The sun had finally begun to go down, although it was only the beginning of the afternoon. The total darkness was reigning throughout the halls of the Ordoghaz. It was so dark that one who was standing at the end of a corridor couldn't have been able to see what was going on at the other end.

Despite the absolute obscurity of the mansion, it was certainly not the dead silent that was ruling over the halls. Footsteps were echoing through the corridors. Heavy footsteps, which indicated that the wandering stranger was a male.

An elegant, yet vague shadow was designed on the wall and was following its possessor. And this shadow prefigured nothing but bad intentions. Very bad intentions, in fact.

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I wanted you to be with me

For so long I don't even know why now

The morning was almost coming to an end, and Erika really wanted to get back to the maids' quarters to get some rest before the sun could set again. However, even if she did return to bed for the rest of the day, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to fall asleep. The discussion she had intruded on between Viktor and Marcus had done nothing but worsen her situation. Now not only that Marcus hadn't proclaimed her as his new Queen, but he was actually the one to return for slumber… for a whole century!

Erika slightly whined. "And I'll still have to wait a hundred years!" She sighed as she tried to comfort herself, "Well… maybe there could be a slight possibility that Lord Viktor changes his mind… maybe…" But she knew that chances were very minor.

Yet, she could still find some consolation in her memories of what happened the previous night. Yes, Lord Marcus had proposed her to be his Queen, but he had also kissed her! And the taste of it, Erika found it delicious, promising, and really appealing. The only thought of it was enough for another lovely smile of hers to appear on her pretty face. "An Elder has kissed me!" she thought, hardly believing the truth. For once, someone had really consented her love and had returned his in exchange. And an Elder, on top of it all. "I've definitely won the jackpot!" she thought again as she let out an unwilling but slight chuckle.

Her sweet grin rapidly changed for what seemed to be a sadistic smirk, as she thought of another possibility. "It makes me feel awful to admit it, but for just a second… I only wish that Kraven was here to see that…"

Her vicious thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a sound coming from somewhere nearby. Erika's heart made a jump and she rapidly turned her head and body in the other direction. She stopped her walk as her eyes glimpsed fretfully through the place. Someone else was here with her, she could feel it. "Anyanka, perhaps?" she thought. "No, that's impossible… she has certainly met with Lord Viktor at that time, I assume…" There was no doubt about that: it was in fact the sound of steps coming towards her. And these footsteps were way too heavy to belong to any other maid.

The sound dropped dryly. Erika let out a smothered gasp, as she thought that the individual that was somewhere near might have seen her. Whoever this person was, he or she could easily report her to Marcus, or even worse, to Viktor, and who knew what the consequences could possibly be?

The entire corridor was once again plunged into a deadly silence. Still glancing around, Erika began to slowly step backwards, getting away from where she believed the sound had been coming from. Her heart jumped again as her thoughts went back to what happened before her previous encounter with Marcus. When she was wandering in the basement of the mansion and she came face to face with a ghost.

Erika could still see the young woman in front of her. Her torn out shabby white dress, her golden locks that gave the impression of floating on her head, and her silky pale skin that strangely seemed perfectly untouched despite her scruffy old clothing. And most of all, these big, beautiful emerald eyes that were staring back at her, as if staring into emptiness. Erika swallowed with difficulty. What if that specter had come out of her grave to haunt her?

Erika's blood chilled inside of her veins when she felt the hot breathing of someone on the back of her neck. She was now literally trembling with fear. The ghost of the Western Wing was definitely back to haunt her!! "This can't be… I'm imagining things…" Erika thought, trying to convince herself that none of all this was true. "Ghost don't exist, they ---"

All of a sudden, a hand was planted on her mouth as another grabbed her by the waist and dragged her away.

Erika started to groan, willing to get away from her harasser. No use to try to do so, for the being that had taken hold of her seemed way too strong… however stronger than she was. Erika felt like being violently pressed against a wall nearby and pinned onto it. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized her aggressor.

Tall and lean, he was wearing what seemed like a black worn out shirt of silk that could've have once been fashionable. His pale mug showed the features of a very handsome man, and his jet-black messy hair came down to his chin and was covering a part of his figure.

Erika felt like her heart hit the pit of her stomach when she locked eyes with the Vampire standing not even a few centimeters in front of her. The one she had for so long desired, but who kept pushing her away inconsiderately. The one because of whom she had for a long time suffered.

But now that I've given up on you

Defiantly you see me

Kraven of Leicester.

