with the wall in the process.

-

-

-

TBC

R&R!! This is not a cliffy.....or it is? No, not a cliffy, really. Okay, next chapter should be up as soon as I have finished chapter 9.

But now, I need the help of reviewers! So, what should the pairing be, the outcome, etcetera ......perhaps some help about the plot. Anyone? And anyone would like to explain the ring thingy about the missing figure and stuff to me?