Part XII

Kitana closed her eyes, ready for the bite. But nothing happened. Instead she heard an evil laughter. She spun around immediately.

Dracula held Tina by her arms. "You think you´re clever, huh? But not clever enough!", he said.

Then he whispered that only Tina could hear: "You are my bride, did you forget? Noone can save you. Even your cute little friend can´t!"

On seeing that, Kitana made one step forward but wasn´t able to come farther. Dracula had picked the crucifix up and held it now near his bride´s neck. Somehow it didn´t burn himself. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Stay back or she was my bride for the longest time!"

Tina´s eyes showed fear. She leaned close at her husband´ in order not to touch the crucifix.

Kitana didn´t know what to do. Then Dracula held the cross directly at her neck. With a scream her neck was burned. The mark stayed.

"Impressing, isn´t it? What a small crucifix can do...", he said and now put it on her arm. The movement was followed by another scream.

"Get out of here!", Tina yelled at Kitana, "Leave me here! Save yourself!"

Kitana shook her head. "No, I won´t go without you!" She turned at Dracula. "Lausy! Let her go!"

Dracula looked at her in surprise and anger. "Noone has ever called me so! You haven´t the right to!" - "Oh, you scare me! Lausy! Lausy! LAUSY!"

Dracula let go of Tina. His bride fell to the ground, holding her wounds. "That´s enough!", he shouted and grabbed Kitana by her throat. He blocked her breathing even more by lifting her up into the air and throwing her into a wall.

Then he found a hand in his. "Please, stop! You´re killing her!", Tina said, pleading for the life of her friend.

"It´s far too late for compromises, my dear! She wanted to offer me her blood!", he kicked her away from him and then walked up to Kitana.

He pulled her to her feet violently and wanted to sink his teeth into her neck...

Part XIII

At least he would have if Aleera hadn't pulled him off of Kitana while Verona and Marishka lifted the wounded girls in their arms. Dracula was even more surprised when he saw that the brides had tears in their eyes.

"That's enough!" cried Aleera. "You've got the girls now what more do you want?" Dracula turned his questioning gaze upon Verona.

"What is this all about?" he asked.

"We saw everything," said Verona. "Each girl was risking her own life for the other. And what did you do? You spat in their faces and hurt them! Why? Why must you be so cruel to them?" Dracula's glare deepened.

"They are my prisoners and there fore I should be allowed to do with them as I wish!" he cried.

"No!" screamed Marishka while hugging Tina like a small child. "They are still just girls. Even if you've already bitten Tina and almost bitten Heather they are still just young girls!"

"Please!" pleaded Aleera. "Give them both two days with us. Two days to heal from their wounds. Then we'll let you have one of them. Just one! But please, stop hurting them! We can't take it anymore! It hurts just to watch!"

Dracula looked from one bride to the next. Each one had tears in her eyes and it showed how much they really cared about Kitana and Tina. He inwardly cursed himself. Whenever they gave him those pleading looks he could never turn them down. Dracula sighed heavily while rubbing his temples.

"Very well," he said. "Take care of them and heal their wounds. But you will only have two days as you said. Two days and then I will choose one to do with as I please!" The brides nodded eagerly and left the room with the two wounded girls in their arms.

I hope you liked the chapter! How do you feel about Dracula´s nickname? Leave a few reviews for me and let me know :)