Erika was then immobile, staring into Kraven's dark eyes. Him also, he was looking back at her, but with this smug, dismayed expression of his on his face. Gradually - and very surprisingly -, his thin lips curled into a very large grin.

He let out a muffled laugh and studied Erika's features, his hand still on her mouth. "Well, hello there, Erika…" he said in a voice that almost sounded gentle.

Erika couldn't answer. Not only because of the fact that Kraven's hand was planted firmly on her mouth, but also no words could escape her throat, due to the shock. She kept staring at him in the eyes, not believing that he was actually here, in the mansion. "Never should've I wished to see him here!" she thought.

However, Kraven kept staring into her face, the same old smug smile on his features. Another laugh escaped his throat as he raised his eyebrows. "Now, now… don't panic, sweetheart. Now I'll take my hand off your mouth only if you promise me not to scream, alright?" Even when speaking quietly, that viciousness seemed to always be in his voice.

Erika, eyes always wide with stupor, fretfully nodded her head, her blond locks bobbling with the movement.

Kraven's smirk widened as another vicious laugh escaped his throat. "You know, you look quite attractive when being shocked like this," he chuckled again, but was interrupted by Erika's bite on his finger. "Argh!" he forced himself not to yell out loud.

Erika looked around, but came to one conclusion: she couldn't escape Kraven. He had pinned her onto a corner of two adjoining walls, and even if she tried to run away, she was sure that he would catch her.

Kraven licked the blood leaking from the gash on his finger and turned to Erika, glaring at her. "How dare you do this to me, you---" he began ominously. But then he interrupted himself as another vicious smirk appeared on his features. "Well… I must admit, Erika… that I'm really glad to see you again," he said as he got close to her. "You remember that lovely night we spent together a few days ago? Delicious, wasn't it?"

Erika frowned at him. The only thought of this night made her tremble. Yes, of course she had appreciated the moment, but the fact that Kraven had abandoned her after… she wished she could forget all about it. Thinking of the awful night, she glared at him as her raged pumped her up. "A night that I wish I could erase from my memories," she said viciously.

Walking away I see the pain

You put me through

Kraven raised an eyebrow, taken aback from her sharp reply. He rapidly changed subject. "You know, Erika… I've been looking for you practically all morning." Erika tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. What did he want, now? "And I must admit…" Kraven paused and looked away for a second, but then said, "that you seem quite different from all the other Vampire maids of whom I have tasted the blood." This thought made him smile perversely.

I see through you

Erika's eyes narrowed slightly. "As being the only one who was stupid enough to fall in the trap of a backstabbing jerk like you," she thought. "W-what do you want?" she stammered.

Kraven smirked again. "Well, that's quite simple. I want you to come with me, Erika. Far from here… isn't that what you had always dreamed of? Tell me…" he was getting closer and closer.

Erika's violet eyes widened in disgust. After all he's done to her, he thought that she was going to follow him to some unknown place? Erika started to step backwards, but the wall behind stopped her.

Lost in your game to change the same

Forever gone, forever you

Anyanka was walking in the darkness of the adjoining corridor. She had actually heard footsteps. Footsteps that belonged to no servant, as she knew. And the roaming shadow on the walls… she knew it was a quite unusual figure.

And as she was getting closer and closer, following the way the peculiar shadow had followed, she could start hearing voices. Actually, it was only one voice… a very manly voice. And this voice, she recognized it perfectly, only that she couldn't come to believe it was true.

When she arrived at the end of the hall and took a peek at what was happening between the two individuals, she eyes widened in shock. Kraven was standing there, less than ten feet away from her. She couldn't believe Kraven's foolishness.

"Kraven? Is he so stupid as to come back here and risk to be detained?" she thought disbelievingly. "I never thought he was that unwise as to do something such as this…" Yet, an evil smirk appeared on her beautiful features as she thought of all the torture Viktor could inflict on Kraven.

However, she needed some rest, and she wasn't going to lose her time to an idiot such as Kraven. Anya grabbed her cell phone from her belt and composed a number. "Anya speaking. There's an emergency on the second floor of the Northern Wing," she said quietly.

She turned around and left to her quarters, this time hopeful to get a good night of rest… or so she thought.

Further, Kraven was still trying to negotiate with Erika. However, the latter was now less easy to fool.

"You come with me, and we can start building our own Coven," Kraven continued. His hand teasingly went up her bare arm as he stared deeply into her eyes. Erika could now see the traitor and coward he has always been. "How can you say no to this offer? I'll give you everything you ask for."

