It seemed that there were more differences than either Spike or Edward could have imagined. Mirrors, sunlight, silver; Christian artefacts all seemed to bother Spike's type of vampire. Edward's mind was beginning to categorise the differences as though he and Spike were different breeds of the same species. Maybe that was what it was? Either way it seemed odd that they were only finding this out now. Did the same breeds stick together avoiding others who might not have the same rules, the same boundaries. Edward dearly wished he could discuss this with Carlisle, who no doubt would be fascinated by the discovery. The thought made him think of home. Had Alice foreseen what had happened to him? Was she in Rome now? With a sigh Edward remembered telling her not to look for him in her visions. The chances were she knew nothing.
Spike had gone quiet too. Obviously the revelations of the conversation had got him thinking too. He'd talked to Edward about the Initiative, how they'd held him, and various other demons, in their pristine cells. This was a bit like the Initiative he figured, just more olde worlde charm. The first night he'd been there he'd smashed up all the furniture, ripped up the plush fabrics. They had just been replaced. He'd torn the place up three times before he got bored with the lack of reaction he was getting.
Footsteps down the corridor brought them both out of their thoughts. They'd agreed that they would stick together. If one of them was getting out, they both were. Two tall female guards appeared in front of Edward's door. Their pale blonde hair was pulled back into severe ponytails. Their uniforms consisted of leather armour embossed with the dragon insignia which was all over the place. Edward wondered if Dracula ever got fed up of doodling his name all over everything. He grinned to himself; maybe he should ask the Count. These women, however, were not to be trifled with by the pallor of their skin they must be vampires too. Spike was trying to get a rise out them, wolf whistling and making lewd suggestions. They ignored him completely. One took out a single key, fitted it to the lock and entered Edward's cell. She grabbed his arm. Edward was about to pull away but the grip of the guard made him think twice. She was obviously very old, very old and strong.
He was pulled out of the room and then walked down the corridor away from the cells.
'Break something for me!' shouted Spike behind him Edward grinned over his shoulder as the women swept his feet from the floor as their quickened their pace.
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They left him in a large cave, done out like some kind of medieval throne room. The walls were dimly lit by torches and there were beds and cushions along the edges of the room. In the centre of the room was a round curtained off area. The curtains bore the insignia Edward was expecting to see everywhere. The room was utterly silent. The guards left although Edward didn't see a door. He walked a circle around the curtains, they obviously hid something from view, and it was also obvious that he was supposed to guess what it was behind them. It was then he heard the noise.
It sounded like a whimper, like a small child in pain or fear. Edward's ears picked up every nuance of the sound and he'd pulled back the curtain before he could really think. He knew from his reading that Dracula was not beyond feeding children to his minions. The curtains pulled back to reveal a wide bed, covered in black velvet. There seemed to be movement under the coverlet, a body or two bodies maybe? Edward was backing away, almost beyond the curtains when the noise happened again. This time the sound seemed to be a notch up on the fear and pain. The movement under the covers of the bed seemed urgent. In a stride Edward had reached the bed and pulled the cover back, ready to rescue or fight for the child he had heard making such a pathetic and pitiful sound. There was no child.
Instead there were three, very beautiful boys. They were snaked around each other in desire and before Edward could get away one of them curled a pale grip around his hand. He looked down at his captor. The boy had the bluest eyes he had ever seen. The lashes were long and dark and the ebony hair which fell to his shoulders sharply reminded Edward of Harry. The mouth was voluptuous and scarlet with lust. He bent the lips to Edward's hand and kissed the fingers, lingering at the tips.
'Don't go,' he whispered. Edward wanted to scream; to fling the hand away and run away, back to the cells and to Spike. But he couldn't. He simply could not move. His mind was frantic with panic. He had to run, he willed his muscles but they felt like they were filled with cement. Too heavy and sluggish. He looked down at the boy again. Now the youth knelt on the edge of the bed and Edward could see he was much younger than his friends still entwined on the bed. Edward felt distracted by them, what were they doing? He tried to discern which leg belonged to which boy, which hand to which, but he couldn't make it out. The bed was a tangle of exotic limbs, twisted and writhing.
The youngest boy wrapped his arms around Edward's neck drawing him closer. His eyes were hypnotic; they pulled Edward down deep into their spell, drowning him in their seduction. He felt the mouth move closer to his, felt the smooth, cold surface of the lips as they pressed against his mouth. His mouth opened, involuntarily, and a tongue as cool and twisting as the boys on the bed entered his mouth and snaked across his teeth, savouring the venom dripping from them. Edward wanted to stop. His brain screamed at him to move, get away and instead he felt his hand running through the boy's raven hair pulling him closer and deeper into the kiss. When the boy pulled away, he was smiling.
He ran his cold tongue down Edward's neck, unfastening his shirt as he lowered himself down and down. Edward's body responded in desire as his mind was reeling in revulsion. God, what was he doing? He had to stop. His hand curled in the boy's hair and he felt the delicious sting of teeth on his most sensitive skin. He moaned aloud. He looked down at the kneeling boy. From this angle it could have been Harry kneeling in front of him. Harry's mouth sliding over his skin... Harry, Edward gripped the boy's hair with his fists. Obviously misunderstanding the gesture the boy increased his efforts. Edward pulled the boy's head away from him and staggered back, covering himself with his hands in a gesture of shame. The boy looked back at Edward, the ocean blue eyes mesmerising and intense. Edward fought his body for control.
'No!' Edward's voice was loud, angry but the word ended on a sob. His body wanted more, wanted this gorgeous boy to tip him over the edge, to fall with abandon at his feet. His mind stayed firm. 'No.' He said stronger this time.
The boy licked his lips, the gesture obscene on one so young. 'Come to me Edward,' he breathed. Edward heard his name; it felt dirty on those lips. In an instant he realised who this boy was, this breathtaking and indecent creature.
'Dracula. No.' Edward staggered back from the curtains. He fell into a stumbling run. The female guards appeared beside him and hauled him back to the dais. Dracula was draping himself in a velvet coverlet only half covering his decency. He sprawled back on the bed, the pale hands of his companions stroking and fluttering over him.
'You're a fool Edward,' the young voice, barely broken sounded sweet but the words dripped menace.' Your boy wizard will not refuse me so easily.' The stunning mouth split into a sneer. The effect on the angelic face was disturbing. His causally picked up one of the roaming hands and dropped it in his lap where it began to stroke him into arousal. He leaned back further onto the bed, dismissing Edward, the guards.
'You're wrong Dracula, Harry will see through you too.' Edward's voice sounded more confident as he felt as he was pulled to the side of the chamber and thrown down on one of the cushions. From the centre of the room the noises rose in tempo.