Search By Moonlight
Chapter Six: Enter Dracula
AN: No, not that Dracula! Read it, sweeties. By the way, this story is not my fault. The evil plot bunnies are making me do it.
In the dark of the night, life was still going on, though not in the way one would expect. One old, abandoned mansion on the outskirts of town was bustling with activity. Men and women cleaned the outside and tended to the shrubs and plants that had long been neglected and left to grow wild. The inside was busy, too; more people scrubbed the floors and made the beds, arranged furniture, and what not. In the midst of it all sat a regal, imposing young man who appeared to be in his late teens, possibly early twenties. His dark blue eyes watched the activity around him with a look of boredom and disinterest…yet somehow noticed when one of the people left a spot of dust or left a nick in a piece of furniture, as indicated by how quickly they were reprimanded.
At his side stood a woman with flowing red hair and dark, cold eyes. She was extremely attentive to her master, and she radiated negativity. "My lord, why not choose another vampire for your bride? Surely there is a better choice than her!" she asked. She was referring to a portrait that hung on the wall, framed in gold and diamonds. The portrait was of a beautiful girl with shining, flowing golden hair and cerulean blue eyes. A sweet, gentle smile was on her face, and the flowing forget-me-not blue dress served only to enhance her beauty. Her name was Beryl, and she desired the love of the man she served more than anything else.
"A vampire bride would serve only as a concubine and an amusement. I need a living maiden to fulfill my needs…I must have an heir. Another vampire cannot give me that."
"If she gives you an heir, she will die in the process…why not take someone who would last longer? I know you adore beauty like hers, but what is the use if she will fade and go out like the others?"
"I have thought of that, Beryl. She will have my child, and then I shall turn her."
"My lord!" Beryl gasped in shock, horror, and jealousy.
"Do you have something to say, Beryl?" He turned his cold, emotionless, soulless eyes to her.
"No…no, my lord."
"Very well, then. Tell Jadeite I wish to speak with him."
Minutes later, a pale youth with pale blonde hair and gray eyes entered. "You wished to speak with me, my lord?"
"You have done well, Jadeite, in finding me a suitable bride, and tracking her location so that I might win her. I trust that your other mission has been as successful?"
"I have learned all I can about the girl, sir. We have but one obstacle, and even that is easy enough to overcome."
"What obstacle? I want no risk of my plans failing at the last minute."
"The girl already has a man at her side, sir. From what I can tell, she is not married, but she is very much in love with this man…" Jadeite held up a picture of a young man with black hair and blue eyes.
"This could make things very difficult, Jadeite. Get rid of him."
"Not necessary, sir. He has not been seen for many days, and your bride is very much alone…and vulnerable."
The imposing man smiled. "Excellent. You are sure he is gone?"
"Not a trace of him."
"Excellent…then there shall be no interference. Where is she?"
"She lives at 64, Rosewood Street, on the west side of town. She attends a school; I believe it is Bruton High School."
"Very well…I will endure the lectures of a pompous old pedant for a time…make arrangements for me to attend this school as well."
"Right away, my lord." Jadeite bowed and left the room.
Darien smiled, a cold, cruel smile, and turned his eyes back to the portrait of the beauty in front of him. 'Soon, my beauty, you will belong to me…' he thought. 'You, Serena Tsukino…will be my bride and then my dark queen. We shall live in the shadows of night for all eternity, and your heart and soul will belong wholly to me.' He frowned as he regarded the picture of his rival. There was a name…Seiya Kou. 'Seiya Kou…you are very foolish to leave such a beauty alone…ah, well…you'll learn your lesson when I take her for my own.'
"My lord?" It was Beryl.
"What?" he snapped, annoyed at being interrupted.
"Are sure it is wise for you to attend school with so many humans around? They might suspect something amiss…some of these human boys are little better than animals, and the girls can be just as bad at times."
"I have made my decision. I will not change my mind."
"Very well, my lord. I just hope you don't regret it later."
"Haven't you learned by now, Beryl?" He flashed a wicked smile. "I regret nothing…the word 'regret' is not in my vocabulary."
"Of course. But what about the werewolves…and the four of our own kind that track us?"
"Werewolves are dogs…and dogs are quite stupid. They will not be a challenge. As for Amara and her crew…we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Very well, my lord. I trust that you know what you're doing."
"Believe me, madam, I do."
Beryl bowed, excused herself, and left the room. As soon as she was out of her lord's sight, she seethed with rage and jealousy. "Why must he go after that frail human girl? I love him better than she ever could, and I am timeless…I have been with him for centuries, and only these past few decades managed to win his friendship. Yet, he becomes obsessed with her at one mere glance! It is like he is possessed!" She murmured these words carefully, so as not to be heard too clearly. Darien had spies everywhere, listening and watching for signs of disloyalty among his servants. She recalled what had happened to the last servant who had been disloyal, and shuddered. She did not want to end up like that.
AN: Reviews…I need reviews to sustain me, or else this story will die.
