Chapter 12: Rendezvous
She was a little late for the ball, thanks to the dress trouble, but now she looked like a princess and was ready to... She was not quite sure, but this was probably about to end, the ball was always the climax of the story, soon she would be home. At least she expected it.
She could hear the music, the guests talking but she preferred to hold on her entr'acte until another music started, she wanted to be really dramatic here; after all she had nothing to lose. Good, the new music wasn't as calm as the last one, she had to step in now, but yes, she was a little afraid. She descended the stairs really slowly and soon most of the guests were looking at her, some dazzled, others surprised and the women looked a little bit envy. Sarah was happy to be the center of attention. But she wanted only one pair of eyes to be looking at her, Sarah wanted her Count more than anything now. When she reached the end of the stairs, a old man offered his hand.
-Will you allow me the honor of a dance with you, young lady?
-You will have to excuse me, but the first dance was already promised to me.
Yes! Count appeared there to save her, to invite her to dance with him! He offered his hand to her and she reached it really enthusiastically. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Soon they were in the center of the ballroom dancing together.
-You look stunning!
-Thank you. You do look handsome as well.
This was more flirtatious than intended. But she had to smile, she was happy to be here despite of all.
-Thank you for saving me.
-So you did not want to dance with the poor Duke.
He said in a mocking way.
-I'm thankful for dancing with you.
He twisted her and Sarah looked around and saw that people were staring strangely at her.
-Is there something wrong with me?
-They are just surprised and a little outraged that my first dance of the night is with you.
-What?!
-I arrived a little late, and I did not want to dance with my wife.
And then her eyes met the Countess gaze. She looked angry, really pissed. Sarah probably surprised her with her beautiful gown. Sarah felt pride to somehow defeat her.
-Don't you care about this commotion?
-Not anymore.
-But I don't wish to be a problem.
-You're not. I don't care about their opinion, I never did. I lived my whole life according to their rules, or pretending to be bonded by these stupid moral reasons, so I could play their game and fool them like they tried to fool me. You are better than them, you are above all of this… I only want to dance with tonight, think what they may.
She wanted to hug him, press her head against his chest, but she had to keep the posture.
-Why so desperate? What…
The music was over and soon Herbert approached interrupting them.
-Now it's my turn to dance with Sarah, shall we?
He offered he's hand, and Krolock gave her a little smile like saying it was okay for her to dance with his son. The music was slower than the last one.
-Are you enjoying the ball?
-Yes, but its kind annoying these girls trying to flirt with me or whatever they are doing.
-You are handsome little man, can't blame them for dreaming of you as their prince.
-Even though I want a prince of my own.
He joked.
-Hahha. Right.
And these girls were looking enviously at her. Maybe because Herbert could genuinely pay attention at her, but not the way they were imagining.
-I've been thinking something.
-About what?
-A solution to my problems, but it's really crazy.
-What's your brilliant idea?
-This will come off as a surprise to you.
-Try me.
-Will you marry me?
-WHAT?
-Shhh. Don't be so loud, we don't want to attrack attention, do we?
-Are you out of your mind?!
-Think well. You would have a home, a friend beside you all the time and I would have the family everyone wants me to have.
-I don't want to sound inappropriate, but I don't think you would…
Sarah could not believe she was having this talk. When would she ever thought that Herbert, her gay stepson, would propose something like this to her? She was really shocked! Not even in her wildest dreams she would dream of this absurd scene.
-You would never touch me like that, and I would not allow it as well!
-But it would be a pretense marriage.
-If you're not having children then you would not fulfill your mother's wishes, so it's pointless.
-We can offer to raise a peasant's son and pretend his ours.
-Are you drunk? Can you hear yourself right now?
-I'm not! This is the easy way out.
-But you don't want it, I know you don't. You do not love me.
-I did not find the one yet, and I don't know what to do about my life.
-All will be alright in the end, you will see it.
The music was over, and now Nikolas stood by their side.
-Allow me, Sarah?
-Of course.
She kissed Herbert's hand, which gave Nikolas a confused look, but he did not had time to say anything about it because he had to start dancing with Sarah.
-You're the fairest of them all.
Great, Sarah was Snow White now.
-Thank you.
-I know are talks did not go the way I intended.
