I'm back! I would like to thank everyone who added my story onto their favorites and alerts. I would like to especially thank Jasper Blood and Snips95 for their comments on the last chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to review, because they make my day and tend to get me to write faster *wink* *wink*... :)
Marishka woke up early to prepare herself mentally for the task that lied before her. She waited until Verona and Dracula woke up before she left. As she was flying, she heard something behind her. It was Verona.
"I am interested to see this human that you have become infatuated with. Plus the master wants to make sure that you return safely with her."
Marishka smiled at her and the two then headed off towards the castle.
Aleera was sleeping peacefully, with Constantine outside of her room, standing guard. When Marishka and Verona got to her window, Marishka carefully opened it, so that it would not make a sound. She and Verona then turned into their human forms and walked over to Aleera's bed side. Verona looked at her and smiled.
"You were wise in picking this one Marishka." Verona walked up to Aleera and looked at her sleeping peacefully.
"How do you plan on moving her without waking her up?" Verona asked.
"Hmm…I hadn't thought of that."
"I figured that you hadn't, and that is why the Master gave me something to keep her asleep." Verona then pulled out a small vile with a clear liquid. She then opened the vile and put a few drops in Aleera's mouth.
"Try to wake her now," she said to Marishka.
Marishka then touched her arm. Nothing happened. She then tried gently shaking her, but still Aleera remained asleep. Marishka smiled at this. Verona then motioned for her to bring Aleera as she changed into her demon form. Marishka then carried her all the way back to Castle Dracula.
When they got there, Aleera was still asleep. Verona helped Marishka place Aleera on the bed and the two of them watched her sleep.
"What do you think she is dreaming about?" Marishka asked.
"I am not sure. I do not hold that power over humans."
"But I do," a voice said from behind them. They both turned and saw that Dracula was standing in the door way.
"Master, we have brought her, our new sister."
"I can see that. Well Marishka, you were right when you said she was quite beautiful. I think she will make a fine addition to our family."
"Master will you tell us what she is thinking about?" Marishka asked in an almost childlike tone.
Dracula then touched his index finger to Aleera's forehead.
"She is dreaming of her love… Constantine is his name."
"See if there is anything about me, Master," Marishka asked.
"You seem to be darting in and out of her dream. There are some parts where you are there, others where you are not."
"When will she wake master?"
"Verona how many drops did you give her?"
"Three."
"She will wake up tomorrow night, perfect. I will need you two to get things ready for her. I will talk to her tomorrow night. Then she will become one of us." With that, he left the room and headed to his own.
The next morning, back at the Valerious castle, Constantine knocked on the door of Aleera's room.
"Aleera? Are you awake?"
There was no answer. He smiled to himself.
"She must be sleeping still," he thought to himself. He then opened the door and noticed that her bed was empty. He looked around the room franticly. He kept calling her name but there was no reply. He ran down to his father's study and told him of what had happened.
"My son she is lost to us then. There is only one group of creatures that would take her away from you."
"I will not stop fighting for her. I will bring her back to me," and with that he stormed out of the room.
Later that night, Aleera woke up and noticed that it was dark out side, but that she was not where she had fallen asleep last night. She looked around to see if there was anything to tell her where she was, but could find nothing. She then heard the door open and she turned her head quickly to see who it was. It was a man she had never laid eyes upon before. She couldn't help but admit that he was rather attractive.
"Good evening my dear."
"Good evening sir. May I enquire what your name is?"
"Where are my manners? I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia, but the majority of people now days call me simply Dracula."
Aleera gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
"Why so shocked? Were you expecting someone else?"
"Why have you taken me away from my home?"
"I did not take you, my brides did. I made a bargain with them and they have done their half of it. Now it is my turn."
He then went behind her and took in her aroma. Aleera sat quaking with fear.
"There, there. I will not hurt you." He then turned her towards him. He put his hand under her chin and made her look at him. Once she locked eyes with him, she could not look away. She slowly started to feel draw to him. She started to lean in towards him. She then had an image of Constantine flash before her, she pulled back.
"What is wrong with me, I hate you. I hate you due to all the pain you have caused my love and his family…"
Dracula put a finger on her lip. He then smiled at her. She couldn't resist him. He then leaned in towards her and pulled her face to his.
"You will be my final bride." He then kissed her. Aleera tried to fight him off of her, but was unable to match his strength. She then had no choice but to give into his demands. She then pulled away for air and right as she did, she looked at Dracula who had moved her hair away from her neck. Her eyes grew wide with fear. She tried to escape his grip, but it was too late.
He plunged his fangs into her neck. Aleera tried to push him away but her punches started to grow weaker and weaker. Dracula then came up, blood on his chin. He then picked Aleera up and laid her on the bed. He slit his wrist and started to let the blood drain into her mouth. She then started to close her eyes and die, but right as the blood started to go down her throat, images of Constantine started to go into her mind, but they were soon replaced by images of Dracula. As her pleasant memories of Constantine started to fade away, her love for him started to dissolve as well. She jolted up and started to drink the blood directly from Dracula's arm. Dracula was amazed at this and he started to feel himself grow weak from it.
