Chapter 17: Escapes and Escapees

AN: Lalalalalalalalala singing random, off-key notes Speeches are done! Projects per subject down to one! Now I have time to write, and I won't have to stay up 'til the dead of night. Lalalalalalala. Basically what that means is that I'm finally done with my speech, did well on it, and only have two projects, one of which is winding down. And the other, a surreal eye drawing of a snake that forms the pupil and iris of an eye, is fun and doesn't really count as a project.

If you guys are interested in seeing a picture or two of Destiny, what she looks like and all, just email me and I'll mail a few to you. My address is:

artfulmoonlight

Okay, now for some IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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Also, I need you guys to tell me what you would like to see in a sequel, set 20 years in the future from this story. I'm trying to let you guys have input, but I can't do that unless you guys give it! Therefore:

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The only drawback to the plan was that in order to successfully carry it out, we would need to wait until the full moon and Sven's next transformation. And the next full moon was nearly a month away. Other than that, the plan was ready to be put in to motion, but I was still extremely nervous as to whether or not it would work. So much depended on outside factors.

Would the vampires go hunting that night?

Could we trick Homeros into doing what was needed?

Would our theory about the antidote prove correct?

Would my acting fool Dracula?

So much could go wrong, but I could not dwell on the possibility or else we would fail before we even began. The worries were buried deep within me, where not even Dracula would be able to find them.

It was late evening and I was in the library, my usual haunt, reading up on anything relating to the Valerious family. There was not much in the library and based on his lineage, I privately suspected that Dracula had had most of the texts burned (or dropped down a deep crevice). My time on that topic was also limited by when I thought I wouldn't fall victim to an untimely vampiric interruption.

After the post-demon incident, I had avoided Dracula as much as possible and had not spoken to him for a week. I had originally intended to keep the silent treatment going for a lot longer, but I realized that obvious ill feelings would make me that much more of a suspect in the coming escape. The only possible bright side to this dark period was that though my waist slowly began to thicken, my nausea finally passed, which was a huge relief.

The book I was currently curled around was one I had just randomly plucked off of a high shelf. It was a book on cultural development around the world and was actually turning out to be relatively interesting. Even without the hairs on the back of my neck prickling though, I sensed I was being watched. Putting the book down on the table, I stood up and looked around the room. No one was there.

So I looked up, and spotted the count hanging upside-down from the ceiling. Now was as good a time as ever to end the silent treatment. I planted my hands on my hips, not looking down, though I was getting a crick in my neck. The ceiling was fairly high up, remember.

"Would you come down Vladislaus? You're making me dizzy." This elicited a chuckle from him and before I could blink, he was gone from his perch. Unsure of where he had gone to, I took a cautious step back and collided with his chest.

"So, you are speaking to me now, are you?" His breath ruffled my hair slightly and he snaked his arms around my waist. (AN: vampires don't need air to survive, but you do need it to speak!) I leaned back, smiling wryly.

"As a general rule, humans aren't really able to stand going for so long without conversation, and that includes me as well." He planted several kisses along my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. I could not deny the hold he still had over my emotions.

"No biting," I warned, and felt him smirk against my skin.

"Or you would slap me again, hmm?" Dracula turned me around so that I was facing him, our faces only inches apart.

"Sorry for slapping you like that," I whispered, color rising in my cheeks in embarrassment. Resting my hands on his shoulders, I leaned up and kissed him softly.

But what I had intended as a brief apology, he turned into a passionate power-struggle. That morning, I returned to his coffin for the first time in a week. (AN: Not that way!!! She's already pregnant for Christ's sake! Get your nasty ass minds out of the gutter, geez!) (sorry about the language ; )

2 weeks later

I watched as Dracula and the brides winged their way off away from the castle. They were heading out to feed and fortunately, it had fallen on the night of the full moon. As soon as they disappeared from sight, I left the window and hurried to my room to retrieve the antidote. The clock was ticking and we had an hour or so at best. We would get only one shot at this and things had to move like clockwork.

Antidote in hand, I hurried down to the torture chamber. Luckily, there were only a few of the Dwerger in there and Homeros was puttering around in a corner somewhere. Snarling sounds met my ears and my eyes snapped to the cage, which held not Sven the man, but the werewolf that was his second form. Frightened, I kept my distance and prayed to whoever might be listening that the moon would be covered soon.

As if in answer, Sven's antics subsided as he began to convulse and shed his wolf form. Once he was human again, I knelt in the shadows by his cage.

"Do you remember what you must do?" I whispered hurriedly.

"Yes," he replied, just a quiet and anxious as I.

"Good. And remember there can be absolutely no witnesses. At all." He nodded. Casting a wary eye about, I drew the antidote out of my sleeve. Sven stuck his arm through the bar and I injected a small amount of the red liquid into his vein. Stage one, done.

Now I could only hope that it was enough to keep his mind human during his next transformation, which would begin in about a minute. The clouds, from what I could see through the small window, were drawing away from the moon. I could not remain by the cage for any longer.

"Wot are ye doin' here?" Homeros had noticed me. Drawing a deep breath, I turned to face him, my face a mask of dignified disdain.

"If you must know, I came down to watch you torture this beast. Honestly, I do not understand why he is allowed to live." If I could keep him occupied for long enough –

CRASH.

