Nicola
watched as Arene moved from her and headed towards Dracula. At first
she stood rooted to the spot but then quickly ran after the other
girl, pausing as she saw Dracula move towards her new friend.
"Why
are you here?" Dracula asked with a smirk. "Because you
answered the invitation. You are all here of your own free will."
He watched her carefully, waiting for a response but then he noticed
the other girl behind her. It was the one he had spotted a few
moments ago. This one would be easier to control. She was completely
in his thrall and he hadn't even tried to make her so yet! He called
silently to her.
Nicola heard the voice in her mind. "Come
here, my dear". She stepped forward then stopped momentarily as
she looked at Arene. The other girl was saying something but she
couldn't hear her. That voice called her again and she stepped right
up to Dracula. The rest of the crowd seemed to vanish and it was just
the two of them.
"What would you do for me?" Dracula
asked as he stared into her eyes.
"Anything," she
whispered, seeing a glint in his eyes.
"Truly?" he
asked. Then without waiting for an answer he pulled her to him and
bit into her neck.
The room began to spin and a slight moan
escaped Nicola's lips. Then it was over. She felt herself released
and stumbled backwards. He had just tasted her - no more. Luckily
someone caught her or she would have fallen.
"This is
Nicola, everyone," the Count declared, gesturing at her. "Now,"
said Dracula, returning his attention to Arene, "what was it we
were discussing?"
Arene
raced forward and caught Nicola in her arms. Placing two fingers to
her neck, she breathed a sigh of relief; she still had a pulse. She
looked back up at Dracula, shaking,
"What did you do to
her?"
Dracula smiled evilly. "Nothing, see?"
Nicola
moaned and opened her eyes. She rubbed her head and looked Arene.
"What
happened?"
"You... You mean, you don't remember?"
Arene stared at her in shock.
Nicola shook her head.
"I
remember talking to Dracula... nothing else."
"So that's
it," Arene whispered.
"What?" Nicola asked,
wondering why this girl was acting like this.
"Not here,"
she mouthed.
Dracula smiled and addressed the crowd.
"My
dear ladies... please enjoy yourselves!"
With that the
performers, music, and dancing all started. It looked so beautiful it
almost seemed like a dream, but everyone knew it was true! Several
girls started dancing, others were talking to Dracula telling them
how much they adored him. Arene helped Nicola back to her feet and
the two walked over to one of the banquet tables.
"Thanks,"
Nicola said. "I guess I was just a little light-headed."
"Trust
me that wasn't it," Arene thought to herself, but smiled.
"No
prob. I don't think we were properly introduced though, I'm
Arene."
"Nicola, nice to meet you!" She smiled and
the two shook hands. "That was quite strange, what happened back
there."
"Very," Arene said, her eyes focused on the
Count. "You were bitten my him."
"Bitten by him! I
don't remember that and anyway he wouldn't do that. Not in front of
all these people."
"Maybe because they didn't see it,"
Arene said to herself.
"What?" Nicola asked.
Arene
noticed as Dracula moved away from his guests and behind a large
curtain. She turned to Nicola.
"Stay here and whatever you
do, be careful."
Arene walked through the crowd and carefully
moved behind the curtain, where she saw Dracula talking to a few of
the performers,
"It is almost time," he told them. "Now
that I have Nicola bitten, taking the others should be no problem.
All of these girls adore me, it should be no problem at
all."
"Master," one spoke up, "what do you
intend to do with them?"
Dracula smiled.
"That's
for only me to know, isn't it?"
"Forgive me master,"
the performer said, "but what if something were to go
wrong?"
"It CAN'T go wrong," Dracula said, suddenly
feeling another presence, "but... there is always a chance of
having a guest that... knows too much!"
Arene gasped and
tried to break away, except one of Dracula's servants had already
grabbed her and brought her before him.
