7-Noapte târziu plimbare

Kya had never been so nervous in her life, the only other time that she could remember when her heart beat so fast that she felt her pulse in her ears was when she had to wait for the doctors in London to pronounce her mother and fathers death. Now as Kya sit side saddle on her horse, wearing a very thick cloak that she had borrowed from Anna's wardrobe over top her usual outfit of a blue peasant top, black corset and black trousers, awaiting the arrival of the Count. As they had agreed Kya had left Castle Valerious just after sunset to go into the forest to meet the man in black in the small clearing beside the abandoned house where she had been thrown from her horse just a few days ago. Though she knew it was only to be a short encounter she still felt nervous. No one had ever shown such interest in her no matter whom they were, be it a common man who lived beside her within the city of London, or a wealthy man. However, since meeting this man Kya could not stop thinking about him and how kind he was towards her. From the stories she had heard about Count Dracula told to her by her cousins and many of the patrons in the pub, she did not see how a man who helped her in the forest and walked her home from a night working could be a so called monster. Though she knew not to judge people on their appearances she had a feeling that the people here in Transylvania had not learned that lesson. After sitting upon her horse for over an hour Kya dismounted and gently pat her horses neck before blowing warm air into her hands to try and warm them. Just as she had begun to consider this a complete joke Kya heard the sound of heavy hooves upon the road.

Turning around Kya saw a very large all black horse coming up the trail being ridden by a man in clothing just as dark as the creatures hair. It was clear that this horse was VERY well taken care of and was well fed. It stood several inches taller than her own horse and its hair seemed to cover the large creature with a break down its back where the saddle was. Upon looking at the rider Kya could feel her heart skip slightly when she saw the Count there. He had a slight smirk on his face and get pulled his horse to a stop. The massive animal reared up before neighing loudly and coming down to rest in front of Kya and her own average horse. Just seeing this creature, she knew that this man had money, and a lot of it. These sorts of horses weren't native to this part of the world, in fact they were more common in Scotland. How had he managed to get a horse like this all the way over here?

The count quickly and easily dismounted his horse, dropping to the ground before the young woman. He stood up right now with a full smile on his face and Kya felt slightly shaken by seeing this. It was clear that he did not smile often, he preferred to smirk rather than show any real emotion. Kya took a small step back out of habit and bowed her head to the man trying to be respectful.

"Good evening sir." She said as calmly as she could.

This caused him to smile more before bowing to her. "Good evening to you my dear."

Upon standing back up he noted that there was a subtle change to the woman before him. He knew that he could influence the souls around him, however he had taken great care not to influence this woman as he wanted to see what she would do. Her entire demeanor changed, she seemed to be drawn to him witch he found very odd. What could possibly draw her towards him? He was not looking for another bride, he already has three and Aleera, being the youngest of his brides, her demeanor made it very clear to him that he should be careful when choosing another woman. This woman was very quiet and timid, something he had never before enjoyed in a woman. He preferred them to be confident and cunning, to which is how he had his lovely Verona, his first bride. The woman before him was completely different, well educated and respectful to all those around her. She never hesitated before him and her heart was steady in his presence. What is it that made him drawn to her, to see what she would do, what goes on in her mind?

Kya felt her cheeks flush with warmth at the Counts prolonged stare. "Are we going to stand here all night then?" She asked getting straight to the point.

To this the Count chuckled. "No, i suppose we shant." With that the Count held out his hand towards Kya, she carefully took his hand and allowed him to help her back up onto her horse before pulling himself up onto his own horse. "Do try to keep up my dear."

He ushered his horse into a slow trot urging Kya to do the same with her own horse. Dracula led them down a path that diverted from the main trail that Kya had followed. While following beside the count Kya couldn't help but to wonder why they had to meet at night, though she assumed it was due to the fact that he was simply a busy man she did not want to even consider that the stories that are told through the village were true. She had to admit however, that some of these stories were beginning to influence her. Just by working at the pub for a few days she had hear plenty of stories, enough to last a lifetime really. She had even written down some of these stories since they seemed to ridiculous to her. Dracula seemed to notice Kya's silence and deep thought and attempted to rouse her from her silence.

"What has you so deep in thought my dear Kya?" He asked while slowing down his horse so that they could speak more easily.

Kya blushed and looked over to the Count before looking down at her saddle and her bare hands holding the reigns to her horse.

"I was simply wondering why we must always meet at night. I do not belive that the stories that are told in the village are true."

The Count seemed to be very interested with that statement by the young woman. Everyone knew that he was the spawn of the devil, cursed to drink the blood of others to survive. How is it that this woman did not believe this? He smirked slightly to him self before responding. "I am a busy man my dear. I do all of my buisness during the day, and spend my nights seeking entertainment when not working."

Kya nodded slightly while continuing to ride beside him. She didn't fully belive that story however, she hardly knew the man so she wouldnt pry into his private life. She knew better than to ask to see what this man did for work. What ever it was she was sure it had to be something she wanted no part in.

"And I am your entertainment for this evening?"

