I have been writing this on and off for days. Some parts were very moving to write, and it was causing me problems. So I hope you enjoy it. Also, the story's name has changed to VH2: Soulmates because I am planning to write a series of stories based after this.

This is a long chapter; on average, about four times longer than previous chapters have been.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except what I made up. Fair enough.

,.-´¨¯¨·-.¸-( (&) )-,.-´¨¯¨·-.¸

"Are you sure you want this? I won't make you, you know." Vladislaus watched her as she sat down on the end of the bed in the chamber he had just shown her into. His expression was soft, anxious. He obviously wanted to go and touch her, but was scared of breaking her right now.

Lucia looked up to where he was standing in the doorway. She didn't want this, she didn't want to risk it, but she knew she had to. She had to play along until Gabriel arrived. She pondered what would happen if she did end up as Dracula's bride. She did love him, and she'd love to spend eternity with him, but not as an evil Queen. She forced a weak smile. "I know. But I do want this."

"You do realise what you're giving up?" he asked uncertainly.

She closed her eyes. Yes, she knew what she was risking. She prayed silently that Gabriel wouldn't be too late. "Please," she said softly, fighting the urge to cry, "can we just get it over with? You're making me nervous."

She could hear the grin in his voice as he spoke. "Whatever makes you most comfortable, my darling. I know this can't be easy for you."

"You can fucking say that again..." she muttered, burying her face in her hands. Realising that she was not doing the plan any good, she sighed and looked back at Vladislaus, who looked rather grim. "I'm sorry, you're right; I'm just really nervous."

"Such a dirty mouth," Vladislaus teased, smirking. "Shall I wash it out for you, sweetheart?" He vanished, then appeared on the end of the bed beside her, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.

She couldn't help but feel content as he drew back and looked deeply into her eyes, as though searching her soul. She reached out to cup his perfect cheek in her palm, and he curled his fingers over her own.

"I love you," he whispered. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

She forced a smile. She wondered, if Gabriel was too late and she did become the Queen, would her head still work the same way? Would she still be able to think freely about Gabriel? Or would she become essentially empty? She had to know. "Vladislaus... will I feel any different after you change me?"

He looked slightly confused. "Of course, my love. You'll feel... amazing." He smiled easily, bringing her fingertips down to his lips to kiss them lightly.

She shook her head. "No, I don't mean that. I mean... before the transformation you went through, did you think differently?" She watched him closely as he stood up suddenly and stood before the mirror on the wall, his back to her.

When he spoke it was in a small, shaking voice. "Of course I did! I was so pure, so innocent, and I gave that up... all because I wanted you back!" He turned back to her then, and she clasped a hand to her mouth as she saw that his black orbs had become a beautiful sea green colour, and were wet with unspilled tears. "It's all your fault! I always loved you!"

She took a shuddering breath as slowly, his features returned to their dark state, and his eyes became black once more. What had just happened? Had Lucia just seen part of Vladislaus' soul? She had certainly just been informed that the reason why he was a creature of evil was her fault.

All of the pain, suffering, bloodshed and horror Vladislaus had caused was because of her. Her heart was racing, and she was panting as she tried to take this in. A tear rolled down her cheek as she stared, aghast, at her betrothed.

"Lucia?" he asked softly, cocking his head. "My darling, what is wrong? What happened? I think I blacked out for a moment there..." He watched her in concern, his eyes fixed on her as she breathed shakily. He quickly walked back over to her and sat down, pulling her into a hug. She cried quietly into his shoulder.

"It's all my fault..." she whispered. "All of it. Oh, God..." She tried desperately to find comfort in his arms, but there was none. She longed to know more, to understand.

"What are you talking about?" he asked her, lifting her chin gently to look into her face. "Is it because of what is going to happen? It doesn't have to happen right away, you know, my love."

She forced herself to be calm. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "The sooner the better." It was true; the sooner she stopped thinking like this, the sooner she became an empty shell, the better. At least she'd stop feeling so confused.

He nodded. "I wanted you to be dressed properly for this, not just by my powers," he told her, stroking her hair. "I shall send in one of my servants to dress you." He kissed her cheek briefly, then rose and headed out.

He had just vanished through the doorway when another person walked in. She was young-looking, short and curvy, with silky red curls of hair and vivid purple eyes. She looked at Lucia with utmost loathing. Lucia stared back, completely uncaring. This young vampire was probably jealous that Lucia was getting to marry Vladislaus.

