JeanieBeanie33: lol here it is the waking up chapter!! Hope your not disappointed with it!

lil-blonde-pirate: thanx for that review made me feel better about that last chapter! Lol ok how can you not find Dracula attractive? Ok if his looks don't impress you the sexy old rocker personality has gotta give you shivers?

Disclaimer: I own nothing!!

Chapter 79

Sarah stirred, smiling dreamily as the steady beat of her heart sounded in her ears; she savoured the sound and the feeling.

She hadn't felt it for so long.

Hesitantly her consciousness began to ascend through the fog of her coma like slumber, her mind dragging itself wearily up from the depths of her personal oblivion to inhabit her weak and sickly body once more.

Slowly she began to feel the soft mattress beneath her aching back and the heavy fabric resting on top of her still form, shielding her from the chill of the small room.

Her mind began to tire of the accent to consciousness. For a moment part of her contemplated giving in and descending back into the peace and quiet of the darkness…no she knew what was waiting for her there…she had to face the world sometime.

She'd made her choice, now she had to strive to live up to it. And that meant she had to wake up!!

All at once, the pull of the darkness subsided and she frowned, groaning slightly as the muscles in her face strained to obey her.

A pink light shone through her eyelids, intruding on her aching eyes and adding to the dull throbbing in her skull.

She squirmed in the bed experimentally; smiling slightly as pins and needles made her nerves tingle with life. Taking a deep breath she slowly opened her eyes, flinching as she was almost blinded from the glare of her long lost sun shinning through the exposed glass of the window.

Slower this time, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the light her gaze falling irresistibly on the rays of light caressing her pale flesh. Sarah lifted her arm, focusing the golden shaft in to the palm of her hand. Her skin tingled under its warm glow and she felt tears spring into her eyes, but she fought them back…she'd shed too many tears recently.

Sitting up she could only stare at the sunlit room, the greys and blacks of her nocturnal world were replaced by brilliant greens, reds, browns and blues of her bedroom walls. Slowly she raised a trembling hand to her breast, feeling her own heart flutter beneath her fingers.

A ragged gasp escaped her parched lips as she immediately felt her resolve wavier and allowed her tears of joy to flow freely down her cheeks. The chill of the room hit her as she drew aside the bedclothes and lowered her self off the edge of the mattress.

For a minute the room flashed black and began to spin, stubbornly she gritted her teeth until the wave of dizziness passed, clutching the edge of the bed to prevent herself from collapsing.

Shakily she glanced down at the simple night dress she wore, smiling when she discovered a slightly burnt pentagram returned to its rightful place around her throat.

"It wasn't a dream." She whispered to herself sparing a thought for her deceased guide. Dracula was dead and she was free…she was human and for the first time in over a month, she was about to confirm that she really existed.

Her bare feet carried her unsteadily across the room to where the full length mirror rested against the wall. Taking a deep breath she stepped in front of it and scrutinised the pale figure staring back at her.

Sarah trembled as for the first time she saw two clear white scars on her throat.

"Well that's not pretty." She muttered smiling; surprising herself with how easily she accepted the permanent scars that marred her skin.

She'd made peace with what they represented… made peace with Dracula, now all there was left to do was make peace with her friends.

Her own reflection was strange to her and she regarded it critically, astonished at how much weight she had lost and the gaunt, and exhausted appearance of her face. Groaning she sat heavily on the edge of the bed.

"I look like hell." She muttered.

A thought occurred to her and she recalled the wounds that had refused to heal on her stomach after Velkan's attack. Slowly she pulled up the hem of the dress and looked back into the mirror.

Three pale lines stretched parallel to one another across her naval. She raised her hand and brushed them with her fingers, relieved that they were not as horrendous as she imagined. She cocked her head to one side deciding that actually, they looked kind of cool.

A high pitched squeal made her slip from her perch on the bed in shock. She landed hard on her backside, groaning as pain shot up her spine. She turned her head to see Amie staring at her from the doorway.

They stared at each other Amie's hand covering her mouth in shock to see Sarah awake, Sarah shifted uncomfortably and pulled herself painfully to her feet. Her friend visibly jumped as she stood up, nearly drawing back from the room.

