Victoria awoke before Velkan the following morning. Quietly, she slipped out of the bed without waking him, watching him for a couple of moments as he slept. He had curled onto his side in the middle of the night his hands stuffed underneath his pillow and his lips parted as he let out light breaths. After all of his crying, Victoria had no doubt that his head would ache when he woke.

Choosing to let him sleep, she moved away from the chamber, opening the door and closing it. She picked up her white sheer robe on the way; slipping it over the nightclothes she wore. Pulling her hair from underneath its collar, she folded her arms over her chest and wandered down the hallway, unsure of where she was going.

Everywhere she went was empty, no one, not even servants, were wandering about. Finally, she came to the room that always dragged her back. It was the library. She always found herself in the library. Pushing the door open, she entered the room and settled herself down on the chaise longue, folding her legs underneath herself.

She closed her eyes as she heard the rain on the window patter. It was only a few moments later when the door opened. She expected to see Velkan, but instead it was the younger Valerious sibling who walked in. Victoria stood up, covering her arms over her body, aware that she was still in a state of undress.

"Velkan told me what happened," Victoria said, her voice slightly shaky as Anna nodded her head. "I am sorry, Anna."

"It was not your fault," Anna said, her accent even thicker than usual as she wandered into the library and looked over the books. "I wanted to come in here and see if there was anything I could find…something to help us beat him."

"I can help to look, if you want?" Victoria offered, trying to be helpful as Anna looked to her, her gaze narrowed as though she was scrutinising her. Biting down on her lip, Victoria waited for the young woman to respond to her.

"Do you not know everything about him?" Anna wondered. "You were his lover, were you not? That is what I have heard. Velkan has been very particular about keeping details of your past hidden."

Shrugging her shoulders, Victoria looked away. "We were courting," she said. "But the Vlad I knew back then is very different to this Vlad…he would never have done the things he has done. He was kind and gentle…"

"I struggle to believe that," Anna scoffed, shaking her head back and forth as she moved to look at the bookshelf. "He has killed my entire family. Gentle and kind are not the words I would use to describe him."

"I know," Victoria responded and went to the bookshelf on the other wall. "But, like I said, he is a different person, not the person I remember."

"Just like you don't remember my brother," Anna muttered and Victoria sensed some form of resentment. Not that she could blame Anna. Her family were already in danger, but Victoria being around put them in even more danger. She knew that.

"Your brother has been kind to me," Victoria spoke. "I can see why I fell in love with him. I do care for him. I honestly do care for him and would not see him harmed."

"Well he will be next," Anna said, picking a book up and slamming it back down against the shelf, her head bowed as Victoria startled slightly at the sound. "Velkan will be next on his list and it will be even worse…he will take his time…make it painful…all because of you."

Victoria felt herself begin to shake at the thought as Anna turned to look at her, her eyes narrowed into harsh slits as he breathing came out fast and hard. Victoria shook her head slowly.

"I never wanted this," Victoria said. "I will do anything I can to help Velkan…anything at all."

"Go back to your lover and stake him," Anna said, her voice even and demanding as Victoria looked to the ground and Anna let out a dark chuckle, shaking her head back and forth before going back to the bookshelf and giving it her attention. "But you won't do that, will you? You'd watch him kill Velkan before intervening."

"I wouldn't," Victoria said, but her voice was not full of confidence as she spoke. Instead she seemed meek and timid as Anna kept her back to her, not bothering to turn around and start an argument.

Deep down, Anna knew Victoria was not to blame for his. She knew it, but she was full of a range of emotions. She felt grief, sorrow and anger. She just wanted someone to make it all stop, and it looked like that someone might one day be her. She remained mute, listening as the door closed quietly and she knew Victoria had gone.

Rushing down the corridors, Victoria wanted nothing more than to get back into her chamber and lock herself away until she decided what to do. She knew what she should do based on that conversation with Anna. She should go and find Vlad and…and what? Convince him to stake himself? Convince him not to come after Velkan, despite the fact that Velkan needed him dead?

There would be no winning. She went silent, closing her eyes and letting herself stand still for a moment, leaning against the wall as she heard the door to her chamber open. The sight of Velkan entered her eyes and she saw him walk out, his shirt un-tucked from his breeches and open to his chest.

"Victoria," he mumbled, clearly still drained.

"How are you feeling?" she asked from him and he shrugged at her.

"I do not know," he admitted and she nodded her head, understanding that he might not want to discuss it. Saying nothing, Victoria remained stood where she was until she felt Velkan stand in front of her, his hand moving down to capture hers, holding it gently in his grip.

"Thank you," he whispered to her. "Last night…I am sorry if I was too forward."

"It was the grief," Victoria spoke. "Do not fret over it. I understand."

"I appreciate it," Velkan said, not unaware of the fact that she was dressed in her nightwear. "I should go and check on Anna while you dress. Perhaps you can join me for breakfast?"