"Ma'am," she said stiffly, inclining her head. "The Master says I am to get you ready for the ceremony."

"What needs to be done?" Lucia asked, standing up.

The vampire tossed her head. "You need to undress, you need to bathe, then you can be dressed and made up, Ma'am." She still looked angry.

Lucia cocked her head. Slowly, she began taking her weapons off. "Tell me, vampire, what is your name?" She tossed the double-ended sword onto the bed lightly.

The vampire shifted her weight. "Amy-Maria, Ma'am."

Lucia nodded, and unfastened her belt, placing her sword on the bed as well. "Well, Amy-Maria, let us get one thing straight before we even start," she said coldly, taking off her pistols. "If you try to hurt me, if you do what I know you want to do, and try and bite me, I will kill you."

Amy clenched her pointed teeth and balled her fists for a moment before answering. "Why, Ma'am, why would I do a thing like that?"

Lucia needed to take her anger out on this vampire. A small smirk lit up her face as she surveyed Amy. "I see it in your eyes. Blinding, all-consuming hatred. You want to snap me in two."

She stepped forward suddenly, and quick as a flash Lucia was clutching the stake from her ankle in her hand. For a long time they stood facing each other in silence. Adrenaline pumped through Lucia. She wanted Amy to attack her. She wanted to kill this creature.

Finally, Amy spoke in a loud, hysterical voice. "Can you blame me? I have served the Master for a long time. I am his most devoted servant, I can think more freely than the others. He knows I would do anything for him. I love him!"

"You cannot love, you monster," Lucia whispered.

"I can," she replied. "I can love, believe me. I can love so much it hurts, so much that it makes me cry at night, so much that I wish I could not." Her expression grew cold as she leapt forward at Lucia. "And now, you die."

"Just what I was thinking," Lucia said calmly, staking Amy effortlessly in the heart. Amy's expression softened, and her features became more human as her eyes returned to the colour they had been when she had still been a person; light blue. She gasped, then became dust. "Go in peace," Lucia sighed, tossing the stake at the bed. "You're free now."

How Lucia longed to be free like Amy. She told herself she had only to wait a couple of hours, then her time would come. Now, what could she do? She had just killed her assistant. Who would help her get dressed? Her head was spinning, and she had no idea what to do. She would have to dress herself.

"No you won't," came a small voice from beside the door. The speaker appeared to be a small girl. She was very pale, with long curls of sandy hair. Her eyes glowed green and her teeth were pointed. "Miss Craft, I am Millie."

Lucia stared at the tiny vampire as she took her hand and tugged her out of the room. What sort of cruel creature could have taken the innocence of such a young child and made her into a slave of darkness? If Millie had lived, she would have grown into quite a beauty. Her perfect pale neck was flawed only by the fading marks of a bite.

"Please do not judge the Master for turning me," Millie said as they walked along the dark, cold corridor. "I was sick. Dying a painful death. My body was haunted by terrible evils. Had I died, my soul would have been doomed to Hell. He turned me, gave me an eternal life."

Lucia chewed her lip as they entered a grand bathroom. A steaming bath had been ran for her, and she felt comforted in this warm, marble room. The air was heavy with the scent of some beautiful perfume. She thought of Millie. Lucia's soul would be damned to Hell when she died. Would she be better to live an eternal life?

"You are having doubts about the life which you are to lead," Millie said quietly, closing the door. "The Master loves you more than anything else in this world, Miss Craft. You will be happy; so, so happy."

Lucia sighed, and bent down to unbuckle her boots. Her long pale fingers worked quickly. She had noticed over the years that it took so much longer to get out of boots than it did to get into them. Finally she kicked them off, and began unbuttoning her blouse. Millie was watching her silently from by the bathtub. Millie seemed so happy, so content with her life as a vampire.

The blouse slipped off easily, and Lucia pulled the camisole off over head, aware of the cold against her exposed skin. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under the child's continuous green gaze, Lucia slowly took her trousers off, standing there naked, her clothes in a pile around her ankles. She felt as though she was waiting for the child to say something, to judge, but Millie said nothing except, "I shall put these with your weapons. Get into the tub."

