Life And Death Go Hand In Hand
Aline came back from the bank, and after paying her rent, bills and buying food for the week, she sat down and put her feet up, with a cup of tea. Something odd was happening in her brain, and she wasn't sure if it was sensible.
Her fear of Dracula was fading. She still did not feel safe around him, but somehow, she thought that, if given the chance again, he not kill her.
Her anxiety levels had stabilized, and she no longer had nightmares.
The only problem was that lately, Aline had been feeling exhausted, and struggled to keep her eyes open at one point. She had visited her doctor and was awaiting test results. She hoped she didn't have an infection. A blood born infection could hasten her death.
Aline didn't know if the Dragon cleaned his teeth, and so if he had bitten anyone who was ill, and then drank some of her blood, diseases could be transmitted easily.
She would be lying if she wasn't frightened.
The results of her tests came back negative for everything, apart from anemia. So that was why she felt dizzy, and her sight was blurry at times.
She was given some iron supplements and told to take them every day for a month.
She did so, but Dracula kept on going back to her, to feed, and it was draining her, both physically and mentally. His visits were becoming more frequent. Aline appreciated the company, but his demeanor and the way he held himself made her begin to think that he should just drain her dry, and call it a day.
Monotonous work days blurred together, in a haze of vertigo and blood. Aline ached, her body felt sore and weary, her condition was becoming unbearable.
So when she collapsed onto her sofa, and started coughing, her life flashed before her eyes and she cried out.
She cried out for the one man who could end her suffering, deaden her pain permanently.
She would struggle no longer...
Aline was frightened, her heart pounded, and her pupils were as wide as saucers.
She could see the veins on her hands, decolletage, and wrinkles appeared under her eyes. Her now weary legs gave out and she fell.
She cried out for Dracula, hoping that he heard her plea.
And he head heard her, and he just knew that something had gone terribly wrong.
He walked through the door to her apartment block, uncaring if anyone saw him.
What he saw in her apartment caused him alarm.
Aline's time on Earth had, seemingly, run out.
The Prince approached the frightened, now elderly looking Aline, who waved a thin, skeletal hand at him. He looked away, not wishing to see her like that.
"Why didn't you inform me of your worsening condition? I would not have begun feeding from you so often had I known".
Aline's face was the same as he was accustomed to seeing, but her arms, hands and neck were not. They looked that of someone much older than herself. She did not answer immediately, she simply curled up into a ball.
When she did answer the Prince, her voice was strained, and she sounded breathless.
"I did not tell you I was getting worse because when you drank from me, it did not hurt, I only felt dizzy. And I do not care for myself, so I don't see why you should concern yourself at all".
Dracula sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You should have told me that your condition has worsened. You do not wish to die. My blood shall sustain you until you reach a decision".
Aline watched as the Prince walked over to her, knelt down in front of her.
Dracula sliced a thin line on his wrist, and gently moved Aline's head so she was by the cut. Aline gasped and shook her head.
"No! I don't want that! I told you, just dig your fangs into my flesh and kill me. I hate saying this but, please, I beg you".
The Dragon shook his head, and continued to hold his wrist by her mouth.
"You will not be turned by my blood alone, I know you do not want to become like myself,. If you drink, you won't. It will give you more time. Aline, you deserve life, not to shrivel up and die in agony. Drink darling, drink".
Aline shuddered at the term 'darling'. Being called something nice was pleasant, but to hear it come from someone corrupted by darkness, a creature of the night, thriving in the demise of others, was downright strange.
She knew that the Prince would not let up, and would keep on insisting that she fed from him. She stirred herself, found some energy and latched onto his wrist.
Aline began moaning. She felt strength and vigor powering through her body. The blood was cold, and tasted disgusting, but she knew she needed this.
The old woman who lived above her started shouting at her and she smirked.
"Oh shut up! Just cause you aren't getting any! I can moan all I want".
Dracula's eyes widened, he knew what she meant by that. That little innuendo only served to increase his urge to leave the building.
He tried to stop Aline, who now looked like the woman whom he was used to looking at, but she swatted away his other hand. He looked into her eyes, and red now intermingled the emerald green of her eyes. He had to stop her a little more, forcefully.
