Victoria laughed loudly as Velkan pulled her closer to him and held her in the circle of his arms. She continued to laugh as his hand held hers tightly and his other hand held her waist after he had finished spinning her underneath his arm. He had to admit that he had not seen her so relaxed in a long time. He kept quiet for a few moments, simply sinking in the sight of her smile.

"You are a natural," he informed her and she smirked.

"I have been trained in ballroom dancing," she promised him. "My mother and father used to make me attend endless balls. I cannot count how many I have been to."

"And did any man ever try to woo you on the dance floor?" Velkan wondered, slowly taking his time to dip her backwards.

She tilted her head so that her eyes looked to the floor before speaking, her voice almost on the verge of flirty with him. Velkan couldn't resist looking down at her as he held her lowly in his arms. Her dress was well fitting, running up to her shoulders and then allowing three quarter sleeves to run down her arms. The red material contrasted with her pale skin, but she looked lovely. She always looked lovely to Velkan.

"Would you be jealous if they had?" Victoria wondered and Velkan pulled her back into his hold.

He struggled to even notice the other people in the hall around them. His hair was neatly combed back and his suit was one of the finest he owned in comparison to his usual white shirt and waistcoat. Victoria had been granted a gown for the evening after spending the past week in the Valerious household.

The entire ball had been thrown in honour of Anna turning twenty. Velkan had danced with his sister, but she had remained adamant that she wanted to leave the party. She wore a deep blue gown on her body, jewels embedded into the bodice and skirt. Victoria's dress was plain, white dress gloves accompanied it and a simple locket around her neck which her mother had gifted her.

"Not anymore," Velkan admitted, "because it is my arms which hold you now."

Victoria smiled widely at him as they moved in and out of other couples. She kept quiet for a few moments, her fingers slowly moving to lace through Velkan's as he watched her. His breath quickened before he released Victoria's waist for a second and his hand moved to her hip.

"I had no idea that you could be such a romantic," Victoria informed him and he grinned.

"It is not a known Valerious trait," he responded lowly. "I would hate to have my reputation ruined."

Victoria laughed lightly at hearing him before she felt him spin her underneath his arm one more time. It was only when the quartet finished playing did the two of them begin to clap their hands together as people curtseyed to the players.

"Perhaps a drink is needed?" he wondered from her and Victoria nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps you are correct," she agreed with him and he took hold of her hand and led her from the dance floor towards the long table which held glasses of alcohol. He handed her a flute before he took hold of her free hand and led her on to the balcony.

He winked as he saw his sister in the midst of the floor, people crowding her to wish her all the best. He said nothing in response, nor did he make any attempt to save her from the conversation. No, he decided to leave his father to cope with that.

"It is much cooler out here," Velkan said as they downed their drinks and leant against the stone railing, peering back into the ballroom where couples danced to their hearts content.

"It is," she agreed with him. "I did not know that so many guests would be attending. Your father must have many friends in the neighbouring towns."

"That he does," Velkan agreed with Victoria and his arm brushed against hers. "Anna will be most glad when the evening is over, I suspect."

Victoria laughed lightly then and placed her glass on the ledge behind her, moving to stand in front of Velkan before she wrapped her arms around his waist, her head resting against his chest gently. He kept silent, placing his own glass next to hers before he moved his arms to hold her back.

"Your sister is much keener to learn how to wield a sword or a gun," she agreed with him. "She is a sweet girl though. No doubt she will one day make some man very happy."

"Or drive him to insanity," Velkan snorted back and Victoria looked up to him.

"And do I drive you to insanity?" Victoria teased him.

He smiled softly. "I doubt you could ever do that, my sweet Victoria."

Victoria slowly leaned back as Velkan delicately took hold of her waist and she moved her hands to hold onto his shoulders. She could feel her pulse race as Velkan dipped his head lower, his lips moving closer towards Victoria's lips. It only took a moment before his mouth was on top of hers, pressing gently there. She kept still before hearing a cough from the doorway and then both of them jumped apart, their cheeks reddening with haste.

