Draculin Bride

Scene Three

The yard caretaker, an elderly man in his late fifties, held onto the hand I had him holding. Between our two grips, the set of keys to the garden shed was exchanged. "Remember, there are plenty of people staffed here that they be of good help. It's not that I don't trust you, I'd just rather you'd still be here and not six feet under from being overworked."

"Certainly don't want that on your reputation," Jacob sneered. I swallowed my fillip retort as the caretaker nodded his head slowly.

"Good luck on your trip," he said politely, the hint of his English filtering through.

"Thanks!" I smiled and waved until he was a good distance away and his back remained to me. "You dumbass."

"Threats won't work on me, loverly."

"STOP calling me that!"

He leaned back against the door, his arms crossed as the tiny smile danced fire in his eyes. Dressed casually, though with the thin shirt and tight jeans went against the frigid cold of winter, he seemed to be waiting for something.

"What?" I asked crossly.

His dancing smile faded till he wore a rather bland look. He shrugged, getting straight on his feet. "Think Frank's about done."

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, make him do all the work. Again."

"Hey." A finger danced under my nose. I had a strong urge to bite but I froze myself hurriedly. "He volunteered."

It took a moment before Jacob moved the finger to the far right, my eyes following it. "Hmm…" He grinned, his wolf's smile upon his lips. "Up, down, left, right. Round and round, where I'll end, nobody knows."

I gripped that finger in what I hoped was a painful grasp. "Don't tease me." I hissed and watched his smile turn into a startled frown, concern written in seconds. I snapped my mouth closed hurriedly and felt a slash of pain. My hand covered my lips but I wasn't fast enough to evade the snaking hand.

"Mina!" I winced at the panic in his voice. "Your teeth. Oh, Holy Hell.."

"What's wrong?" Frank approached with a wide gait.

"I'b find.." I mumbled, trying to get around them. "Leab me alone."

"Her goddamn fangs," Jacob pulled my hand away with enough force to have me stumble forward several steps. I couldn't go far since he was directly in front so crashing was the obviously situation.

I rubbed my nose, still feeling the hard leanness of his chest. I glowered as I pulled my hand away with a vengeance. "I'm fine. Finish packing."

I turned and took only five steps to find Jacob walking with a even gait to keep up with me. "Go help Frank."

"He's fine. You need to be watched over."

"I don't need a babysitter!"

"Then consider it a prolonged date," he growled. I turned to face white gold eyes and his own fangs showing fully in day. "We're here to help so don't bitch slap me!"

"Maybe if you stopped acting like I'm in such terrible danger.." I began.

"God! Mina! You have had the most control I have seen since day one," He hissed, speaking through gritted teeth. "Losing it is a bad thing because it'll be too hard to get it back under control. It took me months.." His voice spoke roughly, with a hint of hesitation to talk of himself. "And there are things that I've done that I wished I hadn't done. It takes everything to be in control but if someone else is holding the reigns, you're in deep now."

I rubbed my face, turning to look away from him. "Don't you think I don't know that?"

"So you'll understand it when we freak. You've always done the best and truth to justice because you're not like anyone else here."

"There are others.." I said absently.

He shrugged at that. "You're the only one here that I know of."

I saw the people slowly fading away as Frank watched us with a purposeful gaze. "It's time to go."

We had decided to drive as far as we could get to. I had a halfway new van. Halfway meant it was around five to six years old. Coming out with a new vehicle was a huge waste. Once in five years would've been fine but then I grew up with horses and my feet as transport. It wasn't my deal to go against those who designed constantly. It was big enough to fit all three of us.

"I'll drive," We all said in unison.

"I have a license," I pointed out.

"So do I," Jacob retorted. We glanced at Frank who held his hands up in defeat.

We had a staring contest before I suggested a solution. "Why not we just switch after a few hours? Alternate?"

"Fine. I go first."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'll drive at night."

Jacob got into the driver's seat. I motioned for Frank to sit in the front. I settled in the middle row, pulling out a book to read. I felt as if we were going on a fun trip then remembered our destination and I sighed tiredly.

I fell asleep, the book dropping from my slacken grasp. The air was seeping in, cold as the night began to climb the skies, taking the blue to divulge into a blackness. Night was frightening in my dreaming, halfway to realize I was still awake at some level but unable to awaken, as if I were there but not able to do a thing.

I felt feathered touches against my mind, causing it to open without any effort. Nothing I did stopped whatever it was that entered until I imagined a wall of indestructibility, effectively blocking whatever it was.