Lucia waited until Millie had left with her clothes and boots before sinking into the bathtub. The hot, bubbly water washed over her, and she felt her muscles relax. Whatever was in the water was making her feel so comfortable. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

She felt strange. A sudden, horrible feeling swept over her as a thought struck her. She was being cleaned now; cleaned to remove all the goodness from her body. And yet, that could not be true. Millie's story had proven that Vladislaus was a good man really. Lucia sighed. She was sinking into darkness, and it was too late for her.

"Comfortable?" Millie asked, and Lucia opened her eyes suddenly to find that the small girl had returned to the bathroom, now clutching various bottles and a large porcelain jug.

"Yes, thank you, quite." Lucia's eyes found the window as Millie began to wash her, pouring oils and water onto her back and hair, scrubbing her clean. Outside, it was dark, inky black, with rainy snow beating relentlessly against the window. Perfect weather. "Does the sun ever shine here?"

"A strange question, to be sure." Millie paused, washing Lucia's hair. Finally, she spoke again. "The weather here runs in strange ways, Miss Craft. Some say it mirrors the mood of the Master, but I happen to think it predicts the future, in its own little way." She began pouring water over Lucia's hair to wash the soap out.

Lucia narrowed her eyes. She felt tears in them. "So... does that mean that the future is going to be dark; dark and stormy?" She heard Millie chuckle.

"It depends how you look at it," she answered. "This weather could be thought of as dark and stormy, I suppose, but it isn't really. It's beautiful. Dramatic, beautiful, and passionate." She finished her cleaning. "Sparkling, Miss Craft. Time to get out."

Beautiful, dramatic and passionate; exactly the sort of future she had always dreamed of. Lucia allowed Millie to wrap a warm, soft robe around her as she climbed out of the steaming bathtub. The small vampire took her hand again and they walked back to the bedroom in silence. Finally, they reached the door.

"I have a pleasant surprise for you," Millie announced. She pushed the door open with her tiny hands, and Lucia saw it lying on the bed, looking beautiful. She exhaled sharply, and covered her mouth with her hand.

It was a dress, quite easily the most beautiful she had ever seen, even compared to the one she had worn for the ball. The bodice was low-cut and extremely tight, shaped like a corset, made out of blood red silk. Black pearls ran down the centre of it. The skirt was long and heavy-looking, made out of a rustling black material.

"Oh, my..." she whispered, crossing over to it and running her hand down it carefully. It felt so lovely against her fingertips, and she smiled, wondering what it would look like on.

And so, Millie began to dress her. Black stockings were slipped over her pale legs. Then she was squeezed into the dress. It proved a tight fit, and hard to get on at first. But glancing down at it when it was finally on, Lucia knew it had been worth it. She was given some heeled shoes and onyx earrings. Her eyes were outlined in kohl, her lips tinted with red. Her hair was clipped up at the back of her head, a few strands curling around her face.

Finally, Millie stood back and smiled. She looked exhausted, but very proud. "You look stunning, Miss Craft. You're a true beauty." She looked at Lucia, who was sitting on the end of bed. "I'll be back in a moment. I need to see if the Master is ready for you yet." She walked out.

Lucia sighed, feeling nervous. What was going to happen to her? She was so scared, and yet so relaxed. She could no longer control her own fate. Her sapphire eyes landed on a chest in the corner of the room. The lid was open. She stood up and wandered over to it. It had her clothes and weapons in it.

She snapped it closed quickly.

The mirror on the wall caught her eye. She had to know, had to see if she still had... She hurried over and stood before it, her eyes closed. She was shaking, too scared to open her eyes and see. But she had to know, she just had to. She opened her eyes, and a sob escaped her.

She had no reflection.

Beautiful, dramatic and passionate... She moved a hand up to her face to wipe away the single tear that trickled down her cheek. She was destined for this. It had to be done.

"Ma'am?" Millie walked in, smiling brightly. She inclined her head. "The Master is ready for you now. Are you quite prepared for this, Miss? There is really no rush." Lucia looked at the girl. Millie cocked her head, and walked over to her, slipping her arms around Lucia's waist and hugging her.

Lucia patted the small girl without thinking, comforted by the embrace. Yes, she was prepared. As prepared as she ever would be. She wondered where Gabriel was. He was too late now. She gave a bitter sigh, and allowed Millie to take her hand once more and lead her out of the bedroom.

