More then Just a Bride

Chapter 21

Panic spread threw my core as I saw my scared niece sat at the long table, my first instinct was to go to her, and get her away from this place. Dracula reminded me of his presence by placing a strong hand on my shoulder.

"Did you think I would not find her" his voice was filled with mirth, this is why he had taken me out, to get me out of the apartment, I realised. "I thought a family reunion was In order"

Emily's gaze found mine, her wide eyes expressing the horror she felt within, that gaze was enough to make something within me snap. I brought my hand to Dracula's and with some effort I pulled it off and twisted myself around where in his surprise he was not fast enough to stop my fist colliding with his jaw.

He chuckled as he rubbed the point of impact when quicker then my mind could comprehend, one painful back hand send me flying meters into the air untill I met the wall and crumpled down. A collision like this would have killed any human instantly. "Aunty Clara!" I heard Emily cry as I regained my bearings.

I got to my feet into a defensive stance. When my eyes found the count again he was already behind Emily's chair with his hands resting on her shoulders, she was whimpering.  "Take a seat Clara, let's have a nice family meal" he smirked.

I straightened up cautiously, we both knew he was too strong for me to fight, age for vampires imparted imparted unparalleled strength. As he had just showcased.

I took a seat opposite Emily but I didn't take my eyes of his for even a moment. He sat between us at the head of the table. "Isn't this nice" he smirked "I do love family time"

Renfield entered from the most unused kitchen after that holding a tray. In front of myself and the count he placed a glass of blood, Dracula immediately took his up and started drinking I didn't move. In front of Emily he placed a plate with a rare cooked stake and potatoes followed by some cutlery.

Even as he scurried away I didn't take my eyes of the count, I wanted to be ready if he did anything to hurt her, but he seemed more interested in his drink. "Please eat" he said to Emily when he noticed she had not moved either, "renfield may be a blithering idiot but I'm told he is a decent cook" he smiled.

Emily looked over to me with uncertainty "do as he says em" I instructed, she picked up the knife and fork with shaking hands and began cutting into the stake.

"You too lady clara" he motioned to the still full glass in front of me. I raised the glass to my lips and took a hesitant sip.

He began to chuckle as my expression changed. I recognised the blood the moment if touched my tongue. It was Emilies. "Before you try to be a hero again" Dracula commented "we only took a little, just a taste"

I noticed on Emily's arm now a puncture mark, from a needle, I was relieved. He hadn't bit her and infected her with the disease like he had me. "What happened Emily? I told you to run?"

"I did" her voice was course and shaky "I was in Greece about to get a flight to New Zealand when everything went black. Then I woke up here" her eyes threatened tears.

"She certainly gave us a run for our money though" Dracula took another long sip "and I see why, she's so much like you it's almost uncanny" he added.

"You cant have her Dracula, you will have to kill me before you can have her" I locked my eyes on his in a show on contempt.

Dracula however just started laughing as if I had told some hilarious joke "I dont want to turn her little one!" He exclaimed "I already have one of you, and one of you is enough believe me"

It was almost infuriating how much he was making light of this situation "then why bring her here?" I said through gritted teeth

"I was curious" he stated, "now let's stop being rude and talking about her as if she isnt in the room, see your aunt clara here is my favorite bride" he turned his attention to my niece. "that makes us family aswell in a way" he smirked "you can call me uncle dracula if you like?" when she didnt respond he rolled his eyes "why are the women in your family so serious! What i am actually very interested in what my bride told you about her passing"

Emily kept her gaze down on the plate as she spoke "she told me everything" she stated "I know what you did to her!"

"I know you think she told you everything" he took a sip and closed his eyes for a moment of concentration "when you were twenty three over a glass of wine at the kitchen table" Emily looked alarmed by this, I had never really showed her this ability before, I thought being able to read blood might be little much, but I had explained it in brief. "But I appears aunty Clara left out the best part"

"Dracula don't!" I interjected "you've made your point I get it, you own me, please just don't she doesn't need to know"

"why not?" he turned to me with a serious expression "are you afraid she'll see you for what you truly are at last? That she'll see that you and I are the same brand of monster after all?"

Emily's eyes found me "what is he talking about?"

Dracula's expression lightened "do you want to tell her or should I?"