A hot stab of pain entered Sarah's heart…whatever she'd done as a vampire, maybe they would never be able to trust her…what if they always feared her.

She was shocked to see tears in Amie's eyes.

Swallowing hard she took a single step forward.

"Hi Amie…" she whispered.

Amie blinked starting at her words; slowly she took one cautious step into the room, then another before she broke into a run and leapt at her friend.

Sarah fought to keep her balance as she found herself painfully crushed in a hard embrace, drowning in a mass of dark hair.

Her lungs constricted and her eyes widened as she fought for air.

"Amie…Amie…I …do…actually…need...to…breathe now!" she gasped laughing.

"Oh I'm sorry!" Amie spluttered pulling back to look at her friend properly. "You're awake!! You scared us to death!" she scowled laughing brightly through tear filled eyes.

Sarah grinned and gestured to the mirror behind her friend "Check it out, I exist!" she said brightly.

Amie grinned brightly "You do forgive me for the whole sword in the back thing right?" she asked.

Sarah blinked giggling. "Sword in the back, when was that?"

Amie stared at her "Right after you bit Jory…don't you remember?"

Sarah swayed slightly in horror, feeling a sick churning in her stomach as flashes came back:

Jory screaming clutching his ruined wrist…Amie with her sword. She felt the cold metal of the blade slice into her skin, felt her own hands tearing it out and throwing it carelessly away.

"Oh god is he alright?" she asked fearfully.

Amie nodded smiling "You know Jory, afterwards he thought it was the best thing in the world, the guys are really proud of their battle scars."

Sarah was about to question her further when they both turned to see Carl entering the room.

"Sarah? What on earth are you doing out of bed!" he exclaimed in shock.

To the girls utter amazement, Carl shuffled in, picked Sarah up and placed her firmly back among the bed-sheets.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Great I'm an invalid now." She muttered, Amie grinned at her.

Carl continued to potter around.

"Honestly you nearly died and you just get up and walk around." He was muttering "anyone would think you have a death wish."

"Nice to see you too Carl" Sarah said sweetly while Amie grinned.

He looked up startled, as if he'd only just realized she was really awake. "Well of course I'm glad to see you're awake." He said sheepishly giving her hand a fond squeeze. "But as your acting doctor I'm telling you to stay in bed! You don't regurgitate complete vampire organs and come out of it right as rain."

Sarah blinked and shuddered at the memory. "That part I remember." She muttered.

Carl took her pulse and temperature looking thoughtful "Well yes it was disgusting…but the specimens were fascinating, you wouldn't believe how they respond to…" he trailed off at the look on his patients face.

"What?"

Sarah gave the friar a questioning look. "Carl…tell me you didn't keep any pieces." He shifted his feet and glanced away nervously.

"No big ones." He muttered.

Sarah wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Never show me." She pleaded going pale at the thought.

Carl beamed at her before hurrying away to inform the others that she had finally awakened.

She was laughing with Amie when the lads finally walked in. The laughter died in her throat when she saw the calculating way they looked at her, she swallowed hard and unconsciously sank down further under the bedclothes.

An uncomfortable silence descended upon the group, Tony unconsciously rubbing the gauze covering the minor puncture wounds on his throat.

Jory approached the bed and held up his bandaged wrist. "Ok basic war rules…NO BITING! Who knew you could fight dirty!" he exclaimed laughing.

Sarah smiled at him tentatively still unsure about herself around them. It didn't help that every few seconds she'd get a flash of herself throwing them into walls, or taunting them from the shadows.

Bob stepped around him, perching on the bed at Amie's side. "Well you know she was a vampire concubine Jo, biting was to be expected." He said grinning.

Sarah smiled brightly at him "Ok just so you know, I'm against the concubine thing." She said not bothering to hide her amusement.

Chris smiled at her, "Where did you learn to be so damn scary?" he asked in amazement.

Sarah grinned looking at Tony "You hang out with Tony for a few years and you pick up some sadistic things."

Tony blinked rising to the bait "Woman I was never that sadistic! I was mentally preparing you for the brutality of the real world."

Sarah smirked at him "Is that what that was?"

