Ok, ok, ok! I have an excuse! I was a counselor at an over night camp for nearly two weeks, and then I was sick, and now (oh yes, there's more!) I have about seventeen people living in my house, ten of which are small, clingy cousins who simply LOOOOVE their older cousin a.k.a. me... ugh... but because I just love my readers so much, I laid awake all last night thinking up this next chapter word for word.

There.

You happy?

On a different note...

Ah! I feel so bad about my writing skills! I keep having to explain stuff to you all! I'm sorry!

This time it's about Verona and Aleera keeping the girl a human rather than turning her into a vampire. To them, a human teenager, by means of physical (and sometime mental) prowess, is the same as a young vampiric child. She'll need to depend on them for food and water and shelter, much as an infant would. Else wise they might of turned her. It's all a psychological thing to them... and plus it's important to the rest of the did I say that out loud? ;D

Anyway, I'll try to do better in explaining myself... sorry for any confusion and for the friggin long wait.

Pax

I had been right in thinking the child needed rest. For the entirety of the next two days and nights, she slept without waking. Meanwhile, Aleera and Verona amused themselves by flying about the country side obtaining clothing, jewelry, and other fineries for their provisional babe. I watched them, hour upon hour, as they swooped in and out, cackling to each other joyously.

At some point, I began to ignore the fact that I was positive they both knew the castle had it's own supply of human necessities. Many years ago, when I had first taken Verona as a bride, I had showered her with gowns and precious jewels. After the first century or so, she had given up her taste for human regalia, and so the lot had been past to Marishka in her turn, and finally to Aleera. Now all of it lay in various places about the castle, most likely collecting dust in it's lack of use.

Sighing heavily, I watching my brides again leap off the tallest balcony. At least they were happy. I, myself, had done very little since the arrival of my newest permanent occupant. The night previous to this one, I had fed, and upon my return, there had come a pounding on the front door.

Curiosity struck me, as I gazed down at the mighty wooden barrier. Who on the Earth would be knocking upon my doors? I had strode back, and thrown open one of them, only to come face and face with a large group of Dwergi. The front most creature nodded curtly in pseudoformal greeting and marched past me, followed by his growling companions. I moved aside, one eyebrow cocked in mild interest, as the whole of them scuffled down the corridor and into the decrepit laboratory.

Apparently, news of my return had spread to their part of Europe.

Tonight I could hear them, still in the laboratory, barking orders at one another. One could only assume they were cleaning up the heaps of ruined machinery. I had taken to walking about the castle, visiting floors and rooms I had long forgotten, in an attempt to soothe my tender mind after long hours of self-afflicted abuse.

I stood now on the second level; silence prevailed, shattered occasionally by the sound of a large piece of metal being dropped or the like. This floor presumably had been where the Lord and his family were to have roomed. I thought briefly of my young guest, just above me. If I listened closely, I could hear her heartbeat. Over the past night or so, it had become stronger as she herself became healthier once again. I now noted, with an peculiar sense of satisfaction, that it had strengthened to an average sounding patter.

My eyes rose to the dark ceiling, and for a moment, I paused. Then, my feet carried me to the wall nearest to myself, and I proceeded to scale it. Upon reaching the cold stone, I merely focused, and my body past straight through. A rather handy trick, in many such cases.

The door to the child's room stood just to my left. I opened it, and silently entered. It was lit by the warm, orange glow of the fireplace. Verona and Aleera had done well in keeping a flame burning through all hours of the frosty nights. The light cast by the fire revealed quite a different room then last I'd seen.

Much of the dust had been cleaned, making everything appear lived in, and cheery. Candles had been scattered about, unlit, but ready with matches waiting by their sides. One door of the mahogany bureau stood open, proudly flaunting a fine array of elegant gowns and slippers. A table had been recreated into a vanity, holding a large box of jeweled trinkets, a hair brush, and what appeared to be face powder. Not that she would need it, I thought dryly, glancing at the slumbering mortal, whose delicate flesh was nearly as pale as my own.

Curious, I made my way over to the desk, allowing the fourth object upon it to catch my attention. I hissed softly, recoiling.

A mirror.

I glared, my eyes narrow as I took in the glass with disdain. I had missed it in my first perusal; most likely because nothing had moved in it's shimmering, taunting depths. I scoffed, taking a step closer. I was, of course, the only fully functioning entity in the room, and it would naturally not show myself.

But, alack, I spoke too soon.

A soft rustle caught my attention. Turning my head, I peered at the young human, now stirring. For a brief moment I knew not what to do. Should I leave the room? Or perhaps locate my brides and inform them of the progression? Time would not permit me to accomplish either of these. So, I simply seated myself at the table, and waited.

