Yay! Here I am again, taking some time to think about some good things that could happen, I realize it's taken me quite a while to update every chapter so I apologize for the kind of, here I am- then disappear for a while updating. But thanks to everyone commenting, I'm glad some like Aleera so much! So here we go, once again: I don't own the characters, just the plot.
Dracula's Brides
Chapter 10: Reluctance
Aleera had just fallen asleep, the sun had fallen completely and now the village was blanketed with darkness. Once in a while a boy from the group would come to check on her, to make sure she was fulfilling her dare, but if she asked for food or water they would disappear behind a house. She had noted that there was a barn across the road and considered moving inside because of the cold winds hitting her pale skinned face. Eventually though, her anger towards the dare had worn thin and she succumbed to her sleepiness.
Marishka woke as soon as the sun was completely gone; she then started to venture outside the barn. Aleera was the first sight she saw, a young girl with blazing red hair- even in the dark- lying helplessly asleep by a tree across the road. Though she had just satisfied her hunger the night before, she raced to the other side to inspect the girl.
Aleera had only closed her eyes before she felt someone touching her face. It was gentle, much like her father's when waking her in the morning, and at once thought she was at home in her bed. Soon though, the hand began to pull her up and throw her into what seemed like sharp tree limbs. As soon as she opened her eyes she realized that there was no ground beneath her, and that instead of tree limbs, it was a pair of claws gripping her waist. A silent yell broke from her throat, but they were already too far away from the village to beckon for safety now. Looking up into the eyes of her captor, Aleera felt her heart sink: a vampire had taken her and there was no hope for survival.
Verona woke earlier than planned, and settled that she would rise before Vladislaus woke. Though he had been kind to her that night, she still dwelt on the thought of him threatening her only daughter. Though he gave her a great gift of new life and a daughter, she still heard Marishka's voice inside her head telling her there was no more hope. She was at a great loss of words when she felt an arm slide around her waist.
"Verona," Vladislaus yawned, "why do you wake so early in the night?"
"A dream, Vladislaus, nothing more, but while you are here can we not discuss Marishka's fate once more?" She pleaded with her eyes as she stared into his.
"Marishka is a great part of my life, as are you. I cannot kill a part of me because then I lose part of my power." He was quite frustrated as he told her this, "I had not thought of it before in my anger with her, but last morning I thought about it thoroughly. If I were to lose either of you, my life would diminish making me weaker. That cannot happen if I am to complete my plan."
"Can you not then give her what she seeks?"
"It is simply out of the question, my love, why would I make my power more vulnerable to living beasts, by making another bride? You two are already head-strong enough to put up a fight against many villages at a time, but one slip-up and you die. While you share my power neither of you are as invincible as I am."
"Then we shall never live in peace, Vladislaus, and you know it well. I am not afraid of you at this time, let me speak my mind." Verona pulled herself to her complete height and stared at him straight on, "while you speak of giving our children life, I have seen nothing in progression to it. I fear for my children that I give birth to freely for you. I give myself pain that you can never feel, and I do it for your word alone. I am very close to becoming like Marishka and joining her in rebellion. You must not say things to me and deceive me. If I am to be your queen, you must let me rule some part of your decisions."
"That," he spat, "can never be. While this is true, you are my queen, I cannot let you tell me what to do. This is my castle darling. Not yours, you did not live here for centuries secluded in the darkness. Do not tell me of pains, for I can make you full of sorrow instantly."
"But you cannot kill me, and that will do," Verona shuffled off hotly. "Do not come to me for help with Marishka. You must do it yourself and gain her trust back."
In the cellar of the castle Marishka flew inside through the open window she last left from the other night. As she landed she dropped Aleera and let her roll across the floor. She soon transformed back into her human form and came to her side.
"What is your name girl?"
"That you shall never know, why should I tell a murderer whom it is they murder?" Though she said this with courage, her heart sank as she looked around and saw no possible escape.
"I haven't brought you here to be murdered... exactly... more like being reborn."
"I'd rather die once with pride than become one with a beast like you." Her voice faltered as she ended her sentence, if there was no escape, she would give her hell before she died.
"So you know more about us than most of the villagers down there. Very good little girl, tell me now, what is your name?"
"I have told you that before, I will not answer it again. And I know about you because of a relative of mine being taken away from us, long ago before either my father or I were born." Even now she recalled how close her fate would be with that of Marishka, though she would never know that the one she thought about day and night was the one who caused her demise.
