Disclaimer: the story is based on the Austrian musical "Tanz der Vampire" and its predecessor, the movie "Fearless Vampire Killers". All due credit goes to Mr.s Michael Kunze, Jim Steinmann and Roman Polanski.

- CHAPTER 10 - ORIGINAL SIN -

Anton would have never thought that, after all the drama, he could ever have a normal conversation with Herbert, and yet there he was talking to him as if nothing had ever happened.

"Vampirism is not all bad, you know," Herbert assured as they marched through the sleeping village, heading towards the woods. "I too was distraught when I turned but after a few days I realized it was for the better."

"Herbert," Anton began nervously, "how… how were you turned?"

It was a question that had been on Anton's mind ever since Magda had made that comment about the Graf giving Herbert special treatment because he reminded him of his dead son.

"It happened in winter of 1813. I was serving as a pageboy to one of the officers fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. We were on our way back to France after a clamorous defeat in Russia when I succumbed to the harsh winter and have fallen ill. One evening I fell asleep and when I woke up the camp was dismantled and the entire troops were gone."

"They just left you there to die?!"

Herbert nodded. "I was little more than a servant but in my weakened state, I was of no use. More than that, I was actually slowing them down."

"So how'd you end up in the castle?"

"I was wandering the woods hoping to find my way to some village when I stumbled upon it. By that time I was barely conscious from hunger and cold. The Graf found me slumped by the gates and took me in. He then bit me. Just like that, without any preamble. At first, I was horrified. I thought I was going to die. When I turned into a vampire, I realized he'd probably saved my life. If he hadn't bitten me I would've really died either from illness or out of cold or eaten by wolves. And speaking of wolves," Herbert pointed to the edge of the woods, "we've got company."

Anton followed Herbert's finger and his heart came to his throat as he noticed a pair of blazing yellow eyes staring at him intently from behind a bush.

"Don't be afraid," Herbert said. "The wolf isn't going to hurt us. To be honest, it may actually be here to protect us."

Anton frowned. "Protect us from what?"

"Good question. All I know is that there is something strange going on. A couple of weeks ago the delivery man carrying a fresh blood supply from Otto went missing. We know he'd gotten past Bistritz because he called in from there to tell us he was going to arrive soon so that we would lift the portcullis. When he didn't show up we thought he may have gotten into an accident and went looking for him but there was no sign of him anywhere. To this day we haven't figured out what happened to him and the blood. Now our maid got killed in a manner that doesn't make any sense and I can't help but think that these two events are connected and whoever is behind it, is actually after us."

"To me, it looks as if someone was trying to lure you out, first by cutting off your blood supply and then by taking out of the picture the one person you relied on for food and other day-to-day things. I don't know about you but to me, it looks like the work of a vampire hunter."

"Vampire hunters haven't been a thing for over a century. Not any serious ones at least. Besides, if a stranger came into the area, we'd know."

"True. There haven't been any new arrivals to the village since last winter."

"Still, your idea about it being some kind of scheme meant to get us out into the open isn't all that improbable. I have considered it myself but there are just some things that don't add up. Why wait for two weeks after intercepting the delivery man before taking out the maid? Why not do it sooner? They would've had at least a couple of opportunities to do it that time. Then there's the way they staged her death to make it look like a vampire did it. What was the purpose of that?"

"Perhaps they wanted the people from the village to think it was you."

"As if you guys didn't blame us for anything bad that happens anyway. No, there has to be another reason."

Anton thought about it but nothing else came to his mind.

A few minutes later the two vampires reached the castle. Just in time as the sky began to turn from a deep black into iron gray.

The portcullis was back down. Someone, likely Chagal, must have lowered it after they'd left. They'd left the remote in the car so they headed for the back and got in through the hidden door by the graveyard.

Shifting in between the tombstones, Anton sighed, "I really don't want to get back into the grave."

"You know, if you want," Herbert began cautiously, "perhaps you could come to sleep with me in the crypt."

"As if that would make a difference," Anton grumbled, too lost in his own brood to notice the flirt.

Herbert didn't give up just yet. "The crypt is warmer," he argued, "quieter and overall more comfortable than the graveyard."

"It's not about comfort. It's just that… The idea of sleeping in a tomb, like a dead person, bothers me."

"Sorry to break it to you, but that's just the way all vampires sleep if they want to get any rest at all. You'll just have to get used to it."

"I know."

"Come on." Herbert tentatively wrapped an arm around Anton's shoulders. "There's still enough time left before dawn to get something to drink."

Anton was hardly comforted. Sipping on his wine a moment later, he recalled the softness of goose feather pillows and the smell of freshly washed bed sheets and wished that he could at least have that one thing back.

§§§

By the time Meike and Krolock arrived at the village, it was already dawning. Pulling up by the old well, the vampire waited for Meike to get off the bike and then did so himself.

