mwahhh!!!

new chapter! -screams and runs into wall-

0o.

>:3 haha...

Enjoy.

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Chapter 10: To Kiss a Vampire

Terra stared at the magnificence of the chateaux as the Count lazily described each section of the house.

She was only half-listening as they walked up a set of stairs, and noticed that all of the curtains were shut to block out the morning light.

She panted slightly after the climb. It was not such as small house after all.

"Tired?" She turned to glare at the Count, ignoring his smirk as she continued down the hall, him trailing after her.

He continued walking while she stopped suddenly, staring at a pair of big doors.

He noticed her absence and turned back.

"What's in there?" Her green eyes swept over him casually and he felt a wave of heat swamp over him, but clamped it down as he drew closer, responding with casualness that denied his inner turmoil.

"My chambers. Though I doubt you want to see them."

Terra grinned, looking back at them, scanning them up and down. "And why not?" She demanded impishly. "Don't want me in your inner chambers?" She smiled, but he did not respond. She turned to look at him and found his gaze burning. Her spine tingled as his dark blue eyes caught hers.

"Don't tempt me," he said, his voice half growl.

She shivered, but followed as he continued walking down the hall, obviously wishing to leave that subject behind them.

Terra decided to pry a bit. "So, when did you buy this old chateaux on the outskirts of Paris?" She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, watching for his reaction.

He did not look shifty at all, merely smiling at her, amusement clear in his voice as he responded. "I've lived in and out of this mansion for two centuries I think. I found its run-down appeal very, fascinating. So I fixed it up and now I have one of my vacation homes."

She raised an eyebrow. "So you just happened to be visiting during my performance."

He smirked, turning down another hall as he led her into a large room. She didn't notice the door shut behind them as she stood with her back to him, scanning the tapestry in front of her on the wall.

"No. I came because I wanted to see you." She turned and gazed at him, while he moved closer.

She coughed, noticing the closed door. Once again it came to mind that she was in his house, much weakened, without extra clothes, and so much more.

"Ah, I see. For me." The words echoed around the large room as she spoke, and a fire crackled in response in the wall opposite them.

He stood close now. Too close. "I'd heard many things about you, Nadia Sharpe, but getting to know Terra Gowen sounds quite wonderful at the moment." Blue eyes wandered lazily over her form fitting clothing, and she shifted uneasily.

"Ah, Count- I really should tell people I'm- alive," she said weakly. " You know?"

He smiled, his head inches from hers. "I know. They can wait."

She made a noise of outrage and shoved him aside, his kiss going wayward as she stomped to the door.

"It's been real, Count, but I must be going. Plans and all." She turned back to the door, pulling it open- and then it slammed shut and she was pressed against it, between the cool wood and another cool someone...

"Hey, you- I... and... eh.." She spluttered as he smirked, and she stole a look at his face.

Pure longing, mixed with utter triumph sat there. She pushed feebly at his chest, and he laughed. She felt the rumble in his body and shuddered as heat settled in her belly.

"I have to tell people I'm alive," she babbled. He didn't answer, and she noticed with another wave of heat that his legs were between hers. "They're going to worry about me. And my job. I have to..." She stopped, looking up at him.

He met her gaze, his eyes questioning as a smirk played across his mouth.

Her mouth hung open for a minute, then she snapped it close. "I've run out of excuses."

"Good." He kissed her.

Terra inwardly smacked herself on the face for doing this, again.

She would so totally walk into town if she had to. But she really couldn't ignore him.

Finally, he pulled back, smiling.

She sucked in a shaky breath. "Okay, now can I go?"

He growled softly, his grip tightened for a minute, then released her. He sighed, running long fingers through his hair, which she noticed with satisfaction, was down, falling over his shoulders in an almost straight black style.

He was gorgeous.

"Yes. I'll escort you to the front hall, and one of the servants will see that you get into Paris."

