Chapter Text
Dodging a trash bin, I nearly slipped on a soda can beside it. Yelping, I ran into an alleyway I was sure led through to the street on the opposite side of the wall of buildings, giving me almost a direct shot to my apartment.
I was wrong. It was a dead end. I hadn't gone far enough yet.
"Honhonhon, you think you can escape me, mademoiselle?" came a French accent.
"Oh no," I muttered. Currently I was being pursued by a thirsty French vampire, who was also pretty thirsty for some lady attention. Like the amount I saw him getting at a park wasn't enough. His long wavy blond hair came to about his shoulder, and it blew to the side in the slight breeze as he stepped into the alleyway after me.
"You have made a mistake coming in here, non?" he taunted, walking towards me in the slow saunter of a hunter who knows his prey has been cornered and rendered unable to flee.
"Clearly," I snapped, "I made a wrong turn. If you could be so kind as to let me try again, we could continue our wonderful game of chase." I took one step back for every step he took towards me, and I managed to keep a fairly good distance between us. Until my back hit the end of the alley.
"Non, non. The chase is fun for a while, but if drawn out too long it becomes tiresome." The vampire closed in on me. I was trapped.
"Francis, what have you found?" came a new voice. I couldn't quite place the accent, but the R's were rolled beautifully. I was in love with the voice.
"Ah, monsieur Vladimir. Just a girl," Francis replied, looking over his shoulder.
I took the blond vampire's temporary attention shift to try and escape. Alas, I failed, as he gripped my wrist before I could sneak passed him.
"And where do you think you are going?" he asked, looking down at me.
"Oh, uh, I was just leaving... I forgot I left some cookies in the oven, and I- OW! Was that really necessary!?" I whimpered and glared up at the vampire called Francis as he squeezed my wrist with enough force I was worried he'd break it if he exerted any more pressure.
"Sorry mademoiselle, but you cannot leave just yet..."
"Francis, go bother with another human. I want her," said the stranger. Gosh did his rolling R's make my heart flutter.
I could see the newcomer come between Francis and I, and he freed my wrist from the iron grip the first vampire had on me. I sighed in relief. Though it was short lived, because as soon as Francis left the newcomer who rescued me decided to show his true colors: he was a vampire as well.
"Bună seara, dragă. How has your evening been?" he asked. He stared down at me, his red eyes gentle-looking yet analyzing every detail about myself. I felt very exposed. His looks were as nice as his voice: soft-looking chin length strawberry blond hair, big red eyes, and a red trench coat over a white shirt with a black tie tucked neatly over the shirt and under the coat. On his head sat a little red top hat, tilted so much to the side of his head it should have fallen off. It had two ribbons, one red and one white, dangling from it.
"Oh, just wonderful," I muttered, staring back up at him in fear. "I got chased by one vampire and now I'm about to be killed by another."
"Now, now, I won't hurt you. Do not fear me." The stranger grinned in what I assume was supposed to be a friendly way. However, it just gave me a great view of his fangs, which made me whimper and cower away from him. He quickly stopped smiling and looked away, giving me a quiet "sorry" I had to strain my ears to hear.
"Wh-who are you?" I asked, slowly inching a few steps to the side, hoping to get around him to make a run for it.
"Vladimir Popescu, at your service, Domnişoară" the vampire gave a deep bow, one arm across his chest and the other straight out beside himself. He looked up at me and grinned a fanged smile before winking one red eye and continuing. "But you, dragă mea, can call me Vlad."
"Well, uh... Vlad. It's been a pleasure to meet you, but I really must be going..." I finally got around him, and began backing my way towards the street and away from Vladimir.
"I am sorry, dragă, but I am not able to let you go." Vlad took a few steps towards me, quickly closing the gap I had created between us. He gently grabbed my left hand in his two strong ones, and patted the top gently. "You must be coming with me to my home. I will take good care of you. Trust me, da bine?"
"N-no, let go!" I tried to pull my hand free of Vladimir's grasp, but I was unable to. His grip on me was too strong. "Please!" I begged.
