“Ah, my dear mesmerized thrall.  I am never far from you.  I will never go away.”

A cold, undead finger scraped the side of Vanessa.  Vanessa, a short, busty redhead, stood very still.  Her eyes opened in full, with fear and submission in her pupils.  A single tear ran down her cheek as the shape swirled around her, brushing the side of her neck.

Vanessa’s foggy mind attempted to remember how she walked into this expansive, gothic mansion.  On what side of the city she stood.  If she still was in the same city.  

Nothing made sense.  Except for his voice.  His will.

The shape stopped in front of her.  Easily a foot taller than her, and wider, the body in front of her could envelop her and never return her to the daylight.  The slicked black hair.  The soft but cold lips.

And, the eyes.  Mesmerizing.  Black and red that defied genetics and held terrible power.  The eyes that broke her mind and will.  That compelled her to obey his voice and walk for what seemed like hours to this spot.

Her neck tingled.  She felt his piercing eyes on her neck and she tried to shudder.  Instead, his voice made her blood warm.  That warmth settled between her legs.  The vulnerability and the helplessness of the situation only fueled the forbidden desires in her mind.

“Soon, you will be with me.  To dance with the damned for eternity,” the man said with a smile.  Vanessa caught a glimpse of sharp teeth on either side.  Her body imagined the sensation when those teeth sank into her neck.  Vanessa tried to deny the intense arousal she felt when she imagined it.

The thing in front of her smiled again.  She caught a good glimpse of his fangs.  

“I see you are scared.  But, you are aroused.  I can smell it, my fragile little thing.  I can feel the heat in your blood.  And between your legs.  Do not be afraid, child.  I, Count Andre, do not do what I am about to do with haste.  I have sought you out.  Called to you.  And, you have answered.  Surely, you know this.”

Vanessa’s mind, blank and subservient to his words, could not think up a defense to his statement.  He moved closer.  She could hear her own sharp breathing through her teeth.

He brushed the hair away from her neck.  “Fear not.  Soon, you will be like me.  And we will be together for eternit–”

Vanessa heard a door crack open with force.  Count Andre glanced upward and growled.

“You.”

Vanessa could not move, could not turn.

“Your days of terrorizing young women are over, Count.”

She knew that voice.  The man in the library who seemed to understand the past few weeks of hers and what happened to her.  The man she foolishly brushed off, too embarrassed to agree.

“We shall see, worm,” Count Andre said, baring his fangs.  He leaped over Vanessa with amazing grace.

Vanessa could not see anything.  She heard a terrible crash, followed by sounds of struggle.  Things tossed.  Things broken.  Flesh ripped into.  Screams of pain from both sides.  Vanessa stood there, shaking in fear.  She felt her own wetness against her inner thigh, so aroused at her helplessness.  Realizing she had to help the man save her from the fate of the Count.  But, unable to.

She wanted to.  She thought she did.

Suddenly, a piercing stab jolted her brain.  She cried out in pain, the first sound she made since he enthralled her back in her apartment to come to him.  She fell forward, crashing into the marble floor on her knees and hands.  She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to get the pain out of her head.

She turned to see the conclusion of the battle.  The man who came to save her lay on the ground, coughing.  The count lay a few feet away.  Blood seeped from him, running down the steps separating the sunken middle of the room.  A large wooden stake jutted out from his chest.  Vanessa watched the Count’s hand go limp.

Never away from you.

She heard his voice whisper and swirl in her head.  She gasped and panted.  The man raised his head.

“I’m Terry.”

“Vanessa,” Vanessa said before her eyes rolled and she collapsed.

***

ONE YEAR LATER

Vanessa looked out of the window to the first frost-covered day before her.  The morning light cut through the darkness of the city street, creating a sense of warmth.

Vanessa huddled in her large turtleneck, blowing on her coffee.  She stared out blankly.

“You’re away.”

She blinked and turned to the source of the sound.  She smiled.  “Sorry.”

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately, Vanessa.  Is everything all right?”

The petite blonde woman walked into the room and sat down on the couch.  Vanessa felt the spotlight shine on her once more.

“I’m fine, Jeri.”

Jeri did not look impressed.  “Are you coming over for dinner tonight?  Terry and I would love to have you.”

“I don’t know.  I didn’t really want to go out.”

You want to be with me.

Vanessa shuddered at the slight breeze in her mind, the soft whisper that entered with little resistance.

“What is it?” Jeri asked, her voice growing stern and serious.  “Are you hearing him again?”

Vanessa’s lip shook as she smiled.  “Of course not.”

“It’s been a year.”

“Has it?”

Jeri sighed.  “Vanessa.  You were stalked, manipulated, and assaulted by a vampire.  He enslaved you and was about to take your life when–”

“He wasn’t about to take my life!  He wanted me!” Vanessa said, pounding her chest.  Realizing her outburst, she sat down on the chair.  She rubbed her forehead.  “I’ve been having the dream again.”

