Chapter 2
Terror with Passion
I awoke within the castle gates, and Dracula had put a blanket around me. "Hello there." he said.
"Are we here?" I asked.
"Yes." The castle court yard was very elegant, and there were statues of animals around a fountain in the center. We got out of the carriage, and one of Dracula's attendants got in and took it somewhere. I didn't really care; my thoughts were on Dracula.
He led me to a staircase, which went up to two large arched doors. He opened them and we went inside. His castle was very pretty, and it had pillars of marble and golden candlesticks. They lit our way to his chambers. Servants were in the parlor area, and one of them asked Dracula a question that I couldn't hear. We walked up several flights of staircases, until we reached a pecuilar door. It was made of black wood, and had a red symbol of Dracula's Empire on it. He opened it, and told me to go inside.
"Aren't you coming in too?" I asked.
"No, you can sleep in my chambers tonight. I have...pressing matters to attend to." he explained. Then, he left my presence.
I walked into his chambers, feeling alone and deserted. He didn't even explain to me what these "pressing matters" were. I laid upon the bed, but I had just awoken, so sleep didn't favor me. I also didn't want to take off the veil dress. Maybe if I kept it on, Dracula would return to me. But it seemed he wouldn't.
I got up, and just started dancing around the room. I hated being bored, and needed something to do. I pretended I was dancing with Dracula, and feeling that strange feeling of him breathing down my neck. A haunting melody filled my head. It was like a lullaby. There was a violin playing off in the distance. I almost instantly felt sleepy, and fell into the bed. I quickly driffted into sleep, and I dreamed about my dancing with Dracula.
Out of no where, I was awakened by a loud battle cry. I had been having so much interupted sleep, I thought I just imagined it. The chamber door blew open, and a woman went flying through the room. She was wearing bright armor and had a whip. "Dracula! I shall have your head!" she said. Oh no! This woman was after Dracula. But she didn't seem to notice me.
Dracula then ran into the room.
"Taste true power!" he yelled, and he disappeared in a coulum of light. "What?" said the woman in armor. Dracula appeared behind the woman in another coulum of light, and shot three fireballs at her. The woman was blow back by the fireballs, and far down the stairs leading up to the chambers.
"Camilla, I want you to stay here like a good girl." Dracula commanded. "Is that woman...a Belmont?" I asked. Dracula nodded as he ran out of the room. I tried to sit there like a "good girl", but I feared for Dracula, and I had to rush to his aid.
I got up out of the bed, and ran down the steps. Down in the parlor area, Dracula and the Belmont were fighting each other. The woman would whip at Dracula, but he would just gracefully move out of the way. He would also teleport around the room shooting fireballs and small meteors at the Belmont, and she wouldn't be able to react fast enough, and she would be knocked to the gorund.
"Do you give up yet, foolish Belmont?" asked Dracula.
"The powers of Light shall not fail!" yelled the Belmont. She began to glow a brilliant white, and the whip became a ball and chain. The Belmont was now much faster, and could actually strike blows to Dracula. However, it seemed like Dracula had taken off the kid gloves, and was showing her his "true power."
Dracula shot many more fireballs that were increasing in magnitude and size. The Belmont's whip began to rust. She was weakening, and seemingly couldn't sustain the ball and chain form. I didn't want Dracula, or even worse, the Belmont, to see me, so I hid behind one of the pillars. I hoped that battle would be over soon, and it seemed that Dracula was going to win. But, suddenly, the Belmont began to laugh.
"You have only seen a small fraction of the power possesed by the Belmont clan. You are magnificent, but now feel my unbrideled wrath!" The Belmont bursted into a rainbow of colors, and her whip began to glow a golden yellow. She whipped Dracula several times, and Dracula began to bleed. I cried silently for him, hoping he would live. Dracula screamed loudly.
"Playtime's over! Meet my true form!"
The whole room melted away, and we were in a vortex of blue energy. Dracula had transformed into a giant green creature. It was horrifing yet enchanting in it's wake. My passion was with him, but it was not enough. Even Dracula's true form couldn't stand up to the Belmont's power. The Belmont was encircled by white crosses. They shot rainbow colored beams at Dracula, and seemed to make him dissolve.