Vlad shook his head before pulling me to him and picking me up bridal style. He then proceeded to carry me, ignoring my complaints and wishes to be set down. I smacked him a few times on the head, but he only chuckled softly. Eventually I gave up, and decided to plan my escape since it would be a difficult thing, getting away from a vampire.
🍷
After a long night of walking, I must have fallen asleep in the vampire's arms, for I awoke in a very soft bed. Slightly disoriented, I looked around in confusion before the happenings of the previous night came back to me. Panicking, I got out of the bed and ran to the door. I turned the handle to find it locked.
"Not gonna hurt me" my butt, I thought. I'm locked in here. Last time I checked, people don't lock those they "aren't gonna hurt" in a room.
Pacing in front of the door, I tried to think of how to escape. Looking over at the window, I noticed it was boarded up from the inside.
Is that to keep out sunlight? Or keep me in? I wondered.
Turning around in a circle, I took a good look around the room. Spying a closet, I raced to it and opened it.
"Bingo," I said, pulling out some sort of coat on a hanger. It looked exactly like the one Vladimir was wearing, but in a different color. The entire contents of the closet were those coats in red, green, purple, and navy blue. I closed the closet door, tossed the coat on the bed after taking it off the hanger, and went to the bedroom door.
Carefully I slipped the curved part of the hanger between the door and the frame, sliding it down behind the lock. Gently I pulled the hanger towards me, and tried the handle. The door came open. I danced in a circle quietly, silently cheering.
After replacing the hanger and coat in the closet, I turned back to the door to continue my escaping adventure. I immediately covered my mouth to stifle a scream, my heart beginning to pound. I took a few steps back until I ran into the closet.
"Well, well, dragă, are you not content with our room? Shall I find you a fancier one to suit your taste?"
"No," I said. "The room is fine. It's... Twice as big as my room, actually... But! Being locked in an unknown place after being kidnapped by a vampire is not okay."
"I see," replied the vampire, Vladimir. "Well, I would not have locked you in, but I was worried you would try to escape before we got to talk."
"Dang right I would have tried to escape! There is no way I'm staying here to get drained until I'm a bloodless corpse!"
"Dragă, did you not hear me last night? I told you I would not hurt you." Vladimir lifted his left hand to set it gently on my right shoulder, but I took a step back to avoid it. He let his hand hang in the air for a few seconds before letting it fall to his side.
"Oh, I heard you fine. But there is no way I am trusting you. No way I am trusting a vampire."
"Alright," Vladimir said with a small shrug. "You'll trust me eventually. For right now, shall I introduce you to Kubrat? He is my best friend."
"If he's a vamp, no thanks. I wanna live."
"Pentru numele lui Dumnezeu, dragoste, you are safe. Neither I nor my friends will harm you."
"Still don't believe or trust you."
After studying me for a moment, the vampire nodded slightly before taking a few steps back from me. I relaxed a bit, and let out a breath of air. He smiled softly.
"Well, I'll leave you to get settled. I'll be back around one," Vlad pointed to a digital clock beside the bed, "to see how you are doing and if you want some food or drink. Call my name if you wish to see me sooner." With that said he turned to leave, locking the door behind him.
I waited about a minute after he had left before going to get another hanger to unlock the door with. However, no matter how many times I tried, the hanger would not unlock the door. I sighed, momentarily defeated.
I paced the room, checking the clock every few minutes. It gave no pm or am option.
Is it day or night? I wondered. He brought me here at night, so it's either the same night or the next day.
After a while of pacing and trying to come up with an escape plan, my stomach announced it's wish to be fed. I sighed, checking the clock once again. It was 12:30.
Stomping up to the door, I took in a huge breath and yelled, "VLADIMIR! YOU LET ME OUT OF THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW! YOU HEAR ME? LET! ME! OUT!"
The door opened slowly, and I took a step back in shock. I hadn't expected an answer at all, let alone one within seconds. A head appeared from the other side of the door. The boy had dark brown-black hair that came about to his ears, and was parted outwards in the center of his face with dark marine green eyes. He looked like the kind of guy that would be named Eren.
