Dracula waited like a spider at the edge of the complicated web he had spun. His enemies were so predictable. After millennia it was easy to find the empathy which allowed his to read their actions and their personalities. It was a gift that had kept him alive so long, as was the talent to crush the emotions when necessary for survival. He had carefully chosen his informant, one who would not be recognised as such. They knew when to strike and how to strike, he had taught them well.
He lay back among the embellished cushions confident in his supremacy over the situation. The vampire gifts could all be his and then what a formidable predator he would be! He allowed his mind to day dream of walking in the sunlight, not weakened by its rays, and plucking to feed upon the ripest human from their very homes. He imagined the power to read thoughts, use venom to weaken his victims, be impervious to crosses and Holy Water. Indeed this was a quest worthy of his great intellect and now he had found the perfect resource to work it out for him. Dracula allowed himself a smile as he thought of his grand orchestration and how this would lead him to glory.
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Spike hurried back to the group.
'It looks like there's some kind of store down there for...' he hesitated looking at Harry,' er...food.' it took Harry a moment to realise what he was saying. Of course Dracula must feed his minions Harry just hadn't considered how. A small noise from Edward caught Harry's attention. The vampire's face was contorted in a pained expression. Harry realised it was hunger, Edward hadn't hunted in days. Spike carried on talking.
'The others are wondering, well... we're wondering if we can stop to replenish ourselves.' He grimaced at his own choice of euphemism.
'I can't tell you what to do Spike but you need to know that I will not look kindly on the rest of our company snacking on humans.' Edward sounded strained. Spike nodded.
'These humans seem to be quite up for it. I mean, I think that's what they signed on for. I think they might even get paid for it.' He shook his head at Dracula's audacity.
'Still, I will not condone this.' Edward was grave
'What about Mitchell? He doesn't feed on humans does he?' Harry asked his brow furrowed in thought. 'And what about you Spike? Do you feed on human blood?' Spike shrugged.
'Mitchell doesn't like to feed on humans but he still has to from time to time, he'd prefer a blood bag.' Spike looked into Edward's quizzical eyes, 'he works at a hospital you know, back in Bristol.' Edward nodded once. 'And I... well I haven't fed from a human for ages but there's nothing else down here and... I'm starving.' He looked apologetic but resolute. 'If these humans don't mind then...maybe we could free them afterwards, if that's what they want? You know, like a barter system?'
Harry could see that Edward was about to order Spike not to feed and he knew that would just enrage Spike's anarchistic sensibilities. He had to keep the group together somehow; they were each other's only chance of escaping Dracula.
'Go ahead Spike.' He felt Edward's sharp look and carried on, 'each...man for himself. Explain that Edward won't be joining them and that I won't be there. But they're welcome to do as their consciences dictate.' Spike nodded quickly and was gone. Edward turned to Harry.
'You shouldn't have done that.' Edward's whisper was harsh and angry. Harry flinched from the criticism; he's never been very good at being criticised. He sighed.
'I can't tell them what to do Edward. They will just leave if I do. It's been hard enough keeping them together as it is. Vampires are independent souls Edward, you should know that. They don't take kindly to authority being pushed on them.' Edward nodded but was silent. Harry grabbed Edward's cold hand, his magic flaring out around them, stroking Edward's tense shoulders and neck. He watched as Edward relaxed a little, a small smile playing on his lips.
'I'm sorry Harry,' Edward whispered as the magic played over his face. He stroked Harry's fingers. 'It's just hard for me to hear them... feeding and hearing their thoughts while they do it and... I'm so hungry.' He eyes were red with thirst as he turned to look Harry in the face. Harry had never seen Edward so strained. He allowed the magic to caress Edward's chest, his angled collar bones and the pale cold skin. Edward closed his eyes, the lids flickering with the feeling the magic was creating in his body. Harry leant in and kissed Edward. The vampire responded, crushing Harry to him.
