Sorry I haven't updated in over a week. Please, please don't kill me! (This is where YOU go, "Why not?" Then I go, Uh..well...Because you wouldn't get to finish the story, that's why!) Ok, dorkfest is over. lol.
Chapter 35: The Strength of Blood
Dracula stood suspended upside down on the ceiling in the guest room of Lauren's apartment. Gravity held its power over his clothing, his hair, and his earrings. Those insignificant items hung downward from the stress of gravity, but his blood stayed still and his skin remained the same Caucasian perfection it had been for over five centuries. There were no hints of a flush pooling beneath his flesh. The vampire king was listening. He was listening to Lauren trying to master her vampire powers by herself. It had been two nights since he turned her, two nights since he had spoken a word to her.
She hadn't fed yesterday and he could feel her fatigue. She had made a little progress with her new powers. She could teleport herself a few inches around the room now. He had secretly swelled with pride that she had taught herself that much. Growing up around magic had given her an advantage at progressing with her new abilities faster, and her intelligence did no harm either. But all progress had ceased now that she chose not to feed.
The Count dropped to the floor with silent ease and made his way to the spacious living room that Lauren had been using to train. With him he brought a glass of warm, fresh blood. He knew that Lauren had sensed his presence, or at least the presence of blood because from the moment he entered the room, she stiffened and refrained from attempting to transform into her beast form. "You have not fed since your conversion," Dracula said matter-of-factly. "I'm not hungry," came her rasped answer. Dracula strode behind her, forcing her to turn around from the powerful scent of fresh blood. The urge to feed howled within her like a fierce storm, thundering and intense with no hope for merciful shelter.
"Yes you are, Lauren. Fledglings need to feed more often than usual in the beginning. I will not allow you to starve yourself. Besides, it will not kill you. It will only make the desire to kill that much stronger. And you don't want that, do you?"
Lauren sighed in defeat and took the glass from him. Her face appeared to be that of a small child forced by an adult to drink a foul-tasting medicine, though this medicine tasted anything but foul. Lauren tried not to take pleasure in pouring that thick, delicious liquid down her throat, but she finished gulping it down in seconds. Setting the now empty glass on the table, Lauren turned to face him. "Satisfied?" Dracula frowned with unease. "No. I thought we established that you would not try and kill yourself."
"I'm not trying to."
"Then why wouldn't you feed?"
"It's… it's just that I don't want to… to feed! It just doesn't feel right!"
"Lauren," he chided firmly. "You are one of the undead now. In order to survive, you must feed! If you don't, it will only weaken your body and powers, leaving you vulnerable to an attack!"
"I know! And I mean, I've started getting used to the idea that I'm a vampire, as surprising as it is. It's just that sooner or later, I'm – I'm going to have to – to kill to survive!"
"You need not worry about that now. And if spilling innocent blood is what concerns you, then you need not worry about that as well. You cannot feed on your own kind, but you can feed on other breeds of demon. You can resume your identity of a demon hunter if that helps you."
It appeared that some invisible weight had been lifted from Lauren, as her demeanor seemed to lighten. "Would you like my assistance in transforming?" Dracula offered. Lauren shifted uncomfortably. She preferred figuring things out on her own rather then having to ask for help. It's what she had done for years, even when it came to her siblings. "No thank you. I can figure out how to do it myself."
"I know you've been trying on your own, and you've done well so far, but I can make it easier for you."
Another sigh and then, "…Alright. What do you want me to do?"
"First," Dracula stepped closer to her and waved a hand over her eyes, indicating for her to close them. "I want you to clear you mind. Relax and fret over nothing." Hesitantly, Lauren obeyed. "What now?" she asked.
"Relax," he repeated. "I am relaxed!" She couldn't see it, but she knew that Dracula was eyeing her skeptically. "Ok... fine. I could stand to relax a little more." After a few minutes of silence and forced slow breathing on Lauren's part, Dracula was satisfied that Lauren had achieved as much relaxation as she would get. "Now, imagine yourself changing and being at your peak of power. Nothing can hold you back, not flesh, nor soul, nor mind. You are free."
Lauren bit her lip, and dared to open her eyes. "Nothing happened," she replied with disappointment upon seeing her human hands. "Try again," Dracula urged. "No one has ever transformed on their first try – aside from me."
