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From the moment she had heard about this party, who it was for and that her attendance was mandatory, Agatha Van Hesling had been dreading it. Countless nights of interrupted sleep, both from fear she would embarrass herself, and thusly her clan, but mainly from wanting to avoiding bumping into Dracula in their dreams. All this had sapped her complexion and given her some dreadful bags; until Lucy had forced her to take several long power naps during the day, in lieu of their lesson time. Where Lucy disappeared off to during those hours, Agatha didn't know, nor care to ask, but she suspected young Dr Seward was involved as Lucy came back far too chipper.
Now she was here at Dracula's penthouse, dressed to the nines in a dress her sisters had selected. Holding a smile, she didn't feel, whilst a smirking Dracula introduced her to the young blonde on his arm. Then with a less than subtle command, for them to get to know one another, he abandoned them…her…both of them.
Only it wasn't as bad as Agatha had imagined. The flash of jealousy that had struck her when she had first saw them together, evaporated quickly…the situation was just too ludicrous to be credible.
Isabella Pazzi was everything Agatha knew she could never be. Sweet, graceful, youthful, and utterly uncomplicated. She had long blonde hair, that was either naturally perfect, or Isabella spent hours each day in front of the mirror. Her face was pretty enough. Agatha was rather relieved that on top of being the ideal uncomplicated wife material, Isabella wasn't a staggering beauty as well. She was also short, little more than five feet tall, so standing next to the Count the pair looked a little odd, like a parent with a child. Her nose was perhaps a little too large for her narrow face, her eyes an unremarkable light grey, but she had a sweet smile.
It was this smile that she shot Agatha when they were introduced, it was timid, and hopeful, and even a little fearful. It was impossible to dislike anyone that smiled like that. It was an awkward realisation to come to, but Agatha predicted she could grow to be quite fond of Isabella, given time. Already she pitied her. This poor girl, for she was a girl, Dracula would gobble her up, and chew, and chew until there was nothing left of her, of who Isabella Pazzi could have grown up to be, only Countess Dracula would remain.
"I am glad to meet you Agatha. I have heard only good things from the Count."
Finding that a little hard to believe, Agatha preferred to think Isabella was the type of person who only focused on happy things, and that perhaps Dracula's more sarcastic comments had simply gone over her head.
"I'm afraid I haven't spent much time with the Count since his return, as such you have the advantage." Agatha replied politely, choosing not to fill the awkward silence.
Perhaps it was a little petty, perhaps that moment of jealousy wasn't as over as Agatha would like to think. When Isabella waited as if expecting Agatha continue, she even felt a little guilty. Wondering why the girl didn't just move on to talk to someone else instead. Someone who wanted to talk to her. Of course, one reason she didn't was that they were practically the only women in the room. Isabella's mother had attended, and Agatha could feel her gimlet gaze burning into her back. Not sure what exactly she had done to already draw the older vampire's ire, Agatha chose to ignore it. Lucy had been giving her lessons, in not giving a fuck, and Agatha was happy to report they were finally sinking in.
"I am so relieved not to be the only one here who isn't out yet." Isabella finally grasped for a topic all on her own, confiding in Agatha in halting English. "So many people, it is quite…intimidating…My father does not entertain often."
Her accent was quite heavy, but Agatha found it charming. Almost a hark back to her own early years. Agatha almost took pity on her and offered to converse in Italian instead, if it would make her feel more at home. Only Lucy's training kicked in again, and Agatha instead resolved that the practice would be good for Isabella.
"Well that changes for me this year…"
"Oh, me too!" Isabella exclaimed in excitement, as though this was the best news. "I won't feel half so frightened now that I know you will be there too."
Frowning at such an exclamation when they barely knew each other, Agatha forced herself to stop, when Isabella looked up at her with worry, as though she had overstepped by expressing an opinion.
"Sorry, I just assumed you would know others who are being presented." Agatha finally explained, relieved when she did, as Isabella stopped biting her bottom lip and smiled that gentle smile of hers. Agatha resolved then and there to stop being quite so much of a bitch, it was like kicking a puppy, too easy and left no satisfaction.
"Oh…oh no…My parents are very protective of me. I have never left Florence before this trip. I was educated at home, and there were no other natural born children near my age. I confess it was quite a lonely childhood, it is so strange now, being around all these new people. I am so glad the Count invited us to visit England. What about you?"
"I was the eldest of six children, as such I never knew a moment's peace and quiet as a child, and now I have twenty-one younger clan sisters and one clan brother to help guide." Agatha explained, watching as Isabella's mouth fell open in compete shock.
