Chapter 13: All Hallow's
AN: OMFG. I'm soooo sorry that I haven't been able to update for over a month. A couple of things besides extreme writer's block have been going on and though that's no excuse for not updating, I have been a busy girl. In chronological order: volleyball pre-season conditioning, week-long marching band, start of school, Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan scare (equals a lot of fleeing the state, with no internet connection! Ack! The horror! The horror!) bleck. But at least that's over and I actually have a plan (gasp) for the next few chapters. I went into this one completely blind, with only the knowledge of where it had to end up. Take my word for it: DON'T DO THIS. You drive yourself CRAZYCRAZYCRAZY. (well, actually, that's not that different from normal me, but….) Enough ranting. On with the FINALLY finished chapter! Kyaaaagh!
The sun was sinking quickly behind the mountains and a line of shadow was slowly, but surely advancing across the city. I was busy watching the colorful lights of the festivals visible across the river. Some had gone to church, the belief that All Hallows Eve was a night on which evil beings really did 'come out of hiding'. How little they knew. Most however, were participating in the festivals. I really enjoyed watching the dancers. Their costumes were unusual, but very pretty.
The last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon and almost immediately, I saw a pair of winged shapes wheeling in from the north. I sighed. I'd hoped for more time before the vampires started arriving.
There was a knock on my door. It opened and Verona walked in, not at all bothered by the darkness of the interior. She scowled slightly at my form silhouetted in the window.
"You were supposed to be ready by now."
I waved my hand apologetically. " I merely lost track of time Verona. It's not that important. And that was only the first pair." I turned around and lit the lamp. Verona gave an annoyed sigh.
"When will you stop this stubbornness Destiny? It is becoming rather wearisome." She turned and left.
"You should just learn to deal with it," I grumbled. But, I didn't want to get in trouble again. I made a face at the bracelet. Stupid thing. After five hours, I'd finally found out what the damn thing did.
It didn't let me leave the castle. I'd found out this morning when I'd tried the front door. It was like running into an invisible wall. The effect even extended to the windows. Believe me, I'd tried. The farthest outside it let me was my balcony. That, plus the fact that I knew he tampered with my mind last night, caused me to be rather…pissed with Dracula right now. Going to the ball had been, until Verona's visit, the last thing on my mind.
Opening the wardrobe, I took out the dress I'd made (description in chapter eight) and put it on. To my disappointment, it fit, a little too well for my liking. Damn. I could have used it as an excuse not to go. Oh well. Next came my cross pendant and a simple necklace I found on the vanity, consisting of a small ruby on a golden chain. It consisted of a simple gold chain with a polished oval ruby on the end. On went the scarlet mask, and, running a brush once through my hair, I stepped out into the hallway.
Dracula was waiting for me by the stairway. I glared at him through my mask, even though I knew he wouldn't see it.
"Interesting colors," he remarked, then noticed the cross. "I really don't think you need that." He reached to take it off, but I slapped his hand away and covered the cross.
"Don't melt it," I snapped at him. "It was my mother's." If that bastard dared…
"Indeed." Dracula's lips twisted into a smirk and I suppressed the urge to punch him. Instead, I placed my hand on his forearm and we descended into the mass of color that was the ball. A woman in black was singing at the far end of the hall. I did not need the empty mirrors to tell me that I was surrounded by the damned, that my heart was the only one that beat nervously within my breast.
I let go of his arm when we reached the bottom of the stairs, but he caught my hand, preventing me from heading in the opposite direction. Wrenching my hand free, I glared at him.
"Stop it," I hissed. I was in no mood for his games. Before he could reply, I stalked over to the other end of the hall, where I could watch the singing vampire. She was really good actually.
"Well now, what do we have here?" asked a vampiress in a sly voice. She wore a blue dress so tight I though she'd burst from the seams any moment. If she had had to breathe, that is. I eyed her nervously. Her companions, noting the new object of her interest, glided silently over.
"What's a nice young mortal doing here, I wonder?" She said, the tone of her voice changing from a curious purr to a dry laugh. "You must have a death wish young one."
"Perhaps I just wanted a change of scenery? A different kind of festival?" I suggested, matching her voice for dryness. "But," I gestured to the mirrors, "there seems to be no one here." The corners of her plump lips curved upwards in a small smile.
"Tell me your name small one. It is not often, even in my long existence, that one meets somebody with hair such as yours."
I scowled slightly. "It didn't used to be this color. My name is Destiny."
"As I am Nerilka." Call me crazy, but I liked her. I really did. She seemed different somehow. As if she might not be as out of touch with humanity, though that seemed impossible.
"Nerilka," I asked softly. She looked at me. "You don't have to answer if it offends you or anything, but, do you miss being alive?"
Her face grew solemn and her eyes locked on mine. "Some parts," she replied, a little sadly. "I miss the warmth of the sun. I miss having a family. Mine died many years ago."
"I'm sorry." And I was. "I haven't seen mine for about a month. I miss my mother a lot."
