Sorry about the wait, alot of crap has being happening at home which has caused me to forget the story, so apoligises if you think this chapter is rubbish as i haven't really concentrated on the editing part.
i will try and update a.s.a.p but i have an inkling to rewrite what i have originally plan. may do that...so it might be a few days before i post another chapter.
hope your enjoying the story!

recap: christine and raoul have become husband and wife (by law) and have left the church only to bump into a vampire. but not a vampire that is friends with christine. infact, the complete opposite. oh dear!

let's see what happens!

He isn't handsome like all the other vampires; he appears more beastly than fetching. Clearly he succumbs what a treacherous vampire should appear to be.
A snarl curls his upper lip displaying his vicious teeth, yet his hands shake.
His deadly eyes search every part of me in astonishment but not in a good way. Unlike Erik's gaze pleasant chills don't tickle my skin, this mans gaze causes my skin to tense in terror.
Yet in his astonishment I can see traces of his own fear, but what has he got to fear of?
Shock yes, but terrified? How can he be possibly be scared of a human?
Raoul decides to fill in the silence,
"So!" a smug smile sounding in Raoul's voice, "Are you one of Christine's friends?"

The vampire doesn't respond, he just continues to stare at me, I eye straight back.

"Aren't you going to introduce us darling?" ordered Raoul giving me a small tug, "Shouldn't he know about your husband?"

"Husband?" the vampire repeated in a rasp; his beady eyes darting from Raoul then back to me.

"Yes," said Raoul gloatingly, "I am Christine's husband. A very recent marriage, only a few minutes ago! Oh, you wouldn't do us a favour would you? And inform your master about the marriage, only, we're leaving at dawn, so I won't have the pleasure on letting King Erik know."

His beady eyes widened in horror, "Erik? He knows about you?"

My God he knows Erik! Raoul is causing so much danger to Erik and his people!

"Of course he knows about us!" Raoul laughed mockingly, "We attended a ball he hosted a few days ago, and it's only a matter of hours previously Christine was in his castle!"

The beady eyes seemed to have ignited upon me.
"It was you I smelt..." he hissed in wonder.

Feeling Raoul's grip on my wrist slackened slightly, without thinking, I freed my wrist and instinctively grab onto Meg's hand; our backs now pressed against the churches door. Her hand tightens onto mine and I realise how scared she must actually be, especially seeing as she doesn't understand what has been going on.

"'Smelt'?" Thomas repeated questioningly, taking a step forward so that he could stand beside Raoul.
"What you mean by 'smelt'?"

The vampire ignored Thomas, all he is interested in is me and who would blame him? Obviously he knows who I was; to him I died over 400 years ago, and now all of a sudden I am living and breathing right infront of him!
The wooden doors that are pressed against my back gives way, again without thought, without consideration, I shove Meg into the church and remove my grip from hers.
"Stay in there!" I command, then turn viewing the veracious vampire shoving violently, causing splatters of blood, Raoul and Thomas aside as if they where merely nothing but litter.

Meeting his stare I can barely hear Megs cry for me...barely register the weak whimpers of pain from Raoul and Thomas...barely acknowledge the blood that seems to be dripping down the vampires chin...barely grasp the fact that I am now in the clutches of one of King Andrews men.

"JOSEPH!"

Joseph sighed as he yet again heard the demanding roar of Casper. It seemed that King Andrew lied that his henchmen would just pay random visits; they have made it clear that they are here to stay.
He and Bernard have only been residing in the castle for a matter of hours, yet they made demands from the servants every 5 minutes. The demands were cut short however, when Casper decided to go out to do some hunting...sadly, his outing hasn't lasted long.

"JOSEPH GET YOUR ASS HERE NOW!"

Joseph, as usual when taking orders from Bernard or Casper, took his time. He neatly folded his blood stained dishcloth, corner to corner, then set it precisely on the table before walking dandily out of the kitchen.

The smell hit him the moment the kitchen door swung open.
Human. Fresh Human. Living Human.
A specific human.

Casper was clutching, by the neck, Christine.

"Explain this." Casper hissed whilst roughly shaking a dishevelled Christine on display.

She was still in her nightgown; torn round the edges emphasising her bare arms now deathly white from the cold. Her hair messily draped over her shoulders and her shoeless feet covered in muck. She wasn't shivering however, nor did she appear frightened.

Joseph gaped at his Queens appearance, "Where did you find her?" he whispered accusingly.

"After her marriage; turns out her and her beau know about this place." Casper seethed. "Now answer the question and explain how she comes to know about here and the people in it!"

