Pain is a Lesson in Itself!
The small group of the SVU Department didn't know what to think about all this. After listening to the Count's story, even their Captain was still unable to make a decision. It seems that there will never be a full understanding between their reality and the vampire's. Even after he explained how he made the vial that C had ingested to become the Dampire they all knew and cared for, they were still unsure of his present motives.
"So after performing this vampire voodoo on her; she became a half-vampire, but would only stay sane as long as she stayed with you," Tutuola asked as the vampire glared at him; half amused yet half annoyed. "Right?"
"How many times must you Detectives repeat my words until they make sense to you?" Dracula rumbled as he tried to contain himself from literally plunging the information into their heads with his telepathic abilities. They had been here for three hours and still they couldn't get the point!
"Until we're sure you're telling us the truth," Stabler mildly pointed out.
"I already gave you the truth!" Dracula hissed angrily at him, for his patience was wearing thin. "Every important detail that you needed to know about why I need Carolyn to come back to me has already ben explained to you! What else must there be to convince you?"
"Well… the kidnapping of a young woman and forcing her to become your supernatural slave dose put a strain in our agreement."
A low, throaty growl came from the Count made Cragen stand up and tell Elliot to sit down. After everyone had settled down again, the Captain slumped back into his seat and stared at the time. It was past ten at night and most of the staff (except for them) had retired for the evening. Rubbing his aching brow, he decided it was time to end their meeting.
"We'll come up with a better compromise tomorrow," Cragen breathed out as everyone, even the Count stared at him in surprise. "Get out! Everyone! Get some sleep then grab a fresh cup of coffee and meet me in my office in the morning! You too, Count! Despite your nocturnal ways we will all be back here to finish what we've started." He said as the vampire continued to narrow his eyes at him while the rest filed out to ponder over yesterday's events. Then, the Captain stood up to grab his coat and turned to face him one more time. "By the way, try and stay away from C for a while? Or haven't you heard of the old saying; 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?'"
"Of course," Dracula sighed while lifting a corner of his mouth up to smirk at the man. As if he's never heard of that before!
"Just remember I gave you a warning. All you have to do is heed it," And with that the tired officer left the building as the Count decided to evaporate from the office, and into a nearby alleyway. It was indeed dark and speaking to those mortals had taken longer than expected. The whole event just left him disappointed at them.
They do not understand! He frowned as he started to walk down the sidewalk and on the path that lead him to the illustrious Dampire. I have to find C now! She is already slipping into madness because of her rage! …Because of me. I must undo what has been done! For both of our sakes!
He never could fathom why these mortals would want to wait until the next day. He would hope that they would be willing to help him after he had explained the majority of his and C's encounters. Leaving out the Mountain and more private moments with her of course. But still… This hatred of him had to be re-corrected immediately. Even if it is his fault (which it was) he couldn't let her stew in her own misery like this! Once he caught a whiff of her scent, he trailed after it to – of all places – a local pub. As she would put it; Typical.
I sulked into the glass of my Bloody Mary while settling at the bar off of Third Street. It was quiet at this hour (except for the jut box that played several classics such as John Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer), but I paid no attention as I was busy re-thinking over yesterday's fiasco. Dracula had come to New York City and had kidnapped Olivia Benson just so he could get to me. Though I saved her, the whole process of my original plan was to distract him while her idiot partner got her out! That blew up in my face the moment Dracula said my name. What a shitty day.
Though what words Dracula and I exchanged still left me disturbed inside. For Christ's sake I practically screamed at him that I was once in love with him! Now – after all the bull that he's put me through, he says that he wants to help me!? I don't believe it for a second! No way! Like I spat at him earlier; he's only here to help himself and get his prized Dampire back in his ranks of the undead! That's all I'll ever be to him too. Just a goddamn prize. This life sucks.
"Hey, Doll," A half-drunk fat ass sits next to me while holding two glasses of beer. "Wanna party? You look like you could use some cheering up?"
Like I give him a time of day! But, with a sideways glance all I did was glare my hazel eyes at him. He stinks and he thinks to woo me with that shit? Oh please spare me! "Get lost," I growled and put my hand on the holster of my gun. If necessary, the guy could still be sober enough to recognize the danger that he's put himself in!
"Oh, come on!" He moved his chair closer to me and placed his dirty hand on my shoulder. "I only wanna make you feel better! What do ya say, sweetie? I just wanna –!?"