A moment of silence past, and then one, trembling hand rose to her face. I watched quietly as the delicate eyelids twitched, and finally her shoulder muscles tensed as she pushed off the mattress and sat up.

The waves of dark hair tangled on her fingers that rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She winced ever so slightly after managing to sit, no doubt from the lack of movement over the days previous, then opened her eyes. They took in her surroundings, and a frown tinged her countenance. It was about at this time that I was noticed.

She turned her head and for a fleeting moment, I heard her heart skip. I smiled at her expression of utter mystification. Her eyes dropped to her lap, then rose again to myself.

"Am I?..."

I understood her thoughts.

"Dead?" I replied in a low voice, "No, not this time, my child."

She released a breath, and again cast her dark eyes about the room, taking it in. I stood, and stepped away from the chair.

"Forgive me. I've forgotten my manners. Please, allow me to introduce myself." I bowed elegantly, my gaze catching hers, "I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia," her eyes, ensnared by my own, widened "You find yourself now in my castle."

Her breathing quickened, as did her heartbeat.

"You..." the word came out weakly, and so she ventured again "You...are alive?"

The question went unanswered.

For at that precise moment, my brides fluttered onto the stone balcony outside. It took only a brief time for Aleera's avid scrutiny to fall upon the newly awaked child. She gasped shrilly, and clutched Verona's arm.

"Verona!" she breathed, fixated on my companion. But Verona had already seen. The two flew into the room, and bore down on her. I stood behind them, watching with mild amusement. Verona rose her chin, surveying the thin face even as Aleera stroked her tousled head.

"Oh, Verona! Feel her hair! It is so soft!"

"She has such lovely eyes!"

"Are you hungry? Shall we get you something to eat?"

"Is the fire keeping you warm enough?"

"Now, now, my darlings," I said, stepping forward and placing a hand on each of my brides, "distance yourselves. You mustn't smother her."

Immediately, they pulled back, clinging to one another and shrieking with happy laughter. As for the girl, she still sat, her eyes wide and confused, hair perhaps more disarrayed and her person more disheveled than before. Suddenly, Aleera straightened.

"What is your name? Please, tell us."

One hand tucked back the knotted tresses gingerly as the dark orbs continued to assess.

"Adriana."

Aleera's eyes met Verona's as the two considered the name. For my own part, I thought the name satisfactorily and well fitted for her. And, from the smiles widened over my bride's faces, they thought similarly.

"It is a lovely name." Verona whispered, regaining much of her previous elegance and stature.

She glided down to sit beside Adriana and touched her cheek delicately.

"Tell us all there is too know about yourself."

The human seemed disoriented.

"There... is nothing much to tell, my Lady."

A sparkle began in Verona's dark eyes. I retreated back to my previous state of sitting at the desk.

"My darling," it was Verona, again, who spoke "You may call me Verona."

"And I am Aleera." The said individual piped, coming forward. Adriana's eyes flickered in my direction, a move so discreet, I only just caught it.

"And..." the voice was small, "are you all...?.."

Now it was my brides who appeared perplexed. I spoke.

"Are we all what, may I ask?"

She looked at me, with eyes penetrating and inquiring such as I'd ever seen on a mortal.

"Nosferatu."

A wide grin crossed my face. So perceptive. My brides has done well in their choice of foster child. I felt as her gaze feel on my fangs, and her heartbeat sped up.

"Indeed, you are correct." I rose again, joining Verona and Aleera at her bedside, "And you may find yourself now in a very fortuitous position. You see" I made a gesture"My brides found you near death," I sensed Aleera's annoyance, "brought you back to my castle, and have decided they would like to rear you as their child," I excluded as to why they had no children of their own.

"I myself make the assurance that you will be well cared for and treated with the utmost decency. However," I held up one finger in a chiding fashion, "should you try to escape, I can not promise the same."

"But she won't try to leave us" Aleera cried indignantly, cradling Adriana to her chest in a possessive nature. She smiled down at the child who gazed back up at her with curious eyes, "She is our daughter now. And she is a good girl. Besides!" another look of resentment, "Why would she want to leave?"

"A valid point, my love." I replied, "I was only setting the line down for all to observe. We cannot have people running about speaking of the location of Castle Dracula, can we now?"

"I promise to behave." I glanced down at the young child, as she spoke. She appeared quite serious. "I owe my life to you. I- I promise I will stay."

My brides went wild with delight, cooing and fussing over Adriana like she was an newborn. I turned and proceeded to the balcony, leaving the three to become acquainted. Upon my last view of the room, I noticed the small, shy smile that existed on Adriana's face, and felt a swell of satisfaction. At last I had delivered my bride's a child. But the time for thinking of that was over now. I ascended onto the handrail and leapt off into the icy night air.

All this talk of mortals had made me rather hungry.

BWA!