A/N: I would like to say a BIG thank you to all of my reviewers! I know that I don't thank you guys enough, but I really do appreciate it. As for the story, I think that there are still a few chapters left to go. It should be done just before the new school year starts. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please review to let me know!


I felt myself being pulled through the gateway by the count, and for some reason I shut my eyes tight. Just a few seconds later I felt a freezing cold wind hit me, mixed with ice and snow. I opened my eyes and was both amazed and terrified at what lay before me.

Rising up hundreds of feet in the air before us was a black castle that appeared to have been carved from the mountain side. It had many towers and battlements that rose up into the clouds, and sat on what I realized was the highest mountain peak around.

The very air surrounding the castle was ominous, and it seemed to me that Hell itself had spat up this monstrous palace for its dark prince.

I looked around me and saw that Lord Valerious had been right: there certainly was no way to escape from the castle. The walkway where we stood that led to the castle entrance rose up hundreds and hundreds of feet from the ground below. Vladislaus, however, seemed to be very pleased with his new home, and gave a deep, cold laugh as he looked up at it.

"Well, my dear. I think that this will do for our new palace, don't you?" He looked over at me, and noticed the frightened, uncertain look that I wore.

"Oh don't be scared, my love. This place is ours now, and you have nothing to fear here."

With this he kissed me, and then led me towards the enormous front gates of the castle. The gates themselves looked as though they had been designed for the use of a giant, and the front doors were even more so. Both the gates and the front doors swung open for us magically, as if welcoming their master.

Stepping inside, I was left speechless by the size of the foyer. I had never seen a hall this large before. Great carved stone pillars rose up to the dark ceiling, and as I watched numerous large torches lit themselves around the hall.

The walls of the foyer were made of a shiny black stone, which reflected the light of the torches eerily. The large doors shut behind us with a thud, and I heard the clang of iron as they were bolted. Even though I loved Vladislaus, I began to wonder what I had done. I was now locked in a frightening stone fortress with a man who possessed dark, terrible powers.

All of the torches had now been lit, but sinister shadows danced around the room, and the ceiling above was still cloaked in darkness.

The count looked around at his new palace with a grin, pleasure clearly written on his face. He circled the room, and then made his way over to one of the giant stone pillars. I watched in horror and confusion as he stepped up and began to walk up the pillar to the ceiling.

He did this with ease, as if he did not even think about what he was doing. I did not move from my spot in front of the great doors, but continued to watch him, speechless.

He reached the ceiling and began speaking to me as he walked across it, telling me of things that we could do to make our new home more "comfortable". I could not answer him, and finally he sighed, looking down at me. I watched in awe as he dropped down to land on his feet right in front of me. Seeing the look on my face, he threw his head back and laughed.

"It is wonderful, isn't it my love? The freedom that I have…and soon you will know what it is like."

I didn't know what he meant my this, and I decided that I didn't want to know.

"Freedom? You call being banished to this…prison freedom?"

His smile faded somewhat, but I could tell that he was not angry. I had seen his anger enough to know.

"Katrina….freedom is what you make of it. Besides," he added, looking around him, "I may just grow wings to fly from this place when I wish to."

At that moment there was a flash of lightning followed by a terrible crash of thunder, and Vladislaus once again gave a sinister laugh.

"But do not worry, my dear. I promise that you will be happy here; I will make sure that you are." His fingers played with a lock of my hair, and then caressed my face gently.

"Come, let us find a suitable chamber for you. You seem quite exhausted, and I'm sure that you are."

I suddenly realized that I was very tired for some reason, and I followed him up an enormous staircase and into more twisting halls. He seemed to know exactly where he was going, and never once seemed to be lost. The castle's halls were every bit as foreboding as the outside had been, and I stayed close beside Vladislaus.

At last we stopped at a large, carved door, which unlocked and opened easily for us to enter. I stepped inside, and found myself amazed at the size and furnishings of the room.

It was quite dark inside, even when the candles in the room were lit. Against one wall was a grand canopy bed, draped and covered in dark silks. Several great curtain-covered windows lay along the far wall, along with a door that led onto a balcony. There was also a large fireplace, and an enormous elaborate mirror on one wall. A dresser, a settee, and several chairs lay around the room.

I noticed a dressing screen in one corner, and I realized that this room had been furnished just for the lady of the castle. Admiring the room, I wondered how Vladislaus even knew that it was here. As if reading my thoughts, he put his arm around my waist.

"Does this please you, my love? I knew that you would like this chamber."

All I could do was nod; I felt as though I was in a dream. Then he turned me to face him.

"There is much more to show you, but I think that you need your rest now. Come," he said, taking my hand and leading me to the large bed. I suddenly felt so exhausted that I was barely able to stand, and I felt myself being lifted into the count's arms and onto the bed.

As I drifted to sleep, I barely heard Vladislaus tell me goodnight before leaving and locking the door.

I awoke many hours later, trying to remember where I was. The events of the past evening came back to me, and I walked over to one of the large, covered windows. Pulling the velvet curtains aside, I could see that it was probably late afternoon, though it still snowed.

Glancing at one of the chairs in the room, I noticed something black draped across it. Holding it up, I realized that it was a ball gown made of black velvet. For some reason I decided to put it on, and found that it was a perfect fit.

The neckline was cut very low, and so I put on a large silver cross that had been my mother's.

