Michelle traveled by car then plane and transferred to another plane to get to the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. Where she was going there came stories of death and entrapment, of vast wonders and scares. Knowing that crowds and cars scare the inhabitants of her destination, she decided to walk the way up to the castle. And up it was. She would have to lug her two very heavy bags and violin case all the way up that mountain peak. Oh well. Life was tough and this was just another optical. It was two in the afternoon when she set out. Walking through and past towns and graveyards and forest, it was well beyond 10:30 at night when she reached the castle doors. She knocked and stood back a step. Michelle had to admit that this wet weather was wonderful, cold and damp, wet leaves and fire places; her favorite season, autumn. She savored the outdoor air, knowing very well that she may very well never be outside ever again. Her muscles aching to the breaking point from her trip and her burden. She felt like a pack mule, but endured yet longer.
The large double doors were unlocked and one was opened. "What do you want?" demanded a dark haired, well groomed man. He looked like he needed sleep or to lay off the drugs, his eye sockets dark. Michelle had her hunches, but she'd never draw to conclusions.
"Hi! My name is Michelle! And you are?"
"Vlad,"
"Which one? Tepesch, Dracule, or Dracula?"
This man seemed shocked that she knew. "Dracula," he responded.
"Oh good."
"Good?"
"You're not the infamous 'impaler'. "
"Oh. Yes, quite," He thought a moment then demanded once again, "What is it you want?"
"I came here to see you, Vlad."
"Really?" he said more as a statement than a question.
"Yes, but don't think that I didn't come with useful talents. I can play my violin having over 10 years under my belt, I can clean, cook, but if you are the infamous vampire, why would you need a cook?" She laughed, embarrassed at her fast-talking and nervousness. She continued, trying to keep herself together from her overwhelming enthusiasm from meeting Dracula. "I can take care of myself, so you wouldn't need to trouble yourself with me. Umm…I know very well that I may never leave this establishment alive, but I'm willing to take that risk if you are willing to let me stay with you."
"You're a vampire fan, aren't you?"
"You caught me there, Vlad. Can I call you that?"
He nodded. "I see no reason why you can't stay. And if I was to turn you back out, you wouldn't get very far."
She was about to ask why when wolves howled.
"My children are hungry, and I can't easily control them when they are."
"Well that's understandable!" she turned to the forest and the mountains and called, "Goodnight pretty wolves!"
No sooner had she said that than glowing yellow eyes emerged from the darkness. "Oh! Hi!" she said in a quieting tone. She slipped her things to the ground and walked over to a wolf and bent down to stare it in the eyes. Others came to observe. Vlad could hear a deep throaty growl from her throat and he knew she was no normal girl.
After a moment longer she got up and walked back to Vlad and her things and the wolves went off into the night. He said nothing on the subject and she didn't seem amazed like she was about looking a wolf in the eye and not gotten eaten.
He let her in and said to her, "I'll show you to your room. And after you put your things down, come have supper in the dining hall," he said pointing just down the foyer at two large double doors, paralleling the front doors.
Vlad showed her to a magnificently furnished room at the top of the stairs at the right, and she gazed in amazement. "Wow…is this where Jonathon stayed?"
"Pardon?!"
"Harker! Jonathon Harker!"
Vlad seemed amused. Michelle wasn't about to ask a supposed vampire what was so funny. It could be fiction and he's laughing at her stupidity or it could be memories from the past…she couldn't tell and she wouldn't pry unless he gave a hint he wanted to tell. "I'll let you put your things down. Come down when you are ready for supper,"
"Thank you,"
He closed the door and she organized her things while she had strength left. Michelle washed her hands and went down. There he was, sitting on the far side of this incredibly long table, facing her. He had a place setting just for her and the meal was already served.
She sat herself and he motioned for her to eat. She grinned at a thought.
"What?" he asked.
"Trying to make me get my strength back so you can suck the life from me at night?"
He was appalled that she said that.
"I was just kidding Vlad!!" She laughed and he seemed to loosen his muscles and his mind. " 'Sides!" she added, having already taken the first bite of her meal. "It's not like you'd need to force me…" She left it at that, letting him think and stew in her words… Oh the possibilities were endless.
He watched her eat all through her meal till she had enough to feed three to four people!! "My, you certainly were hungry!"
"Oh yea! I never travel on a full stomach, and the hike up here from the airport was hell!"
"Really. You walked all that way with all those heavy bags?"
"Yeah!"
"Mr. Harker would have taken a coach…"
She looked at him stunned from that remark as he took a roll and began nibbling at it. She watched him, fascinated. He chuckled and then stated, "You must be terribly exhausted from you trip."
"Eh. I guess…"
"It's alright. You should go up and sleep. I will see you in the evening coming,"
"Alright Vlad. Goodnight,"
"Goodevening to you,"
And she dragged, what she called her heavy carcass, up the stairs and to her room, changed and collapsed in the huge, feather bed. It was so nice to sink into the mattress and have the blankets envelope her like embodied comfort. Sleep soon came to her heavy eyelids.
Michelle awoke late the next day around noon and she went exploring after she dressed. She had noticed that last night though there was food that there was no sign of human life. Well…besides her and Vlad. The first place she went was down to the dining room and she found the kitchen. In there were a few doors. One, she could tell, led to the outdoors. She didn't want Vlad to worry about her breaking into any secrete spots. So she called out loud, "It's ok, Vlad, I wont try to go anywhere you don't want me. I'm just exploring," And with that she went to explore the rest of the castle.
There in the dining room were three doors. One to the kitchen, one to a locked room and the double doors leading in from the hall. Out in the hall were two doors on either side of the grand fireplace and one that led under the staircase and one by the front door; possibly a coat closet.
Upstairs there was square perimeter hall lined with doors. The one hall, immediately at the stairs leading straight was where her room was, on the right. She tried the doors to those rooms and only but a few were locked. Then there was the perpendicular halls; the far one from the stairs had doors on the either side. The one nearest the stairs had no doors to the inner rooms on the right; the left was a balcony to the downstairs hall. Then there was the hall parallel to the one Michelle started off with, windows, fairly new, lined the wall. The doors facing the windows were all locked. Now, the hall she was at, with the windows to her right and to her left, down the hall with no doors, she could see her bedroom door. Straight ahead was a continuation of the hall where all the doors lining the left wall were locked. These were probably over the dining room.
