Chapter 6: Enraptured

Seras ducked to dodge the flung aside table, narrowly cutting her cheek. The table crashed behind her, splintering pieces flying past her. Her eyes staring right ahead, silently watching Vlad continually destroy items in his room in anger. A chair. A table. A part of his bed. And a window. Thankfully his wife was somewhere else so she wouldn't do anything stupid and bear the brunt of his anger. There was only Seras. She remained completely quiet, standing still as she patiently waited for his anger to simmer down, her eyes demeanour remaining tranquil and relaxed. This wasn't the first time he had an outburst of anger, and she learnt that the best way to deal with his anger was to just wait until he had gathered his wits back. It was dangerous to deal with him when he was in a blood-rage of anger. He could process nothing inside his head, simply a pure white anger that would consume his thoughts.

Seras felt that he was overreacting to the situation, he was after all a twenty-eight year old adult but what could she say, she was centuries old, nothing really could make her angry nor sad anymore. Any loved one was long gone and there was no one even alive to remember who she was. She now a legend or perhaps a fable. But she too felt his anger, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed had some gal to ask for a tribute. A large tribute in fact, ten thousand ducats* and five hundred soldiers because of his alliance Matthias Corvinus in an attempt to keep the Ottomans out of Wallachia*. Seras felt Vlad's anger finally simmer down and with quiet and tentative voice she slowly came up to him and started to talk.

"My lord, what is your command?" Seras came up him, taking his hands which were bleeding profusely, kissing them lightly. The wounds closing closely as she worked her enchantments over the skin, "Tell me your command. Your order. Your word is my word", Seras urged him, pleading to him. Wanting his anger to disappear. She was meant to be his servant, the one who should be conveying his anger was her.

Vlad let out a shaky sigh as he looked down at his Seras, his faithful, honest Seras. Never had she failed him, never let him down, his loyal servant. The one who served him wholeheartedly without any second questions, the only one who come so close to his heart but yet at the same time sealed her own heart. She continued to look up at him with expectant eyes, Vlad gripped onto her hands tighter and pulled her up.

"Stand, Seras. This is what you shall do. Those Turkish envoys have shown me disrespect and dared to come my homeland asking for a tribute on the behalf of their lord. They refuse to even take off their hats to me, the Voivode of Wallachia than I shall have their hats nailed to their heads", Vlad said sternly. He watched her expression, there was no change. "I would have my soldiers nail it to their heads for me, but you shall do something even more sinister. Listen to my order Seras, and heed it well". His hand cupping her cheeks, feeling the warm skin against his cold hands.

"Yes my lord", Seras said quietly as she pulled away and bowed to him. Her hand crossed over her chest in respect and reverence for her master and lord. A small but noticeable smile spread across his face.

She watched them as they slept, bright blue eyes blinking the darkness of the shadows, but of course they were wary leaving one of their companions as their guard making sure nothing was amiss. The man however was on the brink of collapsing into a deep sleep, but his eyes fluttered open every time they closed, refusing to fall into slumber. She melted from the shadows, her skirt ruffling against the cold floor. The Turk immediately got up brandishing his sword, its cold metal glinting in the moonlight. His mouth opening in to cry out and to signal his companions that there was an intruder. But suddenly his voice couldn't come out, his throat felt stuck and he could only choke out some few incoherent words.

But it was enough to wake one of his friends who stirred in his sleep and turning over to see his friend who was still standing still with his sword out. He was paralysed, unable to move and unable to speak he could not even turn to face his companion to warn them of the demoness who had melted into his shadow, silently watching the turn of events.

"What is wrong Kuzey? Someone there?" His bedsheets shifting as he slowly got into a sitting position. Seras sensed the impending danger, so she responded.

"I saw something Mahzun, I'm going to investigate. You go back to sleep, but tomorrow who will be taking guard", Seras said light-heartedly, her voice replicating the man that she had in her hold. Kuzey's eyes widened in shock, what was this witchcraft.

"Yes, yes. Very well, do what you need to do", Mahzun said tiredly as he lay back in bed. Pulling his bedsheets over his head, soft snores could soon be heard. Kuzey still not able to do anything began to panic, what was happening?! He only had a few moments to see who the person was but he knew that the one who had him in this hold was Vlad Dracula's servant. The blonde-headed female who was his most trusted advisor who never said anything to anyone but would always silently whisper in Vlad's ear. Known to be fast thinking and most sharp-witted, many times has her almost future like seeing advice and persuasion saved Vlad from danger and unworthy contracts with other countries and partnerships. Despite having no real position in the order of power of the court she was seen as the most valuable person and the one you needed to talk to if you ever wanted to close to the unmovable Vlad.

She was always near him, or in his presence. She was closer to him than his own wife, who he was barely married to due to his inability to stay faithful to one woman in bed. Kuzey's mind was racing, suddenly things made sense to him, why Vlad was so powerful and almighty. With his conquest always going smoothly and his power growing ever so quickly. With the aid of this witch by his side, everything could be possible. His wounds always healed so impossibly quickly, his stamina of a hundred and his armour was impenetrable. All because of this woman.