Lauren laughed, her first laugh in days. "Oh I feel so much better now! Thanks Count I'm-So-Full-of-It!" Finishing her chuckle, she shut her eyes, and breathed unnecessary breaths in and out, in and out, in and out. "Did I do it yet?" she asked without opening her eyes. "Not quite. Try again." A few minutes later, "Try again, Lauren." His voice bore no impatience or annoyance. There were only gentle, yet firm commands designed to teach her. Lauren clenched her fists tightly at her sides and let out a deep breath she had been holding. She didn't bother to ask if she had transformed yet. She didn't feel anything happen.
"Lauren."
"Yeah, I know I can't do it! I'm trying!" she snapped.
Low chuckling reached her ears. Why the hell was he laughing? Her failures were not funny! How dare he! "Lauren, open your eyes."
Timidly, Lauren opened her eyes to see Dracula surveying her with his eyes like he was seeing her for the first time. "Look." Lauren looked at her hands – they were colored misty silver, and her fingers had sharpened into claws. She gasped and looked down. Her legs and feet were the same, only more monstrous. She felt something twitch from behind her, and upon discovery, was introduced to her pair of wings. Her face, wait, what did her face look like? Lauren whipped around to look at a mirror, but jumped when she did so. She cast no reflection. "Oh," Lauren whispered with a touch of remorse. "I forgot. Mirrors and vampires are a no-no."
Dracula advanced behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He too had no reflection. "They say we have no reflection because we have no soul. But I disagree. We bear no reflection because we never change, what is there to see? We are immortal. We are above such vain needs." Lauren hesitantly slid her hands to her face, exploring with her fingers. Dracula wrapped his arms around her front and tenderly removed her hands from her face. "My dear, you do not need a mirror to see your beauty." Icy breaths tickled her ear followed by journeying lips, and she shivered with wicked delight in spite of herself. Dracula then undid her hair from captivity in its loose bun, and let her sun-colored locks cascade down her back and over her shoulders. He circled her briefly then smiled with satisfaction. "Much better." Lauren looked down. Oh, if vampires could blush!
"What do I look like?"
Dracula casually swept his eyes up and down her body, his eyes that burned with yearning in their lustful intent. "You have not changed. You are a lovely vision to behold." Lauren scowled and rolled her eyes. "Please, enough empty flattery. What does my face look like?"
Dracula still stared into her fiery blue eyes. "My compliments are not empty. They are the truth."
"Oh come on!"
"I am serious Lauren. I would never lie about such things. But if you are so determined to know what you look like in demon form, than here is my description. Your flesh is now a lovely shade of silver. Your facial features are more defined and sharper than they are in human form, but they are the same. Your hair is the same golden color, and your eyes have only brightened in their sky blue."
Lauren said nothing. "Do you know what you look like?" she inquired softly, looking him in the eye. Dracula hesitated. In truth, he had not thought of this in ages. He was only certain of handsome appeal to women. "I have not… seen what I look like in centuries, save for what portraits of myself have been done."
"So it's a no then," Lauren clarified, slipping from her beast form. "You did me, so I'll do you. You have dark hair that escapes onto your face – "
Dracula smirked. This would be interesting. And she was doing this of her own accord, too. Yes, she would be in his grasp, bound forevermore by his side. And she was already turned. It would not be long now before she willingly became his eternal lover – as he would be hers.
" – Your skin is nearly white, though you probably knew that. But your eyes, your eyes are the brightest sapphire I've ever seen." Finishing up her quick and less explicit description of his body, Lauren looked up to watch Dracula's reaction. "… That is how you see me?" he asked quietly, awaking momentarily from his covetous reverie.
"Yes."
Silence. A smoldering pair of inquisitive eyes bore into Lauren, making her certain that he was looking into her soul and finding everything she hid within, reading it like a book. Those blazing eyes of that set her on fire inside and out.
"Uh, thanks, for you know, being patient," she finally spat out, unable to stand such powerful silence with him. She had to say something!
"There is no need to thank me. Now, would you like to continue our lesson?"
"Yes, please."
"Very well. Let's start with flying."
"Flying!" Lauren shouted with a mixture of surprise and joy. "But I just learned how to transform!"
"Well, it would be more accurate to say that I will be teaching you to hover tonight. You are of course not quite ready for true flight yet. But it will come in time. Now, resume your demon form."
She did it this time, on command. It took no longer than a few seconds this time. She could do it! Bursting with self-satisfaction, Lauren turned to see that Dracula was watching her again, making her shift from her self-satisfaction to self-consciousness. What if she made a fool of herself? What if she looked weak and useless? What if she wasn't good enough? Wasn't good enough for him?
"Now, spread you wings."
