Chapter 5

Khryssa Hart stared blankly at the man before her. This was no ordinary man. This was Alexander Lucard, one of the richest and most powerful men in the world. He was known to a few by another name, Dracula, and he just asked her to marry him.

"What?" Surely she was missing something or heard him wrong.

"Khryssa Leigh Hart, marry me and become my wife." He paused to slide the ring on her finger. He had brought the design to a specialty jeweler the day he had given her Calla. It was not just purchased for her. It was made for her. Each diamond, all fifteen carats worth, had been handpicked by Alexander himself. The platinum band was designed by him and made for her finger alone. It was more than expensive, it was priceless. She didn't even look down at the weight upon her finger. She just stared mutely at the man.

After all that they went through recently and he wants to marry me, what the hell? That was what her mind kept repeating and it hammered home again and again. It made not a bit of sense.

"You are joking."

"I have never been more serious in my life."

"We barely know each other Alexander!"

"Then it is time we learn more." He was very serious.

She turned to walk away, pausing to remove the ring from her finger first. "I cannot believe you are doing this Alexander. Why do you feel the need to torment me so?" Handing the ring back, Khryssa waited for him to take it. He made no move to.

"Torment you? No my darling, it is not to torment you. You see, even in my mortal life, I could have had my pick of women. I did have my pick of women. When I met the woman that I would marry, she cared not that I was a prince. She cared not that I was a monster in the flesh. All she cared about was me. When she received the falsified news that I had perished, she killed herself. Since then there were hundreds perhaps thousands of women that graced my bed and even more that I fed off of their flesh. I met Margo, and once she found out what I was, she wanted nothing more to do with me. For I was a vampire and that little bit of information tarnished her vision of us together. Any others that have tried to make me love them wanted me for the same reason you said no for so many years. What could I do for them? How could I make their lives more complete? What could I purchase for them? Of course there was always my favorite, how I could make them look with them being at my side." Alexander's lip curled in contempt. "Your family is my sworn enemy and that never bothered you. You knew before you accepted the agreement to be employed by Lucard Industries what I am. You did not care. You have no desire for the wealth that I possess; you have your own Khryssa. Still material things do nothing to impress you. I have no doubt that you find me attractive. It is more of a pull from the soul rather than the physical trappings. You care about how my mind works and what my thoughts are far more than you care about what damned label is on my undergarments!"

Khryssa was shocked by Alexander's outburst. Standing stock still, she did not know what to say. So he came to her once more. Running his knuckles gently down her cheek, Alexander spoke, his tone was gentle.

"You actually care about the man Khryssa. You do not care about the frivolous adornments that come with me. You possess the ability to make me laugh and you laugh with me. When I see your smile, I know that there is good in this world and not just the darkness that I have become. Your beauty is astonishing. Yet, there is so much more to you than that. Can you now see why I wish for you to be by my side? Can you understand why I wish for you to be my wife? I love you. It is not something that I say lightly either my dear."

"Alexander, you tried to kill me last night. What the hell?"

"I lost control. I have been negligent in my sleeping habits and feeding habits. I wanted to spend every bit of time that I have available with you. Unfortunately, I did not understand the consequences until it was too late."

Khryssa started to pace. She was nervous and it was very obvious. She loved him. It was the first time she had even spoken that out loud. He knew now and pledged his love to her as well. How can I do this? How can I even think about this? There is no way it will work. Tears slipped from her eyes and she turned to walk away once again.

"Khryssa, give us a chance. Please."

"Do you not remember Alexander, I gave you another chance. We ended up in Romania."

"Do you love me?"

Fire heated her cheeks with the question that was posed to her. "Yes, I do love you."

"Can you imagine being apart for long? Can you see yourself with another man that is not me?"

"No, I cannot imagine you being gone from my life. I could never love another like I love you."

"You know in your heart that I love you don't you?"

Khryssa nodded mutely.

Alexander went once again on to one knee. Taking the ring that was held loosely in her hand, he slid it back on her finger. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed the soft skin with adoration.

"Once again I will ask you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife Khryssa Hart?"

Her heartstrings tugged. So without even realizing, she nodded her ascension. Tears were slipping down her cheeks; Khryssa knew this was not the way a proposal should be. She was not thrilled but rather a mixture of fear and love. Yet, the thought of embarking on a new life with Alexander Lucard made her smile.

"Yes Alexander, I will marry you."