The Prince shoved Aline back and she swallowed the blood that remained in her mouth. She tilted her head and bit her lip at him.
"That was amazing. We definitely need to do that again sometime. And ignore the old woman upstairs, she is far too old to comprehend that times have changed since she was young. Dracula? You seem, distant".
Dracula backed up, at a snail's pace, but Aline knew she had done something wrong.
"I shouldn't have drank that much, right? I couldn't help it. I hated the taste, and the smell made me want to wretch, but something about it was simply. divine".
"We cannot do this again. This should not have happened".
Aline had gotten bolder, her body felt invigorated and better than it had in months. Getting to know the Prince of Darkness was turning out to be better than she had ever thought possible.
She stood up and moved behind the Prince. She put her hands on his shoulders, and began to massage them.
Since when had she become so brazen? So immodest?
Touching Dracula was a risque move, he could snap and break her like she was made of glass if he wanted too.
But he did not move. His face betrayed nothing, his body did not seem to react to her attention at all.
Aline stopped massaging the Prince, and sat down on a chair. She crossed her legs and smiled, inviting him over, with a 'come hither' finger. Dracula shook his head and went towards her front door. She stopped when he heard footsteps outside, in the hallway.
It was the old woman Aline was referring too, so he could not leave just yet.
Aline kept a smile on her face that even he struggled to decipher. She stood up and pulled him onto the chair she previously occupied and sat on his lap. He shuffled and refused to look at her.
The old woman mumbled curse words, and insults about people younger than her, and refused to budge., thus giving Aline time to study the tortured, troubled Prince.
She, compared to him, was timid. He was dissolute, she was not. But now? She felt empowered, and wanted to prove that she was more than just a mere human being.
She studied the Dragon's face.
He always seemed to have a hateful expression on his face. The corners of his mouth would be curled, snarling, and his eyes gave off a barbarous glare.
Aline stroked his small beard and he still did not look at her, nor did she expect him too.
"You're pretty handsome you know. Bet you have all the ladies swooning over you, their panties dropping off when they catch your eye. I am sure that you did not ask to be made into what you are, but, I bet the man you used to be is still in there. I understand why people are terrified of you, and why you want them to be. But, can I ask you something?"
Dracula looked at her, and his eyes were no longer a vivid red shade. They were russet coloured now. He nodded.
"Let me in? I am not asking for love, children, or a little house in the countryside, with a picket fence around it. I am just asking for companionship. I will let you feed, and chat with you, if you'd like. And you? You could just be there, if I ever feel afraid, and I just need some company".
The Prince processed Aline's request. He could help her, and she him, but why should he?
More importantly, why should he?
Aline saw his hesitance to give an answer.
"Need an incentive?"
Dracula shifted.
"You should be afraid of me".
Aline nodded.
"I know, and I am, but, well...may I?"
He realised what she wanted and mulled it over. He saw no reason to say no, or stop her, so he nodded.
Aline kissed him softly, gently. His blood tasted sweeter off her lips, more than likely it was the lipbalm she had on. But it tasted honeyed, sugary sweet, enough to corrode teeth, but not his.
His hand went onto her decolletage and he stroked down it with a knuckle. He felt her breath hitch and she pulled away with a sigh.
"Easy there, whatever this fucked up thing is, we haven't known each other that long, and I don't move quickly. I do have morals, even though I know it doesn't seem like that sometimes. Mmmm though, come here".
The old lady outside Aline's front door could be heard shuffling off, and when her steps were heard going up the stairs, Aline pounced on the Prince. He fought his urges, but they were akin to the ones he had when he was human, and clashing hips with Marie. They were getting the better of him.
Aline kissed him frantically, her hands went all over his chest and under his jacket. The feel of his freezing cold skin made her twitch. She never did like the cold.
She suddenly stopped and got off the Prince's lap. He was slightly dazed and confused. Aline shook her head and went to her front door.
She opened her front door and ushered Dracula out. He stopped in the doorway and glared at her.
"I don't do waiting Aline, do not tease me, then walk away".
Aline smirked.
"You'll just have to learn to wait. Good things come to those who wait, darling".
Aline swayed her hips on the way to her bedroom and Dracula watched her, with morbid fascination.
He shut her door and left the apartment complex.
Aline was under his skin, and he was done fighting it.