“Oh, Vanessa.  I’m not just your therapist, I hope I’m your friend.  You should have–”

“I’m embarrassed.  I’ve been having these…dreams, about a man who wanted to drain my blood.  And yet, I felt like I wanted it.  I wanted him to–”

Jeri reached across and touched her hand.  “That was his power.  That’s not you talking, that’s him.”

“I know.”

“You sound unsure.”

Vanessa rubbed her head.  “I–I–I thought I was okay, I really did, but lately I’ve been hearing it more and more and–”

Jerri squeezed Vanessa’s hand.  “He’s gone.  Terry staked him.  Finished him.  The mansion burned down.  He’s gone.”

Vanessa sniffed, rubbing her eyes.  “Yeah.  Yeah, you’re right.  Sorry.”

“It’s okay.  You’ve been through a lot.  Not too many people would understand.”

Vanessa chuckled.  “You can say that.  Vampires.  Vampire hunters.  Vampire survivor therapists.”

“Hey, everyone has a specialty,” Jeri said with a bright smile.  Her phone vibrated.  She checked it and frowned.  “Shoot.  I’m late.  Okay.  Come over tonight.  Don’t be alone.  Come for dinner with Terry and I, okay?”

Vanessa walked her to the door.  She nodded and hugged Terry at the door.  “Thanks.  For everything.”

“Call me if things get bad.”

“I will.”

After closing the door, Vanessa leaned against it.  She knew she should have told Jeri everything.  But, she felt embarrassed.

It started a week ago.  She heard the whispers.  Taunting her.  Calling to her.  Her work suffered to the point she was sent home two days ago.

Vanessa tried everything but nothing stopped the whispers. The catatonic behavior she started to exhibit, staring outside for sometimes hours at an end.

It’s because you feel me, feel me coming back.

“No, no, no!” She shouted, covering her ears and stumbling into her apartment.  “You’re not real!  You’re dead!”

I am the undead.  You know that puny little man could not stop me.  I will have you.  Tonight.

“No, no you won’t!”

Yes, I will.  Stare now.  Stare at yourself.

She opened her eyes to see herself standing in front of her full-length mirror.  She shut her eyes once more, even as intense arousal squirted between her legs.  

You will open your eyes.

“No, no.  You will not get me this way again.”

Yes, I will.  I command it.

“N-no,” Vanessa whined, sweating as she tried to resist.

Open your eyes.

Her eyes fluttered.

“Please, please, no.”

Open your eyes.

She opened her eyes.  She saw herself, but more importantly, she saw him.  Staring at her.  His eyes swirling.

“Good girl,” he said, his words vibrating in her soul.  “Look deeply now.”

“Deeply.”

“That’s right.  Give me your mind.  Give me your soul.  I will have you.”

“...have me…”

“Now.  Listen and obey.  Listen and obey.”

***

Jeri opened the door to see Vanessa with a large smile.  Vanessa hugged Jeri tightly as she entered Jeri’s house.

“Well, hello!” Jeri said.  “Terry, Vanessa’s here!”

Jeri led Vanessa from the door.  “You look good.  Are you okay?”

“Better than okay,” Vanessa said with a smile.  

“So, no other episodes?”

“No, I took your advice.  Did some meditating and went for a walk.  I feel so much better now!”

Jeri smiled with a glint of unease in her eyes.  “Okay.  If you say so.”

Vanessa broke free of Jeri and walked over to the older man standing in the hallway.  She hugged him tightly.  “Hi, Terry.”

“Hi yourself.  Are you all right?” Terry asked, looking at Jeri.  Jeri shrugged.

“Better than fine.  I’m free.”

“Well, uh, that’s good.  But, with today being the day, and what Jeri said before, are you sure–”

Vanessa took a step back and smiled at both of them.  “Honestly, I appreciate your concern.  Both of you.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without the two of you, and I thank you for everything you have done.”

Terry smiled and ruffled her hair with his hand.  “It’s no problem, Vanessa.  That’s why we are here.”

“Now, you go relax,” Vanessa said, shooing Terry from the two women.  “Jeri and I will finish up and we’ll have a nice dinner together.”

“Vanessa, I can–”

“No, no, come on Jeri, I’m helping.”

Terry shrugged at Jeri now and walked back to the living room.  Jeri walked into the kitchen followed by Vanessa.

“Vanessa, that’s nice, really, but–”

Vanessa spun Jeri around.  With a crushing grip, she grabbed Jeri’s jaw and held her face in place as Vanessa stood inches from Jeri.  “Look into my eyes, Jeri.”

“Wh–wh–”

“Look into my eyes,” Vanessa said, her voice dropping to a thick, mesmerizing tone.  “Look deeply.”

“Y-y-our eyes...pulsing...”

“That’s right.  Stare deeply now.  Stare and find yourself falling into my eyes.”

