Chapter 3:
Carl was astounded. Vaseria was being attacked by hordes of tiny vampires. And he had no idea how to kill them. No book had taught him how to deal with this. The barmaid next to him shuddered. "What are they?" she asked in loathing. "I actually think they are Dracula's offspring...little vampires," Carl answered. It had the opposite affect on the barmaid then what he had hoped. She panicked instead of calming down. To Carl, if something was written down in a book, you could deal with it. Ok, so vampires were written about. He knew how to deal with vampires. However, thousands of tiny ones weren't written about. Maybe the barmaid was on to something. He panicked too. He dragged the woman after him, out into the street and down it, trying to flee. She screamed, and he looked back. She was being dragged away by a tiny vampire. He grabbed her hand, and yanked her back down. The vampire let go, a look of confusion on its ugly face. Suddenly, it exploded.
Carl stared in shock at the rivers of messy green vampire bits on the ground in front of him. Looking up, he realized that all the vampires were doing the same thing. En masse, they exploded, a green rainstorm of slime.
Back at Castle Frankenstein, Van Helsing and Dracula circled each other. "Hello, Gabriel. It's nice to see you again." Dracula said pleasantly. Van Helsing took no notice. Instead, his gaze was on the wooden stake he had implanted in the vampire's chest. However, the vampire had not died. "Well, then," Dracula said, calmly ripping the stake out of his chest. Van Helsing watched as the hole closed quickly, repairing the wound, as though it had never happened. "So quickly you forget, Gabriel. I expected more, with all your training from Tibetan monks to mullahs from Istanbul, and you do that? You don't remember, do you?" Van Helsing backed around his adversary warily. "And what exactly should I be remembering?"
"You forgot who I am? Let me introduce myself, then. Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1432, murdered 1462." Suddenly, Dracula opened his mouth, fangs lengthening, jaw stretching out and down. Van Helsing stood firm, aware that he had no weapon that could kill Dracula. He waited.
Suddenly, piercing wails cut the air. They came from the direction of Vaseria, and both Van Helsing and Dracula turned toward them. With Dracula distracted, Van Helsing grabbed the dumbwaiter behind him, and cut the rope. As he moved up, he looked down, and saw Dracula watching him.
Anna was almost through cutting Velkan's restraints in the pod. He kept pushing her away, but she would be damned if she left him here to die. He gripped her face, and she looked down at his hand, watching it change, growing nails and hair. Looking up at her brother, she watched him change into a werewolf. She shot a look up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight, and a full moon reigned supreme. Anna backed away, and a clock started to chime. It was midnight. The curse would not be broken.
Suddenly, someone was behind her. She whirled around. It was Van Helsing. "Time to go. We've over-stayed our welcome." He held a pistol out, and pulled the trigger. A thin grappling hook shot out across the chasm, and into a tall pine in the forest across it. Van Helsing tied his end off, and Anna looked across at her brother, who infinitely stronger in werewolf form, was snapping off the remaining restraints quickly.
Van Helsing picked her up, and Velkan burst out of the pod. Suddenly, they were swinging across the chasm on the thin wire. Anna took one last look behind at the beast that used to be her brother, and saw him cut the wire.
They were falling. No, they were swinging. Across the chasm, and straight into the forest. They jumped to the ground, rolling on impact. "Are you hurt?" Van Helsing asked her. Anna shook her head. From the other side, she could see the shape of the werewolf climbing down the side of the castle wall. "Let's go," she said, already headed for Vaseria. "We need to get back to the village."
As they walked, something tickled at the back of her mind. Anna stopped short. "Chesshika! We left her behind!" Van Helsing looked over at her, and continued walking. "She'll be fine."
"She'll be fine, what do you mean, 'she'll be fine '?! In there, with him? With THEM?"
"She can take care of herself. She was fine when we came in, she'll be fine now. Where ever she is. Besides, she'll learn more about herself. You know, bonding of the oddities?"
Still doubtful, Anna walked on. Where ever she is...the last she had seen Chesshika she was on the roof, fighting the Dwergi with the bullwhip Anna had tossed her. After that...Anna couldn't remember. But that didn't make sense. Chesshika wouldn't leave Velkan. She would have been right beside Anna, freeing him. It didn't matter to her that Velkan was a werewolf, she had just wanted to save him. And if they had both been there, he would have been out before midnight's bell had chimed. It didn't make any sense. Anna shrugged. In all the confusion, the lightning so close by, the thunder shaking the castle, it was easy to be distracted.
Anna's jaw dropped suddenly. That one roll of thunder so close it had shook the entire castle, raising it up from its foundation to the roof...Chesshika had gone missing after that. If she had gone over the side...Anna shook her head. No, that couldn't have happened. Chesshika had probably fled the castle when she realized that they had all broken up. That was it. She'd find her way back to the Vaseria and the manor. Van Helsing was right, Chesshika could take care of herself.
Dracula looked out a tower window over the courtyard. He had failed again. It was the second time his children had been brought to life, only to die. Why was this happening? He angrily paced the floor. Aleera and Verona held back, sobbing together. Maybe he needed a new, stronger bride. Maybe he needed a new energy force, something made for the task. He gritted his teeth. He had had both. A year ago, he had had Frankenstein's monster. The perfect thing for the task. Specially made. But then everything went wrong. The same night it was brought to life, the villagers had attacked the castle. It had fled, taking Dr. Frankenstein's body with it, to the windmill. Where the villagers had burned it to the ground.
Dracula spun, slamming his fist into the stone wall. Both his brides jumped, and whimpered. He ignored them. Then there was the second loss. She had been here tonight. Chesshika, the young woman from the village, the special one. She had been here, had stood right in front of him, and had slipped through his grasp. 'It was just a matter of time,' he reasoned. 'Sooner or later, I'll find her. And when I do, I'll bring her back here. And she will finally be mine.'
He looked out the window again, lost in fantasy. Thoughts of the fall of the Valerious family, the destruction of Velkan, the murder of Anna, and the capture of the little pale angel floated through his mind.
A small movement down in the courtyard brought his attention back. A horse was standing at the edge of the courtyard, hidden in shadow. He recognized that horse. It was the one that the girl owned. She was here, somewhere. Quickly, he changed shape into his bat form, and flew rapidly up through the ceiling, leaving his brides to their startled exclamations. He had something more important to find.
Soaring above the treetops of the forest below, Dracula was acutely aware of everything beneath him. He searched for the tell-tale heartbeat of a large creature, and the faint outline of a girl.
He finally found her hanging on a tree branch, near the edge of the forest below the castle. She pulsed a red outline with her healthy blood moving inside her, and Dracula was instantly attracted to her. He landed gently on the branch beside her, prying her hands off the branch. In her deep sleep of exhaustion, she didn't wake. He carefully picked her up into his arms, and took off again, wings flapping powerfully. He was bringing her back to the castle. With luck, he had a new bride. He smiled. She would be delicious.
Chesshika could feel her powerful wings beating as they carried her high above the Carpathian Mountains. Air rushed past her, and arms held her fast. She turned to look behind her. It was her lord. Flexing her wings harder, she pulled in front of him. "Yes," he whispered. "Go, fly, little one! Feel the power of the gift I have given you!" Chesshika ran her tongue over her sharp fangs, even now on both sides of her mouth. With the change, she had grown into her own body. No longer a freak or abomination, she now ruled over the villagers who had once made her life miserable. No longer was she a scapegoat, she was now a force to be reckoned with. She was one of the nosferatu, one of the undead. She was a vampire, and a powerful one at that. The affections of the Count had many bonuses, on of them being this new body, made to fly. It was a pleasure to fly.
Chesshika smiled in her sleep. The feel of air on her skin made her rapture in her dream. She flexed her arms, stretching them out wide. No, her wings. No, they were her arms. She grew confused. 'What am I doing?' she thought.
Her eyes opened slowly. Yes, she was flying. She relaxed. Wait! She was WHATING? Chesshika looked down at the passing treetops below her, the castle rapidly coming into view in front of her. Then she looked in surprise at the giant bat-man carrying her. Dracula. "AHHHHHHH!"
Dracula reveled in her shock, looking down at the girl in his arms. "Up so soon?" he asked. "I thought you were going to sleep the entire way back. That would have been no fun." Chesshika reached out, swiping at his face. He dodged to avoid her hand, and was momentarily caught off-balance in the air. Chesshika slipped forward, almost falling out of his grasp. He righted himself at the last moment, catching her up again. "Don't do that," he hissed in anger. "I almost dropped you. And I'm not yet sure if you're worth the effort to catch once you fall."
Chesshika knew she had to play her last card. She glared, and did what she thought was her last chance. Reaching to her throat, she pulled down the neck of her black tunic, exposing the front of her neck, and the red mark that had caused her so much trouble throughout her life. She knew she was taking a risk, but it was soon apparent it was the right one. Dracula stared at her neck, transfixed. "Yes," he whispered silkily. "Yes, you would be worth it."
'But do I want to be worth it?' Chesshika thought, contemplating throwing herself out of this arms and going for a second fall. She thought of Velkan, not sure if he was alive, not sure if he had survived midnight and had taken the antidote. Not sure if he was human again. But she was sure of one thing. 'I need to find him. And he'll be at the castle, if he didn't escape the change. It would be worth the chance to find him again. And if not, well, will I really ever miss the village?'
