Author's Notes: Oh, frabjous day! 43 reviews. Bwaa, haa, haa! Please excuse the sounds of maniacal laughter, inappropriately paired with a Snoopy dance. It seems to break out randomly now that I've got more reviews on this story than I have ever had on any story before. Thank you, thank you all who've been reviewing! I'd say that this chapter was longer to celebrate the fact, but that would be a lie; it's just a happy coincidence.

Chapter 13

Crossing Lines

Dracula had been watching Victoria from the upper window of the kitchen for some time. She moved carefully almost as if she could sense someone, even as she locked the doors and dowsed the candles in the main room after the last of her customers had left. Carefully, Dracula sent a creeping mist into the kitchen which swallowed up the remaining light as Victoria walked back through the curtain. She froze as she was hit with the supernatural chill, and the candle she was holding went out.

She wrapped her arms around herself and started towards the back door as if to check that it was closed and locked. That's when Dracula dropped from his perch, landing silently behind her. When Victoria turned, she saw him.

"Zorro," she said with a smile that seemed to fade as she stared into his eyes.

Dracula turned the full force of his hypnotic power on her. "Yes, Victoria," he said in a low voice as their gazes remained locked.

She stepped forward but stopped as if confused. He imagined that Zorro must have some pet name for her that he didn't know, but it wasn't critical. Dracula never looked away, and as she fell further under his spell, her eyes lost focus. Once he was sure he had her, Dracula stepped forward and lifted her hand. He hadn't bothered putting on the gloves, and it took him but a moment to scratch her wrist and bring it to his mouth. He had no intention of leaving the more obvious marks, but he needed to know the taste of her blood. It would make her easier to control.

He dropped her hand and spoke. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes," she said, still unfocused.

"Good. Do you know me?" he asked.

She hesitated a long while before answering, "Zorro?" It was definitely a question.

"Am I anyone else?" he asked. He needed to be sure of what she knew.

She hesitated even longer, her eyes starting to focus on him. He could feel her fighting him. "I thought Zorro was Diego, but you aren't Diego."

He worked on strengthening the spell, and her resistance faded slightly. "No, but I am Zorro," he said with conviction. "Are you worried about Diego de la Vega?" If she was, this would be the best way to influence her.

"Yes," she said. "Very much so."

"Excellent," he said, leaning much closer to her. "Now listen carefully. The de la Vegas have a secret. A box containing a very special book. A very dangerous book. As long as the de la Vegas have it, they will be in danger. Diego must have an idea about where to find it. You will get him to tell you by whatever means necessary. The book is the key to his safety. Do you understand?"

Victoria spoke slowly and reluctantly. "Yes, I understand."

"Now go to your room and go to sleep just as you always do. You will forget everything that I have told you; you will only know that the book is important and that Diego's safety depends on finding it. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she said.

"Now obey," he said.

"Yes." Victoria walked past him into the main room. Dracula watched as she went up the stairs and entered one of the rooms before leaving by the kitchen window.

~Z~Z~Z~

Zorro still stared at Solomon Kendall in shock both at what he'd done and the fact that he knew his name.

Solomon looked him up and down for a moment before saying, "Do you think I don't recognize my brother's style or I'd forget his best student was Diego de la Vega? I've known the family too long. No mask could hide any of that from me." He slung his crossbow over his back.

Looking around sickly at the bodies on the ground, Zorro finally managed to pull himself together enough to speak. "Why?"

Solomon looked him directly in the eye. "They were vampires."

"Vampires?" Despite what he'd seen, the strength they'd shown, Diego was having a hard time accepting the evidence of his own eyes.

"Do you doubt it? They would have had you if I hadn't come." Solomon looked back at the house and put one hand to his wounded arm. "We need to leave. The one I want isn't here, and I don't think you're ready for another fight."

Zorro agreed about that last bit. He wondered why they hadn't seen any of the men yet and then realized that it was probable that they expected the women to have taken care of the intruders. He offered a supporting arm to the other man and helped him over the wall before leading him over to a concealed area far enough from the hacienda that they wouldn't be easily spotted by watchers. Zorro bound Solomon's wounded arm as they sat there. The man seemed to carry an arsenal under his long coat as well as wearing a padded leather waistcoat which was scored in a dozen places. Though he was about the same height as Sir Edmund, Solomon resembled his brother very little, being lean and spare, with sharp cheekbones and a head of dark hair with only the barest touches of gray.

