Chapter 3

Words failed me as I looked at Velkan. My shaky gaze could only gaze past him at the sudden shattering of glass. The music stopped suddenly, sending everyone into a panic as bodies were being picked up by flying beasts, to be devoured completely, and drained utterly. Velkan still held my arm as tightly as before, surprised at the sudden outburst. I fought to free myself until he finally released me.

"Go!" he bellowed. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, pushing my way through the panicking crowd. Velkan followed behind, so close that I could feel his heavy breathing at my neck. "Anna!" he yelled. He found her not far away, fighting her way through the crowds. As her eyes met her brothers, a challenging smile graced her red lips.

"Brother, we must leave!" she screamed. She pushed her way through the crowd coming to his side. "Why are they doing this?!" she yelled. Velkan did not reply. I ran ahead, trying my best to reach the door. Suddenly, I ran into a hard object, knocking me to the floor.

"Ahh…Christine…" the figure said. The screams were as loud as ever as everyone rushed to leave the room. I had lost Anna. Velkan had disappeared. "It has been years, my dear." He said silkily. The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I heard his voice. My voice faltered as I stood, backing away from him.

"Get away from me…" I said, my voice barely audible. "Leave me! I never want to see your foul face again!" I yelled. His expressionless faced became angry. I turned and ran in the opposite direction, fighting my way through the crowds, catching glimpses of panic stricken faces, catching glimpses of those who had already been taken from this life.

I ran as hard as my legs could carry me, wanting so much to escape from this den of madness. How quickly this happy event had turned sour. My eyes searched so desperately for an exit, any exit at all. It was not long after beginning my search that I soon began to realize that someone called to me.

"Christine, sweet Christine…" I heard. The voice grew stronger until I realized that it came from before me. The voices of three women, all around me, calling my name, their clothing barely touching my skin. I fell to the floor, covering my ears and hiding my face. Their voices drove me to madness.

"Leave me!" I screamed.

They taunted me even more as I said this, calling out to me louder and louder, their voices becoming like cackles. I covered my ears, closing my eyes tighter still.

Suddenly, as quickly as they had come, they had left. Feeling a gentle touch at my shoulder, I looked up, finding the evil figure I had seen only moments before. It had become a man. The screaming people had gone, the room was completely empty. The only others with me were the three strange women, their eyes dancing with happiness.

"Who are you?!" I screamed. He reached out to touch me, but I pulled away, standing myself up. I turned and ran in the opposite direction, only to be stopped by the women, their eyes red and glowing. Hissing, they threw me to the ground once again.

"You do not speak to him in that way!" they hissed in anger, running so quickly to me they almost flew. They circled me, one by one throwing insults, their voices melding to one. I covered my ears, closed my eyes, wanting so much to just disappear.

"Stop!" his voice bellowed, sending them silent. They appeared suddenly by his side, whining and whimpering, stroking his face gently: pleading. I looked away and stood, shaking my head as hard as I could.

"Leave me." He said suddenly. They disappeared and reemerged at the opposite end of the room. I closed my eyes tightly, and I felt him behind me once again, pressing my shoulder with his hand.

"You know me." He said as we once again reappeared in the panic stricken room. "Your soul knows and recognizes me."

"I don't." I said quietly, unable to move.

"But you do, and you know it." He answered simply. His hand reached up to touch my hair, pulling a single pin that held it up. "Your family knows me." He continued. Tears slowly began to form as I felt the pressure of the pin at my neck. Feeling a sudden slice, I screamed out in pain. The women smiled at me. I felt him lean in close, death's cold breath on my neck. The blood was running freely.

"Why do you torture me…?" I whispered. My legs fell from under me as I began to cry freely. He caught me under the arms holding me up firmly. I felt his tongue at my neck as he licked up the blood.

"Stop it!" I said angrily. He held me only tighter.

"Go!" I bellowed once again. His patience had worn thin, his face soon growing angry with rage. He shoved me through the crowds, through the window, out into the night.

"You like the night!" He screamed, his face contorting into anger. "I saw you out here as I approached! This does not belong to you! It belongs to us!" my eyes widened in fear as his face became demon-like, his teeth like blades

I looked desperately around me once again, trying to find an escape. The demon had backed me tight between himself and the stone railing of the gardens. I had nowhere to run. He sneered at me angrily, and reached his hand up to touch my heaving chest.

"There is nothing you can do dear." He said simply. "Nothing you can do at all." My eyes never stopped searching.

It was through the window that I caught a glimpse of Anna, and as her eyes met mine, she rushed to help me, pulling from her skirt a concealed weapon. As he looked at me, I once again recognized his face as it slowly became a man's. He turned around and saw Anna hurrying towards him, weapon drawn. It took a moment before he called to the three women, finally releasing me.

"Tomorrow, Anna!" he yelled, smiling at her, and in moments, he had gone. I stood alone once again. Anna rushed to my side, confusion in her face. Velkan arrived not long after, rushing to his sister, throwing a quick look at me.

"He seemed interested in you." Anna said suddenly. Velkan's eyes widened in surprise as his steady gaze met mine. Seeing my neck bleeding, he approached me and pulled my hair gently to the side.

"He hasn't bit her, it appears." He said simply. Anna smiled, relieved.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, as he produced a small handkerchief and pressed it gently to my neck. "Did he say anything?" Anna stood not far behind, not hearing a word her brother said. His face seemed so earnest, wanting. My mouth opened to answer.

"No."

The word had left my lips before I had even had a chance to think. He pulled back, somewhat surprised. I finally caught a glimpse of his eyes, a dark blue, almost black. His eyes locked on my lips, as mine locked on his eyes. The silence was broken suddenly by his voice.

"You are lying." He said simply. "He could have taken you right then and there. He had more than enough time to do it. There was a reason he didn't" Velkan answered, applying a bit more pressure to my wound. I flinched in pain. Taking my hand he applied it to the wound. I flushed slightly as his palm covered my own for a moment.

"Hold your hand tightly to the wound, it should stop the bleeding." He said, somewhat coldly. Turning to face Anna, he asked a question.

"Anna, what did he yell right before he disappeared? I didn't hear it." Velkan said simply. Anna did not reply for a moment, Velkan grew slightly agitated. "He yelled your name. What did he say?" he asked.

"He said 'tomorrow, Anna'." She answered. His eyes narrowed in confusion. Turning back to me, he smiled.

"Well, it seems we've made a new friend, haven't we?" he said, his gaze locking on me. He approached me once again and smiled. "It seems you've made a very good friend indeed." I could only glare at him in pure anger before I pushed him out of my way and began to head into the ballroom.

"Where do you think you are going?" he yelled following behind me.

"Velkan, let her go!" Anna yelled angrily. "Let her be!" I turned suddenly, my eyes blazing in fury.

"You will leave me alone." I said, my voice quavering. "These things have visited me because you have come here. Wherever you go, these things follow! I do not want to see you again!"