Hey guys!! Quick update:

Review Record – 10!

Total Reviews – 75!

Hits – Almost 2,000 yay!

Thanks to all you guys who reviewed for the last chapter, they made me smile. Also, CROSS COUNTRY SEASON IS OFFICIALLY OVER!!!! –sigh- god it just makes me want to giggle insanely, smile uncontrollability, and cry slightly. Not a bad combination. But this is good because I will now have a bit more time to [hopefully devote to the story…if only I get out of Key Club now… we can dream cant we?

Special thanks this week to the Beta who constantly reminds me of why I love Mircosoft Words, although it still doesn't catch all my mistakes. I HAVE OUTDONE THE SYSTEM!!! Nienna is a wizard(ress?)! wizardress? I don't think that's a word…but witch doesn't sound nearly as cool.

Ok that's all for now. Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions/questions/issues/fancies you would like me to address. Enjoy.

WARNING: SCENES OF A SEXUAL NATURE/PARTIAL NUDITY

You no like? You no read! That is all.

----------------------------------------

CHAPTER 16

----------------------------------------

Dracula looked up expectantly as the door to the dinning room tentatively opened; he grinned when he saw the vision of reluctant beauty enter, the great door shutting softly behind her with a ring of finality. Dracula saw the flash of nervousness in her green eyes and he felt his anticipation heighten as he shamelessly allowed his hungry gaze to rake down her body, making no attempt to hide his actions. The dress he had picked out for her was very modest at first glance with its long loose sleeves and high buttoned neck but the way the dress had been cut made it cling alluringly to the generous curves of her hips and breasts while it flowed down her legs to the floor in an elegant wave. She finally let her hair down out of that damn braid; he thought as he allowed his eyes to appreciate her wavy dark tresses that cascaded down her shoulders and back. He watched as her observant gaze swept suspiciously around the room taking in every detail; the warm fire burning cheerfully in fireplace for her benefit, the table set for two, and himself, freshly cleaned of all traces of blood and gore, dressed in his usual dark attire. It was as if the memories of earlier that night had been naught but a dream; exactly as he wished it to appear.

"Welcome," he said in a silky voice taking a step forward as his azure eyes continued to watch her closely, "I'm so glad you decided to join me for dinner. Come, you must be hungry; we will dine."

He held out his hand to Fleur who hesitate for only a second before she stepped forward and reluctantly placed a slim hand within his much larger one. Despite the heat from the fire, Fleur felt a shiver run down her body as his cool flesh came into contact with her warm hand sending goose bumps up her arm and sending warning signals off in her head; she would have liked nothing more than to simply bolt out the door and sprint back to the comfortable seclusion of her room, but she forced herself to stay calm and suppress the stifling urge. It was just a dinner. Just an hour, two at the most, then she could flee back the relative safety of the chambers. .

Dracula's eyes flashed in a flare of triumph at the surrender of her hand but Fleur was turned away and didn't see it. He escorted her wordlessly to the table and smoothly pulled out a tall back chair allowing her to slide into it, her subtle scent wrapping around him and smothering his keen senses. Just a dinner, he reminded himself, calming his body as it instantly reacted to the alluring smell, an hour or two at most...then he'd make his move.

He moved away, his expression betraying nothing, as he made a waving gesture to a nearly invisible servant that hovered in the shadows. Immediately the lesser vampire left the room to fetch dinner; the door once again shutting softly as he made his speedy departure. An uncomfortable silence filled the air as Fleur fidgeted in her seat under Dracula's piercing gaze. Thousands of questions filled her head and Fleur struggled to find a way to approach them. Deciding there was really no subtle way of getting around to it, Fleur settled on the blunt approach and met Dracula's gaze head on as she asked her most pressing question. "What am I doing here?" she asked frankly. Prisoners do not dine with their captors…

Dracula inwardly grinned; rather forward this one was. "Having dinner," he replied just as candidly, knowing exactly what she was talking about and enjoying the way her eyes flashed with irritation; ignoring it he went on, "I imagine you're hungry, I had planned on sending a plate up but it seemed you had disappeared when it arrived," he said, his icy blue eyes narrowing, "May I ask where you were?"

Fleur felt a pang of alarm shoot through her; she had no wish for Dracula to find out about the single place she could go to be alone, to rest, to find peace. Besides, she reasoned, if I tell him he'll only forbid me to go there again. Her mind scrambled to come up with a plausible alternative. "The armory," she blurted out and inwardly cursed, the armory?

