Disclaimer: All I own in this is my friend's characters, nothing else is mine.

Note: ok this one's longer than the last two.

Chapter 13

Vladislaus Dragulia, better known to those who feared him as Dracula, watched with amusement as his brides delivered his prey rather abruptly through the open window. He was surprised that the girl had not screamed, most did when treated with such violence.

He had watched silently as she had fought to get her breath back using the time to calmly access her situation. "Ouch" she announced simply getting unsteadily to her feet.

Dracula was already greatly amused by the girl's casual approach to her situation, very few of his guests were so calm about it. Most either cowered on the floor where they had fallen or simply threw themselves to their deaths out of the window. In a word they were "boring"; this one was proving to be a very interesting encounter.

He took in her general appearance. Like the Valerius princess she was clad in trousers, but he noted they were of a pale blue material unknown to him, the white sleeveless top was also of a strange material and it was showing a more generous amount of cleavage than was usual in this day and age. Her feet were covered by black boots, which rose to her calves where they met the turned up bottom of her trousers.

He took this all in, confirming that she was indeed one of the strangers his servants had tracked less than 24 hours ago.

Suddenly the girl glanced sharply in his direction the sun glinting off her golden hair. He was taken aback for a moment, he had made no sound at all and yet she seemed to sense that he was there. He watched fascinated as she drew her sword and entered a clumsy battle stance, the rapid beat of her heart told him that she was terrified but it was the only thing that gave her away, otherwise she appeared calm and composed grimly resigned to her fate.

"Yes this will be very interesting indeed," he muttered softly to himself.

Sarah tensed, as the light around her dimmed, if the sun went in her only advantage would be lost. She knew he was there could feel his malevolent gaze on her skin. Panic began to build up inside of her as clouds once again began to gather around the sun blocking its life giving light.

It began to rain outside huge drops of water tumbling in a blinding torrent from the darkening sky. She was plunged into darkness her eyes adjusting painfully slowly giving her a limited view of the huge ballroom.

Lightning flashed and made her jump involuntarily, the thunder that followed was a welcome relief from the sound of her own heart in the silence.

"A storm in Transylvania" she muttered sarcastically to herself "very predictable."

Vaguely she remembered Bram Stokers novel describing Dracula's ability to call the storm and in Van Helsing he had described it as yet another of his servants. The enormity of his power hit her then and the sword began to shake as her resolve wavered.

In the shadows to her right Dracula chuckled. Sarah spun to face him sword pointing at his throat.

"Yes it is rather predictable isn't it?" he said pleasantly "but I feel it adds a certain something to the situation" suddenly the room was lit with the light of many candles.

Sarah found herself face to face with Dracula, his long hair was swept back into an elegant ponytail and he was dressed in a black suit complete with cloak. Momentarily she was caught off guard by how handsome he was, but then she hardened herself to it fixing his true demonic form in her mind so as not to be pulled in by his trickery. He bowed dramatically "please let me introduce myself" he said "I am Vladislaus Dragulia" at his words lightning once again flashed, he smiled at her.

"I could do without the theatrics" she said mockingly false bravado momentarily dulling the terror she could barely contain. A huge grin crossed his features and then suddenly he was gone disappearing inhumanly fast. Sarah spun around frantically searching the room for him. His voice echoed around her.

"I am afraid, my dear girl that this is my game and therefore the rules are for my amusement and your discomfort" Sarah forced herself to remain calm she had to stall him, keep him busy long enough to figure out away of escape.

"Are you speaking in riddles now?" she questioned backing towards the nearest wall. She tried to keep her back to it ensuring that he could not catch her from behind.

He laughed the sound seemingly came from every direction "aha is it a riddle you want?" he questioned gleefully "Very well I will play your game…What creature walks on four legs in the morning, Two legs at midday, and three legs in the evening? Think carefully now a wrong answer could make things most unpleasant." He taunted.

Sarah watched the shadows of the room carefully; the candlelight left some of the corners in darkness it was in one of these he must be hiding. Her heart raced in her chest as she listened to his riddle, she knew this, she realized. "The riddle of the Sphinx" she whispered

Dracula watched her, it had been along time since he had had such good entertainment, his sensitive hearing caught her whispered words "ah one who knows their Egyptian mythology" he was impressed "but do you know the answer?" her heart rate quickened at his words he heard its rhythm marvelling at her calm exterior it seemed that her pride prevented her from revealing her emotions too him.