"This cannot be! Nooooo!!!" screamed Dracula.
"Noooo!!!" I yelled for him. Dracula vanished, and the blue vortex slowly faded back into the castle. The Belmont stood triumphantly with her whip held above her head. But, she turned around, and saw me.
"A minion of Dracula still lives?" she asked himself.
"I'll just have to change that!" she yelled, and began chasing after me.
I ran up the stairs that led to Dracula's chambers, and hid under the bed. This reminded me of the noble. But this was far more extreme. I heard the Belmont's foot steps, and could see his boots as he walked past the bed.
"She must have jumped out one of the windows." he said to himself. Then, thankfully, he left the room.
I started crying my eyes out. Dracula was gone. Now, he would never know about the passion that I felt for him. Maybe... maybe I should jump out the window. Then I could join my beloved and let him know about my feelings. No, I thought. I can't die. Perhaps, just perhaps, if I always wear the veiled dress, I will meet him again.
With a powerful rumble, the castle began to shake. I started to panic. What was going on, I thought. I got out from under the bed, and ran down the stairs, hoping to get out before the castle collasped. Through the palor I ran and the rumbles began to grow stronger. All the servants had vanished, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to get out. The castle began to fall apart. Chunks of it fell around me. None of them made contact with me, but with each passing rock, it seemed they would.
The exit was right in front of me. I pushed opened the doors; I ran and I didn't look back. My legs were burning with exasution but I pushed myself harder, still believing I was in the castle. I had no where to run. Where could I go?
A though suddenly tore through my mind. Every one except my mother was in the town sqaure when Dracula attacked. Could my mother still be alive? Would she think I was a witch? No, of course she wouldn't. She wasn't a big religous freak like most other people in the village.
My legs could go no farther. I sat by a tree to rest. Thoughts of the day filled my head. Was there a way to bring Dracula back? Would he keep his promise? Was Mother alive? After a minute, I got back up and began to run again. My village wasn't far; I could tell because of the signs. My legs were getting weak again, but I ignored it. I was almost to my house. I could see our field. I ran up the pourch, and inside. My mother was on the floor crying. She was still alive!
"Mother!" I cried.
"Camilla! You're alive! I thought they burnt you! I saw... your father's body. I'm sorry Camilla, but he's dead. When those strange men attacked the village, I was afraid, so I ran back here. But... where were you all this time? And where did you get that dress?"
"I was with Dracula... I know you may not believe me, but it's true. His men... killed Father." I started crying when I finished speaking.
"So Lord Vlad just came up to you and gave you that strange dress?"
"Well kind of, but we went riding in a forest. He then gave me the dress, and said if I wear it, he would come back for me..."
"Camilla... this is very strange. Let us go the the village square. We shall see if there are any survivors."
"All right, let us go."
We got up off of the floor, and walked out the door. My tears were drying on my face, and I knew the same was happening to Mother. We didn't talk as we walked into the square. All of the bodies were gone. We were dumbfounded by this.
"This IS strange... very strange." I said.
"You're not the only one who thinks this." said a voice from behind.
Mother and I turned around, and saw several men, women, and children dressed in fancy clothes. The women had jewels on their foreheads and the men were wearing turbans.
"Gypsys?" asked my mother.
"Some of us call our kind that." said what seemed to be the leader. He was dressed more extravagant than all of them, and had elegant golden bracelets on. They appeared to be sharp, as if they were his means of self defence.
"We came to this village, for we are travellers in search of the 'Distant Gray' which is a legend that has been passed down for generations in our familiy." declared the leader.
"We believe that this village is the 'Distant Gray'." he said.
"Why?" asked my mother.
"You see, our legends say that the 'Distant Gray' can only be found after years of searching. Our ansestors have wandered the Earth in search of the 'Distant Gray' for what seems like forever, and now we believe we have found it. The 'Distant Gray' is a haven for us Gypsys, and grants us immortality. This is what the legends say: A distant place far away is known as the Distant Gray. People there shall live forever, and shall find their lives are never severed. People shall search for this land for years, and when they find it they shall sing cheers. They will know they have found it when an empty village welcomes them with open arms, but shall find one who harms."
"I don't understand..." I said.