"Remove your hands from her before I do it for you!" The dark and thick accent of the one man I didn't want to meet again, growled just behind us.
"Look buddy, I saw her first!" The fat drunk spat back as I kept my back turned while slowly shaking my head and thinking, just when this night couldn't get any worse!
Dracula gave the man an icy glare when he saw this filthy vermin touch his Dampire! Fury and possession surged deep in his chest as he suddenly grabbed the back of the man's coat and easily threw him across the bar, sending his drinks with him. He crashed into an empty table as the beer and glasses splashed on and around him. People looked up to stare in wonder at the sight as the bar tender grew nervous and slowly went to his register, where I bet he kept a secret weapon hidden for times like this!
"What do you want now?" I sighed, but still refused to turn my chair and face him. I was in no mood to start a fight, but if he wanted one I'll sure as Hell give him one!
"Carolyn," He said as calmly as he could and took a step closer to me. "We must speak. In privet."
"Can't you see I'm busy trying to drown my sorrows out?" I said and took a sip of my Bloody Mary and then gave him a hatful sideways glare. "I thought we already talked! I told you to piss off! Go home! I don't need you anymore and you certainly don't need me!"
"That is not true!" He spat through gritted teeth. Will this woman ever give him chance? She was infuriating and frustrating to speak to when it came to delicate topics! As usual! But! He had to do this! They must re-connect and forgive in order to ensure her sanity! Or all is lost! "Please. Hear me out, Carolyn! This is important to you as it is to me!"
"Oh really?" I finally turned, despite the fact that he said 'please' to entice a response from me. Ya right! I was concentrating more on the huge figures coming up behind him for some payback to their drunken friend! "You mean more important then what you just started with them?" I pointed behind him as three, tough looking men in black and bad ass leather stopped just feet behind the Count. The leader; had his gray beard in a three braided chain as his arms showed all of those biker tattoos, just dwarfed the Count by several inches. Though Dracula can handle himself in a fight, I was interested how he was gonna handle this!
"Hey, A Hole," The man growled as he held a sizable bottle in one of his thick hands. "You think you can just come in here and own the place while bothering the pretty ladies and their dates? I think somebody needs to teach you a lesson in manners!"
The other two muttered agreements as the bar tender still looked like he was gonna draw his gun, but stayed still as these Hell's Angels looked like they were ready to draw blood. Dracula just stood there, looking annoyed as I smirked and continued to watch. This should be fun!
"I have no interest in harming barbarians such as you," The Count just gave them a passing glance of disgust. "Though I shall only warn you once; Leave now and you may yet live to see the morning."
At this, the men all just laughed while Dracula looked unimpressed and impassive as I remained in my chair, still sipping at my red drink. You're screwed. I sent the thought to him while still wearing my amused smirk. He just glared at me as one of the leaders raised his bottle in front of him while all of them shared their amusement for another minute.
"Well lookie' here, boys! We got ourselves a Greenhorn! But not a very smart one!" The biker said and took another deliberate step towards the vampire. "You think that fancy accent is gonna scare us off? You have no idea who you just picked a fight with! Maybe this will teach you foreigners a lesson about crossing the seas' without looking at the US tabloids!"
And with that, the Hell's Angel brought down the bottle, attempting to smash it over the Count's head. But Dracula moved so fast the big man didn't realize that the vampire had whizzed around and grabbed his arm right before the bottle touched him! The biker gaped as his dark eyes widened a fraction while the Count held a surprising amount of force just to keep the bottle from touching even a hair on his person.
"You have been warned!" Dracula hissed and then tossed the man to the other side of the bar. His heavy body smashed into an occupied table and its current residence (a young couple), quickly got up and started to run for the doors along with a few others. The other two bikers stared at their fallen leader in shock before turning to the vampire to take their revenge on him. The Count easily dodged and blocked each punch and kick being directed at him as the last two people he tossed, came out of their stupor, got up to take him on again! DING! Round two!
All I did was sit back and sipped at my beverage as the Count kept taking swings and shoving each biker that came at him, to the other side of the bar. Though I had to wonder… why not kill them? Their easy meat for him so what's holding him back? Does he not want to draw any more attention by drawing senseless carnage in a common place such as a bar? What happened to the feared and terrifying Count that ruined my life!?
