"You need to talk to me," Velkan demanded from Victoria as she sat on his bed.

He had dragged her to his own bedchamber, not wanting her left alone in the room alone, not after what he had just seen happen to her. He took a few moments to leave her to her thoughts before he spoke. He needed for her to tell him what had just happened. He wanted an explanation and he was determined to get one.

"I know," Victoria said. "I also know that if I tell you then it won't make any sense."

Velkan continued to lean against the wall opposite the side of his bed. "I think we are beyond making sense. I've just seen that monster try to claim you for his own. What do you think would have happened if I had not have walked in. Do you think he-"

"-No!" Victoria interrupted him, unable to comprehend what could have happened if Velkan had not saved her. She looked over to him, her eyes tearing up and Velkan sighed. He rushed back over to the bed and sat by her side before she wrapped her arms around him. Velkan took a deep breath and then moved his arms around her.

"What was he talking about, Victoria?" Velkan whispered. "Please, you need to tell me."

She took a deep breath and pulled back, looking him in the eye. "I...I know that it sounds silly. Trust me, Velkan, I don't want to believe...but...we were in the library...and I saw it...I saw me and him...both of us..."

"You and Dracula?" he checked with her and she nodded.

"He said that I was to marry him over four hundred years ago. I thought he was speaking lies, but then I saw...how can I deny something which I saw, Velkan? And then he explained everything. He told me about how I was supposed to marry him but he was part of some Order which meant that he could not take a wife," Victoria said and Velkan did his best to keep up with her. "I supposedly died during a fight and he made a deal with the devil...that's why he is who he is now...I don't know what to think..."

Velkan scoffed and shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes as he did so. "You don't know what to think?" Velkan mumbled back. "You are trying to tell me that you're a reincarnated version of Dracula's bride to be?"

Victoria gulped and leant further back in her Velkan's arms. "I think so. It sounds preposterous."

"I know," Velkan said, recalling what his father had said to him earlier on. He was reluctant to say anything for those few moments, knowing that it would be for the best to keep quiet. He didn't want to tell Victoria what his father had told him just yet.

"What do you think he will do now?" Victoria managed to ask in a whisper. "Do you think he will come back?"

"Somehow I don't doubt it," Velkan muttered and Victoria groaned as he wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, smiling encouragingly at her. He didn't want to see her scared. He would stop the Count, he swore that to himself. Whether or not he did would be a different story, but he would try his damned hardest.

"I will protect you though," Velkan assured her. "I will do all that I can to stop him from taking you."

"So you really do believe me?" she checked and Velkan inhaled sharply but nodded at her, pushing her hair behind her ears and running his thumb over the shells of them. She looked at him with those wide eyes Velkan struggled to resist. There was something about her in general which he struggled to resist.

"I believe you," he replied, "no matter how preposterous it sounds...I believe you..."

Victoria didn't know why she felt an immediate sense of relief creep up on her, but she couldn't help but throw herself back into Velkan's embrace, her body pressing as tightly to his as she could manage.

"You don't believe him, do you?" she checked. "You don't believe that we are meant to be together...because...it is you...it is you who I love, Velkan. I am certain of that."

Velkan's eyes squeezed shut and some form of relief pulsed through him. He nodded at her, a lump forming in his throat as he did so.

"And I you," he whispered back. "Now and forever, Victoria."

...

Dracula couldn't help himself. He couldn't stop himself from sneaking back into his old chamber in his old home. He didn't truly know how he felt about the Valerious's living inside of it now. He kept silent, looking for the photograph which he kept on his bedside table, only to find no sign of it. A smirk pulled at his lips as he inhaled the latest scent which had entered his chamber.

Boris Valerious.

The Gypsy King had gone hunting and Dracula couldn't help but feel the need to go and have a conversation with him. He inhaled sharply and then left, searching for Boris.

...

Boris Valerious had urged his men to rest, telling them that they would resume their hunt the following day. Rain was still pouring down over the forest, drops of water splashing on them. Boris had wandered off, looking to the night sky as if it held the answer which he sought. The answer to the location of Dracula's hiding place. He knew that he had to find it one day, he only hoped that day would come soon enough.

"I see you have been snooping, Boris."

Boris looked around, searching for the familiar voice as he reached into the waistband of his trousers, searching for his gun only to find no prevail.

"What is the meaning of this Count?" Boris snapped. "You already ruined my daughter's evening."

"I was merely upset," Dracula responded, perching in a tree above Boris's head, his hand holding the trunk as he looked down on the man who was now clutching at the cross he wore around his neck. "You were holding a party in my own home and failed to invite me."

"Well I take it you took offence," Boris replied back and Dracula chuckled.

"That is not why I am here," Dracula said. "You know why I am here."

"Do I?" Boris muttered back, his eyes looking to the trees above. He cursed the darkness for hindering his sight but did nothing, knowing that any sudden movement would cause Dracula to pounce. He had learned all of his tricks.

"I see you have been snooping around my old chambers," Dracula drawled out, moving to sit himself down on the branch, his chin jutting out so that he could glower down at Boris. "You found a photograph which belongs to me. Did you manage to piece it all together, Boris? Your son will have managed soon enough."

"What have you done to my son?"

Dracula chuckled at the concern in his voice. "I did nothing to your beloved son...but the woman he is falling for...well...let us just say that the truth has come out..."

"And what truth is this?" Boris worried.

It only took a moment before Dracula was in his line of vision, the Count's hands wrapping around the man's throat and holding him in place against a tree, almost choking the life out of him. The gun slipped from Boris's grip and Dracula kicked it further away without looking.

"The truth that she is mine," the Count hissed; no kindness left in his voice. "And if your darling boy even dares to make her his in anyway then I shall take his life. I shall kill him and he shall have no feeble attempt to kill me."

Dracula dropped Boris to the floor and looked to the floor as the Gypsy King panted for breath, his cheeks a deep shade of red.

"I shall make you a deal," Dracula drawled. "You bring Victoria out here and to me. Sacrifice her and I may leave your son and daughter be for a while."

"And if not?"

"By tomorrow night you can expect your entire family to rot in purgatory," Dracula responded, throwing an evil glare over his shoulder to Boris. "Make your decision."