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Insane Dragoness Lol! Thank you! And you're very welcome- it's a good story!

Katca Mcadar- She is indeed! And I still hate that stupid ruff! You're right, Annora isn't too happy with our dear Count!

Elena- Thank you! Here you are! Next chapter as per ordered!

This chapter is going to be a little darker than the others so far and Annora gets annoyingly stupid but, heck, who isn't at times?

CHAPTER 6- EMPTY SPACES

Annora awoke to the sound of boots pacing on the wooden floor. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up slowly. She had needed that rest; now she felt much better and, despite the sunburn and bruises, she looked healthier than she had in days. Dracula knew she was awake but he didn't turn to face her. He stopped pacing and gazed out of the window instead, Annora closed her eyes, a faint smile hovering around her mouth as she remembered where she was; safe.

"Do you feel better?" asked the Count carelessly, as though his mind was wandering down other, more important paths.

"Yes. Thank you." She re-opened her eyes and looked at him carefully. He had changed. She had always thought him handsome, he had style and elegance and when he looked at her she could almost see his eyes burning. He mesmerised her. Now Annora took in everything; his dark hair, pale skin, burning green eyes, spotless clothes, well-made boots, and the strange aura of power radiating off him. That aura had never been as strong in England and he had seemed less cold, less hostile. Now his eyes seemed so expressionless... Annora sighed to herself, it was a good thing she knew he had no soul or else her feelings may have developed into something stronger.

The vampire felt her eyes on him. Gently touching her mind he allowed her thoughts to flow into his. He smiled to himself at her observations and then he turned to face her at last. Yes, she would find him cold and hostile. This was his domain. Here, he was master and he would suffer no mortal challenge. Annora would soon bend to his will.

Silence. He was suddenly aware of it as though their thoughts had been a constant background noise and now they had stopped the air rung with their absence. Annora looked uncomfortable, she had sensed the invasion of her thoughts. This amused Dracula. He supposed that if she hated his touch on her skin then touching her mind would be no different.

"I apologise for bringing you here without your consent. It seemed to me the best course of action." But he didn't sound particularly apologetic.

Annora sank back into the pillows and didn't reply. Instead she replayed the previous night's incidents in her mind's eye. Dracula watched her reliving the experience and as she came towards to end of her memory he saw her body tense. She opened her mouth to ask him something but he didn't allow her to start.

"How is your arm? The wound was deep, does it pain you?"

"It aches a little," she relied carefully, "But no more that than can be expected from a pitchfork wound. If however it had been, say, twelve inches long and a lot sharper, the wound could have been more serious, don't you agree?" Her voice was controlled but with a just a slight edge to it.

"It is good that it was only a regular pitchfork then." Dracula's voice was sharper, warning her to drop the subject, though he knew better that to expect that she would.

"I'd say that a wound like that could be very serious indeed. Perhaps even fatal." Now rage trembled faintly on every syllable. Dracula turned to look at her again and his eyes narrowed they met hers. Her grey eyes were cold and hard as flint. Her accusation pierced right through him.

"Why?"

The Count paused. He had been wondering what to tell Annora, how could he explain the real reason he had killed Joshua and expect her to understand? She wouldn't. He decided that the best answer was none at all. He bowed and bid her good-day, turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Annora clumsily scrambled out of the bed and followed, determined to force a reply out of him. She reached the doorway and opened her mouth to shout but Dracula slammed the door behind him and locked it. He set off down the step leading from her room. Annora's futile yells faded away and he didn't look at his brides as he swept past them saying, "Leave her until tomorrow. She has much to reflect on."

He strode into his ice chamber and stormed up the wall, pacing the ceiling. He let the rage seethe inside, longing to vent it on someone but biting it back. He dropped to the floor and slipped through the great doors separating him from the rest of the world. The Count avoided sunlight if he could but after a long rest in his icy coffin he felt much stronger. He stepped out of Castle Dracula and walked across the mountain tops, the snow crunched under his boots and he squatted down and picked up a little of it. He packed it into his gloved hands as he thought and looked out over the mountains gazing down at the snow-smothered forest. He stayed there a long time, planning ways to exert power over Annora and show her the true meaning of fear. She wouldn't resist him for long. Yes, she would be his... but only after he'd broken her mind and dominated her heart. A new bride...

Confined in the room Annora raged and hammered on the door. She knew she was behaving hysterically and it didn't improve her temper. She wanted answers. Why had Dracula changed from the charming gentleman who took her to moonlit fields to a cold, passive stranger? And why the hell had he killed Joshua? Annora threw herself onto the bed and then stood up and stormed around the room again. She had no means of escaping the tower and even if she did, she wasn't leaving until she found out why the Count had murdered Joshua. Was it revenge or jealousy or just plain dislike? Why? Annora shivered. She had never minded the sight of blood but the memory of Joshua falling to the ground, his blood falling in splatters to the dusty cobbles, the look of pain on his face, the horror in his eyes... the talon, dripping with blood, rushing towards her like speeding death...

Annora lay down on the bed and planned ways to redeem the vampire, bitter tears threatening to spill as she thought of ways to prove that God never deserted his people... he always forgives... and then she remembered Joshua's death and in her heart she began to doubt.