"You know you can kill them, right?" I finally asked right after I ducked out of the way as one of the beefier men was thrown high and over to the other side of the bar.
"This is not the time to draw blood, C!" Dracula growled as he was suddenly pushed back by a kick to the chest. He skitted next to me and stared at me in surprise and irritation while the others got up to surround him again. "You're not even going to aide me, are you?"
"Why? You started this mess," I said as the jut box started playing MJ's Just Beat It. How appropriate! "I'm just observing."
I smirked as his blue eyes darkened and narrowed even farther while one of the bikers grabbed a wooden stool and attempted to smash it over the Count. With a swipe of his arm, the Count shattered the chair and swatted the man far enough that he was thrown out of the bar's doors. They just wouldn't say down no matter how far Dracula hit them! It was starting to be the best thing I could witness too! The King of Vampires having his ass handed to him by a bunch of mortal Hell's Angels! Where's a video camera when you need one? But just as I was starting to have my fill of the fun, one of the bikers, that Dracula had shoved aside, landed on me just as I was about to take another swallow of my drink. Being sandwiched by the bar's wooden table and a two hundred pound biker made me almost choke and spilling the rest of my beverage on the bar and myself! That's it! Now I'm pissed! It was bad enough that I have to deal with Dracula back in my life, but now he shows up to start a 'bar fight' and making me lose my drink!? Fuck this!
With glowing red eyes and a loud growl, I grabbed the nearest full bottle and turned to face the biker that ruined my drink. Grabbing him by the collar, I smashed the bottle over his head. It was a damn shame to waist such booze as his eyes rolled and I released him while he fell to the ground in a KO'd fashion. Dracula was busy defending himself from the leader again as I grabbed the next muscle and kneed him in the balls. He squeaked in pain as I punched him once in the face to finish him off. The third man ended up in the same fashion, yet I tossed his ass several feet away and right into the drunk that tried to hit on me. They fell and remained squeezed in between several booths as Dracula finally seemed to knock the man out by chocking the air out of him. Letting him drop to the floor, he looked up to find I had taken care of the rest of the mortals. The bar tender looked like he was going to do something messy in his pants, but I just sighed and pulled out my wallet. Well, I have to pay the poor guy somehow! After all, he's stuck cleaning up the place now!
"Sorry for the mess," I said and laid a few hundred dollar bills on the counter. Well, this is one place that I'll never be able to return to, no thanks to Bat-Breath here!
Turning to leave through the door I hear Dracula following close behind me. Jesus! Can't the man take a clue!? "Carolyn!" He hollered out as he pursued me with every step down the block. "Do not turn your back on me!"
"Why? Just so you can hypnotize me into serving you again!?" I turned to hiss in his pale face. "Fuck off already! You already ruined my night; let alone my life! So just go away! Leave me ALONE!"
"You do not want that! I know you don't! No matter what you say or how strong you think you are, you need my help, C!" He said as he tried to keep his own temper in check. By the Devil, she was stubborn! Yet he still had to try!
"Who do you think you are telling me what I need and don't need!?" I shouted and turned to walk down the street again. "I'll tell you what I need! You to go to Hell! Or at least go back to Transylvania to bang any other slut that lives there! This is MY home! MY domain you're in! I rule these streets! You have no business being here what so ever!"
"I came to save your SOUL, C!" Dracula roared, he was also fed up of arguing with her. "Do you not understand!? If you lose control of the half I gave you, I will have no choice but to destroy you!"
"Then do it! Destroy me! That's all I EVER wanted! Do YOU not understand English!?" I pushed him but he didn't budge an inch. "I'm TIRED, Count! Tired of this curse you put me in! All you say is that you want to help me, but why don't I believe you!? Because I'm just a prize to be polished and shown off to other vampires how great and terrible you are! To prove to them that a half-vampire can be controlled and manipulated for your personal gain! Right!?"
My voice was cracking along with my heart. My chest filled with so much emotions that I had to try and fight off the tears that threatened to spill as the Count silently observed me, his face set deep in a frown, but yet I could see some sort of guilt behind that face. No way! He can't feel guilt! He can't feel anything!
"That is no longer my objection, C," He said in a rather cool yet soothing tone as I tried to laugh over that. Is he trying to make me feel for him again by believing whatever lies he tells me! Oh boy! Somebody slap me awake already! Though he ignored my amusement as he came closer to me. "Please believe me."
