Chapter 12

He stared at the locket again, brushing the surface slowly with his thumb as a warm smile spread across his face.

His heart twitched when he remembered the barrier that was between them. He averted his gaze to the window and watched as the sun shined brightly on mother nature.

He looked down at the locket again, but this time, he wasn't smiling-he was in pain and his eyes reflected it.

"I'll save you, I promise." He whispered to the locket and stared longly at it.

The locket had a picture of a girl whose eyes were full of life and it seemed like the picture was alive and staring into his soul. They mirrored the blue dress she had on and a small smile played at the corners of her lips. Short, black curls hung down the sides of her face.

He raised the locket to his lips and kissed it, striking a memory in his head.

"Azazel, we have come to worship you." They bowed as Dracula sprinkled the sacred water on the statue of the devil.

Many years ago, Dracula was a human who served the devil to the extent they became best friends. Everyday, Dracula made sure the temple was in great shape and he controlled the cult activities as he was the right hand man of the king of darkness.

"Gather round all." Dracula raised his hands in the air, gesturing for the men to move closer to him. "Today," he started, tugging on the collar of his dark garment. "Is the day we are to kill the woman that had stumbled on our ritual."

All the men were dressed in black, hooded cloaks with their fingers interlocked behind them. They encircled the devil who rocked back and forth on his heels with a villain's coat.

"You know, women aren't to withhold the sacrifice with their eyes as it is forbidden in the kingdom of Azelbub." Dracula explained.

"Has she been caught?" One of the members asked, all eyes fell on him and he gulped.

"Not yet, the master wants us to go get her ourselves. He wants us to literally drag her by the hair to this place." Dracula answered, picking up a cup that was filled with the blood of one of the members that they had killed as punishment for breaking one of their rules. "Show me the girl."

Dracula sipped from the cup and sat on a chair with his legs crossed as he awaited the devil's mirror to show him what he wanted.

An image of the girl drawing water out of a well appeared on the mirror and Dracula got to his feet.

"Isn't that a sacred well?" Asked Dracula as he squinted an eye at the mirror. "This girl must be a witch. No mortal has gone there alive. Another atrocity has been committed."

"Master, why don't we await her return before we strike?" A man who appeared to be younger chipped in and they all agreed. "If she doesn't make it back then it'd save us the stress."

*********

Dracula pruned the shrubs that surrounded the entrance of the temple with his whole heart, preparing to have his private time with the devil as he always appeared to him to talk about overcoming the world.

Suddenly, a lady whose skin was as white as snow walked by with a dazed look. Her fragrance intoxicated Dracula and he unconsciously spun to take a gander at what appeared to be a morning dew.

Her back was against him, but he could tell she was a beauty. Finally, she spun and their eyes jammed. Her eyes were blue and captivating like the ocean. He could have sworn he saw tides in her eyes.

"Hello!" She waved from afar, frustration laced in her voice as she glanced over her shoulders. "I'm lost."

Her cupid bow lips moved gracefully as she spoke and he couldn't help, but to stare dumbstruck at her.

"Hello?" She waved again and he shook his head, shrugging every thought away.

He didn't need to be drawn to any woman as he was meant to be celibate, according to one of the rules of serving the devil.

He turned and continued to prune the shrubs with a flooded mind of none other than the woman who was few meters away.

"Excuse me," she tapped on his shoulder and he jolted with a spin. "Do you-"

"Get away from me." He flapped his hands in front of her in a not so nice way and ran into the temple to sprinkle some sacred water on himself. "Cleanse me, master."

He chanted some things then bowed down in front of the statue that had two horns and a malicious facade on.

"Sir," The dogman snapped Dracula out of his trance. "The girl has been sighted by your humble follower.

"I know." Dracula sat up and strolled to the window. He pulled open the thick black curtain a little so as not to get fried and stared deeply into the sky. "I want to be alone."

The dogman bowed a little then left.

Dracula gazed upon the sky and wondered when he'll be able to walk on the surface of earth during the day again. He needed to lift the curse by completing the mission.

He wore the locket around his neck and caressed it slowly. A slow smile crawled up his face as he remembered the first time they met when he was pruning the shrubs then a sour expression devoured his face when memories of how he had been cursed flashed in his head.

"Good morning." Dracula placed his hands and leg around her naked body that was secured under the blankets then planted a wet kiss on her forehead.

She spun and unlatched her eyes–he drowned in the ocean blue eyes once again. She flashed him a small smile and closed her eyes.

"Last night was awesome." He pointed out, trailing kisses up her arm and she chuckled–it was total music to his ears.

"Same here." She answered and he wondered if she was an angel.

"I love you, Lucy." He bit her arm and she racked her fingers in his hair.

"I love you too. Can I ask a question?" She sat up, securing the sheets around her chest and Dracula nodded, urging her to speak. "You've never really said what you do for a living and why do you restrict women from-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence because the place suddenly became dark with heavy pillows of clouds that could be seen from their windows.

"What's going on?" She asked, getting to her feet to check.

Dracula assumed it was a normal storm not knowing what was in store for him. He folded his arms under his head and drooled on the image of her nude body, earning him a bulge.

Abruptly, thunder roared and she jerked.

"Come here, baby. It's just a storm." Dracula opened his arms and she sank into them.

Instantly, the door to their room flung open and a tall man marched into the room dressed in a big hooded villain coat. His footsteps made a thumping sound on the floor and Lucy hid under the sheet, visibly shaking.

There was an aura that ran around this strange man. It was a malicious kind, one that struck people with fear.

"You, bastard!" He roared, his voice sounded like the dead of the night. "How dare you break one of my biggest rules?"

Dracula bowed, his heart in his throat. "I'm sorry, master."

"Silence!" He thundered.