Chapter 20: Messing About In Dreams

AN: I finally updated!!!!!!!!!!!! I had severe writer's block throughout this whole damn chapter, but I got through it. phew! I've also been really down lately, so I haven't really felt much like writing. But enough about that stuff. Just enjoy the long-awaited chapter. : )

Eventually, I cried myself out and drifted into a tired sleep. But my dreams were by no means peaceful. I tossed fitfully as they wrapped around me in a dark blanket, one that held no warmth or comfort.

The room was dimly lit by outside light. It was my room from the castle, I realized. I tried to take a step forward, but my dream-feet wouldn't obey my mind's commands.

"Do you honestly think you can run from me angel?" I looked around frantically for the source of that cold, mocking, familiar voice. An arm snaked its way around my waist from behind and another ran its pale fingers through my hair. I could feel his chin resting on top of my head.

"Honestly," he continued, "I thought you were smarter than that."

"Stop it," I ordered sharply. But he only laughed, sending a chill down my spine.

"They know much, don't they?" I said nothing. "But you know I will wait. I am patient. I will stalk you in the shadows, waiting for your first mistake. You cannot run forever, and there is no place you can run where I will not find you eventually."

His fingers caressed the side of my face. "But you haven't told them that, have you? Too scared my dear? Come now, silence does not become one such as yourself."

"Shut up Count." I snapped, trying to free myself. But as often happens in dreams, I had no control over my body. "I would prefer to be a thousand miles away right now than here in this room. And no, I don't need to tell them everything."

"No, you don't," he agreed. "But that's not your reasoning. I know you too well." He paused, and I could feel him searching my mind. I pushed him out. "You really don't like the Valerious, do you? Just as well. So judgmental they are."

By this time I was getting really annoyed. "Is there a purpose to you keeping me in this dream state Dracula? Because it's pissing me off and I'm subject to strong mood swings right now you know."

"It serves three purposes actually. One, you can't make any annoying little escape plans. Two, it gives my Brides a chance to close in on your position without you running around and spoiling the surprise for everyone. You have a habit of doing that, unfortunately. And three, we get to spend some…quality time together."

I snorted. "I've freed myself from your influence a long time ago Dracula. I'm a big girl now; I can think for myself."

He trailed kisses down my neck and, in spite of myself, I bent my head back to give him better access to my neck.

"See?" he whispered. "You don't hold as much sway as you think." That snapped me out of the stupor I'd been in and wrenching hard, I pulled myself away –

– and woke up on the bed in a cold sweat, panting. Nonia was bending over me.
"Destiny? Are you all right? I heard you moaning in your sleep and I couldn't wake you."

I shook my head to dispel the lingering traces of sleep. "No, it was just a dream Nonia. Just a dream," I assured her, though I knew better. "But the Brides are headed this way. You'd better get a crossbow or something." Nonia looked at me in surprise.

"How did you –? No, never mind. Stay here," she ordered, and ran from the room to tell her brother, or her father, or whoever was in charge of these things.

"Like hell I'll stay in here. Who does she think she is, my mother?"

I left and followed her through the halls. Standing at the window, I saw the Brides winging their way towards the castle. Already Nonia was readying her crossbow and taking a place at another window out of my sight.

I watched, silent and torn, as Verona, Marishka, and Aleera were fired upon and hit several times with wooden stakes. I still hated Aleera and rejoiced when she was hit, but as Verona pulled a bolt out of her wing, her eyes met and locked onto mine. I held her gaze steadily, trying to somehow convey to my foster mother (as I privately thought of her) how sorry I was that this had to happen.

Eventually, they tired of the fight and left. The castle was silent for a long time before I felt someone behind me, someone who walked heavily in boots and smelled of leather and horses.

"I am leaving at dawn," I told Boris, not even deigning to spare him a glance. "Whether you and your sister accompany me is your own choice, but I cannot delay the journey to Rome any longer."

He sighed. "Our father knows of a member of the Knights of the Holy Order that we can contact. He's currently on assignment in Kiev. If we can get you to Kiev, he can smuggle you safely to the Vatican. Better than we could," he admitted.

