Ava hurried down the corridor, trying to bypass anyone she may come across. She had items in her hand that if anyone saw her with them, they would assume she was stealing, which in fact she was. But never the less she needed to sneak her way to her room. Managing to get there unnoticed, she grabbed a traveler's bag she had taken with her to the castle when she first arrived. Stuffing it with her items, she needed to somehow run to the kitchen and grab food for her and Mello's long journey. Slowly closing her bedroom door behind her she glanced both ways down the hall before quickly walking towards the kitchen. Quickly she turned a corner only to run into Jean. She seemed to have the habit of running into people, especially those whom she despised. Jean smiled, he had his gloves on and his cane under his arm as he was ready to leave the castle.

"You my dear can't seem to get enough of me." He said laughing.

"Highly unlikely." She muttered under her breathe. She moved around him, but he grabbed her arm. She looked at her arm and then at him. "It's best that you don't forget me, because I don't think I will ever forget a face like yours." He said with now a stern voice. Ava pulled her arm away disgusted that he had touched her yet again. Ava began walking away and noticed Dracula standing there with his arms behind his back, expecting to walk his dear friend out the door. He didn't even look at Ava, he just stared at Jean.

"Well Vlad, it's a shame that you have me leaving so early. I must say we should get together more often." Jean spoke as he sauntered over to him. Dracula smiled at his long time friend. "If you were more trustworthy you would have been granted a longer stay." He said. Jean and he often went back and forth between them, playing with each other's nerve in a friendly way.

Jean laughed, "You can never trust a man with desires like a stallion, you of all people should know." He said as he watched Ava walk away. "And if you ever decide to rid yourself of that beauty, you know where to send her." They both laughed, but Dracula found himself forcing it. Jean stuck out his hand and Dracula shook it with his other hand on his back. He was going to miss his friend, but Ava and the other girls were in danger with him here. He had heard about Janette. She was new, and only met her a few times, but had heard of her unfortunate sickness that could only be explained by a vampire.

Dracula watched his friend get into his carriage and ride off in the distance. Sighing he walked back through the large front doors and was in search of his servants. He walked into the kitchen where all the girls were, preparing for his breakfast for both him and his wife. Ava was nowhere to be found. The girls looked at him, expecting him to say something.

"Where is Janette?" He asked softly.

"She is in the servant room on the third floor sir." Melissa replied. Dracula turned around and headed to her room. He felt bad for the girl, yet it was a price to pay when serving a vampire. He had reached her room, but before he opened the door, he heard a voice, Ava's voice.

"Janette I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I would kill the bastard myself if I could."

Dracula knocked on the door and opened it slowly. Ava looked up at him, tears in her eyes. He could feel her remorse for the girl she barely knew. It was supposed to be her in that bed dying, not Janette. Janette with golden blonde hair lay motionless on the bed. A feverish sweat upon her forehead and her skin was ghostly white. Ava looked away and held her hand tight in her own hand. Dracula couldn't stand the sight of either of them.

"Leave us." He told Ava. She looked at him in confusion. What was he going to do, she couldn't imagine. Ava said her goodbyes and walked out the door closing it. Dracula and Janette were in the room alone and he felt pity for the girl. She was no more than 20 yet her life was practically over. He sat on her bed and felt her forehead. It was fiery hot, yet she wasn't even conscious. She wasn't going to survive the night, she was beyond sick. Dracula looked at her and slowly bent over and exposed her neck from her luscious hair. He could feel her weakened pulse. With his hands he gently placed them on either side of her head and with a quick twist of her neck, he ended her life. It was one of the first times he felt some sort of morals, and putting her out of her misery was the only option he had left. Getting up he straightened his jacket and walked out of the room. Ava stood there expecting to go in, but he blocked her.

"What did you do?" She asked.

"I did what I had to. She was going to die anyways." He said with no emotion. Ava stood there with her mouth open not believing he had just ended that poor girl's life so suddenly. It was her fault she had fallen ill, and it was his fault he ended her life.

"You bastard…." She muttered under her breath. She was in disbelief that he was so cruel and had no emotion towards the girl. But she reminded herself this was Count Dracula, the most powerful vampire in all of Europe.

"Ava you don't understand." He said sternly. He was annoyed with her tone. Her smart remarks he loved in the past were now offensive and he didn't appreciate it. "No I understand. I understand that you're a cold hearted undead bastard who doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself! You didn't have to kill her! There must have been some way to save her!"

"Ava, you cannot save a girl who is already dead. That is the price of sleeping with a vampire." He said, beginning to get annoyed.

"You gave her no choice!"

"You will not talk to me in that tone." He snarled back.

"I will talk to you as I so damn well please!" She barked back. She walked away but not very far. Dracula had more than enough with her attitude tonight and roughly grabbed her shoulder, turning her around.

