A/N:

Yaaay! My first chapter from the POV of Dracula! I was planning on having a chapter in this story in a different point of view. I wanted to get a more rounded beginning for the entire story, if that is at all possible. This chapter takes place three years after the events of my last chapter. I feel like I jumped to far forward in time, do you think I did? I tried my best to do a smooth transition between the events of the last chapter, and what is now taking place.

Countess Alana: I hope you get the small reference! I won't tell you where!
Widow Dracula: Here's more of the brides, I hope I have written they're characters to your satisfaction! Please let me know!

Chapter 2

I chose not to bother her after she left Translvania, bound no doubt for France, or Spain. Those were places I rather chose not to visit. I smiled at myself, realizing that I had given her and her kin a false sense of hope. They thought they had escaped me, but they hadn't, and they never would.

"My lord," Verona breathed, wrapping her long arms around me. I sneered. She would never give me warmth. She kissed my face gently, reaching up with her pale, delicate hand to touch my cheek. "We go out tonight to feed. Come with us…" She murmured. I could hear the melded voices of Aleera and Marishka behind us, whining, pleading. I remained seated at my desk, concentrating my hardest on the task at hand.

"Please!" Aleera whined, her voice melodious. Verona tightened her grip about me and smiled. Marishka took a cautious step forward, and took my hand gently.

"Come with us…" Marishka breathed. Their voices began to grow louder, pleading. With every request they made that I ignored, they slowly began to become hurt. Verona pulled away from me and went to Marishka, they're eyes shining with unshed tears. Tears would never fall from those eyes again, I had made sure of that. Aleera remained rooted to her spot.

"You never think of us anymore!" Aleera complained. Her beautiful voice so high pitched. "You only think of your revenge!"

"You only think of the Valerious and Aviere. Families that you could have killed long ago!" Marishka chimed in, backing away from me and towards Aleera. Verona followed slowly behind.

"You only think of that servant girl!" Verona finished, sending their whines to full out screaming. I covered my ears, trying my best to not lose my temper. I failed miserably.

"You try my patience!" I bellowed angrily. They screamed and hissed in agony, wrapping their arms about each other for comfort. I rose from my seat and walked by them, towards the door. "Go and feed." I ordered. They slowly grew silent, realizing that their ploy would not work. I turned to them and sneered. "I will have a pleasant surprise for you when you return." I finished. They all shrieked in delight and rushed to me. I welcomed them with open arms.

"My darlings…" I said quietly, touching each one of them tenderly. "You know I love all three of you." I whispered, knowing full well that they would melt under my touch. And they did. They were like putty in my hands. "Now go, and have your fill. I have a plan I must put to action." I said. They hissed and laughed in delight, their frail bodies flying towards the balcony that lay beyond my desk.

"I will miss you!" I heard Aleera call. Marishka and Verona took her arms, and they leaped into the air, taking off into the night. I smiled as they left. They were truly my lovers, and my protégés, mixed into three beautiful, young women. I turned away and headed towards the door, a smirk on my face.

"Christine…" I murmured. "My Charlotte, my enemy and my fascination…" I said quietly. It had been too long since I had last seen her. Three years to be exact, and it was about time I paid her a visit.

I walked down the hallway, wrapping around myself my cloak. It had truly been too long. I was beginning to miss her. Ha! As if I would. My plan had been in the works for three years! It was about time that I put it to action.

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"Christine,

I write this letter knowing that by the time you read it, you will be far away from this place and forgetting all that has happened in the short time you were here. The trials you have been through have been nothing short of dangerous. I am both surprised but pleased to see that you have handled it with as much grace and tenacity as you have. Most other women save for my sister would have panicked if put in your situation, but I sense within you an insurmountable strength, which I now sense within your cousin as well. I suppose it to be due to the immense burden that your family has been put under for so long, as mine has as well. I must confess, though it embarrasses me to say it, I am happy to know that there are others who fight the Count with as much hatred and loathing as I do, perhaps more. But, I will not talk of that now. Let me pause for a moment to gather my thoughts.

I imagine you sitting underneath the cool shade of a tree, in the bright light of day, surrounded by friends and family, protected, something you could never have if you had stayed here. I imagine your dark hair clipped up high on your head, the sun shining its sweet rays upon it. I imagine you wearing the finest of gowns, sitting upon the softest cushion Europe can offer. I can envision you reading this note and I suppose as you read it you laugh, wondering why I would ever write to you? I only write to warn you.