I frowned when he said that word again. As long as I've known him, he has never said please! Yet here he is saying it again. Is this really the Count Dracula that stands before me, or am I facing another illusion?
"It doesn't matter anymore," I growled and turned to walk into an abandoned factory building, hoping to lose him through its winding walkways and networks of doors. "I've made my choice! I'm FREE, Dracula! No more 'yes Master', 'no Master', 'may I go outside, Master', or 'bend me over and fuck me, Master'!" I continued and then jumped to the second walkway with ease as the Count stared up at me, his patent yet upset expression never leaving me. "And you know what else!?" I grinned down at him over the walkway's edge. "I've never been happier to say this so listen well; you and your Devil can go suck on a dead dog's nose! Because I'm not going back to that life! And – Oh ya! Here's another thing you can stick in your coffin and sleep on: Van Helsing is still alive and waiting for me to call him just in case you showed up!"
At that, his blue eyes shined and widened in surprise as his tall and regal form stiffened at the name of his old rival. "Van Helsing?" He breathed out in wonder at me and then took a quick look at his ring with his family's royal seal on it.
"That's right! I never said I actually KILLED him now did I?" I grinned down as he began to tremble with uncontrollable rage. Good! Get angry, you parasite from Hell! It will make things all the easier once I hand you your ass! I smirked as his fangs showed in his silent snarl. "I just made it look like I did just to get you off my ass about him! After all; if you two were as half as smart as I was, maybe you wouldn't be in this situation now, would you?"
He blinked. Did she just imply that both Helsing and I were not smarter than she is!? Dracula's rage came to a full halt as he stared up at the Dampire in bewilderment. It was mostly true, though he would never admit it. C had done things that left him in a stupor and no doubt had left Helsing in a daze too! Well, really! The nerve of her to say such things almost made him burst into laughter. She was still the same! That same suborn woman he had grown to feel for! Yet, she still did not know his intentions and he wanted to tell her so before she got too carried away with her ever independent rantings.
"What's the matter, your Highness?" I taunted as he stayed rooted to the spot with a faraway look in those blue eyes of his. "Got nothing to say back! There's a first! And here I thought you were tougher than that!"
He knew she was taunting him on purpose to entice a response from him, but he won't fall for it! This game she plays is rather dangerous and she is already on 'lose footing' as it is! He couldn't help himself though. He laughed.
Hearing him make that usual dark and yet silky laugh of his again made me want to gage! I frowned as I waited for him to finish. "Oh, my darling C!" He said and I deadpanned. Really!? He just had to call me darling again!? "How I have missed that ever defiant tone of yours!"
Before I could yell a response, his presents sifted to the metal landing that I was on. His army boots making loud clanking noises as he stepped closer towards me. "I must admit; you have grown strong in your own right, C. Some could even say you can no longer be a slave to a true vampire anymore," He said as I held my ground until he was less than a few feet from me. "But, do you not feel it, C? Do you not wake in the middle of the night from dreams of death and destruction?"
I frowned and turned my gaze away from him. Though I don't want to admit it, but I have been dreaming a lot like that lately. For within those dreams, it feels like I'm no longer myself anymore; just a killing machine and attacking any poor soul that crosses my path. But – that wasn't the only thing I dreamt about! There were still my experiences within the ocean that left me cringing in my own sweat!
"You do not know what I dream of!" I growled and clenched my hands into fists.
"No? And yet you are trembling with the need to tear something apart, are you not?" He countered with that cool tone of his as I bared my fangs at him. "I do understand, Carolyn. That is why I am here." His eyes growing soft as he took another daring step towards me. "You cannot expect me to ignore your suffering because of our past squabbles. You and I have both made mistakes that must be corrected. Carolyn," He said my name with such gentleness that it left me distracted again and I couldn't help but flinch in surprise when his cold hand went to cup the side of my face, for his soft touch was the last thing I was expecting from him! Even with the way he was looking at me! It reminded me of those times when we – NO! HELL NO!
"It is time to return to me so we may both –!?"
He didn't get to finish as I smashed my knuckles into the side of his face, the hand to my face was well removed after that! His head jerked back from my blow as his eyes widened while a small grunt of pain escaped his mouth at my surprised attack. But I was far from done! Just as soon as my blow caught him off guard, I forced my left foot into his lean yet built chest so hard that it sent him flying backwards till his back came into contact with the metal wall, making a nice impression of his back. As soon as he regained himself, he looked up at me in shock. Yep! I just DARED to start a fight with Dracula! The moron thinks to seduce me again!? Well guess what!? Have I got news for him!
