Chapter 17
"That can't be the only reason you've come here." I heard suddenly. William was still on the floor, his head lowered. He raised it slowly, his gaze as strong as ever. "I know you, Count Vladislaus Dracula. That cannot be the only reason…you said you had a proposition to make. Make it and leave." He said. In a moment, his small speech had ended. Dracula did not turn to face William. He kept his gaze locked on me.
"You are a smart man." Dracula said after a moment. "I like you. I like your tenacity." He continued, a small hint of amusement in his voice. Dracula turned to him and approached him quietly. He held out his hand, an expectant look on his face. William looked up at him, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
"Take my hand, William Aveire." He said. "Come, do not be afraid. Let me help you up. My apologies for being so rough with you." He went on. Dracula smiled so sincerely, that William looked down for a moment and reluctantly took his hand. The Count pulled him up gently, and patted his back. "Good man. Now go and sit by your cousin." He said. William glared at him angrily, but obeyed silently, coming to my side. I held out my hand to take.
"Now," Dracula said, clapping his hands together in amusement. "For the proposition." He looked to me, a tender smile on his face. "And your help would be invaluable. A ball…" He began slowly. Dracula stopped immediately, furrowing his eyebrows. I didn't know what had happened, why he had stopped so suddenly. But, after a moment I got my answer. I was the first to hear the footsteps hurrying down the hallway. Then moments after, William heard them as well.
A sudden knock erupted from the awkward silence, my Uncle calling to us. "William! Christine!" His voice was panic stricken, as he realized the door was locked. I heard him throw the full weight of his body against it, frustrated that he couldn't get in. "William!" he yelled. Dracula had shot his gaze towards the door, and looked quickly back to us a smile on his face.
"An interesting turn of events, to say the least…" the Count said, his voice slowly trailing off. He shot his gaze towards the door, then back at us once again.
My cousin smirked at the Count, noticing the man growing slightly uncomfortable. "You still want to propose your idea?" William asked. Dracula laughed in response. The bangs at the door came even louder, almost drowning out our voices.
"I really do like you." Dracula responded. William huffed in anger. "And no, I will wait until another time." He said, backing away from us. His opened his arms wide, and walked gracefully towards the fireplace, putting out the light. He turned back to us. A loud crack was heard as the door began to slowly splinter. He sneered.
"Well," he said quietly. "I didn't expect we'd have even more guests. I suppose this could be my fault for acting so recklessly…" He continued silently, almost to himself. The voices began to grow louder, and the knocking ever more persistent. He glanced towards William.
"I think it is about time I should be making my escape." He said, smiling. I rose from my spot on the bed, pulling my cousin up beside me. I had made up my mind to run to the door. But, the Count approached me suddenly, making me jump in surprise.
"Goodbye, Christine. Until we meet again." He said. Reaching out with his hand, he tried to brush his fingers against my hair. I pulled back, avoiding his touch. "Hmmm…" he said. Turning away, he headed immediately towards the French doors. He looked back only momentarily to smile at us.
"Perhaps another time!" he called. "Another time when we won't be interrupted!" The Count jumped out into the night, disappearing without a trace. William stood frozen to his spot, glancing only once at me. We had forgotten completely about William's father outside of the door.
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"He was here." William said calmly as I bandaged his wrist. He winced slightly in pain as I turned it about. "It was him and no other. Ask Christine. She knows!" He continued. Uncle Ferdinand watched us with a dead silence, looking to me with an intrigued expression on his face.
He had finally entered the room only minutes after the disappearance of the Count. His face was reddened with worry and panic as he looked at the both of us. Without even saying a word, he immediately walked us down the stairs, to the library, where we remained still.
"Is this true, Christine?" he asked. I concentrated my gaze on William's wrist, not wanting to meet his immensely powerful gaze.
"Yes." I responded quietly. "It could have been no other. He locked the doors so we couldn't escape. He said he wanted to make a proposition…" I answered, my voice slowly trailing off. I looked up briefly, noticing the whole house in an uproar, voices calling from every direction. Panic-stricken faces looked back at me, pale and worried at the news their ears had just heard. Their thoughts I knew almost as if they were my own. The words were on their lips, though they dared not utter the words. The Count had made himself known to us... I could not tear my eyes away. I had caused this…
I watched as light was being cast into every shadow, men carrying torches running about as if they were mad, calling to each other for help. The housemaids tended to the children, my Aunt and eldest cousin's among them. Clara was there with them, shaking. I looked away for the moment, not wanting to see that scene.
"What proposition?" my Uncle asked. William remained silent, wincing in pain as I slowly slid his shirt off to reveal his bruised shoulder. A small cut was barely noticeable. I smiled weakly at him. "William!" he bellowed suddenly.
"A ball…I think he said a ball…" he answered, his eyes squeezing shut as I applied some medicine. "He was going to say more, but you interrupted him." He continued, looking up to meet his father's gaze. Uncle Ferdinand looked away.
"A good thing I did." Uncle said after a moment, looking to his son and smiling. "Or you most surely would have been done for. Where did all the training I give you go to?" he asked, smiling playfully. "In one ear and out the other, I suppose." I smiled, realizing he was trying to make light of the situation. William smirked.
"As it always has, Father." William answered. I remained silent, applying some bandages to his wounds. Uncle Ferdinand suddenly turned his attention to me.
"Christine, is there anything else you would like to add as well?" he asked. William turned his gaze to me, knowing that there was more. He gently nudged my side with his elbow, urging me on.
I instead, looked around the room we were now in. William and I sat in the library, candles lit on either end of a table we were at. I remained with my cousin tending his wounds at one end, while my Uncle remained on the other side. He sat on the largest seat, acting as if he were a judge presiding over a case. I nodded yes in response to the question.
"He has been writing letters." I said simply. "I have been receiving them these past three years." Uncle Ferdinand narrowed his eyes in confusion, while William merely looked back at me, an expectant look on his face. He wanted to know more.
"How do you know it was him?" Uncle asked. I answered almost immediately.
"Because no other person I know writes with blood and signs with the letter 'D'. I know his writing." I answered. Uncle Ferdinand remained silent for a moment. He soon ventured another question.
"Do you have any of those letters? Can I read them?" he asked. I shook my head. Uncle turned away, not knowing what to do next. William ventured a suggestion, steering away Uncle's train of thought.
"Perhaps we should look into this ball that he mentioned to us." William said simply. Uncle Ferdinand turned to him, smiling.
"You know, boy, I think you are right!" he said, excitedly. He turned to me.
"Did he mention anything in his letters about some sort of ball?" Uncle Ferdinand asked. I thought for a moment, my mind immediately remembering a specific instance.
"His last one that he wrote me, I think he mentioned a masquerade ball. He said he liked them. I don't think there was any sort of reference as to when or where." I said simply. I saw Uncle Ferdinand's eyes light up as I said this. William turned to me and smiled.
"We can use this to our advantage…" Uncle said. He rose from his seat and headed immediately to the door. "We can use this to our advantage indeed!"
A/N:
So, what did you think of the chapter! My god, I've had such writer's block lately it is ridiculous! I hope this one was written better than the last chapter. I think I might be getting some ideas on where I should take this story next, lol.
Countess Alana: I know, I know. I haven't really explained the letters! I also didn't allow Dracula to finish his mini speech, but believe me when I tell you I have some really, really good ideas!
Widow Dracula: I know I haven't given many clues in this chapter. But, have you figured out what Dracula is planning on bringing back for the Brides!!!