Hello all! I felt the need to thank all the lovely reviewers, and to thank my inspiration for this chapter! You see, I was in a state of perpetual writer's block after the last upload, and didn't know what to do! As the days past, I was helpless...

Then my inspiration came in a song.

Oddly enough, the song does not actually play into this chapter... I just inspired me! Or maybe, now that I reflect, it was more so the movie it was in... And so, to conclude this funny little AN, I would like to make a shameless plug for that wonderful film:

GO RENT HANNIBAL! (the song is the opera IN the movie, called Vide Cor Muem... absolutely beautiful. If you are into ripping off the music industry, like myself, download it!)

Lots of Love,

Pax

I felt something was amiss from the moment Verona returned alone from hunting. It was not the first time something of that nature had occurred, but this felt different. And when near an hour had past, and Aleera was not yet returned, the feeling had only deepened into heavy suspicion.

I sent Verona out to find her, and then took leave myself to feed. I had not been doing so regularly for some time, and I often found a weakness of a most irritating nature floating over my body and through my skull. However, when I caught my prey, and lowered my teeth into its neck, the rush of warm life pouring forth into my mouth came as a powerful refreshment. Leaving the body, I shifted forms, and made for my castle.

This time, when I landed in the entrance hall, I knew something was wrong. But no, wrong was not the correct word for the feeling I had. It was not threatening, moreover distinctly peculiar. And I felt it had to do with Aleera's absence in the early evening.

It took me a moment to ascertain where my brides were in the palace, and when I sensed them a fresh wave of curiosity swept over me. On the third floor? I proceeded up the stairwell, bewildered. What could they be doing up there? Uponreaching the appropriate landing I heard them talking, in hushed tones, five doors down the corridor, in a small room, no doubt once used as a sleeping chamber. And so to them I went, my boots clicking lightly on the stone floor.

I heard their voices stop and their movements still as I reached for the door knob. Surely, they knew it was only myself? Why did they fear my entering?

A bright flame was crackling merrily in the fireplace; both Verona and Aleera stood at the side of the musty bed. And in it lay a human girl. I knew at once from the smell, she was mortal, and upon further examination, I also came to notice that she was not so much a girl as a young woman. Yet my initial reaction was unquenched.

There was a human in Castle Dracula.

My eyes flickered to the pair at her bedside. They stood, watching me anxiously. Taking a cooling breath, I strode over to the end of the bed, and fixed my sight on the slumbering mortal.

Silence ensued for many minutes. At last, Verona spoke.

"My lord," she whispered, a tremble in her voice. But she seemed unable to finish her statement. Maintaining my dangerous calm, I softly said,

"Could one of you kindly explain this to me?"

Aleera glided to my side, clinging to me.

"It was I who brought her here, master," she cooed, laying her curly head upon my shoulder, "And we beg of you to let us keep her."

It took me a great deal of practiced effort to first process this, and then to master my fury. Keep her? Verona, no doubt once seeing the rage in my eyes, swept to my other side, placing a slender hand on the front of my lapels.

"We only ask this of you, my love, because we long for a child so very much!"

I felt another stab of anger, but also a pang of regret. I had failed my brides in bringing our true children to life. Did they really crave a family so badly that they were willingly to adopt a human child as their own? It seemed almost ridiculously desperate.

Yet, I found I understood their plea.

I rose my eyes from the girl, to Verona. She was my eldest. She had been the first to beseech of me to have offspring. And when our attempts had failed, I had allowed her to mother my younger brides. Allowed her to teach Marishka and Aleera how to catch and kill their prey. Of course, they too had wanted children. I glanced over at Aleera. My youngest; my fiery haired, passionate bride. At hearing Verona's request, she had but nearly dropped to her knees before me, begging for the same.

And I had done nothing but disappoint them in all my attempts. I too wanted descendants. Perhaps, not with the same ardor, for that was quite impossible, I thought bitterly, for one so hollow as myself. But I still felt their pain.

Aleera gazed up at me with her doe brown eyes piteous.

"Please, master." she murmured, pouting.

Verona stroked my face, her eyes, also brown but much darker and deeper, pleading.

"It would make us so very happy, my love." she purred.

I sighed, feeling myself caving. After all, the tattered and hollow remains of my heart belonged to my brides.

"Very well. You may keep her."

It took the two several moments to comprehend my answer. However, when it came upon them, they were both ravenously happy.

"Oh! Oh, master!"

Verona whispered as Aleera shrieked with happy laughter. I smiled lightly and rose my gaze back to my new, permanent guest. Still, she slept.

"Verona! Verona, come!" It was Aleera who spoke, in an excited voice "We must go get things ready for when she awakes!"

Verona eyes glazed slightly, and turned again to myself, as if asking permission. I nodded, granting it, and watched my brides together fly out the window, seeking things for their child.

And so I was left in the room, alone, with the girl. I sighed heavily, and watched the slow, heavy rise and fall of her chest. The room was silent, allowing me to hear the soft pattering of her heart. In a strange way, it soothed me, the touch of mortality that accompanied each beat.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it would not be so outlandish to have this child in the castle after all...

So... what do you all think of my "Dracula Voice"? Does it suit him? Your opinions would be much loved and cherished! You all get to meet 'the girl' next chappie... is the suspense killing you?...

Pax

P.S

Sorry it took so long for this update! Finals... you know how it is... but now it's Summer Holiday! Huzzah!