"That was for Amy!" I pointed out and started to crack my knuckles, intending on doing more damage to him. "And now – I'm really going to hurt you!"
"Carolyn!" He spat out deeply, but straitened his back as he ignored the pain to his face that will soon disappear. She hit him hard! Physically attacking him to cause him pain! Damn it all! He did not want to do this! "I will not fight you! Have you not been listening to a word I've said!?"
"I've heard enough to know what I'm being played in," I spat as I grabbed part of the worn out metal railing and broke it off for a sizable weapon. "You and your typical 'flattering of the opposite sex' will no longer affect me!"
He quickly ducked when C brought the pipe down upon him and began swinging wildly at him. Enraged, Dracula grabbed the offending arm and pulled the pipe out of her possession. Once he tossed the piece of metal away, he thought he was safe, until C twisted in his grip and he suddenly found his arm pressed into his back. His shoulder bone creaked with protest at the sudden violence, but before he could free himself she kicked him again in his lower spin, setting her free and separating them again! Straitening himself again, he turned but quickly had to sidestep another kick that would have met his nose at the heel of C's boot! But she didn't stop, as she swung her foot to hit him again, but he ducked entirely, and (using his own self-defense) swatted an arm to her back, sending her flying a yard away. He froze at what he just done. Oops! By retaliating, he had just obligated himself into the fight, and that was the last thing he wanted to do!
"Carolyn!" He voiced rather firmly as she straighten up and narrowed her hazel eyes at him, preparing to attack him again. "Do not do this! Not now! I WILL stop you by force if you should continue this madness!"
"Well, that's tough shit, isn't it?" I huffed out then charged at him again, not giving him another moment to open that deceitful mouth of his. This time; instead of using my feet, I summoned my claws and started to swipe at his face, back, arms; anywhere I could do damage to! He just dodged and blocked each attack until I finally landed a nice, large blow on his right shoulder. He hissed in pain and suddenly disappeared from my sight. Homing in on his dark energy, I saw as he reformed back down on the first level.
Looking from his ruined coat to me, his blue eyes narrowed as I just cracked my neck free of strain and took hold of a nearby chain-rope hanging next to me. I jumped and used the chain to slide down to where he was. When my boot's touched solid ground, I pulled on the chain so hard that it snapped free from its bearing's; giving me a sizable whip to work with.
"C! Enough of this!" Dracula growled deeply at me as I slowly made my way towards him. "You cannot continue to –!?"
DRAG! WHACK!
Dracula's head was whipped slightly to the side again right after I had made the chain hit him so hard that it drew some of his dark blood. Now I'm making progress! Like that scene from Catwoman, I started to use the chain as a whip. Raising my arm and striking him! Raising my arm again and sticking him again and again and again! Though he blocked most of my attacks with his arms, shielding his face as he began to back away from me, I saw that in his eyes how incredibly pissed he was getting. The clothing on his arms were starting to get torn up blow after blow yet he still wouldn't retaliate!?
Attack me then! Count! I thought to him as my vampiric strength made the chain hit him harder and faster. FIGHT ME! That's the whole reason why you came to me tonight! Right!? Ether control me or KILL me? What's it gonna be!?
A loud and inhuman growl escaped from his throat as his eyes flashed dangerously at me. He then grabbed the chain-rope as soon as it was going to strike him again. But I didn't let him have the upper hand for long. Taking a quick step towards him, so there would be some slack, I twirled the chain up and behind him so fast that he didn't realize I was gonna use that spare slack to trip him up! Pulling the chain hard as it came in contact with the back of his heels, he fell on his back. A pained grunt came out between his canines as I used the chain, he was still holding on to, to spin around and gain momentum as I brought my right foot up to smash the soul of my boot into that arrogant face of his. His blue eyes went wide and he evaporated again right before I could break his face!
My boot smashed into the cement ground instead of my target, making several cracks appear around the heel. I glared up above two stories high to find the Count glaring down at me in disappointment yet angry nonetheless. Using the chain for support, I swung it up to one of the landing's metal railings and it caught. Shifting my weight, I jumped and used the chain to boost myself higher until I landed on the same landing as the Count stood on.
