Chapter 16
I did not tell William about the letter. I dared not tell him from whom it truly came. I merely allowed him to lead me indoors, to my room, where he left me to get undressed. A fire had been lit, warming my bedroom comfortably. I pulled the letter from my skirts, holding it with the tips of my fingers as if it were a cursed thing.
"I hate you…" I murmured angrily, stepping carefully towards the fire. I threw the piece of paper in, watching the flame consume it. How could one man hold such ill will towards a family for so long? How could he spend generation after generation exacting his revenge against those who were guilty of nothing but being born? The paper slowly became black, and I turned away. I had done the same with every letter he had sent me throughout the years, and so I did the same with this one.
"Are you alright?" I heard William call from the door, it seemed he had never left. "May I come in?" I smiled. His voice always seemed to lighten my mood.
"Of course." I responded. He peeked his head through the door, a curious grin on his face. His smile wilted as he noticed me.
"What is wrong?" he asked. I forced myself to smile.
"Nothing, nothing at all." I answered. He entered the room, and looked in the fire, noticing a piece of the note he had given me. William turned his gaze upwards, meeting my worried gaze. "Nothing at all." I said simply, turning my back to him.
"Who wrote the note to you, Christine." He asked, his voice quiet and demanding. He stood behind me in perfect silence, awaiting my answer. When none came, he voiced his opinion. "Christine!" he yelled. "You will tell me!" I turned to face him, my face contorted into a look of pure rage.
"You know perfectly well who it was!" I yelled in return. "We live this life as if it is perfect! I hate doing this, day after day after day!" I said, throwing my hands to the side. He returned my angry look with one of his own.
"How do you expect me to help you if you will not tell me a word of what is happening! This is not your burden alone to carry! I will not allow it to be only your burden!" he bellowed. I felt my head to lower, and he looked once again towards the fire. After a moment, William took a deep breath, reaching his hands up to run his hands through his hair. "It is you who wants to make this life seem perfect…burning every note and pretending as if nothing is wrong." He muttered to himself.
Lifting my head, I met his gaze. I walked quickly towards the fireplace, taking a spoke and burning completely what was left of the note. William watched this all as if it were a church tradition. He watched guiltily, as if he had hurt me. He approached me carefully, and reached out to hold the spoke as well, wrapping his hand around my own. I looked back at him and smiled softly. He flashed a smile, and looked once again at the fire.
"How many letters have been written." He asked after a moment, returning his gaze to me. I did not reply. "Christine." He said, his voice slowly becoming angry again. He took a deep breath, calming himself before continued. When he spoke again, it was with a quiet, deadly calm. "Christine, I will ask you one more time, how many of these letters have you received."
"Many. To many to count, William." I answered simply. "He has sent them to me since we left Transylvania." I said quietly. He did not know how to respond. He didn't know what to do. His hand slowly left mine, and he turned away, towards the darkness in the room.
"Why didn't you tell me, Christine?" he asked. I merely shrugged my shoulders. I couldn't tell him why. He paced the room back and forth, frustrated that, try as he might, he could not find a kernel for an answer.
"Fine." he said quietly, yet infuriated. "I am done with this! I am done!" he said, pointing to me. "If you will not allow me to help you, then I will not bother any longer…I cannot do this anymore." He said quietly. I smiled weakly at him.
"I wish I could tell you." I murmured quietly. I longed to tell him, to tell him every vile word that the Count had written to me, but I couldn't. "Please, understand, my cousin." I murmured. I looked towards the floor, my face guilt ridden.
"Alright." He said simply, resigned. He turned quietly and began to leave. "Alright, do as you wish." He whispered. I heard him open the door silently, he stopped momentarily and smiled at me, despite the hurt he was feeling. "I will not push you to do something you feel you cannot do. I just hope maybe some day you will allow me into your confidence." He said, closing it quietly behind him. I remained rooted to where I was, my heart breaking for William. I couldn't tell him. I wouldn't tell him.
I approached my bed, slowly, carefully. And took a seat at the edge, my head buried in my hands. What could I do to stop this? What could I say? My eyes looked out the window, watching the sun disappear through the horizon. There was nothing I could do to protect my family. That was my final thought before I curled myself on my bed and fell asleep.
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The next few hours I spent in comfortable silence. William I heard enter, about an hour after I closed my eyes, quietly putting out the light of the fireplace. For minutes I felt him standing at the other end of the room, his quiet breathing the only other indicator that he even remained. I only tried my best to keep my eyes closed.