Alexander rose quickly from bended knee, so quickly that she did not even realize it. Khryssa felt the embrace and kiss before she ever saw him. Laughter bubbled from within while their lips touched. He smiled against Khryssa's lips. Picking her up, he walked through the castle. He just wanted to hold her that much longer, rather than let her walk beside him. The hallways of the castle passed in a blur. Her vision narrowed to him and him alone. It wasn't until Alexander placed her down upon his bed that she actually realized what was happening. Long legs wrapped around his waist instinctively. Arms, slender and delicate looking, curled around his shoulders. She leaned upwards as if to kiss him, but instead she whispered softly.

"Are you sure about this Alexander?"

"I have never been surer about anything in my life."

"I am frightened Alexander."

He stroked her hair and looked into her eyes with such love that a tear slipped down her cheek once more upon seeing the look from him. "My beloved Khryssa, just know that I love you more than anything in this world or beyond. Know that I value you and cherish you more than I do my own immortal life."

There was a crease of worry on her brow. Alexander pressed his lips across the crease to smooth the flesh. He looked into her eyes and smiled gently. Fingertips brushed against Khryssa's cheek. She nuzzled to the touch. Finally, a nod was given, she believed him.

He wanted to touch her. He wanted to feel her flesh against his own. More than anything, he needed to be inside of her. Alexander began removing her clothing. It was a long process. He took his time to marvel at her body, and to touch, kiss every bit that he exposed. When she was finally bared to him, he removed his own clothing. Gazing upon her beauty and marveling at the soft sensuous curves that she possessed, he knew that he would never let her go. Alexander pulled Khryssa into his embrace. Holding her close to his heart, he spoke softly.

"You will never want for anything Khryssa. I know you do not care so much for the material things. You will have those, of course, but you will be cherished beyond what is imaginable. You will be loved to the heavens above and below. There is nothing you will ever want for again."

She smiled, his words left her incredulous. Instead of speaking, she kissed him with a fierce love. He could feel it more deeply than he had ever felt anything before. His fingers swept across her body. She shivered in his arms with anticipation of what would soon come. Back arching, a long lithe body pressed up to him. He moved over her. Captured in his arms, there was nowhere else she wanted to be. They went slow. He teased her for hours. His fingers took time in sliding across her bare skin. She stroked him gently. Kissing his chest with deliberate slowness, Khryssa made her way downwards. Warm tongue circled around his navel and she dipped lower.

He did not realize what she was doing at first. The sweet caresses made him ache with the mounting passions. Alexander stopped her. Tugging Khryssa back up to him, he kissed her lips once again. Knowing each other with true intimacy was the only thing on either of their minds. Knowing each other's bodies in that instant and sharing the love felt with the other was what mattered most in that moment. They needed to feel the love, physically, that they shared. Soft sounds, little gasps and moans that left lips of wine, urged him on. Alexander coveted her. Through both of their fears of each other, he had come to realize that he needed this woman, he wanted her, and most importantly; he loved her.

They moved with harmony together. Without thinking, to muffle the sounds of passion that flew past her lips, Khryssa leaned down and bit Alexander. Lips on his bare shoulder, teeth sank into now warm flesh. She did not draw blood. The pleasure he felt from the bite was profound.

He whispered words of love and desire in Khryssa's ear. She called out his name over and over again. It was like a prayer, singing her love to the heavens. The night swept on. Long into the night their love making continued. It wasn't until their passions were completely spent did they finally drift off to sleep together.

They slept in each other's arms through the afternoon. When Khryssa finally awakened, she opened her eyes to the sight of her fiancée watching her. Alexander smiled, kissing her lips gently.

"Good morning Alexander." Stretching gently against her lover, Khryssa returned his smile.

"Good afternoon to you my darling."

She looked surprised at the mention of afternoon. "Is it truly afternoon?"

"Four p.m. to be exact."

She frowned. "Were we not supposed to be at work this morning?"

"I think we can take the day off to celebrate, seeing how it is my company after all."

"Hm, you do make a good point Alexander." With a shake of the head, she started to laugh.

"What is it that you find so funny?"

Looking thoughtful for a minute maybe two, then she started to speak. "You do realize I am going to have to tell my family yes? Not that my parents matter all that much in this part of the equation, but the others? This is going to get interesting."

"Yes it will. I can come along if you wish?" He tried to look serious.

"I think that would be a bad idea!"

