Hey again! Since I am finally on summer break, I have more time to write, so I will be trying to update this a lot more. Thanks everyone who read/reviewed last chapter. I hope that you guys enjoy this.
Constantine was still laying on the ground when the sun came up the next morning. His whole body ached. He slowly got up and started to walk home. When he got there Anya embraced him.
"Oh my God, I thought they had killed you!"
"I am alive, as you can very well tell."
He then clutched his chest and groaned in pain. Anya put her arm around him to help him walk.
"What's wrong?"
He didn't want to have his sister worry about him, so he said, "It is nothing, just sore from getting hit a few times."
"I know there is something else. I think I know what it is."
"Oh do you now?"
"Constantine, you can't change the past. The Aleera that you held dear and that loved you is dead. She is lost to us. She is the Devil's follower now. There is no hope for her."
The mention of Aleera's name made Constantine start to choke up. He tried hard to hold back the tears and his sister saw the pain in his face.
"I know how much you loved her, and trust me she loved you too. She talked about it all the time, but she is not the same person any more. She may look the same, but she has completely different obligations now. The only way to save her soul is to kill her and hope that God will, in time, forgive her."
Constantine then left his sister and headed to his room. He stayed there the rest of the day. When night fall approached, he started to feel the same pain he had felt the night before. He fell on his bed as he started to scream in pain. Having heard his cry, Anya ran to his room. When she saw her brother writhing in pain, her eyes grew wide with fear. She then ran to her father's room. By the time she got back with her father, her brother was no longer there. She looked around the room, but found no sign of him.
Then in the shadows, she heard a noise. She turned and saw a pair of yellow eyes looking menacingly at her. A low growl was then let out from the same corner. Anya slowly backed away and right as she did, the thing that was in the corner leaped out at her. She ducked in time so that the creature flew right over her head. She turned and saw what was hiding in the corner. The sight that she beheld was almost unbearable. It looked like a wolf, but when it turned around and raised itself to its true height, she saw what she was really dealing with. Tears started to fill her eyes. She knew then that what she was looking at was her brother. Her father saw the creature take a step towards Anya so he fired a shot right in front of it to stop its advance. It turned and growled at him and then leaped out to the balcony and then leaped off the side. Anya's father ran to her and helped her up.
"Oh my God," was all that she could say. Her father held her close as he watched his son run off into the forest. His son had now become a monster, just as his former love did.
Back at Castle Dracula, Dracula sensed that there was something coming towards the castle. He then walked to the window of his study and saw a figure running up the mountain. He smiled to himself, for he knew exactly who it was. He then walked to Aleera's room. When he opened the door, he was glad that he saw his other brides were all there.
"My dears, we have company."
Verona looked puzzled, Marishka looked shocked, but Aleera didn't seem to pay much attention, she was too busy smiling at him.
"Follow me, if you will." Aleera was the first to be at his side. They all followed him down to the grand hall. Along the way Dracula noticed how Aleera did not travel farther than a few inches away from him. He smiled at her and he put his arm around her waist. She then put her head on his shoulder as they continued to walk towards the door.
When they reached their destination, the brides were all in awe of what was before them. Aleera clutched for her master, Marishka looked curiously at the creature, and Verona was not amused, she had grown used to the new surprises that seemed to pop up in her life.
Dracula looked up at the clock that was looming over them. There was only two minutes left until midnight. He snapped his fingers and shackles appeared around the werewolf's neck. Dracula then looked back at the clock and saw that clouds were starting to pass in front of the moon. He and his brides then watched as the werewolf ripped off his fur and what remained was Constantine, panting heavily.
"Well, well, well, I see that you managed to find my humble abode. You see that clock up there," he pointed behind him, "once it strokes midnight, you will be my servant and be under my control."
"I will never follow you!" Constantine spat at him.
"We will see about that."
He then started to pace in front of Constantine.
"You should know by now what you are."
"A monster, just like you, but I will kill you."
