Hello guys! At first let me thank all of you for kudos, likes and comments. I enjoy the discussion sooooo much. And your opinions are great, seeing it through your eyes is inspiring. Thank you for that

Here´s the next chapter Let´s see what disturbed Count and his Countess from the magical illusion, that turned in a romantic direction …

Count Dracula's lips reunite with hers, this time in a gentle kiss ... but the moment of romance is short and suddenly interrupted. The eyes of both abruptly open wide. They rapidly find themselves back in the 21st century and are not alone in it. A powerful electric shock that significantly shakes their bodies penetrates both (it would burn a regular mortal man within a few moments though…), separating the connection of their lips and throwing them on the opposite side of the wooden bench.

- Two bloodthirsty vampires for the price of one! - one of the commando's men laughs mockingly as the electrodes attach to the exposed skin of the Balaur couple. However, they recounted a bit, again those electrodes do not cause such a harm as intended. Apparently, not just from Dracula's experience, these portable tasers can't match the force of those in the lab. Fortunately. They recover from the tasers' attack relatively quickly, sharply turning their heads to the place from which they were attacked. 10 men, no more. They evaluate both quickly, skilfully orienting themselves in the unlit space. Agatha, still with blood on her lips, with red eyes, visible fangs, is currently more frightening than Dracula, weakened by the blood loss. Even her appetite for blood is equal to that of Dracula and he sees it very well. It excites and worries him at the same time. She is such a beautiful vampiress ...

- Agatha, don´t! - luckily, he warns her at the last moment, getting rid of the thought of his own excitement sourcing from her current look, and although he would like to have a bloodthirsty vampire out of her (even if the idea of her lips pressed against other men's skin disgusts him), he knows that Agatha would blame herself for such a failure for a very long time, perhaps partly attributing it to him. Agatha looks at him a little confused, but doesn't have time to decipher his mysterious gaze. Events that occur within a few seconds suddenly turn upside down and the two of them are under attack again. Some would expect bullets, but the military has already found out what an insignificant effect they have. Metal projectiles are thus replaced by arrows with silver tips, which are again filled with a mixture of highly effective drugs. - No! - Dracula, who does not miss the reflection of silver in the moonlight, is the first to notice and so he throws himself at his wife, with the remnants of his strength pushing her away to a sufficient distance. Agatha falls to her knees, out of reach of ammunition and dazedly watches as the shower of arrows sinks into Dracula's body. Although he does not feel any unbearable pain, he knows very well what will follow. Shocked, Agatha rises from her legs, watching as Dracula lightning-fast removes the arrows from his body, throwing them at those bastards who attack them.

- Agatha, we need fog. - he snorts, getting to his feet, snatching the last arrow from his shoulder. The arrows are out, however will soon be replaced by bullets from weapons with silencers. Both bodies twitch as they come in contact with each bullet, but only Dracula can feel the sting. Fortunately, Agatha recovers quickly, effectively suppressing her hunger, and with Dracula's blood in her veins, strengthened much more than by that of an ordinary mortal, she lets out a thick mist from her lips in the split of a second. We need to separate them! She frowns, dodging another bullet. Only one effective way to distract them occurs to her mind. Bats. I can do it. Definitely this time. I must! But before focusing on summoning the creatures of the night, there is a thunderous howl that can only come from Dracula's mouth. At first, Agatha is frightened that something terrible has happened to him, that it is the sound of immense pain, but then she realizes that it is a call to wolves.

- You will be sorry to touch my wife, even indirectly! - bloodthirsty, slightly weakened Transylvanian warlord hisses with hatred and, not remembering his promise never to take another´s life again, throws himself at the first attacker who gets under his arm. The men of the secret service or the army probably expected that an electric shock of such a strength would weaken both vampires to the ordinary human level, and the combination with a strong dose of narcotics in silver arrows would drug them completely, at least for the time necessary for a successful transport to the secret base, but this time they are mistaken. Two for the price of one? Hardly. The two vampires, who cover their each other´s back and do not hesitate to sacrifice for each other, are an almost invincible combination.

