Dracula knew Nicola would soon remember. Once again he leaned closer.
"Nicola please.... I am your master."
"Yes,"
she said, "you are my master always. Would you do something for
me, my lord? I should like to have some fun with her first. Let's not
kill her straight away."
As she said this Nicola moved
towards him, leaning against him and letting one hand playing gently
with his ponytail.
Dracula looked down at his bride with
suspicion but he could read nothing in her mind or face that
suggested she was trying to trick him.
"Very well, my
bride," he said at last. "I will indulge you just this
once. Truly you have a wild nature. I have chosen well."
This
said he turned and moved towards the door.
"Do not be too
long with your games though. Remember that her death will please me
and I hope you will make me very pleased indeed before the night is
out."
As the door shut Nicola turned to Arene and studied
the other woman carefully.
"I do not know you but I know
that my lord is keeping something from me. If you tell me what you
know I will try to find a way to spare your life," she paused
and her eyes strayed towards Arene's neck. "Make it quick
though," she continued, " as I am getting hungry and my
master will soon return."
Arene
breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing that she had been spared
another few seconds. But this would not last long. Nicola could not
contain her hunger forever and it was pretty obvious Dracula was
going to make sure Arene was the only thing on the menu. She nodded
to Nicola and spoke.
"I do not know a lot...only that
Dracula chose you to be his new queen and he has plans for the other
girls back at the party. I think he plans to make them his daughters,
to replace the ones he lost. I swear I don't know why I'm immune to
all of this or why he wants to kill me so desperately."
Nicola
eyes narrowed. She moved closer, her hands slightly outstretched.
"My
master wants me to kill you. And though I feel as though I know
you...."
"He wants me to die at his hand or yours, I
don't know why," Arene said, her hands moving to her throat at
once. "All I know is that he's planning for you and all the
others to belong to him before the night is out. All I can say is
that you are my friend, Nicola. Vampire or human, you are my friend
and I can't let you be hurt. Dracula will not spare me... for long
anyway. Just...if anything...promise me you'll be careful."
Just
then, they could hear footsteps coming up the stair way and a hand
turning the doorknob. Nicola knew the sound at once.
"It's
my Lord, he's come back," she said, "And he is also
thirsting for blood."
As Dracula
appeared in the doorway Nicola grabbed hold of Arene and sank her
teeth into the girl's neck. She drank carefully. She was still not
sure of her own strength and she wanted to try not to kill the other
woman. She could feel Dracula's approval and she gently lowered Arene
to the floor. She was unconscious but still had a faint pulse.
"Very
good, my bride, but she is still alive," said Dracula as his
arms encircled Nicola, drawing her up against his chest.
"Not
for long, my lord," replied Nicola, gazing up at him. "Leave
her here as she is now and her death will not be far away."
"I
will summon the Dwergi to remove the body from here."
"No,
leave it my lord, please. I should like to see her death. How
fascinating death is!" Nicola tried to keep her voice neutral
and her mind clear. He couldn't know the real reason she wanted Arene
left.
"Very well," said Dracula, stroking his
bride's hair. "Soon she will be dead and all will be as it
should be. We are so close to success..." he broke off for a
moment then smiled at his bride. "I have a few things to attend
to but I will be back with you soon, my bride. This night will be
special for us in so many ways."