After making sure his companions were asleep she slowly materialised from his shadow, her robes pulling away from the shadowy depths of the darkness. The scent of ash and burnt wood hit his nose, it was faint but the scent followed her. She turned to face him, as she tilted her head to take a better look at him. He was still unable to move and speak, so he could only watch.

Her finger touched lips ever so slightly, her eyes shifting in colour, her voice deepening and becoming hypnotic. Crimson red glowing brightly in the dark of the night as an ancient and powerful magic pooled in her eyes, a sultry and sensual smirk graced her lips as she leaned forward to Kuzey. Kuzey's suddenly turned the same colour as hers, his pupils dilating as he focused his sole attention on the witch. His body was suddenly was released from its invisible hold but he no longer cared about it. He was enraptured by this woman.

"Nail them. Kill them. Forget everything. Let insanity consume you", she whispered as she brushed her hands past his hair as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her skin burning against his, Kazey's breath become haggard and he was barely in control of emotions. Her touches incited something in himself, he wanted to do nothing but kiss her feet and worship the very ground she stood on.

"Nail them. Kill them. Forget everything. Insanity…" He murmured breathlessly. Seras smiled and unravelled her arms around him, taking his open palms and placing a bag of nails and a hammer in them.

He turned to take one last look at his companions while they were peacefully sleeping, but this time something was different. A crazed smile stretched across his face, "Nail them…kill them…forget…insanity!" He laughed, as he ripped the bag open, the nails dropping onto the floor. Clattering against the cold stone, his hand scratching at his skin in urge. Her touch left his skin I flames, want and hot burning desire. He needed to do this, to please her, to gain her favour. He took one last look at her with pleading eyes, his breath becoming laboured as he scratched at his throat. This feeling, the feeling of want and the desire to satisfy was consuming him.

"Nail…nail…nail them. For her. My goddess", he mumbled as he staggered up to his companions. His hands trembling, he barely could hold the nails in his hand and the hammer kept slipping from his sweaty palms. But he refused to let go.

"Good bye", Seras said shortly. Her eyes returning to its blue state, still glowing brightly though. She took a step back as her body turned to a black smoke, pooling around on the floor before escaping through the window. Leaving not a single trace of her being there, the smell of ash and burnt wood easily disappearing as she did. Her smoke like form travelling through the various rooms of the castle before finally coming to Vlad's private chambers. She made the small effort of peeking into Vlad's bedroom, it was a little past midnight and she saw Vlad and Elisabeta was still not asleep.

Vlad was ignoring her as usual, unfortunately Vlad had no love for the woman he married. His sole attention was always elsewhere, and Elisabeta could never grab his attention. And despite all her hard effort of gaining Vlad's favour it always went array. She knew herself she wouldn't even be married to him if it hadn't been the help of his aide, Seras. No matter what she did, she could not bring herself the woman. There were so many reasons to hate her, but she just didn't have any courage to hate her. She was such a weak character in the first place, she was afraid of looking at blood. She was utterly squeamish, the very sight of blood and sinew terrified her.

She was utterly useless as well, she had no opinion for herself only knowing how to look pretty and nod with a pleasant smile. She could do nothing to change herself, knowing nothing but how to please a man, and keep them interested enough to get them to bed and lay with them. And if lucky enough, bear their child. But she had no luck yet, she was nowhere close to becoming pregnant.

She was beginning to fear that she was infertile and that she would be cast aside, she could not let that happen. So she began to seek the help of Seras, the one person she didn't want to see. But her knowledge in the arts of medicine and healing was far too great, she needed her help. And Seras did help, giving her pregnancy inducing medicines, helping fertilisation. But nothing seemed to work.

Seras kept quiet though, she made them to make Elisabeta feel better about herself, but in reality she was an infertile woman. A defect, there was no possible way for her to become pregnant. No human means at least and Seras was not going to bother with something as trivial as that, after all, Vlad just needed to find another woman. No problem.

"Won't you join me in bed?" Elisabeta pleaded as she touched his arm gently. Vlad violently pulled his arm away, cussing as he continued his work. Her face showing hurt and pain, what did she do wrong? Her hand trembling in fear and her eyes tearing up in confusion.

Vlad slowly looked up to see his crying wife and let out a harsh sigh. "If you are going to cry, do it somewhere else. Do not bother me", he said tiredly shooing her away with a derogative wave of dismissal. His eyes laced with boredom and disinterest, Elisabeta's tears burst forth again in heavier streams of salted water. She just didn't understand. Gathering her robes she quickly left the room and slammed the door shut, as she fled away from her husband in a fit of sadness and anger. Her maids following her quickly in confusion, not knowing what had happened. Just following their mistress as she weaved her way through the castle, finding her own chamber.