- Don't drain them, Vlad! - Agatha warns him, clearly seeing how bloodthirsty he looks at them, but Dracula needs to replenish his blood. She knows that too. - Don´t make them undead. - she completes at least, but does not reduce herself to murder alike. Instead, she breaks their bones, moves fast, effectively avoiding bullets, but worries about civilians who may get involved in the shootout. - Vlad! - she calls his name again with less apprehension. In that fog, she only recognizes his outlines. Agatha knows that Dracula no longer leans over his victim, but that does not mean that he will not attack the next one.

- I will not allow them to take you, Agatha. No matter the cost. - he answers in Russian and continues. There is another snoring of bones and Agatha knows that this time it is the vertebrae of the cervical spine. She avoids another bullet, hears another scream full of terror and pain, which however, does not belong to her husband. The next bullet hits her again, and although it doesn't hurt, the mere pressure of the bullet entering her body this time surprises her enough to squeal. Dracula is right next to her. His eyes are also blood red, his fangs still present, his whole dark grey T-shirt soaked in blood.

- Agatha ?! - he grabs her hand and is greatly relieved when he does not notice any sign of pain on her face.

- How much? - she asks him the number of victims. With satisfaction, the now absent shame, he retaliates.

- 5. - but he notices the sixth and so he leaves her again and decides to kill that agent as well. After all, he's aiming a gun at his wife. The entire troop of the military commando is destroyed. Agatha looks around. Corpses surround them, a few dying elite assassins are still squirming in pain on the ground. Mrs. Balaur expects to feel disgusted again at the Count's actions, as well as angry that he has broken his most important promise. However, these emotions are not coming yet. We defended ourselves. Both. I could have murder too. I wanted to. Vlad ... stopped me. She is just overwhelmed with relief, though the danger is not quite over. After all, who said that there isn´t another commando waiting for them, which could emerge from the bushes again at any moment? Agatha´s thoughts are immediately interrupted by another louder howls, which this time do not belong to the Lord of the Darkness. The wolf pack is close. No one knows where they come from and it's basically not even important. Eventually, Vlad returns to her, finding her in the thick fog without any problems. Stopping in front of her, he stumbles, his knees weaken and he falls to the ground.

- Vlad?! - she also falls to her knees, taking his face worriedly into her hands. Her fears overwhelm her. Her husband doesn't look the best.

- I feel dizzy. The arrows, the blood ... - his body urges him to vomit, but it can't get anything out of. The victim's blood is already part of his bloodstream, as is the toxic combination of narcotics that are starting to work. - We have to get rid of those bodies, Agatha. - There is no time for weakness now. - Cover all traces of us. - He's trying to get off his feet again, but can't. At that moment, other creatures will join the scenario. A pack of black wolves rolls on them and Agatha´s instinct of self-preservation, makes her immediately grip Dracula in her arms and wrapping herself around him, rather closes her eyes. He is weakened and she does not know how to control wolves. She has no experience with that. However, the pack does not want to hurt them. One of the wolves, currently as tame as a dog, even runs straight to them and licks Dracula, then leaves to feast on the corpses on the lawn.

- They won´t hurt us, darling. - Dracula reassures her in silence, his lips tickling the exposed skin of Agatha´s collarbone. Agatha's protective embrace fills him with at least a pinch of euphoria, which also brings some kind of pain relief, on the contrary, his closeness and intimacy of this touch causes chills all over her body. - We just need to get out of here. As soon as possible. - with that Agatha fully agrees and nods, slowly releasing the embrace, though Dracula´s face still relies on her collarbone.

- What about the wolves, Vlad? They just can´t finish them and then terrorize the whole park. There are innocent people! -

- They will return to the place they came from. No one else will be harmed. I promise. - he finally lifts his head from her, looking directly into her eyes. So beautiful and caring ... But Agatha is constantly suffering from doubts.

- How can you be so sure? -

- Because I am their master and they will fulfil my will. Believe me. - There is nothing else she can do about it. Agatha is very well aware that they can no longer stay in the park and supervise the wolves. - Just let's go, Agatha. It´s not safe here anymore. - Vlad repeats it again, trying once more to get to his feet. Agatha knows he's right. They must get out of the park, unnoticed if possible. After all, she cannot change the memory of every person who sees them. They have several options - a taxi, an UBER, just not public transport ... or? Somehow, they had to get here.