Dracula landed back in the courtyard outside, turning back into a man before he was even on the ground. Chesshika gracefully hooked a leg around his elbow, popping it out of its joint, effectively forcing him to release her. "Oh, so sorry," she purred once on the ground on her own two feet, giving him an innocent look while he cursed. Taking only a second, he popped it back into place, and swatted at her. She danced nimbly out of the way, faster then his hand fell. "You," he stated, "Are going to be in dire need of some lessons in manners." Before she could jump out of the way again, he disappeared, reappearing behind her. He grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her to kneel. "What do you say?" he asked gently, reinforcing his anger with the pressure from his hand on her neck. Chesshika spat squarely in his eye. He viciously twisted her neck to the side, and she cried out. "You say..." he prompted again. "Yes...my...lo-" she gritted out from between her teeth. He started to release his grip, and she finished her sentence quickly. "...son of a bitch." He slammed a finger deep into her pressure point in retort, and knelt down behind her. "That was very nice," he whispered in her ear. "Try again." Another twist. A yelp came from her as he bent her head back. "Not yet," he whispered dangerously. She remained silent, teeth clenched tightly in defiance. He slammed his thumb deep into the side of her neck, and wrenched it to the side. Her eyes swam with tears and stars exploded in front of her eyes. "Yes, my lord!" she gasped out. Instantly, he took his hands off her, and she fell to the ground, gasping. "Better. You need more time, but better. You'll do. Now up. Get your horse into the stable, and yourself into the castle. And I swear on Lucifer's head, one move away, and I WILL kill you." Chesshika stumbled to her feet, swaying in pain. Dracula looked at her appraisingly. "Do you know, I've had grown soldiers begging for mercy long before you even started to whimper? Your pain tolerance is very high. Interesting. Very interesting, my dear." Chesshika straightened her back, and looked him square in the eye. Turning, she moved to her horse, and led him through the doors of the nearby stable. She disappeared for a second, then came back out, without the horse. "Ready?" Dracula asked civilly. Chesshika nodded curtly, and he swung an arm behind her back. "In that case, come this way." Dracula led her down an amazing twist of hallway mazes. She tried to keep track, but lost it after the first three turns left, hidden door, and random staircases. He stopped at the doorway of a large hall. It was obviously a grand reception hall long ago, but now it was covered from floor to ceiling with sacs that oozed mucus. He led her into the hall, and through it. He gestured at a nearby sac. "My un-living children," he said simply. Chesshika suddenly realized what he had been using all the machinery for, the lightning, Velkan. He was trying to bring the thousands of little vampires to life. The room spun, and she gasped. If that happened...she didn't want to think about what would happen. Dracula mistook her gasp of horror for a gasp of awe. "Yes, you too shall bear me many beautiful children, such as these." Chesshika couldn't help making a face as she inwardly gagged. Somehow, showing revulsion to a vampire didn't seem like such a good idea on as touchy a subject as offspring. Instead, she settled on a well thought comment: "Oh, disgusting." Dracula looked at her, furious. "You DARE insult my children?!" he roared, ferociously. While Chesshika watched, his fangs grew longer and more pointed, and his jaw dropped, making room to accommodate the new teeth length. Fully vamped out, he growled at her, stepping forward to her. For the first time in her life, something older then custom or teaching took control. Her eyes narrowed, forming slits and flashing in rage. Was he threatening her?! Her?! The canines on the left side of her mouth, always cumbersome in her mouth, seemed to be ready to burst out of the bottom of her lip. Opening her mouth, they pointed down dangerously, growing exactly as Dracula's had. However, it was only her left canines. She hissed at him, leaning forward as he advanced. Dracula stopped, and he and Chesshika eyed each other. Locked in a stalemate, Chesshika knew it was time to say something. "Well?" she spat at him. "You started it. Let's finish it."
Dracula held his ground. He suddenly smiled charmingly, and in an eye- blink was a (seemingly,) normal handsome man again. "Bravo," he said, bowing with flourish to Chesshika, who still stood on guard. "So you are a little different, aren't you?" Chesshika relaxed, her teeth shrinking back to normal. She realized she had done a semi- version of vamping out, and steadied herself. "Define 'normal'," she asked. "You are...a half-breed." "I don't know. That was the first time that has ever happened. You tell me. There aren't any mirrors in here, and on a hunch I'd say that even if there had been, I wouldn't have been able to see myself once I changed. Correct?" "Very much so. You are intelligent, that is obvious. You know much of our race." "Your race.' "My lovely darling, after that brilliant display, I think we can at least safely say that you are showing tendencies in that direction as well." "Against my will or better judgement." "Well, yes. But everyone must live with the parts of themselves they don't particularly like or want, no?" Chesshika took advantage of the Count's distraction, and dropped to the ground, rolling under the hanging sacs and across the floor. A safe distance away, she carefully rose into a crouch, waiting. "Aha. Are we playing cat-and-mouse now, Chesshika? Are you going to make me hunt you out and find you?" She remained silent, backing away quietly. Not knowing how large the room was, she dropped to the floor, laying flat on it, looking across the floor. It was a large room, definitely a good size to stay away from Dracula for at least a short period of time. She skimmed the ground for feet, and saw none. He must have taken to the air. An idea hit her. Scuttling under a hanging sac, Chesshika lay in wait. From any vantage point other then laying on the floor, as she had, he couldn't see her now. Hidden under the sac, she knew her outline and the essence of her blood wasn't able to be seen. She chuckled quietly to herself. Who was the clever one now? She could feel the building tension of Dracula's anger as he coolly and methodically searched for her in the big hall. From the ceiling to the spaces between the sacs, she heard and felt the air rushing from his wing- beats. Sooner or later, he was going to have to land, and search by foot. Then, it would be up to her to think up a new move. "I grow tired of this game, little one. Come out...or shall I find you?" He was purposely trying to make her answer him, wanted her to feel an emotion that he could hone in on, be it fear or anger. Chesshika breathed steadily, willing her heart to stay steady, and her feelings to remain neutral and calm. The sound of something landing on the stone floor snapped her to attention. She risked a quick peak out from under the sac. Dracula had landed a few yards away, in his human form. She watched as he stood still and silent for a few minutes. Slowly, his feet turned, and started for her direction. Chesshika shrunk back under the sac. "I can feel you, angel. You're somewhere close by...actually...you are...right..." "...Here." Dracula lifted the sac, and looked down, straight at gray stones. Confused, he stared at it for a second. She had been right there. He had heard her heartbeat. Where could she have gone? He hadn't heard the tell- tale thumps move. He stood absolutely silent for a minute, trying to get a bearing on her. Her heartbeat, her breathing, her emotions, it didn't matter. Hanging right above him, suspended in the air upside-down, her bullwhip's lash wrapped around an overhead sac, Chesshika smiled. She had him right where she wanted him. 'Since the hunter becomes the hunted...I should be moving now...stay right here...good boy.' Slowly, she uncurled her legs from around the whip, dropping them silently. She climbed up the lash, onto the sac. It shifted slightly, but that was the only sign. She unwrapped her whip from around it, and wrapped it around the next hanging sac higher up. Smiling grimly, Chesshika went about her slow progress upward. Dracula had never felt this strange feeling before. It wasn't anger, and it wasn't loss. It was akin to...fear, something he hadn't felt in over four centuries. Where could she have gone? She couldn't have just disappeared. She was here somewhere, watching him. The thought would have made his skin crawl if he still had feelings. He hadn't been in this juxtaposed hunting position in all the time he had been un-dead. Now was not a time he wanted to start. So if she wasn't down, wasn't up...look in-between. Dracula slowly made his way down the paths through the sacs, keeping his keen eyes trailed at the mid-way point between the ceiling and floor. A slight movement caught his eye. The space in-between the sacs wasn't enough to accommodate wings, so he disappeared. Re-appearing on the swinging sac, he looked straight at Chesshika's booted foot that was slowly rising up, following her body as she climbed. He grabbed her leg, and yanked down on it, hard. Chesshika screamed, loosing her hold on her bullwhip, and falling back down onto the sac below, directly across from a grinning Dracula. "Surprise." Chesshika shouted, and lunged up, wrapping her hands around her whip, and yanking her body up fast, out of Dracula's grip. She wiggled up it, to the next sac. Reaching a hand up, someone pulled her up onto the sac. Gasping for breath, she looked up at Dracula again. Grimly, she yanked back on the whip, and it unraveled from around the sac, pulling off. Still holding onto the whip, she fell. As she fell, she cracked out with the whip, catching a sac. Abruptly, she was pulled out of her fall, swinging around the sac. Looking down, she saw the ground twelve feet below her. Gathering her whip back up, she tucked it loosely in her belt, and jumped. She hit the ground hard, rolling forward. Coming out of a roll, she un- tucked and sprang up, already running. At the end of the hall, she saw a door. Was she faster then Dracula? She increased her speed, sprinting to the end of the hall. She blinked, and crashed into something. The power of her hit sent her tumbling backwards, and she flipped over. Hitting the ground, she knocked her breath out of her lungs. Her breath re-entered her lungs in short rasps that split her sides like a knife blade. The vampire looked down at her, radiating rage and...disbelief? "Do you know," he drawled slowly in his heavy Romanian accent of royalty, "That you just did something very interesting?" "Wha...at?" A short intake of air, and a wheeze exited Chesshika's mouth along with the words. "You don't realize that during our little...escapade, your heart stopped beating, do you?" "What?!" Her hand flew up to her chest, searching for movement underneath her skin. No heartbeat. Both Chesshika and Dracula stared at her chest for a moment. "Do you know what you are?" "Uhhhh..." Chesshika's eyes fluttered, and the world sunk into a blackness. Dracula managed to disappear and reappear behind her, catching her just before she hit the ground. "Times like this is when that ability makes everything worth it," he said to her unconscious figure. He picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder. "Too light. Haven't been eating much, have you? We can change that..." Dracula chuckled quietly, carrying her out of the hall.
