Chapter Two: Meeting the Devil
Anna must have fallen asleep—against all odds!—for when the huge metal door was opened loudly she jolted awake and sprang to her feet before remembering her hurt ankle. Even then, wincing in pain, she removed a knife from her boot and leaned against the wall, weapon ready, waiting for whoever it was to come in.
It was Dracula. She immediately knew it was him, though she had never laid eyes upon him except from very far away. He entered silently, letting the door slam shut behind him, and stood by it, enclosed by shadows, staring at her piercingly, hands behind his back. Now that her enemy was standing right in front of her, all thoughts of what she would do to him when she had the chance fled and she was left goggling helplessly, feeling foolish and once again afraid. He was an imposing and intimidating figure, with chiseled features and serene black garments, but once she met his sharp black eyes Anna was captivated in his gaze. Something about him enthralled her and she could not glance away. Slowly, she dropped the dagger and it clattered to the stone floor. He gave a small smile and bowed charmingly.
"A pleasure to finally meet you, Anna Valerious. I have heard so much about you." Anna was tongue-tied and could merely stare as he smiled again and went on. "I am Count Vladislaus Dracula, as I am sure you know. Welcome to my fortress."
Anna, bringing up all her courage, shot back, "You cannot keep me here, Dracula! If I do not kill you, Van Helsing will!"
The count's eyes hardened and Anna wavered. He snapped, "I do not fear Gabriel Van Helsing, my princess, any more than I fear you." He sneered and looked her bedraggled and exhausted form up and down in a way that made her humiliated, as if she was simply a pebble in his shoe. She could not let him intimidate her! He must die, and she must live.
"You have killed my entire family, and now my brother. I do believe one such as you deserves to be killed!" she said, standing up straighter and ignoring her throbbing ankle. She could not show any more weaknesses to him.
Dracula stepped closer to her, and she involuntarily took a step back so that she was now against the wall. His eyes turned icy blue and his fangs shot out as he exclaimed, "Do you not think I have suffered? You and Van Helsing have killed Marishka, Verona, and hundreds of my children! Do you not think this has affected me? Do not think that perhaps you also deserve to die, my brave Anna Valerious?"
Panting, Anna did not reply. He regained his composure momentarily and smiled at her calmly. "Perhaps, however, we can put past wrongs behind us, Anna. I do not blame you any longer. Let us forgive each other." He moved closer and slowly ran an icy finger across Anna's neck. "We could make quite a pair, you and I."
Revolted, Anna was about to retort when he suddenly moved to the other end of the cell, near the door. "Tonight, my dear Anna, is my All Hallows Eve ball. I am going, of course, and you are going with me. Oh, and Aleera will be with you shortly to see about that ankle" Without waiting to see her reaction, he left the room, locking the door behind him.
This short meeting with the man she and her entire family had made their lives' goal to kill left Anna in a mild state of shock. She sat down again and stared at the ceiling, thinking of Dracula's words and her own fate and trying hard not to let tears fall.