- We have to find their car and keys, Vlad. Try searching those ...? - corpses ... She will not approach the wolves voluntarily. Agatha still hears them tearing up their victims, two even while they are still alive and is disgusted with all this, but they have to get to safety and, as Vlad said, no matter the cost this time. The military base, which is not even marked on the maps, has gone too far.

- I´ll try. - he finally rises to his feet with Agatha's support and, a little slower than usual, mixes among the wolves. Agatha meanwhile looks around nervously, not perceiving the smell of blood and at the same time hopes that Vlad will also resist it. The fog has not passed and will not disappear unless necessary, but she would rather be somewhere else. Her rational mind is thinking again. Were they waiting here for them? Did they know they would be in the park? Did they know she would be in the park? But how? It was an unplanned decision after all. What would happen if I went for a run alone? Are they watching their movement? Does the military have a secret hiding place close to their home? Are they watching their house? So many questions and no answers. Her flow of thoughts is again interrupted by Dracula, who is quite torn in two, and he hands out the keys to a car.

- Let's go. - he gently grabs her hand and is really relieved that she didn't break out of his grip, but rather secured it.

- Won't they really attack the innocent? - Agatha asks, thinking again of the wolves and the absent roar in the background. Only the tearing can be heard.

- No. They will complete their task and disappear. - Vlad is convinced of his words. He keeps his promises to his wife. He wants to. He tries his best. I would never have done this for anyone else ... So, they suddenly disappear from the crime scene, looking for a car in the only area where they could park it unnoticed. By pressing one button on the ultramodern key, only one car in a nearby dead-end street responds, even immediately starts the engine. Big black Hilux. How inconspicuous and typical of the armed forces ... both of them probably think. Even Dracula has been watching by a couple of not only American-made criminal TV series, and he has seen a similar car in almost each one. They don't hesitate for a minute and get in the car. Dracula rolls down on the back seat, his head twists again, he feels dazed, but is extremely relieved that his Countess has not been affected by a similar mixture of poisons. This time, he doesn't complain about Agatha's fast ride, he's even happy to be in such a hurry.

- Is it very bad? Like the last time? - she asks him, crossing the crossroad on red light.

- Yeah, I suppose though that it will get worse with time. -

- Damn it. I hoped that similar situations would not repeat again. - she curses. But it was a naive notion, basically a lie that when they (or at least her) thought the army would leave them alone. - If it's the same mixture of drugs as the last time, it'll be bad. - Agatha sighs, looking at him in the rear-view mirror. What's worse, she doesn't know exactly how long he was exposed to them for the last time, but on the other hand ... there was probably only a dose in their arrows to stun them. And Vlad got rid of those arrows almost immediately ... - We will know more from the lab tests. - the doctor concludes at the end, addressing her husband directly. - Look, Vlad. We have to disappear, alright? We will stop at home, pack some things and leave the city. - Vlad nods, agreeing with every word.

- Do we have any, vacant house, not-rented now? - he had already read the report on owned real estate, but now he can't remember. Whatever the substances that are now flowing in his veins besides the blood are, they prevent him from concentrating fully.

- Carfax. There's a small flat for my personal use directly in the Clinic´s building. We will stay there for a few days and do a medical check-up, then decide what to do next. Agreed? -

- Yes. - within ten minutes, they will stop in a side street close to their house. - Now we need to get out and change the car. Will you manage to walk, Vlad? -

- I will. - they get out of the car, leaving the door ajar, the key on the seat. With a little luck, someone will steal the car and it will no longer be their problem. The way to the house is relatively fast, even within Dracula's possibilities (also thanks to Agatha's eager support of his body), and it looks like the house is not under the watch at the moment. Count Dracula, who had a completely different idea of tonight, some did not even climb the perfection of reality for a few moments, is heading straight to the garage, where a new car he bought for himself for the future purposes only yesterday is parked. Agatha, on the other hand, hurries to the house, packs the clothes for a few days for both, and takes her and Dracula's electronics, then immediately returns to the garage. A quiet, a bit tense ride to Carfax follows ...

