Coming Alive
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, even the bad ones.
/b Yeah pretty much. Dracula had a bit of mind control over her decision on whether or not to go and that's why she's like "Eh, whatever."
Chapter Two:
Ana woke up alone and she realized it was about nighttime. Nothing was moving in the vacant castle, and she was a bit frightened. Where had everyone gone? Was the whole encounter with the man who was immortal a dream? If it was, then she had not wanted it to end, but it had. She sat up and groaned as pain shot up through her back. Had she been sleeping on her back for a long time?
Her coal gray eyes scanned the dark room, lit by candles that had been burning for hours. The wind outside howled as a storm raged on. Lightning struck, hitting something on the top of the castle, making Antanasia jump. She got out of the coffin and saw a dress hanging on a chair, with a note attached.
'My dearest Ana, I am not here when you wake and I wish I was, but my brides and I left to feed. Here is a dress for you to put on so that you may get out of those dirty peasant clothes. I will be back soon, and if you are hungry, there is fresh food down the hall just for you. I cannot wait to see you, my love. -Dracula'
She smiled as she placed the note on the floor and examined the dress. It was beautiful; obviously one of his brides made it. The main part cut right above her breasts with a strip of cloth to hold it up. Long sleeves were added on to cover her arms and to fall nicely with the dress. How did they make such a beautiful dress?
Ana looked around before undressing, finally feeling better once she got out of the peasant clothes and into the dress. It fit her perfectly and she twirled around, giggling. She twirled around the whole room before bumping into someone. She gasped, and sighed. It was Dracula.
"I see you've awakened," he said, softly.
She nodded. "It's beautiful. Which one made it?"
"Verona," Dracula replied. "She wanted to give you something to feel more at...home. Have you eaten?"
"No. I just woke up, my lord."
Dracula smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She melted against the vampire and into the kiss, feeling Dracula's hands run up and down her side. His hands entangled themselves in her hair as he pushed her against the column behind them. He felt like a newly married man on his honeymoon, claiming his wife as his own. He bent his head down, pressing his lips against her neck at the pulse point, and bit down gently, drinking some of her blood.
Ana moaned, feeling his lips on her neck. She knew what he was doing, and she finally realized what a bonded human was to a vampire. They were an ultimate source of blood, never running out that blood. Dracula didn't drink much when he pulled away to wipe his mouth off before placing another kiss upon her lips.
"Go eat, my love," he whispered. "And don't call me 'my lord'. I don't want you to feel as if I am controlling you."
She nodded and excused herself quietly from his presence. The hall that led to the kitchen was a bit frightening; candles were lit in between portraits of men dying at the hands of Dracula. There was one that caught her eye. Had Dracula asked a man to paint his mortal self's death? It seemed so, for the picture had a man shrouded in darkness with a knife in the air leaning over a bloodied Dracula. She stared at the painting and it began to move, the man moved, jumping on top of Dracula's helpless body, and stabbing him to death. Dracula's screams pierced her ears and she thought it was he who was dying once more.
No, she thought, He's already dead.
She quickly turned out of fear and headed further down the hall. She was beginning to feel lost as it kept going and going. She briefly looked at each picture before stopping at a woman who looked familiar to her. Who was this woman? Ana realized she had the same eyes as the woman in the portrait.
"That is your ancestor," Dracula said, softly, standing behind her. "She was my mistress when I turned twenty and we were to be married. The same man who murdered me murdered her and I chose you because you remind me of her so much. I didn't love her, though, as I love you, but she was the only thing to take me away from a horrible life."
Ana looked at the vampire, and then at the picture. "But that happened over twenty years ago. I don't understand."
Dracula turned the woman around to look at him. "Yes, I know."
"And that picture," she pointed in the opposite direction. "Is that the man who killed you? It moved when I looked at it long enough."
Dracula looked away, almost ashamed that she had seen a reincarnation of his death. He wasn't ashamed of that death; he was ashamed that she had seen it. She had watched his mortal self die at the hands of...
"Gabriel Van Helsing," he spat out. "Murdered me in 1462. I had a picture made to show how dumb I was to believe that Gabriel had been my friend, my confidant, until he murdered me. I have not seen him lately, and I hope he rotted in Hell!"
