Chapter 19...need i say more? Lol! Enjoy!

CASSIDY'S POINT OF VIEW:

I moaned. It could not be night just yet. I feel like I have just closed my eyes. What was that noise? Purring? "Cassidy. Get this thing off of me." I heard Dracula growl. I rolled over to the side and saw the cat purring and rolling his paws all over Dracula's chest. Dracula was glaring daggers at the cat and his lips were curled into a look of disgust. I grabbed the cat and placed it on the floor. "You best look out for that cat, Cassidy, or you will one day find it sucked dry." He hissed. I lowered my head and rubbed my eyes tiredly…and exasperatingly. He could drive me crazy sometimes, being so rude and…evil. I felt two cold arms find themselves around my waist and I sighed. Not right now. I uncomfortably slid away from him and got off the bed.

"Just where do you think you're going?" He asked dryly. "To make breakfast…or dinner…whatever." I replied groggily. "Did I say you could go?" He asked with a tilt of his head. I folded my arms and glared at him. "No, I'm sorry. I did not know that I needed your permission." I found my voice saying dripping with sarcasm. He sneered and disappeared from the bed. I brought my arms down from my chest and took a staggered step backwards. Where did he go? All of a sudden, I backed into his cold chest and he spun me around to face him. "I do not understand why I let you speak to me like that!" He spat. I gasped as his eyes turned an unholy shade of black. I closed my eyes and turned my head away. "Go." He said softly after a moment. I opened my eyes and looked at him in confusion. He walked away from me and I narrowed my eyes. Well, I know not to try his patience.

I left the room, the cat following right behind me. I picked it up and smiled. "You hungry? Are you hungry?" I asked in a little baby voice. The cat meowed and I nodded. "Yeah…me too." I entered the kitchen and set the cat down on the table. I then searched the cupboards for something to eat. Nothing catching my eye, I made my way to the pantry across the room. I thought about cake. Mmm. Spice cake. I grabbed some flour and eggs. Turning around, I gasped with fright and dropped my contents all over the floor. Aleera. She giggled softly and asked innocently, "Did I scare you?" I shook my head, "No…" She mock pouted and stepped over the mess that I had just made. She placed an arm around me and led me back out into the kitchen.

"Cassidy, love, we missed you last night." She purred. "Missed me?" I asked confused. "Yes. We needed you and you weren't in your room." She said with a small smile. "Oh…well, I fell asleep in the library." I said shakily. "Hmm. I don't think so. We checked there. We checked all your usual places, but you were not to be found." She replied knowingly. I frowned. What was she up to? "You see, my dear, my sisters and I have a certain skill of locating people with our minds. We can find anybody in any room within this palace…except the Master's room." She said turning to me. My eyes widened slightly. She then smiled and said, "But never mind that, sweetie, I have a small task to ask of you." I tried to get my heart to calm down. Thank God, she was not going to push the subject any further. "My ring, you see, is in poor condition. It has not been polished in over 100 years. Would you do me a favor and polish it up for me. Nobody can polish like you, darling." She pushed with a grin. Ok, clean mess and polish ring. What a nice way to start the night. I nodded and held out my hand as she pulled the ring off of her finger. I refused to make eye contact with her as I took the ring. I could tell she was still wanting to press the matters of my whereabouts last night. "Thank you, dear." She said before gliding out the door.

I sighed and looked the ring over. Yes, she did have this one for quite awhile. It was gold with a large ruby sitting right in the middle. What was exquisite and priceless about it was that the ruby sat off the ring about 2 inches. It was a very very expensive ring. I set the table down on the table and grabbed a towel. Kneeling down on the floor, I began to wipe all the wasted flour and eggs into a pile. "What are you doing?" I heard someone ask behind me. I jumped and whipped around to see Thomas. He jumped back and put his arms out. "Whoa! It's just me!" He cried with a shocked smile. I sighed and slumped my shoulders, turning back to the mess. "Just cleaning…as usual. I also have to polish Aleera's ring." I said. "Oh. Where is it, I can do it for you." He said. "It's up on the table." I replied scooping up the remains of some thick yoke. "Uh, no it's not." Thomas said. "Yes, it is." I replied without turning around. "Where? Cass, it's not on the table." He urged. I stood up and turned around. I widened my eyes as I realized he was right. The ring was gone!! "What did you do?" I cried, pushing him aside and looking around the table. "Me? I didn't do anything!" He shouted. I pointed to the table and said, "I put it right here, Thomas, it was right here!" "Don't yell at me! I haven't even seen it!" He screamed grabbing my shoulders.