Dracula hid a scowl; she was lying to him! He could almost smell it, the little wench; did she think him a fool? Once again the fact that he couldn't simply enter her mind to find the information he sought sent a bolt of irritation through him. Patience, he reminded himself, patience, only a little longer… He forced an interested expression to grace his face and played along with her little charade. "The armory really?" he asked, "and what did you think?"

"I…um, well—" she began but was luckily saved from answering when the servant reappeared through the doors carting a trolley in behind him. A mouthwatering smell was coming from a covered plate and Fleur felt her stomach growl in anticipation as the server efficiently set the table and once again backed discretely out of the room.

Dracula forced himself to remain calm as she evaded his question and then smirked wickedly as the huntress took a long sip from her goblet; it was only a matter of time now. The meal took place in relative silence as the huntress focused on her food and Dracula observed her closely over the top of his own goblet waiting for a sign that the drink was taking effect. Dracula frowned as time went by and nothing happened however his sour expression was quickly replaced with a triumphant grin when the mortal once again reached for her goblet only to clumsily hit the cup, nearly knocking it to the ground. With inhuman speed Dracula snatched the drink up before it could spill and set it softly back down on the table. He watched delighted as she blinked rapidly as if trying to clear her vision and lifted a hand to her face cradling her head. "Feeling unwell my pet?" he asked, not bothering to keep the taunting tone out of his voice.

The huntress' head shot up, her eyes, once filled with confusion now filled to the brim with anger. "You bastard," she snapped out venomously as she fought to bring the blurry image of the room back into focus, "what did you put in my cider?"

Dracula sent her an icy smile as he stood from his seat and slowly walked around her as if he were a predator looking down on its prey before finally coming to stand in front of her. "Just a little something to help you…cooperate," he said as he bent down and drew the unsteady woman to her feet. She swayed once before she steadied herself; Dracula watched coolly as she shook herself from his light grasp and turned away from him, her head still buried in her hand as the drink caused her head to spin sickeningly.

Fleur walked slowly to the front of the great fireplace and lifted her hand to rest on the mantle as she concentrated on keeping her thoughts blocked and her legs from buckling. She could only close her eyes and hope the spinning and flashing lights would cease but to her immense irritation, they continued to create bright flashes of light from behind her eyelids. She forced her eyes open when she felt the Count come up behind her and slip a cool arm smoothly around her waist before spinning her around to face him.

Dracula lifted a finger and gently forced the huntress's chin up, capturing her slightly unfocused gaze in his unwavering one. With a skill forged from hundreds of years of practice Dracula brutally assaulted the weakened barriers of her mind and smirked when they finally shattered causing the mortal to flinch in pain then panic. "Now," he said speaking slowly, "the rules are simple huntress. I will ask you a question, you will answer and answer honestly or I will find out for myself, is that understood?"

Fleur glared daggers at him as she fought to bring the blocks back up, but it was no use. He was already in her mind. "Bastard," she managed to get out despite the incessant pounding in her head. Dracula felt his smirk fall from his face when he noticed this and he purposefully tightened his grip on her causing her injured back and ribs to shoot agonizingly throughout her body. "Let's start with something simple," he began, ignoring her nearly inaudible hiss of pain, "what is your mother's name?"

"Anna," she snapped out hotly, "after my grandmother."

"Very good," Dracula mocked, "now, what is your father's name?"

Fleur remained silent. Dracula waited for a second before his patience wore out and he invaded her mind, looking for a memory, a thought, or a feeling that could tell him what he wanted to know. Fleur shut her eyes as the foreign feeling of Dracula's presence assaulted her mind making her feel exposed and violated. She twisted uselessly in his iron grip but only succeeding in hurting herself more. "Stop it!" she snapped out, gasping as the feeling of his presence threatened to overwhelm her.

Fleur felt him leave her mind and she abruptly slumped against his chest fighting off a wave of nausea. "Gawain; interesting choice of a name but I suppose I'm no judge," Dracula said and he could feel the anger radiating from her as he mocked her with her stolen thoughts. "You must have liked him very much, all your thoughts of him were very fond, although it's a shame you don't have more memories of him," he taunted enjoying it as she pushed herself back up into a standing position and braced her hands on his chest as fury burned in those emerald orbs. If she were a vampire he would have been worried but as it were her human body was stretched to its limits and Dracula enjoyed the pulsing feeling of power it sent through his veins.

