Dracula's Groom

CHAPTER THIRTY: Victory & Heartache

Dracula

From the moment the restroom door closed, I heard the sound of running water. A wall divided us with a picture of a painted scenery. No matter, I thought to myself as I came around the corner and saw Anatolie wiping his shirt with a towel. Walking around him slowly, I crept up behind him and wrapped my arm around his throat. Panic spread like wildfire, I could see it in his eyes. He stared at me through the mirror as he gasped for air and struggled to speak.

"What the hell? Who are you?"

"My name is Vlad. But you may call me Dracula."

"Vlad?! No, no, no. It can't be. You're supposed to dead."

"I get that a lot. On the contrary, I'm very much alive. As one like me could ever be."

I listened closely to the sound of his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Ah, that sound. Even the look in his eyes told me that he had finally made the connection about who I really am. You see, the history books always use the picture. Why? Because that was the last portrait ever painted of me before I became a vampire. Immortalized forever as a classic work of art in life and death.

"What do you want with me? Money? Diamonds? Women?"

"Hardly. You see, Your Majesty, what I want from you is something that was taken from me long ago."

"Which is?"

"My throne. My kingdom. My city."

"Impossible," he croaked out. "No would believe a word you say. Even if you are Vlad the Impaler. Yes. I know exactly who you are, vampire."

"Then you know why I'm here and what I intend to do with you."

"Do you really think you can kill me with your fangs? Your hands? I'm immortal."

"True. But I can always do this instead." A quick twist and it was done. Anatolie collapsed on the floor with a broken neck, his heart had stopped beating. After I staged him sitting on the toilet, I returned to the ballroom to see a crowd had gathered around the center of the dance floor. I made my way through it and was stunned to see Dahlia alive while holding Nathan close to her chest with a knife pointed at his neck.

"Let him go," I said cautiously. "He has no part in this. It's me you want."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong vampire. You see, he does have a part to play in our little game. He's your mate, is he not? Which makes him the perfect leverage to use against you."

Nathan moved an inch, his body tense. "Dracula," he whispered silently so that only I could hear. "Help me."

"Let him go, Dahlia. Please. You have me now."

"You would surrender yourself so easily? To save the life of a human."

I stared at Nathan, my words speaking the truth. "Yes. I would gladly die for him. He means everything to me. He's my world."

Dahlia chuckled. "A vampire in love. What a pathetic picture. But since you're willing to give up your life. I shall do the kindness of killing you quickly. As for you Nathan, you're free to go. And whatever you do, don't look back."

The knife fell from his neck as Nathan ran to me and I took him in my arms for what might be the final time. I kissed him with all the passion I could muster before taking his face in my hands and stared into his eyes. "You need to leave. Go somewhere safe. Take a plane if you have it."

"No." His voice cracked. "What about you?"

I shook my head. "I'm afraid I can't do that, baby. For I've already made my choice. My life for your freedom. Goodbye, Nathan. I'll never forget what you've done for me."

"You can't give up! You're a fighter! Don't do this to me."

It pained me to see him like this. To see the tears welled up in his eyes made my undead heart ache like it was breaking in two. I had to let him go. My hands returned to their sides as the realization implanted itself in his mind that what I was saying was the truth. There was no more arguing, no more words. Just a silent goodbye between lovers. And just like that he was gone and out of sight. But not out of mind.

"How sweet," Dahlia said after a moment. "To see you two so much in love makes the pain that I am going to inflict on you that much sweeter. Ready to die vampire?"

I unleashed my fangs as I readied my body for a fight. "Are you?"

"You can't kill me. And even if you do, I'll just be reborn again."

"Then I'll keep killing you until I find something that works. I'm a very patient person."

"Well then. Give it your best shot."

But there was one thing I had counted on, Dahlia's magic. Attacking her head-on would prove to be difficult. Yet the closer I got, I could feel the upper hand working in my favor. The first kill was a no brainer. A slice across the throat and she fell at my feet like a sack of potatoes. When that didn't work I broke a leg off a chair and threw it at her with all my strength as the sharp point punctured her heart. By the third reincarnation I was starting to get pissed off. There had to be a weakness to her immortality not to mention her magic.

"You know all this dying and rebirth is getting on my nerves." She said.

"Join the club, bitch. It won't be long now."

"We'll see about that."

For what was once a lovely decorated ballroom had turned into a total catastrophe. Damaged tables, broken lights and shards of glass littered the entire floor. But just as I was getting ready to launch another assault, a shadowy figure appeared in the doorway as I turned to see the king himself standing there looking very much alive and in one piece. Dahlia saw this too and it was here that I saw the reaction on her face when I made the connection between the two.

"It couldn't be that simple." I muttered. I was the first to reach Anatolie. Grabbing him by the neck, I reached for a shard of glass and shoved it into his brain as blood spilled out of his mouth like a fountain. Next I pulled a lighting display down from the ceiling as a single spark ignited into flames, burning Anatolie's body.

"Nooooo!" Dahlia screamed widely.

Turning to face the evil witch I watched with great pleasure as her body slowly began to die right in front of me. Her skin darkened from the inside out before crumbling into a pile of ash. I sighed with relief. My journey had finally come full circle. With Dahlia dead and the King of Romania right behind her, I could see no better time than to reclaim my rightful seat on my father's throne that was denied to me centuries ago.

But before that could happen. A serious apology was in order. I ran from the ballroom at full speed and out the doors in a heartbeat. Suddenly a fierce white light stung my eyes as I shielded them and watched in horror as the sun came up over the city. My skin turned red and blistered, my veins on fire as  I fought like hell to hold back a scream. But it was useless. I screamed in total anguish as I began to burn in the morning light. Nathan I'm sorry. I love you. Always and forever.

Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter has been uploaded. And it looks like the witch is dead for good now and Dracula can finally reclaim his family's throne. That is unless he survives the sun and can heal properly so he can beg Nathan for his forgiveness. Also, just FYI. I think there are only going to be a few chapters left. So enjoy this book while you can. :))