"Not many do. You may be wondering what the 'harm' part means. It means-" the Gypsy leader was cut off by a battle cry. The Belmont woman was standing up on one of the houses.
"You! You're the one who was in Dracula's castle!" she yelled at me.
The Gypsys ran behind other houses, fearing the Belmont.
"You shall not harm the girl." said the Gypsy leader. His hands began to glow blue, and they shot out energy orbs at the Belmont. However, they were in vain. The Belmont spun her whip out in front of her and the energy disappeared. Her whip still glew golden.
"I shall have her head!!!" she screamed. She jumped off the building and ran at me. The Gypsy waved his hands in a weird motion and his bracelets flew off at the Belmont. Again, it was vain, and the Belmont whipped them out of the way. She continued to run at me.
"Camilla, use your passion." said a voice. It felt like Dracula was right beside me. My dress lit up in a magenta light and lightning bolts flew at the Belmont. She was taken by surprise, and she flew against the house she jumped off of.
"How? How can you be stronger than Dracula? No matter. Dracula is dead, and soon you will be too." she said, and ran off into the darkness of the night.
"That was the harm." said the Gypsy.
"This is all too confusing." I said. I sat down on the ground and began wondering what that voice was. It wasn't Dracula's but it felt like his. Could he still be alive somewhere?
"Sorry Camilla." said the voice.
"It is me." said the Gypsy.
"What? How?" I asked.
"Simple. I can read your mind. 'Tis a gift. It is passed on from our Gypsy ansestors."
"How dare you make me think that the voice was Dracula's!" I screamed.
"Forgive me, but it was the only voice you would have listened to."
"I don't care! For a split second, I thought Dracula was back!"
"I beg your forgivness."
Angry, I stormed off toward my house, and went inside. I went into my room and fell onto my bed. I was so angry, and so full of sorrow. I couldn't believe all that had happened. This was the worst birthday of my life. I wanted to go out into the forest and chase after that wretched Belmont and show her my rage, but something stopped me from doing so. I knew that maybe... just maybe... Dracula would keep with promise even from beyond the grave.
"Meow..." I heard that noise suddenly. I looked under my bed, and saw a purple cat. Purple? I thought. Is there such a thing as a purple cat?
"Meow" it said again. I got it out from under my bed, and held it. It purred softly in my arms.
"Awwww... you're so cute. I'll name you... um... how about 'Mittens'?"
"Meow..." said Mittens.
Camilla went to the kitchen, where her mother was sitting at the table.
"Camilla, are you all right? I hope that Gypsy didn't make you too agnry... hey, who have you got there?"
"His name is Mittens. I found him under my bed. Isn't he cute?"
"I've never seen a purple cat before. We live in strange times..."
"Yes, we do. So, may I keep him?"
"Of course. Giving a home to a stray cat would be nice."
"Thank you Mother. I going to bed now."
"All right. Are you going to take off that dress?" This question was sudden.
"Um... no Mother. I... want to keep it on..."
"All right. If it makes you happy..."
I went into my bedroom, and sat Mittens on the floor. I then laid down on my bed, and surprisingly, it was easy to fall asleep. I was very relaxed while wearing the Magenta Veiled Dress, and it's warm comforted me. My sleep was dreamless, and I awoke quickly then next mourning.
"Good morning, Mittens." I said. Mittens sat there and did little. He looked up to me, and quietly purred. I went to the kitchen, and found my breakfast on the table. Where was my mother I thought. Mittens followed me into the kitchen, and I shared some of my breakfast with him. I had an egg and two strips of bacon. When I was done, I decided to go the village square. Perhaps Mother was there I thought.
I left my house, and Mittens followed close behind. When I made it into the village square, the Gypsys were still up and about.
"Camilla." said the Gypsy leader.
"I pray for your forgivness." he said.
"Yes... I... forgive you. But it was still a low thing to do."
"I realize this... Oh... you're looking for your mother?"
"Yes..."
"She is talking with my wife. Perhaps you'd like to meet her?"
"Ok."
He led me into a Gypsy wagon. It was very big, and seemed like a small house with wheels.
"Hello Camilla." said my mother. The Gypsy leader went out side, and left the three of us.
