Disclaimer: Van Helsing and all affiliates are not mine. Why do you people insist on torturing me! WHY? Lol, I'm calm I swear.

A/N: HEY everybody! Did you miss me? I know you did, there's no need to say so. :) Sorry I couldn't update sooner…I had school and exams and crap, and then I went on vacation for a week to a strange computer-less world…it was horrible. Not that I'm addicted mind you, (well, maybe a little addicted…) but I felt so bad leaving all you loverly people for so long! Can you forgive me! Really? Oh, good. Well then. Moving on…I have a few PR's and then marvellous chappie 17! It's a little longer than my usual chappies (I think) and honestly I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote these next few chapters, but… shrugs Oh well; I go where my muse takes me. I just hope you all like it and don't think I'm doing something crazy. Anywho…

FastFuriousChick: Yeah, Andrea does spend much of her time confused…meh, I'll fix her eventually, lol. Sorry there isn't more A/VH fluffy stuff, but I hope you enjoy anyway!

Lady Kathrin: I'm glad you liked them! I think VH likes Andrea more than just for the Anna inside her, but…it would suck though if he didn't. Yay, more Drac in this chappie! A lot more, actually…hope you like:)

Countess Alana: Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting with this chappie…and I'm sure whatever you have planned for your fic is gonna rock. Seems to me that either idea would work, although I think I like the second one better, to tell the truth. I think it's a little more plausible, you know? Update soon plz and I luv ya back! Lol Email me sometime, k?

Fortune Zyne: Yes, I would have to agree with you…it does seem a bit risky. We'll just have to hope Andrea knows what she's doing. Am I the only one having doubts:) lol Enjoy!

Manson: YAY, a new reviewer! I'm so glad you like my fics…have you read my first one? Woah, that is a long time without sleep. How can you survive! Lol, hope you like this chappie too! Oh, and goodnight! Or something…whatever time of day it happened to be where you are… :)

So that's it for now! Please review when your finished cuz then you'll get my everlasting luv and appreciation! (And virtual desserts, did I mention those? Bribery! No, this isn't bribery! I NEVER bribe my reviewers; they love me and review anyway! Right?...) So, without further ado and without further rambling on my part, I give you…Chapter 17! Dun dun dun… lol

Chapter 17

I concentrated all my thoughts on Dracula, and stared hard at the corner, willing him to appear. Suddenly, he did, looking a little surprised. I suspected he was more surprised than he seemed, he just hid it under his cool composure.

"My dear Andrea! I didn't expect to see you again so soon. To what do I owe this urgent demand for my attention?"

I have to admit, I was a little surprised myself. "I...I didn't really think that would work." I mumbled softly, staring at him. But I quickly recovered and remembered why I'd wanted him here. I looked at him, standing full in the sunlight shining through the window, his black attire contrasting sharply with the white walls around him, looking back at me expectantly. Suddenly I didn't feel like just coming out and getting right to the point, I figured there'd be time for that later. Instead I asked a question that had just popped into my head.

"What do you think of the sunlight?"

"What?" he asked, slightly confused and thrown off by the question.

"You know," I gestured toward the window. "The sunlight. It comes from that big yellow ball in the sky in case you've been without it so long that you've forgotten. Here in the future it doesn't seem to bother you at all and I just wondered if you missed it or something. I mean, how long has it been since you've seen the sun? Doesn't it feel good, maybe like a long-lost friend? Or have you grown so used to being without it?"

I got up out of bed and moved to stand in the sun with him; talking about it made me want to feel its warmth as well. I turned to look out the window, and Dracula stood behind me. My questions hung in the empty air, and he didn't answer for a long time. I turned back to look at him and saw him breathing quietly with his eyes closed, looking as if he was trying to absorb all the warmth in the world if he could.

"I had all but forgotten..." he whispered, almost to himself. "Forgotten the sun's glorious kiss of warmth on a bright summer's day." He sighed and opened his eyes. "But now," he continued, stepping slowly out of the splash of sunlight on the floor, "I am a child of the night, condemned and content to spend my days in darkness."

I didn't respond, just turned back to the sun shining out the window. It certainly did feel good on my bare arms and face, and I closed my eyes against its brightness, smiling in spite myself. But then I remembered the other presence with me, and I too reluctantly turned from the sun and walked back into the shadows of the rest of the room. "Yes," I sighed, "I am more of a moonlight person myself, if given the choice."

I suddenly realized what I'd implied and glanced swiftly over at Dracula, who was staring at me intently. He didn't comment, however, just said, "Surely you didn't call to me simply to talk about sunlight. But, if there's nothing else you wanted..." His unfinished statement hung in the air. Of course there was something else I'd wanted. A very important question involving a certain piece of jewelry, but I didn't feel like talking about that now. Later, I could always ask later. There was a tangible tension in the air, but I was loathe to do anything to change it. At that moment, I just wanted to be. Be myself, be alone, be with Dracula, anything. Just so long as nothing had to change. My life had been moving too quickly of late, and I felt like I was no longer in control. If I could just stay here and be, and find myself, maybe it would all be better. I looked over at Dracula again, standing a few steps away from me, his intense gaze never leaving my face. I turned away; tears were in my eyes for no good reason that I could come up with, and a quiet, unsuccessfully stifled sob escaped my lips.

I heard no movement or rustle of clothes, but suddenly Dracula was behind me putting a tentative yet comforting hand on my shoulder. I leaned back slightly until I felt my head against his chest, and his arms slowly, almost unwillingly came around and circled my waist. He was probably afraid of further damaging my ribs, but they no longer hurt. I was trying to keep my tears in check, but they continued to run down my cheeks in silent defiance of my desire to stop acting like a silly girl crying for no reason. I was so busy concentrating on trying not to cry and make a fool of myself that I barely noticed when Dracula led me slowly to the patch of sunlight still shining warmly across the floor. He wrapped his arms around me again and buried is face in my hair, breathing deeply every once and a while. We stood in the sun together for I-don't-know how long, and I finally managed to get control of my emotions.