"Erm, zdraveĭte. I'm Kubrat. Is everything alright in here, madam..?"
I took a few steps back, staring wide eyed at the boy before me. A few seconds later the door was opened all the way, and Vladimir stood behind Kubrat.
"Ah, dragă, I see you've met Kubrat already," Vlad said. "Good, good. Now, what was it you were wanting? You called my name."
"I want to go home," I said. Vlad shook his head in apology.
"I cannot do that, you must stay here. I want you as my mate, partner, whatever the word you humans use."
"Yeah well you can't just keep me prisoner here!" I shouted, startling Kubrat and making him leap backwards, nearly knocking Vladimir over. Vlad rightened himself and then Kubrat as I continued yelling. "I'm not just some possession. Nor is it okay for someone to just kidnap another person because they want them! You can go to jail for that."
"Vampires have no laws against taking humans," he replied calmly. It angered me he was so calm while I was so upset about the situation I was in. "And any human who has tried to enforce a law like that among vampires has gone missing."
I balled up my fists and clenched my teeth before shouting, "I'll never love you! Never! I'll sit here hating you forever!"
"The 'forever' part of your sentence makes me wonder; are you considering becoming a vampire?" Vlad tilted his head, a curious expression mixed with slight sadness on his face. Kubrat moved so he was standing beside Vlad.
"Heck no!" I backed away fearfully. "I want to stay human! I'm happy living as a human..."
"Good, because I like you as you are," Vladimir said, smiling. I had a feeling he was referring to my blood, and not me myself. "I don't want to make you a vampire like myself, but if it would make you happy I would of course do it to see you smile."
"You want to see me smile?" I asked. "Let me go home. I'll be happier there. I'll smile way more than I ever would here."
Vlad sighed, shaking his head. "How many times must I tell you? You cannot leave. For one reason, I want you as mine. For a second reason, it is too dangerous to let you go as you may spread the word that vampires exist."
"We can't have that," Kubrat added. "It would be a disaster. Vampire hunters would be a thing again, and you humans would turn on each other, thinking someone 'different' is a vampire because they aren't a cardboard cutout of the typical society and try to get them killed."
"I swear I won't tell anyone!" I promised.
Vlad walked towards me. "Dragă, that's what all humans say."
"B-but I mean it!" I confirmed.
"And all humans say that, as well," Kubrat said. He turned his attention to Vlad. "Shall I make her something to eat?"
Vladimir nodded his response. Grabbing my hand, he led me to the bed and sat me down, sitting beside me. Kubrat exited the room, locking the door behind himself.
"Listen, dragoste. I know you are afraid and distrustful. But please, try to trust us, or at least me. Da bine?"
"You know, trust goes both ways," I stated, glaring at him. He smiled and nodded, then looking to the ground in thought.
"Right you are. Da, da bine. I'll trust you to not leave the house, and let you have free reign to go wherever you want inside. Please come see me before you exit the house."
I sighed. That wasn't exactly what I meant, but I guess that's a start.
"Yeah, okay," I said, staring down and playing with my fingers sadly. I felt two fingers under my chin lift my face up.
"Come on, dragoste, don't look so sad," Vlad said softly, gently. "It hurts me."
"I wouldn't be sad if I wasn't held here against my will," I replied codly. It was his turn to sigh.
"I am sorry, but it's too late to let you leave now. Try to get used to living here, alright?"
I stayed silent, not looking at him. I couldn't look at him. I didn't want him to see my tears.
A gentle hand lifted my chin, and a soft thumb gently wiped my eyes. "Please, do not cry, dragoste," he said in a gentle voice. "You will be fine here. You will see, just trust me."
"You kidnapped me. Why should I trust you?" I asked.
"Because if I had wanted to harm you, I would have done so by now," he replied quietly. "Now, come. I promised you free reign of the house, so let us go to the dining room. Kubrat should have your food ready soon."
