Yes, I would like to thank everyone whose reviewed so far: Ice Queen28 and garnettears. You guys ROCK! And Remember, take your time reviewing, I'm in no hurry. So, here is chapter 28 (well, it would have been if I hadn't put the author's note up) I know it's kinda sappy, but I couldn't take it anymore.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Verishka

It would be over one hundred years before Verishka would ever be seen in Romania, or Transylvania for that matter. After that night she moved to Prague. Being in Transylvania made her long to be closer to her homeland. Secluded and alone in a giant manor, she kept her distance from changing society. However, as the turmoil in eastern europe subsided, the vampiress deemed it time to emerge, and return to the world again.

The year was 2004. A man was running through a lonely alley in a desperate attempt to elude his hunter. Although he knew the now modernized city streets of Vaseria, the sky was lit only by the full moon. But strangely enough, the person who followed him seemed to have no problem maneuvering in the darkness. His breath increased and he could feel his heart pounding against the walls of his chest. As he started to run faster he could hear the light footsteps behind him made by the heels of boots against the pavement. Unfortunately, the poor seeing conditions led the man to take a wrong turn and come to a dead end. His heart accelerated yet again as his hunter stepped into a ray of moonlight.

At first, his fear subsided and was replaced by shock. It was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her skin was as flawless and white as alabaster. Although her lips were thin, they were a captivating red. The eyes gazing at him were a deep brown with strange flecks of red, and thick yet flawless black eyeliner made them all the more exotic. Long, dark brown hair that was close to black danced around her face as the wind blew in loose waves, and short, wavy bangs blew across her forehead. She was dressed entirely in black. The top was a black leather corset that was cut very low. The bottoms were simple black pants completed by black suede boots. The look was finished with by a black leather trench coat that went down to her ankles.

"What do you want from me?" he stammered.

"You've lived here your entire life, with your time running short I would refrain from asking questions that you know the answer to," she spoke. Her romanian accent was apparent, but her voice was still smooth and seductive.

"Please spare me," he begged, "or give me the eternal life you have."

"My dear man, you do not have the stamina for immortality, you do not even have the strength to fight me now," she said.

As she drew within a foot of him, he took out a cross pendant and held it close to his neck, his eyes closed firmly. The woman lifted up the cross with two of her fingers and looked at it with a fake look of love and admiration. However then as he opened his eyes to see what she was doing, her eyes turned a blood red and she wasted no time sinking her fangs into the man's neck. When his body was drained of all blood she dropped him to the ground to wipe the blood from her mouth.

Leaving the alley the mysterious vampire began to walk down the almost empty streets of Vaseria. The world had changed. Buildings were made of glass and concrete, the whole world had modernized. She had hoped that Vaseria would stay that way forever. Still, like the rest of the world it changed. Very little seemed to withstand the test of time.

As the wind blew again, wrapping the vampire's long, dark hair around her face, she sighed. She didn't belong here, and she was entirely sure why she had come in the first place. Looking back on her past she realized, it was not the lack of blood that was making her feel as tired as she did. Her stamina was wearing thin. She had seen the birth of mighty empires, and she had seen them crash and burn centuries later. Advances in technology were made, only to one day also become obsolete. Through all of these years she had tried to keep up. To not depict one era, but to go on and have the strength to embrace change. But it was wearing on her, and although change was tiring, being alone drained her more.

She walked down the street with the confidence of someone who had seen the ages. Through experience she had learned what life was, and how to live it. However that didn't change her lack of ambition. What could give her happiness, and the strength to go on, was within her grasp, but she did not have the will to reach for it.

But her peaceful stroll was suddenly interrupted. There were three people following her. That was unusual, no one in their right minds every stalked her. However then she remembered, ever since Van Helsing had discovered Dracula's secret, werewolves everywhere were rebelling in an attempt to wipe out the vampires. She took of running.

Down several streets she ran with the three of them trailing behind her. Once they changed and she could hear the snarls, she pulled out two guns that were strapped to her thighs and started firing at them. Although the silver bullets slowed them down, she still ran. Entering an old building with many floors she began running up the stairs until she reached an apartment.

She had bought the apartment weeks ago when she arrived. Entering the small apartment, she closed the door and dead bolted the door. It was an old apartment with peeling wall paper, and little light. Crossing the room she grabbed a piece of folded paper on a night stand and tucked it away in her pocket. Before she had time to grab anything else, the three wolves broke down the door and entered the apartment. As one dove at her she leaped onto the ceiling in defense, before jumping to the nearest window and spreading her large silver wings.

She flew just above the rooftops, but the werewolves still followed. They were desperate to sink their teeth into her now silver flesh. Turning around several buildings, she landed on a rooftop and quickly took out the piece of paper in her pocket. She had read it many times, but she still felt the need to go over the words again in her mind.

Dear Verishka,

I realize that it has been several long years since our last encounter. Despite many actions on your part to disrupt my plans, I have not harbored you any ill will, and merely wish to see how you've faired through the 20th century. Therefore, I would like to extend my invitation to you to come and stay with me in Vaseria, if only for a short time. Should you agree, I will be at Castle Frankenstein. I'm sure you have only become more beautiful since last I saw you, and I hope to see you soon.

