Disclaimer: Van Helsing or anything associated with it is not by any means under my ownership. Sorry, can't come up with anything too witty today. :)
A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I was hard at work writing and organizing the next few chappies. You forgive me, right? Anyway, I have to respond to my loverly reviewers, and then I have a few more things to announce.
Lady Kathrin: Yes, you're right, it was indeed a cliffie. I couldn't resist, lol. Don't worry, there's lots of Drac. Heard you saw Charlie and the Choclate Factory with Countess Alana…I'm going to see it tomorrow; I can't wait:)
M: YAY, a new reviewer! Loved your review, so short and sweet, lol. I'm glad you like my fic. Here, I'm continuing for you!
Manson: Oh, phew! Thanks for that reassurance…I was worried there for a sec, lol. Do you ever get sleep? It's quite nice; you should try it sometime. :) Anyway, thanks for your review!
Fortune Zyne: That was probably my shortest review yet, lol. But I must say, I was a little confused as to what you were referring to…would you mind clarifying? Sorry, I'm a little slow. :)
Countess Alana: Haha! You already know I loved this review, lol. Thanks again for your help, and I hope you think this chappie is as good as the others. Luv ya' girl:)
Sephrothlay: YAY, another new reviewer! I'm glad you enjoy my story. :) Interesting name…does it mean anything?
HottDarkPrincess: Yeah, my aunt's wedding was really nice, thanks for noticing! I have to agree, time travel would be pretty cool. Sorry 'bout the clifie though, hehe. Forgive me:)
Okay, just a bit more to say. Thanks to all my reviewers, of course. And, I'm giving you all a heads up. In this chappie is probably the most graphic scene I've ever written. I upped the rating just in case, but I thought I'd warn you guys. This chapter also does a lot of flipping back and forth between Andrea and the others too.
Chapter 19
Dracula's eyes darkened in irritation at my continuing refusal to give in. "Why must you know everything? You are far too curious for your own good, my dear. One of these days, it'll get you into trouble." He said it lightly, but the warning was clear by the look in his eyes. I refused to let it drop, however.
"Vladislaus, don't try to avoid this. Just tell me, and then take me home. Not necessarily in that order." My eyes begged him to do as I'd asked.
"It's not important. Don't worry your pretty little head about it anymore. And, I'm not sure I quite agree with your plan. If I told you what you wanted to know, and then let you go home, what would I get out of it? We have to be fair, Andrea; we've talked about this before."
"Putting me in this situation hardly seems fair." I retorted. "And don't lie to me; you dropped me off a building to get that ring. It damn well better be important!" I could tell that today was just not my day. Considering the circumstances, I believe it's safe to say that it wasn't even my century. Dracula disregarded my last comment and took another step towards me. I backed away instinctively until I was back up against the wall again. He leaned his hands against the wall, one on either side of me blocking any chance for escape.
"I'll make a deal with you." he whispered softly, leaning in close to my face. "I get what I want, then you can get what you want." His icy breath on my cheek made me shiver, and his eyes bored into mine. I stared back at him, both nervous and wary.
"And what exactly is it that you want?" I asked, not really wanting to know the answer. Dracula smirked, and his eyes lit afire.
Meanwhile, Van Helsing, Carl, Sylvia, Lydia, and Fiona were slowly making their way towards the castle. It was cold, and the going was slow. Van Helsing and even Carl were uncharacteristically silent; Lydia on the other hand kept up constant chatter, occasionally joined in by Fiona or hushed by Sylvia.
"Guys, I still can't believe we're here! This is so exciting. Oh, look at that tree! This is a tree from the 1800's, guys. The 1800's! I wonder if it's still standing in our time. Do you think? It'd be a pretty old tree if it were. Oh man, check out this rock!" She went on like that for quite some time, until Van Helsing could no longer take it. He stopped walking and sighed, trying to keep his frustration in check.
