Chapter 21: Who He Really Was
The next night, Dracula paced nervously through the halls as Caitlyn sat quietly in the library. Caitlyn had never seen the Count in such a state of nerves. Then a large knock at the door caused the Count to jump.
"Caitlyn!" He called, in a voice far from his own, it made Caitlyn shudder. The door opened as Two tall men walked in, with three women behind them.
"Verona! Marishka! Aleera!" Caitlyn called out, Dracula sent her a warning glance. The two men frowned.
"Is this the women who filled your little heads with those ideas of us being equal? I am surprised that she is with out dear friend Vladislaus…have you not taught her? Does she not know of her place?" The man that spoke was very tall and thin, dignified brow and high cheek bones. His eyes were a hazel color, and he wore a black tuxedo. His brother was shorter then him, but not by much. He had five o'clock shadow on his face and wore glasses. His eyes were a brighter hazel color, and his face looked younger then his brother. Both were reasonably attractive but had an arrogant air around them. Caitlyn glared at them, she could already tell that she wasn't going to like these two.
"How are you Vladislaus? How long as it been? Quite some time eh?"
"Yes, it has been quite some time." Dracula said softly, no emotion in his voice.
"Well, who is the woman?" The older brother asked, gesturing towards Caitlyn.
"This is Caitlyn…" The Count introduced, ignoring the look of horror on her face.
"You should teach her some manners Vladislaus…" The younger brother cooed. Caitlyn clenched a fist but before she could strike, the Count moved them into the Dinning area.
"Why don't you ladies get us some refreshments?" The older brother ordered. Caitlyn reluctantly went with Verona and the other women to the kitchen.
"What was that all about!" Caitlyn yelled. They tilted their heads.
"Was that odd for you? Perhaps Master has changed like young masters said…" Verona said sadly.
"I am afraid I don't understand…" Aleera nudged Verona and she sighed, looking tired.
"Caitlyn, what you must understand is, Dracula and the two young masters are cursed men." Caitlyn listened intently.
"What are the 'young master's' names?" She asked.
"The older one is Marcus and the younger one is Norman."
"How are they cursed?"
"They sold their souls to Satan, to have immortality. But it came at a price, they no longer have emotion. Little by little, every feeling was taken from them. They could no longer feel joy, happiness, love…"
"The closest thing they could get to love was lust. Imagine, the closest thing to love was the thing opposite of it." Caitlyn remained quiet.
"They are womanizers, trying to relive all the old emotions. But little by little, not even lustful sex could cure them of the curse. But they try…Dracula eventually quit after his tragedy with Katrina. The one time he treated a woman as his equal. But Marcus and Norman still continue through the old ways, and are determined to make themselves 'the three musketeers again with Master."
"So your saying, that, Vlad is a player?" Caitlyn said softly.
"Yes, I am sorry Caitlyn…" She shook her head.
"He never told me of his past, but I never told him mine…" Caitlyn was leaning against the counter.
"So you three have….you knows…with the Count…?" They nodded their heads sadly, Caitlyn felt as if she had been stabbed with a blade.
"Perhaps he has changed though! He doesn't seem like the old Vlad." Marishka shot in hopefully.
"We'll see, I just hope those two bastards don't rekindle and old flame…" Caitlyn muttered, grabbing s plate that Emily must have prepared earlier.
Caitlyn and the brides entered the room and placed the plate on the table. The men were speaking to themselves.
"Count, you seem rather stressed…haven't been laid for awhile have you?" Marcus pointed out. Caitlyn could feel her blood boiling.
"Is that really your business?" The Count shot, but showing no emotion.
"I care about you Vladislaus, and if your women isn't doing her job. It concerns me." Caitlyn was really going to lose it, and Aleera put her hand on Caitlyn's shoulder, making sure she didn't do anything rash. Dracula remained silent, a powerless feeling crossing his face for a moment.
"Verona! Come here." Norman ordered. Verona immediately came to him. "Treat the Count…" He ordered, Caitlyn's face twisted as she reluctantly fawned over him. The Count remained still, and didn't move, his face was sunken and almost sad.
"Look Count, your women seems a little upset; maybe she'll do her job now." Caitlyn moved from Aleera and went to strike him. Marcus grabbed her arm, with great speed and smacked her across the face with his free hand. Caitlyn froze, but no tears or emotion crossed her face.
"Learn your place you miserable sow." He barked, Caitlyn didn't move, but glanced at the Count, who seemed lost in his own world, but was facing her. Caitlyn pulled her arm from Marcus'. Caitlyn then silently left the room and ran as fast as she could to find Emily.
"Vladislaus, you have gone soft…" The Count awoke from his trance.
"I am not the man I once was…where did Caitlyn go?"
"Why does it matter? You are better off with a more obedient and a more grateful woman." The Count stood up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Marcus breathed fiercely.
"To find Caitlyn…and make this up to her."
"I don't think so Count…you know what Father would do if you upset us…" He drawled, Norman sneered. The Count's face lit up in fear.
"You wouldn't…"
Caitlyn raced through the halls, their was no time to lose.
"EMILY! ERIC!" She called through the halls. Eric walked up to her first.
"Yes? Shouldn't you be downstairs?" Caitlyn was almost about to burst into hysterics.
"Where is my sword? And my gear? My regular attire?" Caitlyn choked out. Emily ran over, over hearing her.
"Why Caitlyn? What is wrong?"
"Things happened! Alright! I am leaving this place." Emily nodded.
"Marcus and Norman huh? Yes, I shall get your things, I'll meet you in your room." Emily ran as Eric called out to her.
"What about Master?"
"Caitlyn's my friend, I won't let her be treated like that." Emily disappeared into a room as Caitlyn ran into her room to change. Emily returned with Caitlyn's equipment and Caitlyn strapped everything to her belt.
"How do I leave this place?" Caitlyn asked, glancing behind Emily, half expecting the Count to appear.
"You need to fly…but I shall take you outside seeing that you don't have wings." Eric stopped her from transforming.
"I'll do it, I am used to long distance travel, and I can go faster. Besides, if he comes looking for her he'll expect you to be gone. If you are here it'll throw him off." Emily nodded and Eric changed into his HellBeast form and flew Caitlyn to the outside.
Dracula could sense Caitlyn's presence leaving.
"She's gone…" Dracula then pushed past Marcus.
"Where are you going Vladislaus? We are not finished here." Dracula froze.
"I am running my life now…I don't…need…you any more…" He said weakly.
"Excuse me?" Marcus asked.
"Caitlyn means the world to me, and I won't ler you destroy what I have…"
"It's too late for that Vladislaus. But we'll leave you. The damage has been done. When you change your mind…we'll be waiting for you. It shall be like old times!" He declared. They dematerialized away and the brides followed them. Dracula ran outside and shifted into his HellBeast form. He had to find Caitlyn…
A/N: I hated writing this, and the next chapters will be just as hard. In the next chapter, Caitlyn's Flight. And the question will be answered, WHAT ARE CAITLYN'S POWERS! And a new character or two will be introduced. One had a small refrence earlier.