A SECOND CHANCE CH.38

"Shadow in the Castle"

That night Vlad kept an eye on Anette. The shadow couldn't sneak in that night but there was always the following night. When Vlad fell asleep the shadow went into action. He snuck through the doors as a mist and crept around looking for the beautiful girl. Dracula was no where around and so he snuck underneath her door and materialized into his normal shape. He was no longer shrouded by the shadows of the forest. His long black hair went down his back and covered part of his face. He was dressed in inky black clothing that was very punk, goth, and emo like. His heavy black boots made a light thunk on the stone floor. The girl tossed and turned in bed as he advanced to her. She was beautiful. She wore a 19th century nightgown and her long black waves were spread across the sheets. It reminded him of the mermaids' hair drifting along in the ocean current gently. Or maybe like a siren's... Or a goddess'... She rolled over in her sleep and the satin sheets fell away from her body. Her nightgown was hitched up one perfect leg and exposed her shapely leg and thigh. Her breasts were plump and full in the gown as well. He licked his lips. Such a beautiful virgin mortal.. She was beginning to stir.

Anette was dreaming about her past. Her dream was a replay of her life with her family. Her mother and father both loved her very much. They educated her the best that they could and kept her clothed, housed, and fed. Her mother taught her how to dance, sing, cook, and sew while her father taught her how to run a farm, harvest, cut wood, and hunt. She was perfect in their eyes. But when she was 15 they died of tuberculosis. She joined the gypsies after that. Then she ran into Vlad, fell in love, got married, was imprisoned, was set free, got pregnant, then committed suicide. And she did all that out of the love she had for Vlad. If she did do all these things then she must have really loved him. Perhaps that love could return.. She smelt something strange.. Something that she didn't smell in her room before. It was the strong scent of wood and dirt. It wasn't Vlad's scent.. it was someone else's...

Anette woke up to see a man that looked nearly like a shadow. She gasped and was about to scream but he silenced her with his hand. "Don't scream little girl.. You don't want to wake up the Count now do you?" he hissed in her ear. She squealed in response and struggled. Kiki saw everything and snuck out from underneath the door and ran to Vlad's room. Anette bit his hand and he pulled it away. "Who the hell are you and what do you want?!" she questioned fearfully. "My name is Shadow. You may recognize me as the shadow in the woods.. and I want you little bride of Dracula.." he purred. She backed away from him fearfully looking into his brown eyes. "Why do you want me?! I'm not even Dracula's bride!!" "You are beautiful and you are Dracula's bride to be or as the noble vampires say his 'reluctant' bride to be." "I'm not beautiful!! I know many women much prettier than me! Go after them!!" she yelled. "Oh no. My eyes are set on you... Princess..."

Kiki ran to Vlad's room and crawled under the door the fastest she could. Mewing, she ran up to his bed and hopped up trying to wake him up. She mewed louder and louder and pricked him with her tiny claws and hissed in impatience. Vlad didn't wake up. He rolled over and Kiki got madder. She tried to mew louder but she couldn't. Suddenly she let out a howling shriek and he woke up. "Kiki what the hell is going on?!" he snarled, a little angry about being woken up in a abrupt way. Kiki kept mewing and ran to the door running her claws over the bottom. Vlad got up dressed only in his pants and opened the door. Kiki shot down the hall like a rocket to Anette's room. Something must be wrong.

Shadow kept Anette on the bed and was trying to get her to go with him far away from Vlad. "No way in hell!" was her reply. He snarled and pinned her down on the bed. "Yes way in hell you're going!!" he growled in her face. Anette punched him in the stomach, kicked him in the shin, and bit his hand. He let go of her and she shot off the bed. Kiki was howling outside the door and Vlad opened it for Anette to crash into his chest. He held her tight and saw what Kiki was angry about. Shadow had gotten in. "Shadow. LEAVE NOW." Vlad snarled as he held Anette closer and tighter. "No chance Dracula. She's coming with me. She will be my little bride. My little princess." Shadow said as he leaned against the bed post. "She will never be yours!" Vlad growled. "Yes she will. I'll take her away from you. She wants to leave you.. She hates you.. She can't stand to be around you.." "I DON'T!!" Anette screamed causing them both to look startled. "I'M NOT LEAVING WITH YOU! VLAD IS MY FRIEND! I LIKE HIM! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME AWAY!!" she screamed. Kiki hissed loudly following her mommy's example. "You like him?" Shadow questioned. "YES! I DO!" she yelled. Vlad took this time to grab Shadow and pin him against the wall. "STAY AWAY FROM HER." he snarled. Vlad's eyes had turned red and his claws were beginning to show. Shadow was frightened. "Yes." he gasped wide eyed. Vlad dropped him and Shadow leapt out the window. Vlad turned back to normal and calmly exhaled. Anette went up behind him and touched his shoulder. "Are you ok?" she asked gently. "Yes.. I'm fine.." he said softly. Vlad turned around and Anette realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt. She blushed slightly for she had never seen a man's chest in person before and his was perfect. "Well I'm going to bed.." she said as she hopped back into bed. "I will as well." he said. They went to bed and awoke the next evening pretty much forgetting about Shadow.

To Be Continued.