[IC] The Counts [for Dark Light]

[GhostWing]

Cara's breathing remained ragged and now her arm was beginning to hurt and tingle, starting to rouse her from sleep. Even though Alek had acted quickly, some of the poison still made it through the barrier of vampire blood. Her face grew pale and cold, turning clammy.

"See now? You can't have both. The girl will die if you don't let me escape. I know what you're doing, I can sense it and I can assure you, I will not simply roll over and die like an animal," Aconite hissed, freezing as the front door of the dorm jostled. A female's voice called out Cara's name, banging on the door quickly following.

"Cara! I forgot my keys! Shit, you're already asleep aren't you!" The roommate yelled out with a groan.

[Dark Light]

There was pure malice in Alek's predatory eyes. The pupils were dilated and all the veins grew prominent and a deep red.
He stands in utter silence and mouths his next sentence.

'So you herd rumours that I was sympathetic to humans, gone soft even. Well don't be mistaken, I am no Louis de Pointe du Lac or some Edward Cullen, I am Dracul.'

Behind his back blood trickled over his fingernails, slowly seeping from just beneath the overlapping skin. It oozed and hung down off his fingers but did not drip, instead forming into small sharp razor solid claws.

At the mention of his name he desperately lashes out with blinding speed. The direct blow traveled straight for the throat. A decapitation. No messing around.
He underestimated Aconites speed and his attack fell inches short of its Aconites face as the assassins blade dug deep into his forearm. His focus broke, the sharp claw like nails fall apart and instead of death they simply deliver a small spray of red.

Alek winces in pain but holds his silence as he withdraws his arm to cradle the wound. Without words his eyes fall to Cara as she stirs. His shoulders slump with defeat as he nods to the window. Not another glance was given to Aconite as Alek took to the floor beside Cara, worry taking hold of his face.

------------------

(When and if the assassin leaves, Alek will decide to deal with the poison himself over using or trusting the mortals public health system to cure a poison concocted by a supernatural.

A gentle small cut over her breast where he will place his open wound and then he will sink his fangs into her wrist. Alek will act as a filter as their blood entwines and passes through the both of them.
The transfusion meant that all the poison would end up in Alek's system, also at the same time Cara would ingest a large amount of Sabine's blood and feel the draw, lure and attraction to Sabine that such a large quantity would cause. Thereby making Cara susceptible to Sabines will, should she choose it.)

(Alek never aimed to kill, the blood flung onto Aconites face was a high concentration of sun-sensitive cells tightly compacted and temporarily sealed. After a short moment in the sun it will burst and ignite, burning brightly and prevent healing.)

[GhostWing]

Aconite bolted out the window and ran, getting a fair distance away before the blood ignited and a harsh cry was heard. They retreated into the shadows and seemingly disappeared before any humans nearby could get curious. There would be another time for vengeance but until then, Aconite needed to stay low and regroup.

Cara's breathing slowly began to ease and grow deep again, slipping back into her deep sleep. Her dreams were oddly filled with a mix of Alek and then some woman she hadn't seen before. Once Alek had finished, Cara was well out of danger and now just sleeping off the rest of the medication. Sabine tracked Alek down when Sarah gave up trying to get in and headed to the university's main office to get a spare key.

"She seems to be doing well," Sabine said, slipping in through the window and leaning against the sill. "The council called. They said to get you back into Romania by any means, so bring her along and the Council will take care of the protection she needs."

[Dark Light]

Once again Alek doesn't look Sabine in the eyes. His colour fades as the poison attacks his systems. Still, it shouldn't be fatal, he thinks, he hopes.

He seals Cara's wounds, kisses her gently on the forehead and softly clasps her hand.

He contemplated all options before him, all his previous actions coupled with the poison in his system gave Sabine a fighting edge, not to mention Cara's presence would hinder Alek and could be used against him.

There was nowhere to run and hide where he could take Cara that would be safe and provide a life worth living for her.