- / -

Sitting in the back seat of the new black Audi A8, still in bloodied clothes, he looks at the driver's seat. Agatha is also emerged in deep thoughts, and he just hopes that she is not considering the possibility of living without him. It would still be easier and calmer. She wouldn't be in a constant danger, and she wouldn't have to look over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching her. She could peacefully devote herself only to her beloved work, not caring for more than a five-hundred-year-old vampire, who must be constantly monitored. That, too, is probably a thing of the past now. They already know about her. The count sighs again, for the first time in his life, realistically, selflessly realizing that someone's life (specifically Agatha´s) can be much easier without his presence, since he is essentially a burden, but his without her would lose on its value significantly. After all, this evening started so nicely and unexpectedly developed positively. It never occurred to him in the afternoon that he and Agatha would return to Tsarist Russia and dance together most of the evening. With her in his arms, dancing, he felt again as the sovereign ruler of the 18th century. And what did she show him? Not only a beautiful body, perfect dance steps or the behaviour of a proper countess, but also an insight into her vampire abilities, for which she was not ashamed this time. She promised him to think about the tempting proposal to travel the world with him, and sealed the beauty of the evening with a kiss he had initiated, but she did not refuse. But Dracula now sighs in silence. How quickly it could get complicated, go wrong. They found them. They tracked them down and he succumbed to his bloodthirst again, and he paid cruelly for it (and perhaps will even more, when Agatha decides to break off with me and kick me out of her life). Drugs. The real danger for humankind and, it seems to the vampires to some extent as well. This is how he felt only once in his immortal life. Or so to say, at least less intoxicated however ...

-FLASHBACK-

- Remind me, Agatha, not to drink sailors´ blood anymore. Those creatures are drunk all the time. - he complains slightly grumpy, waddling considerably and almost crashes into a chair next to the bed, which suddenly gets in his way. Where does it come from? He mumbles silently. His disbalance is not after all caused by the raging sea, although even that contributes to the instability of his steps. Count Dracula is drunk and barely made his way to cabin # 9. Today, however, he does not sit on a chair or on the edge of the bed as usually when he comes to visit. Instead, taking off his long coat from sturdy shoulders, he rolls directly onto the mattress of a narrow bed already occupied by one person. Agatha, dressed in a creamy nightgown (it would not be appropriate if she slept in a dress and the whole voyage wore only one dress, especially the gross habit. Sokolov would find out that something is wrong ...). The sleeping nun growls uncomfortably, frown appearing at a pale, sleeping face. Dracula lands almost on her and immediately regrets his reckless act of free fall. He frowns, his forehead is hit with sharp, stabbing pain, his stomach heaving, so to speak, something that has not happened for ages. He last suffered the consequences of ill-considered alcohol consumption a few days before his death. The confident smile of a wise, thoughtful man is replaced by a desperate grin. He was always careful about this. He boasted of a careful, precise choice of his menu, proudly describing to Agatha his way of life, his livelihood. He boasted of his wit and selected tastes, and now I didn't recognize the smell of alcohol ... well … I recognized it; I just didn't expect it in such a high concentration. There was almost nothing wrong with that man! And the desire to speak with a perfect accent and vocabulary was stronger than common sense. He closes his eyes for a moment, but everything just gets worse, the world starts spinning faster with him, thus he rather opens his eyes again suddenly. He wants to stand up, head for the deck again and throw the alcohol content into the sea - if only I could, but he manages only to turn on his side, his nose sinking into Agatha's throat. Two wounds on her long, slender neck remind him of how wonderful she tastes and how that affects him. She is an aphrodisiac.

- I should have stayed with you today, Agatha. - he mutters with a sincere regret. The discussion on board is mostly lifeless. In essence, it is wasting time just so he could tell her later about it, complain about the pettiness and stupidity of ordinary mortals, tease her a bit, being scolded by her. But now he can't drink. It would be useless, and even if he looked drunk in the wine cellar where they usually meet, he would ruin his image of perfection. He can't allow that, after all. Not in her presence. That would be fun at my expense. So, he'd better close his eyes - he'll try again, hoping that his head will stop spinning this time. He inhales her intoxicating scent and smiles a little. He forces himself to simulate breathing to detach the mind from an unpleasant twisting of the head, and he doesn't even know how (it shouldn't be possible after all), Count Dracula falls asleep in bed within 5 minutes like a normal mortal.