"I'm so sorry," Ana whispered.
Dracula smiled, kissing her on the lips. "It's not your fault my love. Come, I shall assist you while you eat."
She turned around and headed down the hallway, leaving Dracula behind her. Dracula watched as her body disappeared in the darkness ahead and he felt his brides coming back to meet him. He wondered how much he could tell her without frightening her too much. The picture of her ancestor and of his death was enough to scare her, even if she hadn't showed her fear. He had so much to tell her; he just didn't know where to start.
Ana entered the kitchen hall where a chef had been waiting patiently. Had Dracula hired a cook for her or is he another slave? The chef looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Miss Ana," he said, softly. "What would you like to eat? You must be famished."
Ana looked at him, confused. "I want an apple."
The chef laughed. "You need more than that! You're skinnier than a piece of wood!"
"No," Ana said. "That's all I want."
He nodded and left the main kitchen hall silently, leaving the confused woman behind. She had been confused more than once today and it was bugging her. She looked at the two long tables in the middle of the room and wondered why Dracula would need tables like that. Did he get them for her, or did he have parties and masquerade balls? She felt like a princess, getting whatever she wanted and whatever she deserved.
"Here you go, Miss Ana," the chef said, bowing and handing her the apple. "If you are hungry later, I shall be here."
"Thank you," Ana said, bowing and leaving. "I appreciate it."
She entered the hallway in which she came and noticed Dracula no longer staring at the photo of her ancestor. She stopped, munching on the apple a bit, at a portrait of Dracula with the date 1442 written at the bottom. The picture was a 20 year-old Dracula, with his black hair down falling past his shoulders, his eyes fixated on her gaze. She gasped a bit, jumping back, but could not gaze away. He was still handsome, still breathtaking.
Her hand moved to touch it but was instantly pulled away from it by Marishka, who was whimpering something. Ana looked into the vampire's striking yellow eyes and wondered why she couldn't touch the picture of their master.
"Marishka, why?" she asked, softly.
"No one can touch the Master's portrait," Marishka replied. "No one."
The blonde vampire looked frightened and Ana wondered if Dracula had said something to his bride to make her cower in fear at his portrait. She glanced at the portrait once more before leaving and watching Marishka return to her coffin. Vampires were weird creatures, Ana realized as she headed for the courtyard that she had merely seen when she first arrived.
"He loves her like he loves us, Aleera," Verona said, loudly. "Deal with it! We all get equal attention from the Master."
Ana turned abruptly and saw the two vampires arguing. She figured out that Aleera was the jealous bride and Verona was the first bride. She didn't want to be caught eavesdropping so she began to head towards the courtyard, only thing was she didn't remember how to find it. The corridors were winding and everlasting, and she didn't want to get lost in this castle and never find her way back out. Maybe if Dracula could help her, she'd be able to find the courtyard.
"You are looking for the courtyard?"
Antanasia jumped and looked up, only to gaze upon Dracula hanging upside down on the ceiling. "Yes I am. Will you help me?"
He jumped down from the ceiling and landed with such grace that Ana would never have. "I could, but I would not want you to freeze. Where we are now, it never stops snowing. It never gets hot, nor does it rain. If you wanted to go to some garden to find peace, I can take you to some exotic place."
Her eyes never left Dracula's as she replied, "I don't want to be a nuisance, Master."
He laughed and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "You are a not a nuisance. I have done this with my brides when I first changed them."
"Where would we go?"
Dracula grasped her hand and led her down the last winding hall that she had not dared to enter. The only light in the hall was from to scattered torches lined up on the walls. The fire flickered as the two passed each torch and once outside, Ana shivered, wishing she had a jacket or at least a fire nearby to keep her warm. Dracula wrapped his arms around his bonded human and willed himself to take form of a bat so that he may transport her to a civilized world for the morning. He would then collect her at night, when the sun was not giving her warmth to the humans.
