Bloodlines: Alexus Dracula

Expectations

It seemed like time had stood still, with the countless dinner parties with the Romanoffs and Beauregards, discussions about my future and my duty but in amongst everything I yearn for the two hours a day that I could let out all of my frustrations in combat training but before I knew it, we were celebrating my 147th birthday.  I fell asleep that night to my soft sobs knowing that my nights at the Dragan Heart coven were coming to an end and that I would be separated from my brother because of the expectations that were given to me at birth.

I woke the next morning to the feeling of the warm sun peeking through the curtains in the room.  It was the first time in a long time that I had not woken in a cold sweat since before mum died.  I remember my dream at first was a repeat of darkness and feeling lonely until there was a sign of light. Two arms reached out of the darkness, warmth and light filling my body until I woke.  'Carlos' was tattooed in script on the man's forearm. While I reminisced on my dream, I rolled over to find Rome, still curled up in a ball snuggling into the blanket and pillow.  Alexus silently sat up in bed and watch Rome sleep so peacefully before she remember where they were.  Alexus knew that she would have to meet with her grandfather and the rest of the coven, not as Alexus but as the next in line.  She sat there and took in a deep breath before letting out a deep sigh.  At that moment she heard Rome ask if she was alright.  Rome's voice was dripping in worry for his sister.  "Yes, I am fine Rome.  I am just missing Mama and Papa a lot this morning," replied Alexus.  "You will be fine Alexus.  If anyone can handle it then it is you," Rome reassured Alexus. "I just kind of have a bad feeling about today, Rome.  I can't shake the feeling that everything is going to change today," explained Alexus.  "Well, I know one thing for sure, you and me will never change," replied Rome with a small smile on his face. 

As they both stayed there for a little while longer, Rome fell back to sleep and Alexus decided it was time to get up and get ready for the day.  She walked into her walk-in bathroom and turned the shower on hot.  Alexus always enjoyed piping hot showers.  They helped her to relax and think.  Whenever she was faced with an impossible decision, she often found the answer while in a hot shower.  As Alexus jumped into the shower, she let the hot water run down her face while she washed away the past few weeks from her mind.  Before long there was a loud knock on the door.  "Alexus, your grandfather would like to see you downstairs.  Hurry along," shouted Ms Haines through the door.  Ms Haines has been assigned to me to make sure that I do everything that I should and keep out of trouble, my grandfather is very protective of both me and Rome.  "Yes, Ms Haines.  I will be down shortly," replied Alexus.  Alexus quickly changed before running downstairs to meet with her grandfather.

As Alexus rushed into the dining room, she noticed that Lady Amelia and Jacob were both sitting at the table across from him.  Alexus slowed her pace as she cautiously entered the room and walked around the table and headed toward her grandfather.  Alexus leant in and gave her grandfather a peck on the cheek before sitting next to him.  "Good morning grandfather, if I had known we had guests then I would have made sure I was on time," said Alexus under her breath, "If you hadn't pretended to be asleep when we arrived you would have had time to greet them when we arrived home," replied Dracula under his breath.  Lady Amelia cleared her throat to get Dracula and Alexus' attention.  "Good morning Lady Amelia and Jacob.  It is so pleasant to see you both.  How was your trip?" asked Alexus.  "Good to see you too Alexus.  Jacob and I were so disappointed that you were asleep when you arrived last night but we both understand after the past month you and your brother have endured," replied Lady Amelia.  Just as Alexus was about to acknowledge Jacob, Ms Haines burst through the door with breakfast. 'Saved by the bell' thought Alexus as she continued to plaster a fake smile on her face directed at the Romanoff's.  Breakfast was served which meant that Alexus had an excuse not to talk.