Lauren found that her wings could move with her scarcely trying. "Good. Now flap them harder." She did. "Harder." She obeyed, feeling a self-made wind blow loose items around the room. "Harder! Now jump!" he barked. Lauren sprung into the air, using all the strength she could summon. However, gravity had another fate in store for her. She landed back on the ground with a low thud. She groaned in anger. "Nothing is ever easy, is it?"
"Here. Allow me to assist you."
Dracula transformed into his own beast form and took Lauren's hands in his. Speaking in her mind he said, "Do as I do." His wings unfolded and began to flail with Lauren's doing the same. Within moments, they were both air born. "Now," he said in her mind again. "I'm going to let go. Continue to do what you are doing now." He abruptly let go of her hands, and Lauren was on her own. But she was still above the ground! "YES!" she screamed in triumph. Once she returned to the ground, she looked up at an amused, yet pleased looking Dracula.
"See. My assistance is not so horrible," he replied with a smug grin.
"So much for thanking you!" she retorted in an irritated, yet teasing manner.
Over the next week, Dracula instructed Lauren how to defy gravity by dangling from the ceiling and walking up the wall. During that lesson, poor Dracula had to put up with his fledgling's cocky Spiderman cracks, followed by her sudden adamant fear that she would slip and fall. Teleportation grew much easier, as did transforming and hovering off the floor with her wings strengthening with each attempt at flight. To Lauren's utter joy, Dracula had assured her that it would not be long before she could take to the sky and test the full power of her wings.
During these lessons and private moments between the two vampires, all of Lauren's fears were forgotten. No thoughts of what her family would do or say plagued her, nor did visions of being hunted by her loved ones haunt her. But such bliss could not last forever. On Lauren's twelfth night as a vampiress, all those fears came rushing back like a whirlpool dragging her down to the depths.
"That's enough for now," Dracula said after watching Lauren teleport around her apartment. "The sun will be rising soon. You need to retire for the day."
"Since when do you tell me when my bedtime is?"
"Since if I don't, you will never stop training until you collapse from exhaustion."
Lauren rolled her eyes. "Besides, Lauren, tomorrow night we are expected to make our appearance at your sister's home." Lauren froze. She had almost forgotten. Silently, she strode to her room and sat on her bed, fiddling with her hands. She didn't shut her door. "Can I ask you something?" she called. Dracula appeared beside her. "What is it?"
"When did the devil resurrect you again?"
Dracula sucked in his breath. He hadn't seen that question coming. And truth be told, it was not a subject he was particularly inclined to discuss. But perhaps he could this once, but only with the woman beside him. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Lauren quickly assured him, seeing his eyes darken. "I'm just curious."
"No, it is alright. I will tell you, but it goes without saying that this is not a pleasant subject. You would do well not to repeat it." Lauren nodded. "I was resurrected again in 1945 after World War II ended. Lucifer was very angry that the bloodshed had stopped, and before returning me to this world reminded me of what would happen if I failed and was sent to him again – painfully.
"Some of his greatest triumphs in the mortal world were influencing the second world war, and the Holocaust as well. He wanted me to return to renew violence and war. He takes great delight in warning me of what will happen if I am defeated yet again," Dracula explained in a cold, hard voice.
"If he makes you suffer so much, why on earth do you still serve him?"
Dracula shone his sharp, icy eyes on her like a hunter trapping a deer in its path. "I would not expect you to understand."
"Try me."
"I have no wish to further discuss this matter with you," he hissed. "If that is all, it is time for you to retire." He stood up abruptly and hastened to the door.
"If I'm vanquished, will I go to him?"
Dracula paused, unsure of how to answer. "Will I?" Lauren demanded again. "We both know that my family won't take the news of my being a vampire lightly. What happens if they kill me? Will I go to hell?"
She should not. She has done nothing wrong except serve Good for years loyally – like I once did. In making her like me, the only sin that could possibly condemn her, did I doom her to torments like my own?
"It is very likely," he replied stiffly. "You have killed no innocence, but you are a creature of the night. I've condemned you and there is no changing it."
Infernal woman! I should rid myself of her and these… feelings she gives me! I don't think myself capable of love, but what else could it be? Besides, I cannot leave her, not even if I desired to do so. And I will not allow her to step foot into my father's realm. That is not a place for one such as her.
"You saved my life," Lauren corrected him, and went to his side. "I wasn't ready to die, especially because of my own foolishness. I've been taught not to fear death, but I still didn't want to die. You did nothing wrong, Vladislaus."
Dracula whipped around to face her, observing her with incredulous eyes. "You said my name," he said, dumbfounded.
Lauren blinked. "I… guess I did." In truth she had wanted to call him by his first name for a while, but was afraid that she'd only get more attached to him if she did. "I won't if you don't want me to."