"Go get your stuff," he said, removing his helmet. "I'll wait."

Meike flashed him a confused look.

"What? You thought that I was going to just leave you here?"

She actually did. Now it dawned on her how naive that had been of her.

"I can't go to the castle with you," she said, taking a cautious step back.

"Yes, you can," Krolock argued, stalking forward.

"I can't! If I do I'll be bound to stay and I can't do that! I have to go back to my country, to my family, to my job…"

The vampire grinned and his eyes flashed with a spark of victory.

"You keep saying you can't come with me," he pointed out. "Not once have I heard you say that you don't actually want to."

Meike hesitated for half a second too long before spatting, "I don't want to!"

She turned on her heel, intent on making a run for it, but in that instant Krolock's large hand closed on her elbow, pulling her back and right into his arms. Next thing, his lips were on hers. They were nowhere near as cold as one might have thought and they grew even warmer as they kept on kissing, until finally, she found the strength to break away.

"I can't do this," she moaned one final time, entangling herself from the vampire's grip and speeding towards the inn.

Snatching the key from underneath the garlic garland she let herself in and locking the door behind her, she peeked out through the closest window. Seeing Krolock drive off, she let out a relieved breath. She'd come very close to getting herself into even worse trouble than the ones she was already in.

Quietly as not to wake anyone up, she climbed into her room. As she hit the light switch a bright glow of electric light filled the space. Hayman had told her that once the power was back, he'd take her to Vatra Dornei. She needed to pack, in case he wanted to go first thing in the morning. The moment she thought it, she realized the room looked much tidier than when she'd left it. Her bag lay on the bed. When she looked inside she found all of her stuff, including her plastic raincoat, phone and purse, placed neatly inside. Someone, Zhenia perhaps, must have done her packing for her while she was gone. She tried to persuade herself that it was a polite thing to do for your guests in this country but something told her it wasn't. As to confirm her suspicions, rushed steps echoed in the corridor and a second later the door to her room slammed open to reveal a livid-looking innkeeper.

"Take your stuff and leave!" he barked. "Now!"

§§§

Arriving at the edge of the woods, Krolock turned Albtraum around and headed back to the village. As he'd been watching Meike run away, he caught some movement in one of the inn's upper windows. Someone, likely Hayman, had seen them make out. For Meike, that didn't bode well. He suspected the innkeeper might even try to kick her out.

It turned out he hadn't been wrong. As soon as he rolled into the square, the door to the inn burst open and Hayman came out dragging Meike along. She was trying to protest but he was having none of that. Throwing her onto the ground, he spat one last curse at her and retreated back inside.

Krolock pulled up the bike and ran up to the woman.

"Anton, he..." she groaned as he helped her gather herself up. "He ran off. Hayman said it was all my fault and he was right."

"Don't mind the old fool," Krolock dismissed her, "and don't worry about Anton. He's at the castle. The others had taken care of him. You can see him later in the evening."

Getting back to the bike, he handed her the second helmet. She accepted it silently and securing her luggage in the back, she hopped on behind him.

A few minutes later they were at the castle gates. Krolock pointed his remote and the portcullis rose up. He then drove into the courtyard and leaving Albtraum in the garage, he led Meike into the keep.

"I haven't thought to have a guest room prepared for you but you are welcome to rest in mine," he said as they climbed upstairs. "I won't be staying there with you of course. As you will have probably figured out by now, I sleep in the crypt."

Meike just nodded distractedly.

"Is there something on your mind?" Krolock asked her. "Are you still worried about Anton?"

"N-No. It's just… Nevermind."

The vampire decided not to push it especially since they arrived at their destination.

"Please, make yourself at home," he said, showing Meike into the room. It was large but simply furnished. There was a four-poster bed covered with a dark brocade duvet, a couple of small bed tables and a large chest of drawers, all made of seasoned mahogany wood. The rest of the decor consisted of a couple of pictures, some small plants, a patterned rug, an iron candle holder and a pair of heavy curtains.

Krolock lit up some candles and went to get himself a change of clothes. Once he had everything he needed, he headed out, waving at Meike to follow.

"Come, Liebling, I'll show you the way to the nearest bathroom."

There were a total of four fully functional bathrooms in the castle, all located one above the other in moderately sized chambers at the far end of the castle which once used to serve as either storage or servants quarters. Krolock had no idea who had installed the plumbing not only in the said bathrooms but also in the toilets, the kitchen and the laundry room. He found it already there the same as electricity when he returned to the property after the time spent living in Cluj.

Arriving at the bathroom, Krolock pointed to a large wardrobe that stood by the door. "You should find some clean towels and other supplies in there. Take all the time you need. I'll go take a shower downstairs." He only hoped Sarah hadn't used all the hot water up. "See you at dinner."

"Y-Yes, see you then."

"One last thing. Don't try to run away while I sleep."