"Alexus, there is a reason why the Romanoffs have come to the coven," said Dracula.  "Lady Amelia and I think that it would be best if you were raised in a house with a female role model," Dracula continued to explain as Alexus fought back tears that were threatening to spill over. "And we thought that as you have a betrothal with Jacob, that it would be more suitable for you to go with Lady Amelia over Lady Elizabeth and this will help you and Jacob to get to know one another," said Dracula.  Alexus stayed quiet as she looked at her grandfather pleading for him not to send her away.  "As the next in line for the Dragon Heart coven, it is important that you are raised to be a strong, courageous leader of this coven.  It is your duty!" stated Lady Amelia.  "When do I leave?" asked Alexus as she wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. "We will be returning home tomorrow morning," said Lady Amelia.  At that exact moment, Rome came bursting through the door repeatedly yelling, "You can't take her away from me,".  Rome ran straight up to Alexus and hung off her waist.  "You can't leave me, you promised that you wouldn't leave me," Rome repeated as he pressed his face into Alexus.  "Would you please excuse us," said Alexus as more tears threatened to spill over. 

Alexus shuffled out of the room with Rome still clinging to her waist.  They stood in the hallway before Alexus knelt down to be at eye level with Rome. "Rome, sometimes there are things that we have to do when we don't want to.  Like how mama had to send us away even though she didn't want to," explained Alexus as tears began to escape her eyes. "But know this, I will never ever leave you because I live in your heart with mama and papa and you also live in mine with mama and papa," explained Alexus before she pulled Rome into a tight hug. "Now, you have to be strong.  No more crying because they don't deserve our tears.  Think of it like a mission, you need to stay here and look after grandfather and I will go to Lady Amelia's to become stronger and learn to protect our family," explained Alexus.  Rome slowly lifted his gaze to look at Alexus. Alexus slowly wiped the tears from Rome's cheeks, "So do you think you can be strong for me," asked Alexus. Rome hesitantly nodded his head.  "Anyway apparently we don't leave until tomorrow morning so as of this moment I am all yours," said Alexus as she stood to her feet.  "Now, I just need to tie up a few loose ends with grandfather and Lady Amelia then I am all yours so how about you go and clean yourself up and I will come and get you from your bedroom shortly," explained Alexus.

Rome ran off to his room to get ready for his day with Alexus as Alexus turned to face the dining-room door.  Alexus took a deep sigh before entering the dining room. Alexus stood at the end of the dining room table and slammed her hand down on the tabletop, "I will go with Lady Amelia tomorrow morning and fulfil my duties as next in line to the Dragon Heart coven but for the rest of the day, I will be undisturbed and spending it with Roman.  How I like, where I like and doing what we like?" stated Alexus.  "And if anyone has a problem with anything I have said well I really don't care," said Alexus in a stern voice.  "Now if you would excuse me, I am going to go spend my day with Roman," she said as she turned and left the room.  "Well she is going to be a strong leader," said Amelia.  "She is just like her grandmother" replied Dracula with a hint of pride in his eyes.

Alexus made her way up to Rome's room and entered to find an excited Rome running around his room trying to figure out what he was going to wear for the day.  Alexus sat at the end of the bed and watched as Rome busily got ready for their day together.  Once Rome was finished, he jumped up on the bed next to Alexus, "So what are we going to do today?" asked Rome.  "Well we can do whatever you want to do, Rome," said Alexus.  "Well, I think a picnic by the lake then we can go for a hunt and I want to do some baking and build a hut" asked Rome.  "Sounds perfect, but we better get a move on now," said Alexus as they both made their way downstairs.  "First, we need to go to the kitchen and pack a picnic lunch then we can make our way to the lake," said Alexus as they made their way to the kitchen.  

Once Alexus and Rome had finished packing their picnic, they made their way out of the back door and across the back lawn.  The coven house was located in the middle of the wilderness and about two kilometres from the back doorstep was a picturesque lake where Roman and Alexandra often took their children for picnic lunches. When they arrived at the lake they unpacked their picnic and began to take in the view.  "Do you remember when we use to come down here with mama and papa?" asked Rome.  "Like it was yesterday.  This was mama's favourite place to come whenever we were here," explained Alexus.  "I still miss them a lot Alex," said Rome.  " I do too, I do too Rome," she said as she pulled him into a warm embrace. The water from the lake glistened under the sunshine, there was a small breeze that swept across the land.  Alexus and Rome spent another couple of hours eating, sunbathing, swimming and relaxing under the sunshine before they made their way home.  

