I didn’t get a wink of sleep that night. I don’t know if it was stress, or tossing and turning, or just plain not feeling tired, but I stayed awake for the rest of the night.

Finally I decided to get up at around six o’clock. I went into the bathroom that was connected to my room and bathed. Once that was done I looked to see if there was anything useful in my wardrobe. It held nothing but dresses. Dresses. If there was one thing I hated more than Dracula it was dresses. They showed too much, they were hard to walk in, not to mention the corsets that came with them were always too tight. So I slammed the wardrobe door shut and went through my dresser.

I chose a deep blue blouse, dark green breeches, and my usual black leather corset and boots. That done I slipped out of my room as quietly as I could.

I slipped into the dinning room and found some food waiting like Aleera had said. I ate some fruit and biscuits, and drank a little wine. It wasn’t much but I wasn’t really in the mood for a five star breakfast. After I was done I sighed in contentment. Not only had I filled my stomach, but I did so with out the Count staring at me the whole time. Rebellion triumphs again!

Once I was finished I decided to explore the castle since I hadn’t been able to do any of while Carl, Van Helsing, and I had been storming through it only days before. It was amazing how Castle Dracula could be dark, terrifying, and just plain filthy, while at the same time, breath taking and beautiful.

There were rich tapestries, murals, and paintings in the hallways and galleries. There were some doors that were open and led to either empty rooms or balconies. The ones that were closed I decided not to touch. It was better to not risk accidentally going into a room that I wasn’t allowed in.

I was brought out of my thoughts when a strange feeling came to me. I was being followed. At first I thought it was just an echo of my footsteps, but as time went on I could hear the faint sound of tiny footsteps echoing behind mine. What if it was a monster or werewolf lurking about wanting to devour me? My footsteps quickened. And as they quickened so did the ones following me.

I rounded a corner and tripped over a piece of equipment lying on the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut not wanting to see my stalker. That was when I felt the last thing I expected to feel: A moist and soggy tongue licking me all over my face. I opened my eyes and felt my jaw fall to the floor. It wasn’t a werewolf at all! It was a puppy!

A little black Labrador retriever stood there watching me with large green eyes. He appeared to be only about three months old. Around his neck was a silver color with green diamonds on it. The tag read his name. ‘Nightshadow.’ I laughed and scratched him behind his ears.

“Where did you come from?” I asked. “I didn’t know that animals were allowed in this place.” I made a mental note to ask one of the brides later if they knew anything about Nightshadow.

~*~

As I continued my exploration Nightshadow followed me around as though I was his mother. It was strange seeing him there right beside me, but he was better company that one of the Dwergi. Or worse; Igor!

I came across two large doors that reached the ceiling. Which was very high up. Although the doors were closed I couldn’t help but be curious as to what was on the other side. Slowly, almost out of fear, I reached out and opened the door. I gasped in delight and surprise. It was the ballroom.

At first it seemed like any ordinary ballroom. A gigantic dance floor being the majority of it, a stage at the far end for musicians to play their music, and staircases leading up to balconies where you could look down at it all. But something about this one seemed different. I could feel it in the air around me. This one was enchanted.

I didn’t know if it had to do with the darkness from the lack of torches, or the whispers in the wind, but somehow I at once knew that magic ruled this room above all else. It was haunted by the ghosts of those who had once danced on its floor in the past. They were calling out to me and pulling me into their spell, beckoning me to dance.

In the air I could hear music start playing from an unknown source. I closed my eyes and began to dance to the beat that was provided. The voices in the music seemed to be speaking what I felt. They were crying for me.

Welcome to my realm
We are both condemned to live
It's a dark fate
(I can hear your calls
I can hear your calls)
THE ETERNAL LIFE

I see it still burns
Each night I cry in pain

Alive
Though the end appears my friend


And blood tears I cry
You've searched and you've found
Cut off your old friends hand

My mind's
In frozen dreams
The rotten flesh
Of bitter lies
Welcome to where time stands still
No one leaves and no one ever will

Can't hold it
It burns
Each night I cry in pain


And blood tears I cry
Endless grief remained inside
And blood tears I cry
Endless grief remained inside

It seems so clearly
Bent the bow
Cause life in me is gone
And a cruel wind's blowing cold
And a cruel wind's blowing cold
In blame

And life it shall wane
Each night I cry in pain


And blood tears I cry
Endless grief remained inside
Cut off your old friends hand

When the song finished the spell was broken and I woke up from the spell of my dance. Everything was still again. The only sound was that of my own breathing. At the end of the room stood Nightshadow, sitting there waiting for me. I smiled and walked over to him.

I was halfway there when someone grabbed me from behind. He pulled my arms behind my back and held my wrists in one hand, while he stroked my throat with the other. It was the Count of course. Who else would have been so rough and angry with me?

“Rebelling against me earlier did not help you one bit, Anna,” he whispered. “All it did was make me lose my temper with you.” I struggled in vain.

“I say you deserved it, Count!” I snapped. “You made the truce with me so therefore you’re going to have to be the one who has to deal with my stubborn attitude!” The Count just laughed and stroked my throat, just barely brushing the chain of my necklace. “What are you doing?” I demanded.

“Nothing much,” replied the Count. “Just imagining fangs, sinking into the beautiful throat.” I was losing my temper.

“If you wanted to bite me then you could have done so the moment I walked in the door!” I snapped. “You don’t have to torment me like this!” The Count’s finger nails poked into my neck.

“Are you saying you wish to become one of my kind, Anna?” he asked.

In a sudden burst of anger I managed to break free of his iron grip. I glared darkly at him while he just smiled in amusement back at me.

“Don’t play games with me like that, Count!” I said. “I’m not in the mood!”

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