A/N: WOW. I was really struggling with the healing scene, I wasn't sure at all what I wanted to do, so I went to sleep on Friday feeling really unhappy about what I had written so far and I so totally had a dream about this scene and YAY. I woke up and just typed it out right away. Not so passionate as I'm sure most people wanted it to be, but it seemed right to me. :D
Amira cried out and rushed to Dracula's side. Her mind had gone into overdrive, reasons for why Dracula had suddenly passed out at the entrance of her room were passing through her mind as quickly as they could.
"Dracula?" She shook him. He didn't stir. He's dead. Amira didn't know what to do, she couldn't even check for a pulse. She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him harder. "Dracula!" Still he didn't make any sign to show he was alive. Oh god. He's actually dead. She bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. No! He can't be! He can't be dead... A single tear leaked out of her eye and dribbled down to the tip of her nose before falling off onto Dracula's lips.
He groaned and opened his now dull blue eyes. He licked his lips and tasted her salty tear. "Werewolf scratch...on my side..." He moaned softly.
Amira immediately ripped open his jacket and tore off his shirt. She saw it instantly, a gaping wound on his right side. Blood was steadily dripping out of it, it had soaked most of his shirt and some of his jacket. "Oh my god." She whispered, awed that he could have even managed to get to her room.
"Cure...inside jacket pocket..." He was slowly becoming skeletal, his skin was getting sallow and unhealthy. Amira's hands fumbled with the button keeping the cure in place and almost dropped it when she got it out. It was a shot about the size of her hand, filled with a thick blue liquid. Amira stuck the needle into his stomach and jumped backwards, for Dracula had lurched forward the moment the needle had broken the skin. She crawled backwards as he continued to have convulsions, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and his fangs lengthened to their fullest extent. And just as suddenly as they had begun, they stopped. He fell back onto the floor and his head rolled to one side.
Amira had drawn her knees up to her chest, tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. When Dracula did not move for several minutes Amira finally crawled over to him and pulled the now empty shot out of his stomach. The wound had healed completely from what she could see. She ran her hand over the flawless skin where the wound had been just to make sure the wound had really gone. Amira did not know what to do, she could hardly pick him up for he was far too heavy. She finally stood up and grabbed a few pillows off of her bed and propped up his head. She picked up a blanket and lay it across his chest, not wishing to have to look at him half naked. It just seemed wrong after seeing him nearly die only a few minutes before.
Amira turned an armchair to face Dracula's form and sat there for a few minutes, staring at him blankly before a horrifying thought crossed her mind. It's going to be daybreak soon. She scrambled over to the heavy curtains and pulled them shut. The room became pitch black, it didn't look like a ray of sunlight could pass through them, but she was still very nervous. Amira wondered if vampires absolutely had to be in their coffins in order to truly escape the light, but for some reason it just didn't seem likely at all to her. She spent the remainder of the time until daybreak sitting and staring at the spot where she knew Dracula was lying. After two hours of doing this she became sure that he was alright. She suddenly realized that she was incredibly tired. Before she had even fully processed the thought she had fallen asleep.
xxxx
Amira awoke just as a scream escaped her lips. She shut her mouth quickly and stood up. She was drenched in a cold sweat. She could have sworn someone had just been standing over her. Amira rubbed her eyes and looked around, but it was so dark she couldn't see a thing. Amira fumbled around and found the door and opened it. Light poured into the room from the corridor, causing her to hiss and draw away. The sudden change hurt her eyes, but they soon became adjusted. When she looked back into her room, her eyes were instantly drawn towards the pillows and the blanket lying on the floor. Memories of last night flooded into her head and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Where's Dracula?
Amira stumbled out into the hallway and looked left and right before walking to Dracula's bedroom door. She knocked once, but there was no answer. Slowly, Amira pushed open the door and peeked inside. The room was devoid of any vampires. She turned around and rushed down the hallways, noticing that there wasn't even a servant in sight. When she got to Vasilios' door she opened it and walked inside, once again it was empty. Amira began to panic, her heart felt like it was caught in her throat. Calm down Amira... She took a deep breath. They're all just going out to feed...at the same time... She forced herself to walk slowly and calmly to the library, her footsteps echoing loudly on the stone floor.
When she got to the library she picked up the first book she saw and began to read. When she realized that she had been reading the same line over and over again she finally stopped and got up. Then she looked back down at the book and picked up again and placed it atop her head on an impulse. Back and forth she walked across the library, concentrating on keeping the book balanced. She realized that the repetitive task calmed her somewhat and kept at it for nearly an hour when the door burst open and in walked Dracula, all his arrogance returned to its fullest.
"Amira, my darling! I have returned." He called from across the room before walking forward.
Amira spun around and glared at him, the book that had fallen off her head lying forgotten on the floor. Dracula stopped several feet away. "You."She whispered with vehemence. Dracula arched a fine black eyebrow. "You just go and collapse on my bedroom floor and force me to stick a needle into you and you expect me to welcome you back with open arms? Oh! And did I forget to mention that I also woke up having no idea where anyone was?"
"I was thirsty." He stated simply.
"My God!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up and staring at the ceiling. "Do you ever thinking of anyone other than yourself?"
"No, not very often."
"Ugh!" She cried, disgusted with the man standing in front of her. "But why can't I find any servants, and where's Vasilios."
"The servants are...cleaning up."
"Cleaning up what?" Amira asked, though she felt she already knew.
