A Curse of Fate

Chapter 10

The cleaning of the Temps family home was conducted as though it were for a military inspection no one was spared from the count’s endless list of chores and criticism. Even Elaina was put to work, mopping the floors and personally helping the fearsome Count Dracula, arrange the flowers in every room. She was the “volunteer” who couldn’t get out of the room when he was asking for help, her own mate had helped his siblings hold the door closed until they were sure that she was his recent victim. Apparently, the count had been the more homemaker, the countess had been a right terror in mess-making, disorganization, and the most shocking laundry. After the great flooding and staining incidents that had occurred, every time she did laundry Count took over all forms of cleaning, of all kinds “For the safety of the family” he had said with a shudder. The cleaning of the Temps family home was conducted as though it were for a military inspection no one was spared from the count’s endless list of chores and criticism. Even Elaina was put to work, mopping the floors and personally helping the fearsome Count Dracula, arrange the flowers in every room. She was the “volunteer” who couldn’t get out of the room when he was asking for help, her own mate had helped his siblings hold the door closed until they were sure that she was his recent victim. Apparently, the count had been the more homemaker, the countess had been a right terror in mess-making, disorganization, and the most shocking laundry. After the great flooding and staining incidents that had occurred, every time she did laundry Count took over all forms of cleaning, of all kinds “For the safety fo the family” he had said with a shudder. The count became a different person when talking about his beloved with Elaina had spent the day following him around the castle caring for various flowers and vases. Watching one of the most fearsome creatures in history fuss about with vases and bed sets was disturbing, to say the least, Though in many ways this does explain a few of the things. Elaina thought as she went back to the times she had seen the count arrange place settings, educate his daughters about clothes, and even threaten his children with licking the stables clean when a particularly dear set of china was improperly handled. 

Hector and Ann had both been ready to run for it when their father found out that they had been washing his “one of a kind, priceless wedding china like drunken Vikings on a winter raid.” the two offending parties, had feared for their lives when the plate that Hector had been holding fell to the floor, though it did not break the count had made Hector clean the chandeliers in every room in the castle, and just to further drive home the fear, the poor thing had to clean all of the horse's stalls. With a toothbrush, this had caused the siblings to walk in line when the count was near, and laugh at their brother when he wasn’t. 