Bob laughed loudly while Amie pulled a face but chose not to comment, absently pulling Sarah's hair back into a plait out of the way of her face.

"So how are you feeling?" asked Marston in concern.

Sarah winced. "Like I got hit by three double-deckers one after the other, and Bob was driving them all."

Bob scowled while the others sniggered. "Hey I'm a good driver!" he said indignantly.

Amie felt her friend's temperature "I think you need many fruits and tea!!" she announced getting up and tugging bob with her. "Come on Hunskull, help me make tea."

Bob groaned climbing to his feet and pulling her into his arms. "I am a good driver." He muttered.

Amie tugged him out of the room "Yes you are Monkey!" she assured him sweetly.

Sarah eyed the remaining friend's cautiously. "So did I do anything embarrassing while I was…" she struggled for the right words.

"Under the influence?" supplied Chris helpfully.

They all broke into smiles much to Sarah's amusement "Yeh that." They all shook their heads and Sarah was pleased when Jory pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Promise me you won't try to eat me again ok? Cuz vampire bites hurt." He said smiling as he pulled back.

She winced looking at his bandaged wrist. "In my defence I was very hungry."

She glanced at the gauze on Tony's throat remembering the taste of his blood as it flowed into her mouth. Repulsed she gestured towards him.

"Argh sorry about that, see when they tell you smoking will kill you it's the one thing vampires hate, so maybe you should have been a smoker." She said sweetly, overjoyed at how easily the comment rolled off her tongue despite the turbulent emotion behind them.

He grinned. "Thinking about it."

Maybe nothing had changed.

Jory sat on the edge of the bed grinning "So did you shag Dracula?" he asked bluntly. Everyone gaped at him.

Sarah laughed nope nothing had changed at all.

Sarah smiled at him in amusement. "No, definitely did not shag Dracula." She laughed.

"Did you want too?" asked Chris intrigued.

Sarah laughed again "Nope…but…he was a good kisser." She said dreamily.

Amie and Bob walked back in handing around steaming mugs of hot tea.

"Who was a good kisser?" Bob asked curiously.

Sarah shrugged "Dream Dracula was a better kisser than actual Dracula."

Silence descended on the group as they stared at her. Sarah noticed their bemused expressions and hurriedly began to drink her tea.

"And from that little comment gentlemen, she's definitely as weird as ever." Marston said grinning.

Sarah grinned at him then patted Amie's hand to get the girls attention.

"Ok Amie our mission, when we get home, is to find me a boyfriend who is not…" she raised her hand counting off her fingers.

"Dead, homicidal, mentally unstable/disturbed, confused about his sexuality, gay/bi-sexual, a vampire, otherwise unavailable…" here she glared pointedly at Tony who smiled apologetically.

"Or is already in the "Friend zone"." She finished, this time throwing a disgusted look in Marston's direction, much to his amusement.

Amie rolled her eyes, Bob grinned, looking over at Chris who was staring thoughtfully out of the window.

"Just wondering" Chris said looking back at Sarah. "Now that Dracula's dead does that make you a widow?"

Sarah was about to answer, but froze when a phantom pain tingled at her skull and an image of Chris wielding a morning star flashed through her mind. Chris watched as she winced and raised a shaking hand to the spot.

He shared a frantic look with Tony and then turned back to Sarah who was gazing blankly at him.

It wasn't the pain that had brought the look of horror to the girl's eyes, but the images preceding it…the reason he had hit her. She felt Amie and Tony clawing and struggling in her grasp as she mercilessly throttled the life out of them, the other flashes had been nothing compared to this…nothing compared to the terror on their faces and her own remembered feelings of amusement, as they hung in her grasp like rag dolls.

"Oh god" she whispered tears sliding down her face.

Chris gave her a stricken look sure that she was crying because of the pain he caused her. He opened his mouth to apologise, and was shocked when she flung herself at him, hugging him fiercely.

"Oh god, thank you for stopping me Chris I could have killed them!" she pulled back from the startled boy and looked from Amie to Tony in shame. "I'm so sorry."

Chris blinked "Wait your glad I crushed your skull into a bloody pulp?" he asked perplexed.

