Ok I am quite tired, having been working on this, my longest chapter yet (a whopping 4819 words can i hear a whoot!?) all day, trying to update for my readers as quickly as possible. I am trying for a chapter a day, and i will continue to keep it coming, as long as i get some lovely reviews (thanks soo much idrial!!) from all my dear readers! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as i loved writing it. More to come soon, i promise, next chapter will be good and steamy! Please review if you have any questions- i know it gets confusing- or anything else you wanna say :) Lotsa love, Karen

I. Do. Not. Want. Him.

Anna struggled with her subconscious as she tried to focus on reading, the only thing that kept her from losing her mind around here. However, she was not having much success. Every few pages, his hideously handsome face would swirl across her thoughts, either broken or devilishly triumphant. She could not shake him from her; he was now inside her very being, so interlaced that Anna felt a frost slowly covering her heart at each thought of him. However, she refused to believe what he called the obvious, that she was lusting for him more and more with each shaky breath she took.

Dracula had given her complete use of his personal quarters, the gorgeous tower room she had awoken in earlier, and all of his possessions in it. Mercifully, that included his extensive library. Anna had been sifting through volumes, picking out what sparked her interest the most. She avoided the ancient-looking books with whispers of vampires and other creatures of the night in their dusty pages. Anna was currently seated in a blood red, velvet armchair, perched precariously on the edge as she tried to push the Father of the Undead out of her mind. A thick novel lay open in her lap, nestled in the folds of the exquisite gown Anna had grown to tolerate, even like. But no matter how much he doted upon her, it did not change Anna's feelings for the… Count. She had had difficulty thinking of Dracula as a monster ever since his display this morning, the way he looked so defeated, so isolated from the world. She could still not consider him a man, though.

Anna sighed and turned her head to look at the lone gothic window across the room, grabbing one of her chocolate curls as it spun around her face and twisting it in her fingers. When her gaze settled on the window, she froze, confused. The smooth glass of the window was pushed open, the long black curtains billowing in the light breeze. A chilled winter air blew in through the stone opening now, reaching over to Anna and raising goose bumps on the pale, bare flesh now exposed from her dress, tickling her arms, chest, neck.

That window was not open a minute ago, she thought silently.

Anna, knowing the glass panes to have been shoved firmly in their place in the stone window upon her entry of this room hours ago, got up quietly and placed her hands delicately on her satin-covered hips. Still standing far from the window, Anna's eyes swept the rest of the room for anything unusual. Her dark orbs rested on the grand bed, something laid neatly across its soft comforter that also was not there before. She slithered quickly over to the bed, the open window blowing an arctic chill toward her. She peered outside once, but the dark night impaired her vision, seeing little else than the scattered stars and small sliver of white moon. She glanced back down to the bed, at the silky black folded neatly over the blanket. Hesitantly, she reached out a hand and grasped the silk, lifting it up before her. As it unfolded, it became apparent that it was a gorgeous silk nightgown, black to match her gown and- she shivered- Dracula's clothes as well. It was short- very short-, as well as revealing. The thin material clung loosely to Anna's hand now, much as it would do on her body, showing every curve. Thin shoulder straps dangled loosely from the top, holding up the plunging neckline. Thankfully, a matching robe had been included, same expensive material and color, except it was floor length. It was quite beautiful, but the nightgown was a bit too revealing for her taste. However, she would wear it anyway; it was a kind gesture, and he had included the robe. He being, of course, Dracula. Who else could have managed all this? And yet, how did he get past her, silent and invisible? He was a vampire, a creature of the night, but still. No one could have gotten through that window without her seeing. And where was he now?

"Do you like it?"

On cue, a velvety voice rang out across the room, almost giving Anna a heart attack. She spun around wildly on her heel and faced the chair she was resting in only seconds ago. It was now occupied by an inhuman beauty, elbows resting on the red velvet arms of the chair and head tilted to the side, leaning in one open hand. His pale face shone with pride at her obvious appreciation of his gift. Those few famous strands of silky black hair blew across his face in the breeze, crossing the path of his hypnotic, smoky eyes. They did not seem to entirely focus as he stared at her, smiling with his teeth again.

"Yes, I do. It's very… Thank you, Count." Anna had been trying her hardest to show some compassion towards the creature, despite the fact that the murderer had kidnapped her and had her trapped in the prison of his castle, as well as the prison of her own subconscious with all the mind tricks he had been pulling on her.

