Closure:

New Moon (CH3)

By obi's girl

Dracula kept true to his word. He didn't come to me or I to him. It was the third night and Dracula's proposal to stay with him was looming over my head. If I decided yes, I would stay with him (which to me didn't seem like a bad thing). I didn't even see him as the monster he was; only my dark lover. Lover. I gave myself to him fully on my first night in the castle, nothing held back and it felt good. I felt alive, reborn. If I stayed with him, I would experience this feeling forever, this passion.

And Christian. I loved him too but now I wasn't sure. My dreams and fantasies were of Dracula alone, and damn were they were good dreams. But I didn't want to hurt Christian or my Uncle. Only, they knew this would happen because it happened before. He (or at least, another old Dracula) seduced Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker's wife – now ex- wife. That's what scared me. I knew Christian wanted to merry me and if he found out, my hidden desires for Dracula or that I lost my virginity to him, he would flip out.

Everybody would be hurt, but did it matter? I had already lost my parents and was forced to become the Slayer. I needed this distraction. Dealing with Death on a daily basis and dodging vampires and demons that wanted to kill you – it was never fun and empty. I felt empty when I came to London to live with my Uncle and it wasn't because of the slaying, though it did sour my mood. I was alone, and feared I would always be alone and no one understood this fear, except Dracula. We connected on that level.

It wasn't about sex; it was about the connection between us. He had been living on this earth, longer than any of us and knew what it meant to be lonely. He must have been, living alone in this castle with only the company of the Three Sisters, though I have yet to encounter them. They probably pleasured him and kept him warm when no one else could. These last few days have been a revelation for me and he understands that. He understands me, and that's what attracted me to him.

But back to the original point, three days had passed and I only had two days left to decide. Eternity, forever – how long would that be? I mean, if he found out I was the Slayer, would he still want me? Of course, he was a vampire, and not just any vampire -–Dracula. Blood was life and Slayer's Blood, was deadly. If a vampire drank from it, the blood would make them ten times stronger than they originally were.

I guess, the real question was, was I willing to stay as long if he wanted me to. Could I give myself to him and forget about the world around me and who I was? Yes, I could. Would I care? No. All that matter was the moment, flirting with danger and the devil. Darkness meets Darkness. But I wasn't ready to decide yes; I had to think some more and clear my mind.

**

Close to midnight, I snuck out of the castle and talked to Christian, my Uncle, Watcher and Dr. Seward. I just hoped they didn't suspect what happened between Dracula and I. I smiled at all them as I entered their room. My three Uncles I called them; they watched over for the longest time. Christian hugged me tight, though somehow I felt repulsed by his touch. I wearily let go, sitting on the bed.

"Three nights ago, Dracula proposed something to me. He wants me to stay with him but urged I think about it for 5 nights; I've lost three nights thinking about and I still have two more." I stated, gazing at them, Christian especially. I knew he was worried he was loosing me to him.

He nodded, knowing my decision before I did. "You're staying, aren't you?"

I shrugged, "I still have a chance; I have to take it – I know it's dangerous and risky, but that's my life. A Slayer's life is always dangerous; it comes with the package. Please, trust me on this. I know what I'm doing."

Jack laughed, "You don't know what you're doing, Sarah. He has you under his spell; you're not thinking clearly. Say "No" to him and put him out his misery. This isn't a game!"

"Don't you think I know that! I could die if I say "No" to him; he might not even let me go – I don't know. But this is my chance; I have to do this." I stated, glancing at my Uncle. "Uncle?"

"Sarah, you have the stubbornness of your mother but I know you are able. I just ask you, don't deceive us." He paused, huffing, "I trust you, just be careful. Dracule is dangerous and even though you are the Slayer, you're still defenseless against him."

I smiled lovingly, hugging him. "You won't loose me. I'm a strong girl; I don't plan on dying any time soon."

"I know you are, but are strong enough to escape him?"

I shrugged, "I wouldn't be the Slayer if I wouldn't be able to." I glanced at Christian and nodded to the others to leave us alone for a moment. I sat him down on the bed and kissed his cheek, hugging him. "I love you, Christian. Always remember that. Always."

He froze, backing away from me, realizing something. "You're serious about this, aren't you? You really are going to stay with him? Fall asleep in his arms and his love?"

"I feel connected to him – you wouldn't understand."

"Of course, I wouldn't understand. It's only the way I've felt about you for the longest time." he retorted, "Sarah, I love you. I have always loved you – I can't lose you to Him."