She knew it was dangerous going outside that late at night, but it was Velkan's idea. It was almost always his idea to sneak away, to be alone together. He had always been like that. His daring was infectious that night as he took her hand and dragged her after him through the village, ignoring the looks from the villagers as they passed, his arm around her waist, leaning in toward her, kissing her without a care in the world. It was the attitude of a man who knew he was going to be a boyar, the attitude of someone who knew that his people could say nothing about it to him. He had suggested the cemetery on a whim. She had been hesitant, knowing that with Dracula after her, it wasn't the wisest choice. But Velkan had begged her, and she never could refuse him. Her heart was light that night, with the feeling of love for him, and the promise of mischief that night. They danced through the town's square together, waltzing, as Velkan hummed a tune regularly broken by laughter from both of them. They stopped by a bar for a quick drink, joining in with the rowdy songs of the drunkards. She loved to watch him move about the people, changing faces and attitudes with every individual. He was going to be a fantastic lord, she could tell already. As soon as people shied away from her, he brought them back, bringing her closer to him at the same time, making them feel the ease with her that he did. The elders in the corners shot them looks and whispered amongst themselves. Velkan noticed, his eyebrows furrowing. "Anya, Flourescue, what is so intriguing? Share it with the rest of us." The undertaker and village gossip gave each other a look that read of apprehension. The oily undertaker slid forward, taking off his old and battered top hat in respect of his young lord. "Well, you see, my lord...we were wondering at your, ah, choice in companions." Flourescue gave Chesshika a side-ways look out the corner of his eye, and she shuddered. She had gotten used to the looks and ritual crossing of chests when she passed, but the undertaker still gave her goosebumps with his. Velkan's eyes flashed with anger. "That is for me to decide, undertaker. As for my choice, why should such charming a girl be such an odd choice?" The undertaker looked down, realizing he had hit a nerve. "I'm sorry, my lord. We just wish you would consider your...judgements more deeply." Velkan clenched his teeth, and stormed out of the bar, bringing her with him. He swore for the next few hundred feet, gesturing to the air in front of him. Chesshika trotted to his side, and laid a small hand on his arm. He turned, and hugged her to his side. "Sorry, darling. That must be harder for you then it is for me." Chesshika shrugged. "I've grown used to it." They continued to the cemetery in silence, a moody yet calming one. Once alone, and out of the common street and bustle in the graveyard, Velkan came alive again with his usual spark. Seated on a long stone casket beside her, his eyes danced with mischief and happiness, and he reached out and pulled her down on his lap. She laughed, tipping her head back, hair falling free. Velkan watched her with a quiet look in his eyes, and she stopped laughing. "Hmmm?" she asked him, and he smiled slowly. "I love your laugh." He leaned forward, pressing his lips to the small red mark on her throat that gained her so much despise. She relaxed, then a voice drifting through a window nearby caught her attention, and she drew back. "Velkan, be careful. What would they think if they saw us together?" "I don't care! They can think whatever they want!" "Velkan! Think of your family! You can't just be around someone like me...especially not me. They hate me. If they knew...you would be in trouble because of me. You saw what they thought of me tonight!" "I don't care, Chesshika! I love you. Chessh, do you think I give a damn what they think of us? I love you, and you love me, and that's all that matters." "Velkan, stop being such an idiot! Look around you!" "I am looking around me Chessh, and all I see is you. Everywhere I go, I see you, think of you, taste you, breathe you." Velkan knelt before her. "Oh God, Velkan, no," Chesshika pleaded with him. "Yes, Chesshika, yes. It's the right thing. It's the only thing. Chessh, will you marry me?" "Velkan..." "Will you, Chessh?" "Yes, yes, I'll marry you, of course. " Velkan picked her up and swung her around, laughing. A few nearby villagers looked up at them. "I'm marrying her!" Velkan shouted happily. "Velkan, shhh!" Chesshika pressed a finger to his lips. "Not yet." "But I want to tell everyone!" "Later, in another place. It's not safe now." Velkan nodded, serious. "Good," Chessh nodded, and Velkan sat her back down, standing in front of her as she stared into space. Nimble fingers at her shirt laces caught her attention. She slapped his hand away. "Not here, Velkan. What if someone saw us?" "I don't care." "You may not, I do!"
Velkan gave her a look, and Chesshika returned it. "You aren't very romantic. I just proposed to you," he pouted. She laughed. "Later." "Promise?" "Of course." "Mmmmm..." he rumbled, burying his face in her hair and breathing in. She picked his face up in both hands, and kissed him gently on the nose. He made a face, and tilted his head up, bringing his mouth to hers. They kissed, and he ran his tongue over her large canines. "Careful," she whispered in warning. "They're sharp." "I know." "Then be careful." "There's too little time to be careful, Chessh." "And you're in far too much of a hurry." "Guilty," he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "You're up to something." "As always." "Tell me." "Maybe, we won't go back to the manor tonight." "Oh?" "Yes." "And where exactly would we go instead?" "We could stay at the inn." "That would raise some eyebrows." "And it would settle mine." "You always have 'raised eyebrows'." "Well...you're always with me." "Maybe, then, you should go back to the manor tonight, I should go to my...house, and to our separate rooms. That way, you can get a good night's sleep, and realize what an idiot you were tonight in the morning." "You're the one who would need the good night's sleep." "And I wouldn't find that with you, would I?" "Well, a different variation of 'good'." Chesshika laughed, nodding. "You take far too much advantage of me." Velkan grinned. "But it's good advantage, no?"
They hadn't spent that night in the inn; they had gone to the manor, and to Velkan's room. It wasn't the first time, and it certainly wasn't the last. Velkan grew more mature with time, learning to control himself and do what was expected of him, and Chesshika grew more open and assertive. Age does funny things to you, and the young teen Chesshika had agreed to marry turned into a man, and a prince. She was there the day that she witnessed him turning into a man; she would never forget it as long as she lived.
Velkan sat at his father's desk in the tower room, ripping open letter after letter, skimming them with eyes that didn't quite hide his emotions yet. With each letter he dropped on the desk after reading it, his face grew more frantic. Reaching the last letter, he paused, almost fearful of opening it. After a minute, he finally did, slowly inserting his knife under the seal, and breaking it. He read this last one slowly, and by the end of it, he was shaking his head silently. The letter tumbled from his fingers, and he dropped his head into his hands, crumbling over the desk. Chesshika stood from the seat under the big bay windows, and walked over behind him, draping her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Yes?" she asked quietly. Velkan dropped a hand, and picked up the letter, handing it back to her. She read it silently.
Dear Lord Velkan, It seems as if your father, Boyar Valerious, has not reached us yet. His carriage never arrived, so we assumed he was not traveling to us after all. Please send him our regards, and tell him we hope to hear from him soon.
God be with you,
Father Radu,
Of Voronets Monastery
Moldavia, Translyvania.
Chesshika refolded the letter, replacing it on the desk. "Velkan..." she started, but he broke her off. "All of them, all the places I sent letters, asking if he had arrived, said he had never shown. He's dead, Chesshika, dead. He needed to go to the monastery the most; he said there might be clues how to defeat Dracula there. Now it looks as though I will be the one needing to travel. My father, King of the Gypsies, Boyar Boris Valerious, he's finally been killed. There's two of us left, Chesshika. Do you realize that? Two. I'm the last remaining son of the Valerious. Oh God, I never thought I would have to take over the title of boyar from my father until he was an old man." Velkan's shoulder's shook, and Chesshika turned him around gently, hugging him as he held in his tears. "Shhh...go ahead. It's just me. You can cry." Velkan shook his head fiercely, blinking rapidly. "No, I have to tell Anna, tell them...so much to do...I'm not ready." Chesshika shook her head. "Velkan, look at me. You are ready. You've been ready since the day he left. You knew that this might happen. Now you have to face it. Take a minute, tell your sister, then make the announcement to the town." She unfolded herself from his arms and stood up. "I'll be in our room." She turned around, but Velkan reached out and stopped her. "No. I need you there." He looked up to her face. "I can't do this alone, Chessh. God help me, I can't do this alone. Please." His eyes pleaded with hers, inner turmoil making him appear as fragile and scared as a young boy. She felt herself falling even more in love with him as he unknowingly bared his soul to her through his unguarded eyes, so full of emotions. "Of course I'll go with you." He stood on the side of the well, feet planted wide and stable, appearing as steady as an old pine in the forest, or a castle hewn out of the rocks. Inside, she knew he was trembling. Reaching behind himself, he stretched out a hand to her where she stood behind him. She took his hand and squeezed it, willing some of her strength to comfort him. He squeezed back, thanking her. "People of Vaseria, it is with great sorrow that I announce my father, King Boris Valerious, Boyar of Translyvania, has passed away. In his place...in his place, I take his crown, being his eldest born and only son..."
He had slipped into a life of duty easily. Only behind closed doors did his anger, frustrations and fears come out, late at night, when only Chesshika was there to witness them. 'He's only mortal...he's only twenty-one, for Christ's sake. He shouldn't have to be dealing with this; he shouldn't have to be ruling an entire country and people by himself...but he is. You can't bring the dead back to life, Chesshika, no matter how much you wish you could.' She repeated this to herself, night after night, as she watched him fall apart on the inside. He was fighting a centuries old war that it seemed impossible to win, and only his sister stood beside him for the rest of his family. Time was running out, and he knew it.
Chesshika woke with a start, bolting upright in bed. She caught her breath and held it, straining to hear what had waken her. Velkan sat up next to her, rubbing his eyes. "What is it, Chessh?" Almost like a thermometer for trouble, Chesshika had shown an almost uncanny aptitude for waking in the night right before disaster fell upon the household or town. Another yell caught her attention, and they both got up and walked over to the window. Standing side by side, they looked out over the seething mass of villagers bearing torches, pitchforks, clubs and machetes. "What in the name of God?" Velkan asked in disbelief. The gathered villagers looked up, and saw them standing. One pointed, and an uproar of yells thundered through the window. "There she is!" "Bring her out!" "Death to the vampire!" "She's naught but evilness and misfortune!" The crowd parted, and a stretcher was passed through the mob, bearing a dead body on it. It seemed to shimmer in the torchlight, and as it got closer, they could see what the body was smeared with. In the person's own blood, large letters read out: 'CHESSHIKA'. A shout went up from the crowd again, and Chesshika turned away from the scene, feeling sick. "I don't believe it..." Velkan said, stepping back from the window and walking over to a table, picking up his revolver and sticking it in the waistband of his pants. He strode from the room, shirtless and with no shoes. Chesshika walked after him, in her loose pants and old shirt that she slept in. From the armory, she could hear his voice drifting out. "How many times do I need to tell them? Why can't they just leave her alone? It's not like she can do anything about it..."
Chesshika followed him into the room, surprised to see Anna standing in there in her pajamas also. Velkan picked up a saber from a display, not bothering with a scabbard for it. Anna nodded in Chesshika's direction, and he looked up. "Chessh, stay here," Velkan said, heading toward the grand doors that led out to the front of the manor, and the villagers. He stopped when he saw her following him. "Chesshika! STAY HERE!" He used his boyar voice, a tone that commanded instant obedience, one thing he had never done to her before. She stopped, staring at her. He stared back, every inch of him screaming "obey me!" as never before.
"No."
"What did you say?"
"No. I said no. I'm coming too."
"They'll kill you. You go out there, and they'll kill you."
"Better to be dead then to be thought of as a guilty coward or monster," she shot back at him, eyes blazing.
"Tell you what, I'll extend your message to them. You stay here."
"No."
"Chesshika. This is no time to be stubborn. This is not a game. We have a very angry mob outside, and a dead person with your name written in their blood on their corpse. This is not something for you to be a part of."
