Disclaimer: dont own anything...except OC and plot...LOL

Well...I'm back...this is a story floating in my brain while I've been trying to finish up my other story, Our Darkest Passion. So...I wrote this late at night...because I cant seem to get the harem music and Dracula bare chested out of my mind...LOL...so...Dracula is a little more vicious then normal in this story...a little darker...a little rougher. I always liked it when he was rough anyways...LOL...well...hope you enjoy...:) Yes Remember...I am still alive...LOL

The court of Marcus Ferllico was rich and heavy laden with incense and melodious music. Crystalline blue eyes watched sorrowfully from a hidden place on the balcony. Thick perfect ringlets of spun gold pour down her front and two her thighs. She was clothed in gauzy black material, the custom clothing worn by harem women in high society. She was Marcus’s prized possession, his personal slave. He kept her hear, and used her secret to keep her obedience. It was so easy for the man of her darkest nightmares to find out about her existence. He never died, not even after Van Helsing had killed him, and cremated the woman he loved, on the hillside…her sister.

It was true….Boris, after his wife’s death had slept with another. Her birth was a secret though, for fear of Dracula. Ileana knew she could never claim what was rightfully hers, being the gypsy throne. Then again….why should she want too? She knew the truth behind the lies….Dracula wasn’t who they said he was. She was almost ashamed of her family’s treacherous behavior towards him.

Then again…he would probably kill her if he found out about her…..Solves that problem, doesn’t it?

“Ileana….there you are…Marcus is summoning you to the court….there is a stranger here tonight….Marcus wants to show you off….”

“Of course…” Ileana groaned.

She got to her feet, and went to her room, adorning herself in black and silver gauzy material, the outfit was far more revealing then necessary, but that’s how Marcus liked it.

It cut off just below her breasts, and left open her toned bronze stomach visible, and picked up again, low on her hips. A sheer black silted gown over a pair of gauzy black pants, with her feet in black silk slippers. She wore jewelry and perfume, rubbed herself down in exotic oils and marveled at herself in the mirror. Despite how much she hated Marcus…that fool of a vampire had good taste in material. It accented every part of her body with revealing giving away to much. This was the life she was forced to live, her only refuge from the fury of a dangerous man.

The music was exotic, deep and sensual and she swayed into the room, knowing her only purpose in life was to dance, and entertain these men of power, hungry for the unknown. She knew the music, swayed to the beat, mechanical movements, accented with the false looks of lust she flashed to the powerful ones, the one’s she knew Marcus needed on her side. The stranger was different, he was handsome for a change…..blue orbs shadowed under raven colored locks. His gaze never left her swaying hips, or her high pressed bosom. His hot gaze made her lose her breath, and despite the force of her mind to ignore such feelings pooling in her lower belly, she continued to stare into his eyes, unable to look away.

“She is beautiful no?” smiled Marcus. “She was given into my custody as a child….an orphan….bought into my service. I raised her, and now look at her……she’s grown into a magnificent young woman.”

“Yes…beautiful…” said the thick Romanian voice of the dark haired man. Ileana took her place amongst the other harem girls, and watched Marcus and the stranger leave the room.

“Who is that?” Ileana whispered to the others.

“He is very important….a King so it’s been said…..he is very powerful in vampire society.” said one of them.

“He’s would also be known as Dracula.” commented another, rolling her eyes. “Ileana….how could you not know that?”

Ileana never answered. That name froze her mid sentence. That was Dracula….the one she was supposed to be avoiding. Anger flooded her veins, knowing what Marcus was doing. That bastard….he knew….he knew and put her life in danger…..using her ignorance against her. Sure…she didn’t even know what Dracula looked like….embarrassingly enough. She’d seen an old portrait….but…..he looked so different now…..she would have never noticed.

“Ileana…” said a voice, breaking her thoughts. She glanced up, surprised to see Marcus standing there. “Ileana…we must speak…in private.” She stood and followed, worried by the look of fear on Marcus’s face.

“whats wrong…” she said softly.

“Ileana……..I’m sorry…” he said suddenly, catching her off guard.

“I made…I risked….your life……listen to me..” he said, struggling to get his sentence straight. “That man….was Dracula……he demanded you of me…..he wants you for himself…..Ileana…..if he discovers the secret I have kept from him….”

Fire blazed in her eyes as she hissed something in romanian under her breath. “You play with fire Marcus…..now you will pay…not just your life, but mine as well! You should have never made me dance for him…..what were you thinking!” she spat. “You fool….now you’ll bring ruin to us all…”

“I never thought he’d want you….I mean…he demanded you of me…he didn’t ask…..he just…demanded. I fear he may already know…”

“Then I will run.” she said softly.

