Hey guys! I am so sorry I haven't updates in about two weeks! I've been really busy. But I'm updating now! And for this chapter, I'd like a round of applause for Anon E. Mouse. She gives me great concrit for the story, and trust me, if she didn't, this story would be suffering greatly. So if you get a moment, go check out HER story, To Trammel Some Wild Thing. It's fantastic! You won't be dissapointed! Unless you're a hard-core Gabriel fan, then you should stay away. Then again, I bash him in my story now and then, so..-shrugs- read at your own Dracula/Anna risk!

A little note since I can't contain my excitement: This chapter holds a dark twist. And Anon E. Mouse? Keep your mouth shut! You know what it is! lol.

Before I let you ppl just read the darn chapter, I thought I outta share with you a particularly funny moment having to do with Dracula. Well, in my opinion it's funny. But basically, my BFF and I were watching The Sound of Music the other day and singing along to Julie Andrew's 'My Favorite Things' like the dorks we are. I ended up creating a Dracula version to it! Seriously, couldn't you just picture hm singing that after his whole, 'I am hollow!' speech and Verona and Aleera say it isn't that bad? You're right! It's NOT that bad! Because Dracula's got his favorite things! XD

Here's the Roxula version of 'My Favorite Things'. It doesn't really rhyme at the last part because I couldn't think of anything good that rhymed with 'hollow', but my BFF and I got a kick out of it! So I feel like sharing...

-

Screams of a dying Van Helsing and his blood on my fangs

Claire's butterfly hairclips and werewolves in chains

Anna Valerious a puppet on my string

These are a few of my favorite things!

Creepy white henchmen and grunting little dwergi

Crashing Sunday Mass and ruining the Liturgy

Hellbeasts that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things!

Brides in slutty dresses with no decent sashes

Turks with a sharp stake right up their asses

Cold, icy coffins that melt when I spring

These are a few of my favorite things!

When the werewolf bites!

When the holy water stings!

When I'm feeling hollow...

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I can FEEL, and not be hollow!

-

lol. Well, I'm no songwriter, but I hope SOMEONE giggled at this. -fears being called an idiot with no life-

Let's just read the chapter, shall we?


Chapter 29:

Black, White, and Gray


Alan Barlow angrily prowled the darkened streets of Los Angeles. Woe to anyone, mortal or magical, that suffered the misfortune of crossing his path. From the moment Lauren and Dracula had slipped through his grasp, Alan had been taking out his rage on the mortals of L.A. He had long since fed and drunk his fill. Now he was killing for the satisfaction of feeling the precious blood trickle down his throat and warm his core. The sun would be rising within the hour, but he was in no way ready to hibernate during the daylight hours. A low growl of fury lay crouched within his chest, threatening to pounce into a roar. Dracula was still alive, damn it! And he didn't even get the chance to bed his witch before him! But at least he had successfully marred her with his scent. The Count would not be pleased once he got whiff of that. A smirk finally grazed the rebel vampire's face. Last night's escapades had not been an entire waste.

Abruptly, a lone, rapid heartbeat drew Alan's attention, and the driving force of bloodlust returned. Perfect, he thought. More blood to spill. More screams to hear. Materializing closer to his victim, Alan kept himself cloaked behind the shelter of a tree in a nearby park. Piercing his hunter's eyes into the dark sky, he spotted his prey. His prey was a young male, a little over six feet tall, dark brown hair, chocolate colored eyes, and a light tan. The man was jogging around the park with his ipod on high volume, unaware of the danger just a few feet away. His heartbeat was fast, perfectly in time with his fast gait. Thump, thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump, thump! The prey was in good physical shape. Good. He presents more of a challenge, and will taste better, too. Eyes a dark crimson with bloodlust, Alan inhaled his prey's scent. It had a certain husk to it that all males had, sweat from his workout, and a slight touch of aftershave, but there was something peculiar about this mortal's scent. There was a familiar aroma embedded into his skin that did not belong there.

This mortal smelt of a magical being. It was old and faded, but it was there. Alan narrowed his eyes in confusion and irritation. Mortals were not supposed to smell of a magical creature! Mortals were dirt! Blood banks! Slaves to magical creatures, they were not supposed to smell like one had touched them, had honored them with a caress from someone above their station! But why was it familiar? As the man drew closer, Alan racked his brain to discover where he knew that scent. It was on the tip of his tongue! Inhaling again, his eyes went wide as it dawned on whom this mortal smelt like.