"My name's all over the victim, and I have no part in this?!"
"CHESSHIKA! FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! YOU'RE STAYING INSIDE, WHERE YOU'LL BE SAFE, AND THAT'S THE END OF THIS!" Velkan yelled at her. He was scared, she knew it. She had never seen him afraid before, and it set her on edge.
"I'M BLOODY NOT!"
Velkan took a deep breath, and walked over to her, kneeling in front of her, taking her hands and resting his head on them. "Chesshika, that's the problem. You go out there, and you will be bloody. If they see you, I don't know if I could control them. Boyar or not, one of theirs is dead, and they're blaming you. I'm begging you, as your future husband and protector, stay inside." He stood back up again, drawing away. "And I'm telling you that as your boyar."
Chesshika felt sick to her stomach, and looked away. He was pulling his rank on her, and she knew he hated it as much as she did. "Go," she whispered, turning away and walking back to the door. She heard him sigh heavily behind her, and Anna let out a breath she was holding. She heard his footsteps, and the door opened, briefly letting in the noise of the crowd. The door shut, and Chesshika looked back. Anna had gone out, as well.
Anger flared in her, and she raced up the stairs to her and Velkan's room. She stood at the window, looking down on the scene as it unfolded below her, bathed in torchlight. Velkan paced on the top of the stairs in front of the doors, Anna standing silently behind him, arms crossed. "What have you to say to this?!" a man screamed at him. "We've tolerated her here too long, and now see what has happened!" The crowd erupted in shouts:
"She's not human!"
"With the vampires hunting her, do you expect them to stop?"
"Her name on him; how do you explain that?"
"We kept silent as long as we could, my lord, but this has gone to far. This mother's son is dead, and all the signs point to her!"
"That's insane! She was with me all this night!" Velkan roared out at the voice.
"She's bewitched you, lord! With her evil ways, she seduced you until you're blind to the horrors that she commits!"
"That's sheer shyte, and you know it!" It looked as if any moment, Velkan was ready to jump out at the speaker and strangle him.
A woman came forward, young and beautiful, her face halfway covered by a hood. "A deadly snake slithers in-between your bedcovers, lord. You court and sleep with evil's sister." Velkan stopped dead in his pacing. "What did you just say to me?"
Upstairs, Chesshika looked at the woman and shuddered. God, she felt...wrong. Suddenly, Chesshika jumped, her face draining of color. She reached out to the table near the bed, and grabbed her whip. She thrust the window open. "Velkan! No! It's-"Before she could say another word, Aleera dropped her hood and smiled viciously. "It's me, is what she means."
The villagers dropped back in fear, and Velkan brought up his saber. Anna dropped her hand to her side, and pulled out her own saber. "So nice to see you well and...healthy." Aleera purred at Velkan. "Has she been treating you well? It looks it. You positively glow with...satisfaction." He gritted his teeth. "Say another word, Aleera..."
"Say another word and what, you'll attack me? There's not enough fear in you, little boyar." Chesshika saw the vampiress's intent before she moved. Jumping from the window, she landed onto Aleera as the bride of Dracula changed form and took to the air as a bat-woman.
Aleera shrieked and dropped with the sudden weight as Chesshika clamped down on her back, effectively stopping her wings. They hit the ground, and rolled across the stairs in a hissing ball of skin, wings and teeth. Aleera kicked Chesshika off her, and jumped up into the air. Diving and grabbing her whip from where it lay, Chesshika cracked it, wrapping it around the bride's ankle, and yanked. Aleera dropped from the sky again, screaming.
Screams answered the vampiress's. From the top of the manor's roof, three shadows stepped forward. Verona and Marishka wailed in return, and the third figure dwarfed both other brides. Dracula stepped into the reflected torchlight and smiled. "A party? Without us? Oh, no." Turning into bat creatures, the three dropped from the roof.
Dracula was a man again the instant he hit the stairs. "I see you received my message," he said, walking toward Chesshika. She froze up, her whip dropping from unfeeling fingers. Aleera leaped up again, as a woman, and grabbed Chesshika from behind, holding her. "Welcome," Aleera hissed to Dracula. He ignored her, and stared down at the captive girl. "Ah, so we meet again. So nice."
Suddenly, a sword blade appeared through the front of Dracula's stomach. He whirled around, pulling it out. "Verona! Marishka! I thought I told you to take care of the boyar!" he yelled. But it wasn't Velkan's saber he held; it was Anna's. From over his shoulder, Chesshika could see Velkan held by the two other brides, who had his head bent back, licking his neck. Marishka's fangs sprouted, and Chesshika yelled.
Kicking Aleera in the stomach, the vampire let go of her. Using Dracula's turned back as a springboard, she leaped through the air, landing on the figures of Velkan and the vampires. Rolling on top of Marishka, she jammed her thumb into the vampiress's eye. "So nice of you to drop in...thought I would return the favor, "she grunted out as the bride screamed in pain. A gunshot cut the air, and Chesshika's head shot up. Velkan was emptying his revolver's bullets into Verona as she advanced. Dracula looked up from chasing Anna with her own saber, and growled. "Time to leave, lovelies. This party is a bust." They took to the air, the guts of wind from their wings knocking the gathered people over. Cackling, the brides shot off toward the mountains, and Dracula stayed for a minute. "I hope you enjoyed my present," he called to Chesshika. "There's some blood left in him, if you want it." Turning, he followed his brides. The air still buffeting around them, Velkan crawled over to Chesshika. "Are you hurt?" he gasped, struggling to make himself heard over the wind howling. "I'm fine," she replied. "A little worse for the wear, but fine. You?" "The same." They stood up, and surveyed the damage. The villagers had fled back to their houses, and pieces of stone from the roof and tree branches littered the ground. Torches abandoned on the ground burned faintly. Anna walked forward from behind a small tree, grabbing her saber off the ground where Dracula had dropped it. "You're bleeding," she commented, looking at Chesshika's face. Velkan touched her forehead, and took his fingers away. Across the tips, they were smeared with blood. "I'm not sure if that's mine," Chesshika said. "Let's go in and get cleaned up," Velkan suggested.
His gentle fingertips cleaned the cut with a rag and water. She winced as he drew the rag across it. "Sorry," he apologized. "It's deep." "Don't worry about it. How badly am I scratched up?"
He handed her a mirror. She looked into it and flinched. "You did go for quite a rough ride," he said. She nodded. Not only was she bleeding from her forehead, she had a scratch across her cheek, and scrapes across her left shoulder. "It'll heal," Velkan said, and Anna nodded from behind him, taking the mirror from Chesshika. "Hey," Velkan said, looking at Chesshika. "It's fine. You're going to be fine." Chesshika gave him a weak smile and touched his chin, where Velkan had his own cut. "I'll be fine too," he said, as her hands dropped down to touch the cuts across his chest. "At least they scared the villagers away." Chesshika laughed. "Yes, they were quite effective for that. Do you think we should strike up some sort of truce along those lines? They see a mob, they can come and attack the village?" Velkan laughed. "Not quite. Come on, let's go back to bed." Anna nodded. "Try to get some sleep." Velkan shot Chesshika a look, and she could almost hear his voice, kidding, 'Doesn't she know anything by now?' Chesshika put a finger to her lips behind Anna's back, and Velkan grinned. "Ah, yes. That's right. Protect the sister's virgin thoughts." Anna turned around. "What?" They laughed at her, and she shook her head. "You two can't be serious. Tonight? You're both cut to ribbons. Do you have any idea how much that would hurt?" They stopped laughing at Anna, and stared at her. "Ah, oops," she said sheepishly. Velkan shook his head. "I don't want to know."
Laughter and love in a time of fear and confusion were the two best things Chesshika could think of to heal wounds, both physical and emotional. She found both.
A fingertip ran over her eyelid, slowly waking her from her deep sleep of dreams of the past. "Velkan, just a little longer," she begged. "Just a few more minutes..." Definite female laughter, shrill and cruel, startled her into wakefulness. "What the hell?!" Aleera and Verona jumped back, startled. "Hello, pettling," Aleera purred, walking back to Chesshika's side where she lay on a bed. "Where AM I?" Chesshika asked, drowsy yet wary of the vamiresses. "You're in Dracula's temporary home, Castle Frankenstein," Verona supplied as she walked forward and sat on the bottom of the bed. "Did your heart really just stop beating?" Chesshika sat up. "For something that is supposed to be terrifying, you're not that frightening, you know that?" she asked the vampiress. Verona shrugged, and Aleera glared at her. "She's still young," she said disdainfully. Ignoring the other vampire, Chesshika turned to Verona. "Yes, it 'just stopped beating'. But it's started beating again..." she said hurriedly, raising a hand to her chest after she said it. Her face fell. "Well, maybe not yet." Aleera cackled. "No need to worry about it starting again. It won't, by the time he's through with you." "He who?" Chesshika asked, defensive. "Dracula, of course," Aleera said, staring at Chesshika as if she had asked her if she really drank blood. "Hmm...we'll see," Chesshika said, a hard look in her eyes. "Come," Verona said, taking Chesshika's hand. "Let's get you dressed!" She clapped her hands in excitement, like a small child, and Chesshika felt a certain kinship with the innocent vampire. Looking at her, she realized that Verona hadn't been much older then she was now when the girl had been changed. "Your clothes are so pretty!" Verona exclaimed as she dragged Chesshika across the room to a bureau. "Look," she said, holding up something in a sheer black. "Isn't it just gorgeous?" The clothes she was holding in front of Chesshika's face seemed to have been made out of black gossamer. Loose pants with hems that boasted black obsidian beads glittered in the light, and the short tops' sleeves were long and open. "It looks...it looks exactly like your clothes, though," Chesshika supplied. "Yes, but they're black." Verona sighed. "Master doesn't let us wear black," she said wistfully. "Don't be foolish," Aleera scorned. "With your dark hair and eyes, it would be an awful color on you. Of course you can't wear it. My lord wants us to look beautiful, not foolish. Now me..." Verona rolled her eyes at the other vampire. "If my hair's too dark, then yours isn't light enough. She's the only one who's fair enough to wear black here," she gestured to Chesshika. Aleera hissed at Verona in anger, and Verona hissed back. Chesshika felt like standing between two angry vampires was not a safe place to be.