- / -

Agatha begins to wake up after a very long time. The coma-like condition is in retreat without the regular blood loss, and she finally opens her eyes, clipping with the eyelids. At first, Agatha doesn't know where she is. The whole environment is foreign to her. Her mind is so confused, her memory is almost blank. The last thing she actually remembers is a mass of black thick hair and a firm hug that stabilized her in her humble study room.

- Urgh. - She groans, starting to remember herself with an unpleasant headache ... even now she has a thick mane of onyx colour in front of her eyes, into which her face is buried again. Even now, something hugs her tightly. Someone. She is confused, but she recognizes the person lying on the top of her. Count Dracula. His face trapped in her breasts, sprawled across the narrow bed, as if he had fallen ... or did he just think he could use me for anything? What was he doing with me? Why are we lying here like this? ... at least he's not naked ... She wants to get from underneath him, but his motionless, soulless body is too heavy to be moved. Is he finally dead? A blissful though crosses her mind. This is not so easy to guess. He's not breathing. His heart does not beat. He's cold. Nothing out of the ordinary. Agatha blows and frees at least one hand from under him, trying to wake him. Otherwise, he crushes me completely. Bloody leech. She begins to shake his shoulder, and though she'd rather shake the soul out of him (if he had one), she's so weak it's barely a caress and she's already exhausted.

- Dracula! - she addresses him urgently, but nothing happens. He is still asleep (or finally definitely dead and rotting in hell). Thus, she grabs him by the hair and pulls, lifting his head a little, which she finally frees from her neckline. - Open those bloody eyes, Count! Do you want to suffocate me, you fool?! - Criticism gradually begins to awaken him. He blinks his eyes, too.

- Agatha. - he mutters her name with a sigh and wants to lie down comfortably again, but the nun does not intend to allow it. It's inappropriate ... she's a nun after all and can't share a bed with a man, not with a vampire!

- Don't even think about it! - undead warlord, however, has a different opinion and frowns again.

- Lower your voice, woman. - he snorts, looking longingly at her chest. Comfortable.

- Are you drunk or what? - count rolls his eyes. Unreasonable act. His head still hurts. He frowns even more and nods with shame.

- Yes. Now please release my head. I have a headache. - it's funny and not if being in this delicate situation, maybe she would even laugh.

- To let you fall back on me! Forget it! I'm almost out of breath. Come on, get up! Get off me! -

- Alright. - Dracula howls irritably, just like Agatha. She, now finally conscious, should seek escape, but is surprisingly interested in the count and his condition.

- You don´t drink. - she voices her thoughts, really exhaling when he gets up from her. - You must have tasted blood with alcohol content, then. - her mind, to his surprise, is quite sharp and quick. How long is she awake?

- Although I always enjoy the conversation with you, Agatha, I would now appreciate silence. - the vampire is still very irritated. He crumbles his forehead again and looks at her. Agatha will not comply with his request, on the contrary, she frowns even more and provocatively cuts off.

- Then kill me. Finish me and enjoy the silence afterwards. -

- As much, as it is tempting momentarily, I have different plans, Agatha. - also, the count blows, again looking at the area of her breasts. Her heartbeat is quite calming...

- Enlighten me. - it´s hard to stay focused and not to blush. She is not blind and can see very well where he stares…

- Good try. - he laughs and rolls down next to her again. - Maybe another time, Agatha. Sleep now. Enjoy your dreams without me. If that´s even possible. -

- With you on top of me. Sure. Can´t you just crawl back to your coffin, Count?! - she snorts with outrage and sarcasm in her voice. However, the Count simply, with satisfaction, rejects this request as well.

- No. - then she falls silent again, tangled in a similar ball as before, but this time not neglecting her completely with his weight. Agatha sighs, her heart starts pounding faster again. This time, too, she tries to get him out of her way, but it's hopeless. Dracula is asleep again, trying to get rid of the hangover. Agatha is left with nothing but lying in his captivity. A dead man, or rather undead, has found comfort on her body and as much as she wants to feel only utter disgust, excitement fills her body too, tyring her even faster. Eventually, she gives up and closes her eyes too, and within minutes, returns to the realm of dreams.

