Chapter 2: What am I?
AN: Because Sinister-darkness was kind and gave me a review the first day I posted, I'm giving her this chapter as a thankyou. Reviews make me so happy. So does my birthday, which is in 1 week. Learner's Permit, here I come! (pedestrians beware)
Somewhere along the flight, I fainted, whether from the height or from fear, I didn't know. All I knew was that when I awoke, it was in an unfamiliar room of a strange castle. Groggily, I rose from the bed I'd been lying on and tested out my ability to walk. Something rustled and there was a feeling on my back like I'd grown an extra appendage and it was pressed against something.
I looked over my shoulder and nearly fainted again at the sight of a set of fully functional wings. Oh God. I looked around for a mirror, and found a small one hanging on the wall above a decorative table. I peered into its tarnished surface.
"Oh dear God." The girl peering back at me was me, and yet, she wasn't. Her long hair was pure, untainted white, not mousy brown and her icy blue eyes were set under lightly colored thin eyebrows. Her, I mean my, mouth was slightly fuller, and my skin, which had gotten ruddy from too much outside work, was fair, with a hint of pink at the cheeks. I whirled away from the unsettling picture. There was something just too perfect about everything, something not quite real about it.
"Do you not like what you see?" Dracula appeared behind me. Had he been watching me all this time?
"I…I don't know my Lord." I kept my eyes lowered, not wanting to be snared by his gaze a second time.
"Is it too perfect? Too pure? One could say…ethereal?" I did look up then, startled by his apparent reading of my thoughts.
"What happened? Do you know? Please tell me!" I begged, grabbing his arm in my desperation to know just what had happened.
Dracula pulled me into the circle of his arms and stroked my cheek with a cold hand. I shivered at the contact, but he only drew me closer.
"I think I should tell you later my love. For now, you may wish to change into some less damaged clothes, no? You may explore the castle if you wish." He leaned down (I was kind of short and slightly built) and kissed me softly on the lips before walking to the door. He was about to leave when he turned and added, "If you want to get rid of those wings my dear, all you need to do is concentrate."
After he was gone, I focused hard on an image of myself without wings and to my extreme relief, they melted into my back. That accomplished, I looked around my (I guess) room for clothes. Dracula was right on that count; the wings had practically shredded the back of my nightgown. A blush colored my cheeks at the immodesty of it.
My eyes fell on a richly carved wardrobe and I opened it. It contained all manners of dresses, many far to elaborate for my comfort or liking, so I selected a sky blue one and slipped it on. It was relatively simple with a wide, square neckline, long tight sleeves, and an empire waist. My hair I left down merely because I wasn't comfortable wearing any ornaments in it. I had gotten along fine all my life without them, so why start now? Anyway, they were meant for high-born people. I shouldn't get above my station.
Wondering where this castle was I looked out the window, only to see snow-covered mountains. Seeing as Romania was covered with them, it didn't help any. Being thoroughly bored already, I left the sanctum of my room (little did I know) and wandered down the hallway, my bare feet treading softly on the cold stone.
I was trying to recall what the Count had told me what I assumed was last night. Something important. Some reason for my being here. I remember a comment about him and his brides…what was a vampire 'bride' anyway? Were they just what the name said? Or were they something else?
A low chuckle interrupted my musings. I looked up to see a redheaded woman dressed in pink-tinted white inspecting me closely. She laughed again when I nearly jumped out of my skin in surprise (and fright). She must be one of the brides.
"And what do we have here? Lost, are you? What is your name?" She smiled revealing pointed white teeth, which did nothing whatsoever to reassure me.
"Destiny. Destiny Wiebke."
"Well Destiny," her eyes flashed slyly. "You're just in time for supper." I really didn't like the way she was looking at me.
"Aleera?" Another vampire, this one with black hair, appeared from another hallway.
"Back of Verona," snapped Aleera. "This one's mine."
Verona traced a vein on my neck. "But surely you can share? I wouldn't take much." I whimpered, knowing I was no match for the two vampires, both of whom seemed intent on having me for a snack
Verona bent towards my neck and I shrieked. Out of reflex, I backhanded her, causing her head to snap sharply to the side. She hissed in fury and grabbed my hair, baring my neck before piercing my trembling flesh with her fangs.
"Stop!" The Count's voice reverberated angrily around the hall. The fangs pulled out of my throat and Verona let go of me so quickly that I landed on the floor with a dull thud. Verona and Aleera were joined by a third vampiress and the three of them huddled against each other as Dracula strode into view, fury written on his face.
"Fools! Do you know how close you just came to ruining all of my plans?!" he bellowed. The brides merely wailed in distress, which I found rather annoying, but I couldn't blame them; I was scared too, even though his anger was not directed at me.
"Master, why is this mortal here? Do you tire of us so quickly?" Marishka cried reaching out towards him with one hand.
"I do not. You have your uses," he snapped curtly, "and she has hers." I blinked, my left hand poised just above my wound, where blood was trickling from the punctures. Dracula looked in my direction and I unwittingly met his gaze. Something in his eyes compelled, no, ordered me to walk to him. The force of it in my mind made it a summons I could not ignore. Dracula slid his arms about my waist and pressed me to his side, looking at his brides as he licked the blood from my neck.
"Master," Aleera began, but Dracula cut her off.
"No harm is to come to her. Is that understood?" he hissed. Fearing more of his wrath, they nodded anxiously.
"Good. Leave." They were all too happy to comply and be out of the presence of their volatile master. I stared after their retreating white forms, wondering is they would really keep their word or if I should expect some retribution in the future.