His eyes were so cryptic, enthralling. She could feel that it was merely some mind-trick, some illusion, but she did not want it to end. It felt so good to be twirled around on that dance floor, forgetting everything that she was, feeling as if she was being lifted up into the air. It made her head spin, and when he said "I am looking for a new bride" she almost said yes...almost. Her brain screamed for her to say "YES, YES!!" and to live with this beautiful man all her life, but her heart...her heart whispered to her. Her brother, her father, all her ancestors were depending on her survival.

Even with all these pesky feelings, Anna could not help but feel relieved as she danced with the devil that night. For the first time in her entire existence, she felt peace. Dracula, the undead, the vampire, was the enemy that her family had fought for over 400 years, was the epitome of evil, and yet as he bent her over for a low dip, she felt comfortable in his arms.

No! Anna screamed inside her skull, No! I must not give in to him. He is the murderer of thousands, including my family.

She almost fell totally into his spell, his charm, and then suddenly, the feeling of being lifted off her feet became more real as Van Helsing, the Order's secret, supernatural assassin swooped down from the ceiling and snatched her from the demon's clutches.

Even as these thoughts entered her mind, and the "other" man swept her off her feet, Van Helsing, she couldn't help but remember the cool, heartless embrace that her heart was telling her to forget and to hate.

No, Dracula would be something forever off-limits to her, the last of the Romanian Gypsy Royals, something that she would not, could not let herself indulge in.

As she looked back to him there, standing, waiting for his followers to pursue them, she saw a look in his eyes that meant more than the universe, and then nothing at all at the same time; just a flicker behind his cruel eyes as she started to run for the great window from which they, Van Helsing and herself, would leap.

What could it mean?? She asked herself as she was thrown through the window and into the moat that lay below. What could it mean??

AN: I hope you like it, I was unable to write save for a few minutes when I got home from school today, so excuse the shortness. If you like it, review, and Ill consider writing more. I am hoping to add a nice lemon scene later on, for those of you that like that, but I need input, so give me your ideas. Thanks

LilacsKissGoodbye