Chapter 6 – An Outing: Part II
Lucy could hardly keep the grin off her face. Despite the cold, she was having a wonderful time exploring the Transylvanian countryside. Her uncle had the foresight to pack them a lunch and they were now enjoying the meal on a grassy hill with a glorious view of the mountains. She wished she had brought her sketchbook, but she would next time. Perhaps she could find some paints in the village. She had not thought to bring her own from home, and she missed being able to sit for hours in front of her easel. If she could not find any today, perhaps the Count would know where to find some. She let her gaze wander off toward the mountains again as she ate her sandwich.
Not long after, Victor spoke up. "Well, my dear, shall we head into town? It is not very far from here, if my memory serves correctly."
Lucy smiled. "Of course. I have just finished." She was anxious to meet the local people. She had heard they were wary of outsiders, but she didn't think they could be all that bad.
"Why don't we leave the carriage here and go on foot?" Her uncle suggested. "They may be more open to us if we don't appear in such a bold fashion."
Lucy nodded, knowing the wisdom in his words. She loved to walk, anyhow. Her sturdy boots were warm and comfortable and had always done well for her.
"It's only a few miles up the road." Victor said plainly as he packed the basket back up and put it in the carriage.
"I don't mind walking, Uncle. I enjoy it." She reassured him. "It is how I usually get around at home."
He nodded, more convinced. "This way." He smiled.
Lucy smiled back and began to walk beside her uncle. I hope the people are as lovely as the countryside.
She did not have to wait long to find out.
After a mile or so, Lucy could see the first signs of the village. The first thing to come into view was a steeple. At first, Lucy assumed it was a church tower, but as she could see more she realized it was accompanied by many others, all connected together to form a large mansion, which Lucy soon saw was right at the edge of the village.
"Castle Valerious." Her uncle clarified. "These are the nobles the count spoke of. They have some sort of agreement with him, but he said it would be better if we not mention him. We are to say we are just passing through on our way to Bucharest for a convention. I can answer any other questions, I should think. Honesty is always the best policy, my dear."
Lucy nodded; she was curious about the nature of the relationship between the nobles, but thought it better to ask the count about it rather than these strangers. Her eyes brightened as the small marketplace came into view. Her excitement was short-lived, however. As the pair wandered into the heart of the village, Lucy began to feel very unwelcome. Some of the shopkeepers immediately shut their doors as they walked by. She was becoming disheartened, but there were a few peddlers that stayed open despite the strangers.
"Oh, look, Uncle!" Lucy exclaimed happily. Before her was an old woman selling a variety of objects. Her table was covered in small pieces of jewelry and beautifully carved candles. "These are wonderful!"
"Indeed." Victor smiled at his niece. He glanced up at the old woman, who had an incredibly apprehensive look on her face.
"Is there something wrong-?" Lucy began.
"You shouldn't be here." The woman interrupted in a strong accent. It was clear she was not accustomed to Lucy's tongue.
"Excuse me?" The girl asked, suddenly fearful.
The woman leaned closer. "It isn't safe here, for you." She continued. "We don't get strangers here. Things always happen to them; many are afraid of any strangers."
"Why is that?" Lucy asked, getting a sudden urge to start back to the carriage.
"The monsters." The woman said simply, starting to pack up her belongings.
"Pardon?" Victor interjected.
"I cannot tell you what you wish." The woman said. "When the sun is covered by the clouds, no one dares to come outside. There are devilish flying beasts that come only when the sun is no longer shining. They are always hungry." The woman glanced up at the sky fearfully. "You must leave now. Before any harm comes to you."
With those words, the old woman left with her wares. Lucy glanced up at the sky, which was still incredibly clear and bright. She suddenly wondered if the villagers ever kidnapped visitors to feed to whatever had terrorized their town; a terror that Lucy had trouble believing in at all. She had no trouble, however, believing that she was in danger being in this village. Even the buildings, crooked and harsh, appeared to glare at her and her uncle as they passed by. They didn't see another soul as they walked towards the steeple of the village's church.
Lucy marveled at the architecture of the building as they approached. "Uncle, I don't think we should linger much longer."
"I agree. I had hoped the villagers would be more accommodating, but I see they are suspicious of everyone." Victor replied. "Let's head back."
Lucy turned and gasped as she ran into a solid form. She looked up into the face of an unknown man. His frown frightened her and she shrunk back while he surveyed both her and her uncle.
"Pardon my manners," he said, his face softening slightly. "I am Velkan Valerious. For what purpose have you come to this place?"
"I am Victor Frankenstein, and this is my niece, Lucy." Victor replied. "We were hoping merely to pass through, we shan't be staying. Though, we had hoped to be more welcomed."
Lucy looked at the noble as her uncle spoke. His hair fell in soft brown waves and framed a slightly round handsome face. His dark eyes were piercing, wary of all that was going on around him. He seemed like a very intense individual, but maybe it was their presence that made him so at this moment. Lucy frowned slightly; he was not as handsome as the count. Why am I comparing them? She thought absently before deciding that she didn't like the man before her very much. He looked like nice enough, but Lucy wondered if he was one of those men who was set it his ways and would not change them no matter what. Not that his views concerned her terribly, but she did wonder why he hated Dracula so much.
