Petra couldn't breathe, how could this be happening to her? Her father wouldn't, not to her. But Petra was certain of what her mother had just told her. She was officially engaged to the source. She stood up and paced, before breaking down in floods of tears. She could feel her mother's comforting arms around her, but it didn't help her calm down.

"How could he do this to me?!" She sobbed, "Am I just some possesion he can trade to gain people's friendship? Why?" She continued to cry into her mothers chest. Verona tried to soothe her, but it only made her feel worse.

"Please, Petra, don't weep. Your father only did this because he loves you the most, and marrying the source would make you queen of all evil, dear. He felt that you would like the title. " Petra went hysterical.

"The title! Who cares about the bloody title?! I'm about to be sold off to a man i've just met and i'm meant to care about the friggin title?!" She began to laugh, but not her normal laugh. This one made her sound as if she was three, a high pitched giggle that hurt her mother to watch. But she eventually stopped and sat back down in her seat, and placed her head in her hands. "Is it definite? Are father and the source in agreement with me? No other high-rank demon?" She asked, hope crying out in her voice. But her mother's face said it all. It was definitely her, no one else. She could no longer cry, it was as if she'd ran herself dry of tears. She was now totally hollow, what was she going to do? But she pulled herself together, trying to breathe evenly. She realised she would just have to face it. Mother couldn't do anything to sway their decisions, and father sure as hell wasn't going to help her! They both remained silent for a long while, just allowing to news so sink in. But suddenly her mother looked up, her face showing astonishment and maybe...fear?

"I have to leave, Petra." Petra was immediately on her feet. She didn't want to be alone with her thoughts, they would drive her insane.

"No, wait! Please, mother, don't leave me. Please!" But Verona was barely listening. She was looking at the wall. Or rather, through the wall.

"I have to, Petra. Your father is looking for me and if he finds me in here..." She didn't even have to finish the sentence. "Anyway, your father will probably talk to you tommorow about it (shuddering), but please act surprised and happy about it." At that Petra flinched. She could do the first one with ease, but the second request was a different story entirely. Verona shook her for a response. "Please, Petra, listen to me." Petra slowly nodded, before she even realised the depth of what she was doing. "Good girl." Her mother sighed and kissed her forehead, then began to turn away. "I shall see you tommorow, goodnight!" And with that she was gone, leaving Petra on her own to deal with her future, as the queen of all evil...

--X--

Dracula eyed his flustered wife as she gracefully walked down the stairs, almost floating. But the blush in her cheeks was evident from afar.

"Are you ok, Verona?" he questioned. She nodded vigorously.

"Oh yes, just checking that the girls were in bed. When i was going upstairs I could've sworn I heard Adriana stiiring." He looked straight into her chocolate brown eyes, full of compassion and love. He could see she was holding something back, but didn't push the point in the company that was present.

"Very well. We were just planning when we are to tell Petra. His grace thought about telling her in a few days after he had gotten to know her some more. But I believe that she is mature enough to be told earlier, do you second me that she is mature enough?" She felt her warm smile falter for a second. She could see through his question. He knew that she would want the betrothal to be put off as much as possible, but if she said know she was knocking down her own daughter. But she soon resumed her perfect composure and her smile was back to the way it was before. He loved her smile, it was one of the reasons she had been his first bride. He had just been given his wings when he decided to travel the world. His first stop was Italy, he had friends over there and decided to pay them a visit. While he was there he had met Verona. Her sleek, black hair hiding her beautiful smile and white pearly teeth. It had taken him a while to sway her to his side, she was the daughter of one of the most wealthiest men in Italy. But according to her, it wasn't the money she minded leaving behind, it was her parnts and younger sister. Her parents were totally for getting married, but only she knew that if she chose to, she would never see them again. And then came her younger sister, whose beauty was nowhere near as pure and elegant as her sister's. She too had black hair, but her face was more rounded and her eyes cold and distant. She was always getting her sister into trouble, trying to get the attention for herself that she desperately craved, but Verona possesed. But when the time finally came the girl begged Verona not to go. Verona was so distressed at the time that she almost chose her sister over him. It was like a trance she was in, a spell that held her in place. But that spell was easily broken when her younger sister got married. It seemed she had no more use for Verona and never spoke to her. So Verona agreed to leave with Dracula, never to return. And for four-hundred years she had remained faithfully by his side, never swayed by anything or anyone to choose something else over him. But now she had children, it seemed she was torn. He hated to see her suffer, but he didn't want to give Petra the option of acting unkindly to the source to put him off marrying her. Dracula was far away when Verona answered.

"Of course I believe that she is mature enough, master. She is the pearl of my world, my daughter." Her voice brought him back from his daydream, and was glad with her answer. But he also realised that she had used my daughter instead of our daughter. He had feared that she would be too protective of her to let her only daughter go. BUt it was too late for anything to change now, the deal was done.