"Welcome, Camilla." said the Gypsy woman.
"I am Sypha Belnades. Hmmm... what is this? I sense a foul aroma around you..." I was taken aback by this.
"What do you mean?"
"The dress that you wear will bring you what the 'Distant Gray' promises us... but it will also bring you much pain."
"What? What is going on? I'm confused..."
"Camilla, let's leave." said Mother. She got up and the two of us left. Mittens hissed at the Gypsy lady. We walked swiftly to our house, and we fixed lunch. We had been gone much longer than we thought.
Days went by, and each week felt like a day. We didn't talk to the Gypsys much, and it seemed like our food supply would never run out. We would grive for Father every now and then, but I often brought up what he said.
What felt like seconds, became a year. It was again the night of the harvest moon. We went back to the Gypsys to ask them if they would help us reap our crops.
"Crops? What crops?" asked the Gypsy lady.
"The crops that we planted. It is the harvest moon. We are going to pick and reap them."
"Well, where are they? I do not see them." When she said this, I turned around and looked at our field. There wasn't a single corn stock in the air.
"What!? What happened to our crops!?" asked my mother and I at the same time.
"You haven't planted any. At least, not for twenty-six years."
"What? Are you crazy? It's only been one year!" I said.
"Didn't you hear what I said? That dress will give you eternal life, yet much strife. You will not realize how much time goes by, and you shall never die. If you would have stayed in our wagon long enough, I could have told you."
I couldn't believe it, but part of me knew this was true. Mother was dumbfounded, and just stood there, as Mittens and I walked into the forest. The leaves were changing and it reminded me of the 'Ride' Dracula and I took those many years ago. "I haven't aged a day..." I said to myself.
The trail began to lead out of the forest. The moon was full in the sky and it lit up my surroundings. What I saw in front of me made my heart jump. Dracula's castle was glittering in the moonlight. My soul began to burn. I remember seeing the castle crumble years ago, yet now it was restored. My legs ran out from under me, and it felt like I was flying toward the castle, with Mittens close behind...
(I hope you all liked Chapter 2! I'll try to get Chapter 3 out soon!)
Terror with Passion
I awoke within the castle gates, and Dracula had put a blanket around me. "Hello there." he said.
"Are we here?" I asked.
"Yes." The castle court yard was very elegant, and there were statues of animals around a fountain in the center. We got out of the carriage, and one of Dracula's attendants got in and took it somewhere. I didn't really care; my thoughts were on Dracula.
He led me to a staircase, which went up to two large arched doors. He opened them and we went inside. His castle was very pretty, and it had pillars of marble and golden candlesticks. They lit our way to his chambers. Servants were in the parlor area, and one of them asked Dracula a question that I couldn't hear. We walked up several flights of staircases, until we reached a pecuilar door. It was made of black wood, and had a red symbol of Dracula's Empire on it. He opened it, and told me to go inside.
"Aren't you coming in too?" I asked.
"No, you can sleep in my chambers tonight. I have...pressing matters to attend to." he explained. Then, he left my presence.
I walked into his chambers, feeling alone and deserted. He didn't even explain to me what these "pressing matters" were. I laid upon the bed, but I had just awoken, so sleep didn't favor me. I also didn't want to take off the veil dress. Maybe if I kept it on, Dracula would return to me. But it seemed he wouldn't.
I got up, and just started dancing around the room. I hated being bored, and needed something to do. I pretended I was dancing with Dracula, and feeling that strange feeling of him breathing down my neck. A haunting melody filled my head. It was like a lullaby. There was a violin playing off in the distance. I almost instantly felt sleepy, and fell into the bed. I quickly driffted into sleep, and I dreamed about my dancing with Dracula.
Out of no where, I was awakened by a loud battle cry. I had been having so much interupted sleep, I thought I just imagined it. The chamber door blew open, and a woman went flying through the room. She was wearing bright armor and had a whip. "Dracula! I shall have your head!" she said. Oh no! This woman was after Dracula. But she didn't seem to notice me.
Dracula then ran into the room.
"Taste true power!" he yelled, and he disappeared in a coulum of light. "What?" said the woman in armor. Dracula appeared behind the woman in another coulum of light, and shot three fireballs at her. The woman was blow back by the fireballs, and far down the stairs leading up to the chambers.