They both laughed. It was unusual for either of them to be so completely at ease and not on guard. With each other, they didn't have to be. His long fingers dipped into her dark mane, stroking back the curls that tried to fall forward. Rising up, her lips met his in a searing kiss. The kiss was interrupted with a loud crash. It was not but a moment later that the door flew open.

"Let her go Lucard!"

There was almost a look of amusement on his handsome face. He curled the woman in question protectively against his broad bare chest.

"I do not believe I am holding anyone against their will Maximillian."

Khryssa tugged the sheets up higher to cover her nakedness. She glared at her cousins, though she spoke gently. "Guys, I am not being held against my will."

Chris turned pale at the sight of his older cousin with the vampire. Sophie just looked away, seemingly embarrassed. Max, on the other hand, grabbed the holy water from his backpack. Throwing the water upon his cousin, she shrieked in response.

"What the hell Max? That is cold!"

Max looked surprised when she did not start to scream in pain.

"You are not one of his zombies." It was stated rather dumbly by the young man.

Alexander spoke before Khryssa could. "I am not one for necrophilia Maximillian." A hint of amusement was there in his voice.

Finally Chris and Sophie came to their senses and with it the need to protect their older cousin. They raised a cross each. Alexander recoiled behind Khryssa. His arm rose to protect his eyes from the holy objects.

"All three of you, get out!" Khryssa shouted.

Sophie spoke first. "Khrys, we are not leaving without you."

A sound of exasperation came from the raven haired beauty in the bed. "Fine, leave the room and let me get dressed. I will come with you."

Alexander started to protest. She shook her head at him. "It is okay Alexander, I will be back." Leaning down, kissing the vampire tenderly, words brushed against his lips. "I promise."

He nodded and the children left the bedroom. Khryssa dressed in yesterday's clothes. Finding a tie for her hair in a pocket, she tried to make herself look as presentable as possible. "Alexander I will return as soon as I can. This might take a while." She sighed gently and leaned down to kiss him goodbye. "I love you, Alexander."

"I love you with all of my being Khryssa." There was sadness in his eyes when he looked at her. Alexander Lucard looked lost for a moment. Anger filled him at what had been interrupted, yet starting into the eyes of his fiancée quelled that anger. He didn't want her to leave. He did not want the earlier moment to end.

"Will you go get Calla please? I left her at home."

Alexander nodded. "Of course."

She opened the door and then turned around. Looking back at him she mouthed three little words before disappearing down the hall.

Khryssa walked with the younger members of the family back to Gustav's home. They stayed mostly silent during the walk, at least Khryssa did. Max tried to ask her questions, she was not answering him. She would have to play twenty questions when they saw Uncle Gustav. She entered the house first. The children were close behind. Khryssa felt the need to enter first, in order to prove that she was not under any vampiric influence. She sat down in one of the living room chairs and waited.

"UNCLE GUSTAV!" Max called out.

Gustav came from the kitchen where he had been preparing dinner. Wiping his hands on a towel, he looked surprised. "Khrys, I didn't expect to see you today!"

She smiled wanly. "Well I didn't expect to be here today Uncle Gustav."

He came over and gave his niece a hug. It was then that the large engagement ring caught his eye. He looked surprised. Reaching for her hand and lifting it up to get a better look. "My god Khrys when did this happen?"

Max finally spoke up after hearing the exchange between his cousin and his uncle. "Uncle Gustav we brought Khrys home, from the castle."

"What do you mean from the castle? Lucard's castle?"

All three of children chimed in. "Yes Uncle Gustav!"

The four of them turned to stare at Khryssa. She rolled her eyes heavenward. This was not going to go well she thought, possibly even worse than she originally considered while lying in Alexander's arms.

Gustav started slowly. "Khryssa what is going on?"

"It is nothing Uncle Gustav."

"Why were you at the castle?"

Chris spoke up first. "Uncle Gustav, we found Khrys with Lucard." He emphasized with.

Khryssa glared at Christopher. She didn't say a word, instead feeling that at nearly twenty-seven years old she did not have to explain her love life to anyone. It was Sophie that spoke next.

"Uncle Gustav, Lucard had Khryssa in a rather compromising situation." Sophie tried to put it as gently as possible.

"What? Oh! Khryssa, he did not force you did he?"

Shaking her head slowly she replied with a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Oh dear god, of course not Uncle Gustav."

"I have told you the stories of Dracula since you were a child. You know what he is. You know what he can do." Gustav looked not displeased as so much as rather hurt and disappointed.

