Hey guys! New chapter up and ready for your responses. I had a really hard time deciding which way I wanted the story to go from here but I think this way works.
In other news 206 HITS, awesome. 6 REVIEWS; could be better but I'm happy I haven't gotten a flame yet. Thanks to all those who took the time to review! You inspire me!
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It wasn't long before the sound of even breathing and slow heartbeats fill the cavern. Conversation had come to an end and the fire slowly died down till the only remains were the steady glow of the embers and the hint of warmth that drifted through the air.
The last man was just getting ready to crawl into his bed roll when he thought he heard the sound of flapping wings. Startled, he turned quickly turned to scan the seemingly empty cavern.
The orange glow emanated from the coals cast long dark shadows along the wall of the cavern and made the dim figures dance to a ghostly tune as mortal eyes scanned for any sign of life. Nothing stirred.
The man gripped the hilt of his sword tightly searching the vast emptiness for the source of the sound. "Just the wind outside," he thought, chiding himself for being foolish and making his grip relax on the pommel of the sword as he continuing to get ready for bed. But the nagging prickle on the back of his neck didn't go away. "Something's not right…" he managed to think before he was abruptly yanked off his feet into the darkness above.
The man didn't even have a chance to scream before the demon sunk his sharpened fangs into the man's jugular and his life flashed before him in a stream of crimson and pain.
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A shiver ran through Dracula as the fresh blood slowly warmed his cold body. He could actually feel as the life giving substance ran down his neck and into his chest before spreading out towards his finger tips and toes. Long after the man had long consciousness and his heart beat stopped Dracula continued to feed. It had been a long time indeed since he got human blood that had not been artificially warmed. Fresh from the source he liked to think, and all the more potent and sweet.
Finally finished, Dracula unlatched his jaws from his victim's neck and used the man's shirt to wipe his mouth before carefully floating to the ground and setting the corpse quietly down so as not to wake the mortals. Soundlessly he made his way around the camp, carefully delving into each's subconscious mind looking thoughtfully for the qualities he sought. Too weak. Too stupid. Too untrustworthy were his thought as he passed each man. This was a choice that called for selectivity and he would not settle for something less.
Something in one of the man's minds made Dracula pause in his ministrations. "Strong body and mind," he thought, but then smiled as he found something else, "ambition, and fear. The need to feel respected, admired, and powerful. This was a man he could work will," Dracula thought taking a closer look at the sleeping form.
"Tall; but then again so are all my other high lords," his eyes carefully taking in long figure with calloused hands and scarred forearms. The man had dark chestnut hair with tints of red and copper through in throughout it. A taint scar to the left of his eye gave his face an appearance of danger but the crinkles around the mouth told Dracula he enjoyed life as well as fought for it. Perfect, who could be more willing to have everlasting life, or death, than one who enjoys it the most?
It seemed this cave was filled with pleasing surprises for Dracula. "Now his search was over, he could return home, and," he thought throwing a glace across the fire to the curvy figure huddled under a blanket, "bring back some entertainment."
Perfect. Deeply pleased with himself, Dracula bent over the sleeping figure and began whispering the seductive promises of eternal life, the alluring prospect of power and position, and the never ending appeal of all the benefits he had to offer. "The only thing I ask in return is obedience," he whispered into the mortal's mind, feeling the man's resistance weaken the more he spoke. "You need only say the word, and everything could be yours. Everything and more. Forever. I only ask that you obey me, and I only wait for your response," he finished, pausing and then smiling maliciously with his fangs bared as he heard the mortal's mind scream Yes!
So simple. So predictable. "Very well," he replied, "Wake now and we shall see just how well you obey."
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Darkness. It haunted and chased her everything sleeping moment. Filled with memories of the cold and the feeling of utter loneliness that seemed to emerge as light faded, darkness was her enemy and she was losing to it. She could smell blood and hear the screams of the helpless prisoners around her as her heart beat faster and faster but she couldn't see anything, she couldn't help anyone. She was alone.
Suddenly a rough shaking motion jerked Fleur out of her dream world and caused her to sit up gasping. Cold sweat dripped down her back and her still disoriented mind tried desperately to focus on what was real and what was still part of the illusions that haunted her. Damien sat crouched in front of her, his arm still on her shoulder from when he had saved her from her nightmare and his face a deathly pale.
"Are you alright?" he asked, frowning at her and a look of genuine concern written on his face.
Fleur took a deep breath as her reeling mind comprehended the silent cave and motionless figures of the still-sleeping men. She lay her head gently against her bent knees fighting to calm her heart and stop shaking. The dreams always came, but rarely were they so clear, so horrifying, so real. It was just a cave, she told herself over and over again. Just a cave.
