Ever since the entrance of Erinna into his life like a wrecking ball, disrupting everything in its path; Dracula had felt a lot of emotions but helplessness topped them all.

And that was what he felt as he restlessly paced the corridor outside his bedroom for the what felt like the thousandth time in half hour an hour.

His body was rigid with tension, his mind a mess of jumbled thoughts as he tried to overcome the urge to bring the whole castle down.

Outside, thunder was booming with a force that was shaking the windows in response to his barely controlled emotions but still his enemy remained in the sky, shining with a stupid grin that seemed to be mocking him.

Dracula was a powerful vampire but one thing he had never been able to control was the sun. He could tamper with weather at night and do a lot of things that defied nature but as long as the yellow curse was up he was tremendously weakened.

Being bound by his weaknesses had never been that frustrating. It tore him apart being near her yet so far away.

A few minutes back, he had informed Erinna of his intentions to punish her, a decision he would have thought twice about blurting out like that if he had had any inkling of the disastrous consequences.

Erinna's usually breathtaking emerald eyes had visibly darkened until they were pools of black as she had stared vacantly into space. She had remained utterly still for five minutes, not blinking before breaking into a fit of gasps that lasted for another five minutes.

It had been like a drowning person fighting for their breath. After the strangled gasps her eyes had closed and she had collapsed back onto the pillows.

"You really have to calm down," Alexander said, casting an anxious glance outside were lightning was playing a ruckus in the sunlit sky. The Count shot Alexander a look that put him right back in his place.

"I don't recall ever requesting your presence."

"You didn't."

"Then go where you were going."

Alexander sighed, torn between helping his maker and preserving his life. Dracula was a very difficult to deal with individual. He was most defensive and unreasonably volatile when he was in most need of assistance.

"She'll be fine, you know, The Countess, she's strong," he finally said.

"She's just but a child Alexander, barely two decades. I might have pushed her limits ," the Count said and by the faraway look in his eyes, Alexander guessed he hadn't meant to say that aloud.

"Is there anything you want me to do?" he asked, desperate to ease his friend's pain.

"Go and make sure there's something for her to eat when she wakes up."

It was a dismissal and Alexander knew it, an effort to get rid of him but nevertheless he did as he was told.

His maker needed time alone with his thoughts and he was going to give him that. If Dracula wanted to discuss the issue further, he woul ask.

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The darkness was pleasant, the silence serene. Everything around her was still; no cruel vampires encroaching on her personal space and definitely no outrageous responsibilities weighing down on her shoulders.

It was just her.

Yet even her subconscious knew that this was not real, the illusion was too perfect to fit in Erinna's new world of chaos. So eventually, against her will, Erinna opened her eyes. The light was to bright, momentarily burning her retinas but she forced herself to adjust.

"Erinna?"

She blinked; confused and mystified by the seemingly ingenuous relieved expression on the Count's face from where he stood at the doorway before everything came rushing back in and realisation struck her square on the head.

She was still in Dracula's bedroom. He was still standing by the door. She had not gone to Death Town. It had only been a vision, a vision of all the things Dracula meant to do.

"Erinna, say something, I need to know you're fine."

"You disgusting, good for nothing, sadistic, selfish, bloodsucking bastard!"

No one had ever dared cross this line with him she knew, judging by the reaction on his face but she was past caring. She was angry and the Count was going to know it.

"Not this again," he sighed sounding almost bored, but she wasn't one to be discouraged.

"How can you dedicate an entire town to torturing people?"

He rolled his eyes, "I never claimed to be a saint and you have to agree it's a practical arrangement."

Ire flared to life in her and if she knew how to unlock her powers she might have incinerated him right there and then.

"Practical? Killing people is practical? This is beyond disgusting. Have you no conscience whatsoever?" Her revulsion multiplied her anger as she shot him a disdainful look.

His jaw clenched so hard that it was a wonder he didn't crack every bone in his head. His eyes alternated colours; going from black to red continuously.

"Actually I do, something that you should be grateful for because if I didn't, you'd be joining them in Death Town tonight," he said gravely.

"That's no conscience; that's selfishness. I may not know the plans you have for me yet but whatever it is, I'll find out," she promised, meaning every word .

She was not going to be blinded by all his lies and love declarations. She might have been a bit naive but even she wasn't that gullible.

She had seen the way he reacted to her, the blazing hot desire and hunger that left her weak. Whether it was for her blood or something else altogether, she wasn't yet certain. Was that why he had kidnapped her? To use her body and reduce her to one of those fallen women that Melissa had warned her against?

Protected, as her childhood had been, she had heard whispers of the things that happened between men and women. But the thought of a vampire taking such liberties with her body left her blood curdled.

Not even a beautiful, deliciously masculine vampire who made her knees weak and drew heat to parts of her body that had always been neglected before.

Things she didn't understand always happened in his presence and her body always reacted in ways she couldn't explain. The worst part of it was that she wasn't even home so had no way of asking Melissa, her trusted governess.

But right then, the way he made her body act out of character was the least of her concerns. She was angry and he was going to know it if it was the last thing she did.

