Chapter 19

(Live or Die)

Parker's point of View

Darkness had already fallen as I glanced outside the window. At first I had thought Memphis was having us meet a little too early but he'd been right. It had taken an hour to get our weapons sorted and then begin the journey to the counts castle. We may have all met up in Hungary but the count's castle was in Romania. With our weapons sorted, we piled into cars by group and headed out.

The drive seemed to take forever but we finally made it. We left our cars far away from the cemetery. We couldn't take the chance of alerting the count to our presence. Several of the slayers had been surprised to see Sedrick in Denbrecen but I hadn't understood why until now. It had taken us nearly two hours to get to our destination. It made me wonder what Sedrick had been there for.

We were lucky in the sense that hiding our vehicles was easier under the cover of night. Even the stars seemed to have decided to hide their tiny lights from the impending confrontation between the count and us. It was only the eerie glow of the harvest moon that awarded any light at all as we approached our outer positions to the cemetery.

Looking at the full moon I couldn't help but feel a sense of uneasiness that wasn't far from fear. Not only were we about to face the Prince of Darkness in battle, but we'd have to be very careful with our timing on everything that we did or we'd end up dead and so would Katie.

Katie. A smile crossed my face at the thought of seeing my girl again. I could still remember the feel of her arms around me. The feel of loving her. I couldn't wait to rescue her and take her home. Home. That was a relative word now. The house had burned and I honestly didn't know if any of it was intact. I mentally shrugged. As long as I found a bed and privacy I didn't care. Whatever the count had put her through I'd take the pain away; with his death and my love.

As I waited for the count to take his position within the cemetery I felt a sense of guilt. As much as I didn't want to, we had to use Katie in a sense to trap Dracula. We couldn't save her the moment we saw her. No; we had to wait until the ceremony had begun to be able to surround and attack the count. If we waited to long Katie would be killed and made a bride. If we moved to fast Dracula would escape; quite likely with Katie. Danielle and Katie's lives were in our hands and we had to be very cautious.

Katie's point of View

The sky was as dark as black velvet as a servant led Sasha and I out into the internal courtyard. Except for a lantern the servant held, the only light came from the moon that glowed a strange color of orange mixed with red. My blue eyes scanned the sky but I couldn't find a single star. It made me wonder if the stars were hiding themselves. I'd never walked outside and not seen at least one star in the sky before. I looked to the moon. While it was eerie the way it glowed, it was also one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen; it was magical in its appearance.

"Move!" I heard Sedrick order harshly. I turned my head to the right to see who it was but found myself looking at the count instead.

"You truly are the most beautiful bride to ever grace this castle," He told me as he rubbed his right hand over my left cheek.

"Thank you," I replied. I don't know why. Perhaps it was simply that I had been raised to always be polite when given a compliment. It was strange when he touched me now. He'd been forceful and at times rough when he touched my skin in the beginning but no longer. The count seemed to always make sure any touch he placed on my skin was gentle. I didn't want to admit or face it but his touch had become hard to resist.

I looked into his dark brown eyes and couldn't help but notice there appeared to be sadness in them. Part of me dared to ask the powerful man before me about it but part of me feared asking so I didn't.

Hearing the sound of horses I looked to my right to see a horse pulled carriage approach. A man I didn't know dressed in black smoothly guided the horses. A second carriage followed with a man dressed in dark gray. It was only a moment and I heard the sound of chains and footsteps. A split second later I heard Brock put Sasha into the carriage I was to enter. Before I could see who the chained individual was I felt the hair on the right side of my face touched and turned back to face the count once more.

"Never doubt that you both belong to me," He said in a gentle and almost sad tone. "You will be my queen." He put a gentle hand on either side of my face and gently pulling me towards him he delivered the most passionate kiss I had ever felt. His tongue entered my mouth and I didn't fight it. It was so passionate I couldn't fight it; I couldn't fight him. He gave me one last chaste kiss and then helped me into the carriage.

Once I was inside he closed the door and walked away to where Sedrick and Brock stood waiting. As I leaned over to quietly watch the trio I could see concern and even fear on the faces of the two servants. I had no idea what was happening but I wanted to know. I couldn't understand why they looked so sad when their master was about to get exactly what he wanted. A few moments later Dracula took his place in the carriage next to me and the horse drawn carriage began making its way away from the castle.

Dracula's point of View

I kept a neutral face as we road toward the cemetery in silence but internally I frowned. I hated I would be separated from my future queen and our child.

My brown eyes looked over to where Katie sat quietly looking outside the window. I knew she had no idea what was about to happen. My beauty was not even yet aware she was with child. I felt a rush of disappointment at knowing I would not be there when she learned this hidden truth.

Looking at the beautifully dressed woman in white I couldn't prevent a small smile from crossing my face. During our short period of time together I had learned what she did and didn't like in various wedding gowns and had a gown created accordingly.

