Chapter 18
"Is that the best you can do, Dracula?" Anna hissed. She shook her head and sighed. "Pathetic. If you want to do better you'll have to catch me!"
Not waiting for a reply Anna jumped into the crowd. All the dancers spun around on the floor changing partners every now and then. Anna was amazed at how well Dracula was hiding himself. He danced with a few other women but none of them recognized him. 'Him and his spells,' she thought with a slight snort.
She spun around and changed partners every few seconds. Anna could always see Dracula at the corner of her eye. With each step and twirl he came a little closer. She was about to jump away when his strong arms grabbed her and held tightly.
"Do better than that you said," he whispered. "Is that better, Princess?" Anna rolled her eyes.
"If you want to call it better, I suppose you could," she whispered back. She felt his grip on her hip suddenly tighten.
"The game isn't over yet, little Princess," Dracula hissed.
Anna's face turned white. It had been a week. She'd nearly forgotten all about the horrible 'games' they'd 'played' last time he had held her prisoner. Was it time for it all to happen again?
"Yes, it is," Dracula said before she could ask. "But before we leave I think I am entitled to humiliate you just a little."
"What do you mean?" asked Anna.
"The people will see me," explained Dracula. "But they will not know who I am. My spell has kept the memory of my face from their minds. And because they will not know it is me, they will not try to save you." Anna's heart pounded. Did he intend to publicly bite her? Would the people watch her die the most horrible death?
Dracula knew what she was thinking and spun her around to face him. He reached up and stroked her cheek. She shivered at his touch. It was cold and comforting all at once. He cupped her face and brought it over to his. Instead of feeling his fangs she felt his lips. Unaware of her actions Anna kissed back. She could feel the eyes of all her people on her. Due to the spell they didn't know it was Dracula, so they clapped and cheered at the sight of the kiss.
When they pulled away an evil smile spread across Dracula's face. Anna's brief enjoyment of the kiss was gone and replaced by fear. She tried to back away but the Count held her tightly.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"Drive these people away so that we can be alone," he whispered.
Dracula snapped his fingers. A howl in the distance made all the people stop dancing. Five werewolves burst through the woods. The people screamed and started running in different directions. Anna tried to get away so that she could help them but Dracula wouldn't let her.
"Stop this!" she said. "They'll be killed!" Dracula shook his head.
"No they won't," he said. "The werewolves are only chasing the people. And now that they are gone it's time to go." Dracula wrapped his arm all the way around her waist and shifted before taking flight.
"Another two days of fun has pounced on me and kidnapped me," Anna whispered to herself sarcastically. "I hate this, Dracula." The Count smiled down at his beautiful prisoner.
"That's the point, my dear," he said. "That's why I do it."