"Velkan, my son," Boris called out and Velkan turned his head over his shoulder. "I wish to speak with you."

"Of course, father," Velkan said; nodding hastily whilst Victoria lowered her head and Boris left them for a moment. Velkan grinned and curled a finger under her chin, lifting her gaze up to meet his. He pressed his lips against hers for another second.

"I will be back momentarily," he promised and Victoria watched him leave.

She smiled softly and turned to look out over the sight in the distance, allowing her cheeks to cool as she did so. She kept quiet before a smile of happiness spread on her face. The only sound which caused her to turn around was that of the slamming of a glass door.

Looking over her shoulder, Victoria's body soon followed and she noted him stood there. His eyes were glimmering and his lips tugged upwards in some form of sinister smile. Victoria remained still, her backside hitting the ledge behind her as fear built up in her veins.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is that anyway to greet me?" he wondered back. "I have seen you with him, my sweet Victoria. The way he speaks...holds you...touches you...do you think that acceptable, Victoria?"

Victoria gulped and looked behind his shoulder into the ballroom, only to see no one there to save her. She contemplated pushing past him, but she knew that she had to time it correctly. He kept silent for a few moments, slowly advancing towards her with a look of discontent on his face this time.

"Are you completely out of your mind?" Victoria wondered. "You constantly speak and confuse me."

"I suspect I am," he replied. "I came here because I discovered a party was happening without me. And then I find you outside, precariously being held in your beloved Velkan's arms."

"Velkan will be back in a minute," Victoria promised as he continued to move closer towards her.

It was only then when Victoria made her move, trying to rush past the Count as he grabbed her around the waist, stopping her from moving any further. Victoria screamed loudly, willing someone to hear her. It was only when she felt his hand snake up her waist to cup her mouth did she stop her screams.

"Now, now, my love," he whispered softly. "Have I given you cause to fear me before?"

Victoria stopped screaming as she felt his other hand move around her waist, pulling her back flush against his chest. She kept quiet whilst he turned her in his arms and looked her in the eye. He said nothing for a moment, his lips slowly moving to press against her cheek as he inhaled her scent.

But it wasn't just her scent. The Valerious boy had been so close to her that it caused him to anger the Valerious boy further. "He has touched you."

Victoria tried to snatch her mouth from his hold but failed miserably.

"You cannot comprehend how I feel, Victoria," he informed her, bending slightly to look her straight in the eye. "You do not know the restraint it has taken me not to have you for my own here and now...to take you to the library and claim you...like I did years ago..."

"Victoria, how are..."

Victoria felt relief flood through her veins as the Count released her from his hold and turned on his heel, the sight of Velkan and Boris Valerious greeting him. Dracula kept hold of Victoria, turning her around once more as his hand held her chin and he titled her head to rest on his shoulder, his hand running slowly down the valley of her breasts and she whimpered.

"Let go of her," Velkan's voice snapped to the Count. "She is not yours."

"That is where you're mistaken," the Count snarled back. "She will always be mine...and she knows that..."

"Velkan," Victoria said, trying to stifle a sob. She looked over to Velkan with worry before Dracula bent down, his gaze still set on the Gypsy Prince before he bent down to press his lips against Victoria's neck.

It was then when Velkan rushed forwards and Dracula reacted. He pushed Victoria towards him and swept past the pair of them into the ballroom, locking the door to the balcony as he went. Velkan kept hold of Victoria as they peered into where chaos was taking place. Dracula swept around the room as people moved with haste, trying to escape the wrath of the Count.

"I have you," Velkan promised Victoria, trying to unlock the door as he saw his sister on the other end of the room, fleeing down the corridor with haste. The door wouldn't budge and Velkan felt Victoria's hands move to clasp his shoulders, fear taking hold of her as she noted bodies strew the ballroom floor.

Velkan watched as the Count finished his work, fear now instilled into every person in the ballroom. He slowly moved his hand to Victoria's head, pressing her face into the crook of his neck to save her from looking at the chaos.

He gulped before he caught the Count's gaze and both of them looked at each other, one with hatred, and the other with mocking.