His silent steps approached me, and I felt him looking down at me for some seconds. Carefully, I felt him lay a blanket on me, concerned that I should not catch a chill. He reached out gently and brushed his fingertips against my hand, almost in what seemed to be an apology as he pressed his lips gently to my forehead and quietly left. I fell asleep.
I lay there in bed for hours longer, dreaming of nothing, until once again I saw the Count's face. I saw his cold hands at my cousin's throat. Saw his evil sneer as he shot his gaze towards me. I was unable to stop him. I tried to run, truly I did, but to no avail. It was already to late….
"William!" I screamed, shooting up in my bed in a fright. I heard his rushed footsteps across the room. In moments he was at my bedside, reaching out blindly for my hands. I felt him take them, his eyes widened in surprise. I hadn't even known he was there. He had never left my side.
"What is it, Christine?" he asked. William had forgotten our argument completely as he looked at me tenderly. I said nothing. "It was another nightmare, wasn't it?" he whispered quietly. He slid closer to me and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly. I looked blindly forward, remembering what had happened three years ago. His face haunted me even then.
"I dreamt that he killed you…" I said quietly. I felt his body grow still as he held me. He pulled away after a moment and concentrated his gaze on me, always so unwavering. "He had you by your throat." I murmured. He smiled.
"Come now, it was only a dream…" he whispered. "I am here am I not?" he asked. My eyes widened in fear, noticing a hint of movement at my window. It opened so silently, that had I not realized what was occurring, I would not have noticed.
"He is here…" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "He came, as he promised he would…" William furrowed his brow, confusion mastering all his senses. He noticed my eyes locked on something, and he turned slowly and jumped, realizing we were not alone.
"So you are the dear cousin, William…" the familiar voice said, so very quietly. " It is truly a pleasure to meet you. Finally. As for you, dear Christine, I have been awaiting our meeting for quite some time." My cousin glared at him angrily. I felt him reach his hand out to take mine. Clutching it so tightly I felt my hand go numb. Dracula looked towards him, a sneer on his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, lowering his head in a bow. "I am Count Vladislaus Dracula, it is truly an honor." He said. William's eyes widened in shock and wonder. Dracula smiled.
"Nothing to say?" he said, after a moment. My free hand drifted to touch William's shoulder comfortingly. "Christine." He said, turning to me once again. "Nothing to say? You of all people…I would expect more of a welcome than this!" he said, gesturing to us. He turned away and headed towards the window, shutting it carefully behind him.
"Why are you here? Why are you here after three years!" I yelled angrily at him. I forced my hand away from my cousin, approaching him in a fury. William stood as well, hurrying to my side. "I have done nothing to you!" I said loudly.
Dracula laughed and turned his gaze from me to William, whose eyes widened in awe and fear. "You haven't said a word, young William." He commented, his smile almost soft as he looked at him. Dracula turned his unwavering, cold gaze back to me, an amused grin on his face. "I told you I had business attend to. I promised that my dealing with you were not done yet." He said simply. William narrowed his eyes in confusion. His dark eyes shone with confusion as he looked to the Count, shifting his gaze back to me. Clearing his throat, he finally spoke.
"Why?" he asked, so simply. Dracula laughed and turned his attention to William. "What are you here for?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I've merely come to have a moment with Christine." He said, shifting his gaze to me. William glared at Dracula, an infuriated fire in his eyes. "I would like to make a proposition." He continued. William had become confused. He turned his eyes toward me, a question burning on his lips. He then turned towards the Count.
"What do you want?" I asked, worry apparent in my voice as the Count's gaze traveled to my cousin. I reached out blindly and took the hem of William's coat. Dracula noticed this small gesture and laughed.
"Such a touching display of affection." He said, barely stifling a laugh. "I only wished Charlotte was as caring to me…" he continued. He turned away from us and walked briskly to the fireplace, and in moments, he had lit a fire. William glared at him in shock.
"I bring tidings from Transylvania." The Count said quietly. "Anna and Velkan send their regards." My eyes widened in shock, I had not heard their names in so long. He approached me softly, reaching his hand out to touch a lock of my hair. I backed away from him angrily.
"What have you done to them!" I yelled. He smirked handsomely.
"I think you mean to ask what they have done to me." The Count responded. He was silent for a moment. "They are perfectly alright, for the moment that is. Do not worry, I have not harmed a hair on his head." William did not understand the reference. He merely looked on in confusion. I blushed despite myself. Dracula turned his attentions from me, slowly towards William.
