#vampire lover

Johnathan Harker—the man to whom you were engaged—had confined you here. It had taken three men to hold you down and drag you from the home you were to share and instead to this cell.

Dementia paranoides, they called it. Hallucinations and delusions. Dr. Dumont explained this in a voice one would normally use with small children. You stared off into space while he spoke, more than likely only confirming what he believed to be taking over you.

Johnathan did not visit you. No one did.

Abraham Van Helsing came instead. The priest who had overseen Maria's confinement at this same institution. He examined your teeth, your neck. Asked if Vlad had harmed you in any way. You could only shake your head.

"He will come for me," you whispered, not meeting the Father's gaze as he sat on the edge of the bed in your cell.

Only days earlier you'd been introduced to Vlad, Prince of Wallachia, Count Dracula. Maria, your dear friend who had welcomed you with such open arms after your arrival in Paris, had said he was dying to meet you. You could not understand the need to become acquainted. But as the day went by, pieces fell into place. Memories flooded in.

Dancing in a warmly lit bed chamber. Laughter while bouncing on a red velvet draped bed. The smell of rose petals. A beautiful melody echoing from a music box and into the castle. The feeling of lips on yours. A man's face. His face. Your love, your life.

The moment it finally clicked, a wave of catastrophic emotion invaded you. Every feeling. Every memory. Your life, your marriage, your death.

Vlad had wanted to take you that night, but you had felt it was unsafe, unwise. The tears in his eyes had almost made you reconsider, but you finally convinced him. You wanted no harm to come to him, so you'd made a plan to leave Johnathan, to leave the life you were never meant to live.

But only hours later you were dragged kicking and screaming, confined to a cell, and now diagnosed with the only thing Dr. Dumont could think to use to keep you there.

He tried to tell you these memories of your past life were only delusions, only fantasies created to cope with what Vlad must have done to harm you.

Van Helsing knew otherwise.

“He is a monster, a creature without life, without a soul, without God,” he told you. “My child, it has been nearly two weeks and he has not come for you, do you still truly believe he will? You are just another victim to him, another woman under his spell.”

You’d screamed then. A guttural, animalistic scream. You lunged, clawing at the Father's face. Your nails raked across his right cheek, and you grinned at the sight. Two wards burst in. They pulled you off Van Helsing and injected you with a sedative.

Now, the cold of night crept in while you lay on the floor of your cell. You hummed softly. Your nails ran over the stones, some of the priest's blood still dried beneath them. You felt like you were floating. Whatever they had given you had been strong, and your fighting had ceased, for the day at least.

You could feel your mind slipping. Had you really invented this? This past life? Had a man you barely knew bewitched you? Drugged you? Convinced you that you were a long dead princess, his princess? Was he even real?

You squeezed your eyes shut. Pushed these thoughts away. Vlad was real. Vlad was yours, and he would come for you. A single tear slipped down your cheek, dripping off the end of your nose. You were hungry, thirsty, and so incredibly tired. Sleep hardly came though, and when food or water did it was spoiled and dirty.

Your eyes had finally slipped shut just as the very air in the institution changed. Grew heavy. A scent wafted in—a perfume. Patients grew silent, some cowering, some whimpering softly, a change from their usual hooting.

A shadow made its way through the halls. Quietly. Gliding past cells. Doors opened without a touch of his hand.

He could hear you. Your breathing. Your heartbeat. But it sounded wrong—too soft, too slow.

A final door opened and Vlad stepped in. The patients in the hallway bowed in a way, and he let his fingertips brush theirs as he walked. The only sound was the echo of his polished shoes against stone.

The count stopped at the last cell door. It groaned open for him. The figure inside shifted slightly in their place on the floor.

Vlad's eyes filled with tears. A fire of pure anger blazed deep inside him at just the sight of you. His beloved. His princess. He had waited too many days to come for you.

You were dirty. Clearly famished. Blood stained some of your fingers. You were shivering.

Vlad wasted no time. He fell to his knees and gathered you into his arms. Your head lolled against his shoulder. He feared the worst.

"Please my love, open your eyes, I am here," Vlad insisted softly. His fingers brushed your cheek, moving matted hair from your face. "I'm so sorry, so sorry."

He pulled you even closer to his chest. His unbeating heart broke as he buried his face in your hair. Would you wake? Was he too late?