"I'm going to cry! That is Aleera's favorite ring! She claimed that after she killed the Governor of Ghoa!" I exclaimed, getting on the floor and searching for the ring. Nothing. "Uh, Cass…" "I know it was there!" "Cass?" "I put it there myself! She'll kill me!" I screamed grabbing my head. "Cassie?" "No! Worse! She'll lock me up for weeks with the rats and they'll slowly chew me up to death!" Thomas grabbed my face and pointed it towards the floor. "CASSIDY!!" My eyes widened at the sight before me. The cat. The cat had Aleera's ruby ring in its mouth. But the worst part of it was that the cat was standing in the sink…dangling the ring over the large drain. Thomas took a step forward, but put my hand to his chest, stopping. "Don't…move." I whispered. The cat's eyes glittered. "Here kitty kitty. Come here. Bring the ring to me." I said with a hopeful smile. The cat lowered its head and Thomas and me shrieked. "No!" Thomas and I yelped in unison. The cat took a step forward. "Yes. That's a good kitty. Keep coming. Come on." I said, smiling in relief.

Then, I saw my whole life shatter before my eyes. The cat dropped the ring and I heard the clank of it disappear down the drain. I dropped to my knees, my mouth agape. Thomas ran to the sink and tried to put his hand down the drain, but he was a fool to even try. "Cass, I think I might be able to get it out." He said looking up. I looked at him unconvinced. "I see it." He simply said. "Go get me a long…thing." He said and turned back to the sink. "A knife." He suggested. "No! That will scratch the finish!" I shouted. "Then get me something else," he sighed. Well, I couldn't think of anything else so I gave him a knife. He stuck it down the drain and twisted it slightly. "I got it!" He cried, but then…we heard the clanking of it going down farther and farther. "I don't got it…" I tsked and slapped him upside the head. He rubbed his head and took a seat at the table. "Well, I guess I should go tell her that I dropped her ring down the drain…twice," I said, saying the last word sharply. Thomas just shook his head and I left the room.

I closed the kitchen door behind me and leaned against it. Closing my eyes, I sunk down to the floor and sighed. "Something wrong?" A low voice asked. I jumped and banged my head against the door painfully. I grabbed my head tearfully and turned to see Dracula. "My God, what is it with people and scaring me today?" I yelled in frustration. He helped me up and stared at me with his oh so beautiful blue eyes. "How's your head?" He asked. I sighed and said, "Could be better." He smirked and brought a hand up to my cheek. I flinched and he sighed. "Are you still upset with me? If I do recall, you are the one who made my upset." He said with an angry frown. I shrugged and said, "I'm sorry. I'm just having a bad day…and the sad thing is, is that I just woke up 15 minutes ago." He chuckled softly and pulled me to him. "Might I do anything to help?" I smiled a little and tilted my head upwards. He leaned down and kissed me softly. The kiss deepened and I threw my arms around his neck.

ALEERA'S POINT OF VIEW:

This cannot be. Master…and the servant girl? I came to check on my ring, but instead I found my Master and that…girl kissing! I stepped out from the shadows. "So…this is why you wanted her to go to your room last night?" I asked. "Master! How could you?" They broke away instantly and looked at me with wide eyes. Master stepped in front of Cassidy, as if protecting her, and tilted his head. "Aleera, were you spying?" He asked calmly. "No! No one would have had to spy to know that something was going on between you two! Master, she's human! She is not one of us!" I shouted, blood red tears falling down my pale cold cheeks. "Were you planning on turning her? Were you going to replace us with her?" I cried out in fury. "Aleera! Enough!" He shouted. I whimpered and took a step back. "I have had quite enough of this. You have been very trying of my patience these past few weeks, Aleera." He hissed. I hissed with fury and fear and took off down the hall. I heard him shout after me, but I kept running. The girl would pay. Yes. Cassidy would pay.

Lady Kathrin: Hey! Keep up with your reviews! I love them! P.S. You don't need to tell me drac's hott...i know!

Erin: Thank you for your awesome review! Let me know if this chapter was as haunting as the rest, lol!

Widow Dracula: OK! I used your idea. It will take action in the next chapter. I hope I used your idea in a way that you liked it. The next chapter is when some interesting stuff will happen. Let me know what you think!

Knnyphph: I know! Drac can be such a softie...and yet such an evil jerk...i like it! I'm glad my story is one of your fav fics! Let me know what you thought of this chapter!! Your reviews are grrrrrrrrrreat!

Hermione-Malfoy: Wow...another chapter that i didn't need your help on...i'm making some progress! lol! Love your encouraging reviews! Keep them up and keep updating on your story! You're killing me!

Gumpergirl07: Hey! Thanks for your reviews and i'd also like to say sry for spelling ur name wrong on my last chapter, lol! I forgot the m and i felt like really bad, lol! ;) Keep reviewing!

Well, thats ch 19!! What will happen to Cassidy? What is Aleera going to do...hmmm? Review and find out!! lol! Love ya! Countess Alana