Vlad never looked up, his quill scratching away. His candlelight shimmered a silver as the wax turned blood red, he looked up and around the room. Seras emerged from one of his silk pillows, the fabric twisting and contorting as her illusion like body started materialising into a solid form. The sleeves of her robes falling from the air beside her as she blinked her eyes. Vlad put down his quill and got up from his chair and walked up to her.

Seras spoke before Vlad could even ask her, "Your wife is upset. Perhaps being a little gentler would make her a little happier", Seras said, her voice wasn't accusing or hateful. She was simply stating a fact and how she didn't appreciate how Elisabeta was being held as. "Perhaps you should treat her as you do to me", she patted the spot next to her, suggesting for Vlad to sit next to her. He did so, his weight shifted the bed so Seras tilted to one side, the gravity pulling her over to Vlad.

He snorted, "You make her seem better than she actually is. And you needn't hide the fact that she cannot bear a child. I have long ago figured that out", Vlad said tiredly, rubbing his eyes. That made no difference for him, finding another woman was of no trouble for him. Seras nodded absentmindedly.

"So, how did it go?" Vlad asked mischievously, as he leaned in. Seras blinked her eyes in surprise. "Tell me, is it done?"

A cruel smirk spread across her face as her eyes narrowed, turning into the most sinister scarlet. Vlad took this as a yes, he let out a bellow of laughter as he doubled over. His most pure and innocent Seras had actually done it. He shoulders shaking as he laughed, but then again she wasn't really innocent, she was equally evil and malicious as the devil himself. Of course she wasn't naturally like this, only choosing to be like that when angered or upset. But that so rarely happened.

"You should've been there", Seras sighed as she lay against the many pillows, her hair splaying out around her. Creating a halo of gold around her, in the dim lit room. Vlad raised a brow in question as he took her hand and rubbed it soothingly.

"Is that so?" Vlad said off-handily. Seras shot up suddenly, pillows flying off of her. Vlad jumped back, startled. His eyes wide and blinking in shock.

"I almost forgot about that!" She grabbed Vlad's head and brought it close to her own forehead. Their foreheads touching as her hand cupped over his ears. Vlad had been so surprised and startled he almost pulled away but at last moment he let her do as she wished. "Close your eyes", Seras asked. Her breath smelt of wine and burnt paper, it was such a strange smell but it brought him peace. He closed his eyes and after a moment of silence he felt an unfamiliar presence in his mind protrude inside his thoughts. Poking around and finally he saw something.

He saw one of the Turkish envoys, but something was different. His height was suddenly was shorter, his eyesight was so utterly clear, and everything was tinted red. He saw the man brandishing his sword, at him and he felt his body disappear and collapse into the man's shadow. All the memories flooded into him in such a endless stream that he could barely process what he was seeing.

But soon he realised he was looking through Seras's eyes and was seeing what she saw when she entered into their guest room. He watched in morbid fascination as the scene unfolded right in front of him.

"Nail…nail…nail them. For her. My goddess".

This man hated her just one moment ago, and now he was suddenly he was like a lost puppy. He could feel nothing but want from this person, a different type of want. It wasn't one of love, but desire to serve. A hot burning desire to please her, to worship her, to kiss her very sandals. To be her slave and her servant. He made him tingle strangely and made him question his very being. Was he not the same to an extent?

It made him feel strange and even after she drew her mind away from his he could still feel the shivers of the man's gaze at him…no her. The sensation trailed down his spine, it was unforgettable. This undying faith and urge to serve her to the point of killing his friends was so enrapturing. If he had that power…

"Are you alright Vlad?" Seras said quietly, as she touched his chin. "Was that too much? If you need rest I will leave you", she got up but Vlad grabbed her hand.

"No…stay. Keep my company", he murmured, his rich voice soft, almost sounding delicate and fragile. Seras lifted a brow but she complied.

"Very well my lord, but I leave before sundown". Vlad pulled her into his embrace, her presence alone made him feel so calm and safe.

His last tie to sanity.

Turkish names are kind of fun.

Kuvey - from the north

Mahzun - miserable

*1459, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II sent envoys to Vlad to urge him to pay a delayed tribute of 10,000 ducats and 500 recruits into the Ottoman forces. Vlad refused, because if he had paid the 'tribute', as the tax was called at the time, it would have meant a public acceptance of Wallachia as part of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad, like most of his predecessors and successors, maintained the independence of Wallachia. On the pretext that they had refused to raise their "hats" to him, Vlad had the Turkish envoys killed by nailing their turbans to their heads.

I feel like Kouta Hirano did quite a well job of portraying Vlad in the manga and anime. I think so at least, some of you may not think so but it's just my opinion. This will be a long fanfiction, I am going to spend a long time on this...

I did this out of fun, to waste my spare time. I had a strange idea and I simply wanted to share it for the heck of it, I however did not expect so much support from my readers. So thanks for that.

I don't like messaging, but I'll have you know I read all your reviews and it makes me really happy to know people are enjoying this strange fanfiction. I guess you get a peak into my deranged and strange thought processes of my mind.

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Peace out.