[IC] The Counts [for Dark Light]

[GhostWing]

Cara relaxed under a tree in the commons, rubbing at her temples and cursing her migraine, at least it wasn't as bad as the hang over she had last week when some friends and Alek had taken her out for her 22nd birthday. She sighed and reached into her bad to pull out her sunglasses, swapping them with her reading glasses and putting them in their case. She shuffled around in her bag once more and pulled out a hair tie.

"Ugh, maybe I should just chop my hair off," she mused aloud, tying back the long, dark red tresses then turned to her boyfriend sitting near by. "What do you think? I think I'd look cute with a bob."

[Dark Light]

His eyes said the words that his lips would not, gazing intently at a greater deeper beauty than that which could be removed or altered by something as simplistic as clothing or a hair style.
Finally after letting a small moment pass as he watched her with a playful amusement, he casually spoke.

"Or maybe... You could always go something a little more Edwardian, maybe a top knot, a little volume and some curls."

He gently teases, seemingly a mere distraction as he smoothly slides behind her and his fingers find every tense muscle and point of pressure within her neck and shoulders.
Before she can object, firm slow subtle motions begin to drain away every stress and worry of the day.

His breath washed around her ear but no words were heard.

"Headaches again?" He asks with a hint of sympathy and concern.

[GhostWing]

Cara hummed softly and raised her eyebrows at the suggestion. She knew he was teasing her, he usually did when she threatened her hair with anything more than a trim. Call it vanity but she loved her long hair, even if it did irritate her some times.

She looked back at him as he moved behind her, tensing for a brief moment as his hands went from her shoulders to her neck for only tje reason that she was ticklish. Melting in his hands as he massaged the tension away and curling into his hold with a content sigh.

"Yeah, they always seem to happen after I get out of a Professor Glasner lecture. So I'm guessing it's either the bad cigars he thinks he secretly smokes or his equally bad and cheap cologne," she said. "How's your English assignment going?" she askedn wating to change the subject.

[Dark Light]

It took a small moment for him to reply, lost to distant thought, again.
"It's ah, going" he says with a small laugh.
Truth was in his mind it was complete he just had to relay it to paper. The true issue was editing it and matching the "facts".

It was a guilty odd pleasure to his pride that to join the education system he had to 'unlearn' what he knew. It was often trying having to not only speak lies but believe them too. Although truths and lies blurred together so so long ago.
Still every new one bore with it some extra weight, even the tiniest of them.

He looked down at the girl in his arms and ached to share his burden with her, his lips almost moving on their own. He wanted it more then he had wanted anything before but the possible consequences scared him more then he could admit.

Fear was an emotion he had long since felt until recently.

The commotion of people hustling around snapped him from thought as he realised it was time for next class.
Knowing the answer he asks anyway.
"What have you got next?"

[GhostWing]

"Really? It sounds like you haven't even started," Cara said with a giggle, wincing as her head throbbed.

She'd had migraines ever since she was little but they'd been occasional and she could just take medicine from over the counter at the pharmacy. For the last week, she had one every day and they seemed to increase in length and severity. She looked up at him as he asked her what class she had next and sighed, she had her favorite class next, pottery.

"The way my head's feeling, back to my dorm for a couple of pills and the nap they come with. Sarah's got the rest of the day off so she'll be there to keep an eye on me," she said, staying in his arms a few moments longer before shifting to stand. "You should get a move on, I'm pretty sure your professor wouldn't be happy if you were late again."

[Dark Light]

"Ah true, but if I must incur Mr Guilling's wrath just to share an extra moment with you, it's a punishment I will will gladly endure, and it shall be a moment considered well spent!"
He speaks smoothly in a deep whisper before gathers his things and standing beside her, his arms quickly wrapping around her waist and drawing her in for a soft squeeze.

"I'll see you tonight."
His eyes search hers for the answer, a statement confirming their earlier plans.

[GhostWing]

Cara returned the hug and smiled. He always gave the best hugs, it was one of the reason she adored him. She gave him and nod and pulled back.

"Migraine willing, I will most definitely be seeing you tonight," she said, standing on her toes to give him a brief peck on the lips and then turning to leave.

"Well, it's nice to see our Count so enjoying his time among the humans," A voice purred behind Alek once Cara was a fair distance away, a young woman who looked to be Cara's age but was really a century younger than Alek.

Sabine was a vampress from Transylvanian, under the employ of Vlad to be his eyes and ears of the world outside the Dracula estate but she reported to Alek when needed. Usually these times entail when Vlad was about to do something no one liked or the rare check up, in this case, it was the first of the two.

"Vlad knows about you're lady friend, he's not happy either. After trashing the common room he demanded for Aconite to carry out a contract to kill her, I'm here to give you a heads up but I might be a little late. Vlad doesn't know what she looks like except she's a short redhead so he just gave the name of the college and her hair color, there's been two girls killed so far who fit that very vague description," Sabine said, pushing off from the tree she was leaning against.