"I told you!" Christine shouted angrily, squirming to turn to face Casper but his hold wouldn't let her; all she can do is face a troubled Joseph who is watching her intently. "A few days ago I attended the ball here, that night I slept walk out of my hotel and into the forest, I tripped and banged my head-"

Without warning Casper threw Christine to the ground and pinned her with his foot on her stomach. Crouching over her like a vulcher sensing it's dying meal, he hissed threateningly,
"Don't. Lie. To. Me."

Joseph, along with other servants who came to watch after hearing the commotion, hurriedly made to remove Casper from Christine.
"Nobody moves until I gain answers!" Casper roared, "When King Andrew hears about this-"

"She is no danger to us!" informed Joseph angrily, who was barely a metre away, his hands aching to remove Casper and protect his Queen.

"You know the law-"

"And you know who she is!"

Casper looked down to meet Christine's eyes whose are wide and unwavering. Still she is not frightened. Casper does know Christine; he doesn't know the full story, but he knows how much she has hurt his much adored King as well as Bernard.
How does this reincarnation of Christine come to be here? Why has she returned? And as human! The law states that no human residing in a vampires presence should still hold a beating heart. Should he get rid of her? Force everyone to pretend that this incident never occurred?
King Andrew and Bernard need ever know...but if Erik found out...That King was distraught when Christine died the first time...but he seemed to have come to terms with her death eventually, surely another wouldn't be that much different...However, he should consult with his fellow henchmen before he acts, Bernard should be told about this...he'll know what to do.

"Release her Casper!" Joseph now practically begged.

"Go fetch Bernard!"

Joseph's stomach plummeted; Bernard? He's just nearly as bad as King Andrew. He'll sentence Christine's death the moment he will lay his eyes upon her.
"Casper please, let's talk about this-!"

"I said get Bernard!" Casper snarled; pushing more weight onto Christine's stomach, whose struggles were becoming more feeble by the minute.

Joseph looked helplessly down at Christine's form. So fragile she is; infact flimsy. Another cross turn from Casper and Christine could return to death's door-
A clatter of hoofs reverberated outside the castle, echoing through the tense ground floor. Before anyone could react the front doors exploded open, and in entered a frantic mahogany horse, neighing madly on its hind legs.
What frightened every vampire in that room, even Casper, was the object that the person riding the horse was swaying violently left to right like a swordsman in battle: The person was holding a thick tree bark which blazed in aggressive fire.

"Let her go!" the person commanded madly to a startled Casper.

Casper lessened his weight but it was Christine that set herself free. She shoved his foot away from and scrambled towards the horse to find her hero.

"Meg?" she gasped, "H-how-? H-how-?"

"The monks lend me the horse," Meg answered somewhat manically; her wild eyes eyeing everyone who were all bundled to the foot of the stairs in fear on what she was using as a weapon.

Christine continued to stare at her friend in disbelief; not just at her sudden timing in saving her from possible death, but her unkempt appearance. Her once neat blonde curls are now wild frizz; her pale pink nightgown is just as dishevelled like Christine's, torn round the edges; and her usually unblemished skin bares small scratches on her face and arms.
Meg threw her leg over the horse and slid down; her hand still clinging tightly to the flaming torch.
"Thomas is dead," informed Meg uncaringly; her already pale skin losing what little colour that was left, "I don't know about Raoul, he wasn't there nor his gun when I left." her sights darting from her friend to the heard of vampires.

"Dead?" Christine repeated, stunned, "Oh Meg-"

"I don't want any sympathy Christine, we both know he wasn't the handsome prince I made him out to be." Meg interrupted hardly; her firm grip on the torch shaking slightly, "What matters now is that you're alive. I don't fully understand what's going on Christine, you can fill me in the details later, just tell me what I can do to help."

Christine replied shakily, trying to do what her friend requested, "There's parts of it I don't even fully understand Meg."
This was all so surreal.
Christine led Meg towards the large group of frightened vampires. Casper was right at the front, frenziedly trying to hide himself deeper into the cluster; his terrified eyes glued to the fire.
"Joseph," Christine called; he stepped out timidly from the side; nervously eyeing the torch, "Assign guards for Casper, he shall be put in the dungeons."

"Yes miss," Joseph nodded frenziedly; now eyeing Meg along with the torch and Christine "And what of Bernard?"

"Bernard?" Christine repeated perplexed, trying to remember the other henchmen, "Is he not here?"

"He was; it's quite likely that he heard the commotion and bolted. If that is the case, then a messenger should be sent immediately to the North to tell the Master what has happened."

"Is that necessary?" enquired Christine uncertainly; cringing at the prospect of a raging Erik. She wasn't concerned about Erik meeting the person that could've allowed death to part her and Erik; but anxious that Erik would know she is married to another...and knowing that the possibility of the marriage ending amicably being near impossible. "Surely we could manage for a day or so?"