Clearly Dracula's extracurricular activities had been kept sheltered from her. Agatha hadn't set out to rip the scales from her eyes, but she would be damned if this poor girl walked blindly up the aisle with him, not knowing what she was letting herself in for. Another part of Agatha revelled in it, of this small hurt. Yet that was a part of herself, Agatha squashed down with significant force. Mother Superior would have had some choice words and punishments for her.
"So…so many…"
"You'll like them, I know they will like you. Although they can be a little boisterous, especially when it comes to deciding who will pick the film on movie night."
"Movie night?" Isabella asked, and Agatha wasn't sure it was her poor English or whether the girl had been kept totally ignorant of twentieth century technological advances.
"If you have time during your trip, you should come. My invitation, and as the guest you would get to pick the film…"
"What are the two of you plotting all the way over here? Depriving us poor gentlemen of your company." Count Dracula had swooped back in, to top up their glasses, all devilish smiles and handsome tailored lines.
"A girl's night in, no boys allowed…well apart from Tommy. To welcome Isabella to London, have her meet a few people nearer her age." Agatha interjected with a pointed barb, before Dracula could imply anything salacious. "With your permission of course, Count."
Raising an eyebrow in surprise Dracula bit back a sarcastic retort, seeing the excitement on Isabella's face and the polite kindness on Agatha's. It took a moment for him to consider if he might have made a mistake after all, inviting them both and introducing them. He had wanted to make Agatha jealous, but instead his potential bride and preferred bride were looking all set to become best buddies. Neither one competing for his undivided attention, Dracula's ego was suitable quashed.
Still, if jealousy wasn't going to work, Dracula would just have to rely on good old-fashioned charm.
"Isabella your mother was just asking for you." Dracula's suggestion was hardly subtle, but Isabella smiled and nodded like it was natural to be dismissed like that.
"I am so glad we had the chance to meet Agatha, I do hope we can talk again later."
Smiling and nodding rather than committing herself, Agatha waited until Isabella had wandered off before meeting Dracula's questioning gaze.
"What?"
"Shouldn't it be me asking you that Agatha?"
"I was only doing as you asked, you told me to befriend and support her. I was on my best behaviour. I hadn't even gotten around to listing all your many faults yet."
"Hmm." Dracula huffed, sipping at his glass, an excellent spicy Spanish import, that Mycroft had sourced for them; allowing his gaze to discretely give Agatha the once over.
The floor length dark blue dress looked almost black in one light and then metallic in another. The sleeveless slashed neckline showed off her toned arms, whilst the synched middle emphasised her tiny waist. Her hair was put up in a simple chignon, and her only adornments were a silver filigree arm cuff, and pair of simple drop earrings. She looked classic, elegant and powerful, and Dracula could feel his lust stirring at the thought of being the one to cause that cool surface to crack. He could almost picture it, a lock of hair tumbling loose to fall across her face, an expression of ecstasy smoothing out all those lines, his head hidden from sight, as he buried under that long skirt and drank his fill from the junction of her thighs.
"Count Dracula are you alright?" Agatha prompted. Dracula was silent, something so alien for him that it was making her worried. That and the fact that he kept staring at her, which meant other people were staring at them.
"You look very nice." Dracula finally added, after he had shoved that particular fantasy, to the back of his head for later. Not daring to utter more than the blandest compliment, not knowing who might overhear them. "Lessons finally paying off?"
"Actually, it turned into a bit of a protect for my sisters. When they heard I was going to my first party ever, they insisted on turning it into a group project. So praise, or blame, it is all down to them."
"It's not your first party ever…"
"It really is actually, there wasn't much call for drinks soirees at the convent…"
"We went to a party on the boat…"
"No, you went to the party, I stayed on the deck, until I decided to have an existential crisis in one of the cabins."
"A crisis I remember most fondly." Dracula added, smirking around his glass, not even trying to look innocent as Agatha glared at him. "Don't fib and tell me you don't either. You're a terrible liar Agatha Van Helsing."
"And you are a terrible flirt, and might I remind you I am not the girl you are meant to be courting."
"I can multitask."
"What?"
"I can court and flirt at the same time." Dracula added, his amusement only growing as Agatha shifted awkwardly under that insinuation.
"Then might I suggest a change in location and focus. I think Mama Pazzi, is trying to set fire to me with her gaze."
"She's just jealous she can't pull off that dress like you can." Dracula teased, yet a quick glance over did confirm Agatha's accusation. Mama Pazzi did look one step away from committing murder. Only he wasn't sure, it was just Agatha who would be getting staked.
Perhaps it was his need to flaunt himself, especially in the face of any disapproval, or perhaps Dracula would simply take any opportunity to push his luck. Leaning in he dipped his head to breath in Agatha's perfume. Whispering into her ear and brushing his lips so close to the shell of it that from a distance no one could tell he hadn't kissed her. "Oh well wish me luck…once more into the breach and all that."