Once home, Alexus unpacked the picnic basket in the kitchen before changing into comfortable clothing.  "Rome makes sure your clothes are comfortable if we are going to go hunting," said Alexus as she walked into his room.   Alexus looked up to see Jacob holding Rome by the throat against the wall.  "Let him go!" yelled Alexus as she ran over and shoulder barged into Jacob tackling him onto the ground. Rome fell to the ground trying to catch his breath, Alexus quickly got to her feet and stood in front of Rome.  Jacob slowly got to his feet, "How dear you lay your hands on me," said Jacob.  "I will always protect my family and if you threaten my family then you threaten me too," said Alexus as the anger began to rise inside of her.  Jacob went to go and leave the room, Alexus' anger was growing stronger and stronger by the second and she walked over to intercept Jacob.  "What do you think you are going to do?" said Jacob with a smug smirk.  Alexus pushed him and launched him across the room into the wall, "If you touch my brother or any member of my family again, I will kill you and that is not a threat but a promise," said Alexus as she grabbed the back of Jacob's pants and shirt and threw him out of the room breaking the door on his way through. Alexus then looked towards Rome and the anger disappeared and was replaced with concern.  "Are you alright?" asked Alexus.  "I'm fine Alex.  I'm just glad that you came in when you did," said Rome. "Ok, well let's not worry about him and go for our hunt then baking later," said Alexus in a fake excited voice.  "Alex, I'm kind of just tired now and wouldn't mind having a rest," said Rome.  "Okay, well I will sit in here with you until you fall asleep and then have someone watch over you so you don't have to worry about Jacob coming back but I will be going straight to grandfather and have Jacob sent home tonight," Alexus reassured Rome.  "Okay" replied Rome and he jumped into his bed to have a rest.  Alexus sat on the bed next to him and comforted him until he fell asleep.

Once Rome had fallen asleep, Alexus quickly made her way out of the door and found Ms Haines.  She quickly explained the whole situation to her and she hurried upstairs to watch over Rome.  Alexus then made her way to her grandfather's study.  Once she arrived she threw open the doors to find Dracula with an upset Lady Amelia and Jacob.  "I want him gone tonight.  I will not spend my last night with Rome in who knows how long watching over my shoulder.  I will still keep my commitment to both covens but I will not tolerate your son laying his hands on my brother.  He is lucky to have walked out of that room so I suggest you send him home tonight or I will have no choice but to declare war with your coven" stated Alexus as she pointed her finger at both Lady Amelia and Jacob. "Alexus, that is enough.  We were already discussing the situation when you barged in and Jacob is being sent home immediately. It seems that he was jealous of the connection your brother has with you," explained Dracula.  "I don't give a s**t what he was jealous of.  Step out of line again and I will put you down," said Alexus.  "Alexus, I am so sorry for my son's behaviour and it will not go by lightly," assured Lady Amelia. Still, angry Alexus stormed out of the study.  "Alexus, are you alright?" asked Dracula as he chased after her. "No, no grandfather I am not okay and what I don't understand is how you can still allow me to go with them and marry him after he just tried to hurt Roman," yelled Alexus as tears of anger began to fall from her face.  "You don't understand because you are too young and one day when I am no longer here you will need a strong coven behind you to survive.  The world is becoming worse and you need to be prepared to stand," replied Dracula.  "Papa would never have let this happen," she said in a sad voice.  

Alexus walked away and made her way back up to Rome.  She laid on the bed next to her brother, watching him sleep peacefully.  Her heart ached because she knew that she would need to leave him in the morning and she wasn't sure how long it would be before she would see him again.  Alexus ran her hand through his hair softly, "I promise that I will always be here when you need me.  I will move heaven and earth for you Roman." said Alexus as she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.  Alexus turned over and snuggled up into the blankets slowly drifting off into a deep sleep, knowing that she would be leaving in the morning.

