The moment Jasper uttered his abominable sentence, the castle shook as he flew across the room and collided with the walls at a force enough to knock them down.

It occurred to Dracula as an afterthought that he had put a lot of force behind the throw and his castle might crumble down. It was one of the finest architectures of the fifteenth century, built with the best materials man or nature could provide but against the strength of Dracula it was just like a sand joke.

So as remedy to his careless action, Dracula manipulated the energy particles holding the walls together, preventing the collapse of the building. He could have reduced the speed Jasper flew across the room and thereby his force of impact but he was in too sour a mood to overanalyse his decisions.

The crunch of bones was sickening as most of Jasper's organs fractured and fell into unnatural positions. Dracula wanted to go after him and finish the job he had started; in fact everything in him was screaming for him too. But even he knew that rage would not serve him well in the quest to find his bride.

So even as the monster in him begged for a bloodbath and retribution, he turned off all the negative emotions he was feeling then; no easy task for the most powerful being on earth.

Feelings of loss, anger, betrayal, hurt and disbelief overwhelmed him, threatening to consume him. He clenched his fists; his nails digging into his palms hoping the pain would distract him from doing what his fangs really ached to do.

Even with the tremendous effort he was putting in holding his temper in check, the castle walls still shook, chandeliers doing hypnotic swings from their hanging points on the ceiling.

For a full minute lightning bolts flashed in the clear sky followed by deafening thunder that vibrated everywhere before everything went completely silent.

"I protected you all. I restored all your lands. I brought you back from the shadows and caves you had all been living like shameful lepers. I took back the respect our kind no longer had. All I asked for was your loyalty."

All his servants suddenly found something interesting on the cold marble floor as his voice resounded in the room, oozing with born authority and power.

"And we will forever be grateful to you my lord," bowed an elderly man amongst his servants.

"I mentioned in no uncertain terms that nothing was to happen to my bride. I ordered you all to guard her with your lives."

"Yes my lord," the elderly man bowed again knowing to remain silent at such a time could very well cost him his head.

"Yet you decided to ignore me."

"No my lord."

"No?"

"We received word that his lordship wished for some time alone with the Countess in his chambers and that we should vacate immediately."

Dracula's jaw locked as he processed this new piece of information.

"From who?"

All eyes in the room landed on one person.

"Well, well. I'll be damned..." The Count trailed off as he took in the sight of his betrayer.

"Angelica is there some explanation for this?" His patience was hanging by a straining thread. The woman immediately cast her eyes down, the rage and burning anger in his voice momentarily startling her like an unsuspecting chicken struck by lightning on a rainy day.

👺👺👺👺👺

Erinna's unexpected arrival was met with a lot of tears, shock and disbelief.

The king could hardly believe that his daughter, stolen unsuspectingly by the most evil and vile creature that had ever walked the earth was really back. It took a lot to convince him that this was not a hallucination, another trick of his eyes.

After running his eyes all over her body and making sure she was actually in one piece he eveloped her in a suffocating yet comfortable embrace that knocked the breath out of her lungs.

At his lemon and woodsy scent, a sense of familiarity hit her hard with the force of a wave. It became hard to hold the impending inevitable tears at bay. Her breathing became irregular, her eyes itching with the tears pooling in them.

"It's okay cherie, you're home now," he soothed her rubbing circles on her back.

Even though the words might have been meant as a comfort they acted like a trigger and all at once the dam wall broke, letting loose the waterworks.

Erinna's body shook as she let out wrecking heart wrenching sobs that broke her father's heart. The trembling was hardly controllable as the tears escalated, endlessly cascading down her smooth flushed cheeks.

It was another hour before the sobs subsided. Erinna had never considered herself much of a crying person but there was nothing like realising how close your life had come to being ripped away from you.

"Did he hurt you?" Eric inquired as they sat in chairs before the fireplace in her tower sipping much appreciated cups of Indian coffee.

Erinna wanted to lie and deny the truth but her father was one man with the uncanny ability of seeing through her so she just averted her eyes. The king's jaw clenched to the point where Erinna wondered how he was not shattering every tooth in his mouth. His eyes became ice chips that burned with hatred.

"He will pay princess, I promise you that."

Erinna shook her head in disagreement. "I do not want revenge father. No blood needs to be lost."

Just then Erinna buckled, doubling over as the wind was knocked out of her, her head spinning.

"Erinna?" Eric was immediately at her side his hand on her shoulder.

"Vision," she managed to gasp out.

"What do you see?"

"Death; I see death. He is going to kill Angelica and her husband."

Immediately the headache passed as she drifted into unconsciousness.

🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴

"I have to say I am very disappointed in you Angelica."