"I wish Isabella luck, she's going to need it." Agatha mumbled under breath, before taking a sip of her own drink.
Deliberately not turning to watch him leave, Agatha instead headed over to talk to Mycroft, who like much of the room had been less than surreptitious about watching them.
"What the hell is he up to?" Agatha muttered to Mycroft when they were in whispering distance. Almost amused when Mycroft sighed, loudly, which for him was almost emotional.
"I only wish I knew." Mycroft tutted, watching as his chess pieces made their way across the board, only none of them were following the rules.
"I thought he intends to marry her. You wouldn't be able to tell with the way he is acting." Agatha scoffed, then frowning when she caught sight of Dracula leaning to whisper something to Isabella that made her giggle. "Or maybe not." She added bitterly, earning her a raised eyebrow from Mycroft.
"Careful Captain some might say your claws are showing."
"I am not jealous."
Tilting his head Mycroft studied her closely. "Perhaps you don't realise how you…"
"Mycroft!"
Holding up the hand that was not holding his glass, Mycroft seemed more amused by the vehemence of her denial. If Agatha held up a sign that said I'm jealous, it could not have been more obvious, well at least to him, and also to a certain Count; who paused in his flirting for a moment to shoot them an amused smirk.
"I am going to stake him."
"Perhaps he is trying to send a message." Mycroft mused out loud. "He is not the only suitor for Isabella's hand, and so far, Elder Pazzi has played on that. Delaying things to try and secure a better deal, and you know the Count does not like to be considered second choice for anyone."
"So, you think he might have invited me, to try and show them, that he has other options as well?"
"That is one possible interpretation…Another far simpler one is that he wants you here, and he wants to make you jealous by introducing you to your possible replacement."
"Yes, that is also possible." And it sounded like Dracula, the arrogant arse.
"It is a sound strategy, two birds with one stone…so to speak." Mycroft was almost apologetic when Agatha turned that glare on him instead.
"Well fuck him then."
"Agatha! You have been spending too much time with Ms Westenra." Mycroft tutted.
Picturing Lucy, Agatha didn't need to wonder what she would advise, in Lucy's book if she wanted to punish one of her beaus for some reason, all she did was deny them her attention and give it to somebody else. Not that Agatha had any intention of going as far as Lucy would, but there was some merit in ignoring him, and enjoying the company of others at the party. She would also get to practice those annoying social skills she was meant to be learning.
"Mycroft, I need you to do me a favour."
"Oh, why do I think this is going to get me into trouble…"
"You are far too pessimistic."
"You look far too happy." Mycroft countered, before sighing in capitulation. "Fine what do you need me to do?"
"Be a good brother and introduce me to people…you know everyone here and the Count is being a terrible host."
"I know most people here." Mycroft corrected her with a sigh.
"That's good enough." Agatha smiled evilly, slipping her free hand around his elbow, all but forcing him to act as her escort. "Find me someone I can safely flirt with."
Groaning Mycroft knew this was a monumentally bad idea. Count Dracula would not like this in the least, and he was much worse at containing his jealousy than Agatha was. "For the record I would like it noted, that I think this is a disaster in the making."
"But you will do it anyway."
Nodding Mycroft agreed. "I will."
"Thank you big brother, you won't regret it."
"Funnily enough I am regretting it already." Mycroft added, yet he did as she asked, escorting Agatha across the room to where two of the turned vampires from the Pazzi family were talking. From their body language towards each other, it obvious to him they were involved, and Agatha did request someone safe. The last thing he needed was for Agatha to attract another genuine suitor as well, one groom and two prospective brides, was more than enough for him to keep track of.
Across the room Dracula noticed them moving. At first he dismissed it, Agatha was safely with Mycroft and he knew that he would look after her; allowing Dracula to continue his attempts to thaw out the rather frosty Signora Pazzi. Even if that meant listening with all appearance of attentiveness, as she told a rather boring anecdote from the seventeenth century.
Then he heard her laugh and he couldn't help it; his head automatically followed the sound. When he found the cause, his eyes narrowed. Agatha was talking to…no Agatha was flirting with not one but two other men. If he strained his hearing, he could make out the cadence of some rapid Italian, but not the actual words. He didn't even know she spoke it, when had she learnt it, why had she learnt it? Then they were all laughing, the sudden burst of noise drawing attention over the babble of conversation and soft string music.
"She is very bold." Signora Pazzi suddenly commented, drawing Dracula's attention back to her. Yet it was more the disapproving downward curve of her lip that held his attention.
"It amazes me how women these days push themselves forward. In my day girls were brought up properly." She paused to shoot a proud smile towards her daughter. "Isabella…"
"She has reason to be." Dracula cut her off, his protective instincts towards Agatha triggered, causing him to snap.