"Lydia, please! Would you stop talking! I can't hear myself think. Forget the scenery for five minutes, and concentrate on why we're all here. I assure you, I didn't come for the trees!" He turned back around and continued down the path. Lydia looked down in embarrassment.
"I know you're excited; we are too." Sylvia said, trying to comfort Lydia. "But now is not the time, okay? And don't let Van Helsing bother you too much. He didn't mean to sound so harsh, he's just worried about Andrea."
"I'm worried too." Lydia whispered back, not sounding nearly as cheerful or excited as she had a moment ago. She stared at Van Helsing's retreating form. "I'm really worried."
I stared at Dracula, waiting for his answer. The hungry look in his eyes was beginning to really worry me. Suddenly it disappeared only to be replaced by the oh-so-familiar suave coolness that Count Dracula was famous for.
"Answer me!" I demanded, my voice soft and intense and my frustration growing. His silence and unwavering yet strangely threatening smile did nothing for my temper. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, still staring back at me; I felt like his eyes were peering right down into my soul.
"I want what I've desired from the beginning: a new bride, and you, my dear Andrea, are perfect." I don't know whether the look on my face matched the absolute horror I was feeling inside; if it did, Dracula made no sign. Oh God, I thought, this is what I've been afraid of, deep down, from the beginning. I always knew this was what he'd wanted, but I never let myself really face the truth until he'd actually said it. Now it was too late.
Van Helsing and the others finally reached the old Valerious Castle. The three girls looked up and around in awe, but Van Helsing and Carl became even more subdued as memories filled their minds. The door was unlocked, and everything inside seemed exactly as it had been before the long line of the Valerious family was abruptly ended. Except for an inordinate amount of dust it looked like nothing had been touched. Van Helsing led the way up to the room with the door to Dracula's castle. No one spoke; there was a deep reluctance to break the spell of silence that had settled upon the castle from its years of disuse. The five stopped in front of the mirrored door to Dracula's icy world and prepared to pass through.
"You three," Van Helsing said gruffly, pointing at Lydia, Sylvia, and Fiona, "stay close, follow me, and do as I say. Who know what we'll find when we get in there. Is that clear?" The girls nodded. Assured that he could trust them to follow his instructions, Van Helsing took a deep breath and stepped through the mirror.
Lydia followed him, and Fiona followed her through the door. Carl, who was of course rather reluctant, walked through with Sylvia after she spent a moment convincing him that everything would be fine. The five stood there, looking up at Dracula's vast castle, the girls in awe, Carl nervous, and Van Helsing stoic as usual.
"It was just like Andrea described in her journal, remember?" Lydia whispered to Sylvia. She nodded. After a few deep breaths, they all began to trudge through the snow to the massive door.
While my friends were coming ever closer, I was still alone with Dracula. "Think of it." Dracula continued, after announcing his plan to me, "the two of us together for all eternity. We'd be the greatest and most powerful people this world has ever seen! With you by my side, nothing would stop us. And we could have so much fun, you and I." That hungry, lustful look was back in his eyes.
Okay, just keep him talking, I thought. I figured that would be a good strategy right then. "But what about my friends, my career, my home in the present or future or whatever?" I asked. "I can't just leave everything behind; I don't want to!" Dracula chuckled.
"My dear, your future lies with me. We both know you want to stay here. Why fight it?" He stared deep into my eyes, and his hand came up to toy with my curls for the umpteenth time. Before I could stop myself, I began to fall under his control once more and took a sensual step closer to him. His eyes lit up with inner fire and a smile crept across his face. But suddenly an increasingly persistent thought popped into my head again. I struggled to keep control of my mind and speak.
"Wait," I said, "what about my part of the deal? We have to be fair you know." Dracula's concentration was broken and he released his grip on my mind slightly.
