Victoria fell to the floor with a thump as Dracula dropped her from over his shoulder, his anger still apparent in his features. She looked up to him, her eyes wide as she did so. He kept quiet too, his glare harsh on her and she knew that it would have been for the best if she had not mentioned Velkan to him.

But she loved Velkan. She wanted Velkan. She did not want whatever was in store for her here; not that she really knew where here was. He had said nothing to her, nor had he been forthcoming with conversation.

"Where are we?" Victoria dared to ask, her legs curled underneath her as she kept still, not daring to make any sudden movement.

"My temporary home," was all the Count offered her back.

She remained on the floor and looked around the stone room. It was dark and dismal, brickwork slowly crumbling down from the ceiling whilst broken windows allowed rain to enter and wind to howl. She took a few moments to continue her staring, wondering where she could possibly be. She took another moment to feel the wall behind her, her hands moving up it as she stood on her feet.

"And you will leave him be now?" Victoria couldn't help but whisper. He looked her up and down, noting the gown which she wore. It was rather different to what his brides wore, but he suspected she would not wish to be one of his brides...not yet, anyway.

"You should rest," he ignored her question and she stepped forwards with haste as he turned away from her.

"But I came," Victoria spoke, her voice rushed and her tone one of pleading. "I came and I left him...Velkan...you have to leave him-"

"-I do not have to do anything you say," Dracula promised her, turning his head over his shoulder to look at her with wide orbs, his face stoic. "And do you think he will leave me be? Do you think he will not come after you? I will do nothing to actively kill him, but I will not let him take my life from me."

He had fully turned around by then, his hands by her shoulders, almost touching her as she quivered back from her. He looked down to her then, feeling the warmth radiate from her skin whilst she felt the cold from his skin. She took a few moments to glance around her before his hand cupped the back of her head tenderly.

"And I will not let him take you either," Dracula promised her in a soft voice, bending his head to kiss her on the forehead, the motion causing a shiver to run down her spine.

There was nothing which Victoria could say to him after that. There was nothing that she wanted to say to him.

"I am not a possession," Victoria replied, trying to sound braver than she thought in her stern English accent.

Dracula chuckled and took hold of her elbow. "Not yet."

...

He had left her alone in a guest chamber, knowing that she needed time to sulk by herself. He had other business to attend to as well. Castle Frankenstein was calling for him and he was not going to disappoint. It was then when he knew his brides would grow interested in their new visitor.

A smirk formed on his lips as he thought of Victoria slowly turning into one of them, longing to do anything to please him.

She had a long way to go before that happened.

Currently she was sat on the edge of the four poster bed, the candlelight her only source of light in the dark room. The window was closed shut, rain lashing down onto it whilst she stared into the dark of the night, doing her best not to let tears fall from her eyes.

"Victoria..."

Victoria heard her name in the darkness and she stood to her feet, looking around the room with haste before she saw the figure in the corner of the room near the door. She hadn't even heard the door open or footsteps enter. The woman wore a pink gown which was far more revealing than Victoria had seen before. Her red hair tumbled down her back in glorious curls whilst her face was pale and pristine.

"Who are you?" Victoria wondered.

The red head sauntered towards her, her eyes gleaming and her lips curled as she did so. Victoria remained still, her hands gripping the skirts of her gown tightly as she wondered what she was doing.

"Aleera," the woman spoke, her voice even managing to sound seductive in comparison to anyone else. "You are the master's new bride...aren't you?"

Victoria shook her head. "No. I am not his bride and I will not be his bride."

Aleera laughed shrilly as she heard that and she took hold of Victoria's hand, holding it tightly inside of her own. Victoria did a double take, wondering what the vampire would do to her. She didn't really want to know. She would prefer to play ignorant.

"You will be," Aleera promised her. "Master is a very kind man. He will not hurt you...we all fear he loves you more than us...but you are the reason master is like he is...he turned into this to save you, and now he has you."

Victoria took another moment to watch the vampire; Aleera taking another moment to brush her hand over Victoria's hair and tuck it behind her shoulders. She sat on the edge of the bed and Victoria had no other option but to sit beside her.

"I do not know what you are saying," Victoria said. "I know that we have a history. He has explained that, but how can he love me? I am not the woman he fell in love with four hundred years...well...I am...but I have changed. I died."

Aleera rolled her eyes and smiled, patting Victoria's hand slowly. "You will soon change your mind."

"No," Victoria responded lowly. "I love Velkan. The only reason I am here is because I am trying to save him."

Victoria snatched her hand away from Aleera's grasp, moving around the room. She wrapped her arms around her waist and bowed her head, her gaze looking to the floor. Aleera remained seated before she heard the door snap open, hitting the wall behind it. Victoria whirled around, the sight of two other women in the doorway glowering at her. Aleera stood with haste as a black haired woman sauntered in, turning her narrowed gaze to the red head. The blonde remained in the doorway, looking at Victoria with a hesitant gaze.

"What are you doing in here, Aleera?" the black haired woman wondered.

Aleera shifted awkwardly. "I wanted to meet her."

"And do you think he would approve of that? He locked her in here for a reason."

"She is to be his bride, Verona," Aleera complained.

"Yes," Verona hissed, "but she will never be one of us. Now come, leave her be to mourn her beloved Gypsy Prince."

Victoria remained on the opposite side of the room as the three women left her and she took another moment to compose herself before she felt tears fall down her eyes once the door slammed shut and she realised she was trapped.

...

A/N: Thanks to anyone reading and please do review!