"The aftermath of a battle." He replied cryptically, but Amira didn't really want him to elaborate so she let it be.
"And Vasilios?"
"I don't know." His facial features remained completely expressionless, except for his eyes, they became a dull blue as soon as Vasilios was brought up. "He disappeared after the battle." When he saw Amira looking shocked and sad he added, "But we did not find his corpse, so he could still possibly be alive."
"Right. Who sent the werewolf to kill you?" She asked bluntly.
"I do not know that as well." His lips drew into a thin line as his eyes flared to it's original brilliance once more. "I'm afraid that when I am confronted with two werewolves and multiple vampires that are intent on killing me I think more along the lines of staying alive rather than grilling them for information, but perhaps that's just me."
"Fine, fine. Whatever. I don't feel like fighting right now, ok?"
"Neither do I." Dracula paused, and tilting his head to one side, added in an overly formal tone, "I wish to thank you for...aiding me last night." He bowed slightly and then glared at Amira as if daring her to say anything. Amira nodded but said nothing.
"Sit with me Amira," He nodded towards the armchairs and started moving towards them, "We must discuss our wedding." Amira's lips immediately drew back in a snarl at the mention of it. Dracula looked over his shoulder and smirked, "I see you are still unhappy about it. Good." Amira growled but followed him. "Sit." He commanded. Amira threw herself into the armchair and began brooding. Stupid Dracula. He's such a bastard. Bringing the stupid wedding up now.
"Oh come now Amira." He purred gently while seating himself in a much more dignified manner in the armchair across from her, "Surely this marriage does not please you that much."
Amira stared at Dracula in disbelief, "You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm a better match for you than most men."
"I find it hard to believe that the man I'm best suited to be with is a six hundred year old vampire king."
"And I do not blame you. However, you do not have a say in this matter, and I did not wish to discuss this particular point with you at this time. I can assure you however, that when I make you my vampire bride you will see this in a different light." Amira snorted, but Dracula ignored it and continued on, "The marriage will be held in seven days; the day after your eighteenth birthday. I will be having a gown custom made for you. Tomorrow the tailors will come to take your measurements.You may do what you wish after that. I have set up extra safety precautions, so you will be unable to leave this house without me."
Amira stood up and began to leave, but was called back by Dracula, who had stood up as well. "Come here."
Amira looked at Dracula suspiciously but walked back towards him slowly. When he reached out to touch her Amira jumped back. Dracula smiled, her fear amused him to no end. "I will not hurt you." Amira hesitated, but walked back towards him. When he reached out to her again she forced herself to remain still, but all he did was touch her collar. The clasp on her collar broke and fell to the floor along with her collar. "You no longer need to masquerade as my pet." She stared at him hard, and then nodded and walked away.
xxxx
When Amira had gotten to her bedroom she rushed to the mirror and looked at her neck. It looked strangely naked without the collar, but she welcomed the change.
It hurt her to learn that Vasilios had just disappeared, but she would not give up hoping that he was still alive. She found it strange, but now that he had gone she found life so much less interesting. I'm going to marry the king of all vampires in a mere week and I find life boring. What the hell? The whole pet thing and looking forward to the ball had kept Amira's mind off of the wedding for a good week, and Vasilios had been quite fun to talk to when he wasn't lecturing on about etiquette. God, I can't believe I actually enjoyed being Dracula's pet.
Her thoughts then flipped to the ball that had taken place just yesterday, though it felt like ages ago. She skipped most of it, but then they rested upon the dance with Dracula. Her feelings for Dracula had never been as close to love and lust than they had been during that dance. Amira frowned, she was supposed to hate Dracula! and now she was feeling something akin to love for him? I must be going insane.
xxxx
Amira spent most of the night reading in her room, since there was not much else to do. Her hand constantly wandered to her neck as if to check if it was truly gone, though she knew very well that it was.
Eventually, the silence in her room became so overbearing that she had to get up and leave. She walked down the halls, slightly chilly from the constant cold drafts that constantly circulated these halls. She wandered this way and that, not really caring which way she was going, for she was far too lost in thought to care. Her head turned upwards to the immensely tall ceiling and, as she stared at it, a sudden feeling of oppressiveness washed over her. Amira felt a need to go outside, and she walked to the nearest door, knowing for some reason that she would be able to get to a balcony by opening this door. It did not surprise her when she opened a door to a starry night.
Amira walked slowly out and leaned against the stone ledge. She stared in awe at the multitude of of stars that spread across the inky black sky. The sheer amount of stars made her feel so very small and alone, she had the urge to weep. It was so terribly beautiful, she simply could not look away.
She did not notice when Dracula entered the balcony, nor did she protest when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She needed to be held, even it was by the man who had caused her life so much pain and suffering. And so she stood there, staring at the star sky, entwined in Dracula's arms.
xxxx
A/N: Hm. Shortish chapter, but I swear to you that there will be tons of good stuff in the next chapter!
Oh. So in Sarahland werewolf scratches can't kill Dracula, so don't get all technical on me if this isn't actually true!
Also, now that school's started and the workload is getting bigger and volleyball season has started it's going to be pretty difficult for me to update quite often, I'll try to though:D
Lastly, your reviews were freaking awesome! I'd like to thank silver screen for giving me a review with the first like...hour after posting it! It made me feel like a pretty cool bean! It always makes me feel great when I open up my email and it tells me that I have five new reviews.