"Not if King Andrew sends more of his men, or possibly himself. Not only will you and your friend be in danger, but the Master might if he isn't prepared. It's not in King Andrew's nature to be forgiving, even if you're a relative."

Christine bit her lip, her heart torn between wanting to be protected from Erik too herself protecting him. Either way he is going to eventually find out about what has been happening, and if someone isn't sent from his own side to be informed, he may feel none of his people are loyal to him; including herself.
"Very well," reluctantly agreed Christine, "Send an armed group just incase King Andrew is informed first, and put him," she nodded towards Casper who is now being held firmly by the servants, "to the dungeons; make sure he is surrounded by torches."

Casper's eyes finally left the torch, and met with Christine's. If possible, his eyes looked even more frightened by her than the deathly flame.

"Master! Master! She's returned! She's come back!"

"Who's returned? What are you on about Bernard?" Andrew snapped irritably to a frenzied Bernard.
Andrew was sitting peacefully in his living room with his sons, grandson and daughter-in-law, when a servant entered requesting for his presence. When Andrew stepped out of the room he did not expect to see standing before him Bernard; especially in the demented state he is currently in.
If Erik were to have overheard Bernard's incoherent yet manic squealing then Erik would presume something has happened with his Kingdom, and King Andrew does not want Erik to leave just yet. Infact, he has no intention of his family ever leaving his Kingdom again.
So Andrew grabbed Bernard by the arm and shoved him into the nearest empty room possible, to which would be the kitchen.
"What the hell is wrong with you Bernard?"

"Christine my King! She's come back! She's returned to haunt us!"

Every part of Andrew tensed at the sound of that name.
For so long that name has haunted him, surrounding so many memories; memories that should never be recollected.
"Don't be preposterous Bernard, she's dead!" he barked in annoyance.

"I saw her with my own eyes sire!" Bernard frantically grasped the hems of Andrews velvet jacket; shaking his King in order to believe his ever faithful guard. "I saw her over the banister! She's alive but now as a human! And Erik knows!"

Upon hearing his son's name on knowing this impossible revelation, Andrew couldn't produce any coherent words nor react to Bernard's hold.
"That's not all sire!" Bernard continued woefully, "Casper found her and is now being held as a hostage! Erik's servants are in on it too! The human we smelt at Castle South was her sire; she's the reason why your sons took so long to join us- they were hiding her! Now she is residing in the town of Carlisle, I overheard Casper saying that she is married to another, a human man I suspect."

Andrew yanked Bernard's hands away from him resulting Bernard to fall against the kitchen dresser. Andrew began to pace round the centre table in distress; his hands recklessly rubbing his haggard face.
Thinking back to his time in Castle South, everyone was present...that only happens in special circumstances...Then Dora, the way she reacted when mentioning attacking humans; so defensive, so aggressive...Remembering the smell his son's held when they finally arrived; mortal flesh still fresh...still living...And Erik's reaction to him leaving his Kingdom and sending Casper and Bernard to take charge; he was assertive, frantic...anxious...Not even viewing his mother's dead body has completely changed that stance...
Why did he not think something was odd then? Why did he not question everyone's motives?
And as for Bernard, why would he make such a thing up? He too is haunted by Christine; by her rejection...he wouldn't want to bring the mention of her up if he can help it!
Andrew stopped his pacing; his cold eyes vaguely seeing the possible...
"You absolutely sure it's her Bernard." Andrew whispered; his back to Bernard.

"Yes sire, I'm positive. I caught a glimpse of her eyes; those sparkling emeralds-"

"Silence!" Andrew spun on his heel and slammed his hands furiously on the table; cold eyes' blazing on Bernard's frightened ones.
Andrew panted heavily, using every ounce of strength to restrain his anger and his fear.
Saying Christine's name is one thing but to mention her eyes? Those eyes have haunted him even more so than her very name! Those eyes that display her true emotions; that penetrate right through your very existence; that finds the real you...all he is reminded of is the original owner of those eyes, belonging to theface that altered everything...
But she can't be back! Bernard killed her! Andrew saw her lifeless body! He was present at her cremation!
Except, she must be back...no one holds that shade of green...

"You say Erik knows of her." Andrew whispered roughly.

Bernard nodded adamantly against the dresser, "That's what Casper claims, and none of the servants denied it. They were all trying to protect her when Casper had his hold on her. Joseph grew frantic."

Andrew exhaled shallowly from hearing the name of his betraying ex-servant, "What of this suppose husband of hers?"

"Not sure sire, I presume he either scarpered or Casper finished him off. The human may try and gain others to come after her."

Andrew sighed deeply; anxiety beginning to ebb every inch of his dead skin, "Find that husband and bring him to me. Erik must not know about this!"