Impossible!

The man jogged past Alan, still oblivious. Fangs unsheathing, Alan wordlessly pounced on the mortal, knocking him face-first onto the ground. The man gave a shout of fear and surprise, but Alan quickly silenced him. Sinking his fangs into the man's jugular vein, Alan probed through the mortal's memories, ignoring the gurgling sound he was making from a mouth full of soil. Journeying into the mortal's mind, the vampire finally found what he sought, coaxing the sweet information out of the mortal's subconscious. Intrigued at what he witnessed and certain of having further use for this mortal, Alan ceased his drinking so as not to kill his new slave, and forced him upright. The poor man was as limp as a rag doll, dirt seeping from his mouth and his chocolate eyes rolled back into his skull. "Today is your lucky day, mortal," Alan drawled. "You will not die, but live to serve me. Isn't it wonderful?" Chuckling, the vampire materialized to the Hellfire Resort with his new slave in his grip.

----------

Lauren brutally kicked the red sack dangling from the ceiling, causing the chain that held it up to rattle from such force. Punch, punch, kick! Punch, punch, kick! With each assault, Lauren's intensity towards such an innocent object grew. Harry and Emma had gone to the Los Angeles DHWW Headquarters to explain the events from last night, leaving Bonnie and David to watch Holly and Chris, and Lauren to train in the garage, perfectly aware of her audience. Stupid vampire, she thought angrily. She hated having someone just watching her, eyes never wavering or blinking, silent as could be. It was creepy and unnerving. Especially since some of the steam she was trying to work off had to do with the set of unholy blue eyes watching her. Doesn't he have something better to do!

"What is better than watching a beautiful young woman?" Dracula inquired from his seat on the garage steps. Ignoring him, Lauren continued to mercilessly beat the punching bag. "And how much longer are you going to continue to disregard my presence?" he added with a hint of annoyance. When the witch still kept her back to him, Dracula clenched his jaw and stood up. "Enough is enough, Lauren! Speak!" The blonde jumped at his sudden outburst, but still said nothing. She moved over to a table pushed against the wall with a pair of handguns loaded with bullets, and continued to then fire at a row of targets hanging on the opposite wall. The Count's eyes flashed a bright shade of blue in stormy rage. If there was one thing he hated, it was being ignored. Not to mention, he liked hearing Lauren's voice. It was… soothing in a way. He wanted to hear it. Now.

"Damn it, Lauren! At least look at me and acknowledge that I'm here!"

Still silent, Lauren continued to shoot the targets, her eyes never leaving the circles of red and white, but her lips curled in a mischievous grin. Ticking off Dracula, while may be dangerously playing with fire, was fun. A low growl rumbled from the back of the Count's throat. Her defiance was never-ending no matter what he did! And even when her strong will did falter in his favor, it was never for very long. "If you continue to ignore me," he hissed. "I will not be held responsible for my actions!" When he wanted someone to face him, they faced him or endured the consequences.

Spinning on her heel, Lauren fired her gun at Dracula twice, both bullets hitting their mark in his lower abdomen. Dracula's eyes widened with surprise at the harsh contact, and with a low groan, he fell to the floor flat on his back. Dark, almost black blood dripped from where the bullets had pierced his body, trickling to the floor. He didn't move. Lauren gasped in horror. She hadn't killed him had she? They weren't even silver bullets! "Dracula!" she screamed and ran over to his unmoving form. His eyes were closed. Lauren quickly kneeled at his side and dug the bullets out of his abdomen, coating her fingers with his blood as she tossed the bullets over her shoulder. "Count? Count! I'm sorry! I swear I was just trying to tick you off! I didn't think I could actually hurt you! I didn't mean- AHH!"

Lauren yelped as a firm, large hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to fall flat on her stomach. In another movement so swift it sent her mind reeling, the witch found herself with her back to the floor with a partially aroused Dracula straddling her hips, an impish smirk on his thin lips and a triumphant spark in his eyes. "Apology accepted, my dear," he drawled, healing up his wound. The Count continued to smile charmingly at her. Lauren's jaw dropped in shock. Oh. My. God. Dracula had tricked her. He had tricked her good. "Is something the matter?" he asked, still grinning like a cat that had just captured an elusive mouse. Lauren shut her mouth and narrowed her eyes. "You, you BASTARD! Get off me now! I can't believe you did that!" she hissed.

