Chapter 9

A young girl around twenty years old walks in carrying a white piece of cloth.

"Alyssa, my dear, did you succeed in your mission?"

"Yes master! Here is an article of her clothing. The smell is fantastic. What is it that makes her scent attractive? Why are you so interested in her? Are you not satisfied with Nikhol, Michelle and I?"

"Now, now, I am more than satisfied, but this young girl means so much more to me than just companionship, you see, she is the reason The Great Master has granted me this life!"

"What do you mean?"

"The reason she's so important, she's powerful, I've been told that she has the beauty of her mother, but the power and intelligence of her father!"

"I'm afraid I don't understand, master."

"Anabell gave birth to a girl in 1463. This girl is still alive, my dear, yet looks like she's no less than twenty. Her name is Evilyn and the reason that shirt smells intoxicating, is because she is my daughter."

Alyssa stared in shock at her master, her lover. Dracula turned and sat down in his armchair.

"Something must be done soon. If she is with that Van Helsing who knows what knowledge of her heritage she is learning from him and that friar. Evilyn knows we will be following her. After the two werewolf and no doubt Evilyn knows you were in the room, she along with Van Helsing and the friar will be keeping their guard up!"

Two more girls, Michelle, an American, dressed in fine Chinese silk, Nikhol, a Russian beauty, came in. and all three woman went and kneeled at Dracula's feet.

"Master, is she to become our sister?" Nikhol asked.

"Yes, and no. You will be like sisters, but as I was telling Alyssa, this girl, woman, is my daughter! She has no doubt has seen much of the world. She will have stories to tell and skills to teach you. I want you to look up to her like a mother!

"Now before she comes we must have the castle cleaned. Travel far and each of you bring someone; who will not be missed. We can not have any suspicion on us now. We've been careful, I've been careful, too much to have it go wrong now.

"My dears, go forth, Alyssa, stay close and keep an eye on my daughter!"

"Master? Might Nikhol and I go…shopping?" Michelle asked.

"What do you need that you don't already have?"

"Not for us, for Mother."

Dracula smiled, he thought there might have been some jealousy, but the thought of having another sister, a mother even, was the best thing that he could have ever given them.

'Soon, my love, you will know who you are, who you truly are, together we will have power.'

Two days pass without a word from Michelle; Nikhol was back the next day and with a carriage full of packages, Alyssa checks in regularly, taking time to help Nikhol decorate Evilyn's room. The next day was the same, Nikhol and Alyssa were about to go out to check on her when she and a young girl, no more than fourteen walked in.

"Master, I have brought back this girl for Mother! She has agreed to be Mother's personal servant."

Dracula walked to Michelle and gave her a pleased smile, "Perfect, my dear, but she is still alive" He turns to the young girl, "And who might you be?"

The young girl bows her head, "I am Lucille, from the state of Texas. I was an orphan living in a barn, that is where Michelle found me. She said that if I came with her, I would be taken care of, that you, sir, would take care of me. She said of course that I would have to…become one of you, she brought me here so that you may turn me."

Dracula looked astonished at Lucille, amazed that she was willing to become one of them. He stood there looking at her unblinking, pondering the advantages of having a young one for Evilyn's servant. He could sense her nervousness. He looked at each of his brides, all smiling, excitement in their eyes.

"Lucille, may we call you Lucy for short?" Dracula asked.

"If it will please you, sir."

"Lucy!" Dracula put his fingers under her chin, making her look up at him, "It will hurt at first, but you will find that it is worth eternal life."

Lucy nodded her head and Dracula exposed her neck, biting into her sun kissed skin, enjoying her sweet southern taste. Dracula hated to stop, he bit into his own wrist and placed her mouth over it. Slowly she started to drink, suckling on his wrist. He stopped her, standing her up to face him, but she passed out into his arms.

"Master, what is wrong?" Michelle asked.

"This is normal, she will wake up in about an hour. Till then, why don't you girls go and get dinner for tonight. Our new servants will have the hunger lust these next few nights, choose wisely! Now go, Lucy shall be hungry when she wakes!"

With the brides gone Dracula escaped into his chamber where he stared the rest of the night out the window, until dawn came. He watched as the light grew from a soft pink hue to the blinding and burning rays. He waited and waited, knowing that it was going to burn, but he lasted longer, with each day he risked more and more. He used to turn away at first look, but gathering the strength he stayed were he was. Ten seconds he could last now, how much longer could he last before he went too far! He didn't know how he was going to herness the power, but he knew, that one day...he would live to watch it rise.