Aconite was an assassin who worked for the highest bidder and once he accepted a contract, the only way to call it off was to kill him first. No one even knows what he looks like or if he's a man or a woman, all deals are brokered through middlemen or other forms of communication.

[Dark Light]

A soft, almost silent growl resonates in the back of his throat.
An instinctual reply to a rare, yet at the same time all too familiar voice.

He doesn't turn, he doesn't twist, he doesn't respond straight away. Instead he addresses her on his terms and in his own time.
Meanwhile Alek holds Cara with his eyes until she eventually walks from sight.

He waits a moment more for classes to start before finally turning towards Sabine. He scans the clearing for others, they were practically alone now, he inspects her attire, he studies the ground in thought and looks to the lost distance for clarity.

"Vlad might not know but now you do."

There was a cold accusation in his stern voice.
While he naturally looked around his eyes never found hers. He looked everywhere, but never in those eyes.
Of all the truths and lies in the entire world hers were the heaviest and hardest to separate. Even if he could, he didn't know if he wanted to. Wishes aside, this most defiantly certainly was not the time to dwell or reawaken such things since past.

"You know I don't believe in coincidence, I was suspicious after the first death. Coming here after two you must have known I would either be on guard or she would already be dead...."

He let that settle in for himself move then Sabine. A thought he had to remove from his emotional mind.

"Sabine, why are you really here?"

[GhostWing]

Sabine rolled her eyes at the growl, really, he still treated her with such hostility? And here she was trying to do him an actual favor... though to be fair, she wasn't exactly the best person from his past to actually do him favors. She waited until he finished his moment of brooding and thinking of the fleeting memories of their past.

"I've always known what she looks like, your brother insists on knowing what you get up to since he can't leave. I never told Vlad what she looks like except that she's got red hair and is short," She scoffed, tossing her black hair over her shoulder. "It's not my fault your brother has temper tantrums and wants to enslave the humans."

She stepped closer to him and narrowed her eyes before moving away in mild disgust, flouncing back to the tree. She wasn't ready to state the other reason why she'd been sent all this way besides to tell him about Vlad's actions. Sabine sat on the ground and muttered to herself, frustrated with being the errand dog.

"You've been around them for too long, you're losing that gleam in your eye. The true count is growing soft with his little human curled up in his lap like a pet," She snarked, scowling at him. "The council wants you back in Transylvania, besides Vlad there are... other things happening. Things that shouldn't be happening at all."

[Dark Light]

Something in her words struck him like no other could, it cracked the unassailable floodgate of his emotions. As they came pouring through he suddenly approached her with the speed and ferocity only an ancient vampire can do.

While far from his former strength he was still capable of nature defying feats formidable enough to terrify younger vampires.
But not Sabine.
Too much history...

Before the words even left his mouth he inwardly cursed himself for his behaviour and actions, but if anyone was to bring out the worst in him it was her.
Like being around a sibling, he was not bound by etiquettes, fashions or the falsehoods of fading ideals.
No she had seen him at his lowest and highest. It gave him an uneasy comfort around her, stubbled with a sickly sense of grandeur.

"You of all people cannot talk to me of eyes!" He scowls at her. "Screw your council, screw Vlad and to hell with their greedy power hungry selfish affairs! I can only hope that they see each other to the flame."

"I just want to be left ALONE!"

With each spiteful spit he neared closer and closer, forgetting the rules of personal space.

[GhostWing]

Sabine didn't even flinch as made a rush to her, knowing that even if he didn't like her, he'd never intentionally harm her. It simply wasn't in him to do something like that. Their relationship was always like that, balancing on a precarious edge of mutual dislike and then if the other were to die, there would be anger and sorrow for the one. As he finally finished his little rant, she reached up with her hands and pushed him away from her with a snarl.

"You stupid fool! The things I mentioned are spreading into the Dracula estate as well as through out Romania, if your seals are breached by anyone other than you or your selected, they will break and Vlad will get out to come for you and your girl himself before renewing his campaign if Aconite hasn't already targeted her!" She spat back. "When you took your title as the Count Dracula after your father's passing, you swore to heed the council when it called to you. You don't get to act like a child, especially not now."

She pulled her phone out as it buzzed, scowling at the text. Looking back up, she scowled at Alek before showing the text from Vlad saying Aconite found her.

"Go find your human."

[Dark Light]

Of corse Sabine was right, there was no hiding from it or his responsibilities.
Alek suddenly felt so old and tired, but now was not the time for such lethargy.

He gave her no thanks or farewell, (nor did he question if she was merely here to stall him.) instead he sprinted down the corridors heading in the direction of the pottery classes.

