Alright, second chapter. I know I only got one review for the first one, but I like this story to much to just let it go. Now go ahead and read, and I promise that a tad bit of Dracula shows up in the next chapter!

Chapter Two: Vicious Dwarves and Odd Stable Boys

The sound of the carriage wheels running over the dirt ground was enough to make anyone hum a tune to themselves just to keep from going crazy. The black painted thing was jarring from side to side just enough to make the occupants slide back and forth a little bit every time the horses up front took a galloping step. Voices mumbled to each other about how they couldn't wait to get to softer, smoother ground to ride on. The only problem with fancy carriages such as this one was the fact that it wasn't all terrain.

The old woman inside sitting securely between two bulky men sat in a stiff upright position. She had expected that girl to give in and to join her on the voyage back to Vaseria. But no, that young woman had grown too headstrong from her days of romping with those drunks back there. Clenching her straight jaw, Seareinty fought the urge to turn back and just force her to come to Budapest. People needed that girl, and she probably felt no regrets about leaving them leaderless. Twisting her weathered hands in her lap, she ignored the concerned looks the men were giving her and let out a strong, frustrated sigh.

It was then that the driver of the carriage yelled loudly back to the passengers regarding something coming up on the party. The males in the cab reached for the pistols they each carried and the ones sitting on the outside stuck their head out the windows to look upon whatever was over taking them slowly. Three horses, two ridden and one carrying numerous bags and suitcases. One of the other horses was manned by a fairly unsteady and unsure looking male who was grasping at the reigns like a lifeline. The horse that was nearest to the carriage had a young woman that appeared to be in her late twenties aboard.

"Its that girl, m'lady," one of the men said with the same thick accent that Seareinty held. Moving herself forward as far as she could manage, the old woman glanced out the window at the following three. Smiling, thought it seemed to be mostly to herself, the woman leaned back in her seat and relaxed her stiff body. She was coming. Everything would be alright. Everything would come together.

The ride from France toVaseria would take five days at least. Long stretches of abandoned roads and rough ground served as trouble for the travelers. Sleep was a rarity during their rests along the way. Seareinty, being the eldest, would sleep in the comfort of the carriage while her guards stood watch around it at all times. Rawnie was left grumbling to herself out side while Charlie complained about how he should have never let her talk him into coming on this trick. Though he had to admit, it was nice to get away from that tavern and those French hills.

There were occasions when the group of three horses fell behind the carriage and had to ride some of the night just to catch up. The problem was that as they grew nearer and nearer to Budapest, the threat of violent wildlife grew as well. Charlie wouldn't let his female companion forget about this either. Werewolves this, vampires that. He went on and on, and not matter how Rawnie tried to comfort him, he just found a hole in her words and exploited it for all it was worth. It got to the point where the young woman nearly smacked him across the face from his babbling. Eventually she did shut him up by telling him that the werewolves could hear his talking and would hunt him down if he didn't shut it.

"Are we there yet?" he asked in a timid, whispering voice and glanced around over his shoulder for the ready and waiting creatures that Rawnie said would be there.

"I don't know. I'm just following them," she replied back and signaled up to the carriage ahead that was creeping along through the thick forest.

"So for all we know they could be leading us to the gates of Hell?"

"Yes, that's right, Charlie," she said and smiled to herself. Didn't he trust even a little old woman? Well, there were the five or six large men that traveled with her, but other then that…

"We'll stop here for the night," the driver up ahead suddenly called out. "We should reach the town by noon tomorrow," he went on as the men helped Seareinty out of the carriage so she could stretch out her old legs. Trotting her old mare over to the trees, Rawnie slid off and tied up the animal before riding it of its saddle and baggage. Charlie followed closely and did the same, never straying far from his friend. He may have been born with muscled arms and broad shoulders, but he was one to cower behind the smallest mouse when danger reared its ugly head.

"We're going to take the lady for her walk before the sun fully sets," one of the bodyguards announced. "Watch everything," at that he walked off behind the other men who were staying beside Seareinty and walked at her slow gate. As the other woman watched the group disappear through the trees, she couldn't help be wonder why in the world a woman who was supposedly just a commoner in Budapest would need so many guards. It may have been her fragile age or something like that, but Rawnie found it strange that they went off into the forest with an old woman rather then stay and protect their future Queen.

"Oh sure, just leave us here alone and vulnerable in the forest. We'll be just peachy!" Charlie snapped to no one in particular. It was become evident that this man did not take long voyages very well. While the whiner arranged wood for the campfire that would need to be lit later one, Rawnie gazed out through the trees. She had read stories from her father telling of werewolves in the forests surrounding Budapest. She'd never paid any real attention to them while staying in the little house in France, but now the hints that he had given her about staying alive when confronted with one were beginning to pop up in her mind.

