Chapter 12

The Pure Blood

The journey was rocky and boring for the doctor. Occasionally he would look back down into the cart and see one of Winter's hands poking out from under the course grey woolen blanket. But overall the trek to Vermillion Castle was uneventful. The doctor only stopped a few times, to allow the horses water and rest and so the journey only took two and a half days instead of three and a half. Something in the weather had changed since they left his cottage. The air was frosty and the sky had steadily grown grey and dim. It seemed that just overnight the trees had been stripped of their green foliage and now looked skeletal and sharp.

"Those damn weather controllers." The doctor hissed under his breath as he was forced to find a heavier coat among his belongings.

The weather controllers were so unreliable and sometimes it was possible to experience three seasons in one week.

They were now on the last leg of the journey, coming around a mountain and that was when the castle came into view. The structure's back was facing the ocean; its grand size easily eclipsed the moon. The castle was situated on a piece of land that had broken away from the mainland, surrounded by a mote and then a twenty meter high wall, giving it impenetrable protection. The waves crashed against the base of the cliff and the wind howled as it whipped over the castles grand walls. In the light of the blue moon, the castle's brilliant red color took on an almost indigo shade. It was a daunting piece of architecture, grand in design and menacing due to its gothic statues that were positioned on all corners of its walls. The doctor urged his uncertain horses forward toward the edge of the cliff. Suddenly the sound of gears grinding and metal parts clanking together resonated in his ears as the massive drawbridge lowered and connected to the mainland. As the doctor crossed the wooden bridge, all seemed deathly quiet and an eerie green mist swirled around the horse's feet as they entered the castle's courtyard. It appeared to be deserted. The doctor climbed down off the cart and stood in front of the horses waiting for someone to appear.

"Hello? Count? I have something that belongs to you." He called out into the night.

Suddenly he found himself surrounded, by an entire swarm of Nobility. Both male and female. They seemed to materialize out of the mist. They were all beautifully dressed and all wore black capes over their elegant attire. All had deathly pale skin and the women all had ruby red lips that were shiny and plump with their sharp fangs peaking over the edges. The last one to appear was the Count who made a grand entrance. The green mist came together in spectacular fashion and became a solid entity. The count was taller than he remembered standing well over six feet, with long dark shiny hair that was pulled back with a red ribbon and dressed in a black suit with red shirt and red silk tie. His long cape reached down to the ankles of his knee high black riding boots. He had obviously fashioned himself after the Victorian aristocrats of old Europe that had existed several thousand years ago. A thin lipped smile appeared on his pale face as he looked at the doctor. A green shimmer lit up his eyes as he noticed the hand sticking out of the cart.

"Greetings Count Christoff," the doctor said as he bowed. "I have travelled many a mile to return your property to you."

"The Angel?" The Count said showing his sharp white fangs in interest.

"None other."

"Show her to me." The Count ordered in rather direct term.

The doctor walked to the side of the cart and lifted the blanket revealing the sedated angel who was only beginning to stir.

The Count's brief feeling of delight soon turned to rage when he noticed a small cut on Winter's arm from the fall she had sustained earlier.

"What happened to her?" The Count asked.

"What do you mean?" The doctor jumped in anxiously.

"I gave strict orders that she was not to be harmed in any way and yet she has a fresh cut."

"Well, I had to sedate her. It was the only way I could bring her to you without any trouble and she fell because after she realized what I'd done she tried to run away."

"Did you 'touch' her?"

"What do you mean touch?"

"I mean did you in anyway inappropriately put your hands on her?" The count asked as his eyes began to show flecks of red, indicating his growing anger.

"No! Of course not." The doctor protested. "I would never."

"I don't believe you." The Count stated calmly this time.

"Count Christoff, I beg that you believe me. I never touched her."

"Then why can I smell your scent on her?" Count Christoff asked.

"I had to carry her from the house to the cart, that's probably why. I can assure you that I did nothing wrong. Now I fulfilled my end of the deal and I demand that you keep your end. You promised me immortality if I brought you back your precious angel."

The Count briefly turned and looked at his fellow minions, who were all smiling wickedly as if they were all in on a joke.

"Ah, I did, didn't I? Come here and you will receive your gift." The Count said cryptically.

The doctor stood in front of the Count waiting for the eternal gift of the Noble's kiss.

Unexpectedly, the Count raised his right hand with his index finger revealed. His finger nail instantly grew to a razor sharp point and with one swift stroke, his had completely severed the doctor's jugular. Blood spurted out instantly. Both of the doctor's hands clutched at his throat as the spray continued in a fast and furious gush. The nobles laughed at such a display and after two minutes all the doctor's blood was now around their feet.

"What a waste." The Count remarked with disgust as the doctor's body collapsed on the cobblestone ground. "Somebody clean this mess up."

The count turned back to the angel who was stirring. She whimpered as the Count placed both his arms underneath her, he was careful to no crush her wings as he did so. He picked her up with ease and carried her into the castle. She was pale and malnourished and weak from the trip. Once inside, he handed her over to his servants.

"Examine her carefully, make sure she has no injuries then give her a beautiful bath and dress her in the clothes that I selected. Once she is rested, take her to my bed chamber." He instructed them before turning and walking down the massive hallway, his boots echoing off the solid black marble as he left.

Winter was placed on a long white examination table and put through a full body scan to ensure that she had suffered no harm while she had been missing. It appeared she was fully intact with no injuries. Apart from exhaustion and fatigue, she was in good health. She was given intravenous nutrition before being placed into an extravagant spa, washed in expensive bath oils and sprayed with rare perfumes of vanilla and jasmine before being dressed in a black silk halter neck gown to let her wings be free. Half her hair was tied back while the bottom half fell gracefully down her back. A sapphire bejeweled head piece was intricately weaved throughout her dark hair. Throughout the entire process, Winter seemed too dazed to be anything but compliant as the sedative still hadn't completely worn off. After her transformation was complete, she was escorted to the one of the largest and remote rooms of the castle, the Count's bed chamber.