Alexus woke in a cold sweat, another nightmare, but this time she was in a black void, alone and with no one there to help her until a masculine male forearm appears reaching out to her like a lifeline.  She noticed 'Carlos' tattooed on the inside of their forearm but before she could reach it, it disappeared. Unsure of what the dream meant Alexus made her way down to the kitchen to get a drink of cold water. Alexus reached the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of cold water out of the fridge when she noticed a broken window and glass shattered on the ground with a bloody footprint next to it.  Protective of her family Alexus immediately followed the blood trail right to her grandfather's bedroom door.  Not knowing what was behind the door she slowly turned her fear into action and slowly opened the bedroom door.  Alexus quietly entered and quickly scanned the room, however, she was not ready for what she saw standing at the foot of her grandfather's bed, a dweller.

Alexus noticed a letter opener on her grandfather's desk and slowly made her way creeping towards the desk but she accidentally stumble and grasped the attention of the dweller. The dweller snarled at Alexus before barge its way towards her with death in its eyes.  Alexus jumped into action running towards the desk, she lept at the wall next to the desk, pushing herself off the wall into a somersault and grabbing the letter opener in mid flip before landing on the ground between the dweller and her grandfather.  "Stay away from him," yelled Alexus.  Her shout woke her grandfather who quickly sat up, the dweller knowing it was outnumbered, ran and burst through the window on the opposite side of the room.

"Alexus, are you alright?" Dracula asked, "Yes, I am fine grandfather but I want to know how the dweller made it into the compound and house without being noticed.  Dwellers are wreckless and that dweller did not seem reckless," replied Alexus.  "Don't worry about anything my dear.  I will go and check our security and have it tracked down but I am guessing that it will be long gone by now. I will sound the alarm now," said Dracula as he picked up the phone and dialled a number, two seconds later there was a loud blaring alarm sound ringing through the house. "I'm going to go and check on Rome," said Alexus.  "Okay, you two get some rest especially you Alexus.  You have a big trip tomorrow.  The alarm will turn off in a couple of minutes," replied Dracula.

Alexus quickly hurried out of the room and made her way to Rome's room.  The house was buzzing as everyone was rushing around to secure the compound.  I looked over the rail downstairs and saw soldiers putting on kevlar vests and grabbing guns set to lethal.  I walked into Rome's room to find him in full-on panic mode. "Alex, there you are? What is going on?" asked Rome.  "It's fine.  A dweller broke into the house and was found in grandfathers room but I managed to get to him before anything happened.  The dweller ran off but grandfather and the guards are all out tracking it down and securing the compound," replied Alexus.  "So what do we do? Where do we go?" asked Rome in a panicked voice. "We do nothing and we go nowhere.  Grandfather and the guards will sort everything out while we stay here.  Remember I leave in the morning and who knows for how long so let's enjoy our last few hours together," said Alexus with Rome nodding in agreeance.

Alexus and Rome jumped back in bed but were still too wide awake to sleep instead they sat there reminiscing on memories, the good, the bad and the hilarious.  Swapping stories up until Ms Haines walked through the door informing Alexus that all her things had been packed and she needed to get ready for her trip.  "Thanks, Ms Haine" replied Alexus before she turned to Rome whose eyes were already starting to water. "Hey, don't start that.  Everything will be fine and I will see you soon.  You will be able to ring me whenever you like and grandfather will be bringing you to the Wolves Bane coven a lot too," replied Alexus as she pulled Rome into a hug before letting go and walking out the door to get ready.  

Alexus quickly got dressed and walked down to the front entrance.  Lady Amelia was waiting for her by the front door as Dracula and Rome made their way down to meet them and farewell them.  "Goodbye Dracula, we will await your arrival in 4 weeks for your first visit," Lady Amelia addressed Dracula before getting inside of their vehicle.  "Alexus, you will see that this is for the best to get you ready to lead our coven," explain Dracula, "I hope you are right grandfather," replied Alexus before she knelt down in front of Rome.  "Now, you behave for grandfather please and I will see you soon.  Be brave, go to school and take no s**t from anyone," said Alexus with a smile on her face. "I love you, Alex," said Rome, "I love you too Rome" she replied before getting into the vehicle out front.  She waited for her grandfather to say something further but he said nothing. The driver pulled out of the driveway and the compound began to fade into the distance.