"Camilla, I want you to stay here like a good girl." Dracula commanded. "Is that woman...a Belmont?" I asked. Dracula nodded as he ran out of the room. I tried to sit there like a "good girl", but I feared for Dracula, and I had to rush to his aid.
I got up out of the bed, and ran down the steps. Down in the parlor area, Dracula and the Belmont were fighting each other. The woman would whip at Dracula, but he would just gracefully move out of the way. He would also teleport around the room shooting fireballs and small meteors at the Belmont, and she wouldn't be able to react fast enough, and she would be knocked to the gorund.
"Do you give up yet, foolish Belmont?" asked Dracula.
"The powers of Light shall not fail!" yelled the Belmont. She began to glow a brilliant white, and the whip became a ball and chain. The Belmont was now much faster, and could actually strike blows to Dracula. However, it seemed like Dracula had taken off the kid gloves, and was showing her his "true power."
Dracula shot many more fireballs that were increasing in magnitude and size. The Belmont's whip began to rust. She was weakening, and seemingly couldn't sustain the ball and chain form. I didn't want Dracula, or even worse, the Belmont, to see me, so I hid behind one of the pillars. I hoped that battle would be over soon, and it seemed that Dracula was going to win. But, suddenly, the Belmont began to laugh.
"You have only seen a small fraction of the power possesed by the Belmont clan. You are magnificent, but now feel my unbrideled wrath!" The Belmont bursted into a rainbow of colors, and her whip began to glow a golden yellow. She whipped Dracula several times, and Dracula began to bleed. I cried silently for him, hoping he would live. Dracula screamed loudly.
"Playtime's over! Meet my true form!"
The whole room melted away, and we were in a vortex of blue energy. Dracula had transformed into a giant green creature. It was horrifing yet enchanting in it's wake. My passion was with him, but it was not enough. Even Dracula's true form couldn't stand up to the Belmont's power. The Belmont was encircled by white crosses. They shot rainbow colored beams at Dracula, and seemed to make him dissolve.
"This cannot be! Nooooo!!!" screamed Dracula.
"Noooo!!!" I yelled for him. Dracula vanished, and the blue vortex slowly faded back into the castle. The Belmont stood triumphantly with her whip held above her head. But, she turned around, and saw me.
"A minion of Dracula still lives?" she asked himself.
"I'll just have to change that!" she yelled, and began chasing after me.
I ran up the stairs that led to Dracula's chambers, and hid under the bed. This reminded me of the noble. But this was far more extreme. I heard the Belmont's foot steps, and could see his boots as he walked past the bed.
"She must have jumped out one of the windows." he said to himself. Then, thankfully, he left the room.
I started crying my eyes out. Dracula was gone. Now, he would never know about the passion that I felt for him. Maybe... maybe I should jump out the window. Then I could join my beloved and let him know about my feelings. No, I thought. I can't die. Perhaps, just perhaps, if I always wear the veiled dress, I will meet him again.
With a powerful rumble, the castle began to shake. I started to panic. What was going on, I thought. I got out from under the bed, and ran down the stairs, hoping to get out before the castle collasped. Through the palor I ran and the rumbles began to grow stronger. All the servants had vanished, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to get out. The castle began to fall apart. Chunks of it fell around me. None of them made contact with me, but with each passing rock, it seemed they would.
The exit was right in front of me. I pushed opened the doors; I ran and I didn't look back. My legs were burning with exasution but I pushed myself harder, still believing I was in the castle. I had no where to run. Where could I go?
A though suddenly tore through my mind. Every one except my mother was in the town sqaure when Dracula attacked. Could my mother still be alive? Would she think I was a witch? No, of course she wouldn't. She wasn't a big religous freak like most other people in the village.
My legs could go no farther. I sat by a tree to rest. Thoughts of the day filled my head. Was there a way to bring Dracula back? Would he keep his promise? Was Mother alive? After a minute, I got back up and began to run again. My village wasn't far; I could tell because of the signs. My legs were getting weak again, but I ignored it. I was almost to my house. I could see our field. I ran up the pourch, and inside. My mother was on the floor crying. She was still alive!