Annora was summoned from her room the next day by Marishka and she stormed downstairs angrily, opened her mouth to yell at Dracula and shut it again when she saw the table. It was laden with glorious food and served as a reminder that she hadn't eaten for two days.

"Will you join me?" the Count asked, fixing her with those hypnotic eyes. Annora sank into a chair and eyed him suspiciously.

"And are you dining as well?" She questioned him, fixing him with a strong stare of her own.

"No," Dracula said calmly, "but you must be hungry; you haven't eaten for at least two days." He indicated the magnificent spread of food and gestured for her to start eating. Annora gave a sigh and decided to wait until she was a little stronger before challenging Dracula again. She did not want to face his wrath on an empty stomach. The servants served her food and then stood by, waiting for her to finish the first course.

Annora sniffed the red liquid in her cup. Yes, it was wine. She wouldn't put it past Dracula to slip her some blood instead. He gave another dry laugh and watched her eat, amusement on his pale face. Annora was indeed starving, she had two helpings of everything and Dracula was pleased to see the colour come back into her face. Behind the sunburn her skin had still been pale and waxen from stress but now it looked more natural. To Annora the food was heavenly. She hadn't eaten for a long time and the cooking was superb, she enjoyed the desserts immensely and now her blood sugar levels were a little higher her temper improved a little. Once the dishes had been cleared away Annora agreed to join Dracula for a walk.

For a while they walked in silence then Dracula stopped suddenly, turned to her and said, "There is no logical explanation for what I did to Mr Burrard. I didn't like the man for many reasons and I killed him out of anger for what he had done to you and because the man was a bastard. He would have killed you had I not saved your life. Now, if I am such a ruthless killer, incapable of feeling anything other than bloodlust, then why did I save your miserable life? Reflect on that."

Annora gave a shudder. "You sicken me." she said, looking how she felt.

"No, it is what I do that sickens you, not who I am."

"What you are sickens me as well."

"But you do not despise who I am?"

"Listen, Count," Annora's temper flared again, "and listen properly because I am never, ever gong to say this again. I hate the monster that you are, I hate that you sacrifice the innocent to save your damned soul but I do not hate the man within you."

"Then perhaps you can put your other feelings aside..." the Count was standing very close to her. He raised a hand and placed it gently on her face. She didn't flinch and her heart missed a beat. Then she pulled away trembling and cried, "I can't take it any more! Please, for the love of God, just leave me alone!" then she and fled to the sanctuary of her room, stumbling in her haste to depart from his presence.

"Before you discovered I had no soul you were not afraid to touch me," he said quietly. Annora paused and gave a bitter laugh.

"I wonder why." Then she walked away. Dracula let her go, wryly smiling at her retreating back.

Annora knew Dracula would follow if he wanted and she also knew that he could easily overpower her and sire her right there and then. No, he was waiting for something, Annora wasn't sure what but she knew that she must never let her guard down or else her soul would never reach the lights of heaven. She remembered his touch on her skin and the way he had been back in England and for a moment she allowed herself to dwell on these thoughts and muse over how a man who killed mortals for the sake of his own life could seem so... wonderful. Then she remembered he was a cold blooded murderer and he had no soul. Annora sighed and decided she would not allow him to touch her ever again; the consequences could be too great. Annora didn't want to fall in love with the son of the devil.

Dracula was growing impatient. Annora had refused to let him near her and if he made any intimate advances she almost literally threw him from her presence. Dracula longed to slam her against a wall in the heat of her temper and show her what she turning down. He wanted her to see just how much he ached and burned inside. No, not yet. This would be a sweet and soft seduction and Annora would love him before the end. The trouble was Dracula suspected Annora was becoming increasingly fond of him, now if he touched her, before she pulled away she would freeze and stare at him like a deer caught by the hunter. Then when she trembled, it was not only out of fear. He was almost humbled himself to her in an effort to make her feelings develop. But Dracula humbled himself to no one and these acts of submission were damaging both his pride and his temper.

"This is insane!" he cried to the unfortunate Igor, who had been not long been in his service. "She is a mere mortal woman! How is it that he can have so much power over me? What is it about her that makes me want to possess every little piece of her? Why is it that I long for her to submit to my power, to fall at my touch and yet I love her all the more when she defies me and spurns me? She has built a wall around her heart and every minute in her presence is torture yet I cannot bear to leave her. I want her to want me but I know that it is her coldness that keeps me by her..."

Dracula paused to find more reasons as to why he wanted Annora and Igor took the opportunity to leave the room. The Count didn't notice his absence but he didn't speak. Instead he went to confront Annora. This would be it. Tonight he would use everything he had; all his power, his charm and style to make her fall for him. He would tear down that wall and her mind and body would belong to him tonight but that would never be enough. He wanted her heart. He didn't love her, no, but he wanted her... all of her... tonight he would possess every little part of her and fill those empty spaces within. Then he would raise his face to the heavens and laugh at God. See? See what you have lost because you abandoned me...

Chapter 7 coming soon, all I need to do is start writing it... ­:)