Khryssa dropped her forehead into her hands. "Kids. Uncle Gustav. This isn't any of your concern. I am an adult. I have been an adult for quite a while." Didn't I just have this conversation recently, she thought.

The realization dawned on Gustav. The ring was large and expensive. There were not many people that could afford such a thing. All of a sudden he felt very old and tired. He had sworn he would protect his family and another one of them walked right into the wolf's den willingly. "You are planning on marrying Lucard?"

"Yes."

Max, Chris, and Sophie looked at each other with the news. How could she do that to them? It was the ultimate betrayal.

"WHY?"

"I love him Uncle Gustav."

"You know what he is Khryssa. You know who he is. You know that he is a murderer. You know that he is a fiend. He has no capacity to love. He only knows how to ruin and kill. How can you do this to yourself? He will destroy you eventually. He will turn you into a vampire. You will lose your soul. You will lose your life. Most importantly, you will lose yourself completely."

"It isn't like that Uncle Gustav. I love him. I trust him. He would never hurt me."

Gustav slammed his hand down on a table top. "He already hurt you Khryssa! I saw with my own eyes the hand shaped bruise on your throat. Are you going to tell me that was from someone else?"

Never having seen Uncle Gustav lose his temper like this before, Khryssa was stunned to say the least. "Yes he did that. I will not deny that. We both lost control that night. It will not happen again. I know you do not understand this. I know you cannot comprehend this. I do trust him Uncle Gustav. I trust him completely."

"You are being foolish my niece."

"No Uncle Gustav, I am in love."

Gustav leaned in and spoke in a low tone. It was only for Khryssa to hear. "You know that Lucard is the one that" He wasn't sure how to say it. "Klaus."

There was a look of surprise on her face. Khryssa spoke softly as well. "You know how I feel about Klaus Uncle Gustav." It was a statement. She did not explain, there was no need to. Gustav knew what had happened and he simply nodded.

Khryssa stood up. She had enough of this. "Kids, thank you. Thank you for caring. It is sweet that you are worried. Your worry is unfounded though." She turned slightly. "Uncle Gustav, I understand your fear. I do. It is unfounded as well. Look, all of you. I am fine. I am well and truly fine. He is a good man, to me at least. I am comfortable with that. I am comfortable with him. I bid you all a good day."

She gave each of them a hug. She did appreciate their concern. "I love you guys, with all of my heart. But please, if I make a mistake let it be my own." Turning and heading out into the night, Khryssa noticed the worry etched on four faces of people she loved. There was nothing to be done about that. She simply went home to the man, the vampire, whom she was very much in love with.

The next day Gustav Helsing made an appointment. He needed to speak with Lucard and this was the only way he knew that it could be done without much incident. Lucard's assistant was able to squeeze him in on the same day. It was quite the surprise. Gustav did not tell his young charges what he was doing or where he was going. The arrival at Lucard Industries went unhitched. Within a few moments he was escorted into Lucard's office. The vampire stood when Gustav entered the room.

"What a day this is Helsing, you came announced for a change."

"Your need to hurt this family runs so deep that you are willing to destroy to an innocent woman with your lies Lucard?"

"I can only assume you are speaking of the woman that I will marry, and soon." His voice took a wry tone. "I have never lied to Khryssa, nor do I wish any harm to come to her."

"You are pretending to love her Lucard. Your deceit knows no bounds!"

Alexander moved from behind his desk. Walking around Gustav Helsing with a slow precise gait, he looked at the older looking man with anger. In a booming voice that made his staff outside of the closed office jump.

"Spare me Helsing! I do love Khryssa Hart with all of my soul. It is just the unfortunate turn of affairs that she happens to be a part of your family." He snarled at the other man. "You know nothing of my affairs of the heart, or the Hart for that matter."

"I know you Dracula. You will kill her when she begins to lose her newness."

The vampire sighed heavily. Khryssa's family was exhausting to say the least. "Helsing, I will not harm her. I will not kill her. I have already vowed to Khryssa that I will never force her into anything. If the day comes, that she wishes to become immortal then she must beg for it with every bit of her being. BUT I WILL NOT DO SUCH A THING UNTIL THEN!" Lucard sat heavily upon a chair across from Gustav and began to speak again.

"You think of me to be incapable of human feelings Helsing. Perhaps I am in many ways. There is something about Khryssa that makes me feel mortal again. It is disturbing at times, but it makes me love her all the same."

"Lucard, I do not trust you."

"Then why are you here Helsing?"

"I have come to make you a deal."