"You cannot refuse me, my Bride. Not for long."

It took effort to think. 'Wanna bet?'

"You're weak. Without me, you shall fail and falter, fading into nothing. I can give you anything you desire."

'What would I get out of it?' I demanded. I wasn't really interested. A part of my dream was trying to get me to awaken. I was aware of distant whimpering. I must've been trying to make noise to get the men's attention.

"This…" Came the throaty response and a fire brewed in my loins and spread. It wasn't all lust, it was a need to feed, a need to be as one, a need to be more whole than I could ever imagine myself be. It made me feel hollow and barren after it faded and that terrified me.

A hand slapped me gently, calling me from my sleep. Jacob was watching me, his eyes worried as Frank peered at me over his shoulder. "I'm fine."

"You don't make noises like that when you sleep," Jacob muttered.

"How would you know that?" Frank asked, suspiciously.

I stared him down. "Yes, tell us. How would you know that? Been sleeping outside my bedroom lately?"

He grinned. "Oh, no. I've been sticking the end of your bed, remember? That's as far as you'll let me go."

I used my foot to push him away from me. "Keep driving."

"What happened?" Frank asked me as the vehicle roared and it jutted forward as Jacob guided it off the shoulder.

"Nothing."

"Like hell that was!" Jacob jerked his head back, his hands copying. The van swerved before he hurriedly returned to watch the road. He stared at me through the rearview mirror.

"I'm fine. Thank you for waking me up."

He stared forward, his teeth gritting. He clearly was angry but he left the issue alone. Frank reached into the bag he had in his lap and pulled out a granola bar. "Here, Mina. Eat this."

I munched with a bland look. I didn't care for the healthy foods save if it had a dash of taste. But to save his feelings and not just argue in general, I ate willingly. "Yum."

"Don't have to patronize me," Frank grinned as he ate a bar in one bite. "Hmmm…. Berry flavored." He ate another one with a small grin. He always enjoyed the flavors of fruit.

"Have any meat on you?" Jacob ruined Frank's peace. The other man raised an eyebrow.

"No, why would I?"

"What am I supposed to eat then?" Jacob pointed out. "I need to eat meat unless you want me to eat you."

"I wouldn't taste all that good," Frank grinned, assured of that notion. "After all, some of me is pretty old."

"We can pick it up at places not to mention you can hunt. Now stop arguing."

I'd like to say the drive was peaceful but as the days passed, we kept breaking into arguments. Well, all right, it was mostly myself and Jacob. Poor Frank had to play referee. What I didn't understand, once I finally noticed it, was the lack of supernatural beings.

"Maybe it's because we drove through rather modern towns?" I asked Frank. He sat in the passenger seat as I drove through a rather harsh winter windstorm. Jacob was staring at the white screen blazing by outside the windows.

"Doesn't make any sense," Frank muttered. He glanced back at Jacob and then at me with a shrug. "It could be that maybe it's you."

"ME?"

"Yea, since you're not in one place, they're waiting for you. Or maybe trying to find you," Jacob added.

"It would make sense. The only reason those of the evil attack is because they're drawn to you."

"I'm not evil," I muttered darkly.

"It's because you protect and save. If you were out of the picture, then they could do whatever they wanted," Frank pointed out.

"Well, maybe this will be a quick trip," I said hopefully. I spoke too soon.

A shadowed figure stood in the way of the car but I didn't see until it was too late. A blacken hand came crashing down on the hood of my van, effectively flattening the engine. Black, thick smoke poured from the ventilators and we ran out with hurry. Coughing and beginning to shiver in the storm, I tried to open my eyes before my eyelids froze together.

I could hear movement off to my right as I turned to face it, though I couldn't see a thing. A cold, clammy hand covered my mouth as a slow, deep chuckle vibrated though my chest from the freezing body behind me.

I screamed and elbowed back, only to feel the muscle merely sink in as I felt sick to my stomach. The being had a feeling of a corpse, eerily pliable and disgustingly mushy.

The area swelled and turned more white before my vision began to blacken. I struggled to say something before the world turned dark.

I awoke to the smell of rotting meat. A man sat on a chair, leaning back on it as he stared upward. His eyes were fogged over, blind man's eyes. His skin was a grayish color, and tight around his facial bones.

I struggled up and felt the grogginess intensify. "I wouldn't move if I were you," the chair legs slammed onto the wooden floor. Covered in dust and dried dirt and something I couldn't tell, I tried to figure out just where I was.

"My name is Vetala."