Fascinating place though. Every room was decorated so finely, it was too bad he didn't have more guests. Well, Michelle wasn't hungry yet, so there was only one thing left to do. She took out her violin, sat on the stairs and began to play. As she fiddled classical, the music hummed like a bell through the rafters and along the stone, echoing and traveling deep in the belly of the castle. There a coffin laid. Its inhabitant was asleep, but when that heavenly music played he couldn't help but smile slightly.
That evening Vlad came to see Michelle still playing her music by candlelight. So he snuck up, not wanting to disturb her and he sat in a chair that stood at the fireplace, among others, and he just listened. Once the piece was finished Michelle looked up and saw Vlad sitting there. "Oh! You're up. Sleep well?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
"Eh…"
"I enjoyed your heavenly music, Michelle. I hope to hear it often during your stay."
"Eh, thank you,"
"Maybe I'd just keep you around for that whilst I slumber,"
Ok. That comment made her uneasy. But Vlad quickly changed the subject. "Shall we sup?"
"ok,"
"Why don't you clean up and put something nice on. hmm?"
"Er…"
Vlad walked to the dining room and Michelle put her violin and music away. She walked up to her room to find scented oils and an evening gown. She gave a little snort and set to work.
When Michelle made her appearance at dinner she took the count by surprise. "My! You are ravishing…"
Michelle, unamused, went to sit. He was dressed nicer than she had seen him the previous night.
"Whatever is the matter?"
"Did some broad die in this dress?"
"Er…"
"You liked her, didn't you?"
"Why I…."
"Hey, it's ok. I used to sleep on a dead man's mattress…" And with that she began to eat. "Can we check out your library after dinner, Vlad?"
"Why certainly."
So, after supper they headed to the library; out into the hall from the dining room and to a door along the wall where the fireplace was. Down another hall lined in doors and at the end were two grand doors. When they entered Michelle was in awe at the immense space that was the library; lined from ceiling to floor along all the walls were shelves stuffed with books of all shapes and sizes, ages and nationalities. The room was musty and old, with a gap lacking books and shelves reserved for the fireplace. There were ladders to get to platforms higher up to get to those books. The whole place had to be at least three stories high.
Vlad commented, "I feel like dancing. Do you waltz?" He then suddenly took her hand gently. As he wrapped an arm around her waist music came on and they began dancing. It was like a dream. Every step was accurate and she was not into dancing. It was as if her limbs knew what to do.
When the music ended they stopped. "Thank you, m' dear. It's been quite a while since I last did that,"
"Me too." She looked at a wall of books and asked, "Do you want to read anything?"
"Oh. Find something and we'll have tea and brandy,"
"Alright," Michelle remembered what she had read in a Dracula book and went to the supposed spot where there might be some hidden area. Sure enough, behind the charts and maps there was a secrete panel. She smirked and gave a snort at the contents. It was just as the book had said.
Vlad walked in with their tea and brandy and Michelle called down from her place on the ladder, "Vlad, which issue do you want?"
"Pardon?" He then saw what she meant. He swallowed hard but remained calm. "May I see May?"
"Ok!" Michelle dug it out and traveled down the ladder. "Here you go."
"How did you know they were there?"
"I read a lot, Vlad. I love fiction." Michelle walked around the vast library trying to find a particular book. "So do you like that month the best?"
"Yes I do."
"Do you have Madam Bovary?"
"I believe I do."
"Did you keep the records of the books Harker made?"
"I believe that has long since has been lost or destroyed."
"I think you need a new one."
"I think it would take you too long to do that yourself."
"Yeah. You're right. I'd probably would read most things I took down to record…I'm like that."
Vlad went to sit in a chair by the fireplace and examined the way she moved about and thought of something. "Michelle, can you test a theory of mine, please?"
"What is it?"
"Try and sneak up on me. Do that anytime you're ready while we are here in the library."
"O-kay…" she thought that was odd, but would carry out his wishes. Michelle found her book after a while and found that this was her opportunity. Vlad was busy "reading" his book. She stealthily hopped off the ladder and snuck in the shadows cast by the candles so that she was looking over his shoulder so she could see what page he was on.
"My goodness, Vlad! What illustrations!" Michelle said suddenly about the book. He nearly fell out of his seat. She looked at him in innocence when he finally turned to look at her.
"My dear! You nearly scared me into the netherworld!!"
"Hey, you said you wanted me to test your theory…"
"True," He began to calm. "No one can sneak up on me, and yet you succeeded…"
"I'm a gal of many talents, Vlad."
"Did you find the book?"
"Yep!"
"Come, your tea might be luke-warm by now,"
Michelle went to sit on the love seat; the couch too intimidating with it's length. Vlad got up as soon as she was settled and sat next to her. Michelle looked at him and he gave a slight smile back at her then they proceeded with their books.
Michelle gave a yawn and Vlad eyed the clock. "Oh my. Look at the time! We've been up all night!"
"Well I can't think of any better company, Vlad."
"Thank you. And the same goes for you,"
"Thanks,"
"I will see you in the evening, my dear,"
"Good morrow, Vlad,"
He smiled, "And to you," With that she went up to bed. Vlad stayed a little longer, but set his book down and just watched her leave. He had his hunches about her.
Suddenly three women appeared. "I don't like her!" The jet-black haired woman complained.
"Hush Josephine. I find her intriguing…" Vlad trailed off.
"What are you going to do with her?" another, a redhead, asked.
"I don't know yet. But what I DO know is that you three will not have her.
"Vlad? You like her, don't you?" the last, a brunet asked.
"I'm supposing I do…"
The next night was occupied as Michelle asked to draw him. This amused Vlad and they headed up to one of the locked doors, actually the one across the hall from Michelle's room. it appeared to be Vlad's bedroom; it was here that he willingly let her draw him on her sketch pad, actually taking the time to look through his wardrobe to pick out suits that he liked and wearing them for her. He was surprised with how quickly she sketched him, even after quite a few sketches of him in different outfits. After she became tired of sitting and sketching Vlad walked over to see the masterful artwork. "How about after a meal I ink some in and color them?" Michelle said.
"Ink and color?!"
"Yeah. Why not?"
He smiled gratefully and joked, "I'm not commissioning you."
"I do this for fun, Vlad."