"You're being dramatic. I love you; there is no science in that."

She decided to ignore that. It was useless to argue when he had his head buried in his illusions.

"I had a vision. I saw what you intend to do to those girls and Angelica. I won't allow it," she declared firmly.

Dracula was relieved that his bride's loss of consciousness was only an after effect of her vision and not some form of illness or witchcraft. The determination in her eyes impressed him, excited him and aroused him.

To him she had never looked more enthralling, exacting demands and giving commands that they both knew she was in no position to give. Focusing on her words rather than the thousand ways he wanted to take her proved harder than he thought. Especially when he could smell her own arousal in the air.

It took a whole lot not to groan and inhale that scent that made him want to tattoo on her forehead. She was so delectably sensual and she had no idea, didn't even understand the way her body desired his. Oh he'd have a great time teaching her and showing her all that.

But first things first, he had to placate her ire or forget about ever getting to taste his luscious, all woman bride. He decided to take the civilised path Miya and Alexander always told him about even though in his own mind brute force would always win.

He hated that her room was flooded in sunlight and he couldn't enter without being barbecued into oblivion. He would have to deal with whomever had left those curtains open.

"However valuable your opinion is to me, angel, this is not your call," he decided to tell her mildly hoping she would get the hint and let the matter go.

"That's where you're wrong."

He could literally see her brains working overtime and he knew that the outcome was not going to be in his favour as she grabbed a fork from the tray that had been brought with her lunch.

Uneasiness went through him as her gaze flew at the drawn curtains. What did she intend to do? Drag him out of the shadows into the sunlit room and fry him?

Even she wouldn't be so stupid as to actually try that.

He was going to fry whoever had left those curtains open, forbidding him from joining his bride in their chambers. It was a general rule in the castle that all sunlight was to be barred from his chambers.

"I know you cannot come in. You are a creature of the darkness, the sun is your enemy," she made the assertion with confidence.

"And what is it you intend to do?" He asked even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

"I want you to promise to let Angelica and those girls go or else I'll kill myself."

A strange feeling he hated to think was fear, set him off balance.

No, she couldn't mean that.

Surely she didn't hate him that much?

"Since you happen to know so much about me, did it ever occur to you that I'm the one vampire that can control the elements? That I can move things with my mind? If sunlight was your secret weapon love, I'm sorry to say your plan has a lot of flaws because with one flicker of my hand I can close those curtains you are so depending on," he said maliciously.

His powers were severely weakened during the day and he couldn't actually use his telekinesis but she didn't need to know that.

Erinna's heart skipped a beat and he heard it with satisfaction. A complacent half smile turned the corner of his lips upward. So she wasn't entirely certain, he thought, happy his words had had the desired effect. She only wavered for a minute though before a firm determined look hardened her eyes.

"You can't," she asserted confidently.

Just what abilities did his bride have? Could she read minds too? Her voice had the slightest shake though that betrayed her so he exploited that.

"And just how would you know that my young bride?"

"Because if you could you would have done it already, but you haven't so I'm still calling the shots."

Erinna didn't know where the unexpected bout of courage had come from but she welcomed it, absorbing every bit of it so as to thrive in it.

"You will regret this."

His eyes told her it was not a threat but a promise. She was making a colossal mistake but she didn't care. She was already way past the point of no return and had nothing to lose. He had taken everything that had ever mattered to her. She had nothing worth saving for herself but she might save Angelica and those girls who were going to be sacrificed on her behalf.

"Maybe I will, but I'd regret it more if I let you kill innocent people."

"There is no 'letting' Erinna, I do what I want."

"Not this time. Since this started with me, it might as well end with me. So you can either release them or stand by watching as I kill myself and put an end to all this."

Erinna didn't want to die, not so far away from her people and father but drastic situations called for drastic measures. She was prepared to give the sacrifice if need be, her father would do the same for their people. True leadership was about self-sacrifice, about the people knowing she would come through for them no matter what.

"Erinna don't be a fool," he said but she saw a hint of uncertainty and maybe even traces of fear before they got lost in his customary inscrutable expression.

"If you don't make a decision soon I'll stab myself. By sundown when you can finally come into the room I'd have bled out."

She pushed away the ghastly and immensely disturbing mental image of herself lying on the floor pale and wasting away as her life oozed into the ground.

Anything was better than living with the blood of twelve people weighing down on her conscience and she knew as long as she was living with Dracula there would be more.

"Are you so foolish as to try to threaten me?" he said slowly, deeply and elaborately; enough to make her second guess herself.

"Your words, not mine. I merely offered you a choice."

"Erinna I love you, you're my life but no one tells me what to do, not even you sweetheart."

"People are not pawns; you can't keep playing with their lives. You might want to control everyone but you are not a god."

With how he hated having anyone dictating to him, he should have understood the importance of freedom and how he taking everyone's autonomy was just like killing them.

"Erinna, I've warned you-"

"I don't care so don't bother finishing that sentence. I'm one person you'll never be able to blackmail with my life because you've already made it a living hell; death would be a gift," she said and meant every word.

