Disclaimer: I do not own Dracula nor any of it's characters.
The moment Morriquinne got to her small cottage she began to brew the medicinal tee, the smell almost over powering her, but she didn't care. Moving quickly up stairs she perched beside her father, rousing him from his slumber.
"Papa, I have the cure, I have what will heal you," he barely opened his eyes at the sound of her voice.
This frightened her, causing her to move with even more haste, forgetting the price of this cure altogether. Morri gently lifted her fathers head coaxing him to drink the potent tea, he offered little protest far too weak to move let alone struggle. She never left her beloved father's side the next day watching him closely, she was relieved to see his pink natural colour return and no coughing spells seized him. Although he remained in a near catatonic state through the day.
"He is not fully recovered, but he is better," she bit her lip making a decision.
Towards dusk she left Edward's side, moving into the tiny barn she pulled their mare from the stables, gently saddling the horse, "Ah Tartan, I need your help my dear, do you mind riding out into the woods tonight?" the horse whinnied shaking her main which let Morri know that her horse was in agreement.
Morri then wrapped her father in blankets, rousing him enough to lead him out to the horse. Tartan kneeled to accept the slight burden of Morriquinne's elderly father, and remain so as Morri made sure her father was securely fastened to the beast.
Once finished with that task she took tartan's reigns walking all three of them into the forest, body and mind alert for the Count's unmistakable presence. She entered cautiously into the clearing looking about for some sign of Dracula, she could feel him he was watching her.
He was once more taking cover in the treetops, becoming very much the puppet master watching his creations from above. But his puppet had a surprise for him, she had brought another human in the clearing, startling the aged vampire.
Quickly whispering in the hushed tone of the night before, "You made a big mistake Miss Aidwren by bringing your father here. Take him home, let him rest, get him AWAY from me," he could feel the bloodlust building within him, "I cannot resist my urges. Return tomorrow he will be well by then. DO NOT bring anyone else with you again."
"That is all I needed to know," she murmured knowing full well he could hear her.
With that she turned her horse around returning to her home, her father still weak enough he did not know what transpired. She gently took him back to bed, curling beside him as she used to as a child sleeping the rest of the night next to him. Morri spent the next day with her father, enjoying the time she had with him, he was far more alert then he had been in near two years. She smiled and joked with him, although a sadness crept behind her eyes, a sadness her father did not understand. Once more dusk came near, and gentle Morri put her father to bed kissing him goodnight.
"Now Papa, don't forget me in your sleep," she half joked, while part of her was dead serious.
As she left her father's room heading to the main room she slowly wrote a note for her father to find the next day, it explained her absence, his cure, and told him how much she loved him and would never forget him. With tears she gathered a few belongings, her leather book of faery tales her father had given her, and a locket with a lock of her mother's hair, she had kept it ever since her mother had passed. She then wrapped her cloak around her, pausing in the doorway to take one last look at her home.
Sighing, "Well Count, you were true to your word, now I must be true to mine."
She then took the path to enter the woods, heart heavy with the impending doom she felt, she was unwavering in her decision though. As she entered the clearing she was immediately greeted by Prince Vlad, he stood a mere 20 feet away, admiring her beauty as she slowly approached stopping in front of him an arms length away. He could see in her eyes her acceptance of her fate. She remained silent gazing at him with the same indifference of the night before, he could see now she was pale and her eyes appeared hollow from her lack of restful sleep. She raised her hands in surrender.
"He is healing, you kept your word. And now I am here to keep mine."
"Put your hands down silly girl, you are not my captive you are my partner now. We will soon be equals and true love will soon be ours. No tell me, how is your fathers this evening?" his attitude was light and cheerful, he was getting his way.
"I am not your partner, nor will I ever be your love," she responded with no bite in her voice, "I-- I am a price."
"You will grow to love me, over time. After all we will be together forever," with that he held his open hand to her, "Will you join me Miss Aidwren?"
She timidly reached for his hand, fingers trembling, but before her hand could touch his she snatched it away. Fear and vulnerability in her eyes, tears started to glide down her rose coloured cheeks.
"I can't, I thought I could accept this but I cannot," She sunk onto the boulder, burying her face in her hands.
"My dear, choice is behind you. I lived up to my end of the bargain, your father will be working heartily in the field tomorrow. Now it is time for you to live up to yours."
She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly wishing she had never seen this clearing, let alone stepped foot in it, "Do you think I don't know that! You may be detached from who you once were, but I still feel life and blood course through my veins. I still feel the lure of my soul willing me to live. So you must understand that mortality is not something you cast aside like a soiled garment."
"Trust me my darling... though I never HAD a choice, I understand what you are saying. You will not lose your soul, your soul will be expanded beyond what you ever thought it could be," once more he held out his hand, giving her one last time to come along willingly, "Now join me, be my bride, and live with me for all eternity."
She looked up at his offered hand, slowly taking it, she asked one more question, "If through foolishness or circumstances you are killed, what happens then? You are cursed are you not... isn't your soul damned to hell?"
"The honest answer is this, I do not know. I have lived 400 years without having harm befall me. Will my enchantment end on day? Will yours? I would like to say no, but the possibility exists," he neglected to regale her that as long as he is bound to the devil, his enchantment will not end.
Morri sighed looking at his hand that clasped hers, her naturally pale hand standing out like a tanned servant from the fields against his white marble one, finally speaking with anguish in her voice, "Then take me from this place, for I can bare to look at it no more."
He grasped her hand firmly pulling her to her feet gently, almost compassion etched his perfect features, as he guided her to a waiting carriage just outside the woods, he talked gently to her, "You will be happy you made this choice one day, Miss Aidwren, I promise you that."
