Arnold's POV
I sat still in my chair near the fire place of my study as I watched the flames dance before me. Scarlett was gone and I still had mixed feelings if I had done the right thing by letting her go. Sure Maria was happy to have me all to herself again , but was I happy? My dead heart still felt something was missing even with my wealth, my estate, and my beautiful wife it wasn't enough. When would it be ever enough? I thought to myself?.
Maria walked through the door with my back turned to her. There was no need for introduction living together for thirty years will do that. " There you are I'd thought you would've come join me down stairs after they had left?" She glided over to my right side as I remained seated on the solo chair before the fire. I paid no acknowledgement to her for I felt almost angered for this was her doing. Her scent was heavy of a musk perfume, it reminded me of elderly woman's perfume. It was nauseating with each whiff , but I didn't have the heart to tell her to leave." Arnold is something troubling you?" I could feel now both of her hands resting upon my shoulders massaging them at the same time. " Nothing my sweet, I just needed some time to reflect is all." She scoffed as she was still behind me, I wasn't in any mood to fight with her. The connection I felt to Scarlett has somehow been severed. I lost all contact when it came to her thoughts or emotions, did Dracula bite her already? I thought. The broken connection is hard on the body for depression soon after ensues , hollowing you out of all emotion. It has happened to me once or twice before, but never this bad.
" Please don't tell me you are upset that the whore is gone?" " Shut up you damned woman!" I said as I quickly sat up from my chair as I was now facing her. Maria was startled, her iris's began to change to their orangish hue when she felt threatened. " Maria I can't lie to myself anymore. Your controlling ways have put a damper on our marriage. I've….. tried to be patient and compromise when it comes to your demands, but it seems you have forgotten who is master here." She seemed at a loss for words she just stared at me. It seemed at one point she was going to cry, but shook her head at me before tears could fall. " Please don't tell me you are going to leave me, I swear I'll change." She croaked. Maria change? I laughed to myself. Maria was not one for change, however with that in mind I swore she would never dictate my decision making going forward. " No Maria I will not dismiss you, however first thing tomorrow I will be writing to the Count asking for Scarlett back." I walked right past her on my way out of the study. There was simply nothing else to say to her at least nothing I wanted to say while in my depressed state.
Castle Frankenstein Scarlett's POV
This massive long dinning room table is where I found myself later. Seated next to Dracula who was at the head of the table and across from where his three brides were. They kept staring at me but as soon as i went to meet their gaze they looked down at their glasses before them. Oddly the three seemed familiar as well . The Count introduced the three of them to me Verona, Marishka, and Aleera were their names. They were absolutely stunning I thought and it caused me to pause and assess myself for a minute. The brunette with straight hair seemed to be the oldest out of the bunch and blonde and red head I had no clue what order he had sired them two in. I kept getting the vibe I was not welcomed by the three and kept to myself as I drank from the glass. " Master have you decided who will be accompanying you as you first enter the ball ? The all hollows Eve ball is only a week away." Asked Aleera. It seemed the red head wanted to be the one accompanying her master's side I felt myself almost choke on my blood when his response came. " Well I think it would be only fair for Crina to be at my side this time. Being that she is my new bride Id like to introduce her to everyone." Aleera reminded me of Maria as she gave me a look of disgust. Jealousy didn't flatter her much and I was starting to grow tired of being in predicaments like these.
I felt like a homewrecker, but not by choice. The brides knew not of my circumstances I could only presume and hated me instantly without even knowing me. " So you you've already decided she is to become my sister?" asked Mariska the blonde one. " I plan to make it official after the ball. In the mean time I'm counting on the three of you to make her feel right at home. Understood?" The three shook their heads before asking to be excused. I watched the three in a single file line exit the dinning room leaving me and the Count alone. " No need to feel intimidated my Dear. They shall get accustomed to you sooner than later." I could only hope he was right, my last experience was not a pleasant one. My fears only seemed to intensify as I realized I had to deal with three jealous women instead of one like before. " Count you mentioned you knew nothing of my family yet you claim you know me from the village. I beg of you to let me visit it. Maybe someone rec…" " Silence!" he shouted. His voice seemed to echo throughout the dinning room causing my glass to shake. I never saw his eyes change till now but they were a lighter shade of blue now as he stared off at me. " Ive explained to you earlier the village is dangerous, you will not go now not ever." He explained to me earlier about the Valerious siblings yet if they were so dangerous why did he let his brides venture out there? It made no sense ,but I dared not anger him any further.
Dinner was soon over and I found myself back in my new room alone this time. The Count told me he had business to attend to but would see me in a couple hours. I absolutely didn't feel like being cooped up in this room and wanted to explore my new home. I cringed as I heard the door squeak open , It was so loud I hoped no one would hear. The hallway was deserted as I looked to my left and right. I knew the stairwell took me to the main entrance and the dinning hall, but other than that was a mystery. I found myself in the grand hall once more , but looking closely I saw another staircase opposite the one I just got off of. It was dark with no lighting and I treaded with caution down the steps. I hoped I would be in no trouble, the Count mentioned nothing about me leaving my room. The air smelt of mildew and mold as I crept down the slick stone steps of the stairwell. I could hear chains clanking it sounded like as I got closer to the end of the stair case. I found myself in what seemed to be a dungeon of some sorts. Individual metal cells lined the one wall , a single torch cast a soft glow barely helping see that I was not alone. I could hear a faint heart beat as I approached the last cell of the dungeon.
I soon discovered it was an elderly disheveled man seemingly in his early 50's slouched in the corner of his cell. He was wearing a black eye patch that covered one of his eyes and had curly brown hair that was shoulder length. I knew not of why he was here , but felt sympathy for the condition she was in. He seemed badly beaten with amount of cuts and bruises that covered his face. Blood was flowing freely from a cut on his hand and was being soaked up by the hay that cover the cell floor. It was taking everything in me not rip the door open and lick the blood off the floor. I had no idea how any vampire could contain themselves around blood. It was absolutely maddening the craving, the yearning I felt at that very moment. One of the man's eyes peaked open as he remained resting his back on the wall. He began to mumble something inaudible to make out but I leaned in closer holding onto the cell bars. " Crina …is that you?" I was shocked even this prisoner knew of me. My excitement was hard to contain, I needed answers and maybe this poor unfortunate soul before me could help. " Yes my name is Crina, who are you?" Confusion crept on his face as his one eye kept drooping from exhaustion. " Crina don't be silly, help your father get out of here please." I felt myself barely holding onto the metal bars as the word father escaped from his mouth. " How do I know your speaking the truth? What is your name good sir?" I asked. "Crina this is not the time for jokes. Dracula plans to use me in one of his experiments, we need to get out of here quickly." "I think not!" my head turned quickly as I saw Dracula at the entrance of the dungeon. I slowly stood up from my crouched position as he walked over to me.
"Seems you met the Valerious children's father Boris. I found him trying to break into the castle in the attempts to murder me and my brides." He extended his hand to me as to come join him away from the prisoner. " Crina what has he done to you? Stay away from him, he can't be trusted!" shouted the man behind the bars. " Ignore him Crina he is deranged , please follow me back to your room." Said the Count. I didn't know who to believe, the man knew my name and just stated he was my father. Nothing made sense and I didn't realize till now that figuring out my identity would result to this. I took the Count's hand for there was nothing more I could do. There was no way to help the man and asking the Count to release him seemed out of the question. " Count you must answer me truthfully if it is indeed my father who is locked away down stairs?" We were now back at room, I flung myself on the bed as I awaited his response.