I felt indescribable pain for what seemed to be years. I wondered if I was in hell and the devil himself was torturing me for my sins. I could not recall what sins I had committed that could result in such damnation, but I prayed that my mother wasn't suffering the same fate as I.

At one point, I felt myself being lifted off the ground and carried, but I couldn't open my eyes. I heard low whispering but couldn't make out the words.

The fire was spreading through my body and I pleaded for someone to put it out; they just pinned me down. A hand covered my mouth to muffle my screams but I couldn't contain my whimpers of pain. I fell back into unconsciousness, finally giving into the exhaustion of my struggle.

In my dreams I heard my mother's faint voice. Darling, your father loves you very much. He is a good man and has reasons for what he does. I did not believe her. If he was such a good man then he would have been around during my childhood and he would have been there when she was sick.

Light filtered through my eyelids and the pain began to ease. Am I in heaven? I opened my eyes to find myself looking into the burgundy and gold eyes of my father. He sighed when he saw me wake up and smiled in relief.

"Where am I?" I said. I didn't recognize the voice coming out of my mouth. It was smooth, musical, and flawless.

"You are home," he said lightly. I used my arms to push myself up and looked around.

I was lying on a large bed with lavender sheets and surrounded by a dozen or so pillows. The room was square and huge, the size of my mother's entire house. The walls were lavender also. The only furniture was the bed. There was an open door at the other end of the room that led into a hall and, presumably, the rest of the house and another opposite the window that might be a closet.

"This isn't home," I retorted. Now that my mother was gone, home wasn't home anymore either. I didn't have a home, but I didn't care where I lived anymore either. "What happened?" I asked, still not understanding why I had been in so much pain a while ago.

"Look for yourself." Out of nowhere, a mirror appeared in his hands and he handed it to me. My mouth dropped open when I saw my own reflection. My skin was paler than it was before, my lips fuller and a deeper shade of pink. My eyes had become a mix of brown and burgundy swirled into one and everything about my face has become flawless and stunningly beautiful. My father chuckled at my expression.

"I think you may want a full-length mirror too." He waived his hand carelessly and a large mirror appeared on the once empty wall. How does he keep doing that? I got up and ran over to the mirror, wanting to make sure that I wasn't seeing things.

I stared in disbelief at my own reflection. Never before had I appeared so perfect and feminine. I saw curves I had not know women were supposed to have and the simple dress I wore suddenly looked gorgeous too. My hair had grown longer; it was straighter yet had a hint of wave. The dark strands flowed down my back gently and as I ran a hand through it I was surprised to find not a single snag. I turned around to face my father. He was now sitting on the bed with a grin on his face, the smile only making him appear more like a god.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You are my daughter." I already knew that. "My only child. You have very powerful genes and it showed when you were changed." I gave him a confused look but he continued as if nothing happened.

"Isabella, you are the only daughter of the first vampire that ever lived and the most powerful yet. You are the daughter of Count Dracula himself," he said with a small laugh.

I was stunned. Vampires? But they don't exist. Is this his idea of a joke? I have no fangs, how could he explain that? He composed himself after a moment and continued.

"Your mother was the only human I have ever cared for. She accepted me for what I am and even accepted the fact that we could never truly be together and I regret not being able to be there for her." He paused and I could see the pain in his expression. "Isabella, you will probably learn to hate me for condemning you to this life but until her last moment your mother still believed that this life was what she wanted. I promised her that you will be immortal and I will not let you out of my sight as long as I am still here."

I stared at him in shocked silence. I had the impression that it pained him to use her name because of his expression when he referred to her. Strangely, I could feel his sincerity and believed him. He closed his eyes and suddenly I was able to see everything he was trying to tell me. It would've taken hours to explain in words what he showed me in one moment.

It was true. I was a vampire and that was always a part of me even before I knew of him. My mother had kept this from me for 17 years. I was the daughter of Dracula and the princess of the vampires. My father didn't want this life for me and that was why he had never showed himself to me. He opened his eyes and looked at me wearily. He smiled but it never touched his eyes.

"Come, I will introduce you to the others." He got up and moved gracefully toward me. "Like father like daughter," I heard him murmur as he led me out of the room.

I soon discovered that I wasn't merely in a house, I was in a mansion. I guessed that there were well over 100 rooms. It was as beautiful as a palace. As we walked through the halls, the people we passed bowed to us both. He led me to the very top floor of the mansion and into a magnificent hall with a platform lining the front of the room. The hall was quickly filling up with people and they all stared at me in awe and wonder. They were all pale and beautiful but none compared to my father.

We reached the platform and my father released my arm as turned to the now crowded hall. There had to have been at least 200 people here. Silence swept over the room instantaneously and all eyes were on us.

"As you all know, I brought a girl back to our home several days ago. Rumors have spread, whispers that she is my wife as well as other stories. I intend to settle it today." He placed his hand on my shoulder, a gesture of trust and equality. "This is my daughter, Isabella." The silence continued but I could sense the disbelief in the crowd. Then the entire crowd kneeled in unison.

"Welcome home, Isabella," they chanted.

I turned to my father and saw a joyous grin on his face. He nodded at me and took my hand in his. Everyone got back on their feet and the crowd parted as we walked out.

"Who are all these people?" I asked.

"They are vampires who choose to stay in my home."

"Do they consider you a king?"

"Yes. I do not like the idea but it has been that way for a long time," he sighed. His mind seemed to be elsewhere and I didn't dare question him further.

He was a very complicated man. He was full of authority but filled with emotions that most could not begin to understand. In some way I could not understand, I completely understood what he felt perfectly. My mother must have seen something in him that others did not. I found that I loved him and accepted him now, exactly as he was.

"Father, mother loved you very much. She told me you were a great man and I believe her," I commented. He glanced at me in surprise. I smiled and stood on my tip toes to hug him.

"Darling, you are so much like your mother," he laughed. "There is not a man in this world who will be able to tame you." What did he mean by that? "You will learn the meaning of my words someday." He pulled away and smoothed my hair. "Now, however, you have much to learn!" He sped up dramatically and I was surprised that I was able to keep up with him easily.

Authors Note: I hate long explanations so I plan on skipping to present day in the next chap. This was a filler chapter so excuse me if it sounded a bit strained. You should give thanks to my wonderful editor for this chapter. She's also a very wonderful writer too so I strongly recommend her stories. Thanks Seraphyn!