Waving his hand in front of her eyes she passed into a dreamless sleep, ever so gently he lifted her into his arms as he took his great dark bat like form, flying off into the distance towards his icy kingdom. Once reaching his grand home, he landed resuming his human form setting her on her feet he breathed into her ear a few words to awaken her. Having planned her confusion an identical carriage to the one outside the woods, was just steps away, he was not ready to explain his demonic form to her yet.
She slowly opened her eyes staring in awe of the giant castle that loomed over her, shivering as soft snow landed on her hair and nose. As she gazed upon the formidable castle, she still looked as though she might turn and bolt. Vlad merrily laughed at her fear, knowing full well she could never find her way home, with that he raised his hand and the large gates opened for them.
With slight coaxing he was able to pull her through them guiding her within his ice fortress. The sound of the gates closing behind her reminded her of the bars of a jail cell being locked in place, sealing her fate.
"Welcome home, my darling. Welcome home," he then lead her through the front courtyard, up a set of marble winding steps towards the back, with a wave of his hand a marbled door appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. This was obviously a simple trick used as a line of defense, which he again beckoned her through.
"Come explore your new domain. You are the first mortal in over 120 years that has seen this castle from the inside..." with a gruesome chuckle that made her shiver he added, "And lived. I hope that this gives you some sense of how special you already are to me."
As she entered she replied with a cool aloof tone, "But how long will this mortal form darken its doors?"
"Not long my darling, not long. Night will only last a few more hours, and as you must already know I must be hidden, asleep during the daylight. We must start your transformation before sunup."
"WAIT!" she near physically stopped him, "Please give me the day, let me say goodbye to the sun."
He sighed leading her into a large open room, flanked by gothic furniture, a French couch made of crimson velvet and dark mahogany demonic creatures carved into the wooden legs, a large arm chair also of the deep crimson this almost reminded her of a King's great throne. A gruesome looking suit of armor, the metal tarnished black held a huge sword in the corner. Golden candelabras seemed to be everywhere, the wax dripping down the candles themselves and onto the bright metal. Also large fireplace lit he room, and a large window at the far end of the room gives view to the snowy night sky. It's curtains of a dark red velvet light enough to be caught by the soft wind. Somehow even with all the candles, hearth, and moonlight the room is dark and foreboding.
"I am sorry darling, the sun is now your enemy. I cannot trust you to leave a mortal once you have already seen this place."
"Please," she whimpered softly, "Have I gone back on my word as of yet?"
Pausing as if thinking for a moment he looked at her, she quickly took his hand holding it against her warm cheek.
"Please it will aid in my growing to love you if you allow me this kindness."
Having considered this request he finally answered, "All right my pet, this is what I will do for you, but you MUST obey my every instruction, and not deviate from my words at all."
She nodded trying not to sigh in relief of this small reprieve, as he continued, "You will remain a mortal for exactly one single day... 24 hours... but.." her face fell waiting for the inevitable condition, "You may not leave the castle grounds. Your father, your villagers will already have called upon help, help that I would prefer not to see again, so the front gate is your border. The open courtyard will provide you with your last view of the sun."
"It is border enough, it will at least give me the chance to see the day," she tried to stave off tears again biting her lip, "And I-I thank you for this kindness," she could not help but be curious, "What help would you rather not see?"
He grimaced slightly, "Don't worry about it, stay within the border and you have nothing to fear. There are no other rules you must obey," he waved her worries off nonchalantly.
Continuing, "You have the run of the castle, explore your new home, enjoy it. It is spacious and comfortable. Eat the kitchens are fully stocked. Drink the cellar is full of wine so old and rare you will think you are tasting heaven. Do whatever you wish," then he grew serious once more, "However, at the base of the stairs that you saw when we entered this room is a door that leads further beneath my castle. You are NOT to enter that level or even open that door.
Morriquinne nodded obeying but curiosity once more enveloped her, "Why?"
"JUST OBEY!" he bellowed eyes glowing near white, "You will find out why upon dark fall tomorrow night," he has once more regained his composure.
"Oh," she held him in place a moment longer, "One last kindness?"
"What do you ask my love?"
"My first kiss to be experienced whilst my blood is still warm," she murmured looking directly into his eyes.
He took a step back from her, "This I cannot grant you. My bloodthirst is too strong, my lips touching mortal flesh would be too much for me to resist," almost pleading to the gentle young woman, "Please my darling, do not make me do this."
Her eyes took on a pained expression and turned away, "Very well."
"I am truly sorry, but you cannot understand the restraint I am showing with every passing moment," adding in a low growl, "but you soon will."
Morri stared at the fireplace, it roared with a merry blaze, almost mockingly. Suddenly the first two rays of sunlight penetrate the room, Dracula realized that he must quickly retire. Quickly he headed out of the room through the door which they had entered and into the hall leaving Morriquinne alone in her new home.
After feeling his presence diminish, she moved to the window opening to the rising sun, she raised her face to meet every ray letting it bath in the morning light. Much of her day was spent outside, near frozen from the snow, but she didn't care all she cared about was savoring the final warm moments in the sunlight. Morriquinne all but ignored the castle completely living her last day as a mortal utterly alone.
Sighing as she looked into the sun once more, "Who is the foolish villager now?"
She sank into the snow, nerves tearing at her stomach as she saw the sun set over the horizon. A green form with her knees drawn up to her chest in the snow, awaiting an inevitable fate.
A/N: Well there you go chapter four. I truly hope you enjoyed. Please let me know if I should continue this story.