I took in the information in stony silence. I had not forgiven him in the slightest for what had occurred earlier. He tugged on my arm, but I still refused to look at him.

"Destiny, this is childish," he snapped, spinning me about to face him. I glared up at him, refusing to be intimidated. Did he honestly think that his rages would ever compare to Dracula's? The mental image made me laugh.

"You can't frighten me Boris. And if you're going to act like a spoiled noble's brat and have this kind of attitude –"

"I'm not acting like a 'spoiled noble's brat' in the slightest. I'm angry that you had a relationship with the son of the Devil!" he exclaimed furiously.

A smirk played around my lips. "Jealous?" I asked slyly. Laughing scornfully, I slipped away from him and trotted down the hall. "Be ready at dawn," I called. "I won't wait for you."

Even at that distance, I could hear him cursing fluently. I laughed beneath my breath. For a member of a noble house, Boris wasn't very cultured or chivalrous. Maybe it was the gypsy in him.

I sought out Father Dimitri. He was still in the study, in the same chair as he had been when I yelled at them. I wondered idly if he had moved at all since that incident.

"Father?" He turned weary brown eyes in my direction.

"Ah, Destiny. Has Boris told you about –"

"Exchanging in Kiev? Yes. I want to leave at dawn. The vampires will be forced to withdraw then and we need as much of a head start as possible. And we should be equipped and prepared to split up if need be, one group acting as a decoy." I spoke without breaking, giving him no chance to respond. "We travel by day and night, no stopping if we can help it. And we need to bring along plenty of holy water, stakes, and crossbows."

With that, I swept out of the room. I knew I was acting like a bitch, but they had earned it in my eyes. On my way, I passed a huge map of Transylvania. It was so big that it took up a whole entire wall. It was just about as big as the mirror gate at Dracula's castle.

Wait a minute.

I looked more closely at the map. It was the same height, same shape. Yes, it was definitely the gateway. I wondered idly if I should tell Boris or Nonia.

Perhaps.

There was a small piece of the map missing in the bottom left corner. One doesn't have to be a genius to recognize an inscription. It was probably the way to open the gate, and someone had wanted to prevent those of this castle form ever doing so. So the ripped off the all-important end of the inscription. In spite of myself, I smiled slightly. I don't think the Valerious knew, even after 300-odd years, that the answer to their vampiric problem was right under their noses. It was priceless.

I didn't think I would tell them though. It wasn't good for nobles to have everything just handed to them on a silver platter. A voice in the back of my mind whispered nastily that I was trying to protect Dracula. I told it to shut up and promptly barred the thought from my mind.

Nonia came up next to me with a tray of food in her hand. "I was going to bring this to you," she explained apologetically. I took it as her way of saying sorry, and forgave her. I was never very good at holding grudges anyway, except in special circumstances.

"Let's take it to my room," I suggested. We walking in silence down the halls. Once in my room, she divided the food up evenly and we sat down.

"We're leaving at dawn," she informed me. "You and I will take one carriage one way, and Boris will follow a slightly different route. With any luck, and hoping one of our horses doesn't throw a shoe or something, we should make Kiev in three or four days. After all," she bragged proudly, "Nothing is faster that Transylvanian horses."

I smiled slightly. "You know the large map of Transylvania in the main hall?"

Nonia nodded. "Well," I continued, "It's the gateway to Dracula's castle." Her mouth dropped open, her face paled, and she swayed.

"You mean…the key has been under our noses for more than 300 years and no one has known?" I nodded. "How do you open it?"

"I don't know how to open it from this side," I said, which was partially the truth. "I just recognized the size and shape of the other side of the gate in Dracula's domain. Now if you will excuse me, I'd like to get a few hours of sleep before we leave."

Nonia picked up the leftovers and placed them on the tray. On her way out, she turned to look at me.

"Thank you Destiny. So much of my family has died searching for a way to find and kill Dracula. Now we are one major step closer because of you." With that, she left.

A pang of guilt stabbed my heart, but I brushed it aside. Something else was niggling at the edges of my mind.

"Much of your family has died in this effort, my friend," I whispered softly to the darkness, one hand on my abdomen. "I fear you will too."

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