It was then that I felt a presence brush my mind and I groaned, searching the swirling crowd.
"What is the matter?" Nerilka asked.
"Damn it," I muttered, forgetting her sensitive hearing.
"Again, I ask what is wrong." The tone of her voice made me grin momentarily.
"Just the summons of my keeper," I scowled. "That I will ignore of course." And I turned away from the ball and crossed my arms.
"Nerilka," Dracula said pleasantly from somewhere behind me and to my left.
"Vladislaus," she acknowledged. Pale fingers wrapped themselves around my arm just above my elbow.
"Enjoying yourself my dear?" He asked. Half turning so that I could see him, I replied coolly, "I was." Nerilka watched the exchange with amusement.
"Well," she said. "I will take my leave." She turned and melted into the crowd.
"Why did you have to chase off the first decent, normal conversation I managed to have?" I asked, gesturing dramatically to the spot where Nerilka had been. "Do you get some perverse pleasure out of that? Hmm?" Just for emphasis, I poked him in the chest with one finger. "Is this a game to you?"
"I do not know how to answer," Dracula said as he drew me into the dancers. "You see, that terrifying look you wear upon your face strikes so much fear into me that the words freeze on the tip of my tongue."
"You're making fun," I said reprovingly. I realized that this was a game, for both of us, and was not sure how I felt about that. One hand about my waist, he led me through the swirling steps of the dance. I was amazed that I didn't get dizzy.
"How do you know Nerilka?" I asked, curious.
"Her sire was one of my first fledglings," he replied neutrally. Obviously this was not his preferred topic of discussion at the moment. I looked around and spied a very funny sight in the mirrors that lined the hall. The mirror-hall was empty, save for one slightly confused-looking girl who was revolving by herself like a figurine in a music box. I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"Amused?"
I pointed to the mirror by way of explanation and he smiled.
"Such a lovely couple we make," he deadpanned. I gaped at him for a second and then gave a short laugh.
"You made a joke! I didn't think it was possible!" I said delightedly. He seemed more human at that moment.
"What were your talking to Nerilka about?" Dracula asked in an abrupt change of topic. I stopped dead and pulled away from him with a cold look in my eyes.
"About how you ruined my life." Anger burning in my heart, I turned and swept up the stairs without a backward glance.
He caught up with me as I was standing on a small balcony on the second floor. I stared out at Budapest without looking at him, absorbed in my own thoughts.
"Is this how a vampire feels?" I asked softly, still looking at the city. "Do you feel lonely?"
I heard his light footfalls behind me. "That I cannot answer. I am hollow."
"Yes, you told me that already," I snapped, then shut my mouth, trying to rein in my temper. "I meant, can you remember what it was like to be mortal? Do you ever miss family that is long dead and who you'll never see again?" Dracula remained silent, so I turned around and took a half step back; I hadn't realized he was so close.
"Those who are not yet even born will die before I do. Because of what you are, I don't expect you to be able to comprehend what you did to me. But you don't even try. You hide behind your 'hollowness' like a coward."
Fangs gleamed in the moonlight and my stomach tightened nervously, sensing that I'd finally gone too far.
"Perhaps Aleera is right for once, perhaps I should punish you. You've given me more than enough reason to do so in the past month." Throwing up what mental shields I possessed, I inwardly braced myself for the blow or bite I imagined would follow those harsh words.
"Then do as you will." My voice was even and low. "I told you before that I did not fear you and I do not fear you now. I will not."
Instead of becoming angry, Dracula cupped my cheek in one hand. "And that is why I chose you, little angel. Such courage." He trailed off. I was unnerved by the gleam in his obsidian eyes and tried to back away, but he held me close with his other arm. I wondered idly if he needed to feed. My cross necklace was still around my neck but it would not be much of a deterrent.
'I do not settle for half.' The words reverberated in my mind as he claimed my mouth, piercing my lip so that blood flowed, which he took greedily. Again I tried to break away, but my efforts only irritated him. With a slight growl, he pulled away from my mouth and sunk his fangs into my neck instead.
If you have never had your blood drawn by a vampire, let me inform you that the pulse of your own blood can become very intoxicating, if the vampire so chooses.
Only when I ceased struggling and relaxed, under the pretense of submission, did Dracula stop.
"God, in his mercy, forgives all of us." How I wished the priest's words to be true.
A small part of my mind realized that we were no longer on the balcony.
"Courage, small one, courage."
The memory of those words was comforting and that night, I prayed that God would forgive me my weakness.
Hmmm, finally some serious DesDrac action. Heh. But don't worry faithful readers! Justice will prevail! (cracks up. I just had to say that.) Really, it'll be okay (hopefully) oh, and those deluded people out there who think that things'll calm down a tad? BZZZZT! Wrong! Rocky as ever (just the way I like it) Oh, and
REVIEW! Or I'll keep writing but won't post for yet another month! I can do that y'know!