Belief
An Alternate Scene for 'Carpe Jugulum'
Disclaimer: Discworld and all its characters and locations belong to Terry Pratchett, not me.
Oats scurried away. That was for the best, he was just another worry. He had nudged part of her mind though...
Vampires responded to faith...
Well...Granny lay unconscious and she had always promoted her own power...
Agnes began to channel any belief she could muster into the idea of Mistress Weatherwax. A dome of silver flickered over the old witch.
Agnes knew how narrative causality worked. She fell to her knees and pressed her hands together. The dome reappeared and remained. The Count, puzzled, extended a hand towards it. With a crack it was repulsed from the still figure within. He turned a cold stare on her. She bowed her head and closed her eyes in an attempt to adopt the typical prayer pose and focus her faith.
Words cut into her reverie. The Count's bitter words.
'She never believed in you. Why bother for her? You know she forced you to return to Lancre. You know she is not as powerful as she says.'
Agnes ignored him.
'Look at me. Open your eyes.' It was the voice, the irresistible urge to obey forced her head upwards but she managed to keep her eyes tightly closed.
Which was why it was such a surprise when the Count slapped her. Slapped was not an adequate word. The force of the blow sent her sprawling onto the stone floor, wrenching her neck almost as painfully as when her head slammed into the floor. If she could have seen past the lights swirling in front of her eyes she would have noticed Vlad wince. As darkness mingled with the lights the silver dome was extinguished by an unseen force. The Count turned away from her.
'I advise you to get used to vampire rule sooner rather than later. Vlad remove her.'
That was when Agnes passed out.