As he finished tying off the improvised bandage, Zorro said, "I don't understand."

Solomon's icy blue eyes glittered in the moonlight. As he pulled his coat back on, he said, "I think it's more that you don't want to understand. There are ungodly forces all over the world. There is magic, and there are creatures spawned by evil. Your family has often fought them. Your great-grandfather was one such. He gave up the life when he married. Your great uncle Teodoro took up the fight. I learned from him before he fell to the forces he had fought. Dracula is a vampire— a soulless demon— who transforms others into creatures like himself. His man Boris, well...he is another kind of hell-beast, who's specialized in killing the innocent. He's the one I've been hunting, but I won't let his master go either." Solomon's gaze swept over Zorro's costume. "Why do you wear the mask? It's a strange choice for a de la Vega, especially such a peaceful one."

"You know a great deal, considering we met once," Zorro said. With this man he didn't dare try to pretend he was mistaken about his identity even though he still wore the mask. And he was struck by a stray thought. "I'm not sure what to call you..."

"Just Solomon. Edmund was the knight and Richard the baron. I have no claim on any title, and out of respect for my father rarely use the family name. It is safer for them all." Solomon fell silent for a moment during which Zorro could see the realization dawn in his eyes. "And that is why you wear the mask, is it not?"

Zorro nodded. "It is easier to fight freely when your enemies don't know who your family is." He cringed internally when he thought about the added danger Victoria had faced because he couldn't keep away from her. Her not knowing hadn't really kept her safe. "The local leaders have spent more time exploiting than protecting the people." He realized he'd let himself get sidetracked. "Why did you have to kill them?"

"They were already dead," Solomon said. "I just made sure their bodies could do no further damage. That is the nature of the curse." He looked him in the eye. "Edmund and I kept in touch. He was very impressed with your skills, but he thought you were too gentle to become a true fighter."

That did sound like something Sir Edmund would have said. "I believe there's more to fighting than killing," Zorro said, unhappily remembering refusing to kill the bounty hunter who later shot Sir Edmund. He regretted letting the man escape, but he wasn't sure that killing him would have been the right answer either.

"That is your weakness. There are fights where the only way is to kill. That is my life. You can't let the demons live. They will only kill and kill again," Solomon said with increasing emphasis. "They've already killed here, haven't they?"

Zorro thought of the bandits and the vaqueros and Joaquin and even those three young women. "Sí. I think so."

Solomon shook his own head slightly as if he couldn't believe Zorro's qualified answer but continued, "Dracula is after something specific. A part of a legacy entrusted to your grandfather, I believe."

"How..." Zorro started but then remembered the mention of him and his uncle in the letter referring to the trunk. "He's after a book. I think the title is Libro magicae et occultis philosophia. Are you familiar with it? Do you know why he wants it?"

Solomon looked grim. "I know of it. Is it safe?"

Zorro sighed. "In the sense that I have no idea where it is. Then, yes."

"You can't let him get the book."

"I don't intend to," Zorro insisted, frustrated about the lack of answers about why this book was so important.

Solomon sat up straighter as a thought seemed to strike him. "Dracula wasn't there with his fledglings. He's out. He could have gone to your hacienda. Is there anyone who'd invite him inside?"

Confused, Zorro said, "What? No, I don't think so."

"Is there anyone you care about? Your father or a wife or a child?" Solomon asked.

Zorro started. He hadn't thought of that. "My father and brother are out of town. And Victoria Escalante— well, no one knows that Diego loves her."

Solomon's gaze seemed to burn through him. "Are you sure? The demon is clever, and he loves to work through women."

Remembering how Dracula had looked at Victoria the night he'd arrived in Los Angeles, Zorro pushed himself up off the ground, saying, "No, I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out. Will you be all right?"

Solomon nodded. "Yes, I'm too old a fox to let a wound like this stop me. I have my own demon to track. I'll find you when I can. But keep that book safe no matter what."

"If I can find it." Zorro turned and headed away quietly, determined not to lead anyone directly to Solomon. Once he was far enough away, he whistled for Toronado and started riding for Los Angeles.