"It wouldn't hurt so much if you would just cease trying to force me out—" he began but was abruptly cut off as the smart sting of a slap connected with his cheek, effectively snapping his head to one side as the echo of the slap resounded throughout the otherwise silent room. Fleur felt his grip tighten painfully and the air seemed to crackle with pent up rage as he turned his face back to her, menacing eyes glowing with horrible intensity, but she didn't care, it had been worth it. He would not desiccate one of the few joyful memories that remained with her, he would not.

"If I did not think it would be too easy," he said slowly, every syllable pulsing with strain as he fought not to simply kill the mortal on the spot, "I would be bathing in your blood as we speak." As Fleur felt the throes of rage ebb back fear began to creep up her spine and she unwittingly reconsidered her decision; that had not been wise.

"I had thought," he continued softly, his voice barely carrying over the crackle of the fire, "you had learned your lesson from yesterday. I was obviously mistaken but just so there is no more confusion, understand this mortal. You are only here under my authority. You are fed, protected, and allowed to live only because I wish it so. You have no rights. You have no say. You are nothing here!"

Fleur flinched and tried to back away but his nails had lengthened and dug excruciatingly into her back keeping her put. One of his hands shot out and gripped her chin. "Since you will not willing give me what I want, I will take it," he said and his overpowering presence suddenly filled her mind once more as he searched for one of the things that had been bothering him all day.

Dracula ignored the way she squirmed in his arms trying to push him off and focused on finding her memory of yesterday in the parlor. He closed his eyes as he finally located it in the very back on her mind, as if she'd pushed it as far away as possible, and let the scene play in front of his eyes. It was strange watching everything from the mortal's perspective and even more disturbing that that was to feel the emotions that had taken hold of her just last night. He felt the anger, shame, humiliation, and fear that had possessed the woman as she had walked to the parlor; he had had no idea how sick she felt before she entered the room. He felt a flash of jealously shoot through him when she found comfort in his alpha leader's arms. He saw the looks his vampires had given her as she had approached his chair and felt the raw terror that had gripped her when he'd revealed his knowledge of her bloodline; he unconsciously loosened his hold on the mortal's tense body as he continued to watch. Skipping ahead he gazed furiously as he watched Gavin slip his hand up her dress and toy with her emotions as he would with his prey. Anger surged through his veins as Dracula thought of all the horrible things he was going to do to Gavin. His malevolent train of thoughts froze however when he listened to the thoughts running through the huntresses head as she sat pinned in Gavin's lap. She didn't think I'd have helped her; he realized as he watched her look at him in the memory; something that felt suspiciously like guilt coiled uncomfortably in his gut before he pulled out of the memory. That was enough for today.

Fleur felt Dracula's presence recede from her mind and she let took an unsteady breath as slight tremors shot up and down her spine, sighing in relief as her mind became her own once more. Through the sheer power of her will, Fleur managed to stay on her feet and appear stronger than she was, despite the lightheadedness she still felt from whatever it was Dracula had put in her drink. Fleur looked into the azure of the count's eyes but could see nothing in the emotionless pools; he hid his thoughts and feeling better than anyone she'd ever met. "Find what you were looking for?" she spat at him once she'd caught her breath and felt a perverse pleasure go through her as his eyes once again heated in irritation. If words were the only way she could fight him, she thought, then so be it.

Insolent little wretch, Dracula thought, feeling every ounce of guilt or even pity vanish as if it had never been there and his demeanor reverting back to one of indifference and malice. Inwardly shaking away all other thoughts, Dracula smiled unpleasantly down at the mortal and felt a streak of pleasure go through him when she froze. "Indeed," he purred bending down to her ear and letting his breath tickle the sensitive skin, "It's a shame Gavin took my idea first." Dracula forced himself to ignore the look of hurt and panic that flashed across her features and instead focused on the way her heartbeat sped up making her sweet blood flow faster. His eyes grew brighter at the thought of finally having a taste of the little huntress.

Switching moods abruptly he gently tugged the mortal's body up against his, enjoying the warmth her body radiated through the thin silk of her gown as he smirked in delight. This was going to be quite enjoyable. The mortal's hand braced on his chest to push him away but Dracula ignored them and instead cupped her jaw in his palm and covered those alluring lips with his own before she could protest.