Ana leaned into the warmth that the bat form gave her and felt the wind beneath her. She glanced down and saw the buildings that once made up her village in Transylvania. Her eyes widened as she felt the night air go from cool to warm and as she saw civilized cities that she never knew about. Dracula quickly changed forms, not wanting to cause alarm in the humans, and set the two down slowly and softly.
He smiled when Ana's eyes widened at the sight. The Château of Anet was a beautiful sight. It had been inspired by Italian artists and then created once the French had invaded Italy. She gasped once she smelled the aroma of the flowers all around her and she smiled. She hadn't seen that many types of plants, nor even thought there was this many.
"How?" she asked, shakily.
"I want you to be happy," he replied. "But I need to get back to the castle. Do you want to stay here and I shall return tomorrow night, or would you like to come home?"
She looked at the gardens and then back at Dracula. "I would like to go home with you, but I want to explore. Who is king here?"
"King Louis XII," Dracula replied.
Ana wondered how Dracula kept up with the current events with the world but didn't ask. He must have come here sometime during his immortal life and found out. After all, he died when she was born, and he knew a lot of things that she would never have known.
"I will be back soon, my love," he said, changing once more and leaving Ana alone in the Château of Anet.
Ana looked around and smiled. She felt peace in her heart and felt an evil secret leave it. Birds were chirping, which was unusual for them to be singing at night, but she felt as if they were singing to her and especially to her. She stood and began to explore the gardens, when two guards came into view. Would they see her and arrest her? Would they hang her or burn her at the stake? If she were to be hung, would Dracula come and save her?
She began to panic and ran the other way. There was no exit, and the only way out was to go the other way. She dived into the bushes when the guards got closer and felt silly. Why was she worrying?
You're worrying because this garden belongs to the King and you are on his territory, she told herself. I should have gone with Dracula.
Ana shut her gray eyes and fell asleep on the dirt, dreaming of Dracula's warm arms protecting her and holding her in a sweet embrace.
Author's Note: The Château of Anet was a garden in the early 16th century in France that was indeed inspired by the Italian's, but unfortunately I could not find a 15th century French garden so I used that garden. Louis XII was king in 1482, just so you guys know. Anyway, review please!
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, even the bad ones.
/b Yeah pretty much. Dracula had a bit of mind control over her decision on whether or not to go and that's why she's like "Eh, whatever."
Chapter Two:
Ana woke up alone and she realized it was about nighttime. Nothing was moving in the vacant castle, and she was a bit frightened. Where had everyone gone? Was the whole encounter with the man who was immortal a dream? If it was, then she had not wanted it to end, but it had. She sat up and groaned as pain shot up through her back. Had she been sleeping on her back for a long time?
Her coal gray eyes scanned the dark room, lit by candles that had been burning for hours. The wind outside howled as a storm raged on. Lightning struck, hitting something on the top of the castle, making Antanasia jump. She got out of the coffin and saw a dress hanging on a chair, with a note attached.
'My dearest Ana, I am not here when you wake and I wish I was, but my brides and I left to feed. Here is a dress for you to put on so that you may get out of those dirty peasant clothes. I will be back soon, and if you are hungry, there is fresh food down the hall just for you. I cannot wait to see you, my love. -Dracula'
She smiled as she placed the note on the floor and examined the dress. It was beautiful; obviously one of his brides made it. The main part cut right above her breasts with a strip of cloth to hold it up. Long sleeves were added on to cover her arms and to fall nicely with the dress. How did they make such a beautiful dress?
Ana looked around before undressing, finally feeling better once she got out of the peasant clothes and into the dress. It fit her perfectly and she twirled around, giggling. She twirled around the whole room before bumping into someone. She gasped, and sighed. It was Dracula.
"I see you've awakened," he said, softly.
She nodded. "It's beautiful. Which one made it?"
"Verona," Dracula replied. "She wanted to give you something to feel more at...home. Have you eaten?"
"No. I just woke up, my lord."
Dracula smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She melted against the vampire and into the kiss, feeling Dracula's hands run up and down her side. His hands entangled themselves in her hair as he pushed her against the column behind them. He felt like a newly married man on his honeymoon, claiming his wife as his own. He bent his head down, pressing his lips against her neck at the pulse point, and bit down gently, drinking some of her blood.
