A/N – Well, a little light relief before we start with the serious stuff! Hope you enjoy. And thank you, once again, for reading my story.

Chapter 70 – Dracula

I watched as Alice glanced at her bookshelf.

"Well…" she replied, stalling…

"Well?" I enquired softly as Alice continued to stare at her bookshelf.

Alice remained silent.

"Alice, the book isn't going to vanish the harder you look at it" I laughed, as I held out my hand and gently coaxed her face back to mine, "Unless you have another gift you haven't told me about, because seriously, if you can make things vanish, please start with my Spanish teacher?"

Alice started to grin. Oh, she had smiled countless times before, it was one of her most attractive features, but this… this grin… an indication of pleasure and amusement at the same time… it stirred my emotions and made me want to lean in and claim her lips with my own, again…

I felt a growl rumble deep within me.

Bella, you're really going to have to rein in this hunger…

Alice nodded, "Okay Bella, I will answer your question, but only if you'll do something for me" She whispered, as I felt an unfamiliar taste glaze across my tongue, and down my throat…

"I'd rather do something to you" I huskily replied, as Alice lent in close to me. Her scent baiting, I reached forward and placed my lips to her pale neck, inhaling deeply.

"So seductive and beguiling" I mumbled into her as I felt her shudder slightly beneath my caress.

"You're becoming quite the poet" she whispered back, as I slowly removed myself from her, smiling. Placing my hand on her chin, I looked deep into her eyes.

Poetic? Try insatiable…

"I'm finding it hard to… keep my hands off you" I replied honestly, as Alice started to laugh.

"I don't have a problem, with that particular problem" she replied, as she quickly took my thumb in her mouth. As she started to suck, every nerve ending in my body flamed and sparked.

I felt alive… so much more alive than ever before…

"Alice, you're provoking me" I answered, my voice now deep and full of arousal.

She continued to suck, as I felt small, sharp teeth grip on my nail.

"Alice, I can't… concentrate…" I mumbled as my free hand gripped the back of her head "I think your doing this in purpose, but I won't forget my question…." I continued to whisper as she growled, and placed a teasing tongue across the tip of my thumb.

I was awake, finally awake, with the one I loved, the one I admired and worshipped. The one I idolized and treasured more than anything in the world. The one I wanted to make passionate love to, again…

"Alice… please… I need you to… stop… because… I have… questions…" I continued, my voice now ragged with desire and primal need.

But the questions could wait? Right?

Before I could continue, Alice released my thumb from her tormenting, and was now smiling at me again. No, not smiling… grinning…

"I'm sorry, Bella. I just find you… so enchanting. I cherish you, and I've missed you while you were sleeping… but I understand, you do have questions, so I'm ready to answer them"

I watched as her eyes twinkled.

"You find me enchanting and you cherish me?" I replied, adding "Perhaps you should be the poet?"

Alice laughed, "I'm sure we could make beautiful poetry together" she asked. The double-entendre was not lost on me as I felt the longing shoot through me again.

"Alice… I… think we had better get dressed, otherwise we're not going to get very far" I mumbled as Alice quickly stood.

Which was a mistake… a big mistake... because now I could see her, all of her. Creamy white porcelain skin, she looked like the Venus de Milo, a Greek goddess… my Greek goddess

"You are so beautiful Alice" I whispered, as my eyes raked across her entire body, "Like the Venus De Milo" I finished, as Alice tilted her head to one side.

"Bella, if you continue to compliment me like that, I won't be held accountable for my actions" she replied, her voice also husky.

I pulled myself up from the bed and copied her previous action, tilting my head to one side.

"Oh, and what actions might they be?" I asked with a smile on my face.

Alice was immediately on top of me, her hands now roaming along my sides, her fingers pressing along my skin as though she was carving me from stone to form a three dimensional object.

"Unlike the Venus De Milo, I have arms, and hands Bella" she whispered above me, as her fingers continued mould into my skin. "And my hands rather like touching you" she finished with a growl as I caught her lips with mine.

The kiss broke as Alice rolled onto her side and turned to face me.

"Okay Bella, I'll answer your question, and then we can get changed, how does that sound?"

I merely nodded, moving onto my side. Alice copied my movement, almost in synchronisation.

"But first, will do you something for me?" she asked, as I smiled.

"For you, anything" I replied, as Alice beamed at me again.

"Great! Well… I was hoping… that is, Rose, Edward, Jasper and I were hoping… you'd arm wrestle Emmet" she replied.

Arm wrestle Emmet?

"Why?" I merely asked, clearly perplexed.

Alice shifted slightly. "Well, he's wondering exactly how strong you are, and Emmet being Emmet thinks the best way to find out is to… arm wrestle" she finished, as I slowly nodded.

"But he'll win? He's… so much bigger than me, and I'm…" my voice faltered slightly as a twinkle appeared in Alice's eye.