A few hours with him and she had already seen many horrors than she had ever dreamed possible her whole life.

"Erinna-,"

She interrupted him before he could finish.

"I want your word. Promise me that neither Angelica nor those girls will die at your hand," she demanded before remembering just how twisted the Count could be, "or that of anyone you might send," she added.

Probably realising threats were not getting him anywhere, Dracula changed tactics. A deep compelling look that spoke to her soul took over his features and again she marvelled at how someone so dark could look so beautiful.

Everything flew from her mind until all that was left was Dracula, his dark enthralling jet black eyes and his deep resonating voice whispering to her.

They had never had skin to skin contact but imagining how his hands would feel stroking her left her feeling unbearably hot, her skin flushed and her breasts heavy.

"Sweetheart, put the fork down."

She felt her resolve weakening and willpower slipping away as she drowned in the drug that was Dracula. Her hand moved to put away the fork and it was only then that alarm bells went off in her head, bringing her out of the reverie.

What the hell was she doing?

She redirected her gaze until she was looking at his nose rather than his hypnotic eyes. How could she be deceived and easily distracted by his features like that?

Sure he was handsome in a way that totally beguiled her but she was not going to sacrifice people for that. Besides, his lack of empathy and humanity took away whatever points his body and face might gain him. Not that she cared.

"Your word," she said firm and uncompromising.

"Erinna, you and I; we are rulers. When people break rules, we punish them. Surely you understand that?" he sighed, now tired and bored after realising his compulsion wouldn't work on her. It had been a far stretch anyway, most of his powers were muted during daytime.

"You have made your choice, I guess."

She brought the fork up, not ready but prepared to plunge it down with enough force to puncture one of the major arteries on her wrists and end this child's play they were all in and making a disaster of.

Multiple reactions bombarded his face mercilessly, all at once. He closed his eyes torn apart by indecision. His hands kept clenching and unclenching as he tried to keep the tirade of emotions at bay and make a choice until---

"Damn it Erinna. Fine; you win."

"Give me your word."

She knew she was pushing it but he didn't trust him as far as she could throw him.

"I agreed, didn't I?" He glared; his eyes a rabid red, sending chills down her back.

"Give me your word," she repeated her hand clasping the fork more tightly.

He bit his bottom lip between his incisors, testament of how physically painful her request was. He closed his eyes once then opened them again.

"I give you my word, I will not kill them."

She stared at him, hardly daring to believe it. She had done it! She had saved Angelica and those girls' lives!

Erinna wanted to leap up and do a happy dance but didn't dare. She knew how much she had wounded his ego and rubbing it in his face when his temper was very fragile would be only to her own peril.

His agreement left her with a lot of questions however, just what did he intend to do with her that was so important as to make him bend to her blackmail?

"Thank you," she decided to say though knowing her gratitude would not be welcome at the moment, it would be like rubbing salt to a fresh wound but her manners demanded she say it.

Like she expected, her statement didn't get a reply from the Count. He just looked at her intensely as if trying to figure something out, then vanished into thin air.

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"Lover's fight?"

It had been a few minutes since the Count's departure and Erinna was so immersed in her thoughts that she failed to sense the unfamiliar vampire's approach until he had spoken.

She turned and regarded him.

He was a tall and powerfully built vampire, yet she sensed no threat from him. Chocolate brown curls graced his head, crowning an expertly sculpted face that was handsome in every sense of the word. His silently strong and confident without being pushy presence sent butterflies into a frenzy in her stomach. He had deep, alluring and very expressive hazel eyes.

"I don't think we've met," she finally said, realising that it would start getting awkward and rude if she kept ogling him.

His head jerked when she spoke, making her know that she had not been the only one locked in the rather intrusively personal assessment.

"No. I'm narcissistic enough to know I'm not that easy to forget," he grinned, lighting up the whole room with the gesture, improving her mood by a well-appreciated mile.

"I'm Alexander, your new friend," he continued a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Friend? Why?" She asked, mystified and a tad bit suspicious. Had Dracula decided he did not already have enough control on her and sent someone to shadow and spy on her?

"You look like you could use one," he answered simply and she felt a blush at her own paranoid conjecture.

Was it that obvious though? She had thought he had been putting up a good front of being fine even if she was screaming inside. She looked away, unwilling to confirm his statement.

She really needed a friend. Without her father and Melissa to pour her heart out to, she felt more alone than she had ever felt. She had no one to confide in and with all the drama happening in her life, she was just a time bomb waiting to explode.

Elves were like humans, they were social beings. But how could she trust a stranger vampire who would probably repeat every word to Dracula?

"You don't trust me," he stated softly, with enough certainty to make her look at him.

"I'm sorry?"

"You think I'll betray you," he elaborated.

"You can read my mind?"

"No, that's a Dracula specialty; but I'm good at reading people's expressions, sensing their emotions and picking their mod. You're very hard to read but I get the general drift that you don't trust me."

And he could not have been more right. The last thing she would ever do was trust a vampire.

"You're a vampire, I'm an elf," she reminded him.