At risk of losing both his life and you, had he waited too long to bring you home? He'd wanted the Father and Dr. Dumont to let their guard down. They had. But in that period of waiting, Vlad felt he'd caused the loss of you all over again. Every day he left you in this place felt like the day he'd first lost you. You were suffering. He could not help you.

Warmth. The feeling was unfamiliar now, but it caused you to stir. Your eyes opened just slightly. A smell you could recognize a thousand years from now invaded you, taking away the stink and piss you had become accustomed to. Your hand moved. Gripped soft, clean fabric.

Vlad felt as though his dead heart beat again. He pulled his face from your hair to find you looking at him. Eyes drooped. Lips cracked. Face ashen.

When you said his name it was barely a whisper, your dry mouth not allowing you to raise your voice any higher.

To Vlad it was a song unlike any other.

He stood, carefully readjusting his grip on you. "I am so sorry my beloved, I will never leave you again, not a moment, not ever," he spoke softly. His low voice nearly made you cry. You thought you would never hear it again.

You could only nod against his chest. Too tired to speak any more.

Vlad carried you through the halls, careful to avoid any on duty wards. He finally carried you out back and into an almost empty alleyway. The horses and carriage waited for you both.

Vlad climbed into the back. He laid you in an ornate, dark wooded coffin you had yet to see. A portrait of you both adorned the top—a detail you would come to adore later. The inside was lined with plush velvet and silks. You felt as though you could sink into them.

After giving the driver the signal to leave quickly, Vlad climbed in after you. The lid closed of its own accord.

It was so incredibly dark. You barely noticed, only focusing on the feeling of Vlad's arms around you. The feeling of his chest pressed against you. His soft breathing. One of his hands found purchase in your hair, gently brushing through knots. His other hand held firm against your back, keeping you as close as possible.

Your lips parted. Your tongue managed to wet them so you could say softly, "I knew you would find me again."

Vlad kissed your forehead, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips. "I will find you in every lifetime again and again if I must."

You shook your head just slightly. "You will not lose me again my prince."

A few tears dripped down the vampire's face as he gripped you even tighter. "This is my fault, I waited too long, I left you to suffer."

Hand moving to cup Vlad's face, your own tears spilled over. "This is not your fault, this is mans. Those men fear you and the things they cannot understand. A life beyond God's design." You paused, catching your breath. "This is what was meant for us. If this is what we had to endure to be with each other again, then I would suffer like this a lifetime to be with you my love. I was told you are my damnation, but you are my reason for being, my love, my life, my king."

Your last few words echoed the last thing you had said to Vlad in your previous life together. He could only smile fondly, looking down at you again.

"And you are my salvation. I will fight for you always, you are all I need, my light in the centuries of darkness." He kissed you softly. The feeling nearly took your breath away. He was and has always been intoxicating.

When Vlad pulled away you were breathless. He kissed your cheeks, your forehead, your nose before telling you to sleep. It was easy to listen to such a command. Your body quickly gave in to exhaustion, combined with the gentle rocking of the carriage.

The lid of the coffin opening woke you this time. Soft candlelight illuminated Vlad's face—he was the first thing you saw. Shadows danced across his harsh features. You reached up, tracing the lines of his face. Your fingertip ran over his cheeks, his eyelids, his lips. He teasingly took your fingertip between his teeth, his fangs glinting in the light.

A giggle escaped your lips before your expression suddenly darkened slightly, more serious. "Change me," you begged softly. "I want to be like you, your flesh, your blood. Then you will not lose me, you will never lose me again."

Vlad winced just slightly. He wanted you. He wanted you by his side, forever. But was forever worth your soul? He was damned to live for eternity—this was his punishment. Would it be punishment for you as well?

"I will never tire of being beside you my love, an eternity with you is worth more than any other life I could live. I promise you my darling, this is what I want." You pressed closer, fingers gripping his shirt again.

You were begging. The thought of being away from him again made you sick, and you couldn't bare the thought of him living without you again in such sorrow. "I cannot imagine any life being better, let people question us, let people be afraid, if anyone dares keep us apart they can go to hell."

The man beside you felt his heart swell just as it had when he'd seen you for the first time again, your photo gracing the inside of Harker's locket.

He moved so that his lips hovered over yours. "I will change you," he said finally, making you grin. "But first, you deserve to come into this life without a trace of what the fear of others has done to you."