Carl was astounded. Vaseria was being attacked by hordes of tiny vampires. And he had no idea how to kill them. No book had taught him how to deal with this. The barmaid next to him shuddered. "What are they?" she asked in loathing. "I actually think they are Dracula's offspring...little vampires," Carl answered. It had the opposite affect on the barmaid then what he had hoped. She panicked instead of calming down. To Carl, if something was written down in a book, you could deal with it. Ok, so vampires were written about. He knew how to deal with vampires. However, thousands of tiny ones weren't written about. Maybe the barmaid was on to something. He panicked too. He dragged the woman after him, out into the street and down it, trying to flee. She screamed, and he looked back. She was being dragged away by a tiny vampire. He grabbed her hand, and yanked her back down. The vampire let go, a look of confusion on its ugly face. Suddenly, it exploded.
Carl stared in shock at the rivers of messy green vampire bits on the ground in front of him. Looking up, he realized that all the vampires were doing the same thing. En masse, they exploded, a green rainstorm of slime.
Back at Castle Frankenstein, Van Helsing and Dracula circled each other. "Hello, Gabriel. It's nice to see you again." Dracula said pleasantly. Van Helsing took no notice. Instead, his gaze was on the wooden stake he had implanted in the vampire's chest. However, the vampire had not died. "Well, then," Dracula said, calmly ripping the stake out of his chest. Van Helsing watched as the hole closed quickly, repairing the wound, as though it had never happened. "So quickly you forget, Gabriel. I expected more, with all your training from Tibetan monks to mullahs from Istanbul, and you do that? You don't remember, do you?" Van Helsing backed around his adversary warily. "And what exactly should I be remembering?"
"You forgot who I am? Let me introduce myself, then. Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1432, murdered 1462." Suddenly, Dracula opened his mouth, fangs lengthening, jaw stretching out and down. Van Helsing stood firm, aware that he had no weapon that could kill Dracula. He waited.
Suddenly, piercing wails cut the air. They came from the direction of Vaseria, and both Van Helsing and Dracula turned toward them. With Dracula distracted, Van Helsing grabbed the dumbwaiter behind him, and cut the rope. As he moved up, he looked down, and saw Dracula watching him.
Anna was almost through cutting Velkan's restraints in the pod. He kept pushing her away, but she would be damned if she left him here to die. He gripped her face, and she looked down at his hand, watching it change, growing nails and hair. Looking up at her brother, she watched him change into a werewolf. She shot a look up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight, and a full moon reigned supreme. Anna backed away, and a clock started to chime. It was midnight. The curse would not be broken.
Suddenly, someone was behind her. She whirled around. It was Van Helsing. "Time to go. We've over-stayed our welcome." He held a pistol out, and pulled the trigger. A thin grappling hook shot out across the chasm, and into a tall pine in the forest across it. Van Helsing tied his end off, and Anna looked across at her brother, who infinitely stronger in werewolf form, was snapping off the remaining restraints quickly.
Van Helsing picked her up, and Velkan burst out of the pod. Suddenly, they were swinging across the chasm on the thin wire. Anna took one last look behind at the beast that used to be her brother, and saw him cut the wire.
They were falling. No, they were swinging. Across the chasm, and straight into the forest. They jumped to the ground, rolling on impact. "Are you hurt?" Van Helsing asked her. Anna shook her head. From the other side, she could see the shape of the werewolf climbing down the side of the castle wall. "Let's go," she said, already headed for Vaseria. "We need to get back to the village."
As they walked, something tickled at the back of her mind. Anna stopped short. "Chesshika! We left her behind!" Van Helsing looked over at her, and continued walking. "She'll be fine."
"She'll be fine, what do you mean, 'she'll be fine '?! In there, with him? With THEM?"
"She can take care of herself. She was fine when we came in, she'll be fine now. Where ever she is. Besides, she'll learn more about herself. You know, bonding of the oddities?"
Still doubtful, Anna walked on. Where ever she is...the last she had seen Chesshika she was on the roof, fighting the Dwergi with the bullwhip Anna had tossed her. After that...Anna couldn't remember. But that didn't make sense. Chesshika wouldn't leave Velkan. She would have been right beside Anna, freeing him. It didn't matter to her that Velkan was a werewolf, she had just wanted to save him. And if they had both been there, he would have been out before midnight's bell had chimed. It didn't make any sense. Anna shrugged. In all the confusion, the lightning so close by, the thunder shaking the castle, it was easy to be distracted.
Anna's jaw dropped suddenly. That one roll of thunder so close it had shook the entire castle, raising it up from its foundation to the roof...Chesshika had gone missing after that. If she had gone over the side...Anna shook her head. No, that couldn't have happened. Chesshika had probably fled the castle when she realized that they had all broken up. That was it. She'd find her way back to the Vaseria and the manor. Van Helsing was right, Chesshika could take care of herself.
Dracula looked out a tower window over the courtyard. He had failed again. It was the second time his children had been brought to life, only to die. Why was this happening? He angrily paced the floor. Aleera and Verona held back, sobbing together. Maybe he needed a new, stronger bride. Maybe he needed a new energy force, something made for the task. He gritted his teeth. He had had both. A year ago, he had had Frankenstein's monster. The perfect thing for the task. Specially made. But then everything went wrong. The same night it was brought to life, the villagers had attacked the castle. It had fled, taking Dr. Frankenstein's body with it, to the windmill. Where the villagers had burned it to the ground.
Dracula spun, slamming his fist into the stone wall. Both his brides jumped, and whimpered. He ignored them. Then there was the second loss. She had been here tonight. Chesshika, the young woman from the village, the special one. She had been here, had stood right in front of him, and had slipped through his grasp. 'It was just a matter of time,' he reasoned. 'Sooner or later, I'll find her. And when I do, I'll bring her back here. And she will finally be mine.'
He looked out the window again, lost in fantasy. Thoughts of the fall of the Valerious family, the destruction of Velkan, the murder of Anna, and the capture of the little pale angel floated through his mind.
A small movement down in the courtyard brought his attention back. A horse was standing at the edge of the courtyard, hidden in shadow. He recognized that horse. It was the one that the girl owned. She was here, somewhere. Quickly, he changed shape into his bat form, and flew rapidly up through the ceiling, leaving his brides to their startled exclamations. He had something more important to find.
Soaring above the treetops of the forest below, Dracula was acutely aware of everything beneath him. He searched for the tell-tale heartbeat of a large creature, and the faint outline of a girl.
He finally found her hanging on a tree branch, near the edge of the forest below the castle. She pulsed a red outline with her healthy blood moving inside her, and Dracula was instantly attracted to her. He landed gently on the branch beside her, prying her hands off the branch. In her deep sleep of exhaustion, she didn't wake. He carefully picked her up into his arms, and took off again, wings flapping powerfully. He was bringing her back to the castle. With luck, he had a new bride. He smiled. She would be delicious.
Chesshika could feel her powerful wings beating as they carried her high above the Carpathian Mountains. Air rushed past her, and arms held her fast. She turned to look behind her. It was her lord. Flexing her wings harder, she pulled in front of him. "Yes," he whispered. "Go, fly, little one! Feel the power of the gift I have given you!" Chesshika ran her tongue over her sharp fangs, even now on both sides of her mouth. With the change, she had grown into her own body. No longer a freak or abomination, she now ruled over the villagers who had once made her life miserable. No longer was she a scapegoat, she was now a force to be reckoned with. She was one of the nosferatu, one of the undead. She was a vampire, and a powerful one at that. The affections of the Count had many bonuses, on of them being this new body, made to fly. It was a pleasure to fly.
Chesshika smiled in her sleep. The feel of air on her skin made her rapture in her dream. She flexed her arms, stretching them out wide. No, her wings. No, they were her arms. She grew confused. 'What am I doing?' she thought.
Her eyes opened slowly. Yes, she was flying. She relaxed. Wait! She was WHATING? Chesshika looked down at the passing treetops below her, the castle rapidly coming into view in front of her. Then she looked in surprise at the giant bat-man carrying her. Dracula. "AHHHHHHH!"
Dracula reveled in her shock, looking down at the girl in his arms. "Up so soon?" he asked. "I thought you were going to sleep the entire way back. That would have been no fun." Chesshika reached out, swiping at his face. He dodged to avoid her hand, and was momentarily caught off-balance in the air. Chesshika slipped forward, almost falling out of his grasp. He righted himself at the last moment, catching her up again. "Don't do that," he hissed in anger. "I almost dropped you. And I'm not yet sure if you're worth the effort to catch once you fall."
Chesshika knew she had to play her last card. She glared, and did what she thought was her last chance. Reaching to her throat, she pulled down the neck of her black tunic, exposing the front of her neck, and the red mark that had caused her so much trouble throughout her life. She knew she was taking a risk, but it was soon apparent it was the right one. Dracula stared at her neck, transfixed. "Yes," he whispered silkily. "Yes, you would be worth it."
'But do I want to be worth it?' Chesshika thought, contemplating throwing herself out of this arms and going for a second fall. She thought of Velkan, not sure if he was alive, not sure if he had survived midnight and had taken the antidote. Not sure if he was human again. But she was sure of one thing. 'I need to find him. And he'll be at the castle, if he didn't escape the change. It would be worth the chance to find him again. And if not, well, will I really ever miss the village?'