Ana moaned, feeling his lips on her neck. She knew what he was doing, and she finally realized what a bonded human was to a vampire. They were an ultimate source of blood, never running out that blood. Dracula didn't drink much when he pulled away to wipe his mouth off before placing another kiss upon her lips.
"Go eat, my love," he whispered. "And don't call me 'my lord'. I don't want you to feel as if I am controlling you."
She nodded and excused herself quietly from his presence. The hall that led to the kitchen was a bit frightening; candles were lit in between portraits of men dying at the hands of Dracula. There was one that caught her eye. Had Dracula asked a man to paint his mortal self's death? It seemed so, for the picture had a man shrouded in darkness with a knife in the air leaning over a bloodied Dracula. She stared at the painting and it began to move, the man moved, jumping on top of Dracula's helpless body, and stabbing him to death. Dracula's screams pierced her ears and she thought it was he who was dying once more.
No, she thought, He's already dead.
She quickly turned out of fear and headed further down the hall. She was beginning to feel lost as it kept going and going. She briefly looked at each picture before stopping at a woman who looked familiar to her. Who was this woman? Ana realized she had the same eyes as the woman in the portrait.
"That is your ancestor," Dracula said, softly, standing behind her. "She was my mistress when I turned twenty and we were to be married. The same man who murdered me murdered her and I chose you because you remind me of her so much. I didn't love her, though, as I love you, but she was the only thing to take me away from a horrible life."
Ana looked at the vampire, and then at the picture. "But that happened over twenty years ago. I don't understand."
Dracula turned the woman around to look at him. "Yes, I know."
"And that picture," she pointed in the opposite direction. "Is that the man who killed you? It moved when I looked at it long enough."
Dracula looked away, almost ashamed that she had seen a reincarnation of his death. He wasn't ashamed of that death; he was ashamed that she had seen it. She had watched his mortal self die at the hands of...
"Gabriel Van Helsing," he spat out. "Murdered me in 1462. I had a picture made to show how dumb I was to believe that Gabriel had been my friend, my confidant, until he murdered me. I have not seen him lately, and I hope he rotted in Hell!"
"I'm so sorry," Ana whispered.
Dracula smiled, kissing her on the lips. "It's not your fault my love. Come, I shall assist you while you eat."
She turned around and headed down the hallway, leaving Dracula behind her. Dracula watched as her body disappeared in the darkness ahead and he felt his brides coming back to meet him. He wondered how much he could tell her without frightening her too much. The picture of her ancestor and of his death was enough to scare her, even if she hadn't showed her fear. He had so much to tell her; he just didn't know where to start.
Ana entered the kitchen hall where a chef had been waiting patiently. Had Dracula hired a cook for her or is he another slave? The chef looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Miss Ana," he said, softly. "What would you like to eat? You must be famished."
Ana looked at him, confused. "I want an apple."
The chef laughed. "You need more than that! You're skinnier than a piece of wood!"
"No," Ana said. "That's all I want."
He nodded and left the main kitchen hall silently, leaving the confused woman behind. She had been confused more than once today and it was bugging her. She looked at the two long tables in the middle of the room and wondered why Dracula would need tables like that. Did he get them for her, or did he have parties and masquerade balls? She felt like a princess, getting whatever she wanted and whatever she deserved.
"Here you go, Miss Ana," the chef said, bowing and handing her the apple. "If you are hungry later, I shall be here."
"Thank you," Ana said, bowing and leaving. "I appreciate it."
She entered the hallway in which she came and noticed Dracula no longer staring at the photo of her ancestor. She stopped, munching on the apple a bit, at a portrait of Dracula with the date 1442 written at the bottom. The picture was a 20 year-old Dracula, with his black hair down falling past his shoulders, his eyes fixated on her gaze. She gasped a bit, jumping back, but could not gaze away. He was still handsome, still breathtaking.
Her hand moved to touch it but was instantly pulled away from it by Marishka, who was whimpering something. Ana looked into the vampire's striking yellow eyes and wondered why she couldn't touch the picture of their master.
"Marishka, why?" she asked, softly.