In an instant you were out of the coffin. Vlad was carrying you upstairs to your bed chambers. It smelled the same—roses and beeswax and smoke. A fire roared in the fireplace. The velvet sheets you loved so still adorned the bed. You could see your dresses hanging in the closet, your perfumes aligned on your vanity, and your jewelry resting exactly where you had left it.

Vlad carried you into the bathroom. A warm bath was already drawn, filled with bubbles. Vlad carefully set you on your feet. His hands came up, fingers untying the front of the nightgown you'd been put in at the asylum. The thin fabric fell to the floor, exposing you to him. His eyes drank in the sight of you. He kept himself from falling to his knees to worship you properly.

Instead, Vlad helped you into the bath. He made sure you were comfortable before undressing himself, carelessly tossing fabric to the side until he could climb in behind you. He pulled you back against his chest. Your head fell back onto his shoulder and you let out a contented sigh. His lips trailed along your cheek and temple, down your neck along your shoulder. You could get lost in the feeling.

Vlad began pressing kisses to your exposed skin in between helping you clean up. He washed your hair with rose scented soap. Gently scrubbed away any dirt or blood marring your body. Even brushed through your hair, removing any remaining tangles, mats, or knots.

Once you were thoroughly washed and relaxed, he helped you out. Wrapped you in a robe. Sat you on the edge of the bath. He left briefly, kissing your face gently a few times, whispering he would be back quickly when you'd whined in protest of him leaving.

Vlad came back in linen undergarments, a similar nightgown for you over his arm. You removed your robe as he helped you into the soft fabric. When you were dressed your arms wrapped around his waist and you pressed yourself against him, burying your face in his shirt.

Vlad chuckled. His arms wrapped around you and lifted you up, your legs wrapping around his waist as you squealed happily. He carried you from bathroom to the bed, gently lying you down on your back and climbing on top of you. Your fingers tangled in his damp black hair and you brought him down for a kiss. He was never one to deny his princess her needs. He welcomed your grip on him, let you nip at his bottom lip, your tongue exploring his mouth. He moaned when your legs wrapped around him again, a whimper escaping you.

He managed to pull away then. Watched as your chest heaved, your eyes glazed over with need. He smiled, kissing you quickly again before pulling away just as fast.

"You want to be like me, no?" he questioned, eyes scanning your face.

You nodded almost wildly. He couldn't help but laugh, making your lips form a pout, which he carefully kissed away.

"Use your words, I need to hear it." Vlad's voice was soft and low. His lips moved to trail along your neck until they rested against your pulse.

"I want to be like you my love, I want to be eternally yours, body and soul." You were breathless now.

Before you could say anything else, fangs pierced your flesh. You gasped. The pain flooded your body—a stinging sensation, almost burning. But quickly it morphed into nothing but a warm pleasurable sensation. You could feel your blood flowing into Vlad's mouth as he sucked and licked at your neck. You practically whined, gripping the back of his shirt tightly. Slowly you could feel yourself fade, but not in a way you dreaded. In a way that made you feel more alive if that was possible.

Vlad stopped only when you went limp. He held you close, moving to lay back against the pillows, you on top of him, your head on his chest. He could hear your heartbeat slowing. Feel your breathing become shallow. But it did not scare him. This time, your death would mean new life.

Finally, both your heart and breathing stopped. Vlad froze, gripping you tightly. He kept his breathing even, telling himself this time you would wake. This time you would not leave. Your eyes would not dim. Your laughter would not cease. Your body would not rot.

After what felt like hours for Vlad you finally moved. First, you took in a breath. Then your fingers twitched, curling into the fabric of Vlad's shirt. Your eyes snapped open and you lifted your head. Your eyes were wide as you took in the surroundings that were the same but so completely different. Your vision sharper—you could see dust particles floating through the air. Your hearing was elevated. You could hear as the logs in the fire creaked as they burned. The smells of the room overwhelmed you. Finally, your eyes came to land on Vlad.

A smile broke across your face then, fangs on full display for your maker, your love. Vlad fell in love all over again. You were truly the most captivating immortal. Vlad had no time to speak before your lips attached to his again, and with your newfound strength you had him under you then. He laughed, the sound full of pure joy. This made you pull away, grinning wider.

"Forever," you told him, giddier than a child receiving a new toy.

Vlad nodded, reaching up to brush stray hair behind your ear. "Forever," he agreed.

