Ch 7- Battlefield

(One Year Later) (On the Battlefield)

He could feel the heavy wooden shackles on his arms and neck. They were almost cutting into his skin.

His chest and feet were bare and his pants in shreds. The only thing on his muscular chest was his silver cross necklace.

His captors in white walked in front of him. When he tripped over one of the scattered bodies, his captors shouted at him but he could not hear what they were saying. They grabbed his arms and dragged him along.

He could see bodies all across the field. He could see bodies hanging in the lonely tree. He could smell the pools of blood all around him.

They threw him down on the wooden platform. He did not even let a gasp escape his lips.

As the executioner brought up the bloody axe, he looked down at the silver cross and thought of the promise he had made.

He made a split second decision. He reached out with his long tongue and licked up some blood that had fallen onto the platform just as the axe fell on his neck.

The silver cross shattered as Dracula's blood spurted out all around.

(The Next Day) (At the Castle)

The kingdom had flourished even further with Caralina at the throne. Crime rates were down as was poverty. Though, there was the occasional hiccup.

Caralina sat on the throne with her hands in her lap, listening patiently to the convicted criminal. She could see in his eyes that he was guilty. She may have been able to tell he was guilty, but she believed he at least needed to be able to tell his side of the story.

. "I have heard enough," she said once the criminal was done. "Why did you steal from the baker?"

The criminals eyes widened. He knew she had seen right through him.

"I needed it for my wife. She is pregnant and was close to death. I had no other choice," he said. She could see the truth behind these words.

"Well, you could have saved us the trouble if you had told me this in the first place. For your punishment, you will work in the castles kitchen until such time as I decide you have learned your lesson and you and your wife will be given a room on the first floor," Caralina decreed. 

"Oh, thank you, Your Highness. You will not regret this decision!" the man said eagerly.

"Be sure that I do," Caralina replied with a smile.

The guards escourted the man out of the room and shut the door behind them.

Caralina sighed to herself and looked longingly out the window.

Angelest, her newly appointed adviser, looked at her and saw the loneliness etched on her pretty face.

"Fear not, Your Highness. Your betrothed will return soon. The war can not last much longer," Angelest said. 

"I know. I just wish I knew something. He has not replied to my letter yet," Caralina said.

"Oh, you know those messengers. They always like to take their time. I am sure that letter will arrive any day now," Angelest said, trying her best to cheer her up.

"I hope so. What would I do without you, Angelest?" Caralina asked with a sad smile.

"You would crash and burn," Angelest jocked.

"Curb your tongue, madame! I could have you thrown in the dungeon for that," Caralina jocked.

"Oh, no! Please have mercy, Your Highness!" Angelest said with great sarcasm in her voice.

"Alright, but just this once," Caralina laughed.

They both laughed for a moment.

A sudden knock came at the door.

"Come in," Caralina called.

One of the messengers came in. It was Micheal. He had a strange look on his face, as if he had seen a ghost.

"You see, what did I tell you?" Angelest asked, not noticing the look on his face.

"Micheal? What is wrong?" Caralina asked, not meaning to ignore Angelest.

"I have news from the battlefield," Micheal said. There was something strange about his usually perky tone.

"Well? What is it?" Angelest asked, just now noticing the way he was acting.

"The war is over," Micheal said.

"That is great news! So, why are you acting this way?" Angelest asked.

"We did not win," Micheal answered.

Caralina and Angelest's eyes grew wide and the room fell silent.

"What about Dracula? Is he all right?" Caralina asked, breaking the silence.

"He was captured, Your Highness," Micheal said, his voice grave.

"Are they asking for a ransom? Whatever it is I will pay it!" Caralina shouted.

"Calm down, Your Highness. Now, please, answer Her Majesty's question," Angelest said.

"There is no ransom, Your Highness," Micheal answered.

"Well, where is he? We go and negotiate with them," Caralina said.

"It is to late for that," Micheal said gravely.

"What do you mean?" Caralina asked, not allowing to herself to put two and two together.

"They... He... I could not..." Micheal stammered.

"Out with it, man!" Angelest shouted at him.

He did not answer. He just walked up the steps and stopped at the next to last step. He knelt down on the steps and held his hands up. In his hands was something wrapped in a white cloth.

"I am so sorry, Your Highness," Micheal said.

 Caralina stood and walked to him. She took the cloth in both hands gently, as if doing it roughly would destroy it.

She slowly unwrapped the object with shaky hands. She already knew what it was, she just did not want to acknowledge it.