Sarah thought quickly trying to edge towards the window without being too obvious about it "The creature is Man" she stated confidently "The morning is the beginning of his life where he crawls on four limbs, Midday is where he walks up right on two legs as a man, and evening is as an old man who walks with the aid of a stick."

She was nearly at the window her hand gripped the wall to the side of it, taking a chance she turned to look through and came face to face with Dracula who had appeared suddenly hanging upside down from the top of the opening. Before she could stop it, a scream escaped her mouth and she stumbled into the centre of the room.

Casually Dracula dropped to the floor and approached her "I'm impressed my dear, few people your age are learned in respects to the myths and legends upon which the world has evolved" he was less than a meter away from her now blocking her escape to the window. His manner told her that their game had well and truly ended.

She would not die like this she told herself, the weight of the sword felt good and strong in her hand he was close enough for her to attack, wounding him would give her the time she needed to get to the window and freedom.

Anna's words echoed in her head "Spread your feet shoulder width apart; bring the blade round with all of your weight behind it."

She spread her feet and shifted her weight raising her sword as fast as she could, bringing it around in an arched swing that headed straight for his neck.

He made no move to stop her, almost patiently waiting for the blow to fall. Regarding her with an amused look on his face, the same a parent might give an infant attempting what they know to be impossible.

The sword cut into the side of his neck an inch above the shoulders. Time seemed to slow down as Sarah watched the blade slice into the skin and muscle there making it's way through. She cried out in triumph, surely she had killed him? No one, not even Dracula, could live without its head she reasoned.

Her joy was short lived as she saw the wound healing itself almost instantly as the blade passed through it. The sight twisted her stomach as the healing followed the destruction all the way through the neck. By the time the blade exited at the opposite side Dracula was already fully healed and very much alive.

In one swift movement he had wrenched the sword from her grasped and flung it out of the large windows behind him. Sarah stumbled backwards terrified as she witnessed his immortality first hand.

He was enjoying this she realised; his face was twisted into a sadistic grin. "You amuse yourself don't you?" she asked trying to distract him. He cocked his head to one side seeming to consider this.

She hastily put more distance between them, His grin widened "Do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked sweetly. Sarah's only strategy now was to stay alive as long as possible.

"You're a walking corpse," she answered sarcastically trying to control her terror "Of course you make me uncomfortable!"

He laughed out loud at that and took one careful step towards her. This movement had the desired effect and she clumsily stumbled backwards and unwittingly made eye contact with him.

He had her.

Now the game had truly ended. He made her body obey him and she ceased in her movement. "Tell me your name," he ordered his will pushing against the boundaries of her mind seeking entrance.

"Sarah" she whispered, he smiled

"A suitable name" he said his voice was soothing breaking through her defences "To the Gypsies 'Sarah' means little miracle, to the Hebrews it means princess…yes a very suitable name indeed"

Sarah felt her senses become lighter and a fog was building at the edges of her vision. This isn't right she suddenly thought, instinctively she began to concentrate on her breathing instead of his voice. "Cleanse and protect" she whispered her Wicca training kicking in.

She imaged a white light forming around her naval and slowly expanding to fill her entire body. She saw Dracula's influence as dark threads circling around her body and mind. She willed these threads to break and collapse and felt the fog over her mind lift slightly. Instantly she saw the light create a protective cocoon around her body.

Dracula was stunned as he felt his will being pushed back; angrily he forced it forward again. He broke through the barrier surrounding her body. But he found her mind guarded fiercely. "Well" he said, "This is very interesting"

Sarah's courage rose with this small victory if he did not possess her mind there was still a small chance she could survive this. She concentrated on maintaining the shield around her mind. Fear threatened to override her concentration and she began to feel the effort of keeping her mind guarded. She wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.

Dracula knew he would win, it was inevitable, but now and again he enjoyed a challenge. Smirking he began to approach her "It must be difficult to concentrate Sarah, when I make you so uncomfortable" he commented dryly taking one steady step after another in her direction.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Really tried to get Drac's personality right in this chapter let me know what you all think!