Here we go again.
-But you see, Your Excellency is a married man.
-And?
-You can't have him, so you better forget him, and the better way to it is marrying somebody else.
-How would that fix anything?
-With a loving husband, you would feel loved and protected, and soon it would all turn to love.
-Nikolas…
-Would you give me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?
-You cannot be serious.
Really? Another proposal? If her vampire husband was here…
-Nikolas, I do not wish to deceive a decent man.
-I promise I will be patiet.
-How can you marry me knowing that in my head I'm thinking of somebody else?
-You have to forget him.
-You have to forget me. Sorry.
She left him with a reverence. She did not wish another dance, so she was moving away from the center, she could hear people call her a beauty, others called her strange, she could hear some mean comments but it did not matter. It all faded away when she bumped into her Count.
-You again.
He smiled at her. He was smiling too much today, she thought.
-Would you like to dance with me?
-Never saw a woman doing that before.
-I'm a not like any other women.
One his hand fond her waist again, one of her hands holding the muscled shoulder and the remaining hands were united. They were really close to each other.
-You look especially happy tonight.
-I'm happy, I made an important decision.
-To stop caring about me embarrassing in front of society?
-To break free of society, to be where and with whom I truly want. Sarah, I love you.
I love you, I love you, I love you, love you, love , … Everything went black and Sarah passed out. Count held her so she would not hit the floor and picked her up in his arms. Everyone looked shocked now.
-What do you think you're doing?
The Countess shouted, more outraged than ever.
-Assisting the young lady.
-Don't you dare!
He did not listen to her, or to anyone.
There were a lot of pillows around Sarah. She was laying on a bed. Somebody was holding her hand.
-Are you feeling better?
-Yes.
She was coming back to her senses. Wait a moment, he loved her! The human Krolock loved her!
-You love me.
-Yes, I dare to say yes.
-Oh my God.
-I would keep it inside forever, but I've heard your talk with Nikolas and I know you love me as well. I suspected it, but tried really hard not to believe it, but I can't stand still now that I know.
-Oh God.
-Sarah, I've been planning to leave this life for a while, before I knew you, I'm tired of it! Come with me! Let's leave it all together. You, me and my son. I can't ask you to marry me…
-Am I Lucy Westenra?
-Who is this Lucy?
-A fictional character. But that's not the point.
Three proposals in a day. Can this get any crazier?
-I want you, Sarah.
-I have nothing to offer, I'm nothing special.
-You mean so much to me. You are my miracle, a child from the star.
-You would have loved me anyway.
She concluded, he would love her anyway. She did not have to read other people's mind, have a kind of supernatural special blood, be the reincarnation of anyone. He loved her for what she was, he would have loved even without the blood lust he had for her before. And she was more than able to love him, vampire or human, she would have loved him even without the gift of immortality. Love does not need reasons. How stupid, no, better, how childish she was to think up all that nonsense? She knew he loved her, and now she knew it all. They were meant to be. She started crying.
-I love you so much!
He pulled her to him and they kissed passionately. Sarah embraced him, and for that one second, she forgot it all. But then, he let go of her. She opened her eyes. Sarah was no longer in that room, she was not with him. She was failing. All she could do was feel her hair going up as did her dress, and continue to fall into nothing at all.
Answering reviews
queenmedesa
I envy you! I really wish I could wear one of these beautiful red dresses one day (and dance with a charming Count Von Krolock). Thanks for all the love, faithful reader. Hope you did enjoy this chapter as well.
YanaRoman
Hi! Thank you so very much! There aren't many Sarah/Krolock stories out there (but I've had the opportunity to read some good ones, I have a friend who wrote two very nice fics about them), usually we see this pairing (but with short scenes) in the Alfred/Herbert fics, so I decided to give a long fic dedicated to them. So happy you're enjoying. Please keep reading and review, and let me know what you think. Thanks for the follow.
Oh my, we are like really near to the end, two or three chapters to go. Sarah finally ended her journey, let's hope everything turns out fine for her. I hope you are all enjoying and curious about the end, so please review and let me know you're opinion, sometimes it can change what will happen next.
And please go check my other fic, One last chance to get what is mine, a crossover between Tanz and Elisabeth.
