Chapter 14

Elizabeth slipped into the breakfast room, being careful to keep her back to the wall. Her eyes slid from her mother to Mr. Collins' smug face as she warily approached the table. Mr. Collins smirked at her and nodded his thanks to Mrs. Bennet, who promptly stood up and walked quietly out of the room. Elizabeth swallowed back the urge to retch at the sight of her mother under the control of a vampire and faced Mr. Collins as innocently as she could.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" she said demurely, acting like Jane did when she was in a hostile situation.

Mr. Collins smirked again and got up from his chair. Without even bothering to hide his vampire speed, he flashed to Elizabeth's side and yanked the scarf she wore away from the marks on her throat.

"You speak politely for a killer," he said silkily. "It doesn't fit you at all, Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth stiffened her jaw clenching.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said with false innocence.

"I think you do, Miss Elizabeth," Collins said shortly. "You're a horrible liar, my dear. Now then, if we could get to the real point of this meeting I would be much obliged. The sunlight is hard on my skin, even though your mother has been kind enough to shut the blinds for me. That visit that you received last night was a warning, Miss Elizabeth. Unless you want a repeat of that meeting, I suggest you consider my request."

"And that request would be what?" Elizabeth asked curtly, giving up the innocent persona.

"I am in need of a wife, Miss Elizabeth," Mr. Collins said, his voice becoming even smoother than it had been. "And I do believe that you would be the perfect candidate."

Elizabeth stared at him for a few moments, unable to speak for a few moments.

"You're insane," she croaked when she could speak again. "And… you're insane."

"I believe you already established that, Miss Bennet," Collins sneered. "Mrs. Bennet!" he called, raising his voice slightly.

Mrs. Bennet bustled in, her eyes dull with the mind control.

"Is something wrong, dear?" she asked sweetly.

Collins darted to her side and grabbed her tightly by the throat. Mrs. Bennet choked but didn't make a sound as the vampire closed his fist around her throat. Elizabeth grabbed her stake from the sleeve of her gown, preparing to strike.

"Hold your weapon, Miss Elizabeth, unless you want her dead," Collins snapped. "Listen closely and make sure that you pay attention. This is what I can do to your family if you refuse my offer, Miss Elizabeth. It will be easy, and I won't even break a sweat doing it. I will give you until the night of Bingley's ball for you to give me an answer to my offer. Should you agree, I will turn you that night and take you away with me as my wife. Should you refuse, well…" Collins tightened his grip around Mrs. Bennet's throat again until the woman coughed with the effort of breathing. "Let's just say that dear Mrs. Bennet won't be the only casualty on that night, and I can just as easily turn you with or without your permission."

Elizabeth didn't move as Collins released her mother and walked out of the door. Mrs. Bennet blinked once before smiling sweetly at Elizabeth.

"Mr. Collins is a fine match, Lizzie, don't let him get away," she said slyly. She winked once and turned away, leaving Elizabeth alone in the room.

Darcy stood stiffly beside Bingley, eyeing the endless receiving line with resignation. He had agreed to attend the stupid ball, had agreed to be polite and actually dance with a few of the ladies tonight, had even agreed to introduce James and Georgiana to some of the idiots who considered themselves eligible matches in this hovel of a country town. What he hadn't agreed to was standing in this accursed receiving line and listening to the brainless country girls as they fawned over Bingley and thanked their host way too many times for inviting them. For the first time in his life, Darcy felt a pang of envy for Caroline, who had retreated into Bingley's parlor with the excuse of a headache shortly before the sun went down. Why hadn't he thought of that excuse?

Darcy looked up as the Bennets approached them in the line. He nodded mutely at the blabbering Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters, his eyes raking over the elder Miss Bennets. He frowned when he saw the thick silver ribbon choker that was wound around Elizabeth's neck. He had seen that style of choker before on women who had been bitten by vampires and tried to hide it. Had Elizabeth been…?

At that moment, the last person in the Bennet line, a short man with a round face and beady black eyes, stepped forward to offer his thanks for being invited his round face pink with delight and expectation, the vampire silver in his aura obvious to Darcy even from where he stood. Darcy fought the urge to draw the silver dagger hidden in his waistcoat, his hands clenching into fists behind his back. Elizabeth shot him a warning look as she paused in front of him and curtsied. Darcy watched the Bennet's go, his jaw working beneath the scowl now plastered on his face.

Bingley rolled his shoulders and grinned at Darcy as the last of the guests poured into the ballroom.

"Ready to dance the night away, Darcy?" he asked brightly.

Darcy smiled tightly.

"I wouldn't use those exact words, Charles," he said quietly.

Darcy walked away from his friend into the crowded ballroom, his eyes scanning the crowds for Elizabeth.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All credit belongs to the amazing Jane Austen. Thanks again to all of the people who reviewed!