Chapter 39

The shop was a five minute walk away from Valerious Manor. Because it was the middle of winter Anna had Lara wear a jacket covered in wolf's fur. The little girl paraded in front of a tall mirror admiring herself.

"I'm not sure if this is what Ashputtle looked like, but it might be close," said Lara.

"Close enough!" Anna said, kissing her daughter's cheek. "Let's go!"

Even though it was a little past four in the afternoon the sun was already hidden by clouds filled with snow, making it dark. Lara kept jumping in the snow trying to see if any rabbits or badgers had crept from the forest. Anna smiled and guided her daughter to the shop.

"Ah, good evening, Mistress!" the shopkeeper said with a bow. He glanced at Lara. "And good evening to you too, little mistress! What can I do for you?"

"Today is Lara's fifth birthday, Borachio!" said Anna. "We are looking for a suitable present for such a special occasion." Borachio smiled.

"Feel free to look around, if you see anything you like, let me know," he said.

Borachio's shop was one of few that had things for children. The walls were decorated with toys both homemade and from distant lands. Glass containers were filled with all sorts of sweets, and numerous sets of play jewelry. Lara scanned the shelves for the doll she wanted. Anna bent down and stood at her daughter's eye level.

"See anything you like, Lara?" asked the princess.

Lara looked around a bit more before her eyes lit up and she squealed with delight.

"Up there!" she cried. "That's the doll!"

On the middle shelf there was a 1 foot tall doll made from plastic. Her hair was golden and cascaded down her shoulders. Her eyes were the clearest blue and shined like an aquamarine. The dress she wore looked like something from the Renaissance. The sleeves were extra long and made from red velvet, while from the shoulders to toes it was made from gold cloth. Anna smiled, the doll was perfect.

"She'll have that one, Borachio," said the gypsy girl.

Borachio smiled as he lifted the doll off the shelf and placed it on the counter. Anna handed him a bag full of gold coins.

"A beautiful choice for a beautiful young lady," Borachio said as he placed the doll in Lara's eager arms. "You be sure to take good care of her. A doll like that needs a lot of love!"

"I'll give her all the love in the world!" Lara cried as she kissed the doll on the forehead. "Her name will be Belle!" Anna chuckled.

"A lovely name adds to her beauty!" she said. They bid Borachio goodnight and walked from the shop.

"Thank you so much, Mommy!" Lara said as Anna picked her up. "Belle is so beautiful!" The gypsy princess chuckled again.

"Not as beautiful as you!" she kissed her daughter's cheek.

"Not as beautiful as both of you combined, my dears," said a voice.

Anna froze. Had a week gone by already? No. It had only been five days. He couldn't be coming for them now! Anna set down Lara and gently pushed the little girl behind her.

"What are you doing here, Dracula?" she asked. "It hasn't been a week yet!" Dracula chuckled and stepped from the shadows with a bow.

"Who says I can't bend the rules just once?" he said. He glanced at Lara, who cowered in fear. "Besides, on such a wonderful day as this, what could make it grander than a little game of chase?" Anna's heart pounded.

"No," she whispered. "You can't do this to her! To us!" Dracula laughed and waved his hand like he was casting a spell.

"I already have!" he said.

"Lara, run!" shouted Anna.

"But what about you, Mommy?" cried Lara.

"Don't worry about me!" shouted Anna. "Just run!"

Lara looked at Dracula then at her mother. With a whimper she ran off into the forest, still holding tightly to Belle. Dracula laughed and tucked his bangs behind his ear. "She's a lovely child," he said. "I knew you would love her the moment I set eyes on her!" Anna pulled a dagger off of her belt.

"If you even THINK of doing anything to her, Count-" Dracula raised his hand.

"Come now, Anna," he said. "Why would I want to hurt Lara?"

"Because you're a sadistic monster who needs to be staked!" hissed Anna.

She threw the knife at him and ran. Dracula pulled it out of his arm and materialized over to Anna. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held tightly. The princess struggled but she could do nothing against his iron grip.

"Having fun yet, my dear?" Dracula whispered in her ear.

"I never have fun with your games, Count!" snapped Anna, still struggling. "And I can already tell you that Lara will hate them!" She could almost feel Dracula smiling.

"Yes Lara," he whispered. "You love her very much in spite of who gave her to you, don't you, Anna?" Anna's heart skipped a beat. Dracula heard it and smiled.

"Stay away from her!" said Anna.

"Why should I?" asked Dracula running his claws across her veins. "I'm the one who gave her to you. I could take her away if I saw fit." Anna struggled harder.

"You wouldn't!" she snapped. "Lara's mine!"

"Only because I thought it would be fun to see you be a mother," said Dracula. He ran his fingers across her cheeks. "But if you were willing to give me something that I've longed for, then perhaps the girl will not be harmed."

"What do you want?" asked Anna, a gross feeling formed in her stomach. She had a feeling on what he was going to say.

"Some of your blood," Dracula whispered, his lips caressing her neck.

"You can't bite me!" snapped Anna. "You said you wouldn't!" Dracula chuckled. "I'm not turning you, sweet princess," he said. "It would just be a taste. A taste of what I will take when your heart is at last in my hands. That's all I want. Will you not give it to me?"

Anna wanted to shout no. Letting Dracula bite her was the stupidest thing she could do. But thoughts like that were washed away. She couldn't remember
any of the reasons not to let him. She let out a deep breath.

"Go ahead," said the princess, her voice barely whisper. "It wouldn't hurt."

"A wise decision, my dear," Dracula said as he pushed Anna's beautiful hair aside.