A/n: Special thanks to Gica (SilverFlover), whose story Agnus Dei is one of the best and if you haven't read it yet, you're missing out, because fluff makes me smile, and because I love cherries so much! Dracula wasn't at my concert! How disappointing!
Rain. It had begun raining after he'd fallen asleep, and gone from a light drizzle to a pouring onslaught. Still she sat beside him and gazed upon his sleeping face. Some people looked innocent when they slept, but he didn't. He just looked bored.
Sironka sighed and brushed some of his dark hair away from his face. She watched him indifferently, fingering the silky strands, then let it slip from her fingers and the back of her hand brushed against his face.
A curious expression came across her face at that, and she stroked his forehead a bit, then his cheek, and his neck. She frowned slowly. There was no pulse.
She let her hand trail lazily down his chest, where she came across the warm, soft cloth and began to wash away the blood.
She continued in that manner, quiet, every once in a while looking at his face while he slept, until the dried blood was gone from his flesh.
She had just gotten up to start something for dinner when she heard him moan from behind her. Glancing over in faint alarm she saw his face contorted in pain.
She rushed to him, kneeling beside the bed, taking his hand in both of hers, her eyes intent upon his face. "N-no," he cried. "You didn't say that- didn't – didn't say that would happen. There will be…there will be consequences…."
She released his hand and tentatively touched his cheek, his mouth. His eyes shot open, but she could tell it was his fever, that he was delirious.
"Damn you devils! Stay away from me!" he said in a hoarse voice. She hushed him, but it did not work. "There will- there will be consequences!" he continued, and she nodded as though to say she understood, which she did not entirely. He lay back down again, clasping her hand. She did not stop him, although she had to lean forward, standing a bit as he held onto her hand so fiercely.
He shut his eyes and his breathing slowly returned to normalcy, and she began to smile a bit upon him, wondering if she had perhaps been wrong.
She looked away and watched the rain on the leaves of trees when she heard an inhuman roar from behind her and felt his grasp on her hand tighten painfully. She turned back and he stood swiftly, pulling her arm with him. She gave a small shriek and he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them with a snarl, licking away a few droplets of blood she hadn't seen there.
She stood on tiptoe and touched her blood with her fingertips of her free hand, then traced the sign of the cross on the Count's forehead in the crimson liquid.
His expression of cruel amusement faded, the face of a troubled and tortured soul remaining, and he gave a low moan as he sank onto the bed, unconsciously pulling her with him in his delirium. He finally lay back, asleep.
She leaned over his bare chest, looking at his flickering eyelids in quiet calm, her mind thinking fast. A faint smile formed on her lips and she touched her mouth to his forehead, then made the sign of the cross over his sleeping body and slowly removed his fingers from her hand.
She walked over to the kitchen section of her home and stopped. Looking upwards, she whispered a silent plea. "Father, have mercy upon him. Lead him to the safety of your arms and may the peace that inhabits your heart also find his."
She bowed her head and continued her things.
So, how was it? I'd like to thank those who went through the trouble of reviewing:
Audrey: Well, I love Dracula, too. And as for romance…I write so much of that, it isn't much of a romantic romance, if it is indeed, romance. But enjoy…
The Gothic Vampire: I'm surprised you liked the second chapter. Just shows how much I know. I hope you liked this one, too.
Lady Vladislaus: Yes, Sironka is a help. Things unravel quickly here…
Gica (SilverFlover): You really made feel better and the best part is that I had an idea! I guess that fluff really is good for you.