Chapter 28
Dracula POV
"WHY? You've taken everything from me already, why do you need more?!" "NO NEVER. I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING YOU."
I woke with a start from the nightmare, her words haunting me still. I sighed deeply and looked over at my bride, sleeping peacefully, for now escaping the terrible reality of what had happened. What I'd been forced to do. I hated what I'd had to do but was relieved at the same time. I had a completely valid claim to her now, and though I may not have won her fairly, it was saving her from a terrible fate of brutality at the hands of any of the others she was a mate to. I'd had to hurt her in order to protect her though...the logic was so backward and wrong and I wished desperately the circumstances had been different. "Oh how I would have wooed you, my love," I whispered and longingly stroked her cheek before drawing back with a tired sigh. "What have you done to me, Faith Allison," I whispered softly. I'd lost her for a long time, possibly forever...and I'd finally have to accept how much that idea pained me. For I had been so sure I'd never feel what I was feeling now; but I was wrong. I loved her, and now she would never love me back.
I sighed and quietly slipped into her mind, thankful to see that for now she was too exhausted to be plagued with nightmares. I started gently probing through her memories and looked at one at random.
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It was her as a young girl, her honey brown hair was a lighter dirty blonde and fell in adorable curls and her eyes sparkled with happiness. I gathered from it that it was her eighth birthday and this was her family celebration. I saw a women come up behind her with a cake. I assumed it was her mother, for who else would she look so strikingly similar to? Faith was her mother's spitting image except her mother's hair was much darker and cut to her shoulders and her eyes were a deep turquoise unlike Faith brilliant violet ones. Suddenly a man came into the picture, her father. She also bore similarities to him, with her hair a lighter color like you could tell his originally was and her features subtly like his, but his eyes were a clear bright blue. They glanced at each other quickly with a smile and her mom brought out a small flat box.
"I want to give this to you now, Faith. I think you're old enough and responsible enough to take good care of it," her mother said with a smile handing the box to Faith.
Faith looked at it with awe, understanding this wasn't any ordinary gift, and started unwrapping it slowly and gasped when she lifted the top.
It was her cross necklace, that she pulled out gently and looked at with amazement.
"It's beautiful, mommy."
"It was mine when I was a little girl. I want you to have it now," her mother explained quietly, still smiling proudly.
"I'll help you with that," her father offered as he took the necklace and carefully fastened it around her neck.
She looked down at the cross around her neck, "I'll never take it off, mommy," she said with resolve admiring it, now one of the dearest things to her heart. She opened her mouth to say something that I never heard.
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Suddenly the memory disappeared. What are you doing? I heard Faith accuse. GET OUT NOW She said and I was shocked to find myself suddenly swept from her mind and her staring at me in fear back in reality from the other side of the bed. She buried her face in the pillow and drew the sheets tighter around her naked form as I got out of bed and silently dressed and grabbed her a nightgown. I walked over to her side of the bed and she flinched away as I reached out to stroke her cheek. I dropped my hand and silently offered her the folded nightgown. She merely laid there, eyes wide, body paralyzed with fear. I decided to leave so I put the nightgown at the end of the bed for her and unlocked the door before closing it on the way out, but not before hearing Faith's soft sobs start up again from inside the room. I bowed my head against the closed door as I sighed.
"Eric?" I heard from behind me. Marissa was standing behind me looking concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Leave, Marissa," I said as I tried to brush past her. She grabbed my arm to stop me, "Eric Sebastian Krev, what have you done." She said quietly. A small sob from inside the room was her answer.
"Eric, no..." she trailed off, her voice sad and desperate, wanting me to deny it; I didn't. "How could you, don't you care for her at all?" she said in shock.
"Marissa!" I snapped, but she continued anyways.
"How could you?!"
"I had no choice! You of all people should understand that! You know who they are! You know what they would do to her, what they still may attempt to do to her! I'm surprised they are not here already!" I growled out in rage.
She was quiet for a moment, "Eric, I know, I'm sorry, the last thing you need is another guilt trip." She turned to the door and was about to grab for the handle, "I'm going to talk to her," she said worriedly.
"No, Marissa, let her be. I'm sure the last thing she wants at the moment is company."
She paused but then nodded in acknowledgement, and then turned and left hastily but not before I saw her eyes shining with tears.
I came back later with some food for Faith since she had yet to venture out of the room and it was almost midday. As I quietly opened the door I saw her laying exactly where I'd left her this morning, still convulsing with silent sobs.
The nightgown was still lying at the end of the bed. I silently came and left the food on the table beside her and took my leave immediately.
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When I returned that night, the food was still untouched. I took it back downstairs and came back but decided to sleep elsewhere in the house. I tried to slip back into her mind but was promptly thrown out again without a word. I didn't understand it. I knew I'd seen a fond and well protected memory that morning but she still shouldn't have been able to rip me from it. She shouldn't have that kind of power or control over our mental connection until she was a fledgling, and even then she shouldn't be strong enough to throw me out. I would try to connect with her again another day. There was a knock, Caleb was outside the door, "They are here and they request a meeting."
"How many of them."
"Five. And many more willing to fight."
I cursed. "I'll be down shortly."
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"Good evening, Count," said their spokesman bowing deeply. I recognized him as the one I'd seen at Faith's choir performance.
"You are not fit to lead us, Dracula, it's time you were replaced, I have many who would agree with me"... I sneered in disgust. Xavier. He'd started this whole uprising, I remembered him well from his plots against my position. He would pay dearly, but not yet.
He gave me a sickly grin, "We've come to collect what is rightfully ours."
"Of what do you speak." I replied knowing exactly what they wanted.
"The girl, Dracula," he said shortly.
"Really?" I said, leaning back, "She is mine. You have no claim to her anymore," I said with a grin of my own.
He looked at me with rage, "You do not play by the rules, Dracula. That girl would never come to you willingly. You know that you will have to release her."
"That girl does have a name and you will respect her as my bride. As for playing by the rules, well, I've only played by the ones you set, Xavier. My claim is fully valid and she is my bride and will become my fledgling and Countess when she is of age."
"Show us the girl," he demanded.
"She's quite worn out, I'm afraid, and is sleeping soundly at the moment," I said unable to resist rubbing in my victory subtly, "and you know as well as I that her aura is gone. She is mine. Now, I would suggest you leave before I decide to take some liberties in punishing you for what you did to Elizabeth," I said leaning forward, my eyes narrowing, "After all, you're on my territory now."
He sneered, "She was quite lovely wasn't she? I'm sure your little Faith's even sweeter though," he said with mock thought.
"Leave," I growled, "You are no longer welcome here."
He bowed with mocking turned and lead the others out and turned back at the door with only one word, "Soon."
The gates closed and I watched suspiciously as they left then turned to Maxwell, "Were you able to tag one?"
"Yes, master."
"Good, I want continual tabs on them."
I turned to Caleb, "I want you to tail them. I need Marissa here."
"Yes, master."
I sat back and ran a hand through my hair, they weren't backing down, that much was clear. I had to figure out how I was going to keep Faith out of harm's way.