Taking my right hand in his left, Vlad led me out of the room we were in and through a large mansion. He carefully guided me down stairs and made sure I was seated in a chair in the dining hall before taking off to find Kubrat.
I watched him leave, then stood up slowly, weighing my options.
If I stay, I'll receive much needed food and water. However, if I leave now, they're both too busy with food to notice I'm gone, which will give me some more time to try and escape.
"Of course, they have inhuman speed, smelling, and hearing. So even if I leave while they're busy..." I sighed. "They'd find me quickly anyway."
No sooner had I said that did Vlad and Kubrat came through the double doors at the end of the dining hall, carrying trays of food. I sat down, accepting the fact I waited to long to leave. Setting down the trays of food, Vladimir took a seat directly across from me, and Kubrat sat to his left. They watched me with eager eyes.
"...Uh, you know, most pe... Er, I mean, humans, dislike being stared at," I said, cringing into my seat and away from their gazes, looking down at the tablecloth.
"Sorry," Vlad said, looking away. "I was just excited to see how you liked your food."
I carefully lifted the first tray lid to find a bowl of salsa with a plate chips and a small bowl of watermelon sliced up into cubes, and a glass of ice water. I thanked them, said a quick prayer, and pulled the platter closer to myself to begin eating. I felt really awkward and self conscious eating and drinking in front of vampires, but I was hungry and ate and drank as much I could until I became full.
Is it as weird and awkward for them as it is for me? I wondered.
After a painfully long awkward 10 seconds of me not eating, Kubrat got up to take the tray and lid back to the kitchen through the double doors. Vladimir slid the second tray closer to me, and I assumed that was a subtle hint he wanted me to continue eating.
"I, um... I'm full. Thank you for the second tray, but I really don't think I could eat anymore," I said, looking up at him nervously.
Vlad nodded for a few seconds, then lifted the tray's lid for me to see its contents. On the platter was a small bowl of (favorite flavor) ice cream, a tiny piece of (favorite type) cake, and a spoon and fork. A few small bowls held nuts, berries, and two small bottles of chocolate and strawberry syrup were also present, I assumed for the ice cream.
"Shall I bring these to our room for you to enjoy later?" he asked. My eyes widened.
"Hang on, hang on. Did you say our room?" I asked, feeling a little seed of nausea and unease taking root in my stomach.
"Da," he replied, nodding. "I told you, I want you as my mate. So, it is fitting we share a room, nu?"
"Uh, no, it's not. I haven't accepted you yet, and I don't plan on ever accepting you as anything more than a friend. And you should feel lucky if I even consider you a friend," I said, the seed of nauseous worry and fear sprouting leaves.
"Ah well," Vlad said with a shrug. "I'll take this to our room. If you dislike any of it please let me or Kubrat know, and we will not ever serve it to you again, da bine?"
I sighed and nodded slowly. Now there's no way I'm going to get out of here. Not with him watching my every move.
Vlad replaced the lid of the tray over the food, and carried it off through another set of double doors, closer to where we were sitting, that led out into the hallway. I sat for a few minutes, processing what has just taken place.
Okay, I thought. I've been kidnapped by a freaking vampire that wants to I think marry me, been given food I didn't even think to consider possibly being drugged before I consumed it, and now have to share a bedroom with said vampire.
Leaning back in the chair, I stared up a the tall ceiling. It was painted a dark blue with splotches of dark purple and black mixed in perfectly. There were some pale yellow and white dots, and I realized those were supposed to be stars in a night sky. Some were bigger or brighter than others.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
I flinched, my head turning quickly to the right. I hadn't heard Kubrat sneak up on me.
"Vlad insisted that it be painted like the night sky. He said it would be beautiful, and he was very much right." Kubrat looked down at me and smiled softly. "You needn't be afraid of him. He means you no harm. He's got quite a thing for you. At least give him a chance, please."
Not knowing what else to do or say, I nodded awkwardly. Content with my response, Kubrat walked off. I waited a minute or so before leaving as well.