Dracula landed back in the courtyard outside, turning back into a man before he was even on the ground. Chesshika gracefully hooked a leg around his elbow, popping it out of its joint, effectively forcing him to release her. "Oh, so sorry," she purred once on the ground on her own two feet, giving him an innocent look while he cursed. Taking only a second, he popped it back into place, and swatted at her. She danced nimbly out of the way, faster then his hand fell. "You," he stated, "Are going to be in dire need of some lessons in manners." Before she could jump out of the way again, he disappeared, reappearing behind her. He grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her to kneel. "What do you say?" he asked gently, reinforcing his anger with the pressure from his hand on her neck. Chesshika spat squarely in his eye. He viciously twisted her neck to the side, and she cried out. "You say..." he prompted again. "Yes...my...lo-" she gritted out from between her teeth. He started to release his grip, and she finished her sentence quickly. "...son of a bitch." He slammed a finger deep into her pressure point in retort, and knelt down behind her. "That was very nice," he whispered in her ear. "Try again." Another twist. A yelp came from her as he bent her head back. "Not yet," he whispered dangerously. She remained silent, teeth clenched tightly in defiance. He slammed his thumb deep into the side of her neck, and wrenched it to the side. Her eyes swam with tears and stars exploded in front of her eyes. "Yes, my lord!" she gasped out. Instantly, he took his hands off her, and she fell to the ground, gasping. "Better. You need more time, but better. You'll do. Now up. Get your horse into the stable, and yourself into the castle. And I swear on Lucifer's head, one move away, and I WILL kill you." Chesshika stumbled to her feet, swaying in pain. Dracula looked at her appraisingly. "Do you know, I've had grown soldiers begging for mercy long before you even started to whimper? Your pain tolerance is very high. Interesting. Very interesting, my dear." Chesshika straightened her back, and looked him square in the eye. Turning, she moved to her horse, and led him through the doors of the nearby stable. She disappeared for a second, then came back out, without the horse. "Ready?" Dracula asked civilly. Chesshika nodded curtly, and he swung an arm behind her back. "In that case, come this way." Dracula led her down an amazing twist of hallway mazes. She tried to keep track, but lost it after the first three turns left, hidden door, and random staircases. He stopped at the doorway of a large hall. It was obviously a grand reception hall long ago, but now it was covered from floor to ceiling with sacs that oozed mucus. He led her into the hall, and through it. He gestured at a nearby sac. "My un-living children," he said simply. Chesshika suddenly realized what he had been using all the machinery for, the lightning, Velkan. He was trying to bring the thousands of little vampires to life. The room spun, and she gasped. If that happened...she didn't want to think about what would happen. Dracula mistook her gasp of horror for a gasp of awe. "Yes, you too shall bear me many beautiful children, such as these." Chesshika couldn't help making a face as she inwardly gagged. Somehow, showing revulsion to a vampire didn't seem like such a good idea on as touchy a subject as offspring. Instead, she settled on a well thought comment: "Oh, disgusting." Dracula looked at her, furious. "You DARE insult my children?!" he roared, ferociously. While Chesshika watched, his fangs grew longer and more pointed, and his jaw dropped, making room to accommodate the new teeth length. Fully vamped out, he growled at her, stepping forward to her. For the first time in her life, something older then custom or teaching took control. Her eyes narrowed, forming slits and flashing in rage. Was he threatening her?! Her?! The canines on the left side of her mouth, always cumbersome in her mouth, seemed to be ready to burst out of the bottom of her lip. Opening her mouth, they pointed down dangerously, growing exactly as Dracula's had. However, it was only her left canines. She hissed at him, leaning forward as he advanced. Dracula stopped, and he and Chesshika eyed each other. Locked in a stalemate, Chesshika knew it was time to say something. "Well?" she spat at him. "You started it. Let's finish it."
Dracula held his ground. He suddenly smiled charmingly, and in an eye- blink was a (seemingly,) normal handsome man again. "Bravo," he said, bowing with flourish to Chesshika, who still stood on guard. "So you are a little different, aren't you?" Chesshika relaxed, her teeth shrinking back to normal. She realized she had done a semi- version of vamping out, and steadied herself. "Define 'normal'," she asked. "You are...a half-breed." "I don't know. That was the first time that has ever happened. You tell me. There aren't any mirrors in here, and on a hunch I'd say that even if there had been, I wouldn't have been able to see myself once I changed. Correct?" "Very much so. You are intelligent, that is obvious. You know much of our race." "Your race.' "My lovely darling, after that brilliant display, I think we can at least safely say that you are showing tendencies in that direction as well." "Against my will or better judgement." "Well, yes. But everyone must live with the parts of themselves they don't particularly like or want, no?" Chesshika took advantage of the Count's distraction, and dropped to the ground, rolling under the hanging sacs and across the floor. A safe distance away, she carefully rose into a crouch, waiting. "Aha. Are we playing cat-and-mouse now, Chesshika? Are you going to make me hunt you out and find you?" She remained silent, backing away quietly. Not knowing how large the room was, she dropped to the floor, laying flat on it, looking across the floor. It was a large room, definitely a good size to stay away from Dracula for at least a short period of time. She skimmed the ground for feet, and saw none. He must have taken to the air. An idea hit her. Scuttling under a hanging sac, Chesshika lay in wait. From any vantage point other then laying on the floor, as she had, he couldn't see her now. Hidden under the sac, she knew her outline and the essence of her blood wasn't able to be seen. She chuckled quietly to herself. Who was the clever one now? She could feel the building tension of Dracula's anger as he coolly and methodically searched for her in the big hall. From the ceiling to the spaces between the sacs, she heard and felt the air rushing from his wing- beats. Sooner or later, he was going to have to land, and search by foot. Then, it would be up to her to think up a new move. "I grow tired of this game, little one. Come out...or shall I find you?" He was purposely trying to make her answer him, wanted her to feel an emotion that he could hone in on, be it fear or anger. Chesshika breathed steadily, willing her heart to stay steady, and her feelings to remain neutral and calm. The sound of something landing on the stone floor snapped her to attention. She risked a quick peak out from under the sac. Dracula had landed a few yards away, in his human form. She watched as he stood still and silent for a few minutes. Slowly, his feet turned, and started for her direction. Chesshika shrunk back under the sac. "I can feel you, angel. You're somewhere close by...actually...you are...right..." "...Here." Dracula lifted the sac, and looked down, straight at gray stones. Confused, he stared at it for a second. She had been right there. He had heard her heartbeat. Where could she have gone? He hadn't heard the tell- tale thumps move. He stood absolutely silent for a minute, trying to get a bearing on her. Her heartbeat, her breathing, her emotions, it didn't matter. Hanging right above him, suspended in the air upside-down, her bullwhip's lash wrapped around an overhead sac, Chesshika smiled. She had him right where she wanted him. 'Since the hunter becomes the hunted...I should be moving now...stay right here...good boy.' Slowly, she uncurled her legs from around the whip, dropping them silently. She climbed up the lash, onto the sac. It shifted slightly, but that was the only sign. She unwrapped her whip from around it, and wrapped it around the next hanging sac higher up. Smiling grimly, Chesshika went about her slow progress upward. Dracula had never felt this strange feeling before. It wasn't anger, and it wasn't loss. It was akin to...fear, something he hadn't felt in over four centuries. Where could she have gone? She couldn't have just disappeared. She was here somewhere, watching him. The thought would have made his skin crawl if he still had feelings. He hadn't been in this juxtaposed hunting position in all the time he had been un-dead. Now was not a time he wanted to start. So if she wasn't down, wasn't up...look in-between. Dracula slowly made his way down the paths through the sacs, keeping his keen eyes trailed at the mid-way point between the ceiling and floor. A slight movement caught his eye. The space in-between the sacs wasn't enough to accommodate wings, so he disappeared. Re-appearing on the swinging sac, he looked straight at Chesshika's booted foot that was slowly rising up, following her body as she climbed. He grabbed her leg, and yanked down on it, hard. Chesshika screamed, loosing her hold on her bullwhip, and falling back down onto the sac below, directly across from a grinning Dracula. "Surprise." Chesshika shouted, and lunged up, wrapping her hands around her whip, and yanking her body up fast, out of Dracula's grip. She wiggled up it, to the next sac. Reaching a hand up, someone pulled her up onto the sac. Gasping for breath, she looked up at Dracula again. Grimly, she yanked back on the whip, and it unraveled from around the sac, pulling off. Still holding onto the whip, she fell. As she fell, she cracked out with the whip, catching a sac. Abruptly, she was pulled out of her fall, swinging around the sac. Looking down, she saw the ground twelve feet below her. Gathering her whip back up, she tucked it loosely in her belt, and jumped. She hit the ground hard, rolling forward. Coming out of a roll, she un- tucked and sprang up, already running. At the end of the hall, she saw a door. Was she faster then Dracula? She increased her speed, sprinting to the end of the hall. She blinked, and crashed into something. The power of her hit sent her tumbling backwards, and she flipped over. Hitting the ground, she knocked her breath out of her lungs. Her breath re-entered her lungs in short rasps that split her sides like a knife blade. The vampire looked down at her, radiating rage and...disbelief? "Do you know," he drawled slowly in his heavy Romanian accent of royalty, "That you just did something very interesting?" "Wha...at?" A short intake of air, and a wheeze exited Chesshika's mouth along with the words. "You don't realize that during our little...escapade, your heart stopped beating, do you?" "What?!" Her hand flew up to her chest, searching for movement underneath her skin. No heartbeat. Both Chesshika and Dracula stared at her chest for a moment. "Do you know what you are?" "Uhhhh..." Chesshika's eyes fluttered, and the world sunk into a blackness. Dracula managed to disappear and reappear behind her, catching her just before she hit the ground. "Times like this is when that ability makes everything worth it," he said to her unconscious figure. He picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder. "Too light. Haven't been eating much, have you? We can change that..." Dracula chuckled quietly, carrying her out of the hall.