He had to go.
There were no other viable options.

"Alright!" He mutters, as he stands. Eyes still longingly fixed to Cara. "But I don't know if I want her to know everything just yet... She has your blood, glamour her to come along. Don't say or push anything into her head that isn't necessary for the trip."

His words were stern and sharp.
From there on Alek will co-operate with the travel plans as quick as possible, packing and moving out before the roommate could return.

Cara will be kept under a non invasive mind control that stops her from worrying or thinking of the studies and friends she is suddenly leaving behind, fulling believing the story Sabine tells her of the sudden holiday vacation to see Alek's family.

Alek does the best he can to hide the growing sickness in him but the effects of that poison from earlier only seem to grow worse as he succumbs to lethargy and dizziness

[GhostWing]

Sabine looked at him incredulously, he seriously expected her to glamour the girl he cared so much for? Human relationships were beyond complicated, she couldn't understand why any sane vampire would court or love a human unless there was the intention of gaining something.

"Fine, but know this, with the way she looks at you, I'll bet she would've followed you to the ends of the earth if you simply asked her to. Best hope she doesn't remember me, because if she asks I will tell her," Sabine said, moving to sit on the edge of the bed, starting to work her mind control while Cara continued sleeping.

Cara didn't think anything of it when Alek suddenly asked her to go on vacation with him to visit family, she was honestly excited at the chance to see Alek's home country. But she didn't like how Alek looked, she was worried about him and how he was getting worse. She would suggest a visit to the doctor before they left but he would always refuse and would try harder to hide it. On the plane she snuggled into his side after lifting the armrest up from between them.

"I really think you need to see someone Alek, you're getting worse," Cara said softly.

[Dark Light]

Alek coughed before he could reply, only further supporting her case.

"Yea I'll get someone back home to look at it." He says with a smile as he draws her head in to rest against his shoulder, quickly hiding the blood splattered tissue he just coughed into.

He had been dying to travel with Cara and show her the world, but not like this. His mind so wrought with concern he couldn't properly give her the attention she deserved.
He avoided conversation by feigning sleep. For the short moments when his eyes were open, they dug daggers into Sabine.

[GhostWing]

Cara lightly nuzzled her face into his shoulder and bit her lip as he coughed. She really wished that he'd take better care of himself. She remembered days where she'd see him and he practically looked like death. Her eyes briefly drifted to the young woman that was accompanying them, wondering who she was or how Alek knew her.

Sabine wasn't happy about how this situation was being handled, the fact that the girl was glamoured and controlled by her even less. She could feel Alek's eyes on her but effectively ignored him, flipping to a new page in her magazine and looking up as the jet began its descent, buckling up. Once on the ground, Sabine was the first one to set foot into the cool Romanian night air her eyes snapping to where the council had sent two cars and a driver.

"You'll be taken to the studio for the night and then to the estates in the morning Count Dracul," Sabine said. "I already sent for your physician, he should already be there waiting for you."

[Dark Light]

"Oh yea, did I mention my family was well off?" He playfully informs Cara as he holds her tight, partially protectively, partially for support, as the two walk across the tarmac.

There was nostalgia in the air, nothing smelt the same as home. It was slightly different, but finding it slightly new had become the same.
Alek looked to the far expanse of every direction, savouring the sweet open cool night air.
Then they got into the car.

He didn't trust Sabines words, even if she did. Vlad had a way of manipulating people to think one thing but do another. As far as Alek knew Sabine still didn't truly understand the timely spiteful mockery her presence implied or the history behind it.

Vlad hadn't told her and Alek wouldn't give him the satisfaction of succumbing to his design or burdening the girl with information she could not change. So he continued his hardest to try ignore it.

Alek felt something turning in his stomach and rising up in his throat. Quickly he flung open the car door as he hurled up from the depths of his stomach. Cara wouldn't see it was pure blood, mostly her blood, but then again Alek doesn't know what happened after that...