"Yes," Victoria agreed. "Your sister is in the library."

Velkan frowned. "Have you been with her?"

"Yes," Victoria said. "You should go and find her…I will leave you to it."

Victoria rushed into the chamber, closing the door before Velkan frowned, looking to the door. He suspected something was wrong. He didn't know what it was. He hoped it was nothing he had done last night, especially after she had just said everything was fine between them. Shaking his head, he vowed to ask her later, but he had no need when he spoke to his sister.

…

Anna didn't know what she could say to Velkan. He had stormed off after she had admitted that she had, not necessarily argued with Victoria, but she had not been very pleasant to her. Velkan had gone to find Victoria after that, not waiting until breakfast. Knocking on her chamber door, he pulled it open as soon as she asked him to come in.

"My sister told me what she said."

"Oh," Victoria spoke, finishing brushing her hair and then standing up, her skirts flowing around her feet as she turned to look to Velkan.

"She had no right to speak like that," Velkan informed Victoria. "None of this is your fault and you have no reason to leave here. You need to stay here where it is safe."

"But your sister was right," Victoria told him, shrugging her shoulders. "I am putting you in more danger and I should not be here. Vlad…I cannot persuade him to stake himself, but I can…I could keep you safe."

Velkan shook his head. "No one can keep me safe," he told her. "Dracula would not do anything to spare me and I want you to be safe more than anything. If that means sending you away…somewhere else…"

"No," Victoria shook her head defiantly. "I might not be helpful…but I cannot run away. If I thought that me leaving would keep you safe then I would."

Saying nothing, Velkan moved towards her, unable to stop himself as he took hold of her by the waist and pressed his lips to hers. She remained still, her eyes slowly closing and she couldn't help but think that it felt nice to have his mouth move over hers. Slowly, she moved her hand to his arm, tentatively resting her hand there. It took a moment before she pulled back and looked up to him.

"Sorry," he said again. "I just…I just don't want you to go, Victoria…can you not see?"

"I see," she whispered.

"I know that this is all very scary for you, Victoria," he assured her, daring to move and take hold of her hand, squeezing it in his grip. "But you are the only thing that truly matters to me here. I need you to believe that."

Victoria searched his face for a few moments before letting herself nod. "Somehow I do."

…

Vlad didn't know what more he could do. The machine had failed miserably and Boris had proven himself useless. He had tossed the man's corpse aside, rage filling inside of him as his brides wept amongst themselves, huddling tightly together and holding each other. He had paced in the abandoned dining room, hands behind his back as he did his best to think of what he had to do now.

Now he had to go after the boy. Velkan Valerious. He had to go after him and kill him. Pausing in his pacing, his hand moved to hold his chin as he contemplated his thoughts for a few moments and then chuckled. Perhaps killing him would be too easy. No, the boy deserved to suffer for what he had done. He thought that he could turn Victoria against him. He needed to be shown that did not go unpunished.

He would drag his death out.

…

It had been a week since new of Boris's disappearance had spread and Velkan had kept himself holed up inside of the library alongside Anna, both of them determined to find a way to stop this madness. Victoria would often leave them to it. Anna had apologised for her comments to Victoria, but she still got the feeling that the young woman did not entirely like her.

Victoria could not blame her, but it made it rather uncomfortable for her to remain in their presence while they were working. Instead she confined herself to her chamber, sitting by the fire and reading, curled into a tight ball in the chair. Her eyes often shut on their own accord, exhaustion taking over her despite the fact she scarcely moved.

It was a clear night when she found herself on the balcony outside the ballroom that had not been used since Anna's birthday, apparently. She leant on the railing and looked to the sky. It was unusually empty from clouds, the moon full and beaming down, offering a soft glow over the gardens.

"I trust you are well, Victoria?"

She did not need to turn to know that Velkan stood behind her. He moved to stand next to her as she nodded.

"Well enough," she informed him. "I have not seen you all day. I trust you have been working?"

"You would be correct," he nodded. "However, nothing has changed. I am no closer to finding an answer."

"Perhaps one day you shall," Victoria said, allowing a slim smile in his direction as she moved to pat his hand once and he shrugged. His spirits were slowly deflating and she could see that. The pressure was growing and rested on his shoulders.

Before they had a chance to say anything further, a loud noise erupted from the distance, echoing through the night. Startling, Victoria gripped the railing tightly and felt herself shake.

"Was that a dog?' she wondered as another loud howl rang into her ears.

Looking to Velkan, she saw the fear in his eyes and wondered what was wrong as he shook his head slowly and she felt his hand move to take hold of hers, pulling her back into the ballroom, locking the door to the balcony as the noise grew louder and he turned to her, hair falling into his face as he gasped loudly.

"It's a werewolf."

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!