Well I finally got around to updating, chapters 2 and 3 up at last! Thank you Katca Mcadar for your review!

CHAPTER 2- MADE IN HEAVEN

It was a warm night in late June and the air was heavy with the scent of flowers. The sky was splattered with stars and the earth was pale, gleaming in the moonlight. Count Dracula dropped to the ground and walked through the fields towards the town. There was a large house on the outskirts and a young woman leaned on the edge of her balcony overlooking the English countryside. She was fairly attractive, Dracula thought. Her hair was a mixture of light and dark brown, which rippled down to her waist as was the current fashion, although Dracula thought that with her heart shaped face it would have been better suited if it had ended just past her shoulders. Her skin was pale and she had a sprinkle of freckles on her nose. Her eyes were rather pretty, dark and grey but almost too large for her face. She was dressed all in white. A nightdress, Dracula supposed. A rosary hung around her neck, which she fiddled with absentmindedly.

The curtains leading to her bedroom billowed on the gentle summer's breeze. A swishing sound behind her caused her to turn sharply and she almost screamed. A tall, well dressed gentleman stood on the roof behind her, his cape playing on the gentle summer breeze.

"Good evening," he said bowing. She turned and opened her mouth to call for someone but when she looked again he was gone. Puzzled the girl shook her head and went indoors muttering about needing sleep. The Count had walked down the side of the house and was now walking over the countryside. Marishka and Verona and Aleera had insisted he spent some time away because he was looking "peaky". Yes, that was the word they had used.

"You need a change of air."

"It is far too cold here."

"You need space to breathe, to think."

"No one in England knows what you are..."

"Yes, you could meet new people who have no fear of you"

"A change of scenery will do you good."

"A change of blood..."

"Aleera!"

"English blood is very good, so I've heard."

"That's enough Aleera!"

"Will you be quiet, Verona!"

"ALL OF YOU BE QUIET!"

Dracula had lost his temper. That had ended the quarrel but they still insisted he went away. Three brides... Dracula mused over why he had sired any of them. He supposed it was out of loneliness and boredom. Yet, when it came to it, neither Verona, Marishka or Aleera really took away the sting of immortality. They were beautiful, yes. And they had borne him children. It wasn't that they didn't try to please him, they cared for him very much but the passion for life he had when he'd made the deal with the devil was long dead. What he really needed, he realised, was a motive, a reason to keep living forever. Something to remind him of when his heart could pound in his breast and his blood was hot, like fire. With this in mind the vampire spent the day in an old abandoned house. He didn't yet need to feed; he had already done so that month. Despite Aleera's enthusiasm for English blood he had chosen French instead, alighting in Versailles just before dusk a few days ago.

Dracula awoke to the sound of church bells, ringing for the evening mass. Peering through a gap in the shutters he saw the young woman he had seen the night before walking with a group of other young ladies. She looked so different in the sunlight but still quite pretty. Dracula once again thought back to his brides. Three beautiful women and only one brain between them. Perhaps what he really needed was a new bride...

The church bells tolled again and the mass was over. The people headed home and Dracula waited until dark before venturing out. He slipped through the streets like a shadow and no one noticed him enter the inn. The Count sat in a far corner and melted into the shadows, his presence passing unnoticed while he listened to the idle chatter of conversation around him. Two hours later he left feeling very well informed. Apparently the girl who had caught his attention was Annora Osmond, daughter of the mayor. She was the talk of the town due to her recent engagement to Joshua, a wealthy, handsome young man who the Count disliked intensely. It wasn't jealousy, the Count denied that thought. It was merely personal opinion. All the same the vampire felt the urge to snap his neck. A short sharp twist and a snap and Joshua and his foolish boasting would cease forever. Joshua spent the evening boasting about his engagement to Annora. He seemed to think his charm and good looks had captured her heart.

"Her mother died giving birth to her," he slurred ordering his fourth tankard of ale, "and as you know, her father became deeply religious." He hiccoughed. "Of course Annora pretends she's religious too but I have my doubts!" He hiccoughed again. "Have you seen the look in her eyes every time she looks at me? Pure passion! Can't resist me, begged her father to let us marry...She can't resist my charms." Joshua gave the barmaid an alcoholic grin and pulled her onto his lap, "just like you," he said and she giggled and blushed. She had to. If someone as rich and powerful Joshua Burrard pulled you into his lap then you showed that you were as flattered as possible, or else. He was rumoured to be a dangerous man.