Sitting down on the leaf ridden ground, Rawnie stretched her legs out in front of her and crossed her ankles. Shifting slightly when her pistol dug into her ribs, she grunted and un-holstered it before setting it on the ground beside her. Closing her eyes she leaned her head back against the rough bark of the tree and sighed. Tomorrow she would be back in her hometown. A place that she hadn't seen for so long. She didn't know if she should be nervous, excited, happy, or even scared. The few things she remembered about Budapest consisted of the fact that the town didn't take kindly to strangers at all. Technically she wasn't a stranger, but then to some people she probably was.

"What was that?" Charlie's panicked voice brought her eyes open again.

"What was what?"

"Didn't you hear it?" he asked with wide eyes. "There here. The werewolves…"

"Charles, remember that little talk we had about 'overreacting'?" Rawnie droned and looked around the camp sight. "I don't see or hear anything. Now just relax until that bag of bones gets back."

"Then at least give me something to protect myself with!" the brown haired man exclaimed and looked around nervously. The woman groaned and leaned up with open eyes.

"Charlie, there is nothing out the-" she yelled but was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a single snapping twig. Moving her head quickly, yet steadily in all directions like a surprised deer she gripped her pistol. It could have been a squirrel, or something of that nature. Seeing her friend begin to stand she gestured over to him and whispered in a harsh tone without taking her eyes off the trees. "Don't move."

Moving into a crouching position, she narrowed her eyes to focus in on the space between the trees. It could just be Seareinty and her entourage returning from their walk, but she didn't think they would be sneaking about like this.

Snap.

Crunch.

Something was moving out there, and judging from the time it took between movements, it knew it was being watched. In situations like this it was hard for Rawnie to distinguish between the hunter and the hunted. Rising up slowly she sat one hand against the tree to steady herself and clutched the pistol securely in her other.

"Where are you going?" Charlie's voice penetrated the silence and another series of sounds echoed behind it. Pointing sharply at the man to hush him up, the woman took a step out of the camp. Whatever it was wasn't completely stupid. It knew to take the noise of Charlie's voice as an opportunity to move around, so it couldn't be animal. She hoped not anyway.

Cocking her pistol, Rawnie descended farther into the forest away from the road. She could feel Charlie's worried eyes watching as she crept through the trees in search of the source of the sounds. Her feet stepped lightly over the deadened ground beneath her, and paused every few moments to listen for any sign of life. Darting to her right when she heard a shuffling through the leafs, the young woman pushed herself against a tree, glancing around it in caution. There, movement, just beyond the next tree. Taking a deep breath she pushed herself off the tree and turned toward the place of movement. Nothing.

Letting out the breath, she plastered herself against the tree once more when the noise sounded behind her. Rolling her eyes at herself, Rawnie stepped out from behind the tree to face whatever it was. Once again, nothing…That is until she took a step to her right just in time to see an odd little being run between two of the trunks. It stopped mid-run and turned to her making all sorts of unrecognizable noises. Before she knew it, the thing was running toward her and she was looking down the barrel of her pistol.

The shot rang out through the forest. Charlie's footsteps followed as he ran toward her and the now dead…thing. It lay at her feet like a pile of rotting meat. The outfit it was clothed in was made of rags and other pieces of cloth that were merely sewn together in a sloppy manner.

"Good Lord, what is that?" the masculine voice of Charles rang out when he finally found his friend. "And what is that retched odor?"

"I guess its him, or her…it," Rawnie finally decided and scrunched her face up at the smell that made its way up her nostrils. Dark blood poured from the bullet hole that was now making itself known on the things forehead. Kneeling down, she poked at the mask type object that covered its mouth with her gloved finger. Prying it off the creature, she threw it aside and looked down on the horrid little mouth full of pin like teeth.

"Another one!" Charlie yelled out and pointed over to the side. Rawnie immediately turned on her knee and aimed her weapon toward the still unknown being. It weaved through the trees as she fired shots upon it, unfortunately never making contact. Watching it fade into the forest, her attention was then brought back to the abandoned camp sight.

"Rawnie? Charles?" Seareinty called out. Her bodyguards started fanning out through the forest in search of the missing travelers until one of them almost stumbled over Charlie's crouching form. Letting out the word, the others and the old woman made their way toward the duo. The men didn't seem as surprised to see the creature as the woman did. "Dwerger…" the elder whispered, disbelief showing on her face.

"Dwerger?" Charlie asked with a baffled expression. "What on Gods green earth is that?"

"Servants…servants of…him."

"Who's him?" Rawnie broke in and stood, staring down at the old lady from across the little body.

"Vladislaus…" Seareinty shook her head and backed away from the corpse. "It can't be."

"Vladislaus?" the still crouching man asked once more, glancing back and forth between the two women. The youngest stared down at the Dwerger with a slack face before answering.

"Dracula."


