The cold air blew a flake of snow into the kitchen; it fell lazily onto the warm counter and melted as I watched. I sighed, the coffee in my hand kept the chill away, but until Raoul returned there would be no fire. Wherever I was, Raoul made sure I couldn't find a way out. A sharp pricking sensation interrupted my thoughts and I rubbed my neck absent mindly. It has been ten years of jumping all over the map for a place to stay where Erik couldn't find me and the one place we find is Castle Dracula. My agile fingers found the scar where Raoul drove what he called a "microchip" into my spine. He said that if I tried to remove it, I would die in the attempt and if I tried to run away, I would either die or be tracked down using the chip's powers. He didn't tell me anything more about it, but I did learn one thing: I couldn't vanish anymore. Where the chip was placed it blocked the teleportation signals from my brain to the rest of my body preventing me from going anywhere. My thoughts wandered idly just like the snowflake and soon my coffee grew cold in the frigid Transylvanian air. Dumping it I wandered throughout the castle, my feet making no noise on the cobblestones. If there was one thing I learned from Erik that I probably valued the most, it would his ability to move like a panther. Stalking, waiting, then pouncing on his prey. My body lunged and grabbed an empty suit of armor that stood as guard against the wall; fell clattering into a room I had never seen before. It was a library, books lined the walls completely and I felt a surge of joy rush through me. I wouldn't be bored anymore. My glee was evident and running up to one of the shelves, pulled a book out. "Don Juan" it read by Lord George Byron. I shrugged; one book is better than nothing. Soon I found a warm spot in the cold library and opening began to read. The day passed quickly as I read and deep within those pages I found something that I never knew existed. Erik was in there, a mere character on the parchment true, but he was in there. I wanted to cry but no tears could be conjured up and any that were able to exist, froze into little pearls on my cheeks. When I was done reading, night had fallen plunging me into a darkness that was like ink. No candles lit this place, the air grew frostier still with my breath making little clouds in the air before me. I stood as quietly as I could when suddenly the window that was on the far side of the wall, with its red wine velvet curtains flew open, letting in the icy beams from the moon. I panicked and ducked down again, the book wrapped tightly in my arms. I could make out three voices, all women but with such heavy Transylvanian accents that I couldn't make out what they were saying. My thoughts automatically turned back to Erik," Remember when singing, you must feel the music flow through you. If you don't you'll sing off key and then I couldn't be in help to you my child." My eyes opened and my breathing calmed, I knew I could make it out of here, all I had to do was listen to the music. There was a record on, I couldn't place the tune but it also provided me cover. Waving my hand I placed the record player on one of the highest shelves of the library and waited. Soon the talking ceased and I took my chance. Waving my hand again I turned the volume up as loud as it would go, with that I was on the move. My body twisted and moved with the moonbeams and I was nearly to the door without being caught when a hand shot out and grabbed me. One of the women, I fought like hell to get free but she only laughed.
" Look Marshika. Our master has blessed us with fresh blood tonight and we don't even have to go out to get it."" Another women chuckled and I felt a long tongue slither past my left ear. My body shivered involuntarily, when Erik's voice filled my head once again. " You must follow the notes like a path. Twist and turn with them, as they follow the music then you too will be following the music also. " Suddenly I felt a letter opener in my hand. The woman pushed me down onto one of the desks that littered the library. My hand deftly opened it, with a quicksilver flash in the moonlight; I felt cold blood cascade over me. A scream was heard and flinging myself up with only letter opener as a weapon ran to the library door. I tried to yank it open but the heavy iron bolt stayed put and I screamed with frustration.
" Well, our master must be testing us. He gave us some good prey tonight. So feisty. " A voice was heard over my right shoulder followed by laughter that echoed all around me. Taking in my surroundings, I saw " Don Juan" Lying in a puddle of silver light and if there were going to be one thing I was taking with me, besides my life it would be that damn book. I ran for it, slashing out at anything that moved, my body moving with the notes of the song. I could tell the creatures turned it down, and waving my hand turned it loud again. Suddenly a plan popped into my head. The books that would be my weapon of choice. Grabbing "Don Juan" I tucked it to my shirt at the girdle and raising my hands brought the books down from the shelves. Most of them were extremely heavy and could leave someone with a cracked skull if they weren't careful. But these women were human, I could tell by their smell, of rotting flesh and dead blood, these women were vampires and I was their victim. The only question I had was, who was this master they keep referring to? Suddenly I saw a black shadow fall across the floor behind me and the feeling of fear made me fling all the books in any direction and as the world went black, I could cries of pain and someone caught me with warm hands.
" You'll be alright Christine. I have you my child."