"A deal?" Alexander laughed bitterly. "What could you possibly have that I could want?"

"Take me, erase my memories. Take the children and erase their minds of the knowledge that you and your kind exist. We shall never hunt you again. Just spare Khryssa. Hurt her now by turning her away from you, but leave her alone forever."

There was a pique of curiosity in the vampire's eyes, though it quickly vanished. "You do not seem to realize Helsing that I have no desire to make such a deal, even as promising as it sounds. I want Khryssa to be my wife. I want Khryssa to share my everything." He paused for a bit while staring at Gustav Helsing. "I would almost become mortal for her if I could." The words sounded wistful.

It was Gustav's turn to stare. Dracula had proclaimed his love of the immortal life so many times before that this had to be yet another lie. "You cannot even tell the truth now Lucard! Why do you insist on hurting her? What has she done to you?" The last sentence was but a mere whisper.

"What has she done to me? She made me love her. I will protect her at all costs Helsing."

"Who will protect her from you Lucard?"

If it was possible, the vampire blanched at the words. He knew that there was a likelihood that his enemies would use her to get to him. He did not respond to the question, instead turning to look out the window.

"I have lived for centuries Helsing. Being alone, is something I am used to. I am drawn to the fire that burns brightly in Khryssa. I have no wish to extinguish it. Instead, I wish to cultivate it. There has never been a love greater than what I feel for her." The vampire paused for a moment before speaking quietly. "I was afraid of it at first."

Alexander stood once more and started to pace. He did not enjoy admitting fear at all. "I did not know that anything could feel like this. I tried to push her away. I bruised her flesh with my own hand. Yet I could not stay away from her. She hated me for that and all I wanted to do was love her."

Alexander paused, thinking back on something. "You know Helsing; she knew what and who I was before I could even mention it. She did not care. She did not judge. She did not let what she had been told from birth cast me in a bad light. She accepted me as a man. Khryssa loved me for what I am. For that alone I love her. But it goes so much deeper than that you see."

Gustav was speechless at Lucard's declarations. "If you love her, then let her go. What will happen when she starts to age?"

"If she does not wish to become immortal I will age along with her." It was stated simply.

"You realize that she is not entirely human don't you?"

Alexander nodded. "I figured as much, but what she is I know not."

"Khryssa was born to two human parents. Her mother and father are biologically her parents. That is not what changed her. At some point during Jeri's pregnancy she was bitten by a vampire. Perhaps once or perhaps many times, we do not know. Khryssa's mother does not remember it at all. We only figured out what had happened from the marks upon Jael's neck. The vampire was thus destroyed shortly after we knew and then found him. We tried to track down the vampire's maker. His name is Gustavo. We never found him. As for the one we destroyed, something went wrong while he was feeding from Jeri and he was never able to take much blood. I believe he did share some of his own blood with Khryssa's mother. Somehow he infected the unborn child with some of his genetic makeup, we believe. Khryssa has vampire blood coursing through her veins as well as human blood. She does not have any specific powers, but her genius is caused by that incident more than likely. Khryssa is also faster to heal than most. She is also physically quicker than most humans. Though you found out that with her touching you she can make you appear human in a photograph as well. That was something that we did not know until then. None the less, she is not quite human."

Alexander sat back down, stunned. His mind was a whirlwind. It made sense. What Helsing was telling him was an old vampire tale. He had never seen it before, nor did he know any other of his kind that had. It had always been stories to entertain and spread through the night. Alexander himself tried to create such a being at one time, it did not work. "Helsing is there anything else I need to know?" Alexander asked quietly.

Gustav shrugged and looked at his hands. "Not that I know of, there is so little known about this phenomenon that we can only take into consideration what we can see."

Looking up suddenly, the vampire spoke two words from the heart. "Thank you."

Gustav nodded. "Take care of her Lucard. If you harm her in anyway, I will kill you. This is not an idle threat. It is a promise from the darkest recesses that I have."

"I will take care of her. She is priceless. She is mine."

"No, she will never belong to you Lucard. She will always be herself. Khryssa will love you and never stop loving you. She is a pure soul in so many ways. Yet, she will always be her own person. She is your equal Lucard, never forget that."

Gustav Helsing rose abruptly from the chair and simply left. His heart was breaking for his niece. She would never know complete happiness he believed. At the same time he also knew there was no stopping her.

He stared after the retreating figure. Alexander then realized just how much his bride-to-be was loved and not just by him.