Oh my god I am so SORRY! I know I promised that I would update by Saturday and I'm seriously late! Stupid college algebra! -throws textbook against the wall- I feel horrible and I wish I could make it up to you guys with another chapter but I honestly don't have that kind of time anymore...

I hope you can all forgive me and I hope you find the chapter to your liking!

Alucard was a little taken aback by the seriousness in Amelia's tone. It was, after all, rare that she ever used it unless it was something very important. Nonetheless, he smiled kindly and gave her his undivided attention.

"Of course, I shall always listen to the woman who welcomed me with open arms and, though unintentionally," he smoothly stepped closer and cupped her chin, "stole my heart."

Her pulse sped up as she gazed into his mesmerizing crimson eyes. She felt her mind become hazy as her thoughts began to wander. However, she blinked a few times and managed to snap out of the weird sensation. Much to his surprise, she took a step back out of his grasp and her stern expression returned.

"Something really is bothering you." He said with concern. "Go ahead and tell me what's on your mind."

"Yes, Alucard I…" she made the mistake of looking into his eyes again and felt as though she was lost in a heavy fog.

She tried to regain focus again, but this time with no such luck. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her waist and arms as she was pulled flush up against the vampire's body in a tight embrace.

"Whatever it is, I know it's difficult." He spoke gently next to her ear, "But please remember, I'll always be here for you. I love you, Amelia."

Her heart ached badly as he spoke those words. It felt as though someone's fist had just clenched her heart so hard that it even hurt to breathe.

"…Thank you." She spoke against her will for some strange reason. "But…it's not that hard honestly. I was wondering if…you planned on attending the masquerade ball."

'Wh-What? Why am I asking that?' she mentally questioned her bizarre actions.

Alucard chuckled and released his hold on her, though he kept his hands on her shoulders.

"Now why on earth did you go and make such a big deal out of it?" he raised an eyebrow as he smiled at her, flashing his sharp, white fangs.

"Erm, well…" she blushed a little from embarrassment, "I've never really danced with a guy before, you know, who was also my boyfriend."

"Is that all?" he laughed again, "You needn't worry about it at all, my princess." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Just promise me one slow dance with you."

"Alright." She giggled.

She shivered slightly as she suddenly felt the gentle touch of his finger graze down her neck as he leaned in closer to her. She gulped as her blush returned five shades darker. Her pulse quickened and grew louder with each beat as his face neared her neck. Stricken with fear and panic, she found herself unable to move and stood frozen in her place. She shut her eyes tightly as she waited for his teeth to sink into her skin.

"What's this you're wearing?" he asked as his index finger glided over the cool stone of her necklace.

Amelia heaved a mental sigh of relief and tried to calm herself down, though she had a feeling that he knew she was a little uncomfortable.

"A-a birthday present." She stated after a moment.

"Really?" he moved his head to look her in the eyes, "I didn't know it was your birthday."

"Oh, well it was yesterday…" she flushed and scratched her head sheepishly, "I guess I kind of…forgot to tell you." She laughed nervously as she took a step back.

"So, who gave it to you?" he asked and crossed his arms as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Um, Jack did." She replied a little hesitantly.

"Ah, I see." He looked off to the side and she wasn't sure but she could have sworn she saw a hint of anger flash in his eyes but it was gone in an instant. She figured that it might have been just her imagination.

"But it's strange that he would have it." The vampire grasped his chin in thought, "Considering it doesn't belong to him."

"Huh? Why do you say that?" she asked, confused by his weird assumption.

"Because that stone around your neck is the gem of the Armonias." He explained.

"Wah! It is!" the teenaged sorceress was greatly surprised by the new piece of information yet again involving her mystical bloodline.

"Yes," he gave a curt nod, "that pendant has been passed down through the generations of Armonias. Though, mainly from their non-magical family members, for most Armonias don't live to see the next one born."

"Really? That's interesting." Amelia crossed her arms and thought, "But, how do you know about all of that?" she then had a rather peculiar revelation. "Come to think of it…you know a lot about the Armonias. Why?"

"What can I say?" he shrugged, "I've been around for more than five centuries and you think that I wouldn't have run into one of your ancestors?"