They walked down a long, dark staircase. Lucia gathered her skirt up in her hand and walked carefully. Her heels clicked on the stone, making her feel slightly uncomfortable as she listened to the quiet slap of Millie's sensible shoes against the stairs.

They arrived in a large, grand hall. It was bright and gorgeous, the floor, the walls, the ceiling all made of marble. A carved wooden alter stood by the far wall, black flowers curling elegantly around the structure. Beside it, a small staircase wound up to a landing which overlooked the room.

Vladislaus was leaning against the banister on the landing, smiling down at her. He was dressed in his usual attire, of course, but there was a slightly formal gleam to him she couldn't quite put her finger on. He bowed to her politely, still smiling his soft, pleased smile. She inclined her head, the loose strands of hair tickling her nose. He came down to her, walking in a slow, calm way.

He took her hand and kissed it, black eyes twinkling. "Beautiful," he whispered. "You look like an angel..." He kissed her mouth then, passionately, then stroked her lips. "Angels fall first, my sweet."

Where was Gabriel? She forced herself to smile and stopped her hands shaking. If they didn't come within the next, maybe thirty seconds, the world was doomed. She closed her eyes. Where were all these thoughts coming from? She hadn't worried about it for hours, and yet now it was all pouring back to her. What was she going to do?

"What have you done?" her mother stared at her, her sapphire eyes wide, her mouth open in a wide gape. She was standing on the doorstep of their house, her pretty features illuminated in the sunset.

There were tears in Lucia's eyes as she dragged the man's comatose body over to their house. "I... I thought he was trying to attack me, Mother. I've really hurt him."

"Who is he?" her mother asked, hurrying over and raising the man's head. She gasped as she looked into his face. "No... it cannot be..." She dropped his head and stepped back.

"Mother? Who is he?" Lucia asked, lying him on the floor and staring at his chisled good-looks, his long dark hair. He looked faintly familiar. She knew him from somewhere... but where?

Her mother sighed, then pulled her daughter into a hug. "Promise me something, daughter. You will never let evil take over you, as it did to you when you were fighting this man, again."

"I promise," she whispered, tears rolling down her face. "But tell me, who is he?"

Her mother looked back at the man on the floor, and leaned down, stroking his cheek softly, tears in her own eyes. For a long moment, she was silent, her face soft with memories of long ago. "This is Lucius Craft. He's... your father."

She smiled grimly. I never will let evil take over me. She took a deep breath, preparing to fight Dracula. Of course, he had a castle full of minions, but if she could take him out... her heart gave a fearful prickle. She didn't have it in her, she didn't, she really didn't.

"Lucia!" Gabriel's voice filled the room, and relief poured through her as she spun around to see him come running down the stairs, long coat billowing out behind him, holding one of Carl's light devices in his hand.

"Gabriel!" she exclaimed, running up to meet him without looking back. She didn't have a chance to turn and see Vladislaus' confused and angry expression, because as soon as her fingers had curled around Gabriel's, he tossed the device down at Vladislaus and Millie.

"Come on!" Gabriel ordered, and they ran as fast as they could up the stairs as light erupted below them. Finally, they reached the corridor, and Gabriel spun Lucia around, holding her face tightly. "Did he hurt you? Are you alright, my love?" He looked so worried, his expression mixed under his hat.

"Yes, I'm fine," she assured him, kissing his lips swiftly. "Where are the others? Did you bring them?"

He nodded. "Yes, Lucia. They're together, searching for the main groups of vampires to take out. You have to get out of here. You're in no state to fight."

She shook her head as he planted another kiss on her mouth. "I'm in every state to fight; I'm the only person who can take out Vladislaus. My blood will kill him."

Gabriel hesitated, then sighed. His eyes were glittering with tears. "I... I... I don't want to lose you as well, Lucia. I love you too much for that." A single tear rolled down his cheek.

She felt herself becoming choked with emotion. She wiped his face gently. "You will lose a lot more than just me if you don't let me do this, Gabriel. You know that. Is my life worth that?"

There was a long, tense pause. Gabriel slowly slid his hands away from her face, shaking his head. "I can't answer that. God, you know I can't answer that. Does the fact I love you make me a bad person?"

"You have to let me do this," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "I have to do it. The fate of the world is on our shoulders." She saw something break in his eyes. She had won him around. He nodded, and she pecked him. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I love you."

