Chapter 15

Elizabeth ducked through one of the few open doorways in Netherfield, slipping stealthily away from the lights and music of Bingley's ball… and away from the worried glances and hovering presence of her sisters. Mary and Jane meant well, of course. There was no way she wanted to be a vampire for the rest of her life and only an insane person would want to be alone in a room with Mr. Collins; but they didn't understand. Elizabeth hadn't told them about Collins' threat after her meeting with him in the breakfast room; she hadn't wanted to worry them.

Elizabeth glanced around at the darkened room, noticing for the first time that she had wondered into Bingley's library. Well, this ironic. Like her father, Elizabeth had a great respect for books and all things printed on paper. It would be a real shame to ruin some of these fine volumes all because of a weakling like Collins.

With a sigh, Elizabeth turned away from the door she had come through and settled into one of the wing chairs that adorned the edges of the elegant library. She looked around the room once to make sure that Collins hadn't come into the room before her before burying her face into her hands. To any casual observer, she would seem like a distressed girl who had probably come across problems in her social life. To those who knew her and had been with her on raids, she would be preparing for a fight by removing any distractions.

I heard the door open quietly, heard the slight shuffling as the new arrival moved stealthily towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth kept her head down, concentrating on the sound of the footsteps to plan her first strike. Her hand inched towards the stake hidden in the sleeve of her dress and clasped around the handle reassuringly as whomever it was leaned over the back of her chair…

Warm human hands clasped her shoulders hesitantly, making her jump.

"Elizabeth?" Mr. Darcy's voice asked cautiously. "Are you alright?"

Elizabeth leapt to her feet and whirled to face Darcy, her hands pulling the stake out of her sleeve instinctively. Darcy raised his eyebrows at the stake, an amused smile playing across his face.

"It seems like we keep meeting like this," he murmured. "Do you always carry a stake around with you?"

"Maybe," Elizabeth muttered her face flushing as she lowered the stake.

Darcy reached out hesitantly and pulled the silver choker away from the bite marks on Elizabeth's neck. Elizabeth shivered at the brief contact with his skin but kept her gaze steady. Darcy's hands shook slightly and his gaze hardened imperceptibly as he looked at the two bite marks and gently replaced the ribbon around her neck.

"Who?" he asked. "The man with you?"

Elizabeth shook her head and looked away. She wasn't sure that she wanted to tell Darcy about Mr. Collins' threat either. This was something she had to handle on her own… if she could.

Darcy grabbed her chin gently with his hand and forced her to look at him.

"It was Wickham, wasn't it?" he whispered quietly, guilt creeping into his voice.

Elizabeth started to shake her head but stopped when she saw the look on Darcy's face.

"Darcy-," she began.

"Oh, well, isn't this sweet, Miss Elizabeth," a silky voice interrupted coolly. "I had no idea you had such good tastes."

Elizabeth stiffened and turned back to the doorway where Collins stood, his short figure framed by the orange glow of the candles from the ballroom.

Darcy snarled something under his breath and moved forward, his hand slipping into his waistcoat.

"Careful now, Mr. Darcy of Pemberly," Collins warned silkily. "I'm afraid this isn't your fight at the moment."

Darcy's angry retort was cut off by a strangled scream from the back lawns. Darcy froze in place, his face draining of all color.

"Charles," he choked past the lump in his throat.

"Now it's your fight," Collins chuckled. "Although I'm afraid that I won't be the one to fight you. I'm sure it would be an enjoyable experience, though."

"You want enjoyable?" Elizabeth hissed as she lunged around Darcy, cleanly driving a stake through Collins' chest. "Stop threatening my mother."

Collins choked, his ferrety vampire eyes widening in shock before he collapsed onto the library floor, his body already decaying rapidly.

Elizabeth retrieved her stake calmly and ran out of the library door, only a few steps behind Darcy as he cut through the crowds like a sword. Elizabeth glanced to her right for a moment and tensed briefly as she met a familiar pair of hazel eyes over the heads of a few overly excited girls. Wickham smiled warmly at her and tipped his hat in a salute before disappearing into the shadows.

Elizabeth shuddered and hurried after Darcy, barely noticing when Mary and James joined her. For the first time in her life, Elizabeth Bennet wondered if she was in over her head.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of this. all of the credit belongs to the amazing Jane Austen. Thanks to all of the people who voted for me!