She look down at the broken silver cross and shock her head, refusing to believe it. She felt tears in her eyes.

Angelest saw the cross in her hands and knew what had happened.

"How?" Angelest asked, knowing Caralina could not.

"He was beheaded. They were going to behead me too, but His Majesty told them that Caralina would not believe what had happened unless I told them. After it happened, I told them the only sure way for her to believe it was to bring her the cross. I knew Your Majesty would want it," Micheal explained.

Caralina stood there the entire time with a blank face as he explained what had happened.

She blinked and said, "Thank you for your services, Micheal. You may leave now."

He gave a sad bow and left the room.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Angelest asked, sensing the change in the air.

"I am fine, thank you. I think I will retire to my room now," Caralina replied, her tone blank.

She started to walk out of the room when Angelest called out to her, "There was nothing you could have done, Your Highness."

Caralina stopped, turned, and gave a fake smile.

"I know," Caralina said, the tears evident in her voice.

She then walked hastily from the room and ran all the way up the stairs to her's and Dracula's room, all the while clutching the broken cross to her chest. His scent still hung in the air.

She threw herself onto the bed and let her heartbroken tears fall.

(Another Year Later)

It had felt like an eternity to Caralina since the enemy had taken over.

Most people had considered her lucky to be alive considering she was the previous kings betrothed. All the other people who had resided in the castle had been killed. 

Caralina, however, did not. She wanted to die. She wanted the pain to end. She wanted to be with Dracula again.

She carried the tray of food to the throne room and pushed the door open. She looked up at the man sitting in the throne and felt disgust flow through her body. She had never felt hatred toward someone until the day she met him.

"Have we forgotten our manners, Caralina? You are supposed to knock before you enter a room," the man, Batholomew, said.

"Manners imply respect," Caralina replied.

"Oh, do you not have respect for your king?" Bartholomew asked.

"No, and you are not my king," she replied.

"I would watch my tongue if I were you, woman. Remember who you are talking to," he warned.

She walked up the stairs and placed the tray on a table.

"Oh, I remember. You are the dispicable man who had to force his way to the throne," Caralina stated.

He quickly stood and struck her across the cheek.

They both heard an audible growl, but brushed it off as the wind.

"Take that back," he demanded.

She spit in his face. He punched her this time and she fell back and down the stairs. She did not let any pain show on her now red face.

Another, louder growl was heard again. This time making Bartholomew look around. He dismissed it as the wind again when he saw nothing but the shadows and the flickering candle light.

She realized her silver cross had fallen out from tucked into her dress. She covered it with her hand before he could see it. She had had the cross repared before the enemy came. Her engagment ring hung around the band of the necklace. She was extra careful to hide this, as well.

"Poor little thing. It is such a pity to see you this way. You could still be a queen you know," he said as he walked down the stairs toward her. He knelt down and took her face in his hand. "What do you say, beautiful? Want to be my queen? I can be ten times better than Dracula ever was to you."

Horror struck her face. She knew the only reason she was alive was because he had wanted her. He had even told her, 'It would be a sin to kill a lovely, delicate flower such as yourself,' but she never thought he would act on it.

"Keep his name out of your filthy mouth! And I would rather die than marry you!" Caralina shouted.

"That can be arranged," he replied.

He suddenly pulled out a knive from his belt and thrust it into her torso. She gasped and tried her best to keep the tears from flowing.

"Do not worry, beautiful. I will not kill you right away. I think we will have some fun before then, what do you say?" he said as he pulled out the knife and started pulling down his trossers.

"Do you really not know how to treat women? Or are you simply that much of a bastard?" a deep, male voice asked from the darkness.

They both looked up at the throne. Caralina had to do this shakingly, her strenth depleating.

A tall man was seated there. He was wearing a red overcoat with a long tail that came to the floor, a blackish, greyish dress shirt and pants with matching riding boots that came up to his knees, and a long red ribbon was tied around his neck to make a big bow. He was also wearing white gloves that Caralina recognized as seals to keep powers in check. His large hands were clasped in front of his mouth.

His face was not visible, but they could see a pair of glowing, red eyes starring at them though the darkness.

(Authors Note)

Dun, dun, duhn!!!

What's gonna happen next? Find out next chapter! (Which may be later today or the tomorrow)

Until next time! Thanks for reading!

P.S. Let me know what you thought! Also, two chapters in one day! Tots proud of myselft!!!

Also, sorry about the pic. The pic I was going to use flacked out on me and that was the next best one I could find. Try to imagin his face in darkness. If you have actually seen Hellsing, that shouldn't be too hard!