Chapter Three- Getting to know you

I slept peacefully, my thoughts not on the person who had been next to me the whole night. Unbeknownst to me, Dracula had been lying next to me all night, stroking my hair softly and observing how I slept. In the middle of the night I awoke suddenly to see his eyes glowing a soft blue and stroking my stomach that was barely covered by a satin night gown.

"Dracula, what are you doing?" I muttered as I rolled over and my head fell on his chest and I could have sworn he flinched slightly.

"Just helping you relax," he said casually.

I looked at him with a clever glint in my eyes "Really? I could have sworn that caressing my stomach wasn't exactly a way of getting me to relax."

He merely looked at me and said "You slept peacefully when I was touching you so I really doubt you mean that statement."

"You really have a bad habit of staring at me, you know that." My teasing was going to get me in trouble but I really didn't feel like it was too big of a deal.

"You're hard not to stare at." He shrugged and continued to stroke my stomach.

I tried to hide a giggle but he heard it. "So you do have a weakness." He smirked "You're ticklish."

"Well when you're tickling my fat it's kind of hard not to." I smiled and tried to slide away slightly but his hands rested firmly on my hips, preventing me from moving.

"I'm not letting you get away so quickly after I've found your weakness my pet."

I immediately froze and glared at him. "I am not anyone's pet Dracula."

He merely laughed and said "Oh really? Since when were you allowed to designate the privilege of what your status is?" I felt my face flush and I looked away, glaring at the wall "You are here with me Nadia, so I do determine your class and if I want to call you my pet, I will."

I merely sulked for a minute, refusing to give him a response and I tried my best to ignore his touches. "I'm going back to sleep." I grumbled and I turned away from his calm face.

"Aren't you having fun?" he teased and I merely glared at him and then closed my tired eyes.

The morning I thought would take forever came and when I awoke he was still at my side. His eyes were closed peacefully, but I had the oddest feeling that he was watching me. I slid out of the bed and his hands fell to the bed, no longer clutching the fabric of my nightgown.

I went over to the closet to examine what clothes he had for me. They were all long dresses in dark colors that utterly depressed me. His brides had these long colorful dresses and I had to wear a black dress that does nothing to hide my curves, my damned curves that I wished would just fall off. He does not think I'm actually going to wear this does he? I thought to myself boldly, knowing even if he was asleep I could say whatever I wanted.

"Oh yes you are going to wear that." I turned around to see him standing right behind me.

"How did you…I didn't…" I stuttered and then my wide eyed gaze turned into a grumpy gaze "That's so not fair."

"It's a gift you get when you're the Devil's son. A benefit compared to the price you pay. So if you'd please change into the outfit, I will be taking you into the city to get you something I've reserved for you."

He turned and walked out the door and as he left I shouted "It's nice to know that you were expecting me."

He merely grunted and continued his dramatic exit. I sighed and turned to the dress. It just seemed to open for me. It was a black dress with a halter top that was to be attached to my body by a silver chain.

He had given me a collar.

"Son of a bitch!" I growled as I dragged the dress over to the bathroom and hastily put in on. "That…ooh, there are so many words to describe him but I don't even know which one to use I'm so pissed off!" I finally stopped stomping around and running into things long enough to realize I looked quite nice.

I decided to forget my anger for a while and just cooperate and I headed out of the room to find him waiting for me.

"So you like the dress?" he said with no emotion, but the smirk on his face gave it away.

"Save it Dracula; let's just go get the jewelry." I grumbled, forgetting my place once again until he gave me a glare and I became quiet. He grasped my warm hand in his cold ones and led me down the elegant hallways of the palace.

My mind started to wander again as he led me through until I had realized we were in the dining room. "Count," I grumbled "You can't seriously want me to eat breakfast, can you?"

He forced me down into the chair while a short, stout, middle aged woman came with a plate in her hands. "You will eat it Nadia. Your stomach growled in the middle of the night so don't deny that you aren't hungry." He snapped and I grumbled and took the plate from the woman.

Eggs and meat…proteins and fat that I felt I didn't need but I ate it anyways, again not showing that I thought the food was amazing, even though I knew he was checking my mind to make sure and the smug grin on his face grew and grew until I finished the food with a sulk on my face.

"See that wasn't so bad." He smirked and once the lady was gone he whispered "You're going to need stamina after I'm done with you."

I blushed scarlet as he stood up straight and said loudly "Come on Nadia, it's time to go down to the city." He then led me out of the dining area, through the ball room which I admired greatly, and outside on to the steps of the palace. We passed through the grave yard to which I crossed myself when walking by, for superstitions win when you're truly with the dead.

The part of the city he took me through was one I had never seen before in my life

There were stands full of exotic fruits and herbs that made my mouth water and beautiful cloths and jewelry that caught my eye while I was stuck in this drab outfit.

He finally came to a halt at a little stand that was fully silver. He probably got me a better dog collar. I thought to myself in a huff, but instead the man handed him a silver bracelet with little diamond studs on it. Dracula nodded his approval and handed the man some gold coins. Then he simply took my wrist and attached it to me. I stared at the bracelet like I never had. Something this beautiful had never been close to my skin.

"I could say the same thing about you." He whispered in my ear and then he led me around other stands, showing me things his brides liked. Some of things were pretty, but they just didn't suit me. Finally he showed me a dark blue and white tinted fabric with sparkles embroidered in it.

"I was hoping my last bride could wear that."

I smiled at him slightly and said "I bet she'd look lovely in it."

He merely looked past me and said "Yes, yes she will."

"She will?" I looked at him curiously "You have one in mind?"

He nodded and said "I just don't know if she'll accept me."

I laughed accidentally and then was quiet for a moment. "I think she will if you don't force yourself on her. Women don't like being forced to love people most of the time."

He growled and said "I don't love."

"Oh? You don't? Then I don't think this would work out between you and her would it?!" I snapped. For some odd reason I felt a pang of anger against him and I turned away from him.

"But, for her I could learn to love." He whispered when he thought I couldn't hear and I pondered the meaning of this as he stood there, his now blue eyes staring out into space. I suddenly found the odd desire to hug him so I slowly did so, wrapping my arms around his strong waist. He looked down at me in surprise and then slowly returned the favor, as if unsure of himself.

"I do hope this girl loves you Count." I muttered and I rested my head on his chest.

"I think she already does." He replied and he led me off down the street.