Back! HEY BIG NEWS!!! I beat my record. And I'm psyched beyong belief. Because this.is.awesome. and I love you guys that helped to reach that goal. But now, guess what? NEW RECORD!!!! Yeah I know, eight is an intimidating number but I believe in you guys.
Shout Outs: TopGallant, ForeverACharmedOne, Elwyndra, Gem Of The Stars, cheryljulia, VintageLyre, Shoysrock, violetrose18
Just for being wonderful and being my inspiration. This one's for all you guys.
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CHAPTER 12
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Caliburn opened the big door and both he and Fleur entered as its occupants stopped in their discussion to look up at the new arrivals. The large room was completely stone and had high ceilings that looked to be home of a flock of bats. A great fireplace stood cold on one side of the room and the only source of light came from a couple touches placed along the wall. A small group of vampires was sitting or standing around the dead fireplace, some with vampiresses hanging on them or sitting on their laps. The frozen air didn't seem to bother anyone but Fleur and she crossed her arms over her chest as the chill crept through her thin gown.
Dracula of course sat in the biggest chair, one foot propped on his opposite knee and an unsettling gleam shinning in his azure eyes. Gavin was diagonal from him, his face cool and impassive and his expression betraying nothing as he looked at her with golden-eyes. The rest of the men Fleur didn't know but some she recognized only by the infamous description told and re-told throughout the mortal world. The undead knight, Rumus, stood casually against the mantle piece as he studied her with his cloudy gaze and Lucas, perhaps the most feared vampire besides Dracula himself, sat lazily in a large chair idly twirling a thick hunting knife and patting the thigh of the woman that adorned his lap. Luckily Damien was nowhere to be seen.
The rest of the vampires Fleur didn't recognize and she had to bite her lip in nervous habit as Caliburn was silently dismissed from the room and she was left alone with the vampires. They looked at her with gazes ranging from curiosity, to lust, to disgust, to hate, to that infamous emotionless stare that all the undead seemed to be so fond of. Keeping her head tall she walked into the room trying desperately to ignore the fact that her gown was parting with every step leaving nearly her entire leg open to these stranger's gazes. Some vampires chuckled, others just smirked, and still others silently regarded her with a stony disposition as if waiting for something to happen.
"Tell me my pet," Dracula drawled breaking the silence as she came to stand in front of him, "Do you go by Ms. Van Helsing or Ms. Valerious?"
All the blood abruptly rushed out of her face and she unconsciously shifted her left wrist further behind her. He could not know. It was impossible. She was always so careful…"I don't know what you're talking about," she managed, taking a step backwards. If he knew her secret he'd kill her in an instant, she could not let that happen, if she could just get to the door…
"Oh my pet, but I think you do," the vampire king replied, his fangs slowly growing to protrude out of his mouth. Fleur took that as an unspoken sign that it was time to go. She spun around and was halfway across the room when she slammed into something definitively solid that grabbed her in an iron grip. Fleur instinctively cried out and arched her back in agony as its rough hands pressed down hard on her barely closed wounds. Fleur glared up into honey-colored eyes as they stared down at her. Stubbornly she continued to struggle despite the pain. She couldn't stay here! They knew, they would kill her, and torture her and…her breath began coming in short uneven gasps and she felt tears string her eyes. She had to get out!
She heard some of the vampire laughing and more tears escaped her eyes as she continued to lash out at Gavin.
"What's wrong Gavin, can't handle the little mortal?" she heard someone call.
He inhaled sharply as Fleur slammed her heel down on his foot. "Well if you think you can do better--!" he yelled back.
The struggle stopped abruptly as a new assailant stepped in and unceremoniously slammed his fist into her stomach with such strength Fleur was sure her ribs shattered. Her legs gave out as the air was forced out of her lungs and she collapsed kneeling on the floor gasping for breath as the vampires continued to enjoy the show. Black spot danced in front of her eyes and Fleur could feel cold sweat dripping down her back as she struggled not to vomit. She faintly heard a voice speaking, but she couldn't understand was it was saying and it sounded so far away… Fleur shut her eyes as the buzzing got louder but didn't respond; she couldn't. Bracing both hands on the cold floor she tried to get her breath, breath in…breath out…breath in… Fleur found she couldn't even take a full breath because of the strain it put on her ribs and the agony in her back was just another source of pain.