'Maybe I can distract you a little?' Harry whispered into Edward's auburn hair as he gently kissed the temples where the white skin smoothed into Edward's hairline. He moved his hands over Edward's body, following where the magic had awakened the desire in Edward's body. Edward stretched out his arms against the wall in a gesture of surrender. He had thought, in that dark moment with Dracula, that he would never feel this again. This warmth of security with the sweet tang of lust. With this thought came the guilty memory of Dracula's bite, he knew the scar had healed but the mark Dracula's teeth had made on him was not only skin deep. The guilt swirled around in the arousal Harry was eliciting from his body, making the feeling more bittersweet than before. He felt Harry's hands caressing him and he abandoned himself to the feeling.
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Edward's senses leapt from the lull into which they had slipped during Harry's 'distraction'. There was someone watching them, he could hear the vampire's thoughts amused and interested in their actions. He opened his eyes and saw the vampire Harry had called Lady Elizabeth standing in the distant doorway her violet eyes sweeping the scene before her. He touched Harry's shoulder and Harry turned too in the direction of the woman. She quickly looked down at the ground.
'I am sorry to interrupt you,' her voice was a delicate sound of crystal and Harry was reminded of Mina Harker. 'I have no wish to disturb your reunion.' He beautiful mouth curved slightly in a smile. Edward pulled himself upright, his fumbling with his clothes made him look almost human as Harry watched his regain that vampire stillness, that reminder of death which was so amazing in someone so alive. Edward cleared his throat.
'Lady Elizabeth. You are not feeding with the others?' his voice sounded a little hoarse and Harry wished that the woman had not interrupted them. Edward needed to relax, Harry didn't know what Edward had experienced with Dracula but he knew that the Count would not have left an opportunity to corrupt Edward untried. His attention was moved to the woman as she shook her head, her blonde curls bounding around her pretty, heart shaped face as she spoke.
'My...condition is more difficult than that of the others.' Her voice was refined and the gesture of her hand displayed her remorse more eloquently than Harry had ever seen before. Edward's eyebrows asked the question he was too polite to frame into words. Lady Elizabeth sighed.
'Unlike our friends Edward, I have no appetite for human blood.' Harry noticed she didn't include Edward in the mix of vampires feasting on the humans in the next room. Harry once again noticed her manners and careful phrasing.
'Then how do you stay so young looking? Don't you drink blood at all or does the blood of animals sustain you?' Harry hoped he wasn't being rude but the delicate sidestepping of egos between Edward and Lady Elizabeth was getting them nowhere. She smiled at him, as though he was very young. Harry supposed he must be really to her; despite looking about fifteen, he guessed she was much older. Her imperious manner when she'd been released from her cell had lead Harry to believe she was much older. Maybe people grew up faster when she was young he mused to himself.
'I do not drink blood at all Harry, you are right.' She paused as if deciding how to phrase her next sentence, then she squared her shoulders and spoke the most extraordinary and shocking words Harry had ever heard. 'In order to remain young and keep my strength and looks I must bathe in human blood.' Edward heard Harry's gasp and squeezed his hand tightly in the wizard's warning him to keep his disgust to himself. Edward had suspected the identity of the vampire woman from the start but now his ideas were confirmed. He bowed low.
'Lady Elizabeth, Countess of Bathory.' His kissed the white silken hand which she held out to him. He risked a glance at Harry's face. It was white and he was open mouthed. 'Of all the vampire powers I knew, I had forgotten yours.' Harry was breathing again but he still looked stunned. Lady Elizabeth noticed this too.
'I am sorry if my words have shocked you Harry,' she smiled sweetly and it was hard for Harry to imagine this young, beautiful woman bathing in gore. 'I have had my share of misfortune because of my constitution, 'She said it like she was allergic to peanuts some numbed part of Harry's brain noticed. He nodded unsure what his response was supposed to be. Edward seemed to be taking this completely in his stride. Harry was reminded again how inhuman Edward could be, the thought made him shiver. 'Perhaps if I tell you my story,' the Countess went on, taking a seat on a rough stone ledge jutting from the wall and gesturing gracefully for Edward and harry to do the same, 'perhaps then you might understand more fully.'