Wherever your travels may lead you, I hope it will be somewhere safe. I could not tell you this morning, for we had so little time together alone to talk, and I must confess, I was a bit flustered, as I usually am, when in your presence. But, I will tell you now. I have spent many years in the pursuit of the Count, and have learned only one thing, which I will now pass on to you. He is a man of great powers and strength. Else, he would not have survived from generation to generation. I will also tell you he is the most persistent being on this Earth. Please, I beg of you, do not take my warning lightly, which I am sure you will not. Keep safe.

I have dealt with the Count my whole life, as has my sister, and also my father, and his father before him, generations past. Everyone has perished at his hand save for my sister and I. When will it be my turn? When will it be my sister's? I know not. But I know when it is my turn that I will face him and fight him with all that is in my being and more. I will do it for my sister, and I will do it for myself. But, most of all, I will do it for you. I hope you remember that.

May you and your cousin be safe on your long journey home. I bless you both and protect you. God only knows in these days and years to come whether you will need it or not. Perhaps someday, through some fluke, or dare I say destiny, our paths may cross again. I hope for that, as much as I hope for an end to this endless fight. Until we meet again.

Yours eternally,

V. Valer."

It had been three years since I had first read that letter, hidden away from the prying eyes of my cousin, on our trip home from the ghastly occurrences of those few days. As I read it that first time, my heart soared, catching the insinuations and small confessions he had made. He admired me, but it came only to late.

I treasured that letter, as I treasured the brief time we had spent together. So many times had I read and reread the poor slip of paper that the creases had begun to rip and tear through overuse, and still I kept it. I sat now in the drawing room of my home, safe from the wandering eyes of William and my uncle and aunt, reading the note yet once again. Did he truly feel that way for me, or was it simply something that I had fabricated within my mind, seeing confessions where there were nothing but innocent goodbyes?

I quickly hid the note away within the pages of my book, making sure to not damage it more than it already was. I could hear William calling for me, his voice growing even more worried as he didn't hear my answer. I smiled and put the book gently back on the bookshelf and headed directly towards the door, taking one final look back at the room before leaving.

Of course, he still haunted me. The Count had kept his promise, after all these years. He never manifested himself in person, not since that night he had touched me so tenderly. He came to me instead in dreams, tormenting me and calling my name forevermore. He came but once to my cousin William, sending him into a panic, and never returned. Since that night William insisted he share a room with me, so petrified his dream had made him. It almost amused me, but calmed my worries knowing my cousin was close to me always.

I asked him one day what exactly had transpired in that dream, what the Count had told him that had sent him into such a panic, but William's eyes only grew dark at the mention. He turned away from me and merely walked away, his head slumped. I never asked him again.

"Christine!" he called loudly, almost shrieking. "Where are you, Christine!" I smiled and followed his calling voice, finding him in the gardens. He turned to me, smiling. "Where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I was in the drawing room, reading." I answered quietly. He laughed and took my arm.

"Come, Christine. I would like to show you something." He said. He ran suddenly, tugging me behind him. I could barely keep his pace. He stopped suddenly in front of a fountain and ordered me to sit.

"What is it?" I asked. He smirked and paced back and forth before me. He pulled from his pocket a small trinket. I looked at him, somewhat confused.

"It is a gift for you." He said simply. "It came by post." He approached me and took my hand. He laid it gently in the palm. It was a pendant, a cross.

"Who is this from?" I asked. William shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, Christine." He said. It was silver, gleaming in the sunlight. "This came with it." He continued. He pulled from his vest a small piece of paper. I took it, more than ever intrigued.

"It's beautiful…" I murmured quietly to myself. My eyes drifted from the note, the crucifix catching my attention more than ever. "Where did it come from?" I asked. My cousin smiled.

"From an unknown address, it appears." He said simply. "Read the note, perhaps you can make heads and tails of it. I could not." William paced in front of me for some moments, impatience marking every footstep and after a moment, he resigned himself to sitting beside me. I looked down at the note.

William noticed my unusual silence after a moment and spoke up.

"Well, do you know who it is?" he asked. I looked to him and smiled as best I could, though I knew that this was only the beginning of a new trial.

"An old friend." I said simply. He narrowed his eyes in confusion, not understanding what was happening. After a moment, William smiled.

"Well, that pleases me…" he said, rising from his spot on the fountain. He reached out to me with his hand. "It is getting dark, Christine. We must be in by now." He said. I nodded after a moment, lingering on the fountain and taking one final look at the note. I hid it away and took my cousin's hand, allowing him to lead me home. It was signed with a large letter "D". It was starting again. If it had ever ended at all.