Dracula watched displeased as his pet gasped for breath on the floor. He'd wanted Gavin to specifically detain her because he could usually do it without causing any physical harm to her. Of course it was too late now that Lucas stepped in; he scowled angrily at his third high lord who only shrugged callously and returned to his mistress.
Dracula watched grudgingly impressed as the huntress forcefully calmed her erratic breathing and slowly lifted herself from the ground; swaying slightly in the attempt. He could see her eyes going in and out of focus and observed how she had her arms branded tightly around her midsection. He wondered vaguely how long she could manage to stay on her feet but decided against finding out; mortals could only take so much at one time.
Wordlessly, Dracula motioned to Gavin and the high lord obediently stepped forward and scooped the trembling mortal off her feet before she collapsed onto the floor. She'll sit with Gavin till the meeting was over and then he'd question her, Dracula reasoned, she was obviously in no shape for interrogations now and as much as Dracula would have liked playing with the little huntress he didn't want any permanent damage done to his newest play thing.
Switching his focus back to the conversation that had been going on before the mortal's arrival, the room reassumed the discussion of how to go about attacking a certain Lord Conrad's kingdom; there would be plenty on time later to decide what to do with Miss Van Helsing.
Fleur was hugging herself as hard as she dared with her injured ribs when suddenly the feeling of cold lips on her bare neck snapped her attention away from the pain shooting through her body. Gavin's cold eyes help a malicious glint in them as she jerked her head up and his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. Moving quick she tried to slide off his lap but the faintest pleasure on her back kept her still as he purposefully dug into her wound with his fingertips.
His eyes dared her to try and say something; as if the whole thing were a game to him. Fleur looked at Dracula, he was discussing some kind of attack plan with Rumus and everyone's attention was fully focused on a large map that had been brought out. He wouldn't stop Gavin anyway, she thought, panicking slightly. Her alarm increased even further when Gavin's hand slipped around her bare calve, slowly inching up and spreading the material further…
She tried to move but the hand at her back stopped her from going far and she saw Gavin smirk before he bent his head and began kissing his way up her neck. Fleur shut her eyes as she felt tears spring back up and braced both her hands on Gavin's chest trying to push him off. She jumped when she felt his hand reach the top of the slit and begin slowly stroking her thigh. "Stop Gavin, p-please, please just stop," she pleaded, angrily wiping at a tear that threatened to fall.
She felt the rumble in his empty chest as he chuckled at her and she was more sure than ever that these monsters were indeed heartless. Trying to remember her training Fleur suddenly went limp in his arms. As she had predicted his grip loosened and let his guard down. Gavin bent his head down to lick her neck, leisurely making his way up to her ear. Just as he leaned to place a kiss on the sensitive skin behind her ear Fleur abruptly came to life and slammed her fist into the exposed column of his neck. Fleur felt his entire body jerk as she hit the vulnerable spot and quickly used that moment to escape. Fearfully she fled to the one place she knew he wouldn't dare follow. Wrapping her arms tight around herself she retreated into her own mind, blocking out all the pain and shame as she shook like a leaf.
"We need someone on the inside," Rumus insisted, "Conrad's kingdom is too well defended to simply charge in. It would be suicide."
"We could try an aerial attack," another lesser lord put in.
"No, we hardly have enough winged vampires as it is, we don't need to go about wasting them on some foolhardy plan," another interjected.
"Foolhardy! How dare you!"
Dracula was about to put a stop to this juvenile bickering when he felt something brush up against his leg. Looking down he saw the huntress curled tightly in a protective ball at the foot of his chair as she hid her face in her arms. She was shaking again, he thought, but why….he turned to look at Gavin. His predecessor was focusing intently at the huntress, his eyes gleaming in anger as he unconsciously rubbed his neck. Dracula caught his eye and gave him a look that would have made lesser men cry out in fear. He didn't like it when people played with things that were his. Dracula knew his eyes glowed with a horrible intensity when he was angry and he used that skill to its full advantage as he glared at Gavin. I will deal with you later, he spoke to him with his mind and watched satisfied as Gavin quickly broke eye contact with his master deciding the heated banter was a much safer place to rest his eyes.
Dracula looked down again at the huntress and the smell of fresh blood reached his nose. Frowning, he scanned the hunched form of her back and scowled in displeasure as he spied the stain of fresh blood that was almost invisible against the black of her gown. Shifting slightly, Dracula bent down and gently slipped an arm under the huntress's knees while the other braced her shoulders and lifted her firmly into his lap.