I threw myself against the wall as Sven burst through the cage bars, which he'd been weakening with a small file I had smuggled to him. I watched in horrified fascination as he pounced on Homeros, enacting revenge on his second worst tormentor. Squeezing my eyes tight, I tried to block the sight of his body being torn limb from limb.

But not even with my fingers in my ears could I deafen my self to the agonized screams of Homeros as he lay dying in an ever-growing pool of his own blood. Nor could I ignore the frightened squeals of the Dwergi as they too were systematically hunted down and obliterated. It was primitive but effective justice for the wrongs that Sven had endured.

Only when all was quiet did I dare open my eyes, but promptly shut them, unprepared for the gory scene that I had had a hand in creating. A wet nose butted against my neck and I looked up at Sven, standing next to me, waiting. Smiling, I started to pull out the rest of the antidote, but he shook his furry head and turned to bound up the stairs. Puzzled, I followed.

When we reached the Great Hall, he turned and suddenly, lashed out at me with his claws. The force of the blow knocked me into a stone pillar, where I cracked my head on the stone. With a scream, I plunged the rest of the antidote into his system, thinking he had lost control of himself.

Sven plucked the needle out of his skin as he shrunk back to human form for the last time. He looked over at where I stood, clutching a bleeding shoulder.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"Well, now you won't be suspected of devising my escape." Surprised, I looked down at my shoulder again. What he said made sense. If it looked like I had been caught unawares and injured by the escaping werewolf, then there would be less of a chance that I would be suspected of devising the whole scheme. Which gave me an idea.

"Okay," I told him. "Run as fast as you can outside. You'll see a stone monolith attached to a mirror. Run straight at it, do you here me? Run through the mirror. Since you are no longer tainted by Dracula or under his control, it will allow you to pass through. On the other side if the Valerious family castle. They will help you from there. They have pledged themselves to destroying Dracula. Trust me. No go! Dracula will know you have gone!"

"Thank you Destiny," he said simply. And without a backward glance, he was gone.

"Godspeed," I whispered. It was up to me from here.

'Vladislaus!" I injected fear and pain in to my mental voice and almost instantaneously, felt his mental touch in return.

'The werewolf has escaped!' There was no denying the fury that blazed out across the miles, and I was extremely glad it wasn't directed at me.

'Stay where you are."

'I will, I can't move easily anyway.'

When I was sure he wasn't listening anymore, I raced backed down to the lab where I left the antidote syringe near one of Homeros's limbs. Returning to the main hall, I collapsed against a pillar. After my stupid little evidence cover-up dash with a bump on the head, I felt dizzy.

Reaching back, I gingerly touched the back of my head, which was tacky with blood. My hand came away red. I tore a strip from my skirt and wrapped it around my blood-soaked sleeve. Sven had done a little too good of a job with that. The only consolation, besides the fact that Sven had escaped, was that I would probably be healed by tomorrow evening.

The front doors were still open, and within a few minutes, I could hear the sounds of wings and the screeches of the brides. As they soared in to the hall, I struggled to my feet, shaking off the lingering dizziness. Verona was the first to spot me and hurried over, her dress billowing gracefully out behind her as Dracula stormed down to see what had happened in the lab.

"My dear, what happened? Vladislaus would not tell us much." She asked, concern etched upon her face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aleera shoot a disgusted glare my way before disappearing up a staircase.

"The werewolf escaped. I don't know how," I lied when she opened her mouth to ask. "I was heading get something to eat when I heard a commotion down here. As I got into the hall, I saw the werewolf come charging out of the lab over there." I pointed down the hall where the lab was situated.

"He attacked me, but I think that's only because I was in his way, because he didn't use his teeth. It was like he could think or something." I feigned confusion on that point. "He headed out the door and that's all I know." Looking down the hall at the lab, I said worriedly, "Will he be mad?"

Verona had no chance to answer, because at that point, Dracula came storming back out of the lab.

"VERONA! MARISHKA! ALEERA!" he bellowed. Even Aleera hauled her ass downstairs pretty fast.

"Find the werewolf," he hissed, eyes blue. The brides nodded and, shifting to their demonic forms, took off again. Dracula turned to me, but his anger dissipated as he noticed the blood.

"Did the werewolf bite you Destiny?" He asked, unusually worried. I knew he was concerned for the effect of possible venom to his offspring (I couldn't yet bring myself to call them children).

"Don't worry so," I assured him. "It's just a scratch." Very big scratch yes, but still. "Give it a day or so. I'll be fine. Now, I've got to go lie down." With one hand on the back of my head, I walked towards the stairs that led to my room.

"No, my angel. Did I not tell to stay put?" He picked me up bridal style and, cradling me against his chest, carried me up to my room.

"I'm getting blood on your shirt." I pointed out offhandedly. "Hope you don't mind."

"What do I care about a little blood, hmm?"

"Point."

I allowed myself to drift off into sleep, confident that they would not find Sven and happy in the thought that I was next.

Okay, remember what I said. No updates until you guys get back to me on your preferred timeline (and don't worry, it wouldn't be a "movie-plot-with-some-different-characters" fic. There are way too many of those already) Let me know! Thanks!

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