~Z~Z~Z~

Dracula moved lightly over the roof until he was above the one lighted window. Putting on the black gloves, he waited until the light went out before moving to stare at the cuartel. Some soldiers were getting ready to start out on a patrol. He considered what his next move might be. He did want to make it nearly impossible for Zorro to show himself in Los Angeles, and what better time than now.

With a great leap he landed on the ground in the middle of the plaza. As he straightened to his full height, lightning twisting around him to make him more visible, he heard the soldiers voices calling out "Zorro," but he ignored them as he walked towards the sign at the edge of the pueblo where Malvado waited for him impatiently. He wanted them to truly believe in Zorro's unnatural return, but he had no intention of doing more than frightening them at the moment.

As he walked, the soldiers moved to block his way. He paid them no attention, until one reached to grab him. Dracula took hold of his arm and snapped it easily with a quick twist from a single hand. Another lancer stepped in front of him, sword raised to his chest. The young man's eyes widened in terror as the man he believed to be Zorro simply walked into it, allowing the metal to pass through him until was close enough to send the poor fellow flying back with a brutal swipe of the back of his hand.

The others watched horrified as he pulled out the blade and nonchalantly tossed it aside. It was painful, to be certain, but it would heal before he was clear of the pueblo and the effect it had on the lancers made it well worth it.

Yet another drew his pistol and with as much conviction as he could muster called to him, "Stop, Zorro!" It had no effect. "Stop or I'll fire!"

Dracula continued his relentless approach. When he had closed the gap, Dracula reached out with the speed of a snake, grabbed him by the throat with one hand and effortlessly hurled him into a nearby wall with such force that he bounced off and collapsed in an unconscious heap.

Then he was at the gate and mounting Malvado. Malvado reared back, as Dracula mock-saluted the remaining lancers. Channeling more lightning through him, he sent an arc of electricity to the fuse of some fireworks Boris had placed while he was in the tavern. A combination of sparks and smoke hit the air. He saw the lancers trying to hold shying horses and crying out in alarm, before he turned and started riding away into the night.

~Z~Z~Z~

Zorro was riding at top speed, worried and still having a hard time believing any of the things he'd seen this night. He regretted leaving Solomon behind, but if he were correct, Victoria could be in very real danger. From the distance he saw what looked like lightning and fireworks close to the pueblo, and his alarm increased.

As he neared Los Angeles, he saw a horseman riding towards him. It was hard to distinguish anything in the moonlight, but as he neared, he realized that he was seeing a man dressed in Zorro's attire. He brought Toronado to a halt. The other rider did the same.

"Good evening, Zorro," the other said, and he recognized the voice of Dracula.

"I like your tailor, but I'd prefer it if you showed a little more creativity in your style," Zorro said. "I've used fireworks before. And I've had impersonators before."

Dracula smiled. "Have you? Not one like me, I think."

"What have you done?"

Dracula took on an expression of feigned shock. "Me? No, no, no," as a sinister smile spread across his face. "What have you done? You really shouldn't have let people think Zorro was dead. Now he's free from the grave." Dracula's teeth glinted in the moonlight. "Tell me, Zorro: how fast can you ride?"

"As fast as I need."

"I think you're going to need to ride very fast," Dracula said, looking over his shoulder.

Zorro followed his gaze. He could see lancers in the distance and wondered what Dracula had been doing in the pueblo. Once he was distracted Dracula's horse took off at a gallop. Zorro was torn, but watching the lancers heading in his direction and Dracula racing away, he decided to chase Dracula. He could only hope that Victoria was all right. He urged Toronado forward.

Dracula rode like a man intimately familiar with the territory. Zorro was hard-pressed to keep up with him in the dark. The chase turned and twisted, and once they made it to a particularly isolated area, Zorro was startled to see what appeared to be lightning twisting around one of Dracula's arms. It arced out behind him and set off a small blast that he barely avoided being caught in. By the time he'd managed to regain control of Toronado, Dracula had disappeared entirely. Frustrated and thrown off-balance by the events of the night, he decided to head to the pueblo as he'd originally planned; in fact, he wished he hadn't followed Dracula at all, as he was worried about Victoria.

He worked his way back to the pueblo, avoiding the patrols that were still out and looking with more determination than he was used to. In fact the cuartel was a hive of activity as well, which meant that he had to be very cautious climbing up to Victoria's window. The window wasn't locked which made him nervous, but when he slipped inside, he found her sleeping soundly, apparently unharmed.