Dracula never spared respect when it came to those who were his own. He gave the same measure he expected to receive. And it was this same respect that had made him trust Alexander's choice in recruiting servants for the castle over the years he had been immobilized in his coffin bound by his curse.

He had never questioned Alexander's choices on the crew of servants that he had gotten for him when he woke up; all because he wanted his next in command to feel that semblance of authority, that tiny bit of control.

So he had foregone his usual practice of having all those working under him magically scanned by his sorcerers to fish out traitors and now he was paying the consequences.

In a second he had apparated across the room to where Angelica was standing. Her blood flowed into his eager mouth as he dug his fangs into her throat. He did not have time to savour the potent taste magnified by her courage.

After establishing the link necessary to read her memories, he roughly pushed her away, the latter uselessly holding a hand to her bleeding neck. Her mind opened to him telling him everything he needed to know.

"I cannot say I'm surprised."

Something had been fishy about the man now in the dungeons sniffing so close to his territory, almost as if he wanted to be caught. Now he knew it had only been a distraction a plot to steal his bride away; to take away what was his from right under his nose.

Anger was a poor description and understatement of the raw feelings coursing through him at such trickery.

Angelica lifted her head then, defiant gaze locking into his angry one, her once cowering and frightened demeanour evaporating.

"Do what you have to do my lord," she said without fear, as if she had expected this all along.

Her willingness to die did not sit well with Dracula. Maybe it was because he was used to most of his victims resorting to begging in the face of death.

But then again, he did not think it could have been useful in any way; Angelica's fate had been sealed the moment she had dared to conspire against him, to lay a hand in what was his.

"You will not be so eager when I am done with you," he sneered, baring his fangs in the gesture.

"I do not fear death."

Whether Angelica was telling the truth or not was unknown to Dracula. But he was momentarily distracted in how such undying loyalty could be infused. Loyalty which remained intact even in the face of one's end.

His search through Angelica's mind had not given much, there were a lot of holes in her memory. It seemed the Elves had hidden her memories.

"Death is a pale shadow of what I have in mind for you," his voice had returned to its natural, alluring state as he discussed one of his favourite activities.

What he had planned for her would make death seem like a gift. Dracula did not grant wishes; Angelica would only receive her death when she was begging for her life.

"I got into this with my eyes open. I knew my penalty but that is nothing when it means her freedom from the demon you are."

Anger pulsed through his veins making him want to make the one little move that would end Angelica's life and annihilate her existence. But he controlled himself, patience he told himself. She thought he was a demon, a monster? He would show her how much of a monster he was. But first, his bride and maybe a little gloating.

"Why don't we make this clear, Mrs Robertson is it? Erinna will be back here whether you like it or not and she'll marry me with or without your consent. So your sacrifice was for nothing."

Dracula surveyed the ten maids who had failed to protect his bride and the five guards who had let the most important thing in his life slip through their incompetent fingers.

"Alexander!"

"My lord," Alexander appeared swiftly before Dracula, bowing lower than usual.

"You know what to do."

Nothing about the procedures and treatment of traitors was new to Alexander.

"Yes my lord," he affirmed with another bow.

He might have been Dracula's sort of best friend but even he knew when the Count was in business mode.

Any silly mistake or wrong move on his part and his head would end on the ground; his blood staining the marble floors like thousands before him. And frankly, he had no desire to leave earth so soon.

"And summon all my sorcerers. We are going to get the Countess back."

Dracula was almost at the door when he turned around. All the sighs of relief which were about to be released were held back as his servants looked at him anxiously wondering which one of them was about to be added to the death roll. His eyes zeroed in on Angelica.

"If you were wondering, your husband is already in my custody. He was crying like a little girl when I ripped his tongue out," the count maliciously said with not a hint of remorse, licking a stream of her blood running down his chin.

The reaction was as he expected, Angelica violently launched herself at him but was quickly intercepted by servants hoping to buy their way back into his good graces; an effort he knew was wasted.

"You bastard! You heartless bastard!"

Dracula, bastard that he was, crossed the room the moment the words left her tongue. His hand wrapped around her fragile neck which was still oozing blood. Angelica's eyes bugged out of her sockets her whole being trembling as the Count effortlessly lifted her off the ground by her neck.

"Watch your tongue," he growled lowly in her fear-stricken face.

What Angelica saw in his eyes at that moment made any cry or insult she could have formulated die in her throat. She was only capable of a reluctant nod before he tossed her away not caring where she actually landed.

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When Erinna woke up she was a bit disoriented. Her visions always knocked her unconscious, depending on the intensity. A shocked gasp escaped her lips the moment she saw who was hovering over her.

"Melissa!"

"Erinna!"

Her governess enveloped her in a strawberry scented heartfelt embrace that took her breath away.