She let him take her hand as he lead her from the room. For a minute, she felt like she'd clutched for a handhold in this crazy situation- and grasped at air.

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Three hours later Terra stood outside Sita's apartment, a black leather jacket covering the same clothes the Count had magically dressed her in, accompanied by some- she had to admit- pretty hot black suede boots.

She sprinted up the stairs, knocking madly on the door. Pounding footsteps sounded from within, and Sita's voice shouted, "Be right there!"

She smiled. It felt so good to be with her friends.

The door swung open, and Sita stood there, staring open-mouthed at Terra.

"You- Terra.. you're alive?" Terra looked at her in a slightly exasperated way, touching her forehead as if to say, "hello, standing right here not enough proof for you?"

Then she was swept into her taller friend's arms as she cried hysterically, sobbing out the results of phonecalls to the fire department and the hospital.

"It's okay, Sita. I'm here, and that's it." Sita gave her a look.

"You could have died. In fact," her brow crinkled as she frowned at Terra. "You should be dead. By all means, there's no way you could have gotten out. What's going on Terra? What happened that you're not telling me?"

Terra sighed, pulling Sita onto her couch as she took a deep breath.

Then she spilled her guts, telling her friend everything. Sita's facial expression ranged from skeptical to amused, to horrified, and then to astonishment.

Finally, she sat back, pushing her black braid off her shoulder as she leaned against the cushions.

"So... Count Dracula saved you, and he's trying to seduce you, and you now don't have any place to stay?"

Terra nodded. "That's the basics. Do you believe me?"

Sita rubbed her forehead, then smacked Terra on the back of her curly head.

"Of course I do you idiot. I just wish you'd told me sooner. Hmmm... seduced by a vampire... I wonder if he kisses good," Sita mused, licking her lips.

Terra laughed then, rubbing her head. "Trust me, unless you want your neck sucked I wouldn't kiss him." Sita looked horrified.

"He bit you?!"

"No! But he is a good kisser," she mumbled under her breath, but Sita heard and cackled evilly.

"You like him," she smirked. Terra sputtered, open mouthed, resembling nothing so much as a fish with red hair.

"What- I do not!" Terra protested, but her cheeks heated and she glared at her friend.

"You can deny it missy, but this guy sounds into you. I'd watch it. Maybe you should stay with me for a while. Heck, you should just live with me! Well, that is- until," Sita wiggled her left hand under Terra's face.

She stared at the hand, confused. Then she saw it, a small band of silver, a beautiful diamond clasped in the middle.

"Who?!" She shrieked.

Sita smiled smugly. "Cale."

"You are yanking my chain. No way. Cale?!" Terra couldn't believe it.

The two people most likely not to end up with one another. Getting married.

"Well you two sure did hit it off." Terra smirked.

Then Sita smiled, showing pointed teeth in an eerie resemblance of the Count.

"You just wait. Stay near that guy much longer and you might have your own case of LGW."

Terra rolled her eyes. "LGW? Love Gone Wild? Come on. Dracula's love gone wild would be tearing open my throat. Like I'd marry that guy."

Sita reached out to the coffee table, sipping her coffee as she remarked mildly. "Wouldn't you?"

Terra sat back.

Life should have been easier with her friend.

Hopefully, Sita hadn't turned into the matchmaker. She did not like to think of doing anything with... him.

You want him and you know it. Just go jump him next time.

Terra squealed inwardly at the voice that constantly seemed to bug the hell out of her.

He'd like that. I'm not going to do anything to make that creeper happy. He is so not going to get this chicky in bed.

And that's a promise.

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Dracula: And how long does she think that promise is going to last?

Hadasah: -cackles- Not long dear boy. Not long.

Dracula: Dear boy? God I need a new person to bother.

Review pretties!!

That's two updates TODAY.

Reward me!!!

hahah. So Terra's made this wondrous promise of abstaining from Count Lust-A-Lot (thank you FACO :3) and she's staying with her best friend.

What's going to happen next?!