Dracula had heard enough. He left the inn and went out to tour the English countryside. He soared over the hills and grassy fields, his shadow a dark blot on the land, his silhouette a stain on the sky. He touched down in a forest and took a walk amongst the trees. The moon was waning but it still cast a milky glow over the trees. The Count appreciated the light. He could see in the dark but the world looked so much more beautiful in the moonlight. Dracula elegantly swung himself up into the boughs of the trees and gazed at the world. In the distance he could see the mayor's house. The lights were out but a tiny prick of candlelight caught his eye. The vampire smiled, it appeared that the mayor's daughter had decided to gaze at the stars again. The Count transformed and spread his wings; it was time to introduce himself.

He alighted silently on the roof. His shadow fell across the balcony and his wings folded back into his body. Annora turned and he grinned at her, for a split second his teeth gleamed pointily in the moonlight.

"Good evening, Miss Osmond."

Miss Osmond eyed him warily. Her solemn grey eyes were fixed on his, afraid to look away and hypnotised by his gaze. Her hands shook but her voice was calm and steady.

"How did you get on the roof?"

The Count jumped down to face her and smiled as she tightened her grip on the candle. He took a step towards her, hands raised as a gesture of peace. Annora took a step back, opened her mouth and screamed. The Count sighed and hurriedly clapped a black, gloved hand over her mouth.

"You have no need to fear me," he said quietly, "so please do not scream or yell or make a noise that might attract attention when I let you go."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't," she said attempting to sound brave, her voice muffled by his gloved hand. She was glaring at him. Dracula sighed.

"Because all I want is to talk to you. Is that too much to ask?"

She still looked indecisive. Dracula gave another sigh and then turned up the charm, "Please, Annora?"

She gave him a look that said it all; get your hands off me and don't talk to me in that voice unless you want to find yourself in a lot of pain. Dracula chuckled and shook his head.

"My apologies," he said and released her. Footsteps could be heard on the stairs

"Miss Annora?" a voice called from inside.

"Eve?"

"Yes, Miss, it's me. Are you alright?"

"I think so..." she said, eying Dracula suspiciously.

"I heard you call out...?"

"No... I'm... I'm fine." She said hesitantly, never taking her eyes off the Count, who was examining his gloves.

"Are you sure? Maybe I should come in and check on you, Miss," the door handle in the room rattled. Annora froze then she laughed dismissively in an attempt to disguise her nervousness.

"Really, Eve, I'm fine, it was just a nightmare."

"Well, if you need anything just call, Miss." And she was gone.

Annora turned to face the Count. He raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.

"I'm not saying that I trust you." She was subconsciously fiddling with the rosary around her neck.

The vampire elegantly brushed a stand of hair that had fallen into his eyes away and said, "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Count Vladislaus Dracula." He bowed low.

"Well you already know my name so there's no point in introducing myself but I would very much like to know why you are here," she replied bluntly. She looked a little more relaxed and her eyes were sparkling with interest at this handsome stranger on her balcony.

"As I already explained, I would like to talk to you."

"With respect," said Annora, showing a considerable lack of it, "Doesn't this seem a little strange to you? A complete stranger appearing twice on a young lady's balcony in the middle of the night, claiming he only wants to talk?"

"I little," admitted the Count. "You guessed it was me last night?"

"Yes. I thought I was dreaming though."

"Then I will leave you to your rest."

"That's all you wanted to say?"

"I am satisfied... for now. Goodnight." And he dropped off the edge of the balcony.

Annora gave a squeak of shock and dashed to the edge, looking down expecting to see a bloody, broken body. There was nothing there. Dracula was reclining on a tree bough, watching Annora. The only sounds were the crickets chirping to themselves and the occasional call of an owl. She stood staring in confusion at the ground for a while and then turned away and went indoors. He did not see her again that night.

Those next few days passed slowly to Dracula. He spent the day attempting to sleep but often he couldn't. Emotions that he had thought long dead had awoken again; desire burned fresh within him. Where his soul had been an aching desire to see her face lingered. He couldn't get Annora off his mind.

Dracula was an expert on seducing women. He knew he was handsome and his charm and elegance made him hard to resist, not mentioning the power he could so easily place on their minds. Mortals... so easy to control... Aleera, Verona and Marishka had fallen for him quickly. But he could tell Annora was going to be a little harder. She had strong morals and deep faith in God; he could almost feel the angels' prayers for her protection against him. If she knew what he was... Dracula glared at the wall, he was not going to be defeated by God again.

The Count sighed and walked up the wall onto the ceiling. He was restless, longing for the sweet embrace of cooler night when he could leave the confinement of the crumbling house and see Annora again. He spent some nights just reclining in the tree next to her balcony, just wanting to listen to the faint sound of her heartbeat as she dreamt. As the nights grew warmer Annora opened the doors leading to her room and drew the curtains. Then he would stand on the balcony and watch her sleep, content merely to see her face. She was certainly not the most beautiful woman on earth but it was at times like this that Dracula couldn't doubt that this vision of peaceful loveliness had been made in heaven.

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