When you leaned down to kiss him again, Vlad gently stopped you. He leaned up, his lips beside your ear, "I have a gift for you."

"What could be better than this gift you have already given me?" you asked him.

"Oh my love, you will want this gift," Vlad reassured.

He guided you from the bed chambers to the crypt where the coffin you would share lay. You could hear the sound of chains. Groaning. Desperate pleas. Rounding a corner you came face to face with a sight that almost made you laugh.

Hanging upside down by chains was Dr. Dumont, Johnathan, and Father Van Helsing. The stone gargoyles who kept watch for Vlad in and out of the castle did a small "ta-da" motion for you, making you clap.

All three men seemed speechless at your presence. All three reeked of fear though, and it smelled…amazing. You could hear their blood pumping, smell it, feel it. You motioned for one gargoyle to lower the Father just a bit so you would be face to face. The man looked desperate. He looked sad. He looked afraid.

"You were wrong Father," you began, trailing a finger along one of the scratches you'd made on his face. "He is not my damnation, but I am surely yours."

With that, you tore into the man's neck. The sweet blood filled your mouth. It was better than any wine or cake you had ever tasted. Better than your first taste of hot chocolate. You moaned.

The two other men were screaming, begging to be let go. Their fear only surged you on. You drank until the blood in the priest ran dry and only then did you detach your lips, your fangs coming away from the flesh with a wet pop.

Blood dripped from your mouth down your chin and neck, staining the nightgown you wore. When you turned towards Vlad he was leaning against the wall, a look of fondness gracing his features. You grabbed his hand. "Drink with me," you told him, laughing from the euphoria coursing through you.

Vlad could not resist such a request, and you both attached yourselves to the doctor next. He screamed and sobbed until he couldn't. You and Vlad released him simultaneously. You grabbed Vlad's face, kissing him deeply. He returned the kiss and you only broke away when you heard a quiet sob, reminding you of the final soul in the room.

Johnathan.

Your former fiancé dangled. Struggled. Sobbed as you came closer, grinning. "Please, please Mina, please this is not you. You are not a monster."

"I am not Mina, and the only monster here is you." You poked the man's chest, making him sway a bit. "You left the woman you claimed to love locked away for weeks without a single visit, and you expect me to grace you with any kindness?"

Johnathan sobbed again, only making you laugh.

"Do not worry, this is a better death than you deserve." You gently brushed the back of your hand against Johnathan's cheek.

Tears ran down the man's face as he continued to beg even when you leaned down, breathing him in. It was truly intoxicating. Your mouth latched to his neck, fangs roughly piercing flesh. Johnathan screamed.

Screams turned into cries. Cries turned into whimpers until they finally faded. Only the sick sound of gurgling remained as you drank from Johnathan's flesh. You released him when you started sucking out only a few drops. Blood ran down your chin steadily now, dripping down your hands and to your arms.

You lifted your right hand to your mouth. Licked your fingers like a child licking away melted ice cream. Vlad watched almost reverently. You were a consecrated being in his eyes, holy in a way that Heaven would never allow. You noticed him watching. A smile spread on your lips. "My favorite gift I have ever received from you my love."

Vlad smirked, moving towards you. Taking you in his arms again. He would never let you go if you'd allow it. "A gift only you could deserve," Vlad hummed, a thumb brushing over your lips, gathering some of the blood of your former lover.

You opened your mouth as if waiting for the Eucharist. Vlad's mouth fell open slightly of its own accord as you took his thumb in your mouth, sucking off the still warm ichor.

Your mouth released his thumb and he grabbed your face in both hands, lips attaching to yours. He pushed you back until you bumped against one of the stone pillars. Jumping, Vlad caught you, your legs on either side of his waist, arms around his neck, fingers tangled in his hair. Pulling away from Vlad, your chest heaving, you smiled. "I can think of another gift you could give to me."

Vlad all but growled at the suggestion when your head moved down so you could place open mouthed kisses to his pale neck, “You are still the one craving I could sustain myself on for centuries."

He turned, once again carrying you from the crypt and to your warm and inviting bed chambers.

Giggling as your back hit the plush bedding you reached for Vlad, bringing him to you again. The count could feel the centuries of loneliness and cold being left behind with each kiss of your lips. You two had eternity together, and for the first time in centuries, eternity felt hallowed.

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