He was relieved. After what he had seen earlier, he had to know that she was all right. Kneeling next to her bed, he watched her for a few minutes. Taking off a glove, he reached toward her face, but stopped before he touched her as she stirred a little in her sleep. Something seemed to be troubling her slightly, and he thought he heard her murmur his— Diego's— name.

Unsure of what to make of that and unwilling to wake her now that he knew she was unharmed, Zorro slipped back out the window and made his way back to the ground. Just as he was heading towards Toronado, a lancer spotted him, and after a cry of warning, it seemed like the majority of the garrison came pouring out to give chase. Leaping to Toronado's back, Zorro headed out of town at a gallop, the sound of musket fire behind him. The bullets passed by him closely as he fled.

What had Dracula done to stir them up so badly? He'd never seen such a determined chase from them. It took a bit of ingenuity to lose them and make his way back to the cave, where he stripped his blood-stained garments off after taking care of Toronado. He still was having difficulty understanding what had happened. Vampires— he knew very little about them other than they were supposed to drink blood; he'd always been more interested in science than superstition, which now seemed to have been a mistake. What kind of a man was Dracula to do what he did? And what kind of a man was Boris to serve him?

More than ever, Diego was sure he needed to discover that trunk, if only to be sure it was kept away from Dracula. He also needed to talk to Miguel to make sure that the vaqueros kept a close watch on things. He wasn't sure what Dracula's next move would be, but he already knew that violence wasn't a problem for him. He also wasn't sure what he could do about it.

~Z~Z~Z~

"Have the men move in to protect the house. Now that we know he's here there's no need for look outs," Dracula said.

"Are you sure it was Solomon?" Boris asked. "Cezar says he almost had Zorro before he was knocked out."

"Yes, if it had been Zorro, he would have fallen to them before he could have staked them. Zorro doesn't kill, not even when it would be practical. That's his reputation, and now that I've seen the man, I'm sure. He's too weak and too much a gentleman." The last word came out like a curse. "Besides two were taken from behind. I'd say my young ones almost had the fox before Solomon took them out." He looked down at the remains of his fledgling vampires. "Gone so soon. Boris, we'll need more. See to that, and keep on the move, so Solomon will have trouble tracking you. Send Cezar and Emilian to the de la Vega estate. De la Vega must have some kind of secret place to hide his horse and disguise. Such a place might hide more than Zorro's secrets. I want to have two strings to my bow."

"What about the woman?" Boris asked. "What have you done with her?"

"Not much. I didn't want to risk anything obvious— at least not yet. A subconscious compulsion to find the book. What methods she uses are entirely up to her: cajolery, flattery, tears, tying him to a chair and torturing him..."

"Seduction?" Boris interjected.

Dracula raised a brow. "Do you really think so? I doubt it. That would be inefficient and a pity. I do so prefer the taste of her blood now. There is a certain potency that would be lost." He shrugged. "As long as I get that book, it doesn't matter how she gets the information. She may not even have to do anything at all other than be there, as I'm sure he's eager to find it on his own now. But I'm not going to rely solely on her, so get Cezar and Emilian moving. I'm going to seal myself into the cavern during the day. If they don't find anything or she fails us, tomorrow night we stop being so subtle."

~TBC~

Wednesday: Chapter 14 - Spellbound

End Notes: I will say that I'm glad that Solomon came off well. I'm rather fond of him. Also, Ghetto Outlaw helped with the action sequences a little in this chapter. Originally this was going to be two chapters, but the first versions were so short that it seemed pointless, and it's taken about four revisions to get it to this length. And also I moved the Solomon - Zorro conversation from the previous chapter as I could think of no better spot to end Chapter 12 than where I did.

The scene with Dracula and the lancers is a deliberate homage to my favorite scene from Monster Squad, only no swearing at little girls in the end. It also ended being milder than I planned since I was actually tempted to kill one or more of the lancers, but that would have added complications I wasn't prepared to deal with, so I went for broken limbs and general terror instead, especially since I thought the scene with Victoria and the follow up conversation with Boris were creepy enough without having Dracula add to the story's overall body count in this chapter. And also, the scene with Dracula and Victoria was influenced by a scene between Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster from the film.