"No," he responded determinedly, his eyes never wavering from hers. "I want you to."
-----
The next evening
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Lightly touching down, Dracula helped Lauren to her feet as they approached Emma's house. "What if they kill me?" Lauren whispered as they headed towards the door. "They won't," Dracula assured her. "But what if they try to!"
"I will not let them. Besides, surely they would not kill their own sister, especially once they see that you have not changed."
Lauren glared at him with disbelief. "Uh, helloooo! We vanquished our mother when she was turned into a demon! In this family, we kill demons even if they're our family members!"
Dracula paused for a moment, his eyes betraying the musings that churned within him. "And I thought my mortal family had… troubles." This earned him a punch from Lauren. "Ha ha. Very funny!" she hissed, not in the least amused. "But what do we do if they do disown me?"
Dracula took Lauren's hand and continued to lead her to the door. "Then, my pet, we leave and deal with Alan on our own."
"And you really think we can do that all by ourselves?"
"But of course! You forget that I am Count Vladislaus Draguila, and Alan Barlow is a pathetic vampire barely out of his fledgling years. I can dispose of him easily."
"So I suppose the reason he's still alive is because you weren't in a killing mood?"
Dracula ignored her and kept on walking. Once they reached the porch, both vampires hesitated before knocking. "This is it," Lauren whispered. "Remind me before I panic, what's the plan again?"
"We sit them down and explain that the only way to spare your life was to turn you. They will see that you have not changed, and we will then resume your training. They will take care of any problems while we are gone, and once we return, we will destroy Alan and his plans once and for all."
Lauren took a deep breath, trying her best to remain optimistic. "Alright. I can do this! I'll just knock and we'll stick to the plan!" Lauren placed her fist to the door, but did not knock. Dracula chuckled in amusement and placed his hand over Lauren's fist. Gently, they knocked together. After a minute, no one answered.
"Well, I guess no one's home! We'll do this another time!" Lauren went to step off the porch. Frowning, Dracula caught her upper arm and yanked her back on the porch. "Not so fast, Lauren. We must get this over with. You know that. Besides, we will be fine."
"Oh, that's easy for you to say! You won't die from silver stakes being hurled into you!"
The Count chuckled. "Very true, but never fear. I will protect you!"
Lauren rolled her eyes, but did not respond. A few seconds later, a soft pitter-patter told them that the door would be answered in a moment. The door creaked as it opened and Emma peered from behind it before thrusting it wide open. "Lauren!" she cried happily. "Come in!" The two vampires entered, and greeted the members of the DiCamillo clan. "Are you sure you're better?" Bonnie asked, entering the room. "You look kind of… wishy-washy."
"She looks as pale as the Count, is what she looks like!" Emma retorted. Dracula and Lauren nervously eyed each other. "Good God!" Emma shrieked after hugging her sister. "Why the hell are you so cold!"
All eyes pierced through the middle DiCamillo sibling. "Uh…" Lauren stammered. "I actually want to talk to you guys about that. Why don't we sit down?" Suspicious, everyone silently grabbed a chair, leaving Lauren and the Count in the spotlight. Slowly, Lauren told them of Christopher, how it was a trap, and that she almost died. When it got to how Dracula saved her however, she went silent.
"You turned her, didn't you, Count?" came a quiet, strained voice.
Everyone turned to Harry. The warlock held a grave look on his face, his posture was tense, and his eyes were glassy, like he was fighting the urge to cry. Eyes looked to the Count. "Yes," he answered. "I did. But she has not changed, as you can see. The only change in her is that she has powers, and will live forever. And her will is as strong as it has always been. I have no sway over her – unfortunately."
The atmosphere was silent – the calm before the storm. And storm it did.
"YOU DID WHAT!" Emma screamed. "You can't have! Because that would mean, NO I will not kill my sister! We already had to kill our mother! I will not do the same to another family member! And especially not because of an egotistical man!"
"Emma, please," Lauren pleaded in an attempt to soothe her sister. "I haven't changed! I've been assured that I don't have to feed on innocents. I can still hunt demons, but only at night. It'll be just like it's always been with only minor changes!"
"Assured by who! Him! The Count? You've let your attraction to him cloud your better judgment! What happened to our childhood promise that no man would ever change us!"
Lauren reacted like she had been struck. "I – haven't broken that promise, Emma. I'm still the same. I'm still your sister. This isn't the same as Mom's situation."