The night went on without incident. No more Dwergi were spotted, and the stinking body of the dead was carried away by the entourage. Seareinty told the tale behind the little creatures and raised the question as to why they would still be here if Dracula was dead. Rawnie came up with one reason, but decided to keep it to herself. No need to make the old woman stroke out.

Morning arrived quickly to everyone's joy and they continued on down the empty road. The rattle of the wheels up ahead and the sound of Charlie's nervous claims that he heard something came for behind. Days of riding were starting to wear on the Velarious's nerves, and it was beginning to show on her face. Something needed to shut up, rather it be the wheels or Charlie, something had to stop. And the man was closer.

Fortunately for him the town ofVaseria came into view before he felt the sting of a woman's wrath. It lay sprawled out between the mountains like a sleeping cat. No noise came from the buildings or even from the people walking the streets. Quiet, uncomfortably quiet. Those were the first words that popped into Rawnie's mind when she came to the edge of town.

"You will go on from here. I need to get back home, I have some things to tend to," Seareinty said from the safety of her carriage. "I'll be sure to visit you in the manor."

Without giving the gypsy a chance to object, the horses sped off in the direction of the woman's assumed house on the border of town. When the dust from the retreat settled, Rawnie turned to Charlie and waved a hand the town's way.

"Better sooner then later I suppose," she mumbled and tapped the side of the horse urging it on. The minute the hoof of the animal stepped through the rickety gates of Vaseria, all eyes were turned to them. Most held curiosity, some hostility, some welcoming gleams, and then the other part just looked on with blank stares. Charles and his packhorse stayed plastered to the woman's side as they shifted their way past the town's people, keeping as little eye contact as possible. They may have been just gypsies with pitchforks and other farm implements, but they were also gypsies who knew how to use those farm implements in ways that would surely draw blood. Pulling tightly on the reigns when the two reached the main square, Rawnie pulled out the letter from her saddlebag.

"I got the letter," she called out and cleared her voice. She wasn't entirely teasing when she told Seareinty she had a fear of public speaking. "I'm Rawnie Valerious, sister to Velkan and…Anna."

The people just stared up at her as she spoke, but one thing she did notice while she was speaking was that the hostility had disappeared from some of the faces. So far, so good.

"I was convinced by an individual that lives in this town to come back," she went on and looked around at the poorly kept buildings. "I'm willing to take up my place on the Valerious throne in place of my brother and sister. If you wish to have me, I will do so."

Finishing, she then waited. The look on Charlie's face told her that he was thinking the same thing that she was. Either they would be welcomed, or the would hear the makings of a rioting mob. The men and women surrounding them were looking back and forth at one another whispering to themselves. It was then that a man stepped up out of the circle of natives.

"You are Rawnie Valerious?" he asked with narrowed eyes as he stepped up to her. "Let me see the letter," the still unnamed man demanded and held a hand out to take it. The young woman and the older man stared each other down for nearly a whole minute until she made a move to hand over the piece of paper. Snatching it from her hands, he opened it up and read it over before nodding to the crowd. With that nod, smiles spread and the people broke into a cheer. They were this happy to see her?

"Aren't you the popular one today," Charlie commented as Rawnie waved and smiled in a confused manner. Moving her eyes up to her childhood home, she then turned back to the man.

"Let's get the hell out of here," she mumbled through clenched teeth of a smile and kicked the mare in the ribs, sending her into a gallop with the two other horses following closely behind. As they rode the people continued their joyous cheering all down the streets. Didn't they have something else to do with their time? Relieved sighs came from both as they finally reached the mostly cleared out manor. Jumping off the horses, Rawnie and Charlie started to lead them back to the stables that were sitting beside the large building. Surprisingly, other horses were resting contently and healthy in the stalls.

"What are they doing here? And who's taking care of them? Didn't you say that no one else lived here?" the blue-eyed man rambled on as they both looked strangely at the stables.

"I didn't say no one else lived here. I did assume that no one would though," she mumbled and tied the horse up and began to take the tack off piece by piece.

"Well if you ask me, all this is a bit peculiar," Charlie said in a 'so there' tone.

"And that exactly why I didn't ask you, Charles."

"Oh, excuse me while I fix the stitches you put me in," he said sarcastically and dropped his saddle on the ground. "Now, were do we put these?"

"Just leave them there for now," Rawnie answered and placed her saddle next to his before starting to unload the packhorse. Unlatching the various bundles and plopping them on the ground in a messy pile, she led the small horse into one of the stalls and undid its bridle. Watching as Charlie led his own horse into the next stall over, the young woman had to marvel at the condition of the stables. Painted nicely, relatively clean, fresh food and water just waiting for the animals, and warm bedding in every stall. It was pretty sad that the place where the horses were stored was better then some of the houses in town.