This is weird, I thought, suddenly realizing what was going on. What am I doing? Don't I hate this guy? Don't I love Van Helsing? Why am I so damn comfortable here! How did this happen?

I turned quickly in Dracula's arms to face him, not quite sure how I should feel. After all, it seemed as if he was only trying to comfort me...was I angry at him, or grateful? I looked up into his cold eyes; they held no warmth, and neither did his body. If not for the sun I might've been shivering in his arms. He looked down at me, an indefinable look in his eyes that I'd never seen there before. What was it? I leaned closer, my eyes constantly searching his, trying to understand his unreadable look, when his head moved suddenly and caught my lips in a searing kiss.

I pulled back in shock, my eyes flaring open, breaking the kiss. Then as I stared at him I moved forward of my own volition and kissed him back, hungrily. His strong, gloved hands moved up my waist and buried themselves in my curls, massaging my scalp. I felt his fangs nibbling at my lips but didn't care. Right then I needed something solid and real to hold on to that could make me feel the same way, something to prove to me that I was awake and this was reality. I parted my lips when I felt his tongue trace them, and it darted in quickly, exploring my mouth. An uncontrollable moan escaped me and I moved my hands up around his face, pressing harder against him. He kissed me back harder and more insistently, one of his hands sliding down my neck. I hadn't realized until then that the spot where he'd almost bitten me had begun to throb in time with my racing pulse, and his hand rubbed against it, as if he couldn't get enough of the feeling of blood rushing through my veins. He continued to push against me and I took involuntary steps backward until he had pressed me up against the window. The glass warm from the sun felt so good, and I melted in his arms. "Vladislaus..." I breathed, his name the only thing on my mind. He growled softly, deep in his throat in response. I felt his presence once again in my mind, and I saw and felt images of fiery, intense passion flash before me.

I heard his voice whisper inside my head, "I love it when you say my name. Say it again."

"Vladislaus..." I moaned out loud, as his caresses and kisses grew more intense.

"You are perfect." he whispered, and his kisses slowly traveled down my neck. "One brief moment of pain..." I was in a pleasure-filled daze, hardly aware of what was going on, as his fangs silently lengthened near my neck.

Just then, the doorknob began to turn and we froze as we heard the noises of someone entering my hospital room. Without waiting an instant to see who it was, Dracula pulled me close against him and when I opened my eyes, we were no longer in the hospital. I backed away from him and looked around me fearfully, completely lost. I looked down and saw that I was no longer in my unflattering hospital gown, but instead in a slim, black dress, low-cut and off the shoulders. It was elegant and gorgeous, but revealing at the same time. I looked back up at Dracula, fear all too apparent on my face.

"What did you do? Where are we? Why am I wearing this?" He walked toward me a step and I backed away, maintaining the distance between us.

"Come now, Andrea. Don't be frightened." His eyes still smoldered of passion and fire. "Haven't I told you not to be afraid of me? I simply transported us someplace where we could be more comfortable. Without any interruptions." He took another step forward, and then another, until I was once again backed up against a wall, this one colder than the last. I pressed against the stone, as far away from him as possible.

"How can I not be afraid of you?" I asked quietly. "You threw me off a roof and nearly killed me! You can't expect to do something like that and then gain my trust back instantly. I'm not sure you ever really had my trust in the first place. You ask too much of me. Now where are we?"

I took my eyes off his face for a moment to glance around the stone chamber we appeared to be in. He smiled seductively and as if he had his own private joke to enjoy. He picked up a ringlet of my hair and began curling it around his fingers, and leaned closer to me. "Why don't we think about such troublesome things later? Relax, my dearest..." He moved in and kissed me again, with all the passion from before. I leaned into him and the kiss pulled me away from the wall against my will, but suddenly I broke off and pushed him away, breathing heavily.

"No, stop. I want answers. For the last time, where are we?" I felt very mixed up inside, as usual it seemed; one part of me really wanted to continue what I had just ended so abruptly, another part screamed that this was wrong and I can't ever forget Van Helsing or that the real reason I'd wanted to talk to Dracula was to find out about his ring, still another part of me was just worried about where I was and what this might lead to. I was pretty sure I wanted to get out of this situation but the truth was, I didn't know what I wanted anymore. Everything was so jumbled up inside of me. And of course, my good 'ole cynical voice pointedly reminded me that I had definitely enjoyed Dracula attentions, and who was Van Helsing again? I decided quietly to permanently evict that voice from my head as soon as I got the chance. Now wasn't the time, however.

Dracula sighed in response to my questions. "Does it not look familiar? We are in my home." He gestured around.

"You mean Castle Dracula? In Romania? That's half-way around the world!" I said, shocked.

"Not only that, but half-way across history."

"We're in the past again! Oh, God. Why me? My life is such a mess. Just kill me now and get it over with." I groaned and sank down onto the floor, curled up in a ball by the wall, and started to cry again.

Dracula walked over and lifted my chin up. With only his hand under my chin, he compelled me to stand again before him. He wiped away a tear with his soft glove and crooned, "There, there, sweet. No crying. Everything will be fine. Now, where were we?"

Woah, am I insane or what? Seriously though, I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing…what do you guys think? I mean the chapter was fun to write definitely, but…I don't know. I suppose it's too late now so oh, well. I guess we'll all just have to live with it, won't we? Review and let me know if I'm certifiably crazy or not! Please and thank you:) Oh, and I'll update sooner now that summer's here, I promise. Later all!

Gem