"Splendid," he murmured graciously. "Well, then, it is late. At least for you," he chuckled, the laugh not reaching his empty eyes. Empty. They were never so, always filled with some emotion, whether it be anger, mischief, lust… He then sighed, a cool breath letting sadness out through those perfect, pale lips. What was wrong with him? Anna thought disconcertedly. Was he feeling the creeping pain of solitude again, or were his troubles triggered by another catalyst this time? "To experience what joys you have, so many take for granted," he said silkily, more to himself rather than her. "The pure bliss I yearn for…"

Anna stared carefully at the attractive face, watching the slight creases in his relatively young face deepen as he frowned. The sudden change in character was like poison in her veins, coursing through her body and pooling into her mind. It altered everything she knew about this creature, and her encounters with him, that it started to hurt. A gnawing sensation growing where the poison rippled in her abdomen, she questioned her own feelings. Why should she care if he was not the same bold, devilishly charming man he had been earlier today… he meant nothing to her. That brief moment of sympathy she had given to him that morning, it was nothing more than pity. She couldn't bear to see someone so broken like that, when he was usually so sure of himself, so… Anna shook her head, reorganizing her crazy thoughts and images. No, she figured conclusively. This must be his real person. A solemn, power-hungry, defeated vampire. It was only after she thought the word vampire that she realized she had just a moment ago thought of him as a man. Her brown eyes widened as she understood what she truly saw in Count Dracula. A man, shrouded by a dark, controlling cloak of evil. He chose this fate, but still misses the sweet relief of being human. Perhaps that was why he groped so tightly to those human qualities he was allowed to savor.

"I do apologize, my dear. Sometimes when you harness the power to live for centuries, you get lost in the memories. The things you think of during the dark abyss of eternity." Yet again, there was that troubling look, the corners of his lips twitching down slightly, threatening to shatter the polite façade. He recomposed his face into a perfect mask, the beauty hiding the anguish billowing within him. "Please forgive me, love."

"Well, yes," Anna replied, slightly confused of what he was sorry for. Everyone had a right to bathe in their thoughts; it could get overwhelming sometimes. She thought perhaps there was a deeper meaning behind the apology, but Dracula did not press the matter any further.

"Excellent, my pet." Soon recovering from his uneasy persona, the Count made his way smoothly over to where Anna was standing, nightgown still in hand. "Please allow me to escort you to my grand bath, so you have a moment to prepare for slumber. And, if you will, change into my gift?" He raised a familiar eyebrow and gentlemanly held out a muscular, black-clad arm to her, which she tentatively accepted, intertwining her own arm through his. He took the opportunity to pull her closer to his body, the icy chill emanating from him. She shivered but remained in his grasp, somehow less reluctant than usual to be graced by his presence.

He led her out through the heavy wooden doors, down the widening hallway, and stopped at a high arched door a short distance after the purple and silver carpet emerged under their airy steps. He turned to look at her one last time, his ethereal beauty shining from his pale face, chiseled body, noble poise. He smiled at her; the first true one since he had stole into her room tonight. His fangs exposed in amusement, he removed his arm from hers gently and stepped back from her. "Please enjoy the benefits of my grand bath, feel free to use what you wish." And with that, he bowed and opened the tall, elegant door, allowing her to pass through. As she stepped over the threshold, she heard the door creak slowly closed behind her, but did not remove her eyes from the scene in front of her to check if he was gone. The stone room was huge, much too large to be a restroom. The bathtub was slightly larger than Dracula's master bed; it could fit two people easily, with enough comfort room to do more than just wash. Anna quivered a bit at this thought, wondering if Dracula had wanted her to notice this. Quickly forgetting it, she looked at more than the bath, scouring the room. There was a pile of soft red towels next to the edge of the tub, no doubt left by Dracula for her use. A large basin was carved out in the granite, a golden faucet with rubies embedded in it ready to pour water into the sink. Anna walked quietly over to the sink, deciding only to wash her face. Who knew if Dracula was still watching her; those invisible eyes in the darkness grazing over her thin frame. As she let the cool water run, Anna tried to relax, let the confusing thoughts of the vampire lord in her mind slip away. However, she could not entirely forget. Why did she care so much over this sudden change? Perhaps because it made him seem somehow more…human. Or willing to be, rather.