“N…no…what…” Jeri’s voice grew soft and whisper-like.

“He taught me.  How to do this.  That’s how he took me.  You stand no chance.  Look deeply and fall for me now.”

“Vanessa...no...please…”

“Sink.  Stare.  Obey.”

Jeri’s body went limp.

“Good girl,” Vanessa said with a wicked smile.  “Your body is mine now.  Your mind is mine.  You will obey.  You will think of nothing but sex from this moment on.  Your body will burn for your husband.  The arousal will be all-consuming.  You will not be able to think.  You will not be able to do anything but fuck your husband.  Nothing but the morning light will quench your thirst for sex.  Nothing else matters.  You will do and say anything to fuck him. Again and again.  You cannot, will not be able to stop until the morning.  Hear me and obey.”

Jeri moaned as her body stiffened.  She started to sway in an aroused manner, caressing her body.  “Oh, oh, I feel so–”

Vanessa leaned in and sniffed Jeri’s neck.  She licked the sensitive skin up to Jeri’s ear.  “He’s coming back, tonight.  To take me.  I am his.  And he does not want anything standing in his way this time.  So, my enthralled little puppet, you will go and do my bidding.”

“Y-yes, I must, I must…” Jeri moaned again as she fondled her breasts.  Jeri dazed, walked out of the room.

Vanessa licked her lips, tasting the therapist on her tongue.  She felt something pound in her head.

Come to me, my thrall.

“Yes,” Vanessa said, the color and expression draining from her face.  “Yes, Master.”

Vanessa shuffled out of the house as she heard the first crash of a passionate embrace.  Something deep in her mind and stomach dragged her toward an unknown destination.  Every step blanked her mind until she walked like a zombie, a mindless puppet.

Toward the call.

***

You’ve come.

Vanessa held her breath as the fog around her mind started to part.  She found herself in a derelict building that looked familiar.

She gasped.

Yes.  Yes, child, you are back here.

Vanessa looked around the burned mansion.  Her eyes fell on the spot where the Count fell.

There.

Vanessa, unable to control her body, walked toward a spot where the floor caved in.  She knelt down and moved broken wooden pieces and debris.

Good girl.

His voice felt like fingers caressing her mind.  She picked up the pace in removing debris.  She cleared a spot and gasped inside her mind.

There lay the Count.  Decayed, sticky, wet, with the stake through his heart.  She could feel something thumping in her mind and heart.  Thumping harder and harder.

Do it.  Do it, my child so we may be together for all eternity.

Vanessa’s hands reached for the stake.  With effort, she grunted and removed the stake from his body.

Vanessa stood there, transfixed.  The fog returned to her mind and she stood there like a puppet.  The Count gasped, a large, cracking gasp that caused his body to rise.  Vanessa watched as his body started to fill in.  Skin that decayed to the bone now returned.  Part of his body that caved in filled up.  Within minutes, the Count stood before Vanessa as he did a year ago. 

Caressing her face.

“My good child, you have done so well,” Count Andrew said with a grin.  “That foolish mortal thought he could be rid of me.  But, he did not understand the connection between us.  Did not understand how fully I had submitted you to my will.”

Vanessa attempted to fight her body as she exposed her neck.  She shook and trembled but could not resist.

“Do not worry, child.  Soon, all of this will be over,” Count Andre said.  He leaned in, a cold breath running down her neck.  She felt the tips of his fangs pressed against her soft skin.

Submit, and be mine forever.

Vanessa sighed as the fangs plunged deep into her neck.  A piercing pain gave way to a surprising warmth.  She moaned as she felt her life drained from her throat.  Felt the warm, sticky blood run down her body as he drank deeply.

Vanessa succumbed to her wounds.  She fell into his arms, limp and thoughtless.

Until something poked her brain.

She gasped, her neck tingling. She grabbed it, winced in pain, and stood.  Count Andre stood before her, smiling and wiping his lips of her blood.

“Welcome to the night, my darling.”

Vanessa looked to the nearest reflective surface.  And saw no reflection.

Vanessa grinned.  She felt a giddy power radiating in her body.  And a thirst that started in her throat.

“I am like you?” Vanessa asked.

Count Andre embraced her.  She had her answer.  She kissed him and pressed her body against his.  She felt something between his legs stir.  She looked at him, surprised.

“Not all the stories are true,” Count Andrew said with a laugh.  “I will bed you now and claim you so that you will be my submissive forever.  And then, we will go and quench your thirst.”

Vanessa smiled.  Her mind flashed to Jeri, moaning under her power.

“You have someone in mind?”

“Oh yes, my Master,” Vanessa said, running her tongue across her fangs.  “I have someone in mind.”

“Then, let me take you,” Count Andrew said, kissing her neck, “For I have yearned for you for an entire year.  Just as my voice never left your head, my desire for you never went away.”

Vanessa collapsed in her arms.  She never wanted him to go away again.