- / -

When he wakes up again, the moon decorates the night sky anew. One day. He spent the entire day in cabin number 9, in a bed with a nun. Former nun. Now, Mrs. Balaur. He says himself quietly as he slowly begins to rise from her. She's as pale as he is. Her breathing is shallow at first glance and does not change, even if her chest can breathe freely without hosting his head.

- Agatha ?! - he calls her name with a hint of panic. No huff or hm, no reaction. She is dying, that´s what he knows very well, but this is much faster than it was supposed to happen. - You must last! - he scratches the back of his neck with a puzzled look on his face. He didn't drink from her for 2 days ... but during that time he neglected her and did not feed at all. - Idiot! - Count swears and suddenly leaves the cabin. However, he returns almost immediately with a bowl of soup. He settles on the edge of the bed, carefully lifting Agatha and, leaning her on himself, begins to feed her. This time, however, the nun does not open her the mouth, does not swallow. - Damn it, woman! Eat! - It doesn't help. She's too weak.

- And she was cursing me yesterday. - at least he remembers it, but now he doesn't know if he can trust his mind in this. Maybe he's made it up in a drunken state, and she's not responding in a long time. Her heartbeat is so weak after all ... He puts the bowl on the bedside table and does the only thing he can think of. He opens the skin in the wrist area with his fingernail and puts it to her pale, almost lifeless lips.

- Drink, Agatha. You have to last. - Nothing happens in the first seconds, but when he starts to panic, thinking that she is lost, he feels her warm lips cling to his cold skin. A sweet sigh escapes his mouth, much to his shock. If he had a working heart, it would be pounding. Dracula swallows empty (as Agatha should ...). However, he only allows her a few gulps until her swallowing reflex is triggered and then replaces the blood with soup again, fortunately successfully this time. The bowl is empty within 15 minutes and Dracula exhales in relief. He will have to suppress his appetite for her for the next few days and it will be difficult. She's exquisite! So unique. Putting aside an empty bowl, he looks at Agatha a little more closely. Exploring. Confused. A little bit. He hadn't offered anyone with his blood yet. He didn't share it with anyone. Until now.

- Do you see and know what you do to me, Agatha Van Helsing ... no, Agatha Balaur. - he corrects himself and, without answering, he returns to his thoughts. Those images of such a sacred intimacy arouse him again. Blood is thicker than water and now mine flows in her veins. So unique. So strange. So exciting. So new. He smiles again, but now every sign of wickedness is absent. Laying her finally on the narrow bed again, he walks to the closet and picking up fresh nightgown, with a basin of water and sponge, returns to Agatha again. Time to take care of his bride ... no ... wife ... Balaur. Undressing her, he takes a deep breath and although it´s not the first time he does it, seeing her naked, this time he instantly hardens ... feeling strangely and dangerously human-like. The things you do to me ...

-END OF FLASHBACK-

- / -

The Count has already changed his dirty pants and thrown the shirt away, not replacing it with a new one. Agatha, after all, decided to examine him carefully and evaluate the extent and severity of the injuries. Only now is he fully aware of the firepower with which they were attacked. All the bullet wounds are gone, all that remains is to find out if any are left in their bodies and if ... well try to remove them. However, each contact with a toxic arrow is still relatively clearly visible. Dracula's arms are fairly densely studded with small circular redness's. There must have been at least 20 of them. Not even the broad back, that also protected her, escaped the airstrike, and is covered by reddish splinters.

- Those bastards ... - Agatha mutters to herself and wipes the last streaks of drying blood from his neck and chest. Just by the look on her face, it is clear that the initial fears were replaced by anger and resentment. It doesn't escape Dracula's eyes either, although his head doesn't stop spinning uncomfortably. From that gloomy facial expression, Vlad draws only one conclusion:

- I would understand if you insisted on my departure, Agatha. - muttering with a pinch of resignation in his voice, he sees only the worst-case scenario.

- It's too late for that, Vlad. Don't you think? - he would expect a sigh of resignation, interwoven with disappointment, but this is completely absent in Agatha's voice. On the contrary, her voice is quite calm. She wipes the last smudge under his chin and continues to explain. - They already know I am a vampire just like you. You heard them. - Nowadays, when everything is being recorded, information is constantly being collected and access to it is shared all over the world, it is more difficult not to reveal oneself and to explain longevity or a constantly young appearance is impossible. All that remains is the effort ...