"Very well." Spoke the source, his face still covered with his black hood. He stood, and walked over to Verona and Dracula. Dracula could have sworn that he saw Verona edge away slightly when he brought his hand out to shake theirs. But if she had, she still shook his hand willingly enough. Then he shook Dracula's, telling them that he would return the day after next, to take Petra with him to be coronated and married to him. Dracula showed him the door, but just before they reached the door the source tuned around to face Dracula.

"It seems that your oldest bride, Verona, doesn't agree with me marrying your daughter. If she needs more time, then I can allow you a few weeks for her to come to terms with it?" Damn! He thought, he was hoping that he hadn't noticed his wife's falter in her facade. But he knew he would have to word this carefully, otherwise the whole agreement would go back to square one.

"No, of course that isn't necassary. Of course she is slightly moved that her daughter is moving away so young to become your queen no less. But i'm certain that she will come round by tommorow when she has had the day to sleep it off." He tried to sound certain, hoping it would be enough. Obviously it sounded truthful, as the source held his shoulder, then left without another word except -

"In two days then, so be it." If Dracula could've shivered, he probably would have. The sound of that voice just went straight through anyone, even if they weren't paying full attention. But he hid his thoughts from escaping to his face and instead waited for the source to be out of earshot before he even moved. He eventually turned and headed straight back to Verona. He wasn't annoyed with her for faltering. He knew there was only so much she could take. It wasn't like he was totally comfortable with selling his favourite daughter off either. But as soon as he had turned the corner to see them together he could see the look in his eye as he stared at his daughter, but as well did he see her desparation to leave his presence. Being overwhelmed with compliments was something she wasn't accustomed to and it was obvious she was getting very uncomfortable. He had no alternative but to give her away, and the more he thought about what he had done the more it seemed to hurt him. Verona could tell he was distressed and walked over, pulling a strand of black hair from his chisseled face, and trying to soothe him, but he turned to her and held her worried face in his cool, alabaster hands.

"Do not fret, Verona. I am fine, just overwhelmed with the events of tonight and in need of some rest." She nodded and asked if he needed any assistance getting to his room as he still hadn't moved from the spot where he was standing. He shook his head and smirked. So eager to be helpful...

"No thank you dear, for I am not going to bed quite yet. I must go somewhere else first, to clear my thoughts and to check something." Verona must've realised where he meant because she immediately nodded and exited the room briskly. That was another thing he loved about Verona, she seemed almost telepathic the way that she could read people's faces with just a quick glance, and she knew when to stop. One thing which his two other brides, had never been able to do. He had to admit that his second bride, Marishka, had become far more 'docile' since having Larca, to whom he would always be grateful for it. Marishka had originally come from England, but had moved to Europe after her mother died and her father remarried. At that time he and Verona had just tried to bring their children to life for the first time, so full of hope for the children lying dormant in their pods. But, they were truly shaken when nothing happened. Dracula became distant from Verona and she went into deep depression believing she had sinned and that God was punishing her by taking her children's life away. Their poor babies... She had weeped for what seemed like forever. At one point it had gotten so bad that she had thought about asking someone to stab her, to stop the pain that was tearing her heart into a million peices. So he had decided to take her away for a while, to get away from the sorrow that held her heart so tightly. That was when he met Marishka. She wasn't terribly rich, but she wasn't terribly poor either. A middle class family, but devoutly Christian and never judged anyone by their appearance. She had a large family, six children in all, only two were half-brothers. The other three were two girls and a boy. Marishka was third in age, after her two sisters. They weren't a close family but when he first met Marishka her father wasn't too happy. She was banned from ever seeing him again even though she swore blind that nothing was going on. But the challenge to see her again and to gain her trust took his mind off his depression and his loneliness despite already having a wife. He would visit her when she was alone in the house, or when it was dark and everyone else was asleep. At first she had tried to call for help or to get him to leave one way or another but eventually she became accustomed to his frequent visits and thought nothing of them. That was until, he offered her eternal life by his side. She took it gladly, still barred from seeing any men alone by her father for almost a year. But she had yet to hear of Verona, she went balistic. She screamed and tried desperately to leave, but she had already been bitten and the transformation was already complete - she was his second bride. He tried for hours to calm her down, but he could never say something without offending one bride or the other. Finally when he feared he would have to let her loose Verona stepped in and spoke to her in a very calm voice, that instantly soothed Marishka. From then on the girls became inseperable, never leaving each other. Verona still hadn't completely forgotten about the disastrous events that lead to her depression so she enjoyed Marishka's company, and the way that she could bring up her own point of view without showing it off too much. And Marishka was still new at being a vampire and needed to learn the basics, and because she still hadn't forgiven Dracula, that left only Verona. It took almost twelve years for her to fully accept Dracula as her lord and master, and even when she did she always knew better than to totally trust him as Verona did.

