Lireela opened her eyes. From the tiny ray of sun peeking through the curtains, Lireela could tell it was a little after dawn. Yawning, she walked over to the curtains and pulled them apart.

"Well," she sighed, "at least that adds a bit of light to this horrible room."

Lireela had never experienced boredom this intense. She had already looked around the room enough times to mentally picture every corner and inch of it. She had spent an hour twisting her hair around her fingers and staring out the window. Walking over to the window, she tried to open it, but it was stuck. She pulled harder. It wouldn't budge. Finally Lireela decided to give up, and flopped onto her bed.

Then she had a sudden idea.

"Why didn't I think of this before?" she muttered to herself.

She stared at the lock on the door for about two seconds, then click! The lock was opened.

Walking softly to the door, she pushed it open and let herself out.

It was dark as night in the hallway, and cold as ice. Shivering, Lireela pulled her cloak around her and headed down the hallway.

She figured Dracula and his brides would be asleep now, because, from what she'd heard of vampires, they sleep during the day.

So she walked out into another hallway, not expecting to see anyone up.

But this was not the case. She had not yet met Igor.

So when she turned the corner, she was startled to see him stooping over the floor, dusting. She tried to sneak away, but tripped on the hem of her cloak, and stumbled into the hallway.

Igor jumped up and pulled out a knife. Squinting, he saw Lireela lying on the floor. He walked up to her, expecting her to run away, but she did not. He knelt down. She was breathing, but she was unconscious.

"What is it, Igor?" came a voice from behind him. He turned around to find his master staring at the floor.

"Ah," said Dracula, "She has tried to leave her room."

He bent over and picked her up with ease, and looked into her face while saying, "She would not have gotten past the gate... I was not worried. But she is strong, I admit. That is why I have chosen her for my bride."

"Her?" Igor said, confused. "But she is young, master -"

"That is why she will be staying here for five years," snapped Dracula. "Now continue with your work."

He turned around and headed down the dark hallway.

Igor shook his head and continued dusting.

Dracula reached his destination and walked inside with Lireela still unconscious in his arms. He could feel her deep, soft breathing. He could hear the blood pulsing in her veins... the rich blood that he was so eager to have. But he restrained himself, knowing that if he were to bite her now, he would have to look for yet another bride.

He walked across the room, and carefully laid Lireela on a couch.

Dracula was just about to turn and walk out of the room when he noticed something white sticking out from underneath Lireela's sleeve. He reached down and took out a letter, addressed to: Lireela Filerious.

Lireela opened her eyes. She didn't know where she was. Then memory came back to her and she realized she should be on the hallway floor, but that was not the case. She was on a surprisingly soft, warm couch, staring at the ceiling.

She sat up and rubbed her head. There was a small bump on it.

"I see you are awake, Lireela."

Lireela started at the sound of her name, and quickly turned around to find Dracula standing over her. She stood up, breathing heavily.

"What... How did you... ?"

Dracula smirked. He held up a letter... the letter that Jericho had given Lireela the day before, the one she had not yet opened. But it was open now.

"Give it to me," she ordered.

Dracula laughed.

Lireela focused on the letter, using her telekinesis. The letter didn't move.

"Lireela, my darling, do you not realize your powers have no effect on me?" Dracula said, but his voice trembled. "Your powers will make us invincible. Because you see, once I have made you mine -"

"You mean by biting me," said Lireela quietly.

"Yes... that as well as... other things..."

Lireela glared at him.

"Once I have made you mine," Dracula continued, his voice growing stronger, "You will be loyal to me and to me only, and you will obey no one but I. You have gifts, Lireela... gifts that would aid our kind."

"Our kind?" repeated Lireela. "Our kind? No. That is where you are wrong. I would never become one of yours, I would kill myself before I -"

"Do you really mean that, Lireela?" asked Dracula tauntingly. "I can see you sweat. I can hear your heart beat faster and faster as you approach me. Do not tell me you want to be rid of vampires forever. We can show you things you could never be shown if you are mortal. And you will experience such lust and desire... it will be overwhelming."

Lireela didn't know how to respond to this. It was all she could do not to stare at Dracula for ages on end. She took this opportunity, while Dracula was lost in thought of what was to come, to snatch the letter from his hand.

Dracula didn't seem to care.

"I have already opened and read it," he said. "Take it, I need it no longer."

Lireela opened the letter furiously and began to read.

Lireela,

I don't know how to tell you this. I have thought it over many times before, coming up with the same conclusion: she will think of me differently. But I can hide this from you no longer. Lireela, do you remember by the lake, when you asked me if I fancied anyone? I answered no, not yet. But now I do. In fact, I love her. I cannot get her out of my head. I think of her day and night, night and day. I love you, Lireela.

Jericho

Lireela could not speak. Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them.

And Dracula left her to cry. He would not let her go, for nothing and no one but himself.

I'll try to update soon! Check out my Van Helsing site, I have it in my profile.  We need more members!