There's something very wrong about this

I think you knew all along somehow

Another vicious smirk, as his other hand brushed the side of Erika's face, down to her neck. The latter tried to pull away from his threatening hand, but the one on her arm made her stay on the spot.

"You'll see… come with me, and you won't regret it," Kraven said again. "What do you say about that, sweetie?"

Erika's eyes quitted Kraven's hand that was now teasingly sweeping her lower neck and she glared deeply in his eyes. Only the vicious look in her eyes was enough to shock Kraven.

You'll only take me to change my mind

Lonely, broken, and defeated

"No," she dryly said. This word let out of her throat, Erika felt a feeling of liberation and accomplishment invade her whole body. In the past, she wouldn't have dreamed of saying no to Kraven. "This, was the old Erika," she thought.

Kraven's smile gradually disappeared as he looked at Erika with disbelief. He dryly exhaled, before saying with another slight smirk, "I must've misunderstood what you said. W-what did you say?"

Erika's glare intensified. "I said no," she said casually. "I will never go anywhere with you. You can always hope," she said, detaching herself from his arm.

Kraven glared deadly into her face. "Are you… refusing something to me?" he asked in disbelief. "How dare you say no to your Lord and Sire, you---"

Erika interrupted him, as her courage kept increasing. "You're maybe my Sire, but never again will you be my Lord. You're just a traitor to the whole Vampire specie!"

So far away I see the truth

Seen through you

Kraven violently grabbed her arm, but she pulled away and slapped him right on the side of the face. Kraven turned his head away, not believing what he was living. "What has she become? Smart?!" He turned his head towards her and Erika noticed that Kraven's eyes were now of a piercing pale blue. "You hit me? You dared to put your hand on me, you bitch!" Kraven had to struggle against his ego not to speak so loud. "And who are you, you worthless servant, to call me a traitor?" he said disgustingly.

I see through you

Erika's heart made a jump, and to the surprise of Kraven, a smirk appeared on her features. "You really want to know?" Kraven didn't flinch, unimpressed, so she continued. "I am, for your information, the new bride of the lord Marcus." Erika hoped that statement stabbed Kraven through the heart.

Now that I know the way you play

I don't want you

"You liar," Kraven said in a muffled voice as he narrowed his murderous eyes.

A standard servant like Erika couldn't have climbed the hierarchy of the Ordoghaz in only a few nights…Kraven tried to convince himself that Erika was lying. He suddenly felt a strange feeling invading his body. Was that guilt, or jealousy?

"Let me tell you something… You are just a worthless lying bitch, that's what you are." Kraven said with disgust. He once again grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him. "Now, you come with me---"

Erika slapped him harder. "I told you, I am not going anywhere with you, you backstabbing coward!!"

Kraven breathed heavily as he rubbed his jaw. "And yet again you put your hand on me?" To Erika's surprise, Kraven viciously smiled at her… or at whatever nastiness that was about to come out of his mouth. "You want to stay here… so be it."

Erika shot him a disbelieving glare as she narrowed her eyes. What was going to come up with now?

"However… I could always denounce you as an ally," Kraven said viciously, to what Erika arched an eyebrow. "As far as I remember, you are the one who helped me escaped the mansion only a few nights ago, aren't you, Erika?"

Erika's heartbeat seemed to cease as Kraven spoke the truth. She actually was the one who had acquired him the silver nitrate gun and had allowed him to escape without being noticed by anyone. Erika suddenly felt guilt plague her entire slim body. And what if Kraven's threat was actually true? What if he denounced her to Marcus and Viktor? Then, Marcus would lose all the faith he had in her. Erika's eyes met with Kraven's again.

"Oh, yes… I could denounce you to Marcus…" Kraven continued. "And then go see if he'll still want you as his Queen!"

His words stabbed her through the heart, and Erika kicked Kraven in his injured leg with her high heel. The latter cried in pain as he bent down, grabbing his calf in pain. Erika made the best of that and ran away as fast as she could, heading to the maids' quarters, at last.

Walking away I see the pain

You put me through

Kraven got up slowly and said to himself, "That's it, sweetheart… run. Run away while you can…" He then turned around, but his eyes suddenly widened in horror at what he saw.

At the very end of the corridor were five Death Dealers running towards him, each armed with a huge rifle. Kraven identified Kahn as being at the head of the squad. They were there for him.

"Stand still!" Kahn ordered him. Kraven had no other choice than to do so. He has been caught. In his own Coven.

Kraven growled through his fangs as he shot hateful glares at each vampire that was surrounding him. "Damn you, Erika!" he silently cursed.

Lost in your game to change the same

Forever gone, forever you