"Let me remind you Ava that you are my servant, my prisoner and my play toy if I so see it fit!" He yelled at her. Ava swatted his hand away and quickly replied, "I may be a servant and a prisoner, but I will be damned if I ever be a play toy for a vampire or any other person. No sane girl would ever want to touch a demon like you! Only a whore would do so!" He grabbed her by both her shoulders and pressed her up against the wall, slowly crushing her body into the hard stone. He pressed up against her, his cold skin barely touching hers. Her hot breath was warming his face. He wanted so badly to turn her into a vampire and rid Aleera once and for all. He drew out his fangs and opened his mouth slightly to show her the danger of angering a vampire. It was extremely tempting yet he for the first time in all of his life as a vampire thought he may regret it.

"Get off of me….." Ava harshly whispered. She was looking straight into his icy blue eyes. Slowly he retracted his fangs and spoke softly, yet sternly, "You will never talk to me like that again. Do I make myself clear?" He waited for an answer, but she didn't give one. She was the most defiant human he had ever met and it angered him to the core. He let go of her and slowly backed off and walked away. Ava stood there staring at him. Now her anxiety of running away had sky rocketed, knowing that she would probably be put into more danger now that she had angered him.

(Transition)

Ava waited in her room anxiously, waiting for the sun to rise. Her heart was in a flutter and she knew that it was almost time. Feeling as though she needed to pass the remaining few minutes, she grabbed the diary from her corset and began to read the next page.

"Peter is ruining the empire slowly with his hate and greed. There are so many of my people dying of hunger or from the evils of hell. He has vampires and werewolves working, feeding off of those who have questioned his authority of the crown. I cannot walk down the market without hearing women crying over their husband's bodies and seeing orphaned children left of the street to fend for themselves. Moscow has been torched with fires of rebellion along with other cities and villages. The smell of death lingers in the air. I don't know what our empire will be like 20 years from now, but I cannot foresee it succeeding compared to the other countries.

My darling love stands there listening to his orders of murder and chaos. I know deep down in my heart he isn't a monster as most would assume from spoken tales. He is the leader of those beneath Peter's rule. I wish he himself would kill Peter and rid the world of one less evil, but his allegiance with him is great. Even though I see him look at me with desire, we both must resist out of fear of our lives. But there is also another life at stake. I feel a second body within my womb. I have yet to tell Peter, but I cannot hide such a secret. I have nurses and guards watching my every move as commanded by Peter. He has tried desperately to conceive a child, and now he has accomplished his goal with an heir to the throne. I know Peter will be displeased if I birth anything other than a son, but I can't help but feel I would want a daughter.

I believe my darling knows of the child. He hasn't spoken such words, but I know he knows. If I could bear his children and only his, I would do it within a second, but I have no choice but to birth the child of Peter. "

Ava sighed at the love story. It was enchanting to read. But just as she had gotten over the love story, the realized the sun was hanging high in the sky. She grabbed her bag, put the diary in the pocket of the bag and left. Mello stood in the corridor by the foyer, hiding from any unwanted witnesses. Ava saw him and he ushered her to come over to him. She darted across the corridor. He looked at her and asked, "Are you ready?" Ava nodded her head. He grabbed her hand and they ran through what seemed like an endless amounts of passages and corridors. Soon they were in a part of the castle that was completely unfamiliar to her. Mello stopped at a door and looked at her. They both took a deep breath knowing that freedom was just on the other side of that door. Opening it, they both ran as fast as they possibly could towards the forest. They seemed to run forever. Ava managed to keep up with Mello, but was struggling to breathe. He had taken notice and slowed to a stop.

They both sat down on the black dirt panting, trying to catch their breath. They locked eyes on one another and smiled, knowing that they so far were getting away with it. After a few minutes Mello and Ava got up and began walking. They walked and ran for hours before coming across a village. It was eerie, very few people lived here. Everyone there noticed the outsiders. All of them were staring at them both. Mello grabbed her hand and they walked over to a man with several horses tied up outside his home. The old man was sitting in a chair on the porch with a gun in one hand and a cigar in his mouth. He looked at them both. Mello approached him.

"How much for two of these fine horses?" Mello asked with a smile, trying to coax him into making a deal.

"They're not for sale boy." The man grumbled.

Ava immediately searched in her bag and pulled out the silver candle holders. The man's eyebrows rose as he became suddenly interested.

"You can pick two." He said pointing to the horses. Ava smiled in delight and picked her favorite horse. It was a black percheron that was gigantic in weight and height. It towered over her but she liked its intimidating stature. Mello chose a similar one but was light brown. They both rode off into the distance, the hooves of the horses sounding like thunder with every step. Hours of riding, both she and Mello had grown tired by the time the sun was beginning to set. Stopping in another village they made their way to a pub.