"Now here's something strange, a girl won't tell me her name but she wants to tell me about her past- extraordinary, but unwanted." As this comment was made, Verona came down the stairs.
"Marishka! I thought I heard you talking down here but to whom?" her eyes searched the area and she finally fell upon Aleera. "Who is this? We have just feasted last night is something wrong?" She ran down the final stairs and came to Marishka.
"I have a plan mother." Marishka's eyes burned with delight as she and Verona looked toward Aleera and smiled.
Vladislaus was in the library when both Marishka and Verona came to him. Surprised by the visit of both brides he closed the book that he was engaged in at the moment and turned his attention to them.
"Master, mother told me of what I have done to you. She told me of the reasons for not wanting another bride, but listen to me." She stopped as he slammed his book down in anger, "listen to me."
"I have told you time and time again-" he slammed his fists down, "no means no!" he then shouted, some old books fell out of place from the rows lining the walls, but both brides stood firm in their places.
"Look at this girl," Marishka pulled out Aleera from behind Verona and instantly Vladislaus eyes gleamed with desire. "I found her across my hiding place this night, alone."
"Vladislaus," Verona picked up, "if you take this girl to be your last bride, our pact will be complete, we will have each other, I will have two daughters, and Marishka will take full responsibility for her like a second mother."
"She will want a child as well," Vladislaus shot back, "I see her beauty as well as you do, but I cannot let myself be tempted to such waste in my power. She will fail me."
"I don't want to serve you," Aleera yelled. She was furious these creatures were speaking about her like a bartering chip. "I do not want to be here, my father down in the village needs me, I have a life, a purpose down there. Let me be!" She went to Vladislaus and pleaded to him, "let me go home, please." He reached down to her face and rubbed her cheek and caught some of her red hair in his hands. Thinking about his possibilities he looked at Marishka. "And if I do this, what shall you do for me?" He heard Aleera whimper at this question, and looked down at her, "quiet child" he whispered softly, "soon enough you shall be free."
"If you do this, I shall be yours forever. My children will be born along with Verona's and her's."
"I don't want children with a thing like you!" Aleera pulled away from him but he grabbed her tightly to him,
"Leave us then Marishka, and you shall have her tomorrow night." Quickly Marishka and Verona fled the library and left him alone with Aleera happily. "Now tell me child, why do you fear me?"
"You're a cold monster that kills people of the village, I do not fear, but rather hate you."
"I am not as bad as that am I to the people of the village?"
"You are worse to others, though they will not admit it in your presence."
"Then let us try something new, look into my eyes and see if I am as bad as that." He held her gaze for a long time. Aleera soon felt herself wanting to be held by him, wanting him to hold her; everything that she had never wanted in her life from a creature like him. She felt the need to be with him more than anything in the world.
"You will have two mothers, and with them I share my bed. You too can be added to this list." Caught in his own gaze he forgot about his power being diminished by taking another, and even his promise to himself never to take another bride.
"I cannot share with them," Aleera clung to him tightly, "why can we not be together alone?"
"I have duties to hold," laughed Vladislaus surprised to see that he had made her extremely passionate about him, "perhaps one day only you and I shall be left alone in this world. In the meantime you must expect that I will take Verona or Marishka once in a while. I must make them happy as well."
"Very well, if you insist upon the matter master," she whispered in his ear.
"I do insist my child, now what am I to call such a beautiful girl?"
"Aleera, master," she stated bluntly, "only Aleera,"
"Well Aleera, my child, are you willing now to be my last and final bride?"
"I am, but promise me something,"
"What?" he grew suspicious now that she already wished things from him.
"Of all the brides now, you shall love me the most."
"Of course Aleera," he smiled to himself, a promise, is a lie all in one to him. Even if Aleera was the prettiest bride to his eyes, he could not deny his other brides and their beauties. Verona was his queen after all, and most likely in the future Aleera's main cause of frustration because she would never be his queen. Marishka was bold and strong which was something Aleera would gain in time. All of them to him were beautiful, and he was lucky enough to have them all to himself.
Leading her to his chamber he propped open his coffin for her to leap in joyously, once again getting inside along with her, he thought of Verona with his children in her and almost thought of withdrawing to check upon her when Aleera pulled him down onto her forcefully with the lid falling down upon them.