For the first time on centuries, he blacked out...

------

"CARA!"....

He yells frantically when suddenly and finally awakening.

[GhostWing]

Cara smiled and went to the car, climbing in and looking around the interior with big eyes. Of course she knew Alek was well off, it was kind of obvious when they'd first met and he said his name was Dracula. He even showed her his ID to prove it when she didn't believe him. She looked over as Alek was suddenly throwing up, reaching out to check on him and gasping as he passed out.

"Alek?!" Cara yelled, pulling him to her as Sabine raced over.

They rushed to the studio after Sabine calmed Cara down and let the doctor treat him. Sabine had the doctor tell Cara it was a severe case of food poisoning after he'd finished his work and left. Sabine went to wait in the living room while Cara sat next to Alek's bed just holding his hand, jumping as he sat up and called for her.

"It's okay, I'm right here," She soothed, reaching out to smooth his hair back. "You're okay, the doctor said you'll be fine now. You really need to check the best by dates from now on."

[Dark Light]

Seeing Cara safe and by his side Alec relaxes,
"what happened, how long was I out for?" He murmurs.

"Maybe I just need my own cook living with and looking after me, he half jokes with a deep peaceful smile as he read the worry and concern on Cara's face. He knew she cared about him and he would fight heaven and hell to make her happy in return.

"What's the time? How far to morning?" Truth was Alek could always tell how far away the sun was, but he had come accustomed to falsifying such things.

"Come here." He says as he tugs Cara onto the bed. "Let me hold you for a while."

As morning nears he will eventually get up and get ready for the day. Wearing something of a more refined sophisticated taste than perhaps anything Cara had ever seen him in before. He will check in on Sabine and offer her the mandatory pleasantries of a guest, and a silent 'thankyou'.

[GhostWing]

"Since we landed at eight o'clock, it's four in the morning right now," Cara said, gently pressing a kiss to his forehead and then let out a tired laugh. "If you needed all of that then you could just ask. And it's maybe two or three hours until the sun comes up? I don't know, I haven't slept since we got here."

She let him tug her onto the bed, settling against his side and nuzzling her face into his chest with a content sigh. Jet lag was not fun, but she could care less at the moment.

"You can hold me for as long as you want, but I think I'm going to get some sleep," Cara said, starting to grow drowsy before falling asleep and staying asleep even as Alek got up and went out to Sabine.

Sabine was sitting in the living room, reading a book an unsheathed dagger laying across her lap in case anything tried getting in while Alek and Cara were resting. She looked up as Alek walked out and said a hushed thank you. Sabine narrowed her eyes and snapped her book shut.

"I am not happy with you Alek. First you have me influence the girl, then you practically give us BOTH heart attacks, how can you be so damn reckless!?" Sabine hissed. "No, you don't get to thank me for this, any of this when it could have been avoided."

[Dark Light]

"Perhaps they were the wrong words" he admits moving closer.

Not content with her recent remark Alek takes a seat directly before Sabine on the small coffee table. Leaning forward he places a hand on her knee to gain her full attention and imitate the grave seriousness in which he speaks.

It only be fitting he look her in the face when he speaks, so he does.
Eye to eye.
And in those eyes he loses himself.

Alek could see every detail of a large cluttered room in a matter of seconds, yet he could stare into the depths of those eyes for hours and be nowhere.

"Im sorry" the words whispers out from his lips on a faint breath.
Every morsel and fibre of his body and soul echoed out that one word. It rung out with a sincerity and depth that momentarily made him appear as a different man.

This was not Alek looking into her eyes apologising for the inconveniences of recent events, this was someone else.
Someone who with one word he was apologising for;
Every war that had ever happened and was yet to come.
Every mother that had lost child.
Every lover now alone.
For every loss even taken, every pain ever felt, every lie spoken and heart broken.