It was full of drunken laughter and talk when they entered, but soon fell silent when the villagers had noticed the newcomers. Mello and Ava made their way to a table. Immediately they ordered food and a round of beer. Neither of them spoke as they ate the food. It was horrible food, but the best food that either of them had eaten in months. Savoring every mouthful they finished in satisfaction. Ava was beginning to feel the beer in her system. But she needed a pick me up and continued to drink. Mello asked the bartender for a round of absinth for the both of them. "We need to celebrate in escaping unhappiness and death." He said winking at her. She smiled. It was an accomplishment so far, but she didn't know how long it would last.

Ava choked down the absinth and felt even more dizzy and disoriented than before. A middle aged man came up to the table and began to eye Ava. "You need to sell her to one of these lads boy! She would come in handy for some extra cash!" Obviously drunk Mello looked at him and replied, "You need to stop gazing at her as if you have never laid in bed with a woman. She is with me." Mello said cunningly as he sipped his beer. The man looked offended and began to start a fight. "You are looking for a good beating aren't you boy!" Mello stood up and got right in his face. The alcohol was giving him nerve of steel. The man's friends were holding him back as he tried to throw a punch at Mello. Ava sat there not really noticing anything that was happening around her. She couldn't recall any other time she felt like this, and she wasn't sure if she enjoyed it or not. Suddenly Mello was guiding her out of the chair and out the door. They stopped by an inn and he gently placed her on her bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was in a deep sleep.

Mello looked at her. She was a gorgeous creature by far, no one compared to her, yet he would have to force himself to make the choice of keeping her or giving her up to Jean. The conversation between the two of them had never left his mind and he was constantly weighing his options. He remembered when Jean had said if he played his lucky hand right, he would have both. But the only way of him playing that hand was if he could kill Jean. It seemed like a nearly impossible feat. He had only heard of one or two people killing a vampire. He began to make Ava more comfortable, starting with taking off her shoes. Then he took off her jacket. As soon as he did, he had exposed her breasts trying to break away from her corset. They were perfect and enticing, but he knew if he wanted Ava, he would want her to remember.

"Did I not tell you she was perfect?" The eerie voice spoke behind Mello. Mello turned around to see Jean in the corner of the room, hiding in the shadows. He stepped out and revealed himself. "What do you want?" Mello snarled.

"If I do recall, you needed to make a decision. It has been a couple days as I had granted." Jean was staring at Ava. She lay so innocently in her bed, close to being exposed, it was just that damn corset.

"You are asking me to make an impossible decision." Mello said.

"Ah so I have put you in a difficult spot have I? Well let's just say you end up being my right hand man, here is what I would offer you. You would have all the riches in the world without a single doubt in your mind that you couldn't afford anything you desired. Women will flock to you, to lie in your bed and do everything you ever command. There are many more highlights with being on my side, but all I ask is one thing from you."

Mello looked over at Jean who was grinning ear to ear. "And what is it you want?"

"I want to overthrow Dracula and have me become the most powerful vampire in all of Europe." Jean paused and looked down at Ava to play with her hair, "But with this beauty as my queen."

Mello couldn't bear the thought of giving her up, but everything he was offering was enticing. Most of all being able to overthrow Dracula. That meant of course he would share the glory and would rule an empire of his own if he so pleased. The endless amounts of money showering him seemed like the cherry on top. Mello knew his greed for power and wealth greatly overcame his want for a lover, and he slowly began to realize how much he desired it.

"I can't just hand her over to you, she'll never look at me in the same light." Mello said thinking of himself.

"Bring her to the edge of the black forest come sundown tomorrow and I shall arrange someone to steal her away from you." Jean stuck out his hand over the bed. Mello hesitated, but it was too much to resist. Shaking his hand, they both agreed on their plan of destruction.

(Transition)

"WHERE IS SHE!" Dracula screamed at Melissa and the other girls. None of them knew where she and the boy had disappeared to. They seemed to have vanish into thin air. Dracula was fuming. He stormed out the room, knocking everything over. He had enough with this girl and her lack of respect for him. Walking towards the foyer to go out the front door, Aleera stood before him trying to stop him. "Master please, don't leave me! She will probably be killed by werewolves before you find her." Dracula snarled, he didn't want to hear Aleera pleading with him to stay. "Get out of my way." He yelled at her. Aleera still stood there, but Dracula pushed past. She grabbed his arm to hold him back but instantly turned around and showed his fangs to her. He hissed in anger. Pulling his arm away he left Aleera there in the foyer by herself.

As soon as he stepped foot out the front doors, he transformed into his bat creature and took to the night. He hunted her as if he were hunting for food. He tried to pick up on her scents, but it seemed nearly impossible with all the other human scents he could smell. He shrieked into the night sky and continued his search. He stopped every so often in the woods to see if he could pick up her scent from the ground. Slowly he was beginning to track her. He smelled both she and the boy and horses. Finally he had found her in a village, but the sun was about to rise and he had to call off his search for the time being. Angrily sighing he veered off into a cave in the side of the mountain and stayed there hiding from the sunlight.

Author's note

Duh Duh Duh, the plot has thickened my friends. Read and Review!

Love ya!