Slowly her heart returned to its normal pace and she raised her head nodding to Damien's question. "Yes," she managed, her voice still a little shaky, "I'm okay now." She looked up and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to wake you—"
She abruptly stopped talking. The man across the fire…his eyes were open and a thin dribble of crimson was dripping from his mouth… Her entire body stiffened again. Unfortunately Damien noticed and followed her gaze to the gapping corpse. "A shame." he whispered before turning back around and looking into her eyes. His own eyes were no longer filled with the look of warmth that she new him so well for, but instead with a predatory gleam in them that chilled Fleur to her bone. His gaze seemed to flare for a second as he eyed her exposed neck. He grinned, uncovering twin fangs still stained in fresh blood, as he bent his head closer to her and whispered, "A shame he died so fast."
The spell broke and Fleur jumped to her feet, drawing her knife is a in a single blinding movement. But mortal speed was no match to a vampire; even a newly turned one. He reached out and grabbed her by her throat, effectively slamming her back against the wall and hitting her head so hard her vision blurred for a moment and her knife tumbled out of her limp fingers.
Fleur could feel his iron grip cutting off her air supply and she clawed desperately at his hand with her nails, but to no avail. He only tightened his hold as he looked down at her in amusement? "Bastard," was her last thought before she lost consciousness and slid down the wall in a heap as Damien released her.
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Damien stared down at the unconscious woman before switching his focus to his hands. He stared at them, they looked no different but he could feel the power pumping through them. He could taste the sweet lingering flavor of blood on his lips and he could hear the call of the woman's heartbeat. "So strong," he thought, licking his lips and taking a step forward, "she would have sweet blood. Sweet and strong."
"Damien!" a voice rang in his head and Damien snapped out of the bloodlust. He immediately turned to face his new master as Dracula emerged form the shadows and came to stand in front of him.
"Very good," he complimented. He was pleased indeed! Dracula knew this man had the makings of a good vampire in him the moment he'd entered his mind. But now those assumptions proved only to be the tip of the iceberg. The man killed silently, efficiently, with the skill of Gavin but the unholy bloodlust of Lucas. He liked the kill. He craved it. The way he had followed Dracula's orders exactly, and taken each member of the hunting party out one by one with an instinct he seemed to come by naturally had both impressed and surprised the vampire lord.
"Your first kill, or should I say kills, were very impressive Damien," the ancient vampire praised, "But that is enough blood for tonight, if you drink too much your first time you'll be sick." Dracula caught sight of the huntress laying sprawled on the flood and he felt his temper strain. New vampires were so troublesome on their first kill. "Did I not specifically tell you I wanted her unharmed!" he roared making Damien cower in a fear he hadn't known existed.
"Yes master I know but—" Damien tried to explain.
"But what?" he demanded, his eyes glowing a demonic red.
"She was having a nightmare," he explained hurriedly, "she was tossing in her sleep and it was only a matter of time before she woke and saw for herself. I didn't know what to do so I just…" what had he done? Damien let his gaze roam over Fleur. Her fists were clutched even in her unconscious state and her hair was falling out of her braid, already the blue and black bruises around her neck could be seen appearing. Damien took all this in as a wave of guilt washed over him, he hadn't felt anything as he sucked the life out of the men, but when it came to Fleur…god he'd spent so long trying to get her to trust him!
His thoughts were interrupted when a sharp pain shot through his head as Dracula smacked him hard on the back of the skull.
"Idiot!" Dracula said his anger receding only to be replaced with exasperation. Even Lucas had had the common sense not to smash a hostage against a cave wall! "Did you not think to wait till I returned so I could simply put her in a trace instead of a coma!" he demanded. This was the last time he left a new vamp alone simply so he could feed in privacy.
Damien only shook his head and murmured a quiet "no master".
Dracula sighed. "Very well. What's done is done, grab her and her things," he said turning away and heading to the entrance, "as much as I love the smell of fresh blood, rotting corpses is not my preference. We'll find a different place to sleep for the day."
Damien bowed respectfully and then quickly collected Fleur's gear. A small pack of clothes, some food, and her heavy riding cloak were all her worldly possessions except her daggers which Damien specifically left behind. She wouldn't be needing those would she? Gently Damien draped the heavy cloak over Fleur, fastening it securely together in the front with a golden broach and pulling the hood completely up covering her head. Next he slipped her pack over his back and lifted her into his arms. "Funny," he thought, shifting her weight, "she feels like she weights no more than a child." Experimentally he held her entire body in one arm, and was astonished to find he felt next to no strain in his muscles.
Truly these newly acquired powers were a gift, sent from heaven or hell Damien didn't know or care so long as they served him well.
Walking swiftly he stepped outside the cave to find Dracula waiting impatiently. Dracula raised his eyebrow at the gentle and almost careful way his newest protégé handled the huntress. "So he cares for her," he thought, smirking inwardly at the thought, "well that will change soon enough."
"Watch carefully and then follow me," Dracula commanded, his form shimmering into something much bigger and much deadlier, "and you will just how changed you really are."
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Just in case you're all wondering this IS a Dracula/OC romance, it's just warming up. So cliffhanger. Who doesn't love a cliffhanger?
PLEASE REVIEW GUYS, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME!!!!