Enjoy.

Chapter 27: Hell Hounds

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Terra stopped dead in her tracks outside of the door to the library, a small; squat little creature had led her there via a few guiding squeaks when she strayed off the path.

"Thanks," she said, directing the comment to the little beast nibbling it hampster-like paws. It gave a raucous squeal and darted away. Terra laughed softly.

"And a sense of humor too! Why didn't I think of the Count like this earlier? Oh , that's right. He was too busy trying to suck my neck. Silly me."

She grimaced at her bitchy attitude. Chill pill much? Terra tightened her blouse's neck, feeling uncomfortable in the loose fabric now that she was going back to see her former master.

Master.. the word rung in her brain as she pushed the door open- and froze as a feminine voice washed over her limbs in ice cold shards of bitter jealousy.

"Another one? Can't you keep your hands to yourself! I just cleaned up your borders- and here I am, bringing in my pack with three major injuries and -"

"Terra, you came." Dracula swept around the woman speaking, and, somewhat forcefully, guided Terra to a large armchair. Her eyes were fixed on the female standing in front of her as the woman stared back.

She was possibly the strangest, most alien, yet loveliest creature Terra had ever seen. With her hypnotic, purple eyes; snowy hair that fell to her elbows, and slim form; Terra was instantly on edge.

"This is one of my oldest friends-"

"servants-" the girl snapped at Terra, eyes flashing toward the Count.

"She carries the role of lead bitch in her pack. And she also .. cleans my borders of any vermin laying around."

Terra stared at the woman again. "Pack? Isn't she a vampire?"

"I wish," with a flick of moonspun hair; white furred ears and pearly fangs appeared on her face, and the woman's form resembled a wolf as she glared venomously at the pair before her.

"A werewolf then."

"No, even better! " Dracula strode over to slide an arm around the painfully thin- now that she looked closer, or maybe she was just jealous- waist of the other girl. "She's a metamorphis. A shape changer. A wonderful demon friend of mine that has been an ally ever since-"

"Ever since you found out my secrets you mean. And by no means am I a friend of Count Bloodsucker here. I'm Ati. What he means by 'lead bitch' is that i lead a pack of all male werewolves, kind of like a harem- except they are my brothers-so don't get any sick fantasies of me- and we are the border guard in Transylvania."

Terra relaxed then; knowing she had yet another competitor off her list. She needed the count to her self just long enough to get rid of Eleric- and then leave, before he got any long term ideas. She really was becoming edgy again just being near him- she didn't have time to dally around meeting thousands of his servants.

"I'm Terra... An acquaintance of sir heartless here." Dracula cast a disdainful glance her way and smiled toothily at Ati.

Ati ignored him and turned to address Terra once more. "You didn't come to the country with friends did you? Your scent is familiar- I came across it at the cave sight earlier.." Ati's voice trailed off as the Count's hands tightened and he flicked a warning glance at her.

It was too late though as Terra felt a hint of fear in her belly as she remembered Sita and Cale, hidden in a cave. "Caves? You recognize my scent? Did you find Sita, and Cale? What happened? Where are they!"

Ati remained silent, utterly still in the now freezing room. The Count leaned against her armchair, his face tight as Ati said softly," They're dead."

Dead? Sita.. Cale... their children.All of them?

"No. You have to be mistaken. I'll go see them right now. They're fine. They have to be."

"Terra. There was one female- dark skinned and dark haired, full term pregnancy, just conceived. And a male, brown hair. Tall. Both vampires, both with layers of your scent mixed into their own. I can assure they were quite dead," Ati snarled, quite bitterly as she turned to a bundle on a couch Terra had not noticed before. "I managed to save one of the children however. He's very weak- here."

Terra's jaw dropped at the pale skinned, black haired baby boy Ati passed to her. Sita's child. Cale's son. Their ... children.

"He's your charge... under tradition-" Ati was quiet now, her voice tired. "He is a surrogate son to you as a member of your coven; if you let him die it will be on your head."

"There was another baby- they were twins. Where's the other one?" The Count finally pushed Terra back into the armchair, his cool fingers pressing into her shoulders reassuringly as he stared accusingly at Ati."Quit that. You'll wrinkle the material," Terra snapped sarcastically.

"Now is not the time to get snippy Terra. There are monsters on the loose; monsters that slaughtered your own coven. Control yourself."

"And you would know all about this because? Have you kept their deaths from me to play with me? Do you enjoy seeing me squirm in pain?" Terra was inches from his nose, their gazes locked.

His eyes blackened and he growled softly, his hands tightening around her wrists on the armrests. "I did what I had to. Would you have stayed here if I had told you your coven had been murdered? You would have left instantly to defend them- and lost your life as well. I can't allow that to happen. Right now- you are too valuable."

"So that's all that matters to you then- Eleric's damn formula. Just take it from my head already and get the hell out of my personal space- thank you!" Terra snapped at him, trying to force him back- but found her wrists in an even more iron grip than before.

"I like you right where you are. I don't trust your decisions right now. Just sit there and be a good girl while I try to decide what to do." He released her hands and walked to stand in front of the fire- his face in shadow with a few silken strands of black hair framing his face.

"To hell with that. I'm leaving now. I can't leave my friends to be eaten."

"I'm not letting you leave this house Terra. I told you, you are too valuable."

"Fuck you. No one branded your name into my soul- you are no master of mine. Yet." She smiled inwardly at her last comment.

His shoulders twitched as she watched him. She knew he was figuring out what she'd said. He flicked a glance over his shoulder and cold shudders descended her spine as his teeth flashed at her and his eyes smoldered at hers. She really... Really hoped she could leave as soon as possible. It didn't look like he was in the mood for a short term relationship.

Ati stood, watching the interaction until she deemed the silence breakable. "If your going back to the sight then I'm coming with you. With your scent there I might be able to find another pattern.. something to track down." Ati looked at the count quickly, then beckoned to Terra. "We'll be back soon old man, don't fret; I won't let your prize get hurt."

"You had better not," he said softly, his back still to them. "Because if I smell one drop of her blood, you'll lose a gallon of yours for letting her out of your sight." He turned and his black eyes burned through Terra's head, and she wished she was wearing something more than the clothes she had on. His gaze seemed to scald everything she wore away.

"See you later," she snarled, then stormed out of the room, Ati trailing after her.

--

Sorry for the delay, the short chapter, the shitty writing... as usual I fail in general. Sigh.

I hate deaths, but this is part of my plan.

No flames.