The dress was beautiful, an armless burgundy gown with a sweetheart neck that popped her bosom in a graceful yet enticing manner. It complimented her figure, highlighting her narrow waist and curves in a way she was not used to. Dressing amongst elves was conservative at best, showing off flesh like this made her uncomfortable.

The dress flared from the waist, down to the edges of its skirt which swept the floor. The edges were lined with well-cut blood red rubies that sparkled whenever the bright light of the numerous lamps hit them.

There had been no need to lavish her with expensive clothing in Ellingsdale, considering she never left her tower. It was not far fetched therefore that she found her hands smoothing over the luxurious material of the dress in awe. If she indulged her vanity, she would even say she felt like a princess, not a locked up one but a real one.

Yet after all was said and done, Erinna found herself hating the gown. It was not because of its appearance for it was indeed, one of the finest designs she had ever come across. The material soft and undoubtedly expensive- fit for royalty.

She hated it because of what it represented: the freedom of choice the Count had taken when he had decided to tell her what to wear. She wanted to rebel and tell him where to shove his extravagant clothes but after his unspoken threat, she did not wish to test the vampire.

Perhaps she could play along until she came up with a plan. It was the only way to escape from Dracula because going against him physically would be madness and a suicide mission.

Erinna stood in front of the mirror in the dimly lit room, regarding her appearance and how the dress fit her like a glove. Had the Count chosen it himself? Her mind recoiled in repulsion when she tried to think of the criteria he had used in choosing her dress and underwear. How could he have guessed her true size so accurately?

She was still ruminating this unpleasant information when she felt a familiar presence approaching and turned around just in time to see Hope, her snow white pet dove fly in through the window.

Her eyes widened in shock before a wide grin split her face. She held out her hand and Hope landed on it. She cooed to the animal stroking its feathers.

"How did you get here?" Erinna had learnt of her ability to communicate with animals when she was four and had been able to converse with any animal of her choice since then.

Hope's arrival gave her hope because if the dove knew where she was, then her father also likely did. He would come find her in time. She wanted to pump her pet for information but the bird was so jittery. It would not quit fidgeting and it's head kept turning in every direction to look around the room.

"You feel it too, do you not?" Erinna asked Hope softly.

The Dracula residence reeked of evil intent and age-old malevolent energy. The atmosphere was thick with death, making it uncomfortable and borderline inhabitable for someone who had grown amongst a race with people who would amputate a leg before coming anywhere near death or those who caused it.

Erinna continued cooing to Hope and stroking his feathers until the bird had calmed down enough to let her know what was happening in Ellingsdale. Apparently her father had plans to rescue her. It filled her with relief of course but that was not the only factor to be considered.

"Does father know it was Count Dracula who took me?" She asked Hope. "I can sense his power and it is nothing good. He is powerful enough to put a magic barrier around this room and prevent me from telepathically reaching father. I want to come home but I do not want anyone to risk their life on my account."

It would be cruel to lead her people into an already lost battle. She despised her captor but she was not oblivious to the extent of his power. It was a living, breathing force that she felt every time he appeared in a room.

"You are worth every life princess, they will come," Hope assured her before leaving her hand and flying out into the silent night.

She saw her bird's white form being swallowed in the darkness and the sight somehow left her melancholic. The symbolism of it did not escape her. Would her chances of escape fade like that leaving her to be swallowed into the world of Dracula, a world where light was a foreign concept? Whatever the meaning of the ominous warning, it did not bode well for her future.