"No one can touch the Master's portrait," Marishka replied. "No one."
The blonde vampire looked frightened and Ana wondered if Dracula had said something to his bride to make her cower in fear at his portrait. She glanced at the portrait once more before leaving and watching Marishka return to her coffin. Vampires were weird creatures, Ana realized as she headed for the courtyard that she had merely seen when she first arrived.
"He loves her like he loves us, Aleera," Verona said, loudly. "Deal with it! We all get equal attention from the Master."
Ana turned abruptly and saw the two vampires arguing. She figured out that Aleera was the jealous bride and Verona was the first bride. She didn't want to be caught eavesdropping so she began to head towards the courtyard, only thing was she didn't remember how to find it. The corridors were winding and everlasting, and she didn't want to get lost in this castle and never find her way back out. Maybe if Dracula could help her, she'd be able to find the courtyard.
"You are looking for the courtyard?"
Antanasia jumped and looked up, only to gaze upon Dracula hanging upside down on the ceiling. "Yes I am. Will you help me?"
He jumped down from the ceiling and landed with such grace that Ana would never have. "I could, but I would not want you to freeze. Where we are now, it never stops snowing. It never gets hot, nor does it rain. If you wanted to go to some garden to find peace, I can take you to some exotic place."
Her eyes never left Dracula's as she replied, "I don't want to be a nuisance, Master."
He laughed and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "You are a not a nuisance. I have done this with my brides when I first changed them."
"Where would we go?"
Dracula grasped her hand and led her down the last winding hall that she had not dared to enter. The only light in the hall was from to scattered torches lined up on the walls. The fire flickered as the two passed each torch and once outside, Ana shivered, wishing she had a jacket or at least a fire nearby to keep her warm. Dracula wrapped his arms around his bonded human and willed himself to take form of a bat so that he may transport her to a civilized world for the morning. He would then collect her at night, when the sun was not giving her warmth to the humans.
Ana leaned into the warmth that the bat form gave her and felt the wind beneath her. She glanced down and saw the buildings that once made up her village in Transylvania. Her eyes widened as she felt the night air go from cool to warm and as she saw civilized cities that she never knew about. Dracula quickly changed forms, not wanting to cause alarm in the humans, and set the two down slowly and softly.
He smiled when Ana's eyes widened at the sight. The Château of Anet was a beautiful sight. It had been inspired by Italian artists and then created once the French had invaded Italy. She gasped once she smelled the aroma of the flowers all around her and she smiled. She hadn't seen that many types of plants, nor even thought there was this many.
"How?" she asked, shakily.
"I want you to be happy," he replied. "But I need to get back to the castle. Do you want to stay here and I shall return tomorrow night, or would you like to come home?"
She looked at the gardens and then back at Dracula. "I would like to go home with you, but I want to explore. Who is king here?"
"King Louis XII," Dracula replied.
Ana wondered how Dracula kept up with the current events with the world but didn't ask. He must have come here sometime during his immortal life and found out. After all, he died when she was born, and he knew a lot of things that she would never have known.
"I will be back soon, my love," he said, changing once more and leaving Ana alone in the Château of Anet.
Ana looked around and smiled. She felt peace in her heart and felt an evil secret leave it. Birds were chirping, which was unusual for them to be singing at night, but she felt as if they were singing to her and especially to her. She stood and began to explore the gardens, when two guards came into view. Would they see her and arrest her? Would they hang her or burn her at the stake? If she were to be hung, would Dracula come and save her?
She began to panic and ran the other way. There was no exit, and the only way out was to go the other way. She dived into the bushes when the guards got closer and felt silly. Why was she worrying?
You're worrying because this garden belongs to the King and you are on his territory, she told herself. I should have gone with Dracula.
Ana shut her gray eyes and fell asleep on the dirt, dreaming of Dracula's warm arms protecting her and holding her in a sweet embrace.
Author's Note: The Château of Anet was a garden in the early 16th century in France that was indeed inspired by the Italian's, but unfortunately I could not find a 15th century French garden so I used that garden. Louis XII was king in 1482, just so you guys know. Anyway, review please!