Hi, I am so sorry that I have not updated in months. I am going to make a lot of effort to update regularly. This is quite a short chapter, however, longer one next time. Enjoy and please review.

Sweet

Chapter 7

The great clock struck its sound radiating throughout the hall. Vlad was positive he could hear the single hands ticking.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The hands read eleven thirty. He looked back over to where the Baroness was conversing with a member of the VHC. She seemed to be getting closer, slowly creeping towards him like a spider which meant he was the food trapped in her web. Yet, the web was pretty big and with so many foods, or rather guests, Vlad could easily get himself lost.

Tangle a spider in its own web.

Vlad shook the thought from his head he had to speak to her. In fact Vlad moved slightly closer to her. He knew she could see him. Although she had her back to him, he could feel the thunderous eyes staring at him through her skull. It was a peculiar sensation but vampires were so powerful, there was always a possibility that she could actually see him through her skull.

He shuddered slightly at the thought, and closed his eyes for a mere second. When he opened them she had turned around. Already, it seemed, she had said her farewell to the council member she had been talking to. And now there was no one left. Vlad took a sip from the glass he was holding to calm his nerves; he heard the clip clop of her heels.

"Your grandness." A pleasant voice spoke smoothly. Vlad looked up at the Baroness. Draped in a midnight laced dress tied at her neck and clinging down her body before gathering at her feet so part of it draped behind her under the cape. She bobbed an elegant curtsy.

"Baroness Lorelei." Vlad nodded in reply.

"I had hoped to speak to have the honour to talk to you. I have heard many great things from the others." She gestured behind her where a few council members talked. The old blood licking suck ups. "And, yet it seems I wished to see it for myself."

"Is that so and why, spill tell, did you wish to see to speak to me yourself. What could they have said?" Question Vlad, quite abruptly.

"Oh, now that would be telling? Secrets. I like to keep my promises and I swore their words would not pass my lips. However, I will spill." She leaned closer. "They seemed to think of you of accepting, strong. They do like their secrets."

"Do they now?"

"Oh, yes. I like them to. For instance do you know what is going on outside these walls." She smiled. Vlad must have had a slight shock on his face for the Baroness frowned then slightly. "Oh, they do like secrets more than I thought. Darkness is coming more quickly than expected and not from the evil this time. Blood and ash is not flowing as much, but dust piles are increasing, Dracula. Those bitten are more open though that is few. Do you understand what I am saying, Your Grandness? The world is darkening again, but this time vampires are coming to the bottom of the food chain."

Vlad looked into her eyes. "Baroness, as you say secrets are secrets and sometimes they need to be kept that way. But saying things in rhymes and riddles will not change their true meaning."

"I guess it is how someone interprets them."

"Indeed." Agreed Vlad.

"I feel that this party so far has been a great success so far. I just want to make sure that everything goes as well as this has."

"I'm not sure I understand you."

"Oh I think you do. " The Baroness smiled with four sharp fangs. "Let's make a toast."

She ushered over a half fang with two glasses of blood by using her black claw like nails. She turned her back and grabbed them. Slowly, she turned and handed him a glass.

"To the vampire's rule?"

"Vampire's rule" Vlad nodded. He took a gentle sip of the red stuff. When he lifted his head up again to look at the Baroness Lorelei. She held out a slip of paper in her hand, a folded bit of parchment.

"Keep safe. It is only temporary by the way." Then she disappeared into the crowd and left Vlad holding a glass of blood and piece of parchment in his hand. Only temporary. What had she meant by that?

The glass of blood went on a side table. Vlad mingled with the crowd.