"Really, Lauren, I am touched that you care so much. I had no idea," Dracula teased, locking the witch beneath him with his legs. He took a moment to breathe in a large amount of air. Mmmm…Lauren's scent had returned to normal after her long shower the night before. No trace of Alan Barlow's mark remained. Good, for she is mine! The blonde wriggled to free herself. "Get off!"

"No."

"Damn it I said get off! Now!" The more she struggled, the harder Dracula squeezed his muscular thighs into her hips to hold her in place. "Were you worried about me?" he asked. "Did you feel guilt for one moment at the thought that you had murdered me?"

"No!" the huntress replied. But it was a terrible lie. "No remorse at all? I recall you just proclaiming a moment ago that you were sorry and did not mean it."

"Why do you care?" Lauren hissed.

"That is not your concern," he replied coolly. "I simply wish to know if demon hunters feel regret when killing demons."

"No, we don't!" At that declaration, Dracula's facial features darkened, and the lights in the garage flickered briefly. "I suspected as much," Dracula finally hissed. "You demon hunters never ask for the whole story before vanquishing, do you? You slay first, ask questions never." Lauren shivered at the Count's icy tone. "No demon has ever given us a good reason to!" she defended. "Demons kill! It's what you do! If we don't strike first, then you will! It's all a test of survival!"

Dracula chuckled darkly. "And who taught you that?"

"Elder Demon Hunters! There's never been any other way! Demons hurt people! Even if you can't help it, you do! That's why you all have to be stopped!"

"Even me?"

Lauren swallowed again. The room felt so very warm. "Not as long as you're on your best behavior," she replied. "Now get off me!"

"You ignored me when I fought to hold your attention, why should I obey you?" The Count's eyes had hardened at the inquiry. It was a genuine question, not a jest designed to infuriate her. Lauren's regard softened, her body relaxing for a moment. As she slackened, so did Dracula. "Well, I…"

"No answer? No witty comebacks? Lauren, I'm disappointed in you!" he chided. Lauren bit her lip and shifted, trying to ignore what was forcing itself into the seams of her pants. "Look, I didn't mean to ignore you, per se. It's just I don't like having people breathing down my neck when I'm trying to train! It distracts me and makes me more self-conscious than I'd like to be!"

Dracula raised an eyebrow. "I was not breathing down your neck, Lauren." He bent down, bringing his lips to her ear, lightly brushing his cool flesh against her cheek. "This is breathing down your neck. And if you wished for me to leave, you should have asked." Swallowing, Lauren retorted, "But you wouldn't have listened, would you?" Using his arms to hold himself up again, he smirked again. "No, I would not."

"Then why bother!" she hissed, anger fueling her senses again. She would not be seduced, no matter how much his devious face and sensual remarks were turning her on. "Why ask you anything if you're only going to just take but never give?"

Dracula blinked, not having an answer for that. "…It is the thought that counts," he finally replied. Lauren rolled her eyes. "That's a saying for those who having nothing to give!" she spat. "Now let me up!"

"No. Say, please."

"What? I'm not going to say 'please'!"

"So be it. I'm perfectly content to sit atop you for all eternity," he husked, his devilish smirk returning. Lauren bit her lip. She was developing horrible habits thanks to Dracula. And she couldn't believe that she had feelings for this arrogant man! There had to be a way to be rid of them, there had to be! She would not allow her heart be taken by Count Dracula. She would not! It was regretful however, that both Fate and her body were against her. But Fate was against Dracula as well. Except, he had no problems with the physical attraction between he and Lauren. It was the emotional bond that was slowly forming that he had difficulty in understanding. "Would you please let me up!"

Silently, Dracula rose, holding out a hand for assistance. "Thank you," Lauren curtly replied. "Oh my, a thank you as well! What a glorious day this is!"

"Oh shut up, Count!"

"And the smart aleck has returned."

Scowling, Lauren returned to her punching bag and began the punch-kick exercise again. The Count watched her quietly, musing, for lack of a better word, her defense. But perhaps there was hope for demon hunters to evolve from cold-blooded killers. After all, Lauren had 'pardoned' him as it were, and certainly was having second thoughts on Gabriel Van Helsing's teachings. In fact, it appeared to him that she was even questioning herself!