"That is enough," but Aleera kept drinking.
"Enough!" He pulled his arm away from her grip. He looked back at her. Blood was along her lower lip. He wiped it away, and as he did, she threw her arms around him and kissed him more passionately than he did to her before. He then returned the kiss and the two stayed there for what were only a few minutes, but seemed like hours to Aleera.
"You will need your rest my dear. Your body still has much to change before you are truly one of us." He then picked her up and with a snap of his fingers, a coffin was in front of them.
"Don't leave me," she said in a very faint voice. She could start to feel the agonizing pain coarse through her body, but did her best not to scream and writhe in pain in front of Dracula.
Vlad smiled at her.
"You will need your sleep, tomorrow you will be with me, for all eternity."
He then caressed the side of her face and she nuzzled up against him. He then gently placed her in and kissed her cheek. She smiled back at him and then fell asleep, letting the transformation take its long and painful course.
"Sleep well my bride. Sleep well my Aleera."
Constantine spent the whole day looking for Aleera. When he started to feel all hope was lost, he went to the church in the village to pray. While he was there, a few of the monks that resided over it noticed him and walked up to him.
"Prince Constantine, how may we help you on this fine morning?"
Constantine's eyes were red from lack of sleep. He turned to them and they all took a step back.
"I have lost my bride to be to Dracula." At the mention of his name, the candles around him flickered, as if the mere mention of him were a sin.
"I don't know what I will do without her, she is my everything."
The monks took pity on him and told him to follow them. They took him back to the cellar of the church, where they told him to wait outside the door. When they returned, they came out with a small vile of green liquid.
"The ancient writings of your ancestor, Valerious the Elder, have stated that there is only one way to kill Dracula, and that is by the venom from the bite of the wolf."
They then handed this to him.
"Use it well my son. You will know when the time is right."
Constantine them left the monastery and returned home. He waited until that night to try to find Dracula's castle.
That night, in Castle Dracula, Aleera woke up from the deep pain that she felt in her chest. She clutched at her heart and felt that is was not beating. She then touched her skin and it was ice cold. Aleera then noticed that she was in a box and slowly opened the lid, as she tried to remember where she was. She became worried as she remembered the events that had happened the night before and ran over the mirror on the vanity. She went to check and see if her face was pale, but when she looked in the mirror, there was nothing there. She screamed out in terror because of what was happening to her.
Dracula heard her scream from his study, just as Marishka and Verona heard it from their rooms. Dracula was the first one to get there. He threw the door open to see what was the matter. Aleera then turned and saw him. She then felt a deep desire for his touch form inside of her. She ran to him and put her head onto his chest. She started to cry into his shoulder, and he started to stroke her hair.
"What's happening to me?" she asked in between sobs.
"Your body is still changing. It will take some time to get used to."
"I am so frightened."
This was a surprise to Dracula. None of his other brides were ever upset during their change. Shocked yes, but never upset. He kissed the top of her head and then lifted her face up to look at him.
"There is nothing to be afraid of now, my dear. You are safe, and soon strong enough to become a serious threat to humanity."
She then smiled at him and he kissed her lips tenderly, while Aleera kissed back with more passion than she ever knew she possessed. Verona entered the room, closely followed by Marishka. Verona then cleared her throat. Dracula then looked at his other brides. Aleera turned and hissed at them. Once the noise escaped her throat, she felt her teeth elongate. She then took her hand and touched them; they were sharp to the touch.
Marishka's face became stern while Verona let her fangs grow out as well to show that she was not scared of the new comer.
"Marishka, Verona, this is your new sister and my bride, Aleera." Marishka was overwhelmed at how different Aleera looked than she did the night she brought her to the castle. Verona showed little emotion in her facial expression towards her new 'relative'.
"Aleera, these are my other brides, Marishka and Verona." Marishka smiled politely; Verona nodded slightly.
"You," Aleera said as she pointed at Marishka, "you are the one who brought me here."
Marishka looked at her new sister, trying not to show the excitement that she was starting to get from her younger sister.
"Yes, I did."
"You expect me to share him with you two?" she said as she laid a hand on Dracula's chest.
"That is what we have been doing for the past 100 years," Verona said in a harsh tone. It was obvious that she was not pleased with how her new sister was acting.
Aleera simply frowned in disapproval. She then looked up at Dracula, whose face did not show whose side he was on.
"Aleera, I have work I have to get to, your sisters will help you adjust to your new life."
"Sisters?"
He then motioned to Marishka and Verona.
"They are as much of family to you as I am. They will teach you the basics."
He then walked over to Verona and whispered something into her ear so that Aleera couldn't hear it and placed something in her hand. Verona then smiled and looked at Marishka and nodded. Marishka then looked at Aleera, who had a look of confusion on her face.
When Dracula left the room, Verona and Marishka turned towards their new sister. They then started to circle her, thinking to themselves and nodding every now and then.
"First things first, we have to get you out of those old clothes."