Fleur froze as the cold lips descended on hers and her mind seemed to cloud as she felt the subtle brush of Dracula's influence on her tired mind take hold. Shush darling, it cooed and Fleur could feel her body relax despite the panic she felt rising in her chest. A large hand pressed to the small of her back bringing her snuggly against the count's groin and her gasp of outrage was muffled as his tongue slipped between her parted lips.

So sweet, was Dracula's first thought as he teased the moist cavern of her mouth with seductive brushes and sweeps of his skilled tongue ,why in the world did I deny myself this for so long? He subdued her busy mind a little more forcefully and grinned into her lips as he felt her hands relax on his chest. Bringing his other hand from the mortal's waist Dracula lifted it to the back of the dress and felt around gently for the laces. Patiently undoing them with one hand, Dracula shifted his attention from the mortal's mouth to the soft skin of her jaw line, feeling his arousal heighten as a shiver swept down the woman's spine. Finally.

Fleur felt tears of frustration sting her eyes as she struggled to maintain some sort of grip on the sensations burning inside her. She knew she didn't want this, but her body didn't seem to be listening and with every stroke of his hand, brush of his tongue, grind of his body, Fleur could feel herself becoming more and more lost in the spiral of pleasure. Just surrender, the voice coaxed, Relax, feel…enjoy. He won't hurt you, never again. You were meant be his; it's in your blood. Become his. He'll take care of you. Just give in.

Fleur felt a tear slip down her cheek as she felt Dracula finish unlacing the last of her gown and pushed the material apart as he stroked her back, gently healing it with feather light touches that made her want to lean into his embrace. Lies. It was all lies, her mind screamed and she shuddered, she didn't want this. She didn't want this. Hands began smoothly pulling the gown off her shoulders and the feeling of those cold hands on her back and shoulders gave Fleur the shock she needed to snap out of her reverie.

"Stop," she said, and even though it was barely above a whisper she knew he heard her. But he didn't stop; the presence in her mind only became more intense and more insistent as it whispered sweet promises of safety and pleasure. "Stop it," she repeated her voice a little stronger even though it shook. Much to her surprise Dracula chuckled, the rumble sounding deep in his throat as he continued to tease the skin above the collar of her dress. "Shush now darling," he purred, as he reached up with on hand and began calmly unbuttoning the high neck of her gown to reveal tantalizing new skin, "You'll enjoy this, I promise."

Fleur tried to lift her hand to push his mouth away but he only grasped it firmly in one hand as the other slid her sleeve smoothly off. She could feel her resolve slowly slipping as he returned his mouth to hers and began once again drowning her in slow intoxicating kisses. So oblivious was she that she barely registered his wandering as they repeated their process to the remaining sleeve freeing the top of the dress from its last of its restraints.

Dracula felt his hands unconsciously clench as the lightweight silk slipped down, the gown catching at her waist but leaving her glowing torso bare for his hungry eyes as he continued to pleasure himself in the silken contours of the mortal's mouth. He could feel himself become more aroused as he let his eyes skim over the soft skin of her shoulders, the satiny valley of her breasts, the rosy pink of her puckered nipples, and down to the firm plane of her stomach. His fangs instinctively elongated and his hardened member pressed uncomfortably against the ties of his pants. Delicious. Dracula continued to soothe the mortal's frantic mind as he watched the firelight dance off her golden skin – he thought she looked like a gypsy with her dark curling hair and gave in to the urge to run a hand through the silky tresses. Oh how worthy the prize was compared to the conquest, he thought as the dark locks slipped like water through his fingers, more than worth it.

Fleur was floating; soft touches and silky words clouding her mind as her lashes lowered and her body simply reveled in the pleasure that was heating her blood. She could feel Dracula's grip tighten around her waist and his lips leave hers to travel once again seductively down her exposed neck. Somewhere in the recesses of her brain a voice cried out in protest and alarm; alas she was too lost to answer. Her body unconsciously arched and leaned closer to the cool caresses of the count as his hands stroked her back and she lay her head quietly to rest on his shoulder. By chance she glanced over the count's shoulder and everything inside her froze.