"Well…I suppose that makes sense but…" she hesitated a moment, "Why did you bother to learn so much about them?"

He smirked as he walked behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Let's just say I find your race to be quite fascinating." He whispered in her ear, which caused her cheeks to be stained pink for what seemed like the thousandth time that night.

He always enjoyed making her get flustered over the littlest of things. The handsome vampire then moved to stand beside her and gently lifted her necklace a little with two fingers.

"You know, legend has it that for the Armonia who wears the gem, it will glow in the presence of their true love." He arched an eyebrow in suspicion as if to ask why it wasn't glowing for him.

"Hey don't blame me!" she waved her hand for emphasis, "It's a myth like you said so it probably isn't true." She avoided eye contact with him by shifting her gaze to the balcony glass door.

"Yes probably." He chuckled, then gently grasped her hands and gracefully spun her around to face him.

"By the way, in light of recent events, I have a special present for you." He smirked as one arms snaked around her waist and his hand tangled itself in her dark golden locks. He pulled her against him and leaned in closer to her.

"Wha-what are you doing?" she stuttered as her cheeks became stained with a rose color once more.

"I'm going to give you your first kiss." He said innocently.

Just as he was about to, he felt her index finger pressed against his lips. He looked at her in confusion, though she had turned her face away.

"It's not the right time." She stated a little depressed.

"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled slightly.

"It just…doesn't feel right." She admitted.

His shoulders slumped and he heaved a sigh as he released her.

"Alright, I'll respect your wish." He said nobly, though it was obvious he was a little disappointed. The vampire then walked over to the railing. "I'll be off now. Don't want Jack to strangle me you know." He winked at her.

He then grasped the balcony rail and gracefully jumped onto the top, balancing himself perfectly as he stood up.

"Is there anything you wanted to say?" he turned back toward her, "I still feel as though you have something to tell me."

Amelia hesitated for a moment. If there was ever a time to face the inevitable, it was now.

"I…" she began softly, but then a strange mist rolled in. "uh…" she began to feel dizzy and put her hand upon her forehead. "Alucard…" she tried to locate him in the fog, though she was still in a daze.

Almost as quick as the mist had come, it dissipated and was gone, along with the yet-to-be ex-boyfriend.

"Alucard?" she blinked and looked around for him, but with no luck.

"Of course…" Her shoulders slumped and she sighed as she trudged back inside her bedroom.

In the trees several yards away from the home in which the Princess of Halloween lived, the handsome vampire stood on a dead branch with his arms crossed. He was hidden by the shadows as he watched the young royal retreat back into her room.

"She's even harder to hypnotize now. It must be because she has finally reached her sixteenth year." He stated as he glared at her window. "I've got to figure something stronger to use against that Armonia bloodline, but what? Hmm…"

He pondered for a moment with growing irritation in his crimson eyes, but then a smirk spread across his face. "It's too perfect!" he chuckled darkly as a strong wind blew past, causing his cape to flap in the breeze. The vampire then disappeared into a hazy fog along the powerful gust.

Amelia had plopped herself onto her bed and put her face in her palms. It took all of her willpower not to cry.

"Why am I so bad at keeping promises?" she questioned her conscious, her voice had started to break. "He's never going to trust me again!" a small tear escaped her eyes that slid down her cheek and slipped between her fingers. It fell onto the skirt of her dress which covered her knees and soaked into the material. Soon, a few more salty water droplets followed suit.

"Why? Why am I…such a…horrible person?" she choked out in between her quiet sobs.

"You're not Amelia…" a soft voice spoke.

The sorceress shot her head up and frantically looked around for whoever it was that had entered her room.

"Wh-who's there?" she asked as she looked toward the doorway, only to see no one there.

"Over here." It spoke again, and this time she could tell the voice was definitely feminine.

The distressed princess turned toward her full length mirror in the corner of the room nearest to her. There in its reflection wasn't a crumpled Amelia who sat on the edge of her bed, but a young woman in an elegant white gown. It was flattering, yet very conservative like that from the Victorian era. She had dark, messy locks that hung loosely around her shoulders and soft blue eyes. Her smile expressed both care and concern for the troubled teenager before her.

