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ARABELLA DRAGGED DRACULA through the halls of the ship. His eyes were red and his fangs on show, yet his hand was clasped to Arabella's.
"You must calm yourself, dear," Arabella's voice sounded like honey, yet in his state, Dracula could hardly appreciate the sound. Dracula only heaved, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace.
She gently pushed Dracula into the dining room, only to be met with the prying eyes of Lord Ruthven, Adisa, Sacha and Yamini. She went to pull him back outside, knowing he wasn't in the right state of mind, yet he planted his hand on the wall with a heavy breath, not noticing the other people in the room. His grip tightened on Arabella's hand.
"Good evening, Count Dracula, Lady Arabella," Lord Ruthven announced. "Are you alright?" Dracula's face fell as he stared at Arabella. She shrugged, her expression radiating with worry. Not even a second later, his eyes turned back to normal, his breathing slowed and his smile showed no fangs. He turned, grinning at the two men with a nod. "I suppose we're all a bit jumpy."
Dracula weakly smiled, dragging Arabella to an empty table. She stole a glance at Sacha to see his concerned expression - as if he was worried about Arabella and how rough Dracula was handling her. She sent him a quick smile, before sitting opposite her companion. Dracula roughly pushed his empty plate away, catching everyone's attention.
"Not hungry?" Lord Ruthven asked. Dracula silently scowled, causing Arabella to kick his shin under the table, sending him a warning look. One to the sailors brought everyone food. Arabella tiredly smiled up at the large man as he placed a plate of steak and vegetables in front of her. Olgaren filled her glass with wine and went to do the same with Dracula's but he placed his large palm over the top, stopping him from filling it.
"Olgaren?" Sacha called out, wringing his hands together. "Might I ask, do you normally have this many passengers?"
Olgaren shook his head. "No. It is very strange. This is the most we've ever head, and the most wealthy," Dracula began tapping his sharp fingers against the table as he stared at something past Arabella's shoulder.
"And, Lord Ruthven, as, I assume, the wealthiest, why did you choose this ship?" Sacha asked the lord. Dracula turned his attention to the doctor, staring intently at his neck. Arabella noticed and kicked his shin under the table again, shaking her head at the vampire.
"It was a recommendation from my business partner," Lord Ruthven spoke. "I have a silent partner."
"Who recommends the Demeter?" Olgaren scrunched his brow together in confusion. The four men continued to have their conversation as Arabella's mind began to churn with thoughts. She glanced at Dracula. Her eyes flickered between him and the other men around the dining room.
She tuned back into the conversation when said; "I'm sure Mr Balaur has his reasons,"
"What did you say? Balaur?" Sacha asked, his eyes wide.
"Yes, my silent partner," Lord Ruthven nodded.
"And my sponsor," Sacha commented, causing a sudden silence to fall upon the room.
"Well, that is quite a coincidence," Adisa commented, lowering his hand from his temple.
Arabella squinted her eyes, turning her head towards Dracula as if she had finally connected the two dots. "Isn't it just?" She commented softly, her voice only just reaching Dracula's ears."Must say, impressive name. Dracula is Latin meaning dragon. Translated to Romanian would be Balaur. How long did it take to come up with that?" She smirked, her comment quiet.
"I thought it was clever," He smirked, covering his mouth with his finger as his hand propped to the side of his head. He quickly and quietly stood up and flashed out of the room. Arabella turned her head back to the other passengers of the ship.
"Count Dracula, do you have any connect...?" Sacha turned his head towards Arabella's table to only see her sat there, his question trailing off as he noticed Dracula not there. Arabelle twisted her neck back to the empty space in front of her, pretending that she hadn't watched him make his swift exit. She shrugged towards the men, her eyes reflecting a faux innocence.
-----
Everyone from the dining room began to search the ship. Arabella linked her arm through Sacha's as they entered the kitchen. On the table where the injured sailor once sat, but now only remained a pile of blood and flesh. Arabella rolled her eyes gently, yet to keep up her innocent reputation, she gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. Sacha wrapped his arm around her frame, rubbing his palm up and down her arm.
"Don't look, Arabella. This is no sight for the faint heart," Sacha spoke, turning Arabella away from the kitchen.
The sailors and captain conversed until Olgaren approached Yuri. "Who is in cabin number 9?"
Arabella turned to see the captain was rendered silent. The passengers and the sailors marched towards the cabin. Sacha gently dragged the woman with him. Yuri pushed his way in front of the small crowd, pulling his set of keys from his pocket as they neared the cabin. "I told you, there's nobody in here."
Before Yuri could unlock the door, the knob turned and was flung open by the person on the other side. The makeshift mob was met by the stare of Dracula. Everyone seemed rather taken back from his presence. His glare landed on Sacha's hand that still remained around Arabella's, and he silently snarled. It went unnoticed by everyone else, but Arabella noticed - she always did. And it made her blush. It may be odd, but she felt wanted by Dracula in the first time since the convent incident - and if that meant making him jealous, then so be it.
"Gentlemen - and lady" Dracula nodded at Arabella. "I'm afraid I took matters into my own hands. Please, come in," He held out his hand, and moved out of the way of the door, allowing everyone to enter. "Let me save you some time. Do any of you recognise these?" Dracula gestured his hand to the dresser which was decorated with all the possessions of the missing people. The Portmann's handkerchief and the Grand Duchess' necklace.
"Trophies," Dracula announced once everyone examined the stolen possessions. "As if all this was nothing but a sick game," Dracula spoke with such confidence, that Arabella almost admired it. His acting was superb - no doubt a skill he absorbed from one of his many victims. "I submit this is all the evidence we need. And here she is, drenched in the blood of her victims," The Count moved towards the hidden bed, throwing back the thick dark curtains.
A gasp escaped Arabella's mouth as her eyes raked over the woman's body. The blood staining the blue habit, her long brown hair dishevelled. She recognised her immediately.