After the cold water had cleansed her face and neck, Anna retreated to the corner of the bath farthest from the closed window, deepest in shadow. Not that that would matter. She reached up behind her neck and swiftly untied the knot holding her halter straps in place. Once those were undone, Anna froze. She realized, with dread settling in the pit of her stomach, that she could not remove the rest of her gown by herself. The corset was laced so tight, and she could not reach behind her to get a hold of the strings. She panicked for a moment. So this was why Dracula had suddenly seemed so smug, she thought angrily. Was this his plan, to get her more intimate with him by force? But as Anna fumed, she soon saw no other way to get out of her dress, so she dejectedly walked to the high arched door. When she swung it open, she immediately saw the wickedly clever count standing a few feet from her, a tormented look upon his stunning face. Maybe he hadn't planned this; it sure didn't appear he had now.

Dracula looked up, surprised and then utterly delighted, a demonic glint in his charcoal eyes. They had ceased to entrance her beyond reason, but still gave her a hard time when she tried to force herself to look somewhere else. A smirk tugged at the perfect lips as he saw her standing before him, looking entirely helpless, straps dangling loosely next to her breasts.

"May I assist you?" he asked politely, close to laughter.

"Umm…I am having a bit of difficulty removing my dress. I think I will just sleep in it tonight." She blushed scarlet, her eyes observing the carpet and face turned down in a scowl.

"No need, my dear," he said in that velvet tone. She looked up at him in shock; he didn't honestly expect her to let him undress her, rip the satin briskly away from her pale, bare skin, did he? With one movement, he snapped his long fingers together, the sound echoing off the walls. The next second, a fiery, red-headed vampire was kneeling beside him. "Stand up, my sweet Aleera." With that, she swiftly raised herself from the ground and stood next to Dracula, staring longingly into his piercing black eyes with her own dark ones. A waterfall of red, wavy hair framed her wildly eager face, which fell and turned slightly vicious as those same dark eyes landed on Anna. She placed her deathly white hands on her curved hips, causing her pink, revealing outfit to sway as she turned. Her eyes turned a dangerous shade of pink and her fangs started to creep out as her vampiric side took over.

"Relax, darling," her master drawled, quite obviously not with the same affection he poured into his words for Anna. "Anna dear is in need of your assistance, and I would greatly appreciate it if you obliged." He nodded towards Anna's laced corset, then gave Aleera a menacing look. She obediently stepped to Anna's side, taking her arm and tugging her roughly into the bathroom. Dracula let a smile swim across his face and crossed his arms over his chest.

The door slammed shut and Aleera released Anna at once, sneering in her direction. She stalked closer to Anna, the dangerous pink flashing in her glistening eyes again. In one hundredth of a second, she was behind Anna, pulling tightly at the lacing of her gown, suffocating her. "Anna, dear," she hissed, imitating her master. "How good it is to see you again." She yanked on the strings, causing Anna to whimper. "Now, I don't feel much like talking to you, so let me make this as short and painless for both of us as possible." She started to undo the corset back, drawing each string closer to her as she undid them, making Anna gasp for breath. "I will not tolerate you taking my master from me. I am finally his only bride, his only love. You will not take away the one pleasure I have in this life of pure Hell. Yes, that is what being a vampire is like, each day opening fresh, immortal wounds. Scarring you until you yearn for the one thing you cannot have- death. Do you sincerely want to put yourself through that pain? Even if you can survive the excruciating torture, you will have survived to be but one of Dracula's infamous whores. Do you genuinely want to ruin the strong life you have so perfectly molded for yourself, for a man that will just cause you to suffer?" she finished passionately, greedy for a torn, defeated response.

Anna was trembling, upset and infuriated, ignoring the sharp pain the half undone corset was causing to shoot throughout her torso. "I do not desire your master, or the new life he plans to bestow upon me," she whispered, partially terrified, partially livid.

Anna could feel the breath on the back of her neck, glacial like her master's, yet it seemed more dangerous than seductive in this circumstance. One of Aleera's spidery, white fingers pulled Anna's brown hair back, grazing her neck and leaving an icy trail on the exposed flesh. She leaned in towards Anna, still pressed tightly behind her, the vampire's individually sweet smell invading her senses. It was nowhere near as close to intoxicating as Dracula's, but still left Anna feeling dazedly pleasant. She felt Aleera's mouth open next to her ear, sensing the sharp fangs so close to her neck. "If you say so, Anna," she whispered maliciously into her ear, pulling at the last lace of the corset. Anna felt the cold vanish at the same time as the loose gown dropped from her body, ending in a pool of black and gold satin at her feet. She spun around to look behind her, only to discover she was alone.

