Chapter 3

But that was not yet the end. Boris led us from the enormous cathedral, to a tiny building adjoining it. From the small windows, I saw lights within shining, welcoming. Velkan and I approached this building with much more than a bit of hesitation. I looked up momentarily into his eyes, and I noticed him look back at me, relieved that the ceremony had finally ended…that we had finally become man and wife.

"Quickly now, in here." Boris said as he reached the door to the wooden building. He opened the door fully, revealing to us as we approached two men. One was young, no older than 25 or 26, while the other seemed as if he were going to pass at any moment. Even from the short distance away, I could see the smiles of approval as they regarded me. Noticing this, Velkan laid a hand gently on the small of my back, leading me in before him. It was some seconds after that the door was closed behind us, and Boris Valerious approached me.

"Gentlemen, I would like you to meet Christine Aveire." Boris said, placing his hand gently upon my shoulder. I flinched at the sudden contact, but thankfully he did not realize what I had done. The men before us smiled at me, and I nodded in response, not knowing what else I could do. "Christine, Velkan, I would like you to meet attorneys Raul Verone and William Pinckney. They are here to sign the papers." The two men laughed.

"Mr. Valerious," the younger man said, looking to me with a twinkle in his eye. "I think you mean to introduce Miss Christine Aveire, as Mrs. Christine Valerious. I assume that the ceremony is done and over with, true?" Boris was silent for a moment before responding. I turned to see a small smile form at the corner of his lips.

"Yes, for once you are right, Mr. Verone." He said with a hint of gaiety in his tone. "Do you have the documents written up?" he asked. The men nodded, both speaking alternately, explaining the finer details of the document. I felt Velkan's hand brush against my own as they conversed, and I smiled despite myself.

"Come, Christine." The younger man said, holding his hand out for me to take. "Sit by me." My gaze drifted to Velkan, who regarded the man with a suspicious gaze. It was a few seconds before he gestured for me to go, and so I took the young attorney's hand as he rose and offered me his own chair, taking the one beside me.

"No seats for us, I suppose?" Boris said, an amused smirk on his face. The men laughed as they quickly made room around the small table. To me, this seemed much more like a social gathering than a meeting…and their names, how had two foreign men come to be here, of all places? It was then that I immediately voiced my thoughts.

"Those are very foreign names." I said suddenly. Their voices slowly subsided as their attention returned to me. "You aren't from Romania."

"No, we are attorneys for the church, and for your new father, Boris Valerious." The older attorney responded. "We've come from London on special business." They peaked my attention at this final sentence, as a bemused smile slowly crossed my face. Velkan regarded me from across the table, a curious grin on his own face.

"Well," I heard the younger attorney, Raul Verone, say as he cleared his throat. I noticed as he bent over in his seat, going into a bag he had laid carelessly by his side. In moments he pulled from his satchel a folded document. "It took us a bit of time, but we were able to get the documents prepared for you. Do not worry everything is perfectly legal and binding, once you sign, of course." I heard the man say. Boris held his hand out expectantly over the table for the document.

"Sign here." Mr. Verone said, laying the piece of paper before the three of us. Boris, taking a pen in his hand shifted the document in his direction. He signed immediately beside his own printed name, dating his signature. Velkan followed soon after, signing above his father. He signed his name elegantly, and as he did, I soon noticed that he was left handed, as I was.

"Now, Christine, would you be so kind as to sign here?" The older man named William said, taking the pen from Velkan and giving it to me. I glanced at him in hesitation, watching him hold the pen out for me to take. "Go on." He said.

"Beside your name." He said, pointing to a spot beside where my name had been printed. I smiled at the old man before I took the pen and signed my name. "There. All is set and legal." He said once I had finished passing him the pen and the document. The two men signed their names as well below our own, naming themselves as the attorneys who had written the document.

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We all sat around the table for what seemed like hours afterwards, listening to the finer points of our union. The men concentrated mostly on me, explaining the rights I had as wife, the portion of dowry that would now become Velkan's….things I cared not to remember.

"How old are you?" I heard young Raul Verone ask me as he spoke. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I saw a smile come upon the young lawyer's face. This was most certainly not a question he should ask….

"I am not yet four and twenty." I replied somewhat hesitantly. The man smiled at me as he heard the answer, obviously pleased with my reply. I could do nothing but look away, a small blush upon my cheek as he examined my face. I never once looked up to meet my new husband's gaze as the young attorney spoke, so afraid I was to see any sort of displeasure on his face.

"Ah," the attorney responded, an amused smirk on his face. "A perfect time for marriage. I wish you both luck." He continued, looking to Velkan. I could almost smell the compromising position we were now in. Boris Valerious stood suddenly, nodding for his son to do the same.

"We should be leaving." Boris said as Velkan rose. I followed in suite, feeling the young attorney's eye on me the whole while. He rose as I did, prying his eyes from me only to hold out to Velkan in congratulation.

I looked to Boris Valerious, who for the first time smiled at me. As his son shook hands with Attorney Verone, I noticed his gaze darken. He had most certainly noticed the pointed question the young man had asked. That was most likely the reason we were now leaving.