Dracula felt an uncharacteristic pang of worry go through him when the huntress didn't respond or even look up at him. Instead she remained curled up with her arms wrapped securely around her body and her shoulders trembling as her heart ricocheted within her chest. Gently he forced her to lean back into his chest and lay her head softly on his shoulder. Turning her head to face him he scanned her face uneasily; he'd never seen her like this and it unsettled him slightly. His concern grew even greater when she didn't resist to his proceedings nor even give any sign of recognition as he commanded that she look him in the eye.
"Open your eyes huntress," he said, his voice softening; if she would just meet his eyes he could easily look into her mind and find out what Gavin had done, but without eye contact that task was easier said than done… Lightly he brushed her hair back from her face but her only response was to turn her head more fully away from him. "Come now darling, open your eyes," he coaxed, focusing all the charm and persuasion into his voice trying to cajole her into giving in, but unlike that night in Slatina she stood her ground refusing to open her eyes and try as he might, he couldn't seem to force his way past the barriers in her mind without eye contract; a fact that agitated him to no end. As he moved her slightly to bring her more fully against him the slit in her gown shifted and fell apart exposing most of her leg. Immediately her bloodshot eyes snapped open and she reached to recover herself. She refused to make eye contact with him as she struggled to adjust her dress with shaky hands. A glimmering crystallite spilled out from under her lowered lashes as the material refused to cooperate and her frustration and embarrassment heightened with every second that passed.
When he could take it no more he reached out and captured her fumbling hands, placing them firmly on his chest. Without a word he yanked his great cape off the back of the tall chair and covered her entire body with the warm material, effectively hiding her from everyone's view. For a second she lay there unmoving, but then a slim hand slipped up to catch the hem of the cape and bring it tighter around her body and she laid her head back down and shut her eyes. Dracula considered grasping her chin and forcing her to make eye contact but reluctantly dismissed the idea when he felt a deep sigh exit her lips as her body went limp and pliant against his chest, her face burying deep into the material of his shirt. "Just for a minute…" he clearly heard her mind reason as her barriers weakened for a moment. Her body gave into an exhausted slumber within seconds of her surrender and Dracula could only guess what had upset her so.
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Later that night a golden-eyed vampire stood emotionless and cold waiting for his master to arrive. He wasn't worried, it mattered not what the master did to him. He'd long ago found even pain to be preferable to the hollowness and empty feeling he so often found himself drowning in. It was a rare thing indeed that anyone sparked any kind of feeling in him; Gavin shot a gloomy smile at his reflection in the window as he watched the snow outside flutter down out of the night sky. The master's new pet had managed to spark his usually icy temper though, something no one had dared to do in over twenty years, and for that he forgave the little flower for striking him. Even anger was an emotion, and he reveled in it.
He lifted his glass to the night sky in a silent toast to the green eyed woman. "Here's to the people that push the limits and break the rules," he thought, and took a deep sip of the cold blood, shivering as the liquid slipped down his throat and again smiling at the sensation of 'feeling' something, anything, warmed his cold heart. "She wasn't so bad," he mused, in fact despite her defiance Gavin found himself respecting the little huntress for her quick thinking, he prided himself on his cleverness and yet he'd fallen like a fool for her swooning ploy. Gavin chided himself; he'd have to be more careful around that particular flower in the future. Her strong will had taken him by surprise too, although towards the end he sensed she'd almost completely broken down…
Gavin grimaced as he also remembered the way his master glared at him. He probably shouldn't have toyed with the master's pet but he just couldn't resist the challenge. Gavin shook his head at his foolishness; he should have known Dracula would be furious at him. Possessive bastard, he thought taking another sip.
Wincing slightly as he suddenly realized he wasn't the only presence in the room Gavin quickly blocked off his thoughts; but not before Dracula heard his last reflection.
"I'm glad you have me so accurately pinned," Dracula said icily as Gavin turned to face his master, "Tell me, do you have me down to an exact science or do some parts of me still evade your astute observations?"
"Oh master, you know you will forever puzzle me," Gavin replied cheekily, "for instance, why you have not broken multiple bones in my body yet is both a magnificent surprise and a confusing predicament indeed."