"Its karma," whimpered Bernard hysterically barely listening to Andrews instruction; shuffling away from the dresser to be closer to his King, "She's come back for justice for what we've done! What I have done! I knew it was too good to be true in getting away with her death! Now she is going to tell everyone and we shall be ruined! Ruined sire! We should just come clean with it along with Pricilla's untimely demise-!"

Again Andrew slammed a forceful fist on the table to silence Bernard; who immediately shoved himself back to the dresser; the bang reverberated throughout every part of the room.
"No one suspects a thing on either case! " Andrew hissed mercilessly, "What needs to happen quickly is that this human Christine must be taken. She may or may not know the cause of her death but it's a risk I am not willing to take."

"What of Erik?"

"What of him?"

"He knows of her, if she dies again-"

"That's his problem."

"B-but when she died l-last time-"

"Then this time won't be much of a blow to him will it!" Andrew snapped coldly.

Bernard was silent for a moment before stating, "He's your son my King."

Andrew chuckled darkly, "And since when did you care about my sons feelings Bernard? To my knowledge you despise him with every fibre you bare because he had what you hadn't...her."

Bernard's temper grew as the truth he so detested was practically hurled at him. Bernard once adored Christine. He loved everything about her. And once they were even well acquainted with one another, perhaps even the term 'friends'.
How could you not be friends with someone like Christine? She was kind, funny, trustworthy and loyal. But Bernard's feelings for her grew deeper, and he hoped that by some miracle Christine could equally care for him. Bernard knew she was with Erik, but that didn't diminish his hope. It was thanks to that relationship that Bernard was able to get to know Christine as a person.
On occasions when seeing Christine and Erik together dancing, holding hands or kissing, tore his heart. Then one day he snapped and decided to bite the bullet and go for it. He proclaimed his love for her.
She was so polite, so sympathetic, and so considerate in her refusal; it only caused Bernard to love her more to which he hated himself for.
"I am not the one for you Bernard," she said with a kindly smile; her green eyes warm in care, "The girl for you should have her heart taken by you; mine is already claimed." And then she kissed him on the cheek. Every now and then he could feel the gentle tingle of her soft lips against his haggard skin.
Though Christine was not malicious, he was left discarded, unwanted. Bernard changed after that moment; his optimistic hope that ignited his wish to be with Christine died. He realised eventually that the hope he had in being with Christine brought goodness in him. He wanted to be good for her, but now? Now he no longer cared. She didn't want him as anything more than a friend.
Bernard's mind was a torture chamber. For days upon days he would compare himself to Erik.
Why does Christine choose him?
Her and Erik argue, her and Erik have moments when they have to be in separate rooms. Whereas for her and Bernard there was never a cross word between them, everything was always calm and straight forward.
Why was she picking unpredictability over what they have?
"Because," Andrew explained silkily as Bernard broke down and confessed infront of him one night, "Her heart is already claimed."
Precisely, she loved Erik no matter what; he claimed her heart.

Bernard learned later he wasn't the only one suffering from her dismissal...

Bernard stood up straighter against the kitchen dresser and countered hotly,
"And isn't the reason I have in not caring for your son the very same reason as you have to end her life?"

Andrew and Bernard glared daggers at one another in their stony yet prickly silence.
Bernard killed Christine under the orders of Andrew. Bernard's reason is because he no longer wanted Erik to have her; if Bernard couldn't have her, no other man will.
Andrew's motive is that he didn't want Christine to have Erik. Many centuries ago Christine's mother broke Andrew's heart; it wouldn't be fair that his son gained the double of her, never matter that Christine and her mother are two different people.
Christine bears Elizabeth's exquisite resemblance, from her face to her height, and Leonards (the man Elizabeth picked over him) emphasising green eyes. Andrew resolved that no longer can his desire's features live with those treacherous eyes.

Bernard decided to try and ease the uneasy tension between Valued King and Loyal Henchman in the castles kitchen.
"I still do not care for your son my King therefore I have no problem to act whatever you command, but surely you must? Can you bear to watch Erik crumble again?"

Andrews answer was slick and icy, yet lingering in that cruel response held sorrow.
"On matters regarding her, no, I do not care for Erik. You know my reasons Bernard, respect them."

Slowly Bernard nodded solemnly. He knows his masters reasons. He understands to an extent on how his King feels. He will obey Andrews command.
"How do I get her sire? She is surrounded by guards along with servants."

Andrews cold, inhuman eyes glittered malevolently as he ordered chillingly,
"Replay the past Bernard."

Oh my giddy aunt, evil Andy knows! GAH! that is not good for Christine...what shall become of her?

any suggestions?