- I am sorry. - she has heard this combination of words from his mouth, albeit about 2 times, but it never ceases to amaze her. She can see that Count does not pretend to be sorry and he means it. He is not so selfish ... he just could have thrown me on them, disturbing their focus and escape unnoticed, if he cared only for himself, as he used to in the past ... Agatha just shrugs what Dracula perceives first as a gesture of unequivocal irritability and agreement with his words that he is essentially a burden. Agatha closes her eyelids for a moment, but finally smiles.

- I made my choice, Vlad. Only time will show if it was wise and worthy. - After tonight, maybe yes. - Now, try not to move that much, I´ll check if there are any bullets stuck in your body. -

- Hm. - Dracula nods and smiles as well. - Don´t trouble yourself with them. I am sure, there are even those from Demeter and some from sooner attacks. - he did not even count them as he didn´t bother himself with wounds, stabs, cuts and similar attempts of the mortals to get rid of him, stop him, save their lives.

- With bullets in your body you will not pass through a metal detector and this can be a complication eventually. Especially if you want to travel the world using air transport. - after all, he wants to explore the places he never visited and leaving the country really seems like a good solution in the current situation. - I am going to use the ultrasound on myself as well. Don´t worry, I am not going to do any tests on you. -

- I am not scared. Just not feeling the best. That´s all. - the equipment of the laboratory, or in fact the lab itself, still does not inspire confidence in him, but this time it is at least in the hands of his wife. And she wanted to kill you once. Even tried that. How the things can change with time. - And do whatever tests you want, just explain to me what you are doing. That´s all I need to know. -

- All right. Now just lie quietly, if possible. - the Count nods and so the countess gets the contrasting gel from the metal drawer of the sliding table of the device, immediately applying it to his body. It surprises him a little, but he doesn't comment it. The ultrasound is on, so Agatha places the screening head on his side, looking at the screen again like Count Dracula. As she has already convinced herself, the ultrasound imaging is relatively clear and does not differ as much from ordinary mortals as it might seem. At first, she expected the rough skin to serve as an impermeable barrier for any imaging device, but fortunately she was wrong. Dracula watches with interest, seeing for the first time his own entrails and something that really resembles bullets. - Strange that you don't chink like a piggy bank with every step you take. - Doctor Balaur evaluates with a surprised expression on her face (and slightly amused at the same time). She notices at least 15 bullets if she counts correctly. However, it is possible that most of the bullets are from tonight.

- Today looks like a successful day, that is. In my era, firearms were inaccurate. The guy on the ship was probably the most successful shooter. At least to this day. - The ease with which he talks about it doesn't bother her at all. A nostalgic smile flashed across his face again, as if he were enjoying it.

- It's best if I remove them from your body. -

- Wait, do you want to cut me open and rummage inside me? -

- Basically, yes. - despite the fact that they are both undead, she does not dare to say what could happen if the bullet got too close to a vessel and unfortunately broke it. Fortunately, the vampire has not yet experienced internal bleeding (and perhaps I will never experience it) and comparing it to a normally functioning, living body would probably not be entirely accurate. - You shouldn't feel it. -I should not, but I can. - Since we can't monitor heart rate, I'll give you an EEG. The brain should function normally and its activity can be recorded. -

- Alright. - he nods at the end, not quite excited. - Just on record, I'd rather go to bed, Agatha. I'm not exactly feeling the best. - However, Agatha stands up and leaves his bed, going to the opposite side of the room, from which she brings another small cart with a computer and a strange-looking cap with many cables, strikingly reminiscent of a number of hoses that have already protruded from his body. Advantages of a hybrid surgery room.

- I know, Vlad, but while we're here ... - Doctor Balaur immediately puts a cap on her patient's head, brushing his hair back. It looks ridiculous. And she promises. - It'll only be a moment. - she really can't imagine that she should go to the operating room with him tomorrow or perform the procedure directly in her small flat. Agatha is not afraid of failure, it´s simply easy procedure, only here, at least she will be able to follow and examine the processes of his mind using modern medical equipment. In addition, no one knows about their presence in Carfax yet and Agatha wants it to stay it that way for as long as possible.

- Give me your hand. - she instructs him emphatically but calmly. Dracula knows it's not worth protesting, but doesn't quite understand this request. Didn't she want to cut me open? What is the use of my hand to her?