"Quite, and had anyone but you tried a stunt like that back in the parlor I would be drinking their blood right now," Dracula responded surprisingly calm as he took a sip of blood from his own goblet, "in fact there are only two reason you're even still standing."
Gavin waited for him to continue but it never came. Playing into his hands Gavin gave in and asked, "And they are…?"
Dracula gave him a humorless grin. "One, because you are the most cold, calculating vampire I have ever meet in both my life and afterlife; it would be terribly inconvenient to have to replace you. And two," he continued casually, "if I suspected you had even an ounce of lust in your entire soul to what is so obviously mine, I would stake you where you stand."
Gavin turned back to the window; clearly he was not the only insightful vampire in the room.
"But," Dracula went on, coming to stand beside him and lowering his voice, "we both know that isn't true. Tell me, did you just want the challenge or were you simply looking for a reason for me to confront you?"
Gavin considered it for a second. "The challenge," he replied nonchalantly, "as foolish as that little venture was, I hadn't really planned on getting caught. You're wrath can be a quite unsettling sight and I'd rather avoid it when possible. "Tell me," he went on, "do you even know what happened?"
Dracula narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you implying Gavin?"
Gavin shrugged, smiling to himself because he knew he now had the advantage. "Only that it looked to me like the mortal wouldn't meet your eyes," he said, grinning as her saw Dracula's eyes flash, "and you seem to be having an awful hard time getting into her thoughts."
Dracula's pride told him to deny it, but his rationality won out and he relented. "Yes, it was quite surprising actually, but her mind seems to be blocked off fairly well tonight," he said, "I managed to briefly get in when we stopped at Slatina, but she was exhausted and her minds was exceedingly weak that night; plus she had other thingson her mind at that moment. Tonight was definitely different."
Dracula ignored Gavin's mocking eyes as the younger vampire grinned inwardly at the thought of the little mortal blocking out his master. Priceless. "She is a vampire tracker," Dracula continued, "so I imagine she's had some training in barricading her mind against vampires, but I must admit it was still surprising to meet someone of that mastery; it takes years of practice to become that good and she's still quite young. Were you able to get through her barriers?"
Gavin's eyes sobered and he reluctantly admitted he had not, even when he'd manage to make eye contact. "No," he said, "She has definitely been trained, though I know of few teachers good enough to train her that well."
Dracula nodded, he'd been thinking the same thing. Yet another thing he'd make Damien check up on when he left for his mission. Then, obviously concluding the conversation was at an end, Dracula headed towards the door. Pausing at the exit he looked over her shoulder and sent Gavin a piercing look. "One last thing Gavin; I will ignore your deeds tonight, but know that the next time you touch something that is mine, you will be ashes before you remove your hand," he warned in a threatening tone before leaving the room and shutting the door with a soft click.
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Gavin smiled a humorless smile. "He never did ask what exactly happened in that room," he mused, "but perhaps it is better that way, for the both of us." Turning back to the window he reassumed his watch of the frosty night as the cold chilled his bones and yet still somehow managed to warm his heart. Any feeling was still a feeling.
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Dracula exited the room quite pleased with himself. His military plans were in motion. His newest high lord was turning out to be more of an advantage than he'd originally thought. His other high lords had been put in their proper place. Now the only thing left to fall into order was Ms. Van Helsing…and he knew exactly where he wanted her.
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TEASER ALERT:::: (evil laugh) So we talked a bit about Gavin, I'm now moving on to probably Rumus or Lucas. Both will be fun. But don't worry, I won't forget about our emotionless fiend Gavin. Also am planning on developing Caliburn more in later chapters, that will be interesting. Um…oh! So Damien's got a mission? But what ever for?!? SECRET! Also, Fleur's got a new flaw…that's def in next chapter. What could it be? gaspppp ok, I think that's about everything…or I could just be a big liar and go on a totally dif tangent and leave you all hanging for a couple chapters… hehe, I apologize in advance if that happens. But honestly I don't write the story, it writes itself. BLAME THE STORY!!!
Ok, REVIEW! YOU KNOW I LIVE FOR THEM!!...i think I'm like….addicted….ah-oh.
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NOW MORE THING: You guys know my pet-peeve, if something is spelled wrong or gramatically incorrect PLEASE tell me!!!!
p.s.- thanks Gem for the 'Ms.' tip. it makes sense, good advice.