"Mother!" I cried.
"Camilla! You're alive! I thought they burnt you! I saw... your father's body. I'm sorry Camilla, but he's dead. When those strange men attacked the village, I was afraid, so I ran back here. But... where were you all this time? And where did you get that dress?"
"I was with Dracula... I know you may not believe me, but it's true. His men... killed Father." I started crying when I finished speaking.
"So Lord Vlad just came up to you and gave you that strange dress?"
"Well kind of, but we went riding in a forest. He then gave me the dress, and said if I wear it, he would come back for me..."
"Camilla... this is very strange. Let us go the the village square. We shall see if there are any survivors."
"All right, let us go."
We got up off of the floor, and walked out the door. My tears were drying on my face, and I knew the same was happening to Mother. We didn't talk as we walked into the square. All of the bodies were gone. We were dumbfounded by this.
"This IS strange... very strange." I said.
"You're not the only one who thinks this." said a voice from behind.
Mother and I turned around, and saw several men, women, and children dressed in fancy clothes. The women had jewels on their foreheads and the men were wearing turbans.
"Gypsys?" asked my mother.
"Some of us call our kind that." said what seemed to be the leader. He was dressed more extravagant than all of them, and had elegant golden bracelets on. They appeared to be sharp, as if they were his means of self defence.
"We came to this village, for we are travellers in search of the 'Distant Gray' which is a legend that has been passed down for generations in our familiy." declared the leader.
"We believe that this village is the 'Distant Gray'." he said.
"Why?" asked my mother.
"You see, our legends say that the 'Distant Gray' can only be found after years of searching. Our ansestors have wandered the Earth in search of the 'Distant Gray' for what seems like forever, and now we believe we have found it. The 'Distant Gray' is a haven for us Gypsys, and grants us immortality. This is what the legends say: A distant place far away is known as the Distant Gray. People there shall live forever, and shall find their lives are never severed. People shall search for this land for years, and when they find it they shall sing cheers. They will know they have found it when an empty village welcomes them with open arms, but shall find one who harms."
"I don't understand..." I said.
"Not many do. You may be wondering what the 'harm' part means. It means-" the Gypsy leader was cut off by a battle cry. The Belmont woman was standing up on one of the houses.
"You! You're the one who was in Dracula's castle!" she yelled at me.
The Gypsys ran behind other houses, fearing the Belmont.
"You shall not harm the girl." said the Gypsy leader. His hands began to glow blue, and they shot out energy orbs at the Belmont. However, they were in vain. The Belmont spun her whip out in front of her and the energy disappeared. Her whip still glew golden.
"I shall have her head!!!" she screamed. She jumped off the building and ran at me. The Gypsy waved his hands in a weird motion and his bracelets flew off at the Belmont. Again, it was vain, and the Belmont whipped them out of the way. She continued to run at me.
"Camilla, use your passion." said a voice. It felt like Dracula was right beside me. My dress lit up in a magenta light and lightning bolts flew at the Belmont. She was taken by surprise, and she flew against the house she jumped off of.
"How? How can you be stronger than Dracula? No matter. Dracula is dead, and soon you will be too." she said, and ran off into the darkness of the night.
"That was the harm." said the Gypsy.
"This is all too confusing." I said. I sat down on the ground and began wondering what that voice was. It wasn't Dracula's but it felt like his. Could he still be alive somewhere?
"Sorry Camilla." said the voice.
"It is me." said the Gypsy.
"What? How?" I asked.
"Simple. I can read your mind. 'Tis a gift. It is passed on from our Gypsy ansestors."
"How dare you make me think that the voice was Dracula's!" I screamed.
"Forgive me, but it was the only voice you would have listened to."
"I don't care! For a split second, I thought Dracula was back!"
"I beg your forgivness."
Angry, I stormed off toward my house, and went inside. I went into my room and fell onto my bed. I was so angry, and so full of sorrow. I couldn't believe all that had happened. This was the worst birthday of my life. I wanted to go out into the forest and chase after that wretched Belmont and show her my rage, but something stopped me from doing so. I knew that maybe... just maybe... Dracula would keep with promise even from beyond the grave.