"Where are your things?" he asked, regaining his composure, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"The bedroom along there," she said, pointing. "Go and help the others. Be careful, Vladislaus could appear anywhere. Keep a sharp eye. I'll come and find you as soon as I'm ready."

There was a long, quiet moment. They stood in silence, looking into each other's eyes. Was this goodbye? Her eyes welled up with tears. There seemed to be nothing to say, no words to describe how much they had meant to each other in the brief time they had known each other. They just knew it, there was no way to put the beautiful feeling into words. Finally, they kissed, a long, painful kiss that was made of their sheer love for each other.

"Good luck," she whispered, turning away from him and heading as fast as she could to the bedroom, tears in her eyes. She brushed them away firmly, and entered the room.

It was empty, much to her relief, and she began stripping, peeling off the dress and stockings and fancy boots. The cold air played against her naked skin as she went over to the chest and pulled out her things, feeling a certain comfort in the familiarity of these weapons and clothes.

Finally, she felt ready to fight. Arming herself with her pistols, she marched out into the corridor. Millie was standing in front of the door, looking sad. It took Lucia a moment to remember she was fighting Millie's kind now, and she raised her pistols and pointed them at the girl vampire.

"What have you done, woman? You could have had anything, anything at all," Millie whispered slowly, a tear rolling down her pale, pretty cheek.

"Anything but my conscience," Lucia replied through gritted teeth, "and I'd really rather hold onto that as long as I'm around on this earth." She licked her lips. "I'm sorry about this, Millie, you really aren't so bad. Go in peace."

Lucia shot the vampire. For a moment, Millie stood still, her expression impassive. Another tear fell, and she covered her heart with her tiny hand. Her eyes became smaller and dark green. "See you soon," she whispered, disappearing into dust.

"I have no doubt I will." Lucia lowered her head. It had hurt to destroy Millie. She forced herself not to get emotional, and listened carefully as she heard an explosion somewhere below her. She heard a low shout. Deanna.

Lucia was off running, heading in the opposite direction to the route she had taken the last time. The long, dark corridor seemed to go on forever, her footsteps echoing loudly all around. Finally, she reached a crossroads; to the right of her, a staircase twirled down, to the left, one went up, and straight in front of her the corridor wound on.

She took the downwards staircase, her legs working madly as she sprinted down. She arrived in a long, low room. Only Deanna appeared to be here, slumped against the wooden wall, perfectly still, her hair falling out of her face. Her eyes were closed, and she looked peaceful. Too peaceful. Lucia put her pistols in their holders and took one of the flaming torches from the wall, crossing over to Deanna and crouching down beside her.

"Don't be dead," she whispered, feeling Deanna's arm for a pulse desperately. Lucia found one. It was weak, very weak, but it made her sigh in relief. She could not handle another death that was her fault.

"I'm dying, Lucia," Deanna said suddenly, making Lucia jump. Deanna's voice was low and pained, and her green eyes flittered open weakly. She pushed some of her hair out of her neck, and Lucia felt a jolt at the back of her throat as she saw the bloody wound there. "There was... hundreds of them. I blew the place up, figuring it was worth... sacrificing myself. But somehow I survived the blast. So did one of the vampires. He bit me, and I killed him, but I'm... bleeding... to death."

"Don't give up!" Lucia implored, staring at the girl she was surprised to find she regarded as her friend. "Deanna... fight it. Stay conscious... please..."

Deanna scoffed weakly. "We both know I can't survive a wound like this," she whispered, covering it with her fingers. She sighed. "I always wanted to die in a big fight, fighting for some... huge cause. But I thought I'd die alone..."

Lucia swallowed painfully. She was responsible for yet another death. There was only one thing she could do. Fingers shaking, she took Deanna's hand. "You aren't alone. I'm here."

Deanna smiled weakly. "Thank you. Lucia, you have... to find... Dracula. Kill him. There are thousands of sleeping vampires in this... castle..." She gave a sharp gasp. "Save the others... kill Dracula..." Her eyes closed, and her smile faded. "Tell Maximo I always loved him..."

She fell limp. Lucia remained calm. She didn't have a choice. She had to do as Deanna had asked. There was no longer a decision to be made; it was a task she had to carry out. Then... it would be the end.

TBC.