"Amusement? How wonderful!"
so it was. After their meal Vlad watched as Michelle inked in black pen the outlines and then asked for him to sit still a while longer so she could get accurate colors.
"What is that you are using to color?" Vlad asked, curious to the colored sticks she was using.
"Colored pencils. They're my favorite medium."
"Do you paint as well?"
"Oh! I love to paint!"
"Tonight, shall we?" he asked hopeful that they would.
"if you want to, Vlad. But what are we going to paint?"
"How about each other? I would like to see you in that dress you wore the night before, whilst I paint,"
"You paint, huh?"
"As a lonely man, what else would I do be myself?"
"I'm sorry, I'm forgetful…"
"No need to apologize. You are here now and I must say that I love your company."
"thank you." She said blushing. "you're mighty good company yourself."
"I could only hope so."
"you really do like that dress then, don't you?"
"yes. And it looks fabulous on you, my dear."
She blushed and silently they continued to finish a few portraits. Vlad was mighty impressed, though small as they were, loose-leaf sized.
He sent her to change and then they went down in another room in the castle, this one was the second door on the left side of the fireplace. It was there that he sat her down on a tuffet by a tea table with a set already there. He then placed his hands on her shoulders and slid down the sleeves to expose her shoulders.
Michelle nervously said, "well, all this time I was wearing it wrong?"
"no, no. it can be either." He then went to a box and took out an impressive necklace. "this would look ravishing on you. May I?" Vlad walked behind her and fastened the clasp then arranged her long hair. "Alright. Stay just like that." it took him a while. Longer than Michelle would have appreciated, but Vlad painted her and when finished Michelle could have sworn that she was looking into a mirror.
"Oh my… Vlad… that's wonderful!" she looked at him, amazed. "have you any others that you did?"
"come. I'll show you the gallery."
It was down an offshoot room and the room was filled with portraits, much like the library; paintings from the high ceiling to the floor, no windows. Jonathon Harker, Mina Harker, r.n. Renfield, Quincy Morris, Armand, Louis, Lestat, Pandora, Maharet, and many other women that Michelle didn't know, but others from history that were famous; royalty and martyrs alike.
"And these are only one that I have done of people!" Vlad admitted. "I have many others of nature that I have painted plus others who's topic are more…ahem…raunchy."
"Understandable. You paint what you feel and the beauty you see in people."
"Yes. But I also have portraits of my ancestors before me, collected over…long periods of time. the Tepesch's and the Dracule's, as well as my direct descendants."
"You do??!"
"I do. Would you like to see?"
"Most definitely!"
he held out his arm gentlemanly and she took it. The contact was savored between the two as they headed to a room connected to the gallery. This one was of the nature paintings and Michelle reveled as she saw through his eyes the world around him. all the paintings were of the nighttime and of things that mortals never saw. "Vlad, these are incredible!!"
"Paint really doesn't do it justice, but I try."
There were paintings of all seasons of forests and mountains, towns, animals, and the night sky alive in the summer. He even captures the layers of the animal kingdom of the sky, canapé of the trees and the forest floor. A few had storms brewing and one of a full-blown storm. Vlad admitted that painting it was difficult at best, for he was out there capturing it as it pummeled the land.
They went on to see the portraits of the ancestors past. The Tepesch family was rather frightening but the Dracule's and the Dracula's were all elegant and beautiful. And there was even an old painting of Vlad, of the one present with her.
"Vlad? What's the difference between the Dracule's and the Dracula's?"
"The Dracule's are older. That and blood. The name changed when the lineage changed slightly. It all started with the Tepesch family. The daughter, the only child in the last generation, had married into the Dracule family, thus ending the Tepesch family name, but the blood line continued." As he spoke he showed Michelle the portraits of whom he spoke of. "the Draculae's were not always vampires. It was only after the daughter did the family turn to vampirism. So came the long lineage of the Dracule's, myself included. It was my great, great grandson whom changed the name slightly when they went into hiding."
"But the Dracula's are still around?"
"Only I remain now." He said in dismay. "The blood line is thinning and dying out with persecution. I have been very careful, but I even know my time is finite. One day they will get me as well…"
Michelle, concerned, snuggled up to him to comfort. He welcomed it as they looked to the deceased on the canvis. After a while of silence and comforting Michelle asked, "Is it true that you have the blood of Attila in your veins?"
Vlad thought a moment. "Where else would a vampire get his rage?" they looked at each other and he admitted, "Yes. I do."
As they stared into each other's eyes Vlad could feel the warmth of passion fill him. he so wanted to show her his affections, but the time was not right yet.
Finally, Michelle asked with eagerness, "Can we see those raunchy paintings you did, please?"
He was rather ashamed of them but the lady did ask. "If you wish."
"I do."
As he showed her to the door the paintings hid behind he said, "I must warn you that many are not for the faint hearted."
"Believe me, I've seen and pictured many an queer thing."
He unlocked then opened the door and went to light the candle sticks on the tables.
"No electricity in here?"
"No. I'm that much ashamed I didn't want the electricians in here."
"Wow. And this is like how it was before this castle had electricity?"
"Yes. Unimaginable, isn't it?"
"very dark and gloomy. I can't even see the ceiling!"
"Good thing too."
"Why's that, Vlad? What's up there?"
he took out a flashlight from a drawer and shown it upon the ceiling. painted up there was a mural of a nightmare. Blood, glowing red eyes, fangs, wolves, dragons, bats, vipers, locust, red and black skies, fires, death, corpses. Vlad said as Michelle gazed, observing everything, "this is the nightmare that the family has had ever since the birth of vampirism."
"what do you think it means?"
"I'm not sure, but it certainly instills a fear in me." he shut the flashlight off and Michelle collapsed to the floor in fright. Vlad held her in comfort, shielding her eyes from the fright. "It's alright, Michelle. When that was painted, red prosperous was used. after light shines on it, it glows in the dark. That's all it is. I'm so sorry…"
"So that really is the family nightmare, isn't it?" she said quietly.
"Yes. That is what the family fears the most; something watching, evilly." He helped her to her feet and was about to help her out, but she protested. "I want to see your paintings, Vlad." She said innocently.
He looked into her eyes and saw that she really did. She is so beautiful in the candlelight, he thought. As he reached out to her face, Michelle didn't know what to think. He touched her cheek and ran his dead, cold fingers along her young face. He quietly said, "alright."