Anna just stood there, an arctic chill running all over her bare body despite the absence of any creatures of the night. Aleera's words had scared her, but not just because of the potential threat if Anna should end up with the bride's beloved Count Dracula. It was truly the underlying message that alarmed her most, causing her hands to shake violently and a gush of tears to well up in her dark, frozen eyes. She has listened to Aleera in detail, taking in every word, every meaning. The way she spoke about him, felt about him was nothing compared to how Anna was feeling right now, as though she would simply melt on the spot and never leave the depths of this disorienting world. What Aleera had said to her, those last few words…

Anna mutely pulled on her gorgeous nightgown, the black silk hugging her curves loosely just as she had predicted, tickling her lightly. The black lace trim at the bottom fell down mid thigh, and the matching trim at the top skimmed her breasts, which where swelling above the low neckline. Anna didn't even look at herself; soundlessly and lost in thought she threw the exquisite robe over the gown, sheets of silk cascading down her back, stroking the floor. She didn't bother to close it like she would have before, but simply marched out of the bath, slightly insane at the rush of her new, bewildering feelings. She had no idea what had come over her after Aleera's speech, but it was hungry for more.

Dracula, who seemed to have not moved an inch from his previous position, raised his head, black hair shining in the slight candlelight which illuminated his snow-white face as well. His empty eyes alighted with something the moment he saw her- lust? Most likely. Grandeur? Possible. She couldn't quite recognize the glint in his mesmerizing onyx irises. She had momentarily pulled him out of his stupor once more, but for how long? She had bewitched him back to life earlier, and yet has had no lasting results. What was wrong with him tonight? Usually he would have been on top of Anna by now, ravishing her with dangerously seductive kisses over her pale skin, arms wrapped tightly around her slender body. He looked as though he could have done just that, but refrained. Instead he simply smiled, a less than dead emotion on his face, and reached out his arm once more.

"An arm to escort a beautiful woman back to her chambers?" he murmured. Anna, no hesitation this time, snaked her arm around his, stepping closer to him than he had pulled her. He looked at her quizzically, yet elated, a new emotion in his dead, still handsome face.

She decided to try something. Perhaps this zombie state he had transferred to throughout the day was a cause of more than one thing. It could be Anna's constant refusals to his unasked desires. It could also be his recent interest in being human again, which he had yet to admit to, but Anna knew to exist. Maybe she could destroy this state by curing his ailments with what he wanted most. Anna did not prefer any Dracula to accompany her at all, but if she had to choose, she supposed the viciously evil, gentlemanly kind, triumphantly determined was better than watching the most powerful man she knew- Damn! There I go again. He is not a man at all… she thought- creature, rather, deteriorate before her eyes, losing all emotion. Anna knew she was the only one who could do this, give him what was needed to break the emptiness. So she was willing to relinquish a little- she stressed a little- to give the vampire lord what was needed to bring him back to life. Figuratively, of course, as close to living as an undead vampire can get.

As Anna walked next to the Count, her curvy, silk-bearing side rubbed against his jacket. His well-known smirk snuck onto his face, pale lips drawn together in victory. He knew he had her now, as did Anna. Perhaps now, that she was starting to give a little, she had gone in fact too far. Maybe these few small, meaningless gestures had gotten her into more trouble than she had bargained for. It was not too late to regret, but it was much too late to go back. She was under his spell once again. Taking advantage of her closeness, Dracula wound a cold hand around her waist, tugging on the silk and causing her robe to open a bit more. He circled his long, icy fingertips on her hip, tickling her pleasurably. His irresistible scent clung to him, and Anna inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma. The smell of blood was faint now, almost undetectable, so she just smelled his sweet scent.

"Well, my dear, you do look quite stunning in that little outfit, but I fear I am not the only one dazzled." Dracula stopped dead in his tracks and swiveled to face Anna, releasing her waist only to relocate that hand to her face, tilting her chin up so she could see his demonic angel's face once more. "Am I right?" he purred, swooping his face closer to hers in a fraction of a second, his lust-filled, entrancing eyes peering into hers.

How could he always read her mind? She was too enticed by his touch, his gaze, to answer. He smiled in satisfaction then, his lips curling an inch away from hers. Oh, how she longed for them to mold themselves against hers, the ice of his cooling the fire of hers, setting off a pleasuring chain reaction inside their bodies. She could almost see him moving seductively towards her rosy, parted lips at a pace so slow, most human eyes would not be able to catch it. Then he pulled away, when he was mere centimeters from her mouth.