Katie was not dressed like any of the brides before her. They had often been dressed in gowns that resembled the period of time from which they'd become my bride. Most were of renaissance or medieval.

Katie wore long white satin gloves that covered halfway between her elbow and shoulder. The gown itself was strapless and had an empire waist with pearls and rubies encrusted into it. The satin floor length gown then flowed gently toward the ground. It wasn't an extravagant gown, save for the jewels, and yet it was one of the most elegant dresses I'd ever seen.

My beauty's hair was pinned up in an elaborate curled up do with red and white flowers placed sporadically among the curls. A ruby and pearl hair piece covered the base of the bun and her veil flowed behind her. Looking at her now made it even harder to let her go with my enemies. Yet I knew there was no way around it.

Memphis and the other slayers had been smart. I had Anca partially to blame. All five of the slayer groups were exceptional. They were some of the best in the world. Unfortunately, I was currently surrounded by less than powerful vampires. I would have to allow them to believe they had won and that I was dead. There was also the very real possibly I would not survive. I could very well end up dead, dead but not gone, unless Katie revealed what had taken place between us.

I looked over at Sasha. The woman gave me a respectful nod and it gave me hope. Brock's lady would look after my child and my future queen. I knew she would do everything she could to keep what had taken place between Katie and I silent. It was possible Katie would simply keep quiet but I couldn't be sure. She may even want "Fox" when she learned she was pregnant and there was a chance it was mine but still I couldn't be sure. As I wanted the child, I had to do whatever I could to protect the unborn babe.

As we neared the cemetery I sensed the presence of humans. I couldn't help but be silently impressed. They had enough forethought to not enter the cemetery before I did. I saw two movements within the shadows and knew at least a couple of them were becoming anxious. This was good news for me. When one becomes anxious they make mistakes. If they couldn't keep still long enough I might learn all their positions quickly enough to know where they were, how to counter, and keep my head and my bride. It wasn't a realistic hope but one could hope. It was more likely one would overestimate and I would keep my head. Either way I needed them to believe I was dead.

The carriage came to a halt and I stepped out before helping Katie out. I stepped away taking Katie with me while another servant helped Sasha out. Fledglings and servants held candles as I began leading the brown haired girl toward the alter. I didn't hold on to her harshly but placed my hand around her so it would appear I was holding her very forcefully.

Memphis point of view

Silently we entered the cemetery and began making our way slowly towards our positions. Carefully making my way toward my position I felt a silent scream of warning race through me. Something just didn't feel right. Then again I didn't like change or deviations in plans. Seeing the girl Sasha emerge from the carriage as well had surprised me and I was sure others were as well.

The blonde woman had said nothing about her being at the cemetery as well. Then again it was possible the count had made a last minute decision. The thought she'd been caught and was now to be the sacrifice crossed my mind until the emersion of a cloaked individual bound in chains. I was sure it would be Danielle.

I watched Katie in silence and quickly summarized she didn't understand what was happening; at least not fully. The blue eyed girl wasn't struggling at all. Then again the way the count had a grip on her I couldn't be that surprised. It looked strong enough to prevent any attempt to flee.

They had just neared the sacred alter when someone abruptly yelled, "Sasha!" I looked to see a woman with long hair running towards the group. It took less than twenty seconds for all hell to break lose.

"Shit!" I cursed and came out of hiding along with everyone else. The battle had begun.

Katie's point of view

Someone screamed Sasha's name and suddenly slayers and vampires were everywhere. I stood there stunned as arrows went flying all around me.

"Get down!" Dracula ordered me. I looked at him confused. "Do not forget what I told you. I will return for you both." Instantly two slayers attacked and the count was in full battle with them.

I suddenly felt like I was in a movie where everything is suddenly in slow motion. I'd always thought it was stupid and unrealistic when a movie did that but here and now is exactly what it felt like. People were shouting but I couldn't understand what they were saying.

"Katie!" I looked and found myself looking at Parker. "We have to go now!" Parker took my hand and began leading me out of the cemetery.

I glanced back and saw a sword strike and the count fall backward. His head falling backwards away from his body. I don't know why but I screamed. He had captured me, tormented me, taken me, and yet the site before me bothered me. Vampires were falling in every direction as the slayers clearly dominated the battle.

Brock's point of view

The cemetery was covered with the bodies of dead vampires. The slayers had even killed a couple of servants. Sedrick and I scoured the area but could find no sign of our master.

"Where is he?" The blonde man said becoming more and more concerned.

"I don't…" I ran up behind a small hill and saw a small pond. "Wait here." I jumped into the water. It was the only place I could see the count hiding in. I found his body and pulled him back to the surface. It was only then I realized his head had nearly been completely severed.

"Is he…"

"I don't know," I admitted. "His head wasn't fully severed but…we need blood; a lot of it." Blood is what healed the count. To save him we needed a lot of blood. I didn't know if he could recover from this or not. Only time and blood would tell.