He was apologising with the passionate guilt of man who could do nothing to prevent any of the above. It was a confession on a deathbed, words spoken in last chances.

It was surreal.

Then Alek was gone, finding his place beside Cara, hiding beside Cara, silently shedding a tear beside Cara.

[GhostWing]

Sabine glared at the hand on her knee before looking Alek in the eye and must like him, she got lost, feeling all of the pain and guilt and sorrow that she had carried with her when she called Alek hers. This one moment of weakness between the two of them showed what little broken pieces were left of the people they once knew. When Alek had suddenly vanished, Sabine found herself shedding a few tears, quickly reaching up to swipe them away and going to check around the building for anything suspicious.

Cara softly groaned as she felt Alek climb back in bed, shifting around to curl into him once again. Despite the jet lag and time it was back home, she found herself starting to wake up and she could also feel that Alek was distressed, she could never explain how she knew but she always did.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly, her voice just slightly raspy like it normally was after she woke up.

[Dark Light]

"Family." He says with a single one-word-answer-all.

Kissing her forehead he expands his thought, "it's been a long long time and I didn't part on the best of terms.
Plus I've never brought a girl quite like you home before."
He adds with a playful laugh, catching her eyes in his.
"I don't know what they will think or do!"

There was truth mixed in his words, a slither of his vulnerability.
It felt good to share it.

"We'll have to be getting ready soon, hungry?"

[GhostWing]

Cara let out an understanding hum and listened to him speak. He still wanted to get back on the road? He was only just now feeling better, shouldn't they wait? She opened her eyes fully and sat up to look down into his face.

"Are you sure you don't want to take an extra day to get a little stronger? You really had me scared last night," Cara said.

[Dark Light]

'A little stronger'

Alek pondered on those words for a moment, often forgetting the two spoke a different language at times.
It would take more then a mere day to gather the strength he needed.

He smiles at her, her concern always warming him.
"Your all the strength I need."

In demonstration he sits up and stretches.
"Besides, the sooner we get this over the sooner we can enjoy our holiday!"
"Spending a day here in bed with you would only tempt my resolve against the things we said must wait."

He flashes a devilish flirty smile as he rolls across her giving a soft kiss and letting her feel the weight of his body against hers before he gets out the other side of the bed.

Again, slithers of truths dressed in lies.
Or was it the other way around.

[GhostWing]

Cara bit her lip and flopped back into the pillows, wondering how Alek could feel better so quickly. It generally took a couple of days for her to feel like her normal self whenever she got over the flu or a cold. She did give him a smile and then blushed, returning the kiss and turning a few shades redder before getting out of bed after he was up.

"I just need to take a shower before we go," she said, going over to her bags to pull out a change of clothes and her toiletries. "Are there towels already in there?"

[Dark Light]

Alek was in front of the mirror straightening out his expensive dress shirt.
"There should be, in the cupboards." He calls back.

He catches a glance of Sabine patrolling, "Your acting awfully suspicious, should I be concerned about our safety? Is there something I don't know?" He asks in a low whisper when he hears the rush of water as Cara gets in the shower.

He said 'our' safety but truthfully he meant Cara's safety.

He also uses this time to lather his skin in a special blend of sunscreen as he interrogates Sabine.

[GhostWing]

Cara had to look through a couple of different cupboards before she found the towels, taking two, one for her hair and the other for the rest of her. She started the water up and closed the bathroom door before hopping in and starting to hum a random tune.

Sabine raised an eyebrow when Alek said she was acting suspicious. She snorted softly and rolled her eyes, leaning against the doorway.

"Everything's fine. When will you two be ready to leave?" Sabine asked.

[Dark Light]

Alek scoffed lightly, his eyes roll towards Cara's direction.
"Why? You scared to keep them waiting? She will be ready when she's ready and I will not rush her."
A smile spread across his face as he thought of her.

"I'm going to have to let her know aren't I? They won't have it any other way."