Vlad watched as she slowly walked around observing his thoughts and deepest desires and nightmares. They were paintings of demons attacking the innocent. All these paintings were very dark with bursts of bright color in violence, fright and death. Then one painting caught Michelle's eye. "Ooh! Vlad! This is kinky!" she said with a rascally tone as she looked at him. he looked down, embarrassed. She walked over to give him a hug, which he warmly accepted.
"May we leave to do something else now?"
"Alright. I see this makes you uncomfortable. I'm sorry."
"There's no harm in being curious." Vlad explained as they exited. As her back was turned he blew out all the candles with a wave of his hand, a demonstration of his power, before closing and locking the door. He turned in time to see Michelle yawn. "I agree, my dear. It's getting early. We should go to sleep."
"Alright, Vlad. I had a wonderful time with you tonight."
"As I did with you, my dear."
Suddenly as he looked at her he wanted to bite that sweet neck of hers. He was hungry again. He would have to feed before he went to sleep. Vlad showed her the way out of the labyrinth of rooms and he headed for the kitchen. Michelle saw and asked, stopping him in his tracks, "Hungry again?"
"Yes. Are you?"
"I could go for a tomato."
"A tomato?"
"Yeah,"
"one, whole tomato?"
"Yeah! Why?"
"What do you do with it?"
"I eat it."
Vlad was very confused, but curious as to why she requested a simple tomato. Michelle awaited in the dining room as he poured himself some his early meal in a bowl then went to find a nice looking tomato for his guest.
He returned with his bowl of red soup and her tomato. Vlad watched her as she took in the aroma of the vegetable, then bit into it…and started sucking out all the juices! Vlad gaped as he realized that they both did the same thing but to different victims!
Michelle missed barely a drop as she sucked the life out of her snack then ate it with immortal speed. She looked at him and saw that he had not touched his soup as she ate. "What?" she asked.
"You…" he was speechless. He watched as the nearly transparent juice slipped down her hand, between her fingers and down her chin. It enticed him with passion.
"Oh, pardon me, I'm so messy," Michelle said apologetic as she wiped her chin with her hand and then licked her hand clean. But this only encouraged Vlad more.
He asked seriously, but honestly blunt, "Would you like to try this?"
Michelle looked at him, puzzled as to why he would ask this, but was curious anyway. "Alright,"
He spooned up some and held it for her to try. Vlad was so surprised that she let him feed her human blood. "Well?"
"A bit too thick for my liking."
"You like it thinner?"
"Yeah, like cold cow blood."
This caught Vlad off guard. "Excuse me?!" he looked at her shocked as she looked back and shrugged innocently. It was then that Vlad knew that she was totally unlike any other person, male or female, that he had ever come across or heard of.
They finished their early morning snacks and then headed up the stairs together, bid each other goodnight and then departed into their rooms for the day's sleep.
Sunset was upon Castle Dracula when Vlad went to awake the sleeping beauty. After a soft knock and no answer, Vlad walked into Michelle's room to see her sleeping. He had to admit that he felt strangely drawn to her in passion. As he watched her breath and listened to her heartbeat he wanted to press his face against her neck and growl with pleasure to hear her heavy breathing.
His thought was broken when she turned over. Vlad silently walked over across the expensive rug and leaned over her bed, longing to feel her neck on his lips, but he must control his hunger for now. "Michelle," he softly called. "Michelle, you've slept all day! You are as bad as I am!" he said amused.
"Hmm?" she growled in her sleep.
Vlad smiled and went to brush her bangs from her face. Still she has not awaken. Vlad then swept her cheek with his fingertips. Michelle slapped his hand away and turned over in distaste, exposing her neck.
"Tsk. You don't like that," Then he thought a moment. "Maybe…this may be more pleasurable," The Count then brushed the same fingertips along her neck and shoulder. Michelle turned back, enjoying the sensation and very slowly came to. She opened her eyes and Vlad looked down at her into them. She groaned and closed her eyes again.
Vlad stepped away confused and politely. "I'll let you wake up. Your meal is ready when you want it," and with that he found himself backing away from her till he reached the door, then walked out. After he closed her door the stopped and thought to himself, "Why did I do that?" his brows furrowed in thought and confusion. He shook it off and headed downstairs.
"You're up! I thought I'd never see you again, my dear!"
"Yeah, well…" Michelle said still under the affects of sleep. As she sat Vlad struggled to find something to say. He surprisingly found his words tangled in his brain and the rest were caught in his throat. It's only been four days and already Vlad believes he has feeling for this girl. Now that was remarkable.
He looked at her pick at her meal and found her behavior at the moment very dislikable. He thought in his mind, "Perhaps this is only after deep sleep,"
He smiled at her beautiful features, pale skin, red lips He looked down at his meal. "What shall you like to do tonight, my dear?" he asked.
"Erm…can I tell you once I wake up?"
"Certainly,"
An uneasy moment passed and Michelle said, "I'm sorry," she set her fork down to make a loud noise on her plate. "I'm too used to see the sun once I wake up…I'm terribly disoriented!" Michelle said as she quickly got up and started for the doors.
"Quite understandable, Michelle. It was for me too once upon a time. I'll let you rest," and with that she left without another word.
Vlad looked down at his blood soup and missed his reflection. He felt bad for her and there was nothing he could do in all his awesome power to help. That only made him feel worse.
Suddenly there cam a crash echoing from the hall. Vlad was out of his seat and up the stairs in a flash. It was his three brides, as novelists called them. They were fighting again. Vlad tore two apart and slapped the third. What a place to pick a fight, right outside Michelle's room. Without a word, Vlad shoved the three down the stairs and down the hall. "What in the name of hell are you doing?!" he demanded, agitated. His women had nothing to say. Vlad continued his reprimand, "Do you realize that if she were to find you, she would clearly think we were out to kill her!!? And let alone if it were you three alone, she would think I SENT you to kill her for me!! DON'T scare her away!!"
By this time Michelle with her sensitive hearing hear Vlad's reprimands through the echoey hall and through her door, came to see what the Count was so upset over. He was in the middle of a sentence when her door opened. Vlad and the three women looked to see. Vlad saw Michelle emerge from behind the door and then whipped around to see that the women became transparent and were going into hiding, as they should.
"Vlad? Are you ok?"
He looked back at her and knew that Michelle hadn't seen his women. "I'm fine. Thank you. Did I wake you?"