"You're SO going to whip his behind Bella, and I for one can't wait to see his reaction" she finished, almost purring.

I smiled, "Okay Alice, if you explain Bram Stoker, I will gladly… whip Emmet's behind" I answered as Alice gave a squeal.

Before I could answer, she had left the bed, collected the book, and was now back lying next to me. I watched her with interest as she flicked open the front cover, glanced down, and the handed the book to me.

"Read it out loud" she asked, as I took the book and glanced at the page in front of me.

The handwriting was rather scrawled, but I managed to make out the text. I began to read.

"To my dear friend Carlisle; I shall forever be in your debt. I sincerely hope that one day you and your kind can walk about this earth without prejudice or enmity. I have used a 'little' poetic licensing as suggested. Enjoy"

I looked up at Alice whose gaze almost seemed… wistful?

"Carlisle was friends with Bram Stoker?" I asked. If I sounded astonished, it was probably because I felt astonished.

Alice nodded.

"What does he mean, forever in your debt?" I asked again, as Alice took the book from me and placed it on the bedside table.

"Carlisle has met many people during his… time on this earth" she answered, as I reached out and laced my fingers through hers.

"Before Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, he spent many years researching European Folklore and mythological stories of vampires. Carlisle helped him, with his research I mean. At the time of its publication, Dracula was considered as a 'straightforward horror novel based on imaginary creations of supernatural life'. The truth is there was nothing imaginary about it; Carlisle simply placed a caveat that not all truths be laid bare, that some 'artistic licensing' be used…."

Her voice trailed off as I edged closer. This story was… fascinating!

"What sort of artistic licensing" I asked again, rather eagerly, as Alice began to laugh.

"I don't think I've seen you this animated since we…" again her voice trailed off as she winked at me.

If I could have blushed, I would have.

I absently ran my thumb across her hand as she glanced down, and then back up at me.

"Sorry, I was temporarily engaged in… before…" she whispered, as I lent in.

"We can easily repeat 'before' Alice…" I murmured, adding "but first, the story?"

I had to know more…

Alice grinned again, I was rather getting used to that look.

"Okay, well… for one thing, we don't sleep in coffins" she replied, as she ran her free hand across the bed sheets. The sheets that were rather ruffled, and definitely dishevelled.

I smiled, "No, I don't suppose you do" I replied with a smirk on my face, as Alice continued.

"And… Garlic? Please! As if Allium sativum…" Alice stopped as I frowned.

Allium sativum?

Alice smiled, "Sorry Bella, that's the correct name for Garlic; I've taken biology class a lot over the years"

I smiled as she continued.

"Well, there is no way a simple clove of garlic could ward off a vampire! I think Mr. Stoker only used that because a Christian myth considered that after Satan left the Garden of Eden, garlic arose in his left footprint…"

She stopped and rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Bella, I'm boring you" she continued as I raised my eyebrows.

"Boring me? Alice, you charm, excite and interest me! Please continue" I asked, as she quickly kissed my hand.

Slowly she continued, "Well, as for the crucifix and holy water? Complete fabrication. Merely symbols of the Christian Faith that Stoker decided would be a great power to use against vampires. You see, historically, Christian thinking linked vampires to Satan, ergo a symbol that represents Christ and all that is holy… well, I suppose it should drain us of strength as it were…only they don't. Nor do they leave a mark on our skin if held to it. At the end of the day, we're not monsters Bella, we're merely… different" she finished as I slowly nodded.

After a few minutes of silence I looked Alice, who was looking intently at me.

"I rather like being different" I replied, as she seemed to visibly relax a little, "And as for the sun, well, I know it doesn't burn you… us…." I finished, as Alice now rubbed her thumb across my hand.

"Wait, what about silver bullets? I'm sure I read somewhere that they can kill vampires" I asked, as Alice started to laugh.

"Where on earth did you read that my sweet?" she asked, as I shrugged my shoulders.

"Isn't the metal supposed to be… well, pure? So pure it can rip through a vampire's heart and stop them dead in their tracks?" I enquired as Alice smiled.

"I'm sorry Bella, I guess there are a lot of… stories… out there about what can and can't hurt us. As far as silver bullets go, no. They can't harm us. Nor can silver daggers, or stakes. As for our hearts, they stopped beating the day we became what we are, so a stake through the heart won't kill us, although I suppose it may feel extremely uncomfortable until it's removed again".

So, that's the last time I watched an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer…

"And we have a reflection" I finished as Alice smiled.

"Oh, you have quite the reflection, Bella. I can't wait to take you downstairs and show you off" she finished as I nodded.

"I suppose it is time to venture down there" I responded, as Alice lent in and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

"We'll do this, together Bella. Everything, from this moment on, we do together" she finished as I nodded.

Together; for always.