A particularly loud smack from the punching bag startled Dracula from his thoughts and drew his attention to Lauren. She was attacking the red sack with more ferocity than ever. "You wouldn't be picturing that sack as me, would you?" Dracula inquired with an amused grin. "It doesn't make any sense! I can't figure it out!" Lauren snapped.

"What does not make sense?"

"How demons could be so… so different!"

"Would you care to elaborate?"

Sighing angrily, she faced him. "You! Demons! Some demons control their animalistic side, while others don't! And then you! You-" Lauren sighed again and put her palms on either side of her face. "I don't even want to go into the subject of you."

A curious expression upon his face and his arms folded behind his back, Dracula slowly approached. "And why do you ponder the characteristics of demons if you are only going to slay them?" When Lauren looked away, he continued. "Do you wish to know about demons, Lauren?"

"Yes," she murmured. "And then you, well, never mind."

"What?" he questioned. "What about me?"

"Nothing," Lauren hastily replied. "It's not important!"

"I think it is," Dracula said. "What about me?"

"Nothing! You don't need to know!"

Dracula bared his teeth and harshly captured Lauren's hands with his own. "Yes I do! You will tell me!"

"There's nothing to tell!" Lauren shouted, wincing at Dracula's tight hold. "I don't believe you," Dracula hissed. Taking note of her pained expression, he added, "Must you tempt my temper? Is it not possible for you to simply obey me?"

"You don't always get what you want, Count," Lauren snapped. "Whether you threaten me or even s-seduce me, you don't get to order me around!"

Dracula's forehead creased when Lauren stuttered over the word, 'seduce'. "And you do not desire my touch?" he asked. "NO! I mean, yes, but it doesn't mean anything! OH! Why do you seduce me anyway? We're trying to kill your enemy here! Sleeping with me isn't going to give you any brownie points, if that's what you're after!"

Dracula released Lauren's hands at her outburst in surprise. "Is that what you think? That I desire you for, 'brownie points'?"

"And that makes it worse!" Lauren continued on. "You have to be all seductive, and then we have a semi-genuine moment, and then you freakin' try to seduce me again! How the hell am I supposed to react with you changing your motives for me every five seconds!"

"My motives for you have not changed," Dracula replied with a hint of amusement. "As to how you react, react to what I do in that moment. Do not hide what your body craves," he cooed as if it were obvious. Lauren shot daggers at him. "My body doesn't rule me, Dracula! Get used to it!"

"Do not hide yourself from me," he drawled. "There's nothing to hide from you!" Lauren retorted. "There is not? Very well. Now that that is settled, you and I are going to dinner tonight."

Lauren blinked, and momentarily forgot her anger at the sudden change of subject. "What?" Where did that come from?

Dracula resumed his trademark, charming smile. "Tonight, you and I will go out to dinner. Then I will answer any questions about demons you have." Lauren folded her arms in mistrust. "And what does going out to dinner with a vampire entail?" Dracula chuckled. "There will be no killing, Lauren. I will take you to a restaurant and that is all. Satisfied?"

"I…suppose…"

"Wonderful! Oh and one more thing."

Lauren narrowed her eyes and frowned. "I'm not going to like this, am I?"

Dracula simply smiled darkly. "I will teach you about demons, but you must call me, Vladislaus."

----------

Alan grinned maliciously at his new servant. What a prize he'd found! If he played his cards right, he might succeed in stealing Dracula's newest plaything from him after all! "Now, repeat your orders to me again. Once you locate the Count and Lauren DiCamillo, you will?"

"Remind Lauren that the Count is using her. I will convince her to resume her attempts to vanquish him," the servant responded. "Good. If you succeed, I will give Lauren to you. You will no longer have a lonely bed or a lonely heart," Alan falsely promised. The mortal nodded his head eagerly. "I will succeed, Master. I will make her see things our way!"

"No doubt you will. But remember, don't mention me until you have her entire trust, understand?"

"I understand."

"Excellent! All we must do now is locate them. Then you may set our plan in motion." Christopher Brookes' eyes glistened with anticipation as he nodded. But his eyes were no longer a warm, chocolate brown.

They were black.


MUAHAHAHAHA! Alright, who guessed who the 'prey' was in the beginning? Anyone? Put your hand down Anon E. Mouse! You don't count! You helped me come up with the idea! lol. XD If you guys find any typos, feel free to tell me. I try to catch them all, but you know how spellcheck is... -rolls eyes in annoyance- Anywho, I hope you guys liked the chapter, and I will try and update soon!