Michelle left it at that, knowing that people needed their secretes. "No. I can't sleep. You want to do anything?"
"Heh, I'd thought you'd never ask," He started up the stairs and came up to Michelle, who actually backed into her room.
"Whatever is the matter?"
"Where is she!?"
It was then that Vlad knew that this girl was special. She could smell Anabell's perfume on him when he slapped her. Michelle's sense of smell was heightened, higher than any mortals… Vlad closed his eyes in dred and lowered his head. Michelle had backed to the bed when Vlad looked up at her. He knew that walking closer now would damage trust that had been built. He looked to see a chair by the door and he sat in it. Shutting the door would have made her feel trapped and sitting to close to the door or to her would have the same affect. He knew human behavior all too well.
"Michelle…I can't lie to you now. There are more…people here than you think,"
"Oh. Trouble with servants?"
"Hmm, quite." He then thought to himself, "Alright, this seems to have been calmed and avoided, take it easy tonight with her. No advancing till she's ready." To her he asked, "Want to play some board games?"
"I'll try anything once,"
Vlad thought of something, but pushed it aside for now.
It was odd for him to be sitting on the floor, like a child, playing these games with her. But if it pleased the lady, then so be it. Michelle had her laughs about it as well.
He was caught daydreaming during the game. Michelle snapped him out of his delirium of love making with her on the floor right then and there.
"Man, Vlad, and I thought I was out of it! What's up with you?"
He found himself laying on his side propping up his head with a hand. He reached over and gently took Michelle's hand. Vlad looked up at her to make sure she was alright and with that he closed his eyes and kissed her hand, taking in her scent. Before he became delirious with ecstasy and went to far he let her hand drop and he left. Michelle didn't know what hit her. She sat there in the middle of their game wondering what the hell just happened.
Vlad had snatched up his coat and exited hastily for town needing to kill and rip throats open. He returned rather sooner than predicted with a bound living child. Vlad tromped through the dining room to the kitchen to one of the locked doors leading down to the deepest part of the castle where his women awaited. Upon throwing the young child to them the women rushed to feed. As Vlad watched them he realized that his own meal had not been satisfying enough. He tore the blonde, Anabell, away from her feeding and bit her. He knew what it really was that he wanted. He was hungry for women. And he had three ready at his disposal; but the root of his problem was that he wanted Michelle.
Upstairs Michelle popped out of her room, hungry. She thought she heard the front door and maybe Vlad had returned, hopefully better. Now, she had only known him to be in four places. One of which would be the dining room. Michelle went to look and he was not there. Then she tried the kitchen.
There, across the way was a once locked door…open. There were noises coming from the other side; giggles, growls, moans, gasps… it frightened and intrigued Michelle. What could…or who be doing that? Curiosity got he better of her and she slipped through the doorway, not needing to move the door any, and down the stairs on silent feet.
At the bottom, and around the corner of the winding stairwell came the source. Michelle hid there in the stairwell and peeked behind the wall. What she saw ignited the pleasure senses in her evil twisted side; vampire lovemaking. Michelle put her back to the cold stonewall of the stairwell and took a silent deep breath of lust and passion and slowly letting it out in pleasure. Oh Michelle was SO tempted to go in there and join them. "No, not yet," she thought. "That would be anticlimactic." She peeked around the corner again. Womanly flesh, blood, askew clothing worn on their owners. It was enough to drive Michelle to the edge of ecstasy and further. She had to admit, she found women attractive in the sex department and men attractive is beauty of their faces. Her senses were clearly different than most mortals…
Suddenly one of the females stopped and sniffed the air. "What's that?" the brunet asked. The other three stopped to sniff as well. Anabell said, "I don't smell nothing, Josephine! You're smelling things again!"
"Shut up," Vlad demanded. "I smell it as well…"
"Oh crap!" Michelle thought as she laid a hand over her mouth. "I've over stayed my welcome!!" She, as silently as she could, made her way as fast as she dared up the stairs.
Vlad, his white shirt clearly stained in blood, and his chest and shoulder exposed; his coat and vest thrown aside, sat up and looked to the only point of entry. "I'll will return…" With vampiric speed, Vlad bounded up the winding staircase. Michelle hearing this, now bounded as fast as he legs could carry her. Vlad spotted the sole of her shoe as she sprinted from the kitchen. Then as she exited the dining room. Vlad admitted that she was terribly fast for a mortal. He caught her as she neared the stairs. He merely held her arms to stop her running.
"I'm sorry Michelle. I'm sorry…"
"What about? I'm the one who should be apologizing…"
"Why?"
"I interrupted your bliss…"
"That doesn't matter. I'm sorry for scaring you…"
"Vlad. I came here looking for vampires. And that is exactly what I got. I'm not mad or angry, or scared." She turned around to look at him. There he was, bloodied and exposed… it would have been sexy for him to be panting the way he looked at that moment. Michelle was having the hardest time controlling herself. She squinted her eyes shut and smelled the blood on him, his blood, the blood of the women…whom just appeared outside the dining room doors, their dresses revealing bare breasts and shoulders and necks.
Michelle stepped back from Vlad before she could no longer hold herself back. He let her go, reluctantly. "Not now Vlad, but soon…" As she walked up the stairs backwards, she noticed that her sleeves here bloody. Michelle looked at Vlad and he looked at his hands. He was about to profusely apologize when Michelle commented, "I have a stain stick. It'll come right out…" and with that she went to her room and shut the door.
Vlad looked at his women, gaping as much as they. Never in their lives had they gotten that reaction. The four rushed up the stairs and listened from the door. The sliding of sheets and the laying of a head on a pillow…for now. They looked at each other and went downstairs.
Michelle's head was filled with the thoughts of vampires all through the night and never once was she scared. She dreamt that she too was a predator of the night, like Vlad and the three women. Harker, when he was alive, was terrified of dying. All mortals were back then. But in the 21st century, vampires and their stories intrigued young minds and cults and forums and circles were made of vampyers, wanna-be vampires. Michelle was in to all that kind of stuff and the only way it could get better was if she had right now, the opportunity to meet and maybe even become a real vampire!
Michelle awoke quickly, a thought in her mind just came to her. Quickly recoiling from the sun's rays, Michelle covered her head with the covers and hissed. "Son of a!! crappy-ass sun!! Go away!!" she complained. Yeah, she had to admit, she hated sunlight, but was "off" when she awoke and there was no sun to be seen.