"I wish you both goodnight." Boris said as he took my arm. "I must be leaving as soon as possible. We would not want to be missed this morning. I apologize for being in such a hurry." The older attorney smiled warmly at us and shook Velkan's hand as Boris spoke, reaching out to take the elder Valerious' hand afterward. We hesitated for some moments before we headed towards the door.

"It is not a problem at all." The older attorney said as he followed us.

"I trust this will not be spoken of?" Boris said as he stopped at the door. He had opened it, revealing to me the darkness outside. As he spoke, I could almost see the outline of the Count outside, beckoning to me. But, I shook it off, knowing it to be nothing but the workings of my overactive imagination. The older attorney laughed, bringing me once again to the real world.

"I understand perfectly the delicacy of the situation. Not a word will be uttered. You have our word." The Attorney Verone said. Boris nodded, and gently nudged me out the door, allowing Velkan to follow after me.

"As I hope it will be." Boris muttered to himself, shutting the door behind us. We were once again outside, the biting cold at the back of our necks. I shivered, despite myself, and I felt Velkan wrap his arms about me, trying his best to warm me. I watched as his father hurried past us, gesturing for the carriage to come to us.

"Get in before you catch your death." I heard him say. Velkan watched his father with a stunned expression on his face. But, he said nothing in reply to his father's gruffness. The older man was gone before he could say anything.

"He is not very happy to see us married…" I whispered to Velkan as I saw the carriage man hurry from the warmth of a building to take his seat at the helm of the carriage. It slowly began to move towards us.

"He has not been the same since our mother passed." I heard Velkan say, clearing his throat. I felt his hands rubbing to keep my arm warm. "This is not like him." I said nothing.

We watched in silence as the carriage approached, and I looked away for a moment to see Boris Valerious untying his own steed, climbing quickly onto the saddle. I looked away as I felt his gaze travel to us.

"Come now, Christine." I heard Velkan say. The carriage had stopped before us. Velkan opened the door and helped me inside, following soon behind. As the door was shut I felt the carriage jerk forward.

"Well, it is done." I said after a moment of silence. My gaze had traveled down to the ring I wore on my finger. I could feel Velkan doing the same. It was done. We were married…but why did I feel no different? Why did I feel fear when I should feel happiness? I tried my best to shake those feelings off, as I looked down at my ring. "What do we do with these? We cannot wear them." Velkan hesitated for a moment before answering.

"I suppose we should take them off." He said quietly in answer. But, I did not. Neither did he. It was almost as if some sort of outside force prevented us from doing so.

Another bout of silence ensued, each of us struggling within ourselves to decide what we should do with the rings we now wore. I could most certainly not wear it, because I knew that my uncle would notice immediately. It was a risk I could not take. Velkan could not because of his sister….

I looked out the window for some minutes, watching my new father in law riding beside us. His eyes he kept cast straight ahead, a look of pure determination upon his face. I could not help but smile as I caught hints of Velkan's features within his father's.

"We will wear them about our necks." I said quietly as I watched the passing scenery.

I felt Velkan slowly reach out and take my cold hand, warming it within his own. He leaned in to me as I looked out the window, brushing aside the stray hair from my neck. I could feel his heated breath upon my neck as he kissed it gently.

"Well, it looked as though you caught the attention of our young lawyer." I heard Velkan say playfully in my ear, trying to lighten the heavy mood that had fallen over us. I knew that our foul moods were greatly influenced by Boris Valerious. It was he that had cast a cold shadow over our wedding, making it merely another step towards a favorable ending for his own family.

"Please." I said somewhat in annoyance. I felt Velkan laugh against my neck. "I could tell by the way he spoke to me that he is nothing more than a man that looks for conquests." I responded. Velkan's hands had traveled around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I slowly turned my gaze to him.

"Conquest indeed." Velkan replied as I tried to push him away. He smiled at me as he refused my gesture, holding me tighter. His hands had traveled up my back to touch the exposed skin of my back, making me jump slightly in surprise as I looked at him. His hands were cold against my skin. I slowly began to feel him drawing circles with his fingers as he watched me with a playful smile on his face.

"Not yet!" I said in a hushed whisper. He had already gone to far by bringing his hands underneath my cloak to touch my back. "Your father!" I continued. A deep breath Velkan took, closing his eyes in thought. After a few moments of deliberation, he slowly released me.

"I suppose so." I heard him say jokingly. "After all, you will be sharing your bed with me tonight…" I hushed him, blushing furiously. I refused to even think of performing that act!

A/N: Soooooo…..what do you think…hehehehehe….all loose ends from last chapter has been tied. I hope this chapter wasn't to stupid….this is really just working up to the next chapter where….things…will happen.

Of course, Dracula is going to be making his visit soon! I'm sure everyone will be happy to see him again! I mean come on! Dracula can't disappear forever now, right? Please review and let me know what you think! Even if it is just to say that it's a dumb chapter, lol. Remember, I love criticism!