"You cannot win, C!" Dracula growled at me as I decided to let go of the chain, for his wounds and clothing had already self-regenerated by now. "Fighting me is pointless! You NEED me, Carolyn!"
"What I need is to beat the ever UN-living shit out of your corps for all the things you've put me through!" I hissed as I stretched the muscles in my arms over my head. "You may think you know me, but you don't! You don't even CARE what I or anybody else thinks except what you need! You really wanna help me!? THEN KILL ME! SET ME FREE FROM THIS CURSE!"
"I WILL NOT DO THAT! NOT TO YOU!" He hollered back.
"WHY NOT!?" I screamed and rammed into him, ready to punch and tear into every inch of his undead body, but he was too strong! He grabbed both my arms and I struggled to get any type of blow to his face. We both bared our fags at each other as we struggled to push against each other's strength, but it was clear who would be the victor if this duel!
Dracula, finally having enough of this, decided to teach her a lesson in power! If there was one rule in the vampire societies that everyone must follow; it was to know and respect your betters! With all his might, he threw C to the farthest corner of the abandoned factory. Her back collided with some huge bucket that dangled across from them. He immediately regretted it when she let out a cry of pain and she fell towards the ground. What he did not anticipate was that C's collision with the rusted bucket had broken the pulley that held it up, and once it broke lose, the bucket and all of its gray dirt, came tumbling down to crush her.
"Carolyn!" He panicked as he was too late to try and dive for her, for the thing had already crashed through several walkways and was now surrounding her form, preventing her from escaping. He could see that she rolled out of the way of the huge metal bucket, but was too slow to try and avoided the falling pieces of the buildings interior. Dirt and dust covered the scene as Dracula quickly jumped down to the first floor to try and dig her free. He removed several large sheets of metal that were once walkways, until he could hear her heartbeat.
As he was going to a third he had to jump back a step when several pieces of metal came flying out as if they were pushed. He froze when he spotted C crawling out of her surroundings. She looked awful! Covered in dirt and scratched up to the point that her blood was dripping on the floor. Her black hair had fallen loose and was now layered with gray dust as she held her severely broken arm! He did not mean for this to happen!
"Carolyn," He spoke softly and with genuine concern as he went to help her but she shoved him off.
"Get – away from me!" I coughed and spat at him as the pain in my arm was too great for words! It was fucking broken in three places! Bastard! Though I guess I deserved it for trying to pick a fight with the King of Vampires! But – Christ! This hurts! Though I can heal on my own, the process was still a bitch to deal with! I limped, along with my bruised pride, to the far side of the building and slumped against the wall, I hadn't realized I was crying bloody tears until I whipped my face; to try and clear it of dirt.
Dracula watched me silently from afar, not saying anything and not wearing any particularly angry expressions that I was expecting from him! He probably thinks I'm pathetic now!
No. I do not think you're pathetic. His voice speaks to me calmly into my head. Oh, how I wish I could have died right there and then! I slid to the floor and sniffed in shame as I coughed and chocked on the now dirty air. I heard him slowly approaching me, but I didn't look up. I felt too ashamed and weak to look at him. I wasn't strong enough to take him on! Even if I wanted to kill him, I couldn't do it because my power comes from him! My life really sucks!
"Carolyn," He said, sounding almost careful with his words. I flinched when his hand gently touched my arm, but he did not remove it. "I understand your anger towards me," He continued in his soothing accent, "But… there is something you must know."
When I gave him a sideways glance, as if to let him know that I was listening, he did something that I did not seriously expect him to do. He leaned forward and kissed me! On the forehead! THAT was something I didn't expect at all! Yet… the familiar feel of his touch… the softness of his cold lips against my temple left me breathless. When he released me, I felt his hand slid down my injured arm and felt his dark power healing the remaining damage that had been done to me. He had HEALED and KISSED me! What the fucking Hell!?
"That night, when you overheard me speaking with Ranfield," He said, his face still holding a look of longing at me as those eyes of his held mine, but not with force, but with – something else entirely. "What I said about you, Carolyn… I was wrong."