"That is the thing though, once midnight hits, you will not be able to do that."
He then looked over to his brides. They were all watching anxiously, to see what their master was going to do to their guest. He then motioned for them to come over to him. As soon as they did, he took Marishka and Verona by the waist.
"Aleera I need you stay here and watch our new…pet."
"But I want to stay with you!" She whined as if she were a small child being denied attention.
"I will not be gone long, besides I have special plans for the two of us tonight." He then pulled Aleera to him and kissed her right in front of Constantine. Aleera kissed back, without hesitation. Dracula then opened one of his eyes to make sure that Constantine was watching them. To his pleasure, the prince was gritting his teeth and glaring at him.
"As soon as midnight has come, come to my study, we will be there."
"Yes my lord."
Dracula and his other brides then left Aleera in charge of Constantine. She looked down at her prisoner and started walking around him.
"Aleera, why did you do this?"
"Why does it matter to you what I have done? It is none of your concern."
"It is my concern, because you left me. I loved you."
Aleera wheeled around and glared fiercely at him. She then grabbed him by his neck and lifter him up to her eye level.
"That girl that you knew is dead! She is not coming back, ever."
"Then why not put me out of my pain and misery by killing me now."
"I was not told to do that by my master. You will soon find that obedience is a very important character trait that he holds as a priority. You won't have to worry about it at all; it will be the only thing you will be able to do."
She then flung him back against the wall. She threw him with such force that a few stones were cracked from the impact of his body. He slowly got to his knees and shook his head. When he lifted his head up, she was standing right in front of him.
"I will never show obedience to you or your master. I am not your slave."
"You will be soon enough dog!"
Right as she said this, the clock started to chime midnight. The clouds then parted and the moonlight hit his body. His screams of pain were soon replaced with roars. Aleera stepped back as she watched him tear his skin off. The sight was overwhelming for her as she saw the man she once loved being replaced with a werewolf.
As soon as the final stroke rang throughout the hall, the werewolf fell to the floor. Aleera approached him slowly, unsure how this new creature would react. As she took a step towards it, it let out a low growl. She hesitated and then took another step towards it. It then looked up at her and bared its fangs. She then bared her own at the creature, letting a hiss escape her throat.
Aleera then remembered that she was supposed to go get her master at that time. She quickly headed to his study, where she found the others quietly reading. Verona was helping Marishka, for she had not had been taught to read as a child. When Aleera entered through the door, they all looked up at her.
"Is it that time already?" Dracula asked her.
"Yes master, the deed is done."
"Then let us go see our new…pet."
They then all placed their books down and walked to where the werewolf still was. When they got there, they noticed that it was trying to get off of its chain, but when it saw Dracula, it stopped its struggle instantly. As the brides approached it, it growled menacingly at them. They all stepped behind their master, but still looked around him to see what it would do.
Dracula casually stepped forward. When he approached it, it started to back towards the wall.
"Hmm…I want to see I it will follow orders before we let it off its leash."
"Oh let me try something master!" Marishka said earnestly.
He nodded at her to proceed. She then stepped up next to him.
"Since he is nothing more than our overgrown dog, why not treat him as such?"
She then turned to the werewolf and pointed her finger at it.
"Stand." The werewolf slowly got to its feet and then stood watching her, waiting for the next command. She became giddy with excitement and started clapping her hands. She then looked at it again and said, "Now, sit mutt."
It lowered itself to its knees and looked at her again.
"Oh let me try Marishka!" Aleera pleaded with her.
She then stepped next to her sister, followed by Verona, who simply watched over their shoulders.
Aleera then clapped her hands and a servant appeared. She then pointed at the servant to stand close to the werewolf. He nervously did as she instructed and stood next to the beast. Aleera then looked at the werewolf.
In a commanding voice she said, "Kill him." A wicked smile came across her face as the creature did exactly as she said.
"Oh this will be so much fun. Verona, why don't you try?" Marishka said.
"I do not feel like wasting my time in such childish acts to amuse myself."