Her eyes adjusted and she got up to play her violin. She knew that would make Vlad feel better. Michelle fiddled till she was hungry, livening up the dead silent castle. After her meal she did some drawing and story writing. As dusk approached Michelle fiddled till Vlad came looking for her.
When he did Michelle stopped her playing to gaze at this new style of his, unkempt. Had he read her mind? He wore a lose shirt tucked into dark pants, his hair a bit roughed up, not slicked back like she had seen him days before.
Vlad walked up and said, "I thought you might like me this way,"
"Well you're right…"
"But? Something does not please you?"
"Do you like the way you look?"
"It certainly is different, and I can't say I've thought about it previously to you…"
"Have you ever been to America?"
"Yes I have."
"Recently?"
"No…"
"Want to learn some modern things?"
"I would like that."
"C'mon," Michelle led Vlad into her room, toting her violin along.
"So, where shall we start?"
"Come lay down," Michelle said as she flopped onto the bed Vlad was letting her use. "Americans are so lazy."
"I see," he said as she set himself onto the covers. It felt odd for him to put his feet up while awake. Michelle pushed him down to the pillows propped up for him.
"Here's some of my favorite music. This is for the volume control," She explained as she handed him her headphones attached to her CD player. He put them on and she started the music. Vlad made faces of disbelief and awe. "What is this style called?!"
"Heavy metal. Too rough for you?"
"No…I find it intriguing!"
"Me too!"
Vlad opened his mouth enough so that a certain vampire feature showed as he was in awe, listening to her music. Michelle was terribly curious, however when Vlad noticed her gazing he closed his mouth.
"Aw, come on Vlad! I want to see!"
Reluctantly, wanting to gain her trust, he decided in letting her. It was rather embarrassing to him that she wanted to see his eyeteeth. He hadn't give a toothy smile ever and starting now would be a huge challenge. But for Michelle he tried. It wasn't a big smile, just enough for a glimpse. Michelle then graced his lips with her fingers and he slightly dropped his jaw in delight. She moved her whole hand to his cheek and she softly opened it more. As her hand caressed his cheek and lips he kissed them.
He then turned to look into her deep brown eyes and leaned close to her. Their lips parted so he could hold her top lip between his. It lasted a nice long time before they slipped their grip and snuggled closer. He concentrated in smelling the sweetness on the perfume in her hair while she buried her face against his neck.
Suddenly, Michelle pushed Vlad down so he was on his back again. This startled him and he felt that he had done something wrong, "Michelle, I'm sorry. I didn't…"
"Shush. you didn't do anything…"
"Then…?"
"I am." And with that she used her pointer's nail to sever the buttons from Vlad's shirt from belt to collar. He had to admit, no one ever had don't that to him!! She slid the two sides of his shirt aside to reveal his chest. As Michelle laid closer to him and ran her hand along his flesh, Vlad took her hair out of her ponytail and ran his fingers through her waist length waves of brown and gold and red. Michelle got closer, resting a leg over his and proceeded in memorizing his sent. Their eyes closed and Vlad held her the closest she'd ever been to him, her flesh barely warmer than his, warming with increasing passions.
Michelle revealed her teeth in a snarl of passion and worked her way up to his neck. There her nuzzles and soft brushing of her flesh on his, sent Vlad into ecstatic bliss. Before he lost his mind to it entirely, he held out an arm to tell the door to shut. In one graceful movement after the door closed, Vlad wrapped that arm around Michelle to draw her closer. She was kissing his neck and lightly nipping.
He held her so close that she was almost on top of him. So wrapped up in his emotions he unbuttoned her blouse with his mind and pressed her hard against himself. Just as he pressed her head to his neck, Michelle had opened her mouth wide and pressed her teeth to his flesh, digging in as he pressed her to him harder. As soon as he realized this his grip loosened and she dragged her upper teeth down to his clavicle, then withdrew, blood on her lips and teeth.
Vlad looked up at her with surprise and disbelief. He reached over to touch his wound and looked at his fingers and saw blood. "Why?! Why did you do that?!" he said, in shock.
Michelle smiled, her mouth slightly open, revealing a pair of fangs oddly placed for a vampire; hers were the inner part of her first bicuspid. "What in the…" Vlad said, gazing in confusion, his face contorted.
As Michelle laid down Vlad stopped her. "No, I don't want you to,"
"Vlad, don't be such a spoil sport! Let me!"
"Do I value your life more than you?!"
"Life sucks."
"How can you think such absurdities?! It has been far too long since my own heart has beat."
"Yeah, way too loud, isn't it?"
"You are…" Vlad said softly. "You are a vampire…"
"Not your kind though,"
"I've never heard of your kind before…what is it like?"
"Not now Vlad. I'm ravaging you."
He smiled and let her.
That night they had blissful sex and four in the morning they laid awake, snuggled close thinking about things.
"I hadn't realized that vampire kind had evolved so far as you…"
"mm…" a moment of thought and Michelle added, "I don't even think I'm immortal like you,"
"Why not?"
"You know that rapid healing?"
"Yes,"
"I can't do that."
"I'm sorry,"
"And I don't have any cool powers and I get these really weird diseases…"
"Aye, the downfall of being a hunter…" he snuggled with her feeling sorry for her.
As the two lay in delight, Vlad's other women were downstairs talking. "I think I hate her more than ever!"
"How can she take him like that! that's against all morals!"
"I say we give them a talking to."
"What are you thinking?!" the blonde asked.
The black haired woman told of her plan to the other two. "Now, let's take back our master, father and lover!"
The three walked right up, dawn nearing and burst into Michelle's bedroom. To their surprise, she was up and dressed, Vlad was nowhere to be seen.
"What did you do with him you bitch!" the brunet demanded.
"What are YOU doing in here!?" Michelle demanded to know.
"Vlad is OURS!! NOT yours!!"
"HE'S MINE!!" Michelle screamed at them. Then she doubted that she could take on three angry vampires.
Like wolves competing for dominance and territory and mate, they circle each other, Michelle keeping a watchful eye on all three as she skulked around the room, careful not to corner herself and give them an advantage. The brunet, the meanest of the three, lunged at Michelle. The victim hit the floor hard but made a quick comeback and kicked off her attacker. The red head lunged and Michelle guarded herself with her natural grown nails, making long scratches in the woman's flesh. Now the blonde snuck from behind and grabbed Michelle, the brunet going back in for another attack.