"Such a handsome young man." He said, taking in the finery William wore. "My brides would love to have you as a plaything." He continued, quietly.
"Leave here." William said simply. His eyes had taken on a slightly fearful light as Dracula uttered those words. "We want nothing to do with you!" he yelled. In moments he had pulled from his shirt a concealed weapon, aiming it squarely at the Count's chest. I felt William's hand shove me backwards, throwing me to the ground. I looked towards the Count, afraid to see what would happen next. Surprisingly, he laughed.
"Do not aim that foolish weapon at my chest. I have done nothing to threaten you." He said quietly. William kept the revolver aimed squarely at his chest. Dracula laughed loudly.
"You cannot kill me, foolish boy!" he said, his voice almost playful. I rose from where I lay as quickly as I could, but I found I was too late. Before William had even pulled the trigger, the Count had taken his arm, violently twisting it. I heard his scream of pain. Sneering, and throwing me a sideways glance, he turned his attention to William once again, tossing him aside as if he were nothing more than a rag doll. "William, you stupid boy…" he said, sneering down at the slump that was my cousin. "It would have been better for you, had you just stayed as you were."
I rose from where I stood, staring at what seemed to me to be the lifeless body of my cousin on the ground. My heart felt as if it had broken in two. Mustering all the strength I could, I ran to him, but the Count grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I glared up at him angrily, trying to vainly pry his fingers away from me.
"Do not fear me." He murmured, so quietly that I could almost not hear him at all. "Do you forget so easily how tender and caring I could be?" he asked, bringing his gloved hand up to touch my reddened cheek. I cringed as I felt it. "Do you not remember that night? I remember so very well…" he whispered. His hand moved from my cheek to my neck, traveling slowly downwards, towards my heaving chest. He breathed in deeply, feeling my thumping heartbeat. " How delicious that feels…" he said quietly, almost to himself. He sighed deeply, suddenly returning to his senses. "But never mind that. I only come to bring you news. I didn't expect to see your foolish cousin here as well." He said simply. I looked away as I heard the painful moan of William. I glared back at the Count angrily.
"Have you no heart?" I asked angrily. Dracula sneered in response, tightening his grip. I winced in pain. He began to lead me away, quickly towards the bed. I shouted in surprise as he threw me violently against it. "Is this answer enough for you? Hmmm?" he asked. He seemed almost annoyed. Something had truly angered him. "I lost that part of my being long ago…" he said, trailing off. I looked past him, and saw William rise, ever so slowly, from the floor. He turned away and looked briefly towards him. He turned back and smiled.
"I come to make a proposition." He said simply. I winced. William was now fully standing, yelping in pain as he moved his arm. I called out to him.
"William!" I yelled. He looked up, somewhat confused and unaware. In a moment his gaze had locked on me. "William, go and fetch Uncle!" I yelled. He nodded and ran as best he could, but Dracula stopped him. The door had been locked before he even reached the exit.
"Foolish boy." He muttered quietly to himself. I could hear William vainly trying to open the door. In moments he had given up the fight, and fell to the floor a powerless slump. Dracula kept his cold gaze locked on me all the while.
"What is it you have come for!" I yelled angrily. I moved as slowly away from the bed as I could. I heard the Count laugh.
"I've come for you." He answered simply. "And for your cousin, as well. I promised a gift to my darlings." He continued.
A/N:
I added in a bit more conversation, because it seemed to me to be a bit choppy. I hope it sounds much better than it did before!!!
Widow Dracula: Please let me know what you think. Does it look like I've fixed all the problems I've had with this chapter? You were right about the attack on William, it did seem a bit rushed and such. I've tried to add in some more dialogue to clear that up. I just want it to seem like every once in a while, he can unleash his full disdain on the family. I'm sorry about not being clear and choppy! I tend to just assume people know what is transpiring between the lines! I'm trying my hardest to not do that! Please review and let me know what you think. Hopefully, in the next chapter I will have the continuation of the conversation, which will wrap up a lot of the loose ends that I left open in this one!
P.S.
I am glad that you think so highly of my OC's! I've been trying so hard to make them seem believable to the storyline! I hate it when people write fanfiction and don't even attempt to cover up the fact that they are an original character, as I'm sure you feel! That is why I loved reading your fanfiction, Miletta was such a believable character!
BTW: Yes, Hermione and Malfoy do make a cute couple, even though I know that they will never get together!!! I'm also rooting for Ron and Hermione!