Dark and Devious

By Kevin Fong

License: I do not own the characters, but I do own the ideas and this story.

For more Carrie Fernandez stories, go to Carrie Fernandez Appreciation Society at http/cfas.

A devious plan

Chapter 1 Revised and edited

a woman with overflowing blonde streaks down to her lower waist came before him. She also had a kind of ethereal beauty that does seem a tad bit out of place in such an imperfect world. Such beauty if memory serves him right can bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. Though the effects were lost on himself, her uniqueness was what drew him to sire her for his cause. Belmonts were prisoners to such worldly emotions, and heroes were susceptable to such sinful beauty to be played for a fool. Though he was not entranced by her beauty, he did notice these things and paid attention to where it was do.

Kissing the hem of his robes as sign of respect she scurried back with head lowered unmeeting his luminous gaze; finding her feet much more interesting. To do so would be asking for a quick and painful death. His eyes followed her frail looking form as she hesitantly stood to her full height; far from short yet neither impervious and imposing as he himself was.

"Milord. I have discovered another companion among Belmont." her tone, ever so softly.

Curling a brow at this, he was intreagued. "Another you say?"

Taking this as incentive to continue, she told him of a child gifted by great powers. It had been much to long since he had been amused. He was looking forward to the final confrontation between he himself, and those who would oppose him. Though he knew of one thorn at his side, now he was told by one of his newest subjects that there was in fact two.

"A girl? You mean a child do you not Rose? Impossible. How could anyone come here as they please, least alone a child? Belmont I understand, as they are destined by the hands of fate to always spoil my plans." and with that he stood to his full height which wasn't to frightening considering he looked like no more than a child. Indeed the body he now claimed his own was just that, but still Rose shrank before her lord as unlike strangers she knew truly of what angering him entailed.

Gliding slowly across the gap between them he lifted her chin so that he could gaze within her depths. She snuck another glance at her Lord and almost shivered visibly back when she saw his expressionless eyes and face. Almost tangible was the was the dark taste of his anger of what, she did not know. Just a hint of realization as he went on.

"You know what entails of deceiting your master do you not?" he spoke emotionlessly. "You know what the punishment is for lying to your lord," he inquired, "do you not?" stroking the paleness of her cheek in what could be a comforting gesture even as she flinched at his touch. "No...I would...never every dream of lying to you, my Lord," she whispered weakly. "It is the truth, I saw a the girl wandering about in your garden."

"And what were doing in there with my prized roses?" he almost snarled.

She frighteningly answered quite quick before she incensed his wraith further. "You sent me to take care of them milord..." she managed to speak almost humbly.

"Oh, there was that. I will forgive you for being there then." he scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"But I must do something with this mouth that only tells lies." her eyes widened as he gripped her mouth painfully. "Milord, I tell no-" she shrieked as her face suddenly felt as if it were on fire. It seemed like eternity when the torture abruptly stopped almost as soon as it began. Even a second beneath such a dark and treacherous curse was far too long.

"I ask again," nonchalently continuing, "was there a child or wasn't there?"

Taking a moment to recover her breath, she answered "Yes..."

Again she wailed and shook as the torture continued. This time much severe as he let her suffer a little more before stopping. Letting her go, she had curled into a ball to escape the pain. Her breathing much more hoarse this time with all the screaming she had been doing. His eyes gazed blankly at the twitching figure on the floor. "You must be a fool to tell me such blatant...lies. It is impossible for a child of all things to wander this close to my fortress. Especially if its origin is human. This child is human born is it not?"

She nodding slowly. Feeling a headache emerging, he pushed aside his thoughts. He could deal with the brat later, right now he had to concentrate on his loyal subject. His lips curled slightly into a twisted smile at the thought. "A mere child managed to pass the forest of death? A... child managed to escape the clutches of my inner circle?"

"I ask again," he spoke louder, "Was there a child or not?"

"Master I saw-"

Another scream that was music to his ears.

"I," she began to hesitate of unsure what to answer. She yelped again as her lord was face to face with her. "It isn't so hard you know, Rose." almost caringly, "It's either yes or no. It isn't as hard as you think it is."

A moments pause, and she seemed she had made up her mind just as she saw his fingers glowing once again. "No! No there was no child, master!" she hastily replied, "I was mistaken..." fearfully watching him raise a hand to curse her again only to stop in mid flight. He stood up then, running hid hands down his robes as if to remove the imaginary dust that clung to him. The magical glow dimmed, and Rose released a sigh of relief.

"You see Rose, it wasn't so hard was it?" almost fatherly as he gave her a hand to help her up. She took it quickly, not wanting to tempt his fury further.

As her lord smiled at her, she hesitantly smiled back. That is until she looked up and saw the demonic red glow in her master's eyes...and it was at that moment that she knew that she was doomed.

"So you did lie to me, no?"

She began to tremble and whimper.

"...and I believe that you need to...relearn quite a few lessons..."

After dismissing Rose, he left himself to ponder on the enigma. Truly, any child capable of wielding such awesome power at such a young age indeed had potential to become something great.Truly if what she said had merit, then a change of plans may be in order. But onto business to see first hand if the words she spoke had truth. He left to inquire with his old friend Maxwell who emerged from the shadows. Amusement would be written all over his face, that is if he had a face to begin with.

"Ah, my dear friend Death," he greeted, "How great of you to great of you to grace me with your presence!"

"Vlad, or is it Malus now?" his friend Death greeted him curtly, "Your kindness knows no bounds." Clearly, he was refering to his disciplinary action against the sweet and lovely Rose. However, even as he uttered those words of praise, sarcasm was laced beneath them.

"Cut the pleasantries old friend," a plan was beginning to come to formulate and if he were to accomplish this little pet project, he would be drinking from the fruits of his labour soon. "I don't need your smart arse remarks on how I discipline my followers. But there has been a change in circumstances...," he added almost whimsically, "and a change of plans." he began to pace around his throne head bowed in deep thought.

"Oh?" Maxwell inquired, "Does this also intrude upon my wishes?" clearly, he was refering the the Belmont. They both loathed their line with a vengeance. Just thinking that one was walking around somewhere in his castle made his blood boil. He frowned as his thoughts whirled about in confusion. Now that he thought about it, why was he angry? Oh yeah, he was not dead. He was still alive and kicking. With due time...

"No...," he seemed to juggle the question around in his mind, "It does not directly involve him anyway." he stopped pacing, and bore his crimsom gaze back at Death. His eyes had never left Vlad's frame as he had paced annoyingly.

"You can have him still in mind, body...," raising a brow at the slanting of the eyes on his companion hanging upon his every word. "And if you like, soul." This seemed to please him greatly.

"But, I have something else in mind for the other tagging along." as his friend's attention hadn't waned he continued, "Not the self proclaimed Vampire Hunter, but a child," a dramatic pause before he gave him the look, "Do not collect her."

"Whatever do you mean Lord Dracula?" in a mock tone with a bow and all, the cold breath of death licking his skin. As if he did not know. Vlad began to eye him for a moment before regarding him critically.

"Do not kill the spare."