"Good to meet you both. I am sorry to say that our small village has never been kind to strangers. I suggest we walk towards the road while we talk." The man said, glancing around. "I never know what the people here will do. They have been frightened enough in the past."
Victor nodded and they began to walk back toward the cobble road at the center of town. Lucy relaxed slightly, at least he was well-mannered. Don't be so quick to judge, child. She nearly rolled her eyes at her aunt's words. It was sound advice, but Lucy was tired of hearing it, even when she was thousands of miles away.
They were nearly through town and on their way back to the carriage when Lucy noticed them. A shadow between buildings or a startled bird flying out from its resting place; there was something following them. Lucy was sure of it. She crept closer to Victor, praying he would walk faster. Velkan appeared unconcerned as he chatted, albeit guardedly, with her uncle about the town and Victor's work. Meanwhile, Lucy was growing increasingly jumpy. She didn't want to look around just in case something was behind her. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck as they continued to walk.
All of a sudden, they were everywhere. Lucy screamed as someone grabbed her and pulled her away from her uncle and the nobleman. Velkan drew his sword, threatening the townsfolk.
"Let her go! She has done nothing to you!" He entreated them.
Lucy trembled in the grasp of a large peasant man. His grip was rough and she was positive it had been some considerable time since he had last bathed. Tears escaped her eyes and ran down her cheeks, Velkan and Victor could not defeat the peasants. Perhaps they would listen to the young Valerious. She wished the count had come with them; then they would never have even come to the village.
"I won't be the next one to be taken!" Someone from the crowd cried.
"Let them take the strangers!" Another shout came.
"We've got to protect our own!"
"They will come because of her!"
"Quiet!" Velkan commanded. Miraculously, a hush fell over the crowd. "This is not the solution! Stealing the lives of innocents makes you no better than the monsters that would take them from you. My family has long been working on a solution to rid our land of these terrors, but we need time. Will sacrificing the girl protect you once the monsters tire of her? They will always come back until we can destroy them for good."
"Your family!" A man scoffed incredulously. Lucy watched from the side as he pushed through the crowd. He had long greasy light colored hair and a top-hat. Like the rest of the crowd, he too was dirty and unkempt, but seemed to hold some weight in the eyes of the rest of the townsfolk. "Your family has had decades; centuries even, to rid us of the beasts. Why should we continue to trust your leadership?"
There was nodding among the peasants. A murmur began to rise through the crowd.
Velkan blanched, "So you will become monsters as well? I pray your souls can find rest after what you have done."
Lucy began to panic. He was giving in? She began to sob, now that Velkan acknowledged the existence of the monsters that the old woman spoke of, Lucy was much more convinced that they were real. No one would know what happened to her…
She jumped as lightning cracked across the sky. Clouds rolled in faster than she thought possible, blocking out the sun and casting a shadow over the land.
"They are coming!" A woman screamed.
"Give them the girl!" Another voice shouted.
Velkan held his ground as the crowd became increasingly restless. The man with the top hat kept glancing back at the town, debating whether to run or to stand his ground with his beliefs against the young noble.
Another bolt of lightning crossed the sky and thunder shook the town, rattling the buildings. The man holding Lucy loosened his grip in surprise. Thinking quickly, she kicked out at her captor and struggled out of his grasp. She began to run toward Velkan and Victor when a strong voice stopped even her.
"Is this what you have become? You are worse than the animals that hunt your weak, pathetic selves."
Dracula. Lucy breathed. New tears formed in her eyes, first out of relief, then out of fear for the count. What will they do to him?
Count Dracula stepped toward the mob of townsfolk, his stance suggested he was calm, but the look on his face was like something Lucy had never seen before. He was livid. There was no other word to explain that emotion.
With every step Dracula took, the crowd took two back. They cowered in his presence, afraid to even meet his gaze. Velkan glared at the Count, he was the only one who would hold eye contact with the other man.
"You would know about those animals, Count." Velkan spat at him.
Dracula ignored the younger man and walked toward Lucy. "Are you hurt?" He asked gently.
Lucy shook her head, but the action made her dizzy and she nearly fell. She began to cry as Dracula picked her up with as much care as he had spoken to her. He strode past the remaining villagers and past Valerious again. "You had best keep control of your people before they break our agreement. I have no issue with recanting my own words if they do not adhere to theirs." He said coldly as he passed the noble.
"You don't scare me." Velkan retorted.
"I should." Dracula replied quietly. "You could learn that from your village, at least." He said before walking out of the town, Victor followed immediately.
After they were a decent distance from the town, Lucy looked up at Dracula, he still looked incredibly angry, but she spoke in spite of it, "I—I can walk, Count."
He glanced down at the girl in his arms and sighed, realizing he was still irritated he tried to soften his face. "I am sorry, Miss Moorland. I never thought those peasants would be so unpredictable. It has been long since I have been into the village."
Lucy nodded, not wanting to think about the ordeal in the town. "How did you come by when—?" She choked.
"I had a feeling." He replied plainly, "Unfortunately, I was right." He smiled down at her sadly, as much as he ever did. "Now," he said. "Let's get you back home, where it is warm. Hmm?"
Lucy nodded, smiling slightly. Home.
A/N: This was later than I meant it to be, but here it is. =) We should see the introduction of Igor within the next few chapters, I think. As well as a trip to Bucharest.