Bloodied tissues littered her bed while more tears continued to shed down her pale face. That was it Chase was gone , alone once again. Maybe she was bad at love for it seemed nothing ever lasted. If she ever was to open up to Chase about her true self this wasn't how it should've happened. Astrid glanced up at bed stand before reaching over for a solitary picture frame. It was a picture of Arnold and Astrid was wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her on his back. Astrid gently ran her fingers over Arnold's face, reminiscing over the years they shared together. The loud knocking on her door startled her for a second. Dracula now had walked into her bedroom. " May I come in?" " Ha why do you even bother asking? You do what you want anyways." Said Astrid. Dracula slid past the door before gently closing it behind him. Astrid put back the frame on the end table as Dracula took a seat on the purple comforter at the edge of the bed. " What are the children up to?" asked Astrid. " The television is keeping them preoccupied for the time being." He looked into her swollen eyes for some time , the two not saying a word to one another.

" Dracula, I'm staying here and so are my children. I want you leave and never come back is that understood?" She mustered the courage to stand up to him. Dracula raised his eyebrows at Astrid as a smirk crept upon his face. " Very well as you wish." Were her ears deceiving her? Did he actually agree to leave her alone? Dracula was taking this oh too well something was amiss here. "Are you being serious, you will leave me and my children alone?"asked Astrid. Dracula pushed a few strands of hair with his pinkie behind his ear. His thin lips still held that same smirk from earlier. " I shall oblige to your request, now if you excuse I must be off back to my hotel." Dracula pulled out a black smart phone and pushed a few numbers to make a call. Dracula listened to the phone ring before a deep voice answered. " Henry my visit has ended please pull up in front of the house, I'll be out shortly." " Yes my lord" was all Henry replied before Dracula ended the call. He tucked his phone inside his coat pocket while he stood up from the bed. " I'd like to make a request if I may?" asked Dracula. A puzzled look came upon Astrid's face. " I'd like to have one last kiss from you." Astrid was about to protest before he interrupted her. " And you have to act as if you enjoy it. Honor my request and I'll leave you be for good, deal?" She let out a sigh of disgust before getting on her feet to stand before him. He immediately cupped his hand under chin drawing her lips to his. She screamed into his mouth as their lips met one another. His teeth bit down on her bottom lip playfully, but his eyes were open the whole time. Dracula had his other hand on the small of her back holding her close to him while his eyes started illuminate their light blue. It was a trap , how stupid could she be. She tried to pull away ,but Dracula kissed her harder locking his eyes with hers.

The struggle to break free caused her to fall backwards onto the bed. The two head butted each other causing Dracula to break free from the kiss. His hand smacked down on her mouth muffling her screams. It seemed as if all energy had been drained from her. She felt a heaviness set in upon her eyes while watching his blue orbs glare down at her. " Rest my love you'll know where to find me and the children when you wake." Said Dracula. She couldn't fight the sleepiness that now was consuming her, her eyes fluttered open at one last attempt to remain awake. Dracula used the two of fingers to close her eyes shut while she dozed off into a deep slumber.

Astrid had awoken to darkness. She was in her room and all the lights were off except for moon's glow that shined through the window. Her body shot up quickly as she remember what transpired before she fell asleep. Tripping over the wicker laundry basket she fell on the floor before the door. His spell on her was slowly weaning off as she struggled to pull herself up. " Alex, Elliot where are you ?" shouted Astrid. Everything was silent all around her. No TV blaring, no giggling of children down the hall in their rooms, complete and total silence was that could be heard. The bedroom door flew open as Astrid darted out going into each of the kids rooms. She felt her heart sink almost into her stomach as all the dresser draws in the boys rooms were opened and cleared out. The clothes that used to hang in the closet were all gone along with toys missing from their toy box. Down the stairs she went and no one anywhere was to be seen not in the living room nor in the kitchen. Upon reaching kitchen she found an envelope with her name on it. It was in definitely in Dracula's handwriting for sure she noticed before turning it over and ripping it open.

Dear, Astrid

The children will be staying with me for some time and please don't fret they are in good hands. I told you I would honor your wish to leave you alone, but my children I can not. I do hope you come to your senses and join the children and I back home. Henry my assistant agreed to stay behind at the airport near by till 7 in the morning to take you back to join the rest of us. Romania is your home and always be will. I anxiously await your arrival.

Yours Truly,

Vlad Dracul

Astrid glanced up at the clock on the microwave it was three in the morning. Only four hours to make it to the airport and that is if she can even get a plane ticket immediately. Astrid slowly sunk to floor holding still the piece of paper in her hand. " Oh my goodness!" was all she could say as she cried to herself. Dracula had actually taken her children, as if killing her family and husband wasn't enough. He finally unleased one last blow onto her, one that was tearing her dead heart into pieces. He couldn't get away with this, but he in fact did. She couldn't kill him as much as she felt the urge in that moment to. No she couldn't, killing him he would take her along with him into the depths of hell. The children would not only be fatherless , but motherless too. Dracula had ultimately screwed her when he established that bond with her and he knew that from day one. Astrid's brain was fried there was no simple way out of this. Romania was where her children were and Romania was where she must go. To learn to love a monster in order to be her children's life seemed her only option. Her purse and keys were hanging on coat hooks on the wall. Getting off the tile floor she grabbed her phone, a light blue hoodie ,and along with her purse she made her way out the door to the car.

The street lights illuminated the familiar suburban roads that Astrid drove down on. The exit came up in a matter of minutes to the highway, she then sped off going 80 miles per hour. Luckily route 22 was almost deserted except for the occasional 18 wheeler she would pass up. The clock was ticking it was already four thirty and she had another two hours to drive till she made it to the Pittsburgh airport. Putting her turn signal on she went pass another car at this point going 90 miles on down route 22. Fixated at the time on the dashboard that she didn't realize the cop car she drove by. The blue and red lights lit up her rearview mirror. " You got to be kidding me!" she said under her breath as she saw she was now being followed. Her foot lightly hit on the brake while she put on her left turn signal to pull over to the side of the highway. Oh how was she gonna get to the airport in time now she thought. Hopefully he would just give her a ticket and let her go in her away. The officer was shining a flash light in her window before Astrid let the window slid all the way down. " license and registration please." Commanded the officer. Astrid reached over into her glove compartment shakenly pulling out her registration. She handed him her Id and registration card while he used the flash light to look down at the documentation. " Holly ,are you were going 90 Mbps where the speed limit is 55?" All Astrid could do was shake her head. What was she supposed to say that 500 some old vampire abducted her children and she was off to catch a plane to find them? Law enforcement couldn't help her and nor could the Vatican, which it seemed every damn day now she was regretting it. " I'm sorry officer I wasn't paying attention, was trying to catch a flight at the airport." Astrid winced as the offer shown his flash light into her eyes almost blinding her. " You haven't been drinking or doing illegal drugs have you now?" "No officer not all." He seemed convinced as he went to hand her back her ID and registration. " Keep it at 55 or below understood?" Astrid shook head in agreeance before rolling up her window. She sighed in relief not only did he make it quick, he didn't give her a ticket. However she wasn't sure how she was gonna make it in time only going the speed limit. Looking at her side view mirror she finally pulled out back onto the highway, being mindful that policeman was still following her closely behind.