The journey to Budapest took mere minutes. I had to admit, even with Anna in tow, running helped to clear my mind and dispel some of the hovering fear from my heart. Physical activity, just as it had in life, always helped to center me and calm my spirits. When I was human, if I were ever agitated, I would find Velkan and we would go for a walk in the woods at the edge of his land. There was something about being in the stillness and quiet of the forest, the canopy of treetops and the carpet of snow and pine needles making it seem as if we were inside a vast cathedral. Indeed, being within the woods always inspired a feeling of reverence and respect. I wished that I could have felt that same quiet peace now, but I supposed that complete peace was impossible to achieve once one had joined the ranks of the damned.
We stopped just outside the palace in which the ball was held. As soon as I released her hand, Anna began to pat her hair though, not a strand was out of place, checking that her headpiece was still straight on top of her head. I laughed.
"Did you think that I would put your hair in any danger after I spent so long fixing it?"
She managed a smile, even lifting her gloved hand to her mouth to stifle laughter. Our mirth was short-lived, as Dracula approached us. His expression was stern, and his eyes were hard. I searched desperately for any trace of that softness I'd come to recognize, but there was none. He would make no concessions tonight, and the realization left a sickening feeling of hopelessness pooled in my stomach. He said nothing as he held out his arm for Anna to take, but arched a single eyebrow; the command was clear enough. As he steered her resolutely inside the castle, she cast on last imploring look behind her shoulder. I wanted to help her, to stay by her side and reassure her that she would get through this night alive, but I'd done all I could. Now, I could only watch and hope my dream wouldn't prove to be a prophecy.
Inside, torches and candles shimmered. The masks of the revelers were lit occasionally by the streams of orange fire that came from the flame-blower's lips. The copper medallions on the contortionists' costumes jingled happily, and the orchestra was playing a lively waltz. All of this provided an atmosphere of gaiety and merriment, but did nothing to ease my sense of dread. I took my place on the dais, faced the crowd, and began to sing.
The dancers moved about the floor with ease, and it was easy to spot Anna's blood-red dress. My throat almost closed when I saw his lips cover hers, and I remembered from the dream just how cold they'd felt. Almost without realizing it, I had raised a hand to my mouth, as if I could retrace the feel of his frozen kiss and erase it from both my lips and Anna's. My dread had escalated to clenching fear, and it was all I could do to keep my voice flowing smoothly. I saw him twirl her in front of a large, gilded mirror, and I felt with Anna the flash of horror that I'd experienced when I'd taken her place. They began to dance again, and my eyes were locked on them, waiting until I saw him bend her over, and run his hand over her stomach and chest. I could hear his voice even though he was halfway across the hall, heard it like an echo from my dream.
"Perhaps it just needs to be rekindled."
My muscles tensed as I prepared to sprint off the dais. I could feel a scream building in my throat, and my eyes were widening with fear and terror. Before I could do anything, however, something happened. All of a sudden, Dracula's cape was on fire. He roared in pain and turned on the young man who had slipped while blowing a stream of flame from his lips, lifting him clear off the ground and throwing him against the far wall. I saw with relief Van Helsing sweeping Anna up into his arms and swinging on a trapeze up into a balcony, away from Dracula's seductive power. After a moment, having torn off his smoldering cape, Dracula began to call Van Helsing's name.
"Gabriel. Gabriel. Oh, Gabriel?" The Count's lips curved in a smirk. "Welcome to my summer palace."
Shock grew on Van Helsing's face, etched with dismay. A young girl who couldn't have been more than seven when she was changed pointed at the large wooden doors, which were slowly opening. "Master, Master! Look, Master, look!"
Igor, the despicable creature, assisted by several costumed vampires, was pulling a wheeled gurney, on which rested the Frankenstein monster, bound to the metal. My heart sank; although it meant that Anna was safe for tonight, it also meant that this war was not over. The glee was heavy in Igor's voice. "We have him, Master. We have him!"
The monster began to scream at the assembly of vampires. "Oh, you wretched undead! I shall have my revenge! Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil! You are nothing but damned bones and damned souls and will burn in the flames of Hell!"
Dracula turned his attention back to Van Helsing, that same smirk still curled on his face. "Now that everything is as it should be, ladies and gentlemen, I give to you…VAN HELSING!"
All at once, those gathered in the hall removed their veils and masks, their collective hiss becoming a roar. Anna, Van Helsing, and Carl fled, and the entire assembly gave chase. I stood on the dais, unmoving, letting the relief wash over me. Anna had escaped the fatal bite; she was luckier than I.
Romnika's second and final cameo. I know that there was a slight problem with her being the singer (since the singer was seen chasing after Anna and Van Helsing), but I took a couple of creative liberties. Please forgive me. Also, the title is a tip to Edgar Allen Poe's "Masque of the Red Death," which has always been one of my favorite poems. I don't claim to own anything he ever wrote. Cheers!