"Oh yes it is!" the enraged witch hissed. "But I don't blame you! It's all his fault!" Dracula's eyes gleamed angrily at Emma's accusations, but he had the sense to remain silent. "No, it isn't his fault! If he hadn't have turned me, I would have died! I was stupid not to have trusted him when it came to Christopher!"
"The only reason we need to trust him is for his information on the other demons! We only need to use him for his help!" Dracula hissed at that last comment. How dare she! He would never allow them to use him! No one was allowed to use him!
"Vlad is a person! Got it? He's not some puppet for you to use! I'm ashamed of you Emma! You know better than that!" Dracula glanced at Lauren, his eyes softening as well as searching. Here she was, defending him again. And she had called him Vlad.
"Oh… it's Vlad now is it! Well, I think I better take my leave so you and Vlad, can spend time alone!" The livid woman marched from the room, and the loud slam from her door echoed throughout the tiny house like a set of dominoes.
Lauren placed a hand to her head. "I wonder if this is worse than her trying to drive a stake through my heart?" she quietly mulled. "She'll come around in time," Bonnie slowly assured her. "This is… quite a shock, but I think that you of all people Lauren can remain yourself." Her brother's wife timidly approached her and with a few more comforting gestures, rushed off in the hopes to calm Emma down.
Lauren sighed and took a seat in a chair, her eyes fixed on the tiles of the floor. She didn't need to look up to feel the unease and fear that had taken hold of the household thanks to her. Fresh, burning tears threatened to spring forth from her eyes, only now, they would be tears of blood. "Lauren," Harry hesitantly called. "I know that… that this must have been hard for you to tell us, just as it's hard for us to hear it. But you must understand our fear, our sorrow."
"I do," she whispered, her head in her hands.
Turning to Dracula, he asked, "You intend to teach my sister how to master her powers, right?"
"Yes," the Count replied silkily. "I apologize for this… inconvenience to your family. But I am afraid that there was no other alternative other than her death. And as I'm sure it has become plainly spotted, neither if us would want that."
"No," Harry agreed softly. He looked affectionately at his sister again. "Teach her than, but give me your word that you'll keep her safe."
"You have it."
"And from yourself, too, Count," Harry added, overprotective bitterness sneaking into his voice."
Dracula's eyes grew hard and stony. "I will not inflict anything on her that she does not want from me." Harry still eyed the Count with harsh contempt threatening to surface. But he remained composed. Was he wrong to have trusted the Count with his sister? Perhaps so, but it was too late now. Now, his sister would be taught how to be a vampire. And he prayed to God in heaven that he would not have to vanquish his sister like he had his mother.
"We'll have to tell the Los Angeles Demon Hunter Council."
"No we don't," Lauren said, speaking up. "They don't have to know, at least not right away. You know that I'll be marked as only a demon and sentenced to death." Dracula growled low in disapproval. Let those insignificant mortals try…
Harry sighed. "You're right. Now, Count." He faced the vampire king. "Teach her the control she needs to master her powers. Make it so you wouldn't be able to tell she was a vampire by simply looking at her."
So, do zee readers, (that's you) like this chapter? I hope so. I had a lot of struggle with it. Also, my mother thought it would be funny to add things here and there that were really random whenever I'd take a break and leave the chapter up on the screen. -grumbles- It is NOT funny! So, to recap, Lauren is a vampire. YES she is. No unexpected 'oh PHEW it was only a dream!' sequences here. Now she and Dracula are going to train, train, train for a while until Lauren has the basics down and can function her powers on her own consistantly. As for Emma, she reacted as she did because she was about 13 when her mom died, while Lauren was 16 and Harry was about 19 or 20. (It's really late here, and I'm MUCHO tired and too lazy to look up the exact timeline I have written down at the moment since my brain shut off with lack of sleep.) So she was more...naive to some of the details. Now as an adult however, she realizes everything and doesn't want a repeat possibly more than Harry would. With history threatening to repeat itself, you could suppose that Emma is reacting like the child she was when her mom died. Does that soap opera/shrink evaluation make sense?
Anywho, reviews, concrit(tell me if you spot a typo. I will thank you profusely), comments would be great! I need motivation. Evil teachers are starting to pull the whole, 'exams are coming right after Christmas break! So study, study, STUDY!' Blagh. Save me with your reviews. Please. PLEASE!
Dracula: Seriously, save her. You'll be helping me out.
ForeverACharmedOne: What's THAT supposed to mean?!?!
Dracula: Nothing, dearest, nothing at all. -mouthes to the readers- SAVE ME! SHE'S GOING OFF HER ROCKER!
ForeverACharmedOne: I don't own a rocking chair...
Dracula: -palm to face-