They talked for over an hour making amends for deeds on both sides, re-building bridges that could have been easily destroyed. The group then began filling Sarah in on finding Valerius' tomb and figuring out that the sword killed Dracula, Jory animatedly acting out parts of their storm of castle Dracula.

"So Anna's got Igor by the throat right, and she says "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hang you again!" …and he actually had to think about it!" Jory said laughing.

Sarah smiled and then frowned when her stomach gurgled loudly; everyone looked at her in shock before breaking into giggles.

She blushed furiously "What, I haven't eaten anything for like a month!! Dying a couple of times really makes you have an appetite."

"Indeed." Said Marston grinning at her, clearly remembering their conversation the night before she left and her small meal in the alleyway. She smiled shooting him a warning glance; she still didn't want everyone to know about the stray cats.

After Sarah pulled on a loose brown peasant dress, they made their way down to the kitchen.

The windows of the manor had all been uncovered allowing shafts of sunlight to illuminate the dark corridors. Sarah froze automatically as they neared the first one and made to walk up the wall to avoid it.

At the resulting thud, her friends turned and found her lying bewildered spread eagled on the carpet. They all burst out laughing.

She grinned "I'm gonna have to get used to being earth bound again."

Tony patted her playfully on the shoulder "its evil devil worshipping Sarah come back to destroy the world."

She grinned at him clambering painfully to her feet and wincing as she felt a dull throbbing at the base of her spine, it was good to be back.

Marston hung back as the group went ahead and Sarah frowned worried at the cold look on his face. She realised how he must have felt when he found out she had tried to kill herself, hours after they had been talking, how betrayed he must have felt.

Taking a deep breath she met his gaze. "So how pissed off at me are you?" she asked tentatively.

He looked at her sharply. "I'm not mad at you, I'm angry at myself."

The girl blinked in confusion. "How come?"

Marston sighed continuing to follow the others through the manor. "When we were talking the other night…I knew you were acting weird, you had this whole false bravado thing about you. I should have known something was up then."

Sarah shook her head "You couldn't have guessed what I was planning…that was the point; I wanted to slip away quietly…"

"You weren't even gonna leave a note?" he asked the hurt evident in his voice.

She winced at his tone ashamed. "I was honestly!...I just… didn't know what to write. "Hi having vivid fantasies about ripping you all to shreds so gonna go burn myself now, have a nice life love Sarah." Didn't seem to say it somehow." She said lightly attempting humour and failing miserably.

Marston paused mid-step turning to glare at her. "Any thing would have been better than finding Tony sitting outside on his own just staring!" he said furiously.

He watched angrily as she didn't meet his gaze staring at her feet. "You have no idea what it was like for us do you? To wake up one morning and be told that the girl you had laughed with just a few hours ago had decided to up and kill herself! We deserved something Sarah!"

They stood alone in the corridor now, the others having long walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Sarah blinked back tears as she finally met Marston's angry expression.

"Amie and Bob and everyone else have dealt with it their own way, they worked it through at the castle, or they randomly decided to put their fist through a wall…they've forgiven you!" he said loudly.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "Your right, I can't possibly know what I made you, and everyone else go through…but you know why I did it and if I had to… I'd do it again."

Marston started to walk again, his gaze firmly ahead as he said calmer this time. "You always said if anything ever happened and you'd have too…you'd give your life if it meant your friends could live."

She nodded. He looked at her again his eyes unusually bright with unshed tears. "I never thought you meant it…but you did."

She smiled sadly. "I meant it…" she said.

They paused finding themselves outside of the kitchen hearing animated conversations within.

Marston pulled her into a hug and she gladly rested her head on his shoulder. "Thanx." He whispered.

She pulled back frowning. "What for?"

He flashed her a bright smile. "For sacrificing everything for us…me- I would have just swallowed a bullet."

She smiled accepting his last comment as her forgiveness and they entered the kitchen together.

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

Note: please let me know what you think of these truthfully because im struggling with these last few chapters and critisim only serves to help me make them better : )

Re-reading this I noticed allot of grammer and spelling errors so have gone back to amend them so if you guys notice anymore let me know!!