Her pupils dilated dramatically and a choked scream caught in her as the image of her half-bare self stared back at her from the dark reflection of the great bay windows. She felt goose bumps cover her body and tears of shock and shame sting her eyes as she stood rigid, caught in the shocking image of herself – bare, flushed, standing alone in the lit chambers as the ends of her hair mysteriously moved as an invisible hand stroked through it.

Her foot took a step back as if of its own accord and Fleur found her panicky gaze locked within the eerie stare of the count's as he raised his head from its ministrations. Azure orbs burning with a combination of desire and bloodlust stared down at her and Fleur had to bite her lip to stop the whimper that bubbled up in her throat. "Something wrong my pet?" he purred huskily as he bent his head and lightly grazed the sensitive skin of her neck with the sharp point of his elongated canines. Fleur's hands curled into balls and she snapped her eyes shut; all traces of heat long gone from her body as she froze in terror.

Suddenly the spell was broken as the echoing sound of someone pounding on the door reverberated throughout the chamber. Fleur's eyes instantly reopened at the sound and she twisted abruptly out of the count's loose grasp; unintentionally creating a shallow cut on her neck from Dracula's razor-sharp teeth as she jerked her head away. "My lord I have important news extracted from the rebel leader!" came a voice through the thick doors.

Dracula ran his tongue sensually over the drop of blood that coated his tooth, savoring the sweet taste of freshly spilled blood. His eyes pulsated with the intensity of it and he concealed a violent shudder that ran down his entire body as he watched with cold amusement as the mortal turned away – an arm braced across her chest protecting what scrap of dignity she could salvage. Dracula could feel his body screaming for some kind of completion, be it in blood or pleasure, when another round of insistent pounding came from other side of the chamber door; "My lord the prisoner has revealed that the rebel lord is housed only a few hours from here! If we leave now—" Dracula sighed in frustration, forcefully controlling the primal urges that threatened to control him as he calmed his body. This was the break he'd been waiting for weeks for, to finally be rid of that damned dissenter once and for all…and yet, his priorities seemed to be compromised at the moment.

Dracula took another glace at the figure that had retreated to the far side of the chamber as he considered his options but unexpectedly felt his stomach clutch as the firelight flickered over the huntress's bare back. Long pale lines covered the entire expanse of her darkened back leaving only a thin strip of smooth unmarred skin over her spine. The spidery web of scars lay smooth against her back but seemed to gleam with the unnatural texture of long healed wounds and Dracula could tell from experience some of the scars couldn't be less than a decade or two old. Just how old had she been when she'd first felt the sting of a whip? He wondered.

The heat gradually died from his eyes as he watched the mortal fumble pathetically with the fastenings of her gown as she struggled to hide herself from his overly observant eyes and Dracula nearly curled his fist in anger; at least he had had the decency to heal her without leaving her marred and ashamed. Dracula didn't need to see the mortal's face to hear the rapid beat of her heart, the uneven breathing punctuated by suppressed sobs, or the distinct sound of a single tear drop shattering against the cold stone floors. And I don't want to, he reminded himself. Pushing the uncharacteristic trickle of emotions aside, Dracula donned the familiar stony expression that left him impervious to the hurts of mortal hearts. To be vulnerable was to be weak, and if there was anything Vladislaus Dragulia was not, it was weak.

Dracula turned towards the door; he had a country to conquer, a race to exterminate, and a demagogue to detain – there would be time enough for a quick romp with the mortal later. Opening the door to leave Dracula couldn't help but sense the fleeting sting of hurt that radiated through the mortal's body as he swept out of the chamber. He would deal with this newest development later…

-------------------------------------------

Hehe, this chapter was kind of hard to write because I wanted Drac/Fleur to have a scene and yet I culdn't make her too comfortable (which she is obviously not) or Dracula too human (which is def a challenge) or for things to move too fast or too slow and I had so many thing I wanted to include in this chapter and I didn't even get to put in a lot of stuff I wanted too. URG! But in the end I'm satisfied with how I left it. I hope you enjoyed reading it more than I did writing it.

TEASER:::: ok, I'll probably include a little more Caliburn and see how Fleur reacts to him now that she's seen him in his wolf form. I plan on talking a bit about our 'cobalt eye' guy, maybe a little about where the hell Damien went, and hopefully be able to include a small Lucus scene. This should be fun…

OK REVIEW BECAUSE I STILL HAVE NOT BEAT MY RECORD AND IT'S DEPRESSING ME!!!!