She knew it was dangerous going outside that late at night, but it was Velkan's idea. It was almost always his idea to sneak away, to be alone together. He had always been like that. His daring was infectious that night as he took her hand and dragged her after him through the village, ignoring the looks from the villagers as they passed, his arm around her waist, leaning in toward her, kissing her without a care in the world. It was the attitude of a man who knew he was going to be a boyar, the attitude of someone who knew that his people could say nothing about it to him. He had suggested the cemetery on a whim. She had been hesitant, knowing that with Dracula after her, it wasn't the wisest choice. But Velkan had begged her, and she never could refuse him. Her heart was light that night, with the feeling of love for him, and the promise of mischief that night. They danced through the town's square together, waltzing, as Velkan hummed a tune regularly broken by laughter from both of them. They stopped by a bar for a quick drink, joining in with the rowdy songs of the drunkards. She loved to watch him move about the people, changing faces and attitudes with every individual. He was going to be a fantastic lord, she could tell already. As soon as people shied away from her, he brought them back, bringing her closer to him at the same time, making them feel the ease with her that he did. The elders in the corners shot them looks and whispered amongst themselves. Velkan noticed, his eyebrows furrowing. "Anya, Flourescue, what is so intriguing? Share it with the rest of us." The undertaker and village gossip gave each other a look that read of apprehension. The oily undertaker slid forward, taking off his old and battered top hat in respect of his young lord. "Well, you see, my lord...we were wondering at your, ah, choice in companions." Flourescue gave Chesshika a side-ways look out the corner of his eye, and she shuddered. She had gotten used to the looks and ritual crossing of chests when she passed, but the undertaker still gave her goosebumps with his. Velkan's eyes flashed with anger. "That is for me to decide, undertaker. As for my choice, why should such charming a girl be such an odd choice?" The undertaker looked down, realizing he had hit a nerve. "I'm sorry, my lord. We just wish you would consider your...judgements more deeply." Velkan clenched his teeth, and stormed out of the bar, bringing her with him. He swore for the next few hundred feet, gesturing to the air in front of him. Chesshika trotted to his side, and laid a small hand on his arm. He turned, and hugged her to his side. "Sorry, darling. That must be harder for you then it is for me." Chesshika shrugged. "I've grown used to it." They continued to the cemetery in silence, a moody yet calming one. Once alone, and out of the common street and bustle in the graveyard, Velkan came alive again with his usual spark. Seated on a long stone casket beside her, his eyes danced with mischief and happiness, and he reached out and pulled her down on his lap. She laughed, tipping her head back, hair falling free. Velkan watched her with a quiet look in his eyes, and she stopped laughing. "Hmmm?" she asked him, and he smiled slowly. "I love your laugh." He leaned forward, pressing his lips to the small red mark on her throat that gained her so much despise. She relaxed, then a voice drifting through a window nearby caught her attention, and she drew back. "Velkan, be careful. What would they think if they saw us together?" "I don't care! They can think whatever they want!" "Velkan! Think of your family! You can't just be around someone like me...especially not me. They hate me. If they knew...you would be in trouble because of me. You saw what they thought of me tonight!" "I don't care, Chesshika! I love you. Chessh, do you think I give a damn what they think of us? I love you, and you love me, and that's all that matters." "Velkan, stop being such an idiot! Look around you!" "I am looking around me Chessh, and all I see is you. Everywhere I go, I see you, think of you, taste you, breathe you." Velkan knelt before her. "Oh God, Velkan, no," Chesshika pleaded with him. "Yes, Chesshika, yes. It's the right thing. It's the only thing. Chessh, will you marry me?" "Velkan..." "Will you, Chessh?" "Yes, yes, I'll marry you, of course. " Velkan picked her up and swung her around, laughing. A few nearby villagers looked up at them. "I'm marrying her!" Velkan shouted happily. "Velkan, shhh!" Chesshika pressed a finger to his lips. "Not yet." "But I want to tell everyone!" "Later, in another place. It's not safe now." Velkan nodded, serious. "Good," Chessh nodded, and Velkan sat her back down, standing in front of her as she stared into space. Nimble fingers at her shirt laces caught her attention. She slapped his hand away. "Not here, Velkan. What if someone saw us?" "I don't care." "You may not, I do!"
Velkan gave her a look, and Chesshika returned it. "You aren't very romantic. I just proposed to you," he pouted. She laughed. "Later." "Promise?" "Of course." "Mmmmm..." he rumbled, burying his face in her hair and breathing in. She picked his face up in both hands, and kissed him gently on the nose. He made a face, and tilted his head up, bringing his mouth to hers. They kissed, and he ran his tongue over her large canines. "Careful," she whispered in warning. "They're sharp." "I know." "Then be careful." "There's too little time to be careful, Chessh." "And you're in far too much of a hurry." "Guilty," he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "You're up to something." "As always." "Tell me." "Maybe, we won't go back to the manor tonight." "Oh?" "Yes." "And where exactly would we go instead?" "We could stay at the inn." "That would raise some eyebrows." "And it would settle mine." "You always have 'raised eyebrows'." "Well...you're always with me." "Maybe, then, you should go back to the manor tonight, I should go to my...house, and to our separate rooms. That way, you can get a good night's sleep, and realize what an idiot you were tonight in the morning." "You're the one who would need the good night's sleep." "And I wouldn't find that with you, would I?" "Well, a different variation of 'good'." Chesshika laughed, nodding. "You take far too much advantage of me." Velkan grinned. "But it's good advantage, no?"
They hadn't spent that night in the inn; they had gone to the manor, and to Velkan's room. It wasn't the first time, and it certainly wasn't the last. Velkan grew more mature with time, learning to control himself and do what was expected of him, and Chesshika grew more open and assertive. Age does funny things to you, and the young teen Chesshika had agreed to marry turned into a man, and a prince. She was there the day that she witnessed him turning into a man; she would never forget it as long as she lived.
Velkan sat at his father's desk in the tower room, ripping open letter after letter, skimming them with eyes that didn't quite hide his emotions yet. With each letter he dropped on the desk after reading it, his face grew more frantic. Reaching the last letter, he paused, almost fearful of opening it. After a minute, he finally did, slowly inserting his knife under the seal, and breaking it. He read this last one slowly, and by the end of it, he was shaking his head silently. The letter tumbled from his fingers, and he dropped his head into his hands, crumbling over the desk. Chesshika stood from the seat under the big bay windows, and walked over behind him, draping her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Yes?" she asked quietly. Velkan dropped a hand, and picked up the letter, handing it back to her. She read it silently.
Dear Lord Velkan, It seems as if your father, Boyar Valerious, has not reached us yet. His carriage never arrived, so we assumed he was not traveling to us after all. Please send him our regards, and tell him we hope to hear from him soon.
God be with you,
Father Radu,
Of Voronets Monastery
Moldavia, Translyvania.
Chesshika refolded the letter, replacing it on the desk. "Velkan..." she started, but he broke her off. "All of them, all the places I sent letters, asking if he had arrived, said he had never shown. He's dead, Chesshika, dead. He needed to go to the monastery the most; he said there might be clues how to defeat Dracula there. Now it looks as though I will be the one needing to travel. My father, King of the Gypsies, Boyar Boris Valerious, he's finally been killed. There's two of us left, Chesshika. Do you realize that? Two. I'm the last remaining son of the Valerious. Oh God, I never thought I would have to take over the title of boyar from my father until he was an old man." Velkan's shoulder's shook, and Chesshika turned him around gently, hugging him as he held in his tears. "Shhh...go ahead. It's just me. You can cry." Velkan shook his head fiercely, blinking rapidly. "No, I have to tell Anna, tell them...so much to do...I'm not ready." Chesshika shook her head. "Velkan, look at me. You are ready. You've been ready since the day he left. You knew that this might happen. Now you have to face it. Take a minute, tell your sister, then make the announcement to the town." She unfolded herself from his arms and stood up. "I'll be in our room." She turned around, but Velkan reached out and stopped her. "No. I need you there." He looked up to her face. "I can't do this alone, Chessh. God help me, I can't do this alone. Please." His eyes pleaded with hers, inner turmoil making him appear as fragile and scared as a young boy. She felt herself falling even more in love with him as he unknowingly bared his soul to her through his unguarded eyes, so full of emotions. "Of course I'll go with you." He stood on the side of the well, feet planted wide and stable, appearing as steady as an old pine in the forest, or a castle hewn out of the rocks. Inside, she knew he was trembling. Reaching behind himself, he stretched out a hand to her where she stood behind him. She took his hand and squeezed it, willing some of her strength to comfort him. He squeezed back, thanking her. "People of Vaseria, it is with great sorrow that I announce my father, King Boris Valerious, Boyar of Translyvania, has passed away. In his place...in his place, I take his crown, being his eldest born and only son..."
He had slipped into a life of duty easily. Only behind closed doors did his anger, frustrations and fears come out, late at night, when only Chesshika was there to witness them. 'He's only mortal...he's only twenty-one, for Christ's sake. He shouldn't have to be dealing with this; he shouldn't have to be ruling an entire country and people by himself...but he is. You can't bring the dead back to life, Chesshika, no matter how much you wish you could.' She repeated this to herself, night after night, as she watched him fall apart on the inside. He was fighting a centuries old war that it seemed impossible to win, and only his sister stood beside him for the rest of his family. Time was running out, and he knew it.
Chesshika woke with a start, bolting upright in bed. She caught her breath and held it, straining to hear what had waken her. Velkan sat up next to her, rubbing his eyes. "What is it, Chessh?" Almost like a thermometer for trouble, Chesshika had shown an almost uncanny aptitude for waking in the night right before disaster fell upon the household or town. Another yell caught her attention, and they both got up and walked over to the window. Standing side by side, they looked out over the seething mass of villagers bearing torches, pitchforks, clubs and machetes. "What in the name of God?" Velkan asked in disbelief. The gathered villagers looked up, and saw them standing. One pointed, and an uproar of yells thundered through the window. "There she is!" "Bring her out!" "Death to the vampire!" "She's naught but evilness and misfortune!" The crowd parted, and a stretcher was passed through the mob, bearing a dead body on it. It seemed to shimmer in the torchlight, and as it got closer, they could see what the body was smeared with. In the person's own blood, large letters read out: 'CHESSHIKA'. A shout went up from the crowd again, and Chesshika turned away from the scene, feeling sick. "I don't believe it..." Velkan said, stepping back from the window and walking over to a table, picking up his revolver and sticking it in the waistband of his pants. He strode from the room, shirtless and with no shoes. Chesshika walked after him, in her loose pants and old shirt that she slept in. From the armory, she could hear his voice drifting out. "How many times do I need to tell them? Why can't they just leave her alone? It's not like she can do anything about it..."
Chesshika followed him into the room, surprised to see Anna standing in there in her pajamas also. Velkan picked up a saber from a display, not bothering with a scabbard for it. Anna nodded in Chesshika's direction, and he looked up. "Chessh, stay here," Velkan said, heading toward the grand doors that led out to the front of the manor, and the villagers. He stopped when he saw her following him. "Chesshika! STAY HERE!" He used his boyar voice, a tone that commanded instant obedience, one thing he had never done to her before. She stopped, staring at her. He stared back, every inch of him screaming "obey me!" as never before.
"No."
"What did you say?"
"No. I said no. I'm coming too."
"They'll kill you. You go out there, and they'll kill you."
"Better to be dead then to be thought of as a guilty coward or monster," she shot back at him, eyes blazing.
"Tell you what, I'll extend your message to them. You stay here."
"No."
"Chesshika. This is no time to be stubborn. This is not a game. We have a very angry mob outside, and a dead person with your name written in their blood on their corpse. This is not something for you to be a part of."