But at least Marishka knew what was good for her and when she was going to get a wallop if she carried on. His youngest and deceased bride, Aleera, however, was totally different. He met her the same way he met Marishka, really. They had once again failed to create life for their children , and because Marishka had never experienced it before it came as a total shock to her system and she began to refuse meals. She would only feed if Verona or himself would bring someone with a cut on their neck, then the bloodlust would consume her and she would have to feed. Verona, on the outside, seemed to be taking it a lot better that she had before. But he knew that it was just the outer layer that was intact. Her insides were crumbling apart. All the old wounds that were beginning to heal had burst open again, to leave permanent scars on her heart and memories. So he once again took them away, but this time to Spain, where he met Aleera. She too was the daughter of a very rich and famous man in the country, but she wore her attitude the complete opposite of the way Verona had. She would really show off, and would love being the center of attention. Her clothes and makeup showed this even when she didn't. Being an only child she was used to getting what she wanted - and she wanted Dracula. At the time he had found this very refreshing, because neither one of his wives had lusted for him so much in their human lives, and he felt more wanted when he was with Aleera. So he visited her room one night and changed her. At first she seemed more pleased that she wouldn't age rather than she would be with her 'husband' for eternity. But after a few minutes she pulled herself together. But, once again, he didn't tell her about his other wives. And she was worse than Marishka, she went for the brides instead. It was a two against one and Aleera lost badly. She never forgot about it and never really accepted that they were just as important as she was if not more, so he soon began to tire of her vanity and attention seeking. One day it annoyed him so much he threw her into the wall, smashing her bones into dust. He immediately regretted that he had done it, but no the message behind it. When she eventually healed she knew to keep quiet and not to draw too much attention to herself too often. But she was still outcasted from his two other wives and eventually it lead to her demise.

But now he was again feeling stressed, but now he wasn't turning to either of his brides, but to Anna.

--X--

Anna stirred from her sleep, and automatically reached for her lower stomach. She breathed, still alive. She sat up and looked around, no-one in sight. She rubbed her hazel eyes, but when she lowered her hands she saw Dracula sitting in the chair beside her bed. She yelped and jumped, her breathing slowly retuned to it's usual pace, but she didn't speak. She didn't know what to say.

"Good morning, Anna." Anna remembered their last conversation, but even though it had become very close and personal it didn't stop the embarrasment that flooded through her cheeks when he spoke in such a kind and caring tone. She tried to answer without showing much intrest or emotion, but failed miserably.

"M-morning. Have you been sitting there all the while?" Her voice suddenly edgy. But he chuckled.

"Of course not, Anna. I've had other things to do while you have slept and recovered," indicating to her legs. She moved them, and there was no pain. It seemed that she was fully healed and healthy, in short, back to normal. But her insides churned at that. Well, maybe not totally back to normal, but getting there...

"Anna?" She was startled to realise that he had continued talking, but she had been completely zoned out and missed all of it.

"What? Pardon? I missed that." She then realised how nice she was talking to him. He's got you locked up in hid castle for crying out loud! Show some backbone!

"I was saying about our," He emphasised the word, making her clench her fists underneath the cove, "child, and how we have no idea what it will be like. I said I should like to have your permission to examine you to check both of you are totally healthy. She was about to agree, anything that helped the baby helped her feel better, when she realised that he said examine. Was he going to do it? Ew...

"No no Anna. I am aware of the fact that you are still squeamish about me looking at you so I will not be performing the examinations." Thia confused Anna, but before she had time to ponder over it, he answered.

"Verona and Marishka will. Verona was very skilled with anatomy as a human, and she has taught Marishka all there is to know. If there are complications with it then my daughter will help too." Anna sat there, too stunned to say anything for a while. And when she did she spoke slowly, emphasising every word, every syllable.

"Verona. And. Marishka?"

"Would you prefer me to do it? I do apologise, Anna. But I would'e thought that you would've wanted the girls to examine -" She cut him off.

"How about no? No no no no no! No-one will be examing me. You, well, God knows what you'd do if i let you... But Verona and Marishka hate me for killing their kids. I doubt that they're going to act too caring with my baby. And with your daughter, she was trying to kill me last time , remember?!" Her voice grew hoarse from shouting so loudly, but Dracula kept his voice calm and collected, despite how Anna had said it was her baby once again, not theirs.

"Anna, my brides know better than to harm you and our baby. Verona has never had a problem with jealousy and Marishka still had Larca who is pretty much her whole life now. And Anna, I would never leave you with Adelina again, especially the way you are. So vulenerable. No, I am talking of another daughter. Verona's daughter, Petra." This relieved Anna slightly. At least she wouldn't have to be with that bratty girl again... But she didn't know Petra either. Were they all the same? Just killing machines? Dracula answered for her.