"What the blazes? Where's the tack, and your horse? And our stuff!" the male exclaimed when he walked out of the stall. He was right; everything they had left on the ground was gone, including the horse. But they were only in there for a little more then two minutes, how could anyone…

"There! Release those bags you thieves!" he insulted the moment he spotted some men and women carrying their belongings in the manor. Luckily Rawnie was able to catch him before he made a fool of himself.

"Charlie, those are house workers. Like maids and butlers except not as squeaky clean," she explained and led him back toward the stables. While he was breathing slowly and trying to calm himself down, the woman spotted the missing saddles hanging over to fence posts, and next door was her old brown mare munching on some of the food. Setting the man on a bench she jogged over to the objects and looked them over. Was it the workers that did it? They couldn't have just gotten there by themselves, and she would have heardfour orfive people running up and gather the stuff. Then who…

"You smell pretty," a high squeaky voice suddenly rang out next to Rawnie, who turned quickly and looked for the source. Seeing nothing at her level, she tilted her head down to see a small, gangly, red headed man who was looking up at her with child like green eyes.

"Um…thank you?" she replied in an unsure voice. The red head giggled and jumped up and down before scampering over the rails over the stall and peeking out at her from over one of the boards. Man? Boy? Even human? This….male, could possibly turn out to be the oddest person she ever met. Raising a brow, Rawnie gestured around to the horses and the saddles. "Did you do this?"

"Yep yep. I take care of the horses horses, and Valerious let me stay stay," He yapped out and crawled around the stable so he was hanging upside down from one of the rafters while talking to her with a huge smile on his face. Holding back a smile of her own at the boys repeating and animal like crawling skills, the woman bit her lip when Charlie walked up.

"Alright, now enough with the livestock, lets go inside and-AH!" the burly man yelled when he caught site of the little man. Sliding behind his female companion, he gripped her arms and whispered. "What. Is. That?"

"What's your name?" Rawnie asked and pulled away from Charlie.

"Red Red."

"Both his names are Red?" Charles rolled his eyes but still kept his distance.

"No, he repeats things. I think is name is just, Red. Right, Red?"

"Red Red," the little thing went on and nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. Guess he was glad someone understood him.

"Do you live in the house, Red?" the shorthaired woman went on and crossed her arms over her stomach. Red shook his head sending his ruffled red hair spinning.

"No no. I like to to stay in here with horse's horses. Comfy hay hay," he answered and rolled around in a large pile of hay in an empty stall that Rawnie guessed was his home.

"How barbaric," Charlie mumbled and gave the little human a concerned look.

"I don't think it is to him, Charlie," the woman whispered back then tugged on his shirtsleeve. "We'll leave you alone now Red. Tomorrow we'll be sure to come by and visit," she waved and dragged the tall man back toward the manner.

"Wait, pretty pretty smelling lady!" the stable hand yelled across the lot and hopped over the fence before running over to them. Glancing over to Rawnie, Charles mouthed 'pretty smelling lady?' with an amused look on his face. She only sent him a look that told him instantly to shut up. "Gray hair hair man said that if you came came back, that you'd you'd be like pretty lady lady Anna."

"She was just 'pretty lady Anna', and your 'pretty smelling lady Rawnie', huh?" the laughing voice of the proper man announced from behind her.

"Shut up, Charlie," she shot back, "What do you mean, like Anna? What does everyone expect me to do here?"

"Fight the monsters monstersm" Red pointed up to Castle Frankenstein that was looming over Budapest. "I hear things things. Lots and lots of monsters lady lady! I told gray hair hair man, but I don't think think he believes me. No one believes me me. No one listens little little Red."

"And you wonder why?"

"Charlie," Rawnie warned and turned back to the small male. "What do you hear, Red?"

"Scratching scratching, and roars, and yelling yelling! Things crash and break break in there, lady. I think there's something something trying to get out! But they don't listen listen. Noooo one listens to Red Red," the explained and threw his arms out whenever he needed to emphasize something and rolled back on the ground with a pathetic face when he finished.

"He couldn't possibly have heard all that. Look how far away we are from the castle," Charlie pointed out and sat his hands on his waist.

"I don't hear it from here here. No, no, no. When I go up on hills hills to get tasty treats for horses horses I hear. They're scary at night night, lady. Doesn't lady believe believe me?" Red mumbled and pulled on Rawnie's hand like a little child. Looking down at him with unreadable eyes, the woman licked her suddenly dry lips and looked up toward Castle Frankenstein. Her breath caught in her throat and she closed her eyes tightly. She could almost hear the noises that Red was talking about. She could hear the raking scratches along the stone walls, the agitated roars, and the yells for help and mercy. Shaking it off and taking a deep breath she nodded slightly.

"I believe you, Red."


There ya go. Isn't Red just so cute? He's gotta be one of my favorite characters that I've made up. Anyway, now that you're done reading, REVIEW!