Disclaimer: I do not own Dracula nor any of its characters. The only thing I own is my own characters.
A/N: I am terribly sorry it took so long to get this up but real life got in the way. Anywho I hope you enjoy this offering. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, and to everyone else PLEASE Review! On with the show.
Morriquinne wasted no time in returning home, checking on her father who slept peacefully as usual. His colour was considerably worse, looking quite pale and pinched. She sighed, kissing his forehead brushing a strand of silver hair from his closed eyes and headed to her room. As she readied herself for bed with a heavy heart, she greatly wished this night had simply been a nightmare brought on by her faery tales. But an impending sense of doom told her it was night. Slipping into the bed, which could be referred to as little more than a cot, Morriquinne tried to find a peaceful night's sleep. But her dreams were filled with vampires, demons, and other devilish creatures.
The next day she spent as usual, heading into the village square to sell off her findings of the night before, only keeping what she needed to make treatment for her beloved father. She greeted everyone with smiles and kind words feeling rather refreshed after a good sleep, thinking back on the night she laughed at herself for fearing anything at all. It had to have been a dream, a harmless nightmare. At least that is what she kept telling herself.
As dusk approached Morri collected her unsold herbs and mushrooms heading home to prepare for another night of collecting. Entering her home she brewed a dark tea of mushroom stems, and bitter purple herb, bringing the steaming cup to her father who still rested in his bed.
"Good evening Papa, I am about to head out to collect again, how are you feeling today?"
The only answer she received was a groan followed by intense coughs that made her wince to hear, let alone witness. She quickly came to his side helping him drink the tea supporting him against her, Coaxing him to finish the bitter liquid for his sake.
Fretting her brow, she kissed his forehead, "Papa please hang on a little longer I am sure I will find the right herb to heal you, I just know I will!"
Edward relieved of his coughing for the moment took this time to smile at his daughter and speak softly, "You don't have to do this my child, I have had a full life, you should be leading yours."
"And what kind of life would that be without you there with me Papa?" she smirked shushing him, "Save your strength. Now I must be off."
With that Morriquinne tucked her father in to sleep, his face was lined with concern for his loving daughter. She headed back downstairs to prepare for the evening. Looking out on the already dark night from the window, she got a sudden sense of dread tying a knot in the pit of her stomach. Not exactly knowing why she put any stock in the previous night, she still took no chances attaching a silver stake to her hip and a crucifix above her breast. Temporarily satisfied she wrapped her worn velvet cloak around her frail figure collecting her empty basket. She paused at her leather book, which she always took with her, deciding dawdling in the forest t'would not be a good idea she left it laying upon the dilapidated table.
With that she left her cottage closing the door firmly behind her, heading towards the now foreboding woods. There was a distinct chill in the air, that sent a chill to her very soul, causing her to wrap her cloak tighter around her and pull her hood up.
Little did she know the dark form of the night before was perched high in a tree, watching for her, waiting for her. As she got deep into the woods she heard a deeply accented voice purr so low it felt as though it was coming from actually within her mind.
"Hello Miss Aidwren..."
Shocked at the dark greeting she whirled searching for the source of the masculine sound, muttering, "So you weren't a bad dream, " now frustrated with not being able to find the source she grasped her stake stealthily, shouting, "SHOW YOURSELF!"
The vampire continued to speak in calm hushed tones, "So you are not a coward, hmmm? Explain your weapons then my dear... What did you hope to accomplish with those?" hovering in a tree, still out of site.
"Protecting myself at worst, doing my village a world of good at best," the feisty maiden sneered continuing to look for her verbal attacker, pausing a moment, "How do you know what I carry?"
Seemingly instantly, Dracula appeared behind her running a cool hand down the nape of her neck, startling Morri enough to whirl and plunge the silver stake into his chest. He covered her hand that held the stake, a surprised look on his face… pain in his eyes. It almost looked as though the old vampire had tears in his eyes. Morriquine couldn't help but smirk.
"So much for the Prince of Darkness"
With that he returned her smirk, wrapping one arm around her waist pressing her to him as he used his other hand that still covered hers to push the stake in further. Morri's green eyes widened in shock.
"I told you my dear, I have taken a great interest in you, I have been watching you since you left your village," with that he released her pulling the stake out with a harsh roar, "Stakes become so monotonous, I had hoped better of you."
The maiden glared harshly, "It was worth a shot," Continuing to taunt daring to use his first name, "And what would the great Vlad Dracula want with a mere mortal?" raising a defiant eyebrow in hopes to irk him.
He chuckled wickedly, "It is not what I WANT with you... but what I need with you. I have been alone a long time now, my dear," with that he brushed her hood down revealing her face unshadowed to him.
Wrenching back from him, she growled refusing to show fear although she felt any moment she might break from it, "And what do you need from me? You say you have been alone... take any willing whore I'll not be yours, and from what I recall any blood will do, so I doubt you have gone to all this trouble for a meal," continuing to address him with a snap, she was tempted to pull the cross from around her neck in an effort to subdue him.