He tried to sense her but could feel the heavy pull of daylight draining his weak supply of vitae, having over done himself feeding upon Cara a short while back he had been very careful to only take the barest essential.
Oh how he regretted that right now...

When arriving at the classroom window, his eyes dart about the room as he frantically searches for Cara.

[GhostWing]

Cara had actually headed back to her dorm when her migraine had gotten worse, changing into sweats and a giant sweatshirt she'd stolen from Alek at some point. She shook a pill from the orange prescription bottle and quickly took it, grimacing as she swallowed it and then going to crawl into her bed. It didn't take long for the medication to make her drowsy and before she knew it, she was sleeping deeply.

Aconite made quick work of the lock, the roommate had left a short while ago after needing to rush off to a forgotten appointment. They slipped in and looked around, getting a quick sense of the layout before slinking towards the girl's room, pulling a vial and syringe from a pocket. The other victims were mistakes, but now Aconite knew for sure that this was the real target since the girl was practically in the Count's lap before returning to the dorms. Silently pushing the door open, Aconite stuck the syringe into the vial and pulled the plunger, putting the empty vial back in their pocket.

[Dark Light]

In the dawning of that awkward moment of realisation of the obvious, that in his panic Alek missed basic vital information of Carla's location, another decision was made. Even more rash then the last.
Alek moved with all his might, he cared not for secrets right now not that anyone should be able to make him.

In seconds he would be back by the tree he only just left, Sabine still nearby would be easy to track. He would be upon her like a flash.
With every remaining ounce of inhumane strength and speed Alek would surrender to the beast he so desperately and consistently fought hard to suppress. Charging Sabine into the nearest toilet cubicle (Preferably an empty handicapped) he would sink his fangs into her flesh as he relentlessly bites her and ravages the fresh blood from deep within her veins. Gorging on her sustenance.

To reach Carla and fight of an assassin vampire Alek needed more sustenance and vitae quick.
He couldn't risk or bring himself to attacking a human, not while there were still other options anyway.

Hopefully Sabine would understand, Alek didn't have time for explanations. He didn't even have time to consider what he was doing.

[GhostWing]

Sabine was texting Vlad back, asking what he wanted her to do now when she felt the sudden pull from Alek. She didn't even have time to register her surprise as she was forced into the stall and then she felt absolute rage once Alek's fangs pierced her skin. It was an intimate privilege when a vampire allowed another to drink from them, one that Sabine had revoked long ago. What was worse was he hadn't used any venom to numb her neck so it hurt like a bitch and yet she didn't move. She figured that Alek had to be desperate to do this and how he acted suggested he hadn't had a good feeding in a while.

"That's enough," She commanded, shoving him off of her and putting a hand over the bites.

Aconite froze as the girl on the bed groaned and stirred, relaxing when she settled again and continued forward. Kneeling down by the bed, they carefully and gently took one of the girl's arms to stretch it out and find a good vein.

[Dark Light]

For a moment Alek was lost to the deep carnal bliss of freely feeding. It threatened to engulf him and steal from him everything he was fighting for. For a split moment he lost himself in that flowing red blood.

Then Sabine pushed him back, he was about to furiously fight her off but his senses came rushing back...
The wild terrifying madness in his eyes was tamed by reason and purpose. Panic. There were no words, he just vanished.

He traveled in mix of lightning paced steps and powerful leaps and lunges. When two limbs weren't efficient enough he used his arms and hands to claw and push off walls and surfaces. He put every ounce of supernatural energy he could muster into forcing himself to move faster.

The council would not be happy to hear of this.... 'Right now I don't care,' he thought to himself just as the loud screeching of rubber skidding across tarmac rose beneath his feet as with a powerful kick he shot himself off of a stationary car.

Thinking more clear then before Alec anticipated her to be asleep. Unsure of the roommate Alek would take the window entrance he had used so many times before.

Slowing just enough for some resemblance of stealth Alak races into Cara's room. Furious and ready.

[GhostWing]

Aconite bolted up when there was scuffling outside the window, releasing the arm. They switched the syringe to the other hand and pulled a dagger out just as Alek climbed into the room. Aconite had to admit that they were impressed Alek had gotten there before the contract had been completed. It was irritating to say the least but not something they couldn't handle.

"Well, if it isn't the Count Dracula," Aconite whispered, their voice gravelly and quiet. He poised the knife to be ready to defend from attack and felt the syringe ready to inject it's deadly contents. "Stay where you are or she dies before you instead of peacefully in her sleep."

[Dark Light]

Alek snuck through the window with a practised finesse and stealth that would be envied by every cat burglar ever. He had no wishes to wake Cara and most likely neither did Aconite.

As Alek brushed away the billowing curtains from around his face, his bright marvelling vampiric eyes instantly drank upon the scenery of the room, those two deep mesmerising pools of fierce determination froze time as they absorbed and took into consideration every minute detail available.