It was Elizabeth.

"I-it's you!" Amelia gasped and pointed shakily at the lady trapped in the mirror.

"It's quite rude to point," She placed a hand on her hip, "and I have a name, which I know you have recently found."

"Oh right, sorry Elizabeth." The sorceress tried using the name but it felt rather odd to address a ghost who was not only her ancestor, but the love of her best friend.

"I see our family's pendant has finally been passed down to the next Armonia." The ghost stated as she gestured to the necklace around her descendant's neck.

"So it belonged to you?" The princess of Halloween touched the stone lightly. "That explains how Jack probably got it."

"Ah, so he was the caretaker." A puzzled expression came over her features, "Strange. He didn't know about sorcery back then as far as I know."

"Yeah, he didn't know that you were a sorceress either. He only recently found out when I did." Amelia stated. "But…then why would he give it to me if he knew it belonged to you?"

"Well, it's possible that he sensed a connection between you and me subconsciously." Elizabeth suggested.

"It makes about as much sense as everything else that's been happening to me lately." The princess shrugged.

"Ok then, enough of beating around the bush. Listen, I don't have a lot of time for I do not know how much longer my spell will last." The Victorian spoke in a serious tone. "I need to warn you. You mustn't attend the masquerade ball, or even be in Halloween Town for that matter."

"Huh? Why?" Amelia questioned her look-alike relative.

"You are no longer safe. You must leave…It's for your own good." Elizabeth said in a rather familiar tone.

"Wait a second…you're the one who told me to leave when I was in the cemetery that one night!" the young sorceress remembered.

"Yes, indeed that was I, along with many other things. But that is not important right now. What is important is for you to get out of here as soon as possible!" she spoke sternly to her descendent.

"But you still haven't told me why yet." The Halloween royal pointed out as she crossed her arms, starting to get a little frustrated.

"You really are a Brave. Stubborn just like the rest of us." The ghost sighed, "If I told you why, you would not believe me and therefore, refuse to leave."

"Well I'm not going to leave period." Amelia stood up and walked over to the mirror. "Jack is…the whole town is counting on me to do a good job with the Halloween celebration. I'm not about to let them down!"

"Listen to me Amelia." Elizabeth's tone was like that of a mother who tried to reason with her daughter. "Your very life is in danger! You must leave immediately!" She looked down at the ground and a very solemn expression overcame her worried face.

"Someone, who you think cares for you deeply, is going to betray you." The Victorian looked back up to see the shocked face of the princess.

"Wha-what! Betray me? Why? Who!" The young sorceress became even more distraught.

"I cannot say for I know you would never believe me, no matter what I do." Her ancestor said sadly. "But do trust me when I say they are going to try to kill you. You must prevent it at all cost."

"But how will I know who to protect myself from? When?" The slightly frightened teen questioned.

"When the full moon rises into the sky on the night of Halloween that is when he is going to strike." Elizabeth stated.

"Wait, he? How do you know all of this?" The young ruler was very confused and the stress of a possible murder attempt wasn't helping matters.

"My time is almost up, Amelia. Please, please heed my warning. This man is not who he says he is and you must get out of here while you still can! It's the only way to be certain that you will be safe." The ghost still tried to convince her that she was in grave danger and had to get out.

"But I still don't understand!" the poor girl shouted. "Who is he? Why does he want to kill me!"

"Leave…" Elizabeth's image faded quickly along with her voice.

"What? No!" Amelia pressed her hands to the glass. "Come back!" she called, but all that was left was a thin haze that soon dissipated as well and she was left staring at her devastated reflection.

"No…" he dropped to the floor on her knees. "Oh god what's going to happen to me?" she put her face in her hands, "What should I do?" she had so many questions that buzzed in her head, but no one was there to answer her.

Ok, maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave you guys with yet another cliff-hanger but hey, we're starting to get into the really intense part of the story! Need to have you readers on the edge of your seats ;-)

In this case, reviews make my whole day a lot better! So please review and help me get out of my slump...Thank you all!