Vlad The Impaler (VAMPIRE-ELF)

22. Hazy Lines

It was a warm night; silent and still.

Erinna had gone outside to enjoy the favourable weather under the stars where she felt most at home. As she looked at the stars littering the sky and listened to the carefree sounds of nocturnal animals, she wondered if her life would ever be like that; if she would ever be free and happy.

She was really absorbing every detail that when there was movement at the edges of the woods surrounding Dracula's castle she saw it. Rising slowly so as not to startle whoever was there, Erinna began taking baby steps in that direction.

"Hello?" She called out.

No answer.

"Is anybody there?"

Silence.

Goosebumps marred her skin and her body gave an involuntary shiver.

Suddenly a woman stepped out of the trees. She was tall, with white hair that brought a frozen waterfall to mind. She could be indisputably described as elegant though her clothes spoke of another era long gone by.

She was beautiful in an unworldly and exotic way. Her aristocratic nose and bronze lips spoke of a royal breeding. Erinna could not figure out what made her so familiar.

The woman lifted a delicate fragile looking hand, motioning for Erinna to come towards her. Filled with a lot of questions and general curiosity, the Elf princess was about to move but felt a heavy definite shape on her. Alarm bells did a ruckus in her head and she opened her eyes from her dream.

Indeed someone lay on top of her, crushing her with their weight. She felt suffocated and out of breath as the assaulter's unpleasant scent terrorised her nostrils. What was happening?

She could not see the person in the dark but knew at once it was a vampire but definitely not Dracula. Even as despicable as he was, she was sure he would never force this on her. There was also the fact that she could sense Dracula's presence; the vampire on top and roaming his filthy hands all over her was a stranger.

"Get off me," she commanded calmly, trying to figure out how to get out of the situation even as her heart pounded in her throat.

"Or what, princess?" He sneered and she balked at the odour that came from his mouth.

"I'll scream."

She knew Dracula's love was something along the lines of infatuation but was also sure he wouldn't want her o get hurt; at least not by someone who was not him; the honour was reserved for himself.

"Your little puppy is not here to save you, and The Count has left the castle so by all means go ahead and scream the palace down."

Realising she had done too much talking Erinna began struggling but her attacker held fast, not even giving an inch. Putting as much force in it as she could, she raised her knee and caught him in the groin.

"You little wench!" His hand came down cruelly and unrestrained on her face, nearly breaking her jaw.

She was stunned for a moment but not for long. His hand closed around the material of her dress before rending it in half.

"No!" Erinna screamed, tears now freefalling from her eyes as she realised the reality of her situation.

He slapped her again and even if she wanted to talk then, she couldn't, her jaw felt dislocated. This was not one of Dracula's restrained blows; it was a full force blow that made her reel and her ears ring. The pain was so intense that she felt it in every part of her.

Suddenly her body started heating up, the temperature rising like something was boiling inside her. She began sweating in buckets. The leftover material from her dress was now plastered against her skin.