Chapter 10

Michelle was wide awake when she saw it. It was a silhouette atop a mountain at first, but the details and complexity of the castle was revealed as they got closer.
It was cloudy here, like the clouds were revolving around the highest tower of the castle. Although in the distance she could see the sky was a brilliant blue flecked with random white clouds, the revolving clouds were dark and streaks of lightning flashed through its dark, mysterious cover. The vampire advanced on the castle, and soon Michelle was being carried around high stone towers, and over thick grey, stone walls.
Michelle began to shiver. Not only because the cold, harsh winds were seeping through her nightgown, but also because of the fear that this place seemed to provide with a relentless force.
The vampire suddenly flared out her wings just before a tall tower, where a balcony with a carefully carved railing loomed over hundreds of feet above the ground. Michelle gulped down a breath of air as she was gently placed upon the cold stone ground. In front of her were two intricate frosted glass doors.
The frosted doors swung open. A black clad figure stepped out into the fading sunlight.
Dracula revealed himself to be a human not as horrifying as Michelle thought he would look.
Dracula had a portion of his slick black hair pulled back. He was dressed in a black tailcoat that was intricately detailed in an array of patterns with silver thread that glistened in the glow of the beautiful sunset. He did not have any weapons on him, as of what Michelle could see. But just being a vampire was deadly weapon all its own.
Michelle wanted to step back, but the vampire, who had now turned back into the beautiful woman, had her hand placed firmly on Michelle's shoulder. She looked up into the woman's face to see her looking at the man ahead of them.
"Welcome... Michelle, is it? Yes, welcome to my humble home. My name is Count Vladislaus Dracula. I hope your trip wasn't too rough." Dracula spoke in an accent that Michelle had never heard before. He spoke loudly, and dramatically, like he was addressing an entire audience instead of just her. She felt his gaze on her, so she turned to see two black eyes boring into her. He didn't blink, but she could see amusement in his eyes.
"We had a little bit of difficulty after we crossed the sea, but nothing I couldn't take care of." The woman loosened her grip on Michelle's shoulder. She spoke so softly, like this man was of great importance, it was like a child trying to impress her father.
"No matter, Joseline, my darling. I sent Aleera after you to take care of any who followed you other than the eldest of the dear Mearons. Now, I shall lead our guest, Michelle, to the guest chambers where we shall discuss certain matters." Dracula beckoned Michelle to follow him, and when she didn't move, she received a strong shove from the woman apparently named Joseline.
Michelle followed Dracula into the cold stone castle, where it felt colder than it did outside.

Michelle was lead into a large, tidy room filled with red velvet seating furniture, stained wood and glass tables, and a large red and gold area rug underneath it all. Michelle didn't want to follow Dracula here, but it was like she was in a trance. She had kept her head facing forward, although she had wanted to look to her sides. She felt no freedom in Dracula's presence.
Michelle was told to sit in a large armchair and she did. She gazed ahead of her still into the face of Dracula, who sat across from her, sitting comfortably with his arms spread over his chair's armrests. He was smiling. Michelle tried to figure out what was so amusing, but her train of thought stopped abruptly when his heavily accented voice spread through the room.
"You do not understand the story of why you are here, do you? By your expression I suppose you don't." there was a long pause where Michelle only sat there, waiting for him to explain. "You are here because of your sister. No, not that one, the other one. Amelia is her name. Yes, she is your sister. Well, she is your half sister. You share the same father; well you did, until he was murdered last night." Michelle didn't want to listen to him. She didn't want to know the truth. She wanted things to go back to the way they were before.