Aleera looked down at her dress that she was wearing. She had to admit it was a little plain, but she didn't want to say anything. She then looked up and saw Marishka tearing through the closet in her room. She then turned around and was holding a long gown with flowing sleeves.
"This is perfect! Try it on."
Aleera took the dress and looked down at it. It was white that faded into pink further down the dress. It also was embroidered with gold fixtures. It was a little lower cut that what Aleera was used to, but she didn't mind, as long as it would attract Dracula's attention. It also had a section around the waist that was sheer and was made of a thin silk.
"How will this keep me warm? It is almost winter."
Verona simply smiled while Marishka busted out laughing.
"You do not need to worry about the cold ever again. You will not feel it."
While Aleera was changing clothes, Marishka was looking for accessories, while Verona sat by the window, looking at the stars.
"What do you think?"
Aleera turned around to show her sisters her dress. Verona's eyes lit up and Marishka became very excited. Aleera turned around to make the bottom of the dress fan out.
"It's perfect! Just your size," Marishka said.
"It does flatter you well," Verona said. She was starting to settle down and become accustomed to her new sister. Aleera smiled at the two of them. She went to move her hair out of her face, when she felt the bite marks on the side of her neck. She quickly pulled her hand back.
"What's wrong?" Marishka asked her.
"I felt something rather odd on my neck." She then pulled back her hair to show them.
"It will go away as time goes on," Verona said to her. She loved how little she knew about them.
"Yes, mine is practically gone," Marishka said. She pushed her hair to the side and showed her what was left of her bite mark. All that was left was two very small holes that could not be seen by any human. Verona did the same. She removed her collar and showed that hers were completely gone.
"It will take time, besides this is only your first night in your new life." Marishka then picked up something from the vanity behind her. She then showed Aleera a necklace made of entirely pink crystals. It matched her dress perfectly too. Aleera's eyes grew wide with excitement. Marishka also had in her hands and pair of matching earrings.
"I am sure that you can put these in yourself." She handed Aleera the earrings. She then walked behind Aleera and placed the necklace on her. As soon as she had attached the clasp, she walked in front of Aleera to see how she looked. She smiled.
"Doesn't our baby sister look beautiful, Verona?"
"Yes but there is something missing." She then stepped towards her sister and opened her hand. In it was a ring that had a giant rose colored diamond in the center of it, surrounded by smaller diamonds.
"In order to be a Bride of Dracula, you need to look like a bride." She then lifted Aleera's hand up and took the ring that Constantine had given her and threw it behind her. She then placed the ring on Aleera's finger.
"Now, I think you are finished."
Aleera looked down at the ring. As soon as she did, all she could think about was Dracula. She then started to wish that he was with her.
In his study, Dracula could sense that his new bride was longing for him, but he knew he would have time later to see her.
Verona and Marishka sensed that their master wanted them to take her to the village. They both turned to her.
"Come Aleera, we need to feed, as do you."
"We will teach you how to get there." Marishka then took her hand and led her to the window.
Verona was the first to leap off the side, closely followed by Marishka. Aleera then looked at the two of them in horror. She had never seen them in their demonic forms before, except for Marishka that one time, but it happened so fast it was hard for her to make out anything.
"Are you coming Aleera?" Marishka reached out her hand to her. Aleera took a few steps back. Verona then looked at Marishka and nodded back at Aleera. Marishka then flew back and landed next to Aleera, changing into her human form.
"What's the matter?"
"You two look so different in this….form."
"Well, you will look similar to us in that form too. Come, its time to go."
She then changed back and flew next to Verona.
"Come on, you just have to concentrate."
"It is all right if you don't get it the first time, neither of us did," Verona said as she pointed at Marishka and herself.
Aleera looked at them and then at the ledge. She took a deep breath and took a running start. As soon as she jumped off of the ledge, she half expected to plummet to the ground, but instead she noticed that she was in the air. She opened her eyes and saw that she wasn't falling. She was in fact at the same level as the others. She looked at herself and saw that her skin had become grey and that her dress was gone. She then looked up at Verona and Marishka. Marishka's mouth was open with amazement; Verona had a small smile on her mouth showing her pleasure in Aleera's accomplishment.
"Aleera, you did it!" Marishka said with shock in her voice.
"I did as you said, I concentrated. Now, what do we do now?"
"It is off to the village. It has been awhile since either of us has fed."
Verona led the way. Marishka was close to Aleera, helping her along the way get used to her new body. At first, it was obvious that Aleera was having trouble remembering to flap her wings, but as they got closer and closer to the village, she started to get the hang of it.
As they were getting near the village, Verona wanted to see if her sister would be able to dodge the obstacles that she might encounter if they ever encountered the Valerious family. She quickly dived down to see if she was paying attention. Marishka knew what she was trying to do right away and followed her. Aleera wasn't sure what they were doing, but followed. They started weaving in and out of trees, looping up in the air and making sharp turns. Aleera was able to keep up, but was never sure what to expect next.
I know I am leaving you with another cliff hanger, but don't worry, the next chapter will be VERY dramatic and one of the high points in the plot. Remember, review, review, review and until next time!
~aleera-mistressofallevil