Yours,

Vlad

Castle Frankenstein stood in the distance and was only a short flight through the woods. As Verishka was about to decide whether she should take him up on his offer or not, the three wolves showed up again and she leaped into the air. The sound of her ragged breath was echoing through the forrest as she wove through the trees to escape them. However they were intent on catching her, and so as she was drawing nearer to the Castle they began grabbing at her feet.

Finally she chose a window and began to fly strait for it. As the wolves closed in, to her complete surprise , Dracula came crashing through the window closest to her. Verishka flew to the side so not to crash, but then watched as he began to fight and tear apart the three werewolves. On the side line, Verishka was grateful for his help, although she was surprised to see the fury and anger with which he was attacking them with. A part of her wanted to believe it was because of her, however in reality she thought it was probably his anger at them for daring to challenge the vampires.

Realizing that this was mostly her fault, Verishka dove downward and into the fight. Although it wasn't the most brilliant attack plan, she took one o the werewolves off of Dracula by leaping onto them, then scratching and clawing at them wildly. With one out of the way, Dracula was able to snap the necks of the other two. Despite the fact that she had it under control, when the wolf slashed her across the back, he was truly angered. While Verishka laid on the ground, trying to heal the extremely deep wounds, Dracula pull the werewolf off of her and cracked the monster's back.

Verishka laid on the ground, concentrating on her back and healing the wounds. Dracula also changed back and began to walk towards her, with genuine concern. As he did, the strongest of the three wolves silently got up behind him. Despite her weakened state on the ground, Verishka pulled out a pistol and fired five shots behind Dracula. The werewolf fell to the ground, dead, and Dracula nodded with approval. Yet again she had saved his life, and he hoped that by saving her from the werewolves he had repaid her slightly.

Trying to get up, Verishka said, "You certainly can fight werewolves, I'll give you that." her knees then gave out, but Dracula was already on his knees to help her.

"You came," he said, slightly shocked.

"Yes, and that was quite a welcoming party," she winced.

"I thought I showed them to their rightful place," he said.

"I'd like to think we're even now. I've saved you're life, now you mine," she offered weakly.

"Shh, relax," he said, placing a hand on her back to heal it.

"No no, I've got it," she protested.

"Nonsense, I know werewolf injuries are near impossible, and you've got nothing to prove," he said. She looked at his hands, which were now covered in blood from cradling her back. However she then heaved a sigh of relief as Dracula placed a hand over her back and healed the wounds.

"Thanks," she said as he helped her to her feet.

"I must say I'm somewhat surprised you came," he said. As they started walking towards the castle entrance she said, "Well I thought after our last encounter we'd have plenty of things to talk about."

"Like how you murdered all of those children, or how you left me? Again!" he said, with false anger.

"Dracula, did I hurt your feelings?" she asked, pushing open the door.

"Yes!" he played, "with the way you always leave, or the way you never use my first name anymore. It's always Dracula, or Count."

"I'd say the 20th century has turned you into a complainer," she muttered.

Dracula took her leather trench coat from her and placed it on a chair. She then took a moment to see the changes that he had made to his wardrobe throughout the years. He was wearing an ordinary black, collared shirt, with the sleeves rolled back slightly, and ordinary black pants. His face however, had not changed at all, nor his hair that still had loose strands in his face that she longed to run her fingers through.

"You've changed as well," he offered.

"How so?" she asked playfully.

"Your hair, for one. It's the way it... use to be," he said.

"The wonders of modern day hair products," she explained.

"It brings back memories," he said, running a hand through it. As his hand trailed away she grabbed hold of it, silently remembering the feeling to his skin and strong yet gentle hands. Dracula too, enjoyed the feel of her skin, which felt like satin to him. With his other hand he gently caressed the side of her face and was pleased to see a smile escape her lips. Taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth he kissed it before saying in a hushed tone, "What good fortune has finally returned you to me?"

"My unwavering hope to find something from a life I once had," she whispered.

"And have you found it?" he asked.

"I have seen him many times. He will stand before me, as clear as night, but I know I cannot touch him. For if I do, I know he'll fall away like he was never real, like everything else I ever loved," she whispered.

Standing extremely close to each other, Dracula spoke in a whisper, "It may not be tonight, but I know that one day you will find him. And you will be able to fall into his arms and have him hold you with the love that you deserve... which is all the love in the world." As he spoke, a mixture of emotions flooded his face until something happened that had not happened in centuries. Tears began to fall from the eyes of Count Dracula. As tears also flooded Verishka's face, she took a step towards him.

"I told you once, what I needed to stay with you," she trembled.

"Verishka," he cried, "I'm back." She ran into his arms as he lifted her up and spun her around. "I'm back," he kept whispering in her ear. When he put her down she placed a hand on one side of his face.

"I found you," she breathed.

"I love you," he said, he then kissed her cradling her head in his hands.

"Vladislaus, I've always loved you, always loved you," she sobbed into his chest.

"Forgive me," he said, burying his face in her hair, "for everything. I've always loved you. I was such a fool." She wrapped her arms around him tighter.

"What is it love? What do you want?" he asked.

"Hold me, just hold me," she pleaded.

"For always," he promised.

Vladislaus slowly got to the floor of the dimly lit hall. Leaning against a wall, they stayed that way for the majority of the night. With Verishka clutched tightly in his arms, Vladislaus stayed there. They were emotionally drained, but the truth was out, which lifted he weight of the world off of their shoulders.