I kissed his cheek, though he turned away from me. I took is hand and placed it over my heart. "Remember me always, Christian – not as the Vampire Slayer I am but as the lost girl. You gave me a reason to live after I lost my parents. And now, I'm not lost anymore 'cause I know what I have to do; my purpose."

Christian laughed, "Your purpose? You're telling me you love him; you feel a connection towards him and that you'll always remember me? Sarah, walk away from him, run away! Run away with me. You don't have to do this. Please." Desperate to hold on to me just a little bit longer. I frowned, looking down and he knew why. "You've slept with him? Oh God!"

"Christian, I know you can't understand – but I have my reasons."

"How can I understand? It was supposed to be me; when we were married, it was supposed to be. But you gave yourself to him; Him!" he paused, tears in his eyes. "That's why you came here."

I frowned, gazing up at him. "What do you mean?"

"My God, how could have I been so blind? He's the Chosen One of the Dark; you're the Chosen One of the Light. Your power as the Slayer is rooted in darkness; your power is darkness. You let darkness seduce you; you let him take away what innocence you had." He paused, shrugging, "It's over. You're his; you're his no matter what you say."

I nodded no furiously, grabbing hold of his hand. "Christian, please! Listen to me!"

"Go to him, Sarah."

"NO!" I cried, forcing him to look at me. "I love you! My whole life has been you. Christian, please forget this."

He nodded, kissing my cheek, whispering in my ear, "Go to him. You want to; you crave him – I know. Sarah, I will always love you. Go to him. Go to him, now."

"No, I will not leave you!" I yelled, "Christian, I ---."

He kissed my forehead, tears touching my face. "I will always remember you as the lost girl I loved. Go to Dracula; be with him. You can't deny this feeling inside you, Sarah. Love is stronger than blood."

I frowned, walking towards the door. If I was to leave, there was no turning back. If I stayed, I could not love Christian the way I used to. I wouldn't belong, but with Dracula I do belong. I sighed, opening the door and walking out of him.

**

That night as I prepared for sleep, I said good bye to Christian and set out to be with Dracula. And yet, I felt guilty about it. Part of me wanted to be with Dracula, but part of me wanted to be with Christian. Two men whom loved me so much and I were caught in the middle. I always hated love triangles because someone always ended up hurt and vengeful in the end. Whether Christian was going to be vengeful I chose Dracula over him, I didn't know but I knew what I had to do.

**

"Christian?" Helsing asked as he, Jack and Rielly entered the room again.

Christian only nodded, tears in his eyes let go of the only woman he loved. "I told her to go to him, because I knew it was what she wanted. And that I will always remember her, but her happiness means everything to me."

"Then we've lost; if she stays with him and does love him, all is lost." Jack mused, sitting blindly on the bed.

Helsing growled, "All is not lost, gentlemen. Sarah, she'll change her mind. Dracula will be dead in a few days."

He laughed, turning to him, "Forget your delusions of grandeur, Doctor. Dracula has won; Sarah, she won't refuse him. She can't refuse him."

"Listen to me boy, she's a woman – she'll change her mind. She'll see the truth for what it really is and when she does, we'll be right behind her."

"No, doctor, because this is no longer our fight. It's hers." Christian concluded, staring out at the castle.

**

I gasped entering Dracula's chambers. I was however confused when I didn't see him immediately in his bed and began to panic. I rushed to the bed, looking for signs of a staking. Nothing. No ash, just clean sheets but that didn't soothe my fears. I closed my eyes and wished him to be near me, to comfort me. And he did. I felt his arms wrap around my waist and I smiled.

"I was worried something happened to you." I mused as he kissed my neck.

Dracula laughed, raising my arm to kiss my side. "I am yours. As long as I am with you, nothing can harm me."

I smiled, turning to him. "I need to talk to you." I whispered, leading him towards the bed. "I've made my decision...about us."

He frowned, "I didn't mean to push that on you. If you decide to leave me ---."

"I don't want to." He looked curiously up at me as I smiled, holding his hands. "Three days ago, you made love to me and it was wonderful. I had never felt like that before. I felt so alive...and I want to feel that way again. With you, I feel connected; bonded almost – like we were meant to be together."

"I believe that too."

I kissed his cheek before continuing. "Dracula, when you touch me – I not only loose control; I forget about reality. I forget all my pains and heartaches. My life, what had become of it, I was never prepared for that hurt. But I always felt a need to belong and to feel connected. I feel that with you; I feel...I feel like I'm in love. I'm in love with you. No, I do love you." I paused, slipping off my gown, "I'm yours. My body, my love, my passion – it all belongs to you...forever; eternity."