All this happening in seconds, Vlad comes in from cleaning himself up to see this chaos. He was stunned at the sight of Michelle, a supposed mortal, defending herself against his three vampire women. It was an impressive sight for the victim had no weapons against vampires, but her wits and herself. Vlad just stood there and watched, dumbfounded.
Once Michelle had kicked down the redhead and the brunet she then turned her attention on the blonde behind her, whom was trying to bite Michelle's neck. Michelle twisted herself back and grabbed Annabell's neck, whom instinctively let go to escape, lest she be bled out.
In the end it was Michelle, the supposed mortal whom still stood. "Now get out before I get mad!"
A moment of tension where the hardheaded women didn't obey. Michelle wasn't ready or expecting the fast reactions of Josephine as she lunged for her midsection and bit her, toppled her to the ground. Now it was Vlad's turn for fast acting. He went and hit Josephine over the head, whom released her grip. Vlad was down holding Michelle in an instant. It was then that all three vampire women realized that their master did care about this new female in their household.
"Ssh, my sweet. Let me see your wound,"
"Vlad! It's nothing! I've had worse!"
"A vampires bite is hard to come back from, my darling. You don't."
"Absurd! I'm fine!"
"Hush, let me take a look." What the four related vampire saw was amazing, just imprints of Josephine's teeth. It wouldn't even bruise… "What is this magic?!"
"I tried to tell you Vlad! I have very tough skin! This is nothing more than a pinch!" Michelle got to her feet, all fours, and glared at the other females in the room. "Now can we resume this little competition?"
"Outdoors." Vlad said unamused, then walked out towards the door. Michelle hopped up on the bed and asked concerned, "Vlad? What's the matter?"
without turning to look at her he simply said, "Nothing." And he left for destination unknown. After that no one was in the mood to fight. Michelle laid down like a dog where she was on the bed and the other women scattered themselves on the floor.
Many, many minutes passed before anyone moved, let alone made a sound. Thought mingled and stewed, making emotions. Michelle was the first to speak. "I'm sorry."
The three looked up at her but said nothing. Michelle continued, "I'm sorry we upset Vlad… But what was it that upset him so much? Is it…"
The red head, Lindsey interrupted, "I think it scared him. He thought you were a fragile mortal when in fact you can defend yourself as well as any vampire."
"That makes sense… In America, men don't make sense. Just trouble." A long pause. "He's really sensitive. He wont admit it, but he's very emotional and curious like a child, yet is wise with age. A nice combination."
"Yes he is," Josephine agreed.
Michelle peered over the edge of the bed at the three. "Do you think we should go see if he's ok?"
"I bet he went to sleep. Dawn is soon upon us," Annabelle said.
Michelle saw that this was true. "So I bid you ladies good day?"
"Good day it is, then. Until this evening," Josephine answered as she rose to her feet. The other two did the same and they left Michelle be.
The door closed and Michelle felt anxious. She wanted to get out and do something wild. Outside, Michelle climbed the castle with the rising sun. it was a challenge and it was exhilarating and painful but Michelle loved every minute or her self dare. At lunch she dined on her packed lunch on top of the pitched roof. Thank goodness it was a dry day or else her grip would be nil. Her next dare after a rest and sunning herself was to reach the tallest towers roof.
Once she reached her goal and hung on for a short rest realized that she was really tired and probably couldn't make it back down to the ground. However, there was a window right there for easy access. Alright, not that easy, but better than nothing. To Michelle's luck it was open and she slipped inside. Upon turning around and observing her environment, realized that this was an attic of such, filled with what Michelle would consider the greatest treasures of the world!! Junk!!
Like any attic it had that musty sent; perfume for her imagination. There were gowns and hats and suits, trunks of leather and brass. She stayed up there playing with everything, looking through every nook and cranny, reading beat up old books that assume crumble as being read. As the sun set, shining through the window facing it, bottles on the sill shone their colors in the room like a drunken rainbow. She giggles with delight and spun around, dramatic. When she stopped she looked to the spider free ceiling and saw ornaments hanging from the rafters. Tiptoeing around the room, she reached up and tickled them till they swayed as dusk came and went.
Suddenly the door on the far side opened and there stood Vladimir Dracula. "What are you doing up here?!"
Michelle stopped her merriment, ashamed of herself for both being a childish idiot and going probably where she should not have. "I…"
"How did you get in here?! I keep the door locked!"
"I climbed through the window!"
"Through the window?!" he went and looked through and saw the sheer drop. "How?!"
"Vlad, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for last night! I'm sorry that I get foolish notions like this and I'm sorry I babble like an idiot!"
she glanced at his face and saw a twist of confused emotions. he was unsure whether to be mad, scared, or relieved. "I've been looking everywhere for you!! I thought my women killed you!"
"I'm sorry,"
"And no matter HOW you got in, but if something happened to you, I wouldn't have been able to save you if you fell or got stranded!!"
"I'm sorry,"
"You DIDN'T even leave me a NOTE! A simple note that said you were going to something as STUPID as climb my castle!!"
That was the straw that made her cry. He continued his scrutiny, adding to her hatred of being yelled at, which made her cry more. Vlad was blind to this and merely exclaimed his disproval. Forget about the fact that he could kill her like a bug, it was only the fact that he was yelling at her that she fled the torment.
Blindly running down the stairs, she tripped and fell the rest of the way, landed in the hall that led to her room. she took her time to get up, still crying, and ran off just as Vlad reached the bottom. He was expecting her to go lock herself in her room, so then he could come back to her once he was calmer, but she didn't stop there, Michelle kept on going. Down the grand staircase and to the front door. Lindsey, Josephine, and Annabell all witnessed her leave, crying, and then Vlad came bounding down the stairs after her. The three women went in pursuit, as well.
It took the three to stop Vlad. He called after Michelle, but then his women reminded him, "She's heading into town Vlad! They don't know her!"
"But they sure as hell know US. It would be suicide to go after her!"
"You're right, "he agreed. They let him go. "But if they find out what she is and that she's been staying with us, they will kill her!!" Vlad suddenly ran off and disappeared.
"That damned fool!"
"But we love him, and we can't do anything but help!"
"Right!" And with that they too chased Vlad to the city.