Alec had an attention to detail on an extraordinary level that no human (and even most other vampires) could even fathom.
It all locked away to memory.
The indentations on the bed, positioning of posters and bed side clutter alike. The airflow of the slight breeze and the individual scents upon it. Carla, the fluttering of her eyelids, the decompression of her breaths, the colour in her cheeks. And Aconite.

Aconite the assassin.
Truth was Aconite wasn't what Alek was expecting. But seeing him standing over Cara caused an ill sickening feeling in Alec's gut. It burned within him like a diseased rage.
Despite all his internal boiling spite and hatred Alec remained cool, calm and collected. He took his position with a casual grace, nonchalantly leaning back against the windowsill cleaning his nails as he talks calmly and quietly.

"You know, Aconite, on a different day I might have you address me differently, but no. Not today. Today you are truly dealing with a Dracula."

He chuckles softly as he looks up from his hands to grant the assassin a wickedly devilish smile.

"Unlucky you!"

While calm and in control in his demeanour, Alek was studying every hidden detail for the slightest clues of what made this creature before him. His clothes, the stains, the weapons, his stance, posture, speaking pattern. All of it.

"You enjoy your job don't you." He whispers across to him. He rolls his eyes back as he opens his hands.
"And why wouldn't you!?"

He takes a small step forward and points at the assassin.

"But if you dare kill my human..."
He lets the sentence trail off not having to say anymore. He lets him think about his extinction.

His arms fall to his sides as he relaxes and rolls his shoulders. "If you leave her now I will repay you with a five second head start. Don't waste it." Alec growls excitedly as his fangs snap out with a warning snarl.

"Run, run, runaway!"
"Live to kill another day."

[GhostWing]

Aconite let out a wheezing laugh. The great Dracula thought that with a few simple words and gnashing of his fangs would frighten this great assassin away. Over a thousand years, Aconite had been in this profession, rarely was he caught and even rarer was a job left incomplete. This might end up being one of those times but Aconite was smart enough to be able to know when it was time to retreat for another day, they could always try again later.

"Silly child, you have it wrong, killing is not something I take pleasure or pride in. I'm simply very good at it and it pays... very well. Would you like to know how much your little human is worth? The young Dracula promised 10 million for her death and proof of it. I've already been paid half and normally, that's enough, but the rights to say I've killed the Count's play thing? That's worth it alone," Aconite said, twirling the knife while they spoke.

The hand with the syringe tightened before they lunged at the bed and injected the contents before even Alek could blink. Darting to the door, and laughing as Cara's breathing grew faster and more ragged. They now had their bargaining chip.

"It's a neurotoxin with just a touch of cyanide. It's not the cyanide that kills though, it's just there to mask the toxin, but I'm sure if you get her to the hospital fast enough, she'll live, any time, even a second you spend trying to kill or catch me will be fatal for her. Good bye Count, see you again later," Aconite said, leaving.

[Dark Light]

By the time Aconite reached his exit Alek was already there waiting, rolling up his sleeves with a hint of wild excitement in his eyes.

"My mistake," he said with a flair of his eyebrows as his Romanian accent began to intrude his words.
"I didn't realise the fabled Aconite was merely a fleașcă blooded bulangiu muist!"

While Alek seemed calm and worry free truth be told, as before, his mind was divided.

Earlier
Alek knew two things about Cara.
Her blood was thin, taking it threatened to make her dizzy and prone to headaches.
She would never openly drink his blood to create a bond without him doing some serious truth telling or lying.

That lead to a third thing, another secret. Those headache pills that aided her slumber were laced with Alek's dried blood. It mixed within her system making her healthier than before, replenished what he took from her and gave him access to a new breed of ancient vampire 'blood magic' he had been practicing outside of council knowledge.

It was no secret a vampire could manipulate the blood within their own body to great ends but Alek, through a specially developed connection, could manipulate his own blood within another chosen creature.

The arm Aconite injected was no longer flowing with blood. It was still, frozen, going stagnant, Alek had been moving his cells within Cara to block it off. He didn't have much time to get back to her.

Meanwhile.
He taunted the assassin, the back of his mind was recovering and redirecting his energies for combat. The run took a lot out of him, more then it should have, and the trick with Cara's blood, well that was just draining.
'No, a moment to recoup would be good. Get him talking.'

"I forget not all Vampire are true Dracule, some are mere mongrels in the face of gods, and you see.... Us Dracula love to kill!"

It was true, killing brought upon an unexplainable bliss. Greater then feeding it felt like fulfilling a purpose. Doing what you were designed to do. There was nothing more natural in the world. It's all more the reason why his chosen path was so difficult.

"Thank you!" He snarls as he leaps towards Aconite. His implication that the assassins actions gave him just reason, demanded, that he take vengeance.