"How nice. Isn't that synonymous with a vampire?"

He smiled, his dark yellow teeth dull in the pale, fading light. "Not quite. I'm an corpse of a dead person, my spirit trapped in my body."

"And how would that happen?" I asked evenly. My head was clearing up and I was slowly getting my senses back. The instant I did, I would transform and go find Jacob and Frank.

"Matters not to how I came to be. It's how I can have it undone that matters to me now."

"Oh really? And how would that be?" I looked up to see him with a strange smile on his face.

"I am normally not as frightening as legend pertains. But I tire of this morbid life and this dead body. I am no longer afraid to know where I will go in the afterlife as long as I can leave this wretched existence."

"So I have a deal and I will fulfill it. I don't normally harm the good, since they are not the ones who harmed me but I swore what's left of my soul for this freedom."

"Not this time. I know it hurts, leaving an existence that you don't want. But I will not allow you to harm me to save yourself. There is always another alternate that saves your soul without hurting anyone else."

I raised my voice. "Cardea's Protection, Make UP!"

Vetala covered his eyes as the light blinded. Shining brightly through the windows, I was unaware of Jacob whose keen eyes saw the light and howled in response. I stood transformed in my soldier form. "You've got two options. Don't fight me and I'll help you find a solution to your problem or I could destroy you."

He stared through me before a smile slowly spread. "Your lover is approaching."

I jerked to the door in time to see Jacob tear it off the hinges. His body was rigid in his energy, his mouth elongated with many sharp, shiny teeth. His eyes were white gold canine designed and his hair was longer and wilder. "Get. Away. From. Her."

I turned slowly to him. "Are you psychic?"

"Being what I am gives me different abilities than if I were human again," he offered. "I see your choices though. It's not as hard as you think if you look deeper still."

My eyebrow twitched. "In me?"

"Oh, no. Of course not. I meant outside your body."

I stared at him. Jacob was in front of me, his body still frigid with his energy and powers. In my soldier form, I could feel it gathering in heavy layers.

"What do you think you're doing? You RUINED our vehicle! How are we supposed to get to our destination now? You owe me an engine!"

"Excuse me, MY car, MY engine."

"Whatever."

I stared Vetala down but he didn't seem all that aggressive at the moment. He was relaxed with a easy gaze. "Well? What have you decided?"

"Stop giving enemies an ultimatum!" Jacob glared at me.

"I'm sorry if I can't appease your blood lust," I said coolly. "Well?" I addressed Vetala.

"I can take you to him."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure I can do that myself."

"Though the physical realm, yes. But the ethereal world, through the mirror image, is a little more harder."

"I'm sorry, what?" I was being distracted by Jacob's still gathering energy, since normally he calmed down. But I didn't understand what Vetala spoke of.

"You think he would be so easy to get to? There is a reason why he is almost imperishable because his holdings is in a place that takes careful maneuvering to enter."

"We don't need him." Jacob spoke harshly. "If you valued anything that I say, Mina. Don't let him help us."

"I don't completely trust those of the supernatural. I'm usually a good interpreter of what makes the person truly themselves and I can't trust you. But if you can help, I'll let you come along, since you've gotten rid of our transport."

Vetala smiled thinly. "The way is far from the streets. We'll have to go over the Summit Mountains to get to where you need to be."

"Jacob," I was watching him who still hadn't relaxed. "Please, calm down." I touched his arm gingerly and cried out when he struck it.

"Don't let him near you," He whispered darkly and turned away from me. There was no remorse for striking my hand, which throbbed in tune to my blood flow. I rubbed it, hurt by his actions but anger soon replaced it.

"Fine, be a goddamn prick for all I care," I snarled. "You, Vetala, head out now!"

"In the storm?" Frank lumbered in. "It's below thirty degrees. We'll stay here."

"I'm going out," Jacob muttered, stalking out.

I watched him. I wasn't aware of my melancholic gaze until Frank spoke gently. "Why not go talk to him?"

I held my injured hand to me, uncertain but I straightened, pulling my heavy cloak around me. "You sure you'll be all right?"

"I'm already an undead, he can't really do anything more," He nodded to Vetala who gave a small smile. I walked out and heard Frank carefully place the broken door in place to block out most of the wind.

It was freezing and I was almost instantly blinded by white powder. I couldn't find his scent so I listened to my instincts. I moved carefully but eventually lost myself and turned to see nothing more than snow. I shouted his name only to hear it echo, drifting away from me.