Crap, she thought. Wait, why should I even care? This is all an act from me to get the real Dracula back.

Anna was startled when she turned and saw that they were back in front of his room already. The trip had felt like no more than a few seconds. She sighed, shutting the front of her robe and tying it in a bow. At least she had gotten the old, more tolerable Dracula back. But was that really a good thing? Regardless of the thoughts swimming in her head, Anna had to act normal, no, better than normal. She turned in front of the door to face him, and whispered softly to the smiling, gorgeous Count.

"Good night, Vladislaus."

She spun around quickly, not wanting to be captured by those hypnotic coal-colored eyes that were now alight with a passionate fire, not just lust but caring, too. Strange. There might even be respect blazing in their endless depths. Anna reached out her hand to open the double doors, but was caught around the back by solid, glacial arms. He twisted her around to face him and dragged her as close to his body as possible. She shuddered softly, out of the cold more than fear, which was practically non-existent at the moment. That seemed a little odd to he, seeing as she was trapped in the arms of a vampire, but she was relaxed, just frozen. The ice of his body penetrated hers even more through the thin nightgown and robe. Dracula buried his face into her hair, breathing deeply. As he did so, his own soft raven hair laid across her face. She enjoyed every second as she took in that intoxicating aroma.

"Oh!" Anna gasped as Dracula's smooth, freezing tongue slid sensually over the skin where her neck and shoulder met. It was like exactly out of her fantasy. He then placed one feather-like kiss upon her neck, where he had first kissed her in the forest. "Thank you," he breathed into her ear quietly. His voice sounded strange, though, almost strained. When he pulled his body away from hers, she could see his beautiful face was contorted into one of pain. It was worse than the lonely image Anna had sent this morning at the dining room table, worse than the empty stare he had moments ago. He bowed low to the ground, then turned quickly, still half-lowered, and set off down the hall at a quick pace. "Good night, my dear," he called down to her, and then disappeared around the bend of the stone wall, leaving her standing there speechless.

Moments later Anna was tucked into the large, master bed, where Count Dracula must have lain numerous times in the exact same spot, although probably not at night, if he even slept at all. The candles were all blown out, the slight silvery glow from the moon the only small source of light in the dark room. Anna was so confused now, more than ever before. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep despite the perfect comfort she felt in between the velvet and silk blankets. She was thinking of Dracula, looking more pained than ever before after she had shown such great compassion, and finally acceptance of some of the kindness and desire he was sharing. But there was another thing bothering her, her personally. It was that mystifying, terrifying talk in the bath with Aleera, and her hidden message to her, like she knew something about her Dracula, even Anna herself didn't know yet. Aleera had asked if she was willing to give up her life to her master, but the truth was, she already had, even though she had not wanted to. She had done this the first time she had shown this lone evil creature, man behind the monstrously beautiful mask, some compassion this morning. She had begged him to take her when her hands stopped his from pulling away, and he had greatly accepted. There was no way to escape now.

The other thing Aleera had conveyed that tortured Anna was the feelings she had hidden from herself and everyone around her, locked away in her guarded heart. Those feelings welled up, and were renewed in the bathroom when Aleera had proved they were real, despite all the times Anna had denied them to Dracula and herself. These feelings were true, and Anna had to admit that, finally, or she could never go on. She wouldn't dare admit them out loud; she was much too stubborn for that. But she had to find where Dracula was right now, had to tell him in some way, and she thought she knew how.

Anna sat up from the bed quickly and leaped down silently. Dragging her robe on as she slipped out the door. She was not sure if she was ready for this. Of course she was not ready for this, but what choice did she have? The growing heat in her center was screaming for attention, to quench its thirst. But that was all that needed to be satisfied. Anna did not love the vampire; he was cruel, proud, and murderous. She would not marry him. She would absolutely not become a vampire. But she would admit one thing, through actions rather than words. The only way she knew how to do it, with the only actions she could think of to prove it.

Anna knew deep in her troubled heart that she did not love him. She also knew that what she did feel was definitely not right, but she didn't care anymore, now that it had been realized. Her displays of compassion, kindness, and lust earlier in the night were no act. She had been lying to herself this entire time.

Anna did desire Count Dracula. And she knew she was about to be welcomed into his lust with open, ice-cold arms.