"I'll tell you what you want to know, sweet; never fear. All in good time." I fought a moment longer, processing my options and biting my lip in indecision. If I did this, Dracula would tell me what I wanted to know about the ring. Then hopefully I'd have a chance to tell Van Helsing and we would be one step closer to destroying Dracula. But it would be too late for me. Was this information worth it? Yes, I knew in a heartbeat. Was I willing to sacrifice all that I had for it? If the information would help Van Helsing save the world and defeat Dracula once and for all, I had to do this. Van Helsing was more than worth it to me, and I could see no other way of getting Dracula to tell me about his ring. I only wished that I'd had more of a chance to tell Van Helsing how I felt about him. Gabriel, I thought, listening to the sound of his name one more time, I love you. I wish there was some other way, but there isn't. Forgive me. This is for you.
My inner conflict resolved, I looked up at Dracula and let the side craving his attentions take over. He retightened his grip on my mind, and now I couldn't change my decision, even if I'd wanted to. I took another step forward, smiling seductively. "Alright, Vladislaus. You've got yourself deal."
He grinned evilly and closed the distance between us, pressing against me. We kissed hungrily, devouring each other. I wrapped my leg around his hip and leaned insistently against him. His gloved hands slid up my sides over my clingy black dress all the way up to my neck, which I dimly noticed was throbbing again. I cupped his face in my hands and bit his lip teasingly. He growled deep in his throat and bit back a little harder, but not enough to draw blood. I laughed softly and kissed him again, and I took one of his hands and guided it slowly up my leg under my dress. Dracula stopped and caressed my inner thigh, his soft gloved fingers teasing my skin. I shivered and moaned against him, wanting more. Still kissing, my lips and breasts swollen with desire, he led me over to a large four-post bed that had just appeared. I sank down onto it, the mattress incredibly comfortable, and Dracula followed me down. I hardly knew what I was doing anymore, my head was buzzing with want and need and I had no room for anything else. Even without Dracula's slight control over my mind, I couldn't have stopped. His hands and mouth were everywhere at once, and suddenly, the dress was gone, lifted up over my head and flung across the room, but I barely noticed.
Dracula left my mouth and explored the valley between my breasts, leaving kisses like icy tendrils on my skin. I moaned quietly but with more insistence. "Vladislaus," I said, my body writhing under his attentions, "please, more! Oh, God, God!" Dracula hissed softly.
"Do not speak of Him here!" he admonished me sternly. In a more seductive voice he continued, "But say my name again, Andrea."
"Vladislaus." I said, as he trailed his tongue slowly down my body.
"Again." he breathed, his mouth cool against the flushed skin of my stomach.
"Vladislaus!" I cried, almost pleading, while he slid down lower on my abdomen.
"Again. Say it!" Dracula insisted, his hands around my thighs.
"Vladislaus,Vladislaus, VLADISLAUS!" I screamed as he entered me with his tongue again and again, massaging and working me almost to release. I closed my eyes, still repeating his name, and suddenly my neck was on fire, blazing hotter than the rest of me. I cried out, no longer saying his name, just screaming and arching my back up towards him. I felt Dracula's fangs under my skin, felt my blood rushing toward my neck. Pain and pleasure intertwined inside me, and I clung to Dracula, my body shuddering convulsively underneath him. Hot tears leaked out from under my eyelids; the pain was so intense that it seemed to go on forever. But in an instant it was over, leaving me aching for more; I could never get enough. Still keeping my eyes tightly closed, I whimpered and clung to Dracula even closer, curling into a ball tight against his chest, my arms around his neck and my face buried against him. Shaking and sobbing, I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep, but I couldn't escape the huge sense of loss I felt inside, like something great was closed off to me forever.
So…what do you all think? Am I crazy? I think I am. Don't worry though; everything will turn out right in the end, I swear! This is just a temporary setback (if you want to call it that) in Andrea's life. Things get better! So don't hate me, please! I would love reviews from all of you as always, and I've decided that it would be so awesome if I got 100 reviews by the time this story's finished. Triple digits, W00T! So I'm relying on you guys to help, cuz I'm not desperate enough to review my own story, lol. Alrighty, I'll ttyl, and I can't wait for your reviews:)
Gem