Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Summary: A girl is rescued in an alleyway by a strange man. Who is he and what are his motives? A better question might be- who is she? Diana is not a Mary-Sue, it's all going to be explained in the second chapter.
Diana Aphrodine ran quickly through the back alleys of Paris, trying her best to outrun her pursuers. She made a quick right turn and stopped suddenly as she was faced with the cold, unforgiving stone wall. Hearing the echoing of heavy boots she turned back to the wall ran to it, trying to reach the top but it was no use. The wall was just too high for her to reach.
At the sound of a gruff laugh Diana turned around. The two drunken thugs who were chasing her had slowed to a walk. One brandished a knife that gleamed in the dim moonlight and smirked at her, his eyes looking her up and down. The other man leaned on the building to his right to catch his breath. They both sported several fresh cuts that she had inflicted upon them when they first tried to get her. The blood that dripped from each wound gave her a small amount of satisfaction, but did little to help.
"You've caused us some trouble." The man with the knife growled as he advanced. Diana tried to focus her thoughts and forced her body into a fighting stance.
"Oh no you don't!" The other man began and before she could register it they were upon her, wrestling her to the ground. She hit the cobblestones hard and the wind was knocked from her lungs.
There was enough awareness left in Diana that she became aware of the fact that the man with the knife was above her, sitting on her arms while he used his knife to cut away her clothing. Finally he left that job to his buddy who started tearing at her simple tunic and pants. She could feel the cloth being torn away from her breasts and thighs and opened her mouth to scream only to stop as something cold pressed painfully into her throat.
"Go ahead- nobody will come. Nobody cares about a worthless peasant like you." The man spoke in a low voice, his breath smelling sour and rotten. Regardless of what he said Diana did call out. She called out for help even as she realized one man was taking his pants off and getting ready to mount her. Diana clenched her eyes shut and waited for the pain and violation… but the pain and violation never came.
"What the-" one of the men began. It was the one standing over her with his pants down. She opened her eyes and saw a large bat-shaped shadow pass through the alley.
"It's just a bat! Get on with it or I'll take my turn first!" The assailant holding her arms shouted. His friend chuckled nervously but got ready again.
"No!" Diana cried out. "Get away from me; leave me alone!!" She yelled and struggled. Her legs were free and she moved to kick the man but the knife pressed into her neck again, this time making her aware of the blood flow it had left in its wake last time.
"Don't even think about trying that…" The man warned. He pushed the dagger deep into her neck until blood flowed freely.
"Excuse me…" Spoke a smooth and thickly accented voice. The two assailants and Diana looked back at the entrance to the alleyway. There stood a man with long black hair tied back in a ponytail, black gothic clothing that appeared to be from Eastern Europe and pale skin.
"Who in the hell are you? What do you want?" Shouted the man with the knife. Diana's eyes drifted in an out of focus on the man as the knife dug deeper into her throat still.
"What an… interesting choice of words. I am merely a stranger passing by; as for what I want…" His eyes never left the men but he gestured with his head towards Diana. "I'll settle for you leaving the girl alone at the moment."
"Who do you think you are?" The thug over Diana pulled his pants up and turned towards the stranger in anger.
"If you move… I'll slit your throat in an instant." Whispered the drunk that still held Diana. He moved the knife away from her neck and joined his friend. Diana pushed herself into a sitting position and leaned on the wall. She pressed one hand to her neck; trying in vane to stop the blood flow.
"I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia- but you may call me Dracula," the stranger bowed and answered the thug who spoke to him but his eyes cast briefly to Diana.
"Well we don't care what you are Count, nobody tells us what to do!" The attacker to the left, who held the knife threatened.
"Very well… then we shall do this the hard way." Dracula nodded. He didn't seem surprised as the Thugs began to advance on him and he refused to take a combat stance. As one of the men lunged at him with his knife Dracula stepped to the side, easily avoiding blade. He turned and lifted the man off the ground, tossing him over the wall with seeming no effort at all.
"What the-" The other drunk stopped in his tracks.
"What was it your friend was saying?" Dracula inquired. He quickly closed the distance between him and the man and slammed him against the wall. He repeated the slamming until the attack was dead. Finally the count released him and he slumped lifelessly to the floor. As if remembering something Dracula turned suddenly to Diana.
"What do you want?!" Diana gasped in fear as she backed up into the corner of the alley. She was curled up into herself, one hand still on her neck. The man approached her and knelt down. His eyes scanned her body quickly but came to rest on her face. Carefully he forced her hand away from the wound and his eyes seemed to gleam in the moonlight.
"Can you stand." Dracula finally spoke. He stood up and looked away temporarily.
"I-I think so…" Diana struggled to get her feet beneath her and leaned on the wall for support. There was a sudden intake of breath from her as she felt her whole world begin to grow dark. She tried to say something- to call out or to put her arms out and brake the fall but nothing seemed to work as she fell unconscious. The sound of her body hitting the ground brought Dracula's attention back to her.
"Damn it!" Dracula said under his breath. He quickly knelt down and lifted her up into his arms. Now what was he supposed to do? He looked up. It seemed his only option was to transform into the Hellbeast and fly her to his hotel room.
With a growl the Vampire Lord transformed himself into the hideous Hellbeast. In the arms of the bat creature rested the small form of the bleeding girl. It would have looked absurd had anyone witnessed the cautious way the Hellbeast rose into the sky and flew towards the Parisian Hotel that it was staying at while in town.
Authors Note: I know is looks bleak but I will repeat: no Diana is not a Mary Sue. So please don't start that with me. Everything will become clear in the next two chapters about why she was rescued and who she is. After that I promise you that things will get more interesting.