Chapter 11
Katie paced the length of the study thinking hard,
'He went through Ava, to get to me…'
"He is only using her…to draw me to him…and get his revenge on…"
She stopped her blue eyes blazing with anger,
"My death…but I am already dead…oh no…"
She plopped in a nearby chair, white as chalk,
"He wants me to feel his wrath…to…to…Ava! Oh no! What of her?"
She closed her eyes and tears fell through the lashes down her cold face,
'I didn't want this…I only wanted to be free from his will…and now she…is his new victim to it…I need help…he is beyond my power…"
(FLASHBACK)
"Kathryn, do my a favor and go pick some wild herbs for supper tonight…get home soon…you know as well as I the horrors that come out at night here…" Selena, Kathryn's mother warned as the young ten-year-old girl stepped onto the dirt path leading to the woods.
"Yes Mamma…I will be home by the time the sun sets…trust me…" the little girl hugged her mother, grabbed her basket and padded softly down the dirt path.
In her mind she went through the list of items she needed to pluck,
'Mushrooms, bull meadow…' a dark, sinister figure stood in a nearby oak, a small smile on his pale face,
'A young girl such as her should never wander a path at this hour…hehehehehehehehehe' his canines grew long and his black eyes flashed blue.
Kathryn's black hair was pulled back in a braid; she wore a simple, pale blue dress. Her bright sapphire eyes and porcelain skin glimmered in the waning sunlight.
The man grinned as the girl looked cautiously around her and entered the forest.
'So much beauty for a small child…she could be proved useful one day…' the man quickly followed her silent as wind over water.
A clearing of mushrooms and small plants came into view and the path stopped Kathryn stepped over to a stalk, set down her basket and examined the plant carefully,
"Let's see here, you look good enough, mother will be pleased, only eleven more… sigh " she yanked it from the ground and tossed it lazily in the basket,
"Such a job, for such beauty…" Kathryn at once felt herself go rigid with coldness, her heart throbbed, and her eyes widened in fear.
A dark, handsome man with pale skin and fastened raven hair emitted from the shadows of a tree.
His clothing was strange, all black but of very rich quality, his black eyes seemed to pierce through the girl's soul and his smile was to white for her pleasure.
"W…wh…who are you sir?" she stammered backing up from him, her knuckles white around the basket.
"Who am I little girl?" he repeated giving her a smile,
"Please sir, leave me be…I am just picking herbs for my mother…" she whispered feeling the coldness grow more powerful,
"What a shame…you don't know who I am…I know who you are…" his black eyes flashed blue and his white smile flashed, his canines grew.
"Nosferatu!" Kathryn yelped dropping the basket to the ground, her body shaking in immense fear,
"It is day yet! Why do you not scorch in the sun's rays?" she gasped backing into a tree.
The vampire shrugged and stepped full into the circle of light a gleaming smirk on his thin lips,
"I guess I am just one of a kind…perhaps…" he advanced towards her,
"Who are you!" she demanded clenching her fists by her sides, pressing herself against the tree,
'I am trapped!'
"Kathryn darling, there is no need to be in fear…despite my…reputation…" his smirk widened, and his fangs extended over his chin, her heart beat quickened,
She paled, her mouth went ash dry, she made the sign of the cross with her fingers stammering,
"Get thee behind me Count Dracula!" he cackled and whispered,
"My pleasure, my dear…" he appeared behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and went on in her ear,
"I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia, and, my dear, you have the great luck of coming home with me..." the coldness drowned the small child and she fell limp in his grasp as the vampire lord revealed his true image.
…
"Oh Master! She is adorable!" Aleera cried as Dracula set the girl down on the dining table seeming very pleased with himself,
Verona stepped closer to the table a questioning glint in her eyes,
"Master…I feel there is something more to her…we must dispose of her! She will be the death of us all!"
Marishka cackled manically and stepped up to the unconscious child and pointed at her smirking,
"Verona, my dear, that little girl could not hurt us! We are immortal! She is just a mortal! Do not fear…perhaps you just need some fresh blood or long slumber…"
Dracula walked over to Verona's side and wrapped an arm around her waist,
"My darling, Marishka is quite right she is to be your servant and that is all do not fear" he looked deep into her anxious eyes, smiled warmly, and added in undertone,
"If it makes you feel any better…you can rest with me…" his eyes shone a deep blue,
Verona smiled weakly casting her eyes from the slumbering girl and into the Counts' a new light bright in her face,
"I think that would make me feel much better master…thank you…"
(Flashback End)
Katie shook her head from her dream, the room was cast in shadow, the moon was rising in the west, and the exhausted girl sighed deeply,
"I am weary for some unknown reason…I only hope that my rest will not be a mistake in my part…" she yawned big, crossed over to the leather couch, set herself on it and closed her eyes, into, she hope would be a dreamless sleep, but to her horror, was a replay, flashback of a nightmare she prayed she would never have to recall again…
A/N: I am sorry I have not updated in such a long time! I had a major writer's block…lol but thank goodness, I am out of it now! R/R! Please! Flames are welcomed!