I took his hand and placed it on my breast; he gasped loudly, but it was an arousal gasp – a sudden realization of that connection I spoke of. "If you'll have me; if you'll accept me – I am yours. I will always be yours."

"Sarah, I so hoped you would say yes. If you had said no, I don't how I would live my life without you." Dracula mused, slipping his hand from my breast to my neck, brushing away my blonde hair. He kissed my neck slowly, "I have always yearned for a woman like you to be in my life. And here you are. Young, beautiful, sexy."

I smiled. Sexy. No one had ever called me that before; I liked it. "I will have you, now and forever always. And you will have forever to find out who you are; the many ways your body can move." He continued

"I have a good teacher; a good lover." I mused, lying back down on the bed. "Why don't we celebrate?"

He smiled, standing from the bed and removing his shirt. I smiled; this was going too slow for me so I stood up and helped him unbutton the shirt. I tossed it away as I bent back on the bed, moving my arms about the covers. "I have always wanted a lover who would give everything to satisfy a woman."

Dracula crawled on top of me, locking my wrists on the bed. He looked down briefly and smiled, "It is said in my family, my great ancestor was royalty, a Prince. If you stay here with me, you will be my Queen and I promise to love and honor you, your highness."

"Royalty?" I questioned and he nodded yes, "A girl could get used to that."

He caressed my face, a smile no longer on his face. "Sarah, are you sure about this? You want to be my wife...for eternity?"

I kissed him, "I realize now it was fate that brought me here to you. And fate never screws up, especially where true love is involved. I can't deny this feeling inside of me anymore. I can try but it will only grow stronger and stronger. Lust, love, passion – call whatever you want to, I know my feelings are true." I paused, picking up his hand and resting it on my breast again. "Like said, my body, my love, my passion – it all belongs to you...forever; eternity. I'm yours."

He laughed, "It's funny, I prepared dinner for both us and now it will go cold."

"Yes, but there's something even steamer going on and it's to the boiling point." I teased, closing my eyes. "I'm yours forever."

Dracula kissed my neck, grabbing hold of my back for support as he leaned in closer towards my neck. "As I your body, my love, my passion." He whispered, kissing my neck.

I didn't feel anything at first until he sunk his teeth into my flesh. It was such a release from the world and the pain of being a Slayer. I was free of it; I was free of everything. I felt dizzy, mostly because he had drunk so much. I moaned as he backed away, cutting his wrist, letting his blood flow free. "We are connected, but now we must seal that bond. Everything I am; everything you are – we're one. Kiss me and be with me always. Lovers."

I moistened my lips, taking up his arm feeling all the world around me disappear. I didn't feel pain or guilt for what I was going to do; I felt warm. I kissed his wrist at first, drinking his blood fully. I felt the change immediately. The blood inside me began to die and my heart died of a whisper. I let go savoring the blood in my veins that was his, until I fell back onto the bed, feeling my entire body shut down. I breathed, though there was no longer any use of oxygen in my lungs. I was dying and it was relief. Death is my Gift, and now it literally was.

"Sarah, come to me. Be my bride." He whispered as I sat up, blinking my eyes.

The darkness was within me; I think it had always been inside of me, just repressed. I was born again, a new life and a new identity. I coughed a bit, the blood still rough in my mouth but I wiped some away and for once, I wasn't repulsed by it. "It feels strange..."

He smiled as I stood up and walked towards the mirror. I had always looked at myself in the mirror but no more. I stared back but nothing stared back at me. I was really dead; well undead. Living as the Slayer, I felt displaced like I didn't belong and now I felt that belonging. Dracula stood up, grabbing my robe and placed it over me. "I know this is new to you, but trust me, you will get used to and living undead has its advantages."

I turned to him and smiled, "Like what?"

"Eternal love, timeless passion." He whispered, taking my hands in his, dancing to music he could only hear. I smiled, resting my head on his chest. "Welcome to Darkness, love."

"Hmm. I feel like I've always belonged here and now I do; I truly belong here." I mused, "...With you, my dark prince. Thank you for taking me into your home and your arms."

He smiled again, "I would be lost without you." I didn't reply except let sleep overtake me. Dracula looked down at me and smiled, picking me up and lying me on the bed, pulling the covers over my body. "Sleep my love, and when you awaken, I will show you your kingdom." He leaned down and kissed my forehead as he crawled into the bed, sleeping beside me.

TBC