- Why? Don't you need both of yours for the surgery? -

- Yes, but I could use a scalpel, so I need your index finger. - the regular ones would be useless ... Surprisingly, Count´s face turns into acidic grimace. However, he gives his wife his hand although, he voices a small remark of disagreement.

- That's quite disturbing. - Agatha wants to laugh. The memory of their first meeting immediately comes to her mind. That was disturbing.

- It was disturbing when you broke through the wolf's body with the same nails. - with his index finger in one hand and a screening head of ultrasound in the second one, she finds a place on his skin, which allows her the best possible access to the bullets. - You better close your eyes, Vlad. - subsequently his left index finger turns into a scalpel and Agatha successfully opens Dracula's body, releasing his hand again. She immediately checks the EEG screen for any sign of a problem, but fortunately doesn't find any. It's time for the surgery itself.

- You can open your eyes, Vlad. - he had really closed them so far; he basically doesn't even know why. He also saw worse things. - And now try to hold this screening head a few inches above my hand. I don't want to dig into you unnecessarily. - So much consideration. Without a word or unnecessary comments, he listens to his wife's instructions. She's a doctor after all. She should know what she's doing. The additional pair of hands is really helpful, and Agatha, with tweezers one after the other, gradually selects all the bullets with the greatest precision and care. Not a drop of blood escapes from Dracula's body, he does not feel the touch of the surgical steel at all, nor does he feel pain. Just strange pressure in his body.

- You can release the machine. I'll take it. -

- Should I close the wound or do you want help with sewing? -

- We're not done yet. - she quickly scans the rest of his body with the scanning head, looking for other bullets that she has seen before on the ultrasound. - See? Not all were concentrated in one place. - and she immediately starts pushing them with her fingers closer to the surgical incision ... at least as far as she can. Eventually the remaining bullets clink in a metal container that Agatha hands to Dracula.

- 27. - she informs him, closing the wound by herself, then thoroughly cleaning it. The doctor's habits are not absent even now, and although she is sure that it is unnecessary, she treats the wound with a disinfectant solution. There is no need to mention what joy she evokes with such care. It even banishes the count's worries to the background for a moment, and he enjoys her touch. He hoped for something else, but even this is not the worst. The last steps are completed, everything seems to be fine on the monitors. (With the ultrasound head in his hand, Vlad is still examining his body and, with less apprehension, will stop where the heart should be. It's still there. Untouched. Unrotten. How unexpected.)

- All done. We can go. - in the blink of an eye, Agatha also removes the EEG from Dracula´s head and hands him paper towels to wipe himself, then immediately giving him a clean T-shirt. In a moment, count tries to sit up carefully, but as soon as the pose of his body begins to change, his head begins to twist again. Agatha notices this discomfort immediately and frowns. - I am afraid we will not avoid a similar effect as the last time. - Fortunately, she will be with him this time as well.

- Luckily, my wife is a brilliant doctor. -

- Specialized in a human medicine, not a vampire one. - recognition and praise please her anyway. - Come, I will get you to the bedroom. - Agatha helps him to stand up straight and after a moment of balancing, they are both ready to return to the apartment. I'll clean it here when Vlad falls asleep. However, the scheduling of the next minutes is again interrupted by his voice:

- Apart from few moments, we had a nice evening, Agatha, didn't we? - gratefully he wraps his arm around her shoulders and appreciates the embrace around the waist, which makes his walk much easier. Agatha nods.

- Despite everything, it was a good decision to take you to the park and peek into the past. -

- I'm glad you think so, darling. -

- Now, to the bed with you. -

- To the bed it is. The sooner the better. - this time he rather omits the remark about the ambiguous phrase that can be explained in several ways. He doesn't have enough strength for jokes ...

- TBC -

Luckily, our vampire couple is stronger together than a commando of 10 trained assassins Count suffered some injuries and might face some further consequences … or? I also inserted a memory from the their past as I love to return from time to time to Demeter … their time spent there is still a mystery for us… I hope you enjoyed the reading Next chapter will be updated maybe during weekend. My Covid quarantine ended and I am a full-time working mortal again Stay tuned … and let me hear (at least read) your opinions, my friends!