For the last time he bore down on Aleera's neck to make her one with him and the other brides. In his chamber a soft moan was heard, but nothing more.
Dracula's Brides
Chapter 10: Reluctance
Aleera had just fallen asleep, the sun had fallen completely and now the village was blanketed with darkness. Once in a while a boy from the group would come to check on her, to make sure she was fulfilling her dare, but if she asked for food or water they would disappear behind a house. She had noted that there was a barn across the road and considered moving inside because of the cold winds hitting her pale skinned face. Eventually though, her anger towards the dare had worn thin and she succumbed to her sleepiness.
Marishka woke as soon as the sun was completely gone; she then started to venture outside the barn. Aleera was the first sight she saw, a young girl with blazing red hair- even in the dark- lying helplessly asleep by a tree across the road. Though she had just satisfied her hunger the night before, she raced to the other side to inspect the girl.
Aleera had only closed her eyes before she felt someone touching her face. It was gentle, much like her father's when waking her in the morning, and at once thought she was at home in her bed. Soon though, the hand began to pull her up and throw her into what seemed like sharp tree limbs. As soon as she opened her eyes she realized that there was no ground beneath her, and that instead of tree limbs, it was a pair of claws gripping her waist. A silent yell broke from her throat, but they were already too far away from the village to beckon for safety now. Looking up into the eyes of her captor, Aleera felt her heart sink: a vampire had taken her and there was no hope for survival.
Verona woke earlier than planned, and settled that she would rise before Vladislaus woke. Though he had been kind to her that night, she still dwelt on the thought of him threatening her only daughter. Though he gave her a great gift of new life and a daughter, she still heard Marishka's voice inside her head telling her there was no more hope. She was at a great loss of words when she felt an arm slide around her waist.
"Verona," Vladislaus yawned, "why do you wake so early in the night?"
"A dream, Vladislaus, nothing more, but while you are here can we not discuss Marishka's fate once more?" She pleaded with her eyes as she stared into his.
"Marishka is a great part of my life, as are you. I cannot kill a part of me because then I lose part of my power." He was quite frustrated as he told her this, "I had not thought of it before in my anger with her, but last morning I thought about it thoroughly. If I were to lose either of you, my life would diminish making me weaker. That cannot happen if I am to complete my plan."
"Can you not then give her what she seeks?"
"It is simply out of the question, my love, why would I make my power more vulnerable to living beasts, by making another bride? You two are already head-strong enough to put up a fight against many villages at a time, but one slip-up and you die. While you share my power neither of you are as invincible as I am."
"Then we shall never live in peace, Vladislaus, and you know it well. I am not afraid of you at this time, let me speak my mind." Verona pulled herself to her complete height and stared at him straight on, "while you speak of giving our children life, I have seen nothing in progression to it. I fear for my children that I give birth to freely for you. I give myself pain that you can never feel, and I do it for your word alone. I am very close to becoming like Marishka and joining her in rebellion. You must not say things to me and deceive me. If I am to be your queen, you must let me rule some part of your decisions."
"That," he spat, "can never be. While this is true, you are my queen, I cannot let you tell me what to do. This is my castle darling. Not yours, you did not live here for centuries secluded in the darkness. Do not tell me of pains, for I can make you full of sorrow instantly."
"But you cannot kill me, and that will do," Verona shuffled off hotly. "Do not come to me for help with Marishka. You must do it yourself and gain her trust back."
In the cellar of the castle Marishka flew inside through the open window she last left from the other night. As she landed she dropped Aleera and let her roll across the floor. She soon transformed back into her human form and came to her side.
"What is your name girl?"
"That you shall never know, why should I tell a murderer whom it is they murder?" Though she said this with courage, her heart sank as she looked around and saw no possible escape.
"I haven't brought you here to be murdered... exactly... more like being reborn."
"I'd rather die once with pride than become one with a beast like you." Her voice faltered as she ended her sentence, if there was no escape, she would give her hell before she died.
"So you know more about us than most of the villagers down there. Very good little girl, tell me now, what is your name?"
"I have told you that before, I will not answer it again. And I know about you because of a relative of mine being taken away from us, long ago before either my father or I were born." Even now she recalled how close her fate would be with that of Marishka, though she would never know that the one she thought about day and night was the one who caused her demise.