"And besides we are in the 21st century now, times change." He added before turning to a subdued Isabella with a charming smile. "I am sure Isabella you are keen to adapt to the new times."
"I am sure I will happy anywhere, if I am well situated." Isabella replied politely, and yet it appeared to be a pretty answer learned by rote, designed to appeal and yet provide no real answer.
It disappointed him, and where once her submissive attitude would have been balm to his dented ego, now Dracula found it grating. Imaging an eternity of such polite exchanges, conversations that told him nothing, that provided no challenge, that prospect was soul crushing. As was the idea that any offspring they would have, might take after their mother…
"Yes, I am sure you would be." Dracula replied politely, yet there was a bite to his words that suggested this wasn't exactly a compliment.
"Do excuse me ladies I really must circulate…a host's duties are never done." Dracula offered politely, bowing his head, before turning to stalk the room.
He tried his best not to make it obvious, topping up his guests' glasses, making polite small talk about subjects he cared nothing for. Yet all the while his real attention kept being drawn to the foursome in the back corner. Eventually his circulating brought him back there, and for the first time in his life Dracula found himself hovering awkwardly on the edge of a social circle.
"Ahhh our host has returned." One of the younger Italian vampires beamed up at him, his dark eyes alight with a mischief that Dracula found foreboding. "Now we will learn the truth did Agatha here really blow up the ship you were on?"
"Oh, dear is Agatha reminiscing about the good old days?" Dracula replied with a tight smile. "Get her to tell you the one about how I massacred her entire convent, because a certain nun decided it would be amusing to bait a trap there." He added with a pointed smile in her direction.
"I doubt that would make interesting talk over cocktails…" Agatha began stiltedly only for Dracula interrupt.
"That's only because you skipped out before the truly funny parts." Dracula insisted. "I mean there I was spoiled for choice, unable to decide who I would snack on first, so I decided to use that nifty little trick they use at weddings to pick the next bride. Only I tossed the mother's superiors head instead of a bouquet." Dracula laughed, and the others joined in, even if out of politeness, only Agatha remained silent, her face suddenly tense and her expression blank.
"Boy did they scream…you remember Agatha don't you?"
"If you gentlemen will excuse me." Agatha managed to keep her composure, whatever slight joy she had gained from the evening now lost. Not waiting for them to acquiesce before turning and leaving, suddenly no longer in any mood for company or flirting.
Only of course he followed her.
"Leave me alone." Agatha hissed when Dracula caught her arm and tugged her out on to the small terrace. "Don't you have a child bride you could be tormenting instead?"
"Now why would I want to do that when I already have you to torment?" Dracula teased, misjudging just how much Agatha was not in the mood, and so barely stepping back in time to avoid her slap.
"Now that is not the behaviour of a lady, and you were doing so well tonight."
"You have not behaved like a gentleman, so I think I get a pass." Agatha hissed, her hands gripping tightly on the balcony rail. "Can't you ever take a hint I do not want to talk to you, especially not after that last story. Do you think I would find it funny to hear about how you murdered my friends?"
"No, I suppose…I am sorry Agatha. I didn't like seeing you talking to them, especially when it sounded like you were laughing at my expense. I did not react like a gentleman and for that I do apologise."
Never had Agatha ever expected to hear him apologise. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. Agatha didn't feel like she could just ignore it, but she didn't feel like she could accept it either. He was sorry for being rude, not sorry for having slaughtered her friends. So, in the end she settled for changing the subject.
"You shouldn't be out here with me."
"I was worried about you. I knew I overstepped…"
"Yes, and now you have apologised, and I reassured yourself I am fine. You need to go back in before they get offended."
Moving to join her at the balustrade, his arm brushing against hers, as they stood side by side and both stared out at the sparkling cityscape. Dracula bent down to whisper, like he would a secret. "Would it be terribly rude again, to confess, I would much rather stay out here with you."
It shouldn't please her, he was a monster and she had resolved to give him up entirely. Yet as she glanced up, and caught his dark gaze so intent on her, those mocking eyes of his usually soft and sincere. Agatha couldn't pretend she wasn't pleased.
"Yes it is, terribly rude." She chastised him, turning back to stare at the view once again. A smile tugging at her lips, as a chastened Dracula straightened up and deflated at the same time.
"But it's nice to hear all the same." Agatha added, watching as his ego seemed to triple in size.
"If we were alone right now I would kiss you." Dracula muttered.
Her smile growing Agatha tilted her head to glance back at him, watching as his gaze turned molten, setting something inside her on fire. He was quite impossible to resist and yet somehow, she had to. Batting her eyelashes, Agatha channelled him at his most smug, leaning up in a way that looked like she was beckoning for a kiss, before pulling away with a verbal jab. "What makes you think I would let you?"
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