“Not a smart move Ileana…..that will only enrage him more….this man is vicious…dangerous…he is my king…..the king of all vampires everywhere…..he is a monster.”

“So I have heard..” she murmured.

“Don’t fight him….whatever he wants…just let him have it…..Ileana…I raised you sense birth….Your Father brought you to me to protect….a boon I owed him.”

Ileana smirked. “Of course…hide me in plain sight…he’d never notice.”

“He hasn’t though, has he? He still doesn’t know.”

“He will when he gets a whiff of my blood.”

“That’s what I’m worried about…..Ileana…..you’ve got to face him eventually.”

“I won’t do this……Marcus….my family lied….he’s not what they say he is….”

“I’m well aware of what Boris discovered of Dracula…..but…..we can’t help the sins of the past……Dracula is evil now…..and….you must stop him. It is your destiny…what you were born to do.”

“Born to murder….carry on some stupid family tradition? My sister…my brother…..all those I loved….they died for this family tradition! I will not carry on this barbaric attempt at Dracula’s life. They killed him unjustly……”

“No matter……you either kill…or be killed.” Marcus said softly, breaking off at the sound of footsteps echoing down towards them.

Dracula had found them.

“Ileana….I’ve always told you to obey….but for heavens sake……don’t listen to me this time…” whispered Marcus as they listened to the footsteps get closer.

“Marcus….if he finds out…lie….tell him you didn’t know.” she whispered back. “You’ve been a bastard to me my whole life….but you never harmed me….ever….and I can’t stand to sit by and watch you die for protecting me.”

“Run Ileana…..do it now while you still can.”

“No.” she said softly, just as Dracula appeared. Her eyes dropped to the floor immediately.

“I’ve informed her Master….she will be ready to leave shortly.”

“Excellent…..leave us.” Marcus bowed, and gave one quick look to Ileana…who stared at the floor, unable to raised her eyes to face Dracula.

“Do you know who I am child…” he said softly, a long cold finger raised her head by the chin to look at him.

“Yes.” she murmured softly.

“Good..” he whispered, and his face drew close to hers. “Your heart…it beats so quickly…” he murmured, as he took in the scent of her hair. “You smell delicious…..” he purred against her ear.

It took all of her will not to shove him away and run at that very moment. Deep inside, she wanted to admit to him the truth…throw it in his face and then give him the beating of a life time. Then again….staying alive sounded good too.

“Pardon me…” whispered a soft voice. Dracula broke away from her and rested his eyes on one of the harem girls behind Ileana.

“Her things are loaded….the carriage awaits..”

“Excellent…..” he said and dismissed the woman with a wave of his hand.

Dracula spoke to her very little as they approached the carriage. She was grateful he chose to fly, and allowed her the emptiness of the carriage to calm her nerves. She waited, for an opportunity to run though, wishing she could get away. This fasination he’d developed for her was a dangerous one.

“Beautiful….isn’t it?” a voice interrupted her thoughts. She jumped, finding Dracula seated across from her in the carriage.

“What…” she asked, thrown by his words.

“The moon….it is beautiful tonight.”

“Yes..” she agreed quietly.

“I know who you are….you know…” he said suddenly, his eyes darkening slightly. “I could smell it in your blood the moment you walked into the court….the scent of your family lingered in Marcus’s home….”

She froze, tightening her jaw. “Then what do you want….to drag me back to your home so you can kill me there….like you killed the rest of my family?” she said a little harsher then she intended.

He tilted his head, a dark smirk playing on his lips. “I have other plans..” he commented vaguely.

“Why can’t you just let me go….I haven’t any intention of rising against you….I know your secret…..why Van Helsing really did what he did..” she whispered softly, unable to look at him.

“Do you now.” he commented, she noticed his tone had gotten slightly darker. Fear of his rage, she added quickly. “I won’t help them destroy you…..”

“Really…” he said softly. His short words were beginning to annoy her.

“Can’t you say anything else?” she snapped suddenly, and regretted it instantly. Suprisingly, he wasn’t angry. He only smirked darker at her. “Your feisty….just like your sister. No Ileana…..I will keep you…..you will be my servant…for as long as you live…you shall serve me. I will make an example of you Ileana…..and show the world that the Valerious family has been defeated.

Ileana glared at him. “I am no Valerious.”

“So you say……so you say.” he answered back, his blue orbs gazing into her own.