"Now here's something strange, a girl won't tell me her name but she wants to tell me about her past- extraordinary, but unwanted." As this comment was made, Verona came down the stairs.
"Marishka! I thought I heard you talking down here but to whom?" her eyes searched the area and she finally fell upon Aleera. "Who is this? We have just feasted last night is something wrong?" She ran down the final stairs and came to Marishka.
"I have a plan mother." Marishka's eyes burned with delight as she and Verona looked toward Aleera and smiled.
Vladislaus was in the library when both Marishka and Verona came to him. Surprised by the visit of both brides he closed the book that he was engaged in at the moment and turned his attention to them.
"Master, mother told me of what I have done to you. She told me of the reasons for not wanting another bride, but listen to me." She stopped as he slammed his book down in anger, "listen to me."
"I have told you time and time again-" he slammed his fists down, "no means no!" he then shouted, some old books fell out of place from the rows lining the walls, but both brides stood firm in their places.
"Look at this girl," Marishka pulled out Aleera from behind Verona and instantly Vladislaus eyes gleamed with desire. "I found her across my hiding place this night, alone."
"Vladislaus," Verona picked up, "if you take this girl to be your last bride, our pact will be complete, we will have each other, I will have two daughters, and Marishka will take full responsibility for her like a second mother."
"She will want a child as well," Vladislaus shot back, "I see her beauty as well as you do, but I cannot let myself be tempted to such waste in my power. She will fail me."
"I don't want to serve you," Aleera yelled. She was furious these creatures were speaking about her like a bartering chip. "I do not want to be here, my father down in the village needs me, I have a life, a purpose down there. Let me be!" She went to Vladislaus and pleaded to him, "let me go home, please." He reached down to her face and rubbed her cheek and caught some of her red hair in his hands. Thinking about his possibilities he looked at Marishka. "And if I do this, what shall you do for me?" He heard Aleera whimper at this question, and looked down at her, "quiet child" he whispered softly, "soon enough you shall be free."
"If you do this, I shall be yours forever. My children will be born along with Verona's and her's."
"I don't want children with a thing like you!" Aleera pulled away from him but he grabbed her tightly to him,
"Leave us then Marishka, and you shall have her tomorrow night." Quickly Marishka and Verona fled the library and left him alone with Aleera happily. "Now tell me child, why do you fear me?"
"You're a cold monster that kills people of the village, I do not fear, but rather hate you."
"I am not as bad as that am I to the people of the village?"
"You are worse to others, though they will not admit it in your presence."
"Then let us try something new, look into my eyes and see if I am as bad as that." He held her gaze for a long time. Aleera soon felt herself wanting to be held by him, wanting him to hold her; everything that she had never wanted in her life from a creature like him. She felt the need to be with him more than anything in the world.
"You will have two mothers, and with them I share my bed. You too can be added to this list." Caught in his own gaze he forgot about his power being diminished by taking another, and even his promise to himself never to take another bride.
"I cannot share with them," Aleera clung to him tightly, "why can we not be together alone?"
"I have duties to hold," laughed Vladislaus surprised to see that he had made her extremely passionate about him, "perhaps one day only you and I shall be left alone in this world. In the meantime you must expect that I will take Verona or Marishka once in a while. I must make them happy as well."
"Very well, if you insist upon the matter master," she whispered in his ear.
"I do insist my child, now what am I to call such a beautiful girl?"
"Aleera, master," she stated bluntly, "only Aleera,"
"Well Aleera, my child, are you willing now to be my last and final bride?"
"I am, but promise me something,"
"What?" he grew suspicious now that she already wished things from him.
"Of all the brides now, you shall love me the most."
"Of course Aleera," he smiled to himself, a promise, is a lie all in one to him. Even if Aleera was the prettiest bride to his eyes, he could not deny his other brides and their beauties. Verona was his queen after all, and most likely in the future Aleera's main cause of frustration because she would never be his queen. Marishka was bold and strong which was something Aleera would gain in time. All of them to him were beautiful, and he was lucky enough to have them all to himself.
Leading her to his chamber he propped open his coffin for her to leap in joyously, once again getting inside along with her, he thought of Verona with his children in her and almost thought of withdrawing to check upon her when Aleera pulled him down onto her forcefully with the lid falling down upon them.
For the last time he bore down on Aleera's neck to make her one with him and the other brides. In his chamber a soft moan was heard, but nothing more.