I decided to explore around the castle, but found that the door was securely locked. Feeling like an animal locked in a cage, I began to grow angry. What gave him the right to lock me in a room, no matter how comfortable, until he saw fit to release me? I decided to take matters into my own hands, and pulling a pin from my hair I began to work at the lock.

It was quite some time before I heard a click, and knew that I had succeeded. Opening the door carefully, I walked out into the hallway. For some reason, it seemed much larger than it had the night before.

I shut the door behind me and began walking away from my chamber. I had no idea where I was going, but for some reason I did not feel afraid.

Torches and candles in the hallways lit themselves as I grew near, and adorning the walls were many paintings and statues. I had been wandering for quite some time when I came upon a grand ballroom.

It was lavishly decorated, with a high, painted ceiling. A large chandelier hung in the center of the room, with dozens of burning candles. I stepped onto the marble floor and walked into the center of the room. There were more statues and paintings here, and on one wall I noticed one that had a familiar face.

Walking over to it, I looked up in stunned silence at a perfect portrait of….me.

I sat wearing a magnificent gown -- the very gown that Vladislaus had given me the night before his death. The deep blue velvet of the gown seemed real enough to touch in the painting. It was very detailed, and even my face and golden hair seemed too real for a portrait.

I stood looking at myself, wondering where this painting had come from. It certainly could not have been done the night that I wore the gown, and I had not had a portrait done in years. I lost track of time staring at the painting, and when I glanced over at one of the tall windows I saw that the sun had set.

Taking one last glance at the painting, I turned and made my way back across the ballroom. I decided to leave through another door, and see where it led. Just as I was crossing the center of the room, I heard Vladislaus speak.

"I am a bit surprised that you did not make your way to the library first, my dear. We have, I believe, one of the largest in the world."

I turned and saw him walking out of the shadows towards me, his hands behind his back in a casual manner. He looked me up and down, a pleased grin on his face.

"I see that you found the gown. I knew that it would be striking on you." I then saw him glance down at the cross, and his smile faded.

"However," he said reaching out and easily breaking the chain away from my neck, "I think that you would be even more beautiful without this. You have no use for it, either." I watched as the cross sizzled and turned into liquid before disappearing in his hand. Although I was frightened by this, I was also angered.

"That cross was my mother's! It was the last thing that I had to remember her by. You had no right…"

"But of what use is it to you, my dear? It can't save you or damn you, so what is the point?" He looked down at me with cold, dead eyes, and I found myself staring back into them. For the first time, I began to feel hatred towards him.

For what felt like eternity I started into his eyes, and I started to feel calm again. What was I thinking? I could not hate him….And then I realized what was happening. His eyes -- they were so comforting, so calm…but so controlling. He was willing me to be calm, to submit to him. Infuriated, I turned from him to leave, but instead I walked straight into him.

"There, there, my Katrina. If it really meant so much to you, I shall find you another just like it. But for now," he said, taking both of my hands in his, "I would like for you to dance with me."

I looked up at him, confused. "Dance with you? But there is no music."

He smiled down at me. "That problem is easily solved."

Suddenly and out of nowhere music began to play. It was beautiful music, strange and enchanting. I felt myself being pulled along by the count, and we began to dance. Dancing with him felt even more wonderful than it had before, and I felt like my feet were not even touching the marble floor. For some time we danced, and I allowed myself to be dipped and spun around the giant room, caught once again in the count's eyes.

Then we stopped, but the music continued to play. Vladislaus pulled me to him and kissed me passionately. He then took position behind me, and began kissing my neck hungrily.

"I want you to be with me forever, Katrina," he suddenly whispered into my ear. "I never want to lose you….I could not bear to lose you."

I closed my eyes, enjoying his touch. "You won't lose me, my lord. I'm right here with you." He stopped caressing my neck and turned me to face him, still holding me tightly against his chest.

"I am already losing you. Every second that passes time is stealing you from me. All too soon you will die, leaving me with nothing but memories."

I stared up into his eyes, confused at what he was talking about. "Everyone must die eventually; it is only what happens. Dying is a part of living." He shook his head. "It doesn't have to be, not for us. Together you and I can live forever, never growing old or sick or tired. Never dying."

I still did not completely understand what he was saying, but I was beginning to grow frightened. He sensed this, and with his voice and mind he calmed me.

"I can give you eternal life, Katrina. You would never know pain again." I shook my head. "I don't understand what you are asking of me. If you wish to make me like yourself, then that is not what I want. And unless I am mistaken, I would have to die first to become like you."

He nodded. "Yes, you would have to die, but only a mortal death. A brief moment of pain, and then it would all be over. And we would exist forever."

I gave myself a moment to think about what he was offering. I did not want to be damned like him, to be the walking dead forever. No, I could not accept what he offered, no matter what. As I thought this, I felt my mind and body relax, and I simply held on to the count's shoulders and looked into his eyes.

As if in a dream I felt his mouth on my neck, gently kissing and licking my skin. I felt him dip me down again and lean over me, his mouth still at my neck.

Suddenly I felt him bite, his teeth piercing my flesh and going deep into my neck.

I gasped, and the dreamy state that I had been in shattered. I was terrified of what he was doing to me. Yet I was unable to fight him, and all I could do was wrap my arms around him tightly. I knew that he was draining my blood and my life, and I wondered what kind of monster he was to do this to me.

As I stared up at the large chandelier above us, I saw everything begin to grow dim. My grip on the count began to weaken, until at last I had no strength left.

The last thing that I remember was being held limply in his arms, watching my blood run down his smiling lips and feeling life slip slowly away from me.