Michelle arrived, still crying. Walking gloomily though the streets, she cursed herself for being the idiot she thought she was. What made her think that this trip would go without hitches. What made her think that ANY male, would accept her. Turned down too many a time, her confidence wavered like the flag on a pole she passed.
Little did Michelle know that around her people gasped and got out of her way. Her style of clothing was American, something not seen in simple towns like these. A balding huge man stepped in her path, as she dried her eyes. She looked up at him and he withdrew with a look of sheer horror on his face. "Nosferatu!!" he screamed as he ran into a house. Everyone did.
Michelle understood, being a fan of vampire novels. He called her undead. She went and peered through a window with a mirror on the back wall and found that indeed she did look quite dead. Here eyes were red from crying, her sockets dark from shadows her bangs cast, her skin was very white from the weather and her lips were blood red from being upset, her cheeks rosy, her hands as thin and boney as they always had been. In her eyes, she was beautiful. Her doubt came over her again. No she wasn't beautiful. If she was, she'd be married and had kids by now…but she wasn't. she didn't even have a boyfriend…anymore. She never thought about Vlad as a possible mate… sigh. The only thing to do would to be to forget him, as she did the last nine… A new record. Ten rejections…
Suddenly, ever person in town came out of their homes armed to the teeth. "Oh crap!" Michelle whispered to herself. She took off running, scared of the pitchforks and the torches, not of the crosses and the garlic that they all carried. Definitely not the garlic. Someone skilled threw his pitchfork and caught her off balance as it tripped her, but on she went, now with a hurting ankle. even when they ran her out of town they did not stop pursuit. Michelle was quickly tiring from her previous crying, her race from the castle, and her trek up the castle walls and now from compensating with a hurt ankle.
A log caught her bad foot and Michelle collapsed to the ground, panting. Still trying to get away, she scrambled for safety only to be caught and held down on her back so one man with a cross stake could walk up, poising to strike.
"I'M NOT UNDEAD!!" she blurted out.
"Sure, like we should believe you, you cold hearted beast!!"
"Yer right! I AM a cold hearted beast and I deserve to die!!" she retorted, feeling like crap. "BUT NOT LIKE THIS!!"
"Beheading then?"
"You sick WACKOS!!" Michelle said with such fear because she knew they meant it. This was the land of superstition, whereas she grew up in the land on practicality. *scoff* yeah right.
"You are only trying to convince us to let you go so you can kill us!"
"I couldn't kill a whole village!! Not in one swoop!!" she admitted
"Then you admit that you would kill us!!"
"NO!! But this gives me great precedence to give you all A SOUND THRASHING!!"
"Stake her!!"
"NO WAIT!!"
"What now?"
"I can prove I'm not undead!!"
"grab the cross!!"
Michelle obeyed and nothing happened.
"The garlic!"
"Don't mind of I do," Michelle bit half off and chewed in delight, however now she exposed her teeth for this. But she was hungry! Something was better than nothing!
"Those fangs!"
"Look where they're placed!"
"SHE'S ONE OF THEM!!"
"THEY'RE EVOLVING!!"
"Not so fast." Came the cool, confident voice of Count Vladimir Dracula. "Oh Darin, what an unpleasant surprise. Still killing innocents, I see.
"Vladimir! What are YOU doing down off your mountain!!?
"Is THIS one of YOUR doings, you MONSTER!!?" another villager accused
"She came…to me." Vlad admitted openly.
"To YOU??! Why??!"
"Ask her yourself. She's right there."
Michelle spoke up, "I'm a vampire fan from America! Really!"
"This must be some sort of trick Vlad! We saw her fangs! You can't fool us! We are not as stupid as you THINK we are!"
"Then she is a mere child! Compared to YOU, Darin!!"
Michelle quickly nodded her head in agreement.
"Then you tricked her to come to you! She is your next victim! Your next child!!"
"No," Michelle said, starting to get rather irritated. "I came of my own accord, curious about the legends to see for myself whether or not they were true!"
Vlad could see, as well as Michelle, that the villagers were NOT going to let go a potential kill that COULD save them. Vlad had no choice, if he wanted to save Michelle, but to take her by force.
That is when Annabell, Josephine and Lindsey showed themselves. Now the vampires had more of an advantage! One against the village was near impossibly, but now four, plus the captive, posed a greater threat to the village than they were ready to risk.
Vlad spoke in a menacing tone, "Just give us the girl and you all will walk away with your lives.
"So you will come back later, you five, to kill us all?! You must think we are stupid!"
That was it. The village wasn't going to let Michelle go unharmed. Vlad telepathically told his women that it was now they would make their move. Not to kill, only to shove aside. And with this, the fought their way to Michelle. Vlad was in a locked battle with the man holding the cross stake. Vlad hissed, trying not to be touched by the blessed thing and trying not to get himself killed at the same time. Josephine helped Michelle up as the other two women fought off the village bravely.
Fearing for her darling Vlad's life, Michelle went up to the fighting duo, and when the time was right, kicked the villager in the groin. The man crumbled, leaving Vlad unharmed.
Michelle yelled to her friend vampires, "LET'S GET THE FLOCK OUTTA HERE!!!"
"Pardon?" Vlad asked, while fighting, confused with her wording.
"run? Ring a bell?"
"Clear."
and it was then that the vampires made their escape. Across the gorge, Vlad picked up Michelle, knowing that she couldn't make it. She was amazed at how far they leaped, leaving the villagers on the other side.
The vampires stopped and hugged each other. Vlad held Michelle out to examine her. "Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you? Is anything broken?" he asked like a concerned father.
"I'm alright, considering. My ankle will heal fast."
"Oh thank the lord." He said as he enveloped Michelle in his embrace like a rag doll. She returned the gesture and then the other three hugged the bunch then went home.
It so turns out that there was no raid on the castle because no casualties were accounted for, so therefore there was no reason for retribution! It was best for all that there was none.
The five got along beautifully after that, Michelle becoming the glue which bound them all in harmony and satisfaction. She gave them meaning to smile and laugh and have a good time. Amusing them with her antics and joining them in passionate moments. However they took great care in never draining her blood, for as a vampire, Michelle functioned differently than they and was in a delicate balance. A balance that was soon off set by a pleasant surprise…Vlad's first born son in over a millennium. And the six lived happily, for many, many years.
The End?