I was trembling, but not from weakness anymore, but from him! Before I could say a word, he stood back up and turned his back to me. "But – I see that you still do not believe me. But nor will I leave you in this state! Remember this, my C," He said it so nobly that I couldn't block him out even if I wanted to. "When you are ready to talk, I shall be waiting. When you are willing to listen, I shall be nearby. Do not take me lightly, C, for I have come a long way to find you and I refuse to give up on you just because you wish it!" He took a deep breath as if to calm himself before giving me one last look over his shoulder towards me. "Despite what you think of me; I am only here for you and you alone. In the meantime, ask yourself this; if you believe that I do not care then why have I crossed the ocean just to see you?"
When I didn't say anything he lifted a corner of his mouth to smirk at me, but not in a menacing way. "You are indeed a cleaver girl, C. But you think too lowly of yourself, which disappoints me. I believed I had raised you better than that, but still – your pride will only make things worse! You know this! Do not let yourself be blinded by the hatred you feel for me! Yet, I will still be watching over you from afar. When you are ready – Come. I shall be waiting."
With that he disappeared and I was left alone to think over his words. I was… in a word… stunned! Was this for real!? I mean I know the pain I was feeling was real, but what he just said..!? Was it all real? Did he truly mean what he said or was he just playing me from a different angel? I didn't know, but he didn't sound manipulative at all! Rather he sounded just as tired as I was when I had left the bar! Oh, God! What do I do!?
Still soar after the sudden 'beat-down' that I had gotten from Dracula, I walked out of the damaged building before I could be spotted by anyone curious enough to have heard all the commotion. Still, as I slowly made my way back to the apartment room I stayed in, I had to wonder if it was really the Dracula that I had come to admire and fear, and then hate that I had faced moments ago! It sure didn't sound like the one I had left in Transylvania! Oh man! If Fate really does exist, then why does it hate ME!?
If you believe that I do not care then why have I crossed the ocean just to see you?
Those words still haunted me as I climbed through the window of my apartment, unsure of the world around me. I felt sick to my stomach along with wanting to bawl my eyes out for everything that has been done to me. But… all I did was strip down, take a shower, dress in cleaner clothes and climb into my hammock. But I did not sleep. I stayed awake all throughout the night, thinking about what he said.
Was I wrong? I thought as I stared up at the ceiling. Is he really just here to help me and not use me as some slave again?
It must be a trick! My other half hisses from the far corners of my brain. He always tricks! Always lies! Always uses us for his desires! Isn't that why we chose to be free?
I gave a heavy sigh as I turned over, wincing slightly as my back was still healing from the collision it made to that damn bucket of dirt. Though I still don't know what his real reasons are for me, our recent encounter left me more questions than answers. Did he truly not mean to call me a tool then? Was he really apologizing for what he said that night? And… was he right when he said my pride would make things worse?
Dracula returned to the Hilton Hotel with less than what he intended to bring. C had tried to fight him, even begged him to kill her so she could escape the pain and suffering that she was enduring! Though he had tried to be reasonable and talk to her, she was in just too much pain to be reasoned with! It was mostly his fault and he knew it too! But, he couldn't leave her like this! Though he didn't mean for her to get injured like that at least he made it up to her by healing her arm and hopefully making her understand why he was here in New York at all!
I just hope she finally sees me as someone to rely on again, and not the tyrant she believes she had escaped from! He thought as he walked into his room and told Ranfield to let him rest for the day. Though the man did ask him about C, he only replied that it was going to take longer than expected to get through to her. There was much to discuss once C got over her rage of him.
Lying on the bed and making sure that none of the drapes showed a glimmer of the morning sunlight, Dracula closed his eyes and prepared himself for rest. But it hardly came, for the nights events still plagued him and how C's hateful, red eyes still haunted him. He wanted desperately to hold her and wipe away her tears when she was crying, but he knew he couldn't. Not yet. Not until she is ready to listen. Until she comes to him, he can do nothing except wait… and watch.
Ta da! Back again and with more exciting chapters! This one had me really tied down into thinking of how C was going to overcome her fears and face Dracula! But, I promise it's going to get better!
That fight scene really took its toll on me! For I was thinking of everything I could to make it come together and still make it sound awesome! Though the ending was emotional, I think it was necessary! After all, first comes the pain and then here come the healing! Right?
Well, I want to thank you all on your awesome REVIEWS! They really keep me inspired and I am glad that you all are loving my stories! :') Makes me want to jump and cry with joy! REVIEW and REVIEW and let me know what you think! I'm working on the next Chapter now so I hope to be updating before Christmas! My present to you! In the meantime, have a Happy Holiday and stay drunk free!
Love to all, BR2