The Count chuckled slightly. "When you say it that way is seems as if i seek pleasures that you've made clear to me aren't to be had. Is it such a crime that a man such as myself, should wish to spend his evening in the company of an intelligent woman?"

Kya felt her cheeks flush with color before she looked back down to her cold hands. "You flatter me sir. I'm a simple maid, one who now works in a bar."

"And why would a maid come all the way out here with a man she hardly knows?" He asked a slight, derisive tone in his voice.

"I dont appreciate your tone sir." Kya pulled her horse to a stop as they reached the peak of a tall hill. She did not appreciate being spoken to as if she were benith him, they were equals no matter what class they were. Royalty or common servant, Kya saw them as equals.

KYa watched as the Count pulled his horse to stop just a few feet away from her. Now with them being on top of the hill the moonlight shone brighter around them allowing both of them to see each other clearly. And as the Count looked upon the woman before him it was clear that she was angered by his tone. He bowed his head to her and smirked very slightly.

"Forgive me my lady."

Kya stiffened slightly at the formal title. "I am not a Lady, my family is not of royalty. That is Anna and Velkan, not me." Kya looked past the Count towards the village and sees the beautiful view that was before her.

From up here you could see absolutely everything. From Castle Frankenstein all the way down to the river that separated the village from Anna and Velkans castle. It was all lit up with the glow from the fires burning in peoples homes, the lanterns on being carried by those who were out at night finishing up some last minute chores. All of it was covered in a very light blanket of snow.

"It is beautiful yes?" The Count asked as he dismounted and tied his horse to a near by tree. He then walked over to Kya and helped her down from her horse before tying it beside his own.

Kya placed her hands inside her cloak to keep them warm and walked over to the edge of the treeline to look at the town.

"It's breath taking."

She looked to her left and saw the Count standing there beside her watching the town. The two of them stayed on the hill top for several hours talking about anything and everything that came to mind. Music, books, even their horses who at one point during the night managed to wander off and they had to go searching for them. Kya did not return home until well after three in the morning. This did not alarm any of the staff in the castle when she came home so late but what did was the fact that she was smiling and muttering things to herself. Kya felt as if some kind of spell had been cast over her as she rode back to the castle, and now as she walked through the halls of the castle going back to her room, she didn't care that her cousins were home and were searching through the different maps in the library. Her thoughts were filled with the dark clothed man she had spent her evening with.

They had much more in common than she had originally thought. He was an avid reader as well and has hundreds of books in his own private library. He preferred Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe. He even offered to bring her a copy of his favorite works by Poe. It was very odd to Kya to be able to speak freely with a man about literature and he was happy that a woman was able to read and have an intelligent conversation. For the rest of the night and part of the next day Kya couldn't stop thinking about Vladislaus. That evening she was expected at the pub and showed up an hour early so she could help set things up for the night, to which the master of the pub appreciated greatly. The entire night whent without a problem although the pub did clear out pretty quickly just after midnight. It seemed very odd to Kya when all of the regular customers that stayed until the bar closed at just after two in the morning, they left well before midnight. Some of them didn't even show up at all. She spoke to the bar master about it and he said that it must be the time for the vampires to feed.

Kya brushed that aside and finished her chores for the night and helped close up the pub. Before closing the door while Kya was pulling her cloak on the older man grabbed her arm and spoke quickly and frantically.

"Run home girl, do not linger. The vampires feed tonight."

Kya felt a slight chill run down her back when he spoke. It was almost as if he was speaking from experience, how odd. Kya turned and began her walk back to the castle but on her way there she heard something very odd. It sounded almost as if someone was trying to scream but something was preventing them from doing so. Kya turned around and looked around the square but there was nothing around here that she could see that would cause such an odd sound. Carefully walking around the back of the pub, Kya was very careful to keep quiet as to not draw any potential attackers that may lurk in the night. ONce again as she came around the side of the building she couldn't see anything or anyone there.

What could have made that sound? It was so odd, it was almost as if someone was trying to scare her into believing the stories of the vampires. Kya shook her head and pulled her cloak tighter around her before coming around the side of the building and began to walk towards the castle again. As Kya began to pass through the grave yard she heard the same sound again this time coming from somewhere around the grave yard.

"Hello?" Kya called out as she stopped to look around. This time as Kya turned around she saw a figure standing outside the grave yard with their back to her.

As she walked towards the figure she took note of how it was dressed. From behind it clearly appeared to be a woman dressed in very long and elegant clothing. It was a very long thin material that whent from a creme color around the woman's body and faded into a deep green. As Kya drew closer she felt her heart begin to race and then suddenly stop for just a moment when the woman turned around towards Kya showing that the woman was holding onto a young boy who was bleeding heavily from his throat and running down to the ground. As Kya looked at the woman's face she saw just exactly where the blood had gone. The woman's beautiful face was smeared with dark red blood running from her mouth and down her neck, as this information began to sink in her mind screamed only one thing to her...

RUN!

TA DA! I hope you guys liked this chapter, please let me know what you think. R&R!