Almost as though he sensed her course of action he grabbed her once more, clasping the silver cross yanking it from her neck, all she could do was watch as it melted in his hand, he leaned towards her ear with a hiss, "I have not harmed you my dear, nor given you any reason to attack, why do you insist on harming me?"
"You are not my captive my dear Miss Aidwren, you are free to go," he continued holding her tightly against him, her whole body stiff in his grasp, "Now then, It is not your blood that I desire... it is YOU. I want you to be with me now and forever in eternal life. Come with me and let me expand your mind with my vision of the future," his piercing eyes taking on a wild look, his grasp so tight it had begun to hurt her ribs.
Straining against him, desperate to get away, "I would rather DIE than be damned by the likes of you!" She cried managing to extricate herself from his embrace, "My father needs me, demon. And you vex my soul." with that she turned walking away quickly.
Once more he appeared in front of her, blocking her path, once more looking calm and collected, "Your father, what ails him? Tell me Miss Aidwren, what is it he needs to return to the fields a strong healthy man?"
She stopped in her tracks, the first time showing any weakness in her indifferent shell, nearly telling him everything of her father's ailments, but the snapping back into indifference, "Nothing you could offer."
Narrowing his eyes he grabbed her arm, gently this time, "How could you know what I may be able to offer? I have already offered YOU eternal life. Perhaps I can extend that of your father."
Jerking her arm from him, "You have offered me eternal damnation, cursed to drink life from mortals as you do... that is NOT life, and I'll not see my father harmed in that way," she inwardly cursed herself for the tears that sprung involuntarily to her eyes, "I'll bid him to heaven before I see you take him as one of your own."
"I speak not of bringing your father into my fold foolish child. Of what use would that be to me? I speak of medicine, healing, knowledge that I have gained over 400 years of life," with an almost wistful sigh, "I was a good man once, I healed many before my damnation."
"At what price would you offer this?" her voice shook slightly.
He grinned wickedly, wondering what her father's health was truly worth to her, "That my darling will be decided later. Tell me of your father's ailment and I will answer you."
"I do not know what his ailment is, I know the mushrooms and the purple bitter herb, that grows near them, offer him relief from the bouts of coughing. He... he also appears to have aged 40 years overnight... I just don't know," she turned from him, her pride not allowing her to let him witness her pain.
Almost instantly knowing what she spoke of he responded, "I can heal your father. I know the medicine he needs, the mushrooms provide relief, I can provide a cure. In return, you become my bride and join me in eternity. I leave you with your decision now. Return to this clearing tomorrow evening with your decision," instantly he disappeared whilst her back was turned, heading back into the forest to seek the cure.
Morriquine remained silent, standing in disbelief, she did not hear him leave but knew he had by the sudden lack of charisma in the air. She suddenly bolted from the woods, to her home remaining by her father's side the rest of the night and through much of the next day. As she watched his frail figure sleep she could not help but begin to sob wrapping her arms around his torso.
Murmuring into the air, "I cannot see you die Papa, if it means being cursed then I MUST accept this fate"
As night descended Morri entered the woods, heading for the clearing her green hood shadowing her face, she was unarmed and empty handed. The same feeling of dread she had felt the previous evening knawing more strongly at her then before. She arrived at the clearing only waiting a few moments before he appeared before her, a small leather pouch in his hand. Within the pouch was the cure Morriquinne so desperately sought, a fine powder to be turned into tea.
"Have you made your decision Miss Aidwren?" he asked, his tone cold and business like.
"I would not be here if I had not!" She snapped refusing to be broken even in surrender, "But I'll not join you till I see my father is fully restored"
As he tossed the bad of powder at her feet he responded, "I will take your word that you will be here tomorrow night then, Miss Aidwren," With that he appeared behind her snaking his arm about her waist, "But I warn you do not toy with me, far more powerful than you have, and did not live to tell about it."
She pulled away from him, every time he touched her her breathing quickened leaving her feeling a little faint, crouching she picked up the pouch eyeing it cautiously.
"How fast will the cure work?" ignoring his threat completely.
He had already begun to walk form the clearing, "See you tomorrow night Miss Aidwren"
"WAIT! You have not told me how to administer this, nor have you told me how fast I will see his recovery," She quickly ran after him, physically whirling him to face her.
He smirked glancing at her hands on his shoulders, "Make it into a tea, have him drink it slowly over a period of one hour. He must finish the ENTIRE tea... no matter how bad it tastes. Recover differs in all who drink it," removing her hand from his shoulder, "I will see you tomorrow," with that he turned disappearing into a fine mist.
"ONLY if I see my father is fully restored," she hissed turning to leave in the opposite direction she assumed he took, knowing he could hear her even though he was already gone into the night.
A/N: Well That is chapter 3, I hope you enjoyed. Let me know if you did, hell let me know if you didn't grins