Hey readerz! Miss me? lol

Well, there's my new chapter! As always, keep in mind that I do my best.

enjoy,

Kaya

Chapter 14

Waking up in the vampire's den

As Dracula had ordered to her mind, Anne slept all day. He felt her pain and fear and he hated that. He was still very angry at the now dead Amber, but couldn't do anything against what was already done. He would do as he promised himself the night before and not try to heal Anne with his power. He would gain her trust by helping her healing in the more 'human' way possible.

As asked, Kathleen brought something to help Anne's headache. It was called 'aspirin'. Dracula hoped those little white pills would help, but he highly doubted it. That night, he went to the young woman's white bedroom, when she was about to wake.

Even though she slept all day, Anne came out of the misty veil of a remaining nightmare quite restless. It took her a moment after she opened her eyes, to realize that she wasn't in her apartment. The throbbing pain in her head brought back memories of what happened the night before.

She sat on the edge of the bed she was in with a gasp, staring at the large bedroom. It was so calm and she had to admit that she found it beautiful. It was breathtaking actually. The bedroom was furnished with the finest things she had ever seen. Somehow, it felt good to be in such a place…and not in a cold, stinking flat.

-"Good evening." The deep voice of the vampire murmured behind her

Anne yelped, cowering against the headboard, her heart pounding painfully in her already heaving chest. She heard the vampire walk, slowly coming into sight, until he was facing her, a strangely warm smile crossing his flawless face. She gasped in surprise when his hand reached for her as he knelt by her side, his fingertips tracing the contour of her white cheeks. She wanted to pull away from his unwanted touch, but found that she could not move. Anne could not tell if it was because of how frightened she was or because of some sort of dark magic.

-"How do you feel darling?" He asked softly

She didn't answer, bowing her head, staring at her hands folded on her lap. Her whole body started to shake uncontrollably. The vampire placed his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs brushing against the sides of her neck as he spread a warm feeling through her, making her relax magically.

-"Who are you?" She sighed, her voice barely above a whisper as she closed her eyes

-"I am the first one and I have engendered all the others crossing the Earth." He answered matter-of-factly

-"So, you're like…Count Dracula, from Bram Stoker's novel."

-"That would be me actually." He said, as if annoyed by the rumors. "Though, Mina Harker never existed and I never pretended myself being a count."

Anne paled at the revelation. She was in the most dangerous vampire's den. Dracula suddenly took her in his arms. The fears prevailing the pain and she began to struggle against his embrace. I'm going to die. She repeated in her mind, scared as she had never been, not even when… no, the moment was not right for that memory to come back.

-"Don't fight me." He murmured and she instantly calmed down; thanks to his abilities. "I am truly sorry for what happened with Amber and Kathleen. It was not supposed to be this way. I would have waited for your call."

-"You would've waited long, for I would've never called for you." She muttered

-"You think so?" He chuckled. "I would have waited for eternity. But now, I don't have to, you are here, with me and I am content."

Dracula continued to fill her tired body with his warmth and when she finally was relaxed enough, he pulled back, searching for her eyes, but didn't found them. She was stubbornly avoiding his gaze, but he did his best not to become angry at her.

-"I will leave you for a moment." He said calmly. "I will go find someone to fix you a good meal and then, I want you to rest."

-"I'm not hungry." She mumbled

-"Yes you are, dearest, I can feel it." He frowned, looking at her seriously. "There is no need to lie to me, I will know anyway. So don't do it again, it is useless."

Dracula rose from the floor and slowly walked toward the bedroom door. He was taking his time to get out, for he was convinced that Anne would stop him to ask him some questions.

-"Wait." She cried uncertainly

Bongo! He thought, or was it Bingo? He learned that expression while watching television, some time ago and he felt it fitted perfectly to the situation, even if he could not really tell what it meant. Smirking to himself, Dracula turned to Anne, to see that she was once more sitting on the edge of the bed.

-"Are you…are you going to…turn me into a…well, you know…?"

His smirk turned into a grin and the warm caress of his restless desire surged through him as he looked at her. He had dreaded that question, for he didn't want to scare her by telling the truth. Yet, he felt that honesty may be a good way to begin their ambiguous relationship.

-"In time, yes." He answered, gauging her reaction, making his voice as seductive as always. "I will wait until you are ready."

-"I'll never be ready for this, so I'll never be one of yours."

Anne was desperately trying to remain strong, but it only made Dracula laugh and he laughed louder and louder, until it echoed in the whole house. Anne turned her back to him, even if it was a foolish thing to do in the presence of such a creature. He stopped laughing and then, she felt his hands on her shoulders once more. He leaned down, until his lips brushed against her ear, making her shivers with fright.

-"You won't know when you are ready, my dear, but I will. Soon, you will be my wife, bound to me by blood. You'll be my princess, forever."

Anne's weakened nerves could not hold any longer and it became impossible not to shed any tears. She began to cry in her hands, shaking violently, her head pounding painfully. Dracula took her back into his arms and this time, Anne didn't struggled, which made him quite happy with himself. He rocked her for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. He was supposed to be the king of terror, the prince of darkness, the impaler, Dracula in one word. Yet, this tiny woman, this mortal, was asking for his comfort and he was more than willing to give it to her.

-"I love you Anne." He murmured, startling her

The young woman pushed away from the vampire and sat still with her back against the headboard of her bed, her head down. Dracula left the room without another word, as silent as a shadow and she lied down, tears pouring freely down her very white cheeks. She wished that next time she woke up, she would be in her uncomfortable bed, in her stinking apartment, with Wolfgang snoring beside her.