"I never thought I'd see you again," sniffled Melissa.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, lending each other strength that neither of them had and simply savouring the moment.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you in anyway? I swear I'll kill him," Melissa began after recovering, her eyes roaming all over Erinna's body looking for any damage just like her father had done moments back.

"I'm fine Melissa," she assured her.

Melissa looked dubious for a second, not buying her white lie. But who could blame her? Dracula was not a saint and his reputation was not spotless let alone passable.

"Really, I am. But how are you? Were you not harmed when I was abducted?"

Before Melissa could answer, the king walked back into her bedroom, pleased to see her awake. Melissa stepped away from the bed, bowing in respect.

"Good to see you awake cherie, had me worried there for a second.," he beamed.

Erinna rolled her eyes, her father worried too much for his own good.

"Father you know that always happens."

"You are right, but I almost lost you. You can't blame an old man for being worried."

"Should I bring you anything my lord?" Melissa asked.

"Thank you Melissa but we have to decline. We are just about to leave."

"We are?" Erinna raised a questioning eyebrow, not having the faintest idea of what her father was talking about.

"There is someone who I want you to meet; someone who will answer all your questions."

***

"You have all served me well. Yet I find now that you have failed me."

His voice was clear and alluring as usual, making any seducer green with envy yet it had an edge that made all in the room stand ramrod straight, ready to take flight if need be.

The occupants of the room were Dracula's own personal sorcerers, working at his beck and call. They were seven in total, all loyal to him; ready to see to his every whim.

"We did everything you asked my lord. We magic-proofed the room and scrambled all mind signals and messages coming in and going out of your room," Medusa head-sorcerer answered knowing to let their master ask a question twice in such a mood would not bid well for either of them.

Medusa was a senior citizen with height challenges. His hunchback coupled with age nearly made him an insignificant spec on the ground. Probably to make the shortest dwarf feel very accomplished.

He had a white overgrown beard that he did not fail to scratch every minute. Dracula made a mental note to tell his cleaners to sweep the room for fleas later.

"So you say, yet I find my bride is still missing. There was no way she could have walked out of the castle, past my other guards. You let her waltz right through your so-called protection spells."

"Is it possible my lord is mistaken?" Medusa asked desperately.

"Are you challenging my intelligence Medusa?" His voice was low and calm but Medusa did not miss the underlying threat.

"Of course not, my lord; forgive me."

"For two thousand years I have slept, unable to break free from my curse and patiently counting the years till I would be united with my bride. Today that day came; I was able to finally see her but you, worthless flock that you are, just had to ruin everything."

His voice was dangerously soft, with the same seductive undertones that were his natural way of speaking.

"Let us fix this my lord; we will borrow power from the full moon tonight."

"How do you propose to find a solution when you do not even know how she escaped?"

It had seemed Angelica's memory on how she had found loopholes in his sorcerers' spells had been wiped soon after freeing his bride. Elves were getting too crafty for his liking. 😒

Just then Armando, the sorcerer he had sent to investigate Erinna's room burst through the double walls of the historical library, out of breath and panting like a dog.

He bent, put his hands on his weary old bony knees in order to catch his breath. Dracula grew impatient after a second.

"Armando," he growled.

"Sorry my lord, age is catching up with---"

"Armando."

"Right, right my lord I have news."

Dracula did not know whether to toss the annoying little sorcerer out of the window or to just snap his neck.

He was sure he would be given an award maybe even made a saint for ridding earth of the most annoying being alive. He sighed, deciding that wouldn't be the wisest choice considering he wanted to know what breakthrough Armando had made.

"And what might your news be Armando?" He asked with a tight smile even when all he wanted was shake the man till he divulged all the information that he knew.

"We blocked all further spell and links she might have with her people but there is something we might have overlooked my lord," Armando spoke but was interrupted by an impatient growl from the Count.

"Armando you are the last sorcerer of your bloodline and your rare gift of second sight is invaluable to me but if you don't start talking that is all going to cease to matter."

Patience had never been one of his best attributes and Armando was stretching thin the little he had. He hated having to drag an answer from anyone.

"The Countess used Ellington Powder, my lord."

Profanities left the Count's mouth as he cursed out in seven different languages, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He had inspected all angles, planned everything to the last detail, taken all precautions and prepared back-up plans for any surprises.

But not this.

The Ellington Powder was some stupid white ash from their first ancestor's remains. In the hands of any other person it was just normal useless dust. But in the hands of an Ellington it was a teleportation device that could forego any magical or physical boundaries.

And Angelica had handed the stupid powder to his bride; a grievous mistake that she was going to pay for with her life.

"Get me a location now or secure your seat to Death Town tomorrow."

***