"Meow..." I heard that noise suddenly. I looked under my bed, and saw a purple cat. Purple? I thought. Is there such a thing as a purple cat?
"Meow" it said again. I got it out from under my bed, and held it. It purred softly in my arms.
"Awwww... you're so cute. I'll name you... um... how about 'Mittens'?"
"Meow..." said Mittens.
Camilla went to the kitchen, where her mother was sitting at the table.
"Camilla, are you all right? I hope that Gypsy didn't make you too agnry... hey, who have you got there?"
"His name is Mittens. I found him under my bed. Isn't he cute?"
"I've never seen a purple cat before. We live in strange times..."
"Yes, we do. So, may I keep him?"
"Of course. Giving a home to a stray cat would be nice."
"Thank you Mother. I going to bed now."
"All right. Are you going to take off that dress?" This question was sudden.
"Um... no Mother. I... want to keep it on..."
"All right. If it makes you happy..."
I went into my bedroom, and sat Mittens on the floor. I then laid down on my bed, and surprisingly, it was easy to fall asleep. I was very relaxed while wearing the Magenta Veiled Dress, and it's warm comforted me. My sleep was dreamless, and I awoke quickly then next mourning.
"Good morning, Mittens." I said. Mittens sat there and did little. He looked up to me, and quietly purred. I went to the kitchen, and found my breakfast on the table. Where was my mother I thought. Mittens followed me into the kitchen, and I shared some of my breakfast with him. I had an egg and two strips of bacon. When I was done, I decided to go the village square. Perhaps Mother was there I thought.
I left my house, and Mittens followed close behind. When I made it into the village square, the Gypsys were still up and about.
"Camilla." said the Gypsy leader.
"I pray for your forgivness." he said.
"Yes... I... forgive you. But it was still a low thing to do."
"I realize this... Oh... you're looking for your mother?"
"Yes..."
"She is talking with my wife. Perhaps you'd like to meet her?"
"Ok."
He led me into a Gypsy wagon. It was very big, and seemed like a small house with wheels.
"Hello Camilla." said my mother. The Gypsy leader went out side, and left the three of us.
"Welcome, Camilla." said the Gypsy woman.
"I am Sypha Belnades. Hmmm... what is this? I sense a foul aroma around you..." I was taken aback by this.
"What do you mean?"
"The dress that you wear will bring you what the 'Distant Gray' promises us... but it will also bring you much pain."
"What? What is going on? I'm confused..."
"Camilla, let's leave." said Mother. She got up and the two of us left. Mittens hissed at the Gypsy lady. We walked swiftly to our house, and we fixed lunch. We had been gone much longer than we thought.
Days went by, and each week felt like a day. We didn't talk to the Gypsys much, and it seemed like our food supply would never run out. We would grive for Father every now and then, but I often brought up what he said.
What felt like seconds, became a year. It was again the night of the harvest moon. We went back to the Gypsys to ask them if they would help us reap our crops.
"Crops? What crops?" asked the Gypsy lady.
"The crops that we planted. It is the harvest moon. We are going to pick and reap them."
"Well, where are they? I do not see them." When she said this, I turned around and looked at our field. There wasn't a single corn stock in the air.
"What!? What happened to our crops!?" asked my mother and I at the same time.
"You haven't planted any. At least, not for twenty-six years."
"What? Are you crazy? It's only been one year!" I said.
"Didn't you hear what I said? That dress will give you eternal life, yet much strife. You will not realize how much time goes by, and you shall never die. If you would have stayed in our wagon long enough, I could have told you."
I couldn't believe it, but part of me knew this was true. Mother was dumbfounded, and just stood there, as Mittens and I walked into the forest. The leaves were changing and it reminded me of the 'Ride' Dracula and I took those many years ago. "I haven't aged a day..." I said to myself.
The trail began to lead out of the forest. The moon was full in the sky and it lit up my surroundings. What I saw in front of me made my heart jump. Dracula's castle was glittering in the moonlight. My soul began to burn. I remember seeing the castle crumble years ago, yet now it was restored. My legs ran out from under me, and it felt like I was flying toward the castle, with Mittens close behind...
(I hope you all liked Chapter 2! I'll try to get Chapter 3 out soon!)