Verona looked at both Aleera and Marishka showing that she found the whole deal pointless.
"You have a point my dear." Dracula then snapped his fingers and the chains around the creature's neck disappeared. It then fell to the ground and looked up at him.
"I have a task for you: go kill the head of the Valerious family."
Without any hesitation, it bounded out the door and headed towards the village.
"Verona, I want you and Marishka to follow it and make sure that it completes its task." They both nodded and flew after the monster. Dracula then turned to Aleera.
"Follow me my dear; I have something special planned for us tonight."
Aleera excitedly held his arm and followed him back to his chambers. When they got there, Dracula snapped his fingers, so that the candles in the room became lit. He then sat in his arm chair and Aleera followed him. She then sat on his lap and looked at him. She then became overcome with a deep desire for him. She did not care if the others ever came back. Aleera then wrapped her arms around his neck and started to kiss his face. He then kissed her back. He started at her lips and then went down her neck. She then started to remove his jacket, but he jumped up quickly to the ceiling. Aleera looked up at him with curiosity.
"If you want me, come get me," he said to her teasingly.
She smiled back at him and ran up the side of the wall to him. Once she got to him, she leaped into his arms. She then started kissing him again and removed his jacket. He then pulled off the sleeves of her dress. She leaned into his chest and looked up into his eyes. He then started kissing her neck again and went down to her collar bone. Aleera then started moaning in pleasure. This is what she wanted, to be loved by her master. She then lowered her sleeves even more. Dracula then looked at her and then lead her to his bed. Once he placed her down, she pulled him down to her and started kissing him again. She knew that this was the happiest she had felt in a long time.
When Marishka and Verona got back, they flew through the window leading to Verona's room.
"Why couldn't we just kill that spoiled little princess?" Marishka asked in an irritable tone.
"We were told only to kill the father, not the girl. Besides, she will be in more pain than he was a minute ago. She has lost her father and brother; she would want us to kill her to end her pain."
"I suppose your right."
"You should hurry along, it is almost sun rise."
"I wonder what Aleera is up to?"
"We both know the answer to that question. Now hurry, unless you want to get burned."
"I'm going, I'm going. Good night sister, I shall see you tomorrow."
"Sleep well."
Marishka left Verona's room and then walked to her room. As she passed Aleera's room she saw how it was empty. She then had flashbacks to when she was the youngest of Dracula's brides. When she got into her coffin, she quickly fell asleep, wondering what the night would bring the next day.
When Aleera awoke, she tried to go back to sleep, but was unsuccessful. She then felt something move next to her. She slowly opened her eyes and turned over and saw that it was Dracula, who was still peacefully sleeping. She smiled and put her head against his chest. She then started to play with his long hair, moving her fingers in between his jet black hair. She noticed that he started to smile and placed his arm around her.
"Good evening my dear."
"Good evening master." Aleera then quietly yawned and laid her head back on his chest. He then started petting her hair, with his chin on the top of her head. The aroma that emitted from her was pleasing to him.
He then got up and started to put his shirt and jacket back on. He then threw Aleera her dress. Once she was dressed she slowly left the room.
As she was walking back to her room she had a smile on her face. She was only thinking of Dracula. When she passed by Marishka's room, she noticed that both of her sisters were standing in there, watching her. She then entered the room, the same smile still on her face.
"I can see that you enjoyed yourself," Verona said rather bluntly.
"Oh, yes," she replied back in a half dreamy voice.
"Verona has important news!" Marishka said excitedly.
Aleera snapped back to reality and looked at her, waiting for what Marishka was talking about. Verona on the other hand, did not look very happy.
"I'm pregnant."
Cliff hanger! Please, please, PLEASE review! If there are any ideas that you have that will help with this story, please don't keep them to yourself. And an FYI, I might need a little help for future chapters, so if you are willing to help, that would be great (if you do, you get a preview to what is going to happen later;) ). Thanks again for reading, and don't forget to review!