"My name's all over the victim, and I have no part in this?!"
"CHESSHIKA! FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! YOU'RE STAYING INSIDE, WHERE YOU'LL BE SAFE, AND THAT'S THE END OF THIS!" Velkan yelled at her. He was scared, she knew it. She had never seen him afraid before, and it set her on edge.
"I'M BLOODY NOT!"
Velkan took a deep breath, and walked over to her, kneeling in front of her, taking her hands and resting his head on them. "Chesshika, that's the problem. You go out there, and you will be bloody. If they see you, I don't know if I could control them. Boyar or not, one of theirs is dead, and they're blaming you. I'm begging you, as your future husband and protector, stay inside." He stood back up again, drawing away. "And I'm telling you that as your boyar."
Chesshika felt sick to her stomach, and looked away. He was pulling his rank on her, and she knew he hated it as much as she did. "Go," she whispered, turning away and walking back to the door. She heard him sigh heavily behind her, and Anna let out a breath she was holding. She heard his footsteps, and the door opened, briefly letting in the noise of the crowd. The door shut, and Chesshika looked back. Anna had gone out, as well.
Anger flared in her, and she raced up the stairs to her and Velkan's room. She stood at the window, looking down on the scene as it unfolded below her, bathed in torchlight. Velkan paced on the top of the stairs in front of the doors, Anna standing silently behind him, arms crossed. "What have you to say to this?!" a man screamed at him. "We've tolerated her here too long, and now see what has happened!" The crowd erupted in shouts:
"She's not human!"
"With the vampires hunting her, do you expect them to stop?"
"Her name on him; how do you explain that?"
"We kept silent as long as we could, my lord, but this has gone to far. This mother's son is dead, and all the signs point to her!"
"That's insane! She was with me all this night!" Velkan roared out at the voice.
"She's bewitched you, lord! With her evil ways, she seduced you until you're blind to the horrors that she commits!"
"That's sheer shyte, and you know it!" It looked as if any moment, Velkan was ready to jump out at the speaker and strangle him.
A woman came forward, young and beautiful, her face halfway covered by a hood. "A deadly snake slithers in-between your bedcovers, lord. You court and sleep with evil's sister." Velkan stopped dead in his pacing. "What did you just say to me?"
Upstairs, Chesshika looked at the woman and shuddered. God, she felt...wrong. Suddenly, Chesshika jumped, her face draining of color. She reached out to the table near the bed, and grabbed her whip. She thrust the window open. "Velkan! No! It's-"Before she could say another word, Aleera dropped her hood and smiled viciously. "It's me, is what she means."
The villagers dropped back in fear, and Velkan brought up his saber. Anna dropped her hand to her side, and pulled out her own saber. "So nice to see you well and...healthy." Aleera purred at Velkan. "Has she been treating you well? It looks it. You positively glow with...satisfaction." He gritted his teeth. "Say another word, Aleera..."
"Say another word and what, you'll attack me? There's not enough fear in you, little boyar." Chesshika saw the vampiress's intent before she moved. Jumping from the window, she landed onto Aleera as the bride of Dracula changed form and took to the air as a bat-woman.
Aleera shrieked and dropped with the sudden weight as Chesshika clamped down on her back, effectively stopping her wings. They hit the ground, and rolled across the stairs in a hissing ball of skin, wings and teeth. Aleera kicked Chesshika off her, and jumped up into the air. Diving and grabbing her whip from where it lay, Chesshika cracked it, wrapping it around the bride's ankle, and yanked. Aleera dropped from the sky again, screaming.
Screams answered the vampiress's. From the top of the manor's roof, three shadows stepped forward. Verona and Marishka wailed in return, and the third figure dwarfed both other brides. Dracula stepped into the reflected torchlight and smiled. "A party? Without us? Oh, no." Turning into bat creatures, the three dropped from the roof.
Dracula was a man again the instant he hit the stairs. "I see you received my message," he said, walking toward Chesshika. She froze up, her whip dropping from unfeeling fingers. Aleera leaped up again, as a woman, and grabbed Chesshika from behind, holding her. "Welcome," Aleera hissed to Dracula. He ignored her, and stared down at the captive girl. "Ah, so we meet again. So nice."
Suddenly, a sword blade appeared through the front of Dracula's stomach. He whirled around, pulling it out. "Verona! Marishka! I thought I told you to take care of the boyar!" he yelled. But it wasn't Velkan's saber he held; it was Anna's. From over his shoulder, Chesshika could see Velkan held by the two other brides, who had his head bent back, licking his neck. Marishka's fangs sprouted, and Chesshika yelled.
Kicking Aleera in the stomach, the vampire let go of her. Using Dracula's turned back as a springboard, she leaped through the air, landing on the figures of Velkan and the vampires. Rolling on top of Marishka, she jammed her thumb into the vampiress's eye. "So nice of you to drop in...thought I would return the favor, "she grunted out as the bride screamed in pain. A gunshot cut the air, and Chesshika's head shot up. Velkan was emptying his revolver's bullets into Verona as she advanced. Dracula looked up from chasing Anna with her own saber, and growled. "Time to leave, lovelies. This party is a bust." They took to the air, the guts of wind from their wings knocking the gathered people over. Cackling, the brides shot off toward the mountains, and Dracula stayed for a minute. "I hope you enjoyed my present," he called to Chesshika. "There's some blood left in him, if you want it." Turning, he followed his brides. The air still buffeting around them, Velkan crawled over to Chesshika. "Are you hurt?" he gasped, struggling to make himself heard over the wind howling. "I'm fine," she replied. "A little worse for the wear, but fine. You?" "The same." They stood up, and surveyed the damage. The villagers had fled back to their houses, and pieces of stone from the roof and tree branches littered the ground. Torches abandoned on the ground burned faintly. Anna walked forward from behind a small tree, grabbing her saber off the ground where Dracula had dropped it. "You're bleeding," she commented, looking at Chesshika's face. Velkan touched her forehead, and took his fingers away. Across the tips, they were smeared with blood. "I'm not sure if that's mine," Chesshika said. "Let's go in and get cleaned up," Velkan suggested.
His gentle fingertips cleaned the cut with a rag and water. She winced as he drew the rag across it. "Sorry," he apologized. "It's deep." "Don't worry about it. How badly am I scratched up?"
He handed her a mirror. She looked into it and flinched. "You did go for quite a rough ride," he said. She nodded. Not only was she bleeding from her forehead, she had a scratch across her cheek, and scrapes across her left shoulder. "It'll heal," Velkan said, and Anna nodded from behind him, taking the mirror from Chesshika. "Hey," Velkan said, looking at Chesshika. "It's fine. You're going to be fine." Chesshika gave him a weak smile and touched his chin, where Velkan had his own cut. "I'll be fine too," he said, as her hands dropped down to touch the cuts across his chest. "At least they scared the villagers away." Chesshika laughed. "Yes, they were quite effective for that. Do you think we should strike up some sort of truce along those lines? They see a mob, they can come and attack the village?" Velkan laughed. "Not quite. Come on, let's go back to bed." Anna nodded. "Try to get some sleep." Velkan shot Chesshika a look, and she could almost hear his voice, kidding, 'Doesn't she know anything by now?' Chesshika put a finger to her lips behind Anna's back, and Velkan grinned. "Ah, yes. That's right. Protect the sister's virgin thoughts." Anna turned around. "What?" They laughed at her, and she shook her head. "You two can't be serious. Tonight? You're both cut to ribbons. Do you have any idea how much that would hurt?" They stopped laughing at Anna, and stared at her. "Ah, oops," she said sheepishly. Velkan shook his head. "I don't want to know."
Laughter and love in a time of fear and confusion were the two best things Chesshika could think of to heal wounds, both physical and emotional. She found both.
A fingertip ran over her eyelid, slowly waking her from her deep sleep of dreams of the past. "Velkan, just a little longer," she begged. "Just a few more minutes..." Definite female laughter, shrill and cruel, startled her into wakefulness. "What the hell?!" Aleera and Verona jumped back, startled. "Hello, pettling," Aleera purred, walking back to Chesshika's side where she lay on a bed. "Where AM I?" Chesshika asked, drowsy yet wary of the vamiresses. "You're in Dracula's temporary home, Castle Frankenstein," Verona supplied as she walked forward and sat on the bottom of the bed. "Did your heart really just stop beating?" Chesshika sat up. "For something that is supposed to be terrifying, you're not that frightening, you know that?" she asked the vampiress. Verona shrugged, and Aleera glared at her. "She's still young," she said disdainfully. Ignoring the other vampire, Chesshika turned to Verona. "Yes, it 'just stopped beating'. But it's started beating again..." she said hurriedly, raising a hand to her chest after she said it. Her face fell. "Well, maybe not yet." Aleera cackled. "No need to worry about it starting again. It won't, by the time he's through with you." "He who?" Chesshika asked, defensive. "Dracula, of course," Aleera said, staring at Chesshika as if she had asked her if she really drank blood. "Hmm...we'll see," Chesshika said, a hard look in her eyes. "Come," Verona said, taking Chesshika's hand. "Let's get you dressed!" She clapped her hands in excitement, like a small child, and Chesshika felt a certain kinship with the innocent vampire. Looking at her, she realized that Verona hadn't been much older then she was now when the girl had been changed. "Your clothes are so pretty!" Verona exclaimed as she dragged Chesshika across the room to a bureau. "Look," she said, holding up something in a sheer black. "Isn't it just gorgeous?" The clothes she was holding in front of Chesshika's face seemed to have been made out of black gossamer. Loose pants with hems that boasted black obsidian beads glittered in the light, and the short tops' sleeves were long and open. "It looks...it looks exactly like your clothes, though," Chesshika supplied. "Yes, but they're black." Verona sighed. "Master doesn't let us wear black," she said wistfully. "Don't be foolish," Aleera scorned. "With your dark hair and eyes, it would be an awful color on you. Of course you can't wear it. My lord wants us to look beautiful, not foolish. Now me..." Verona rolled her eyes at the other vampire. "If my hair's too dark, then yours isn't light enough. She's the only one who's fair enough to wear black here," she gestured to Chesshika. Aleera hissed at Verona in anger, and Verona hissed back. Chesshika felt like standing between two angry vampires was not a safe place to be.