Elaina had learned more about the count and his wife throughout the day, as the count would talk about her constantly as he changed the floral arrangements. “In many ways, she didn’t notice how I would care for her, Alyssa was a simple creature, oblivious to the finer things in life,” he said as he rearranged the pillows in one guest room, telling Elaina the history of the bedspread that was on the bed. Smiling down at the blanket, the count began the story of his marriage “ We were very different, even more so than you and Maximus” Looking over at Elaina smiled, she smiled back “She came from the mountains in the north, her Clan were such strong-willed women, the had created an underground city for themselves to hide from those that would rather see them, obedient wives, rather than as they were. I had met her by chance, my father had sent me for a treaty with one of the kings near those mountains. He had been looking for allies to ride the mountains of the witches there.” The count’s face became hard “The fool had planned on using my family and our men as fodder to tire the witches while his own armies to capture the women and raid their home. The mountain had a rich supply of gems and such, though they didn’t use it for much, the women had mined a small amount for trade and magick.” His face relaxed as he handed Elaina a rose for the vase, finally allowing her to begin the arrangements ``Alyssa had been hunting near the base of the mountain, setting traps for the king's men. I had been riding past when she saw me, I had no idea she was there, or that she had followed me into the forest just beyond the mountain.” His smile returned to its full glow, remembering the first meeting with his wife “Of course I paid no mind, focused solely on following my father’s orders. Alyssa had said that I looked like a prince riding to save a princess from a tower and that she had enough of lazy delicate girls taking the pretty ones. So she snatched me from my horse and took to the sky, bringing me home along with the boar she had already bagged” Elaina’s mouth dropped in shock as the count laughed “I was utterly confused, no idea where she had come from or how she managed to pick me up. I hadn’t noticed we were flying until she dropped me into the pit that they used as an entrance. Her sisters had caught me and held me until she landed with the boar.” Elaina began to laugh at the thought of women holding the count against the will, he joined in “I know it sounds ridiculous but at the time I had been rather terrified of her, since not only was I tied up but she literally dragged me to her home on the edge of the city, to have her way with me. No matter what I did she overpowered me and kept me in my lovely little prison.” A content sigh escaped the count's lips “I eventually got an explanation from her once she had ensured I was securely imprisoned, tied to her bed. She had been waiting for me for so long that she forgot that I didn’t know her. Alyssa told me about her dreams and visions, the future we would someday share with each other, all the simple parts anyway.” Apparently, Alyssa left out much of the major story plots when it came to the future the two would share, to ensure the safety of the future “ I fell in love with her from the moment she touched me, I didn't know that right away, but I knew that she was mine. I stayed with her for months, that mountain became my home as well, the king I was to ally with became my ebony.” He paused for us to move to the next room. Once inside the large guest bedroom, the count sat in one of the arms chairs and allowed Elaina to care for the room. Continuing the story had become his only job “As soon as I was able I made Alyssa take me to her coven head, her grand mother Corina, to tell her of the king's plans. Corina had laughed at me, telling me how they had already known what the moron at the bottom planned, they had been ready for him for months. Their bloodline had the best seers in the world. As for fighters, well there was a reason that no one else had been foolish enough to fight them.” Looking up at the ceiling the count sighed again “I had a hard time accepting that my mate was a fighter of any kind, she was so small and soft compared to me, even compared to her family members even. But when she trained I saw the danger I was in when I doubted her in any way, I learned quickly which one of us was more dangerous. I had a reputation as a monster at the time already, but she was like a goddess or a demon unleashed when she fought, magic and weapons lead her to victory no matter who her appointment was. Our engagement started there in her home, but we both knew I had to return to my home, not only for me to end the alliance with the foolish king but to properly wed her according to my family traditions.” Elaine knew that her future father-in-law took these traditions seriously and no matter the mate he welcomed them so long as they were willing to follow the traditions of the Temps. “We left during the night and reached my home in hours, I had been riding for a day when she had caught me. My father had been searching for me for the months I had been gone, the foolish king filling his head with lies about my beloved’s kin. Too bad for him that my father had begun to suspect his lack of intelligence during the time of my absence and already decided that an alliance with him was unnecessary.” Holding the cord around his neck the count continued his story “ I had been so excited to bring her home I held her hand as we walked through the great hall’s main door, I bellowed for my family with such joy. They all came running carrying weapons and dressed in armor, ready to kill anyone on sight. It took us hours to share the story because of my many brothers getting hurt trying to run off with my mate.” The glare returned as he talked about his family, laying hands on his wife to be “My eldest brother was the one who managed to pick her up and run out of the room with her. That is how the game of keep away had started, of course when I caught him she was holding him by his feet over a rather large cooking pot in the kitchen. It had amazed my family that such a short woman could hold a nearly 7-foot vampire by his foot at all let alone over that pot, a boiling pot at that.” He laughed again, using his hands to measure the height differences “ From that moment on she was a member of the family, her clan took care of the king and came with spoils from his castle to our wedding, I was happy as could be with her by my side.” Rising from the chair he walked over to Elaina. Laying his hands on her shoulders “I am even happier now that once again my wife will find a new family thanks to me.” Elaina looked up at him confused “ You kin are cousins to my wife’s, and you are their lost daughter I will right a wrong as well as honor my wife withholding your wedding here like ours.” Smiling at the count Elaina wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Having rarely touched anyone in her life let alone a hug Elaina became overwhelmed, Why couldn’t I have had a father like this the pain of her childhood creeping back up to her, tears rolling down her face, the count simply held her closure vowing to his beloved that he would avenge this child’s past on the council, No child deserves this, Alyssa he thought as he comforted his new daughter in law. You will be only one of her new fathers, beloved, she will be loved thanks to us. Alyssa's voice floated through his mind, a small tear escaped his eyes as he felt her presents for such a brief moment.