I turned and felt something move under me. A rock jutted and crumbled as I fell down a steep slope. The hidden rocks under the snow hurt as I tumbled before landing on my side, losing my breath.

"Ah.." I was shivering. Fully lost and blinded still, I wanted to cry. I bit my lip and stood up only to feel shooting pain in my left ankle. "Damn it.." I crumbled, pulling my cloak around me but it was soggy with snow. "Go after him, he says. Talk to him, hah!"

I covered my hand with a free hand, the other pulling the cloak fruitlessly tighter to block the cold. "Stupid prick.." I sniffled, my head falling down. My shivering was getting stronger, my body shuddering harder.

I heard the crunching of snow and looked up to see Jacob. It was too blinding to see his face or hear anything else. His footsteps made bare noise but finally he had found me. I tried to say something but he merely dropped to his knees with a raised eyebrow.

"You're normally not this stupid," He spoke smoothly but his gaze was cool.

"I'm not the idiot that walked into a storm!" I protested, stuttering so hard my teeth hurt.

"You'll be the end of me," His gaze continued to be cold and as he reached for me, I pulled back.

"Let me freeze if that's what you want," I snapped. It was harder for me to breathe and I found myself transforming back into normal attire.

"I don't want you to freeze!"

I staggered to my feet, limping past him as I valiantly attempted to ignore the pain in my ankle. I heard his exasperated cry as he attempted to lift me but I fought him. "NO!"

"Damn it, Mina!" I kicked his knee and he crumbled forward, crushing me under him. His breath was hot on my forehead as he rested himself on his palms, fingers digging into the snow as he stared down at me. "Why don't you listen to me?" He asked, the hurt in his voice evident. "There's something wrong with that.. That thing!"

"How do you know?" I asked hotly.

"Because I've seen things like him. They want things that they cannot have."

"All he wants to do is finally die. That's not as hard."

"And yet he was going to destroy you."

"He didn't say such a thing!"

"But chances are, he is in cohorts with Dracula," He nearly shouted at me.

"He didn't say…"

Jacob's fist hitting the ground stopped me from finishing that sentence. "Then fine, bring him along but I will not let him near you."

"I don't need to be protected! And besides, since when are you so damn interested in making sure I am protected? You're always watching your own ass!"

His teeth bared. "You may think you're strong but you not as like you would like to be. There is always weakness." His head moved forward, his forehead pressing against me. I was aware of my shivering, my teeth chattering. "I can warm you up, Mina, if you'd let me."

His eyes were unreadable, his face expressionless. For some stupid reason, my eyes filled with tears. His eyes softened and became gentle. "Please?" His whisper was gentle but lacking of any real emotions.

"Why do you always want sleep with me?" I sat up, trying to swallow but feeling the pain in my chest blossom. "It's never about loving me."

I wasn't not expecting a kiss, since I knew it was one of his favorite answers to questions he wouldn't respond to. It was slow, gentle, and deepened with careful asking on his part.

I wasn't immune to anything about men. I felt things, longed for events. But since I had been turned, I stayed far away from any hint of romance because I thought it would be too hard to love a monster. Even before, I was too intent on my goals for the future, too different from the others of the same sex that I seemed to bother the men, so I never had suitors. As such, I could be lonely.

Lonely enough to give in. A hand drifted upward into my hair, pulling me tighter. His throaty growl was deep in his chest and his body pressed against me gave me a definite response of his own needs.

I would've given in, for anything just to be near him. That realization was in the back of my mind, as I moaned, leaning more into him. He pulled away, his face flushed before he stood up, dragging me to my feet. "Jacob?" I felt confusion.

"I'm sorry," He looked at a spot over my shoulder. "We should go."

Once parted, the cold had resumed and intensified. He held my hand to lead me back and then dropped it as I watched his back with anguish. I wondered if I had done something wrong.

His smile was sad when he glanced back at me. "Don't blame yourself. I shouldn't have started it."

I tried to think but I came it in to see a roaring fire and Frank and Vetala were in a deep conversation. Jacob's face set in a bland expression but his eyes stared intently at our new traveling guest.

I rubbed my face tiredly, finding the bed and curling into it. I turned my back on the men and tried to not cry. I couldn't help but feel rejected. I continued to shiver and curled into a tighter ball.

Something heavy was placed over me. I wasn't all that interested in knowing who did that at the moment but I felt the lightest of touches down my back before familiar footsteps moved away.

Even though he didn't seem interested like I thought he was, Jacob was still thoughtful enough to cover me in his own blanket. His scent was strong as I curled it around me, breathing in deeply as I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.