"No, Anna. Adelina was Aleera's child as you know which had some influence, but also she lost her mother to Gabriel which has left her wounded with deep scars. The ones that take a long time to heal if they heal at all. But Petra, on the other hand, she is entirely different. Just as beautiful as her mother, and with her regal beauty and kindness too. She never takes or holds grudges and I would probably trust you in her hands more than with myself really." Anna was surprised to hear such honesty in his voice, and to rate someone better than him at something. At this she began to realise that he meant what he was saying, it really was for her and her baby's welfare and that he would never allow anyone to harm her. She loosened at this, and talked a little easier.

"When am I to be...examined?" She asked, thinking it would be few weeks from now.

"Tommorow, or this evening for you. Petra has somewhere to go soon and I don't want to waste any time. I need to know that you and the baby are safe."

--X--

Dracula flinched, did he just say that?? It seemed that he had and that Anna was just as surprised as he was. He'd never said that to anyone with such emotion in his voice, such compassion. What was with him today? He cleared his throat and stood up from the seat, brushing himself off as he stood.

"Well, I - really must be going now Anna. I shall return later to check before your examination. Good day." He bowed his head before leaving. He could see on Anna's face that she now had a million questions to ask him. But his mind was screaming three words to him. Get a grip!!

--X--

Vladimir woke up the next night and dressed quickly. He couldn't understand why it took humans so long to wake up, get dresses, go to wherever they were going, blah blah. He thought in his head. Including a shower it took him twenty minutes tops to get ready and look respectable. He always wore the same black trousers, the same silk shirt, looking identical to his father besides the slightly darker skin and shorter hair. He was glad that he wasn't the exact replica of his father, he liked being different. After finishing getting ready he walked through the long halls travelling towards the music hall, but before he could get there -

"Vladimir." called a voice form behind. It was his father, she turned and trudged towards him. He was in no mood for more ruling-the-world-in-training stuff at the moment. Not with what he had found out yesterday. "Vladimir. I should like you to go and find your sister for me. Tell her I expect her as soon as she is ready." The strange twist in his voice made Vladimir furrow his brow in confusion, but he agreed all the same. He sped up his pace hoping to get the task over and done with quickly, so he could get back to his music. He entered his sister's room to find her at her dressing table, combing her silky hair, but her eyes showed that she was far away in thought.

"Petra?" She looked in the mirror and saw him, placed her comb down and sighed.

"He wants to see me doesn't he?" She asked, he was surprised that she knew and that she was so upset about it. Normally when he called for her it was to bestow gifts upon her for being such a brillaint daughter.

"Well, yes. But why is that a bad thing? Surely it's to reward you for keeping the source company while he was busy yesterday?" She half smiled, but bit her bottom lip, then replied.

"Well I guess you could call it that, but i'll be seeing a lot more of him aswell, so do you think I will get a really big diamond or something?" She finished, and then continued to brush her hair. It was already perfect, but she comtinued anyway.

"Why will you be seeing more of him? Is he cominmg back soon?" Petra spun around in her chair and looked him in the eyes.

"You honestly have no idea do you why he was here?" Vladimir was getting tired of not knowing what this was about.

"Just tell me, Petra!"

"He came here looking for a new wife." She dropped her gaze and picked her comb back up. It took a minute for Vladimir to process all the information he had been given, and to place all the peices of the jigsaw in the correct place.

"So he's asked you?" She stiffened.

"Not exactly, but he will. That's what father is calling me for." He was outraged.

"But he can't do that! Father would never allow you to be taken like that, you know it!"

"He's the one that suggested me to the source." She took a breath, the blush in her cheeks calming slightly, the carried on. "Mother told me yesterday. She said that father thought I would like the title, or some crap like that. But he hasn't said anything to me yet." He was asontished. How could father do that to Petra? His own daughter! He began to pace, trying to control his temper. He knew that if he lost control, his powers would go beserk.

"We have to do something," he spoke, "When you go to father, tell him how you feel. He'll understand -" But she shook her head, tears springing forth from her eyes.

"No Vlad, it's too late." He in turn shook his head, racking his brain for an answer that would save her. He couldn't lose her aswell, she was the only sibling he had left. Petra stood, and pushed her hair back behind her ears, away from her red face. She quickly wiped the tears away, cleaning herself up.

"I have to go see him now. He will be wondering where I am as it is, I had best not keep him waiting any longer." She tried to get past him, but he held her wrists tightly in hie vice grip.

"Petra, you can't just accept it. What's happened to you? Why wont you fight? If not for you then for me!" He tried to hold her attention by staring into her eyes, but she broke herself from his grip and left the room, leaving him only to pray that a miracle would happen to save her.