Meike didn't reply to that but Krolock could tell by her expression that she'd been at least considering the idea.

"It's not a threat," he clarified, "only advice. The closest city is several kilometers away. You cannot get there on foot and I can assure you that none of the villagers will take you there either. The best thing you can do now is calm down and go get some sleep. We will discuss matters further in the evening."

That said, the vampire slipped onto the nearby servants' staircase. Reaching the floor below, he locked himself in the bathroom and shedding the motor suit, he walked under the shower. It took him no longer than half an hour to get himself cleaned. He then headed down to the crypt.

He had almost reached the kitchens when he suddenly realized he'd forgotten to take the keys from his bedside table drawer. With a groan, he turned on his heel and began to climb back up.

Arriving at his room he knocked on the door. "Meike? Are you in there?"

There was no reply so he just walked in and headed for the bedside table. He quickly grabbed what he'd come there for and was just about to leave where the door opened and Meike walked in, wrapped in a bathrobe and with a towel around her head.

"I thought you said you wouldn't be sleeping here," she noted a bit nervously.

"I only came back for these." Krolock jingled the keys. "I will be going now."

"Oh, okay."

Taking the towel off her head, she began running her fingers through her hair. Krolock stared transfixed at her motions, that primal hunger he was now consciously subjecting himself too, taking once again over his every thought. He'd deprived himself of blood, and not only that, for way too long now and was starting to lose it. He had to get away before he did something rash, ruining everything once again before it even began. On heavy legs, he walked to the door.

"Krolock?" Meike called just as he was grabbing the handle.

Turning around, he saw her standing by the bed and staring at something in her hand.

"What is it?" he asked.

"If I let you bite me, would you drive me to the city?"

He was just about to reply that it would be very irresponsible of him to let a newly turned vampire go around and about but then he noticed what it was she'd been staring at: a single shot of the vampire venom antidote.

This wasn't how he'd meant for it to go but he was starving and she was offering a fair bargain. He exhaled tiredly. "If you are certain that this is what you want..."

Placing the keys on the commode, he walked up to her. She looked absolutely terrified but stood her ground.

He motioned to the antidote pen. "Do you know how to use this?"

She nodded and administered herself the dose.

"It will only hurt a little and only for a moment," Krolock said, wrapping an arm around her waist and using the other to pull the collar of her bathrobe away to expose her cleavage. "You may later even find some pleasure in it."

Meike flashed him a doubtful glare but dutifully threw her hair back and stretched her neck. He pulled her tighter and without as much as another word, he sank his teeth in her tender flesh. She let out a small whimper and dug her nails into the bare skin of his arms but he barely noticed, consumed by the first taste of her blood. He greedily licked it off as, thinned by the antidote, it flowed down her neck and over her collarbone all the way to the valley of her breast.

A burning pain traveled through his veins as his undead body awoke to a semblance of life. And he drank, more and more, unable to stop himself despite knowing he had to be careful as the venom wouldn't naturally prevent him from draining her beyond the point of no return. Only when he felt her go limp in his arms did he come to his senses and reluctantly pulled away.

Meike wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and rested her forehead against his chin. Her breath was shallow and her heart was racing. Krolock held her until she recovered but as he eventually tried to let go of her she held him back. Her eyes were burning and then, before he even had time to think what that might mean, she crushed her lips on his.

The vampire's blood reignited. In an instant, he stripped the woman out of the bathrobe and threw her on the bed, climbing on top of her. She immediately sought his lips again but he conceded her only a small kiss before moving on to her cleavage. Descending lower still, he reverently explored every inch of her immaculate skin, stopping only to allow her to pull his shirt over his head until finally, his pointy tongue found its way to her sacred shrine.

Meike cried out and then quickly put a hand over her mouth.

Krolock eyed her curiously. Was she concerned someone might hear them? Or just surprised at her own reaction? There would be time to discreetly get this information out of her later. Now he just pulled her hand away from her mouth and continued to happily desecrate her flesh. The silent message had gone through as she no longer hesitated to voice out her approval.

Adding one last finishing touch to his diabolical machinations, the vampire lifted himself up and took a moment to admire his work. It was always such a satisfaction to see a proper young lady completely undone.

"Wow," Meike gasped, "that was... "

Krolock didn't wait for her to finish. "You wouldn't think we're done yet."

"I hope not!" she said with a grin, pulling him back down by the waistband.

In a few swift movements, she flipped them over and got rid of what still remained of his clothing. Her lips and hands descended upon him, as warm and soft as the finest of velvet. Her loving touch revived him and he rose from the abyss of death to be a man once again.

As she welcomed him into her sacred shrine, time seemed to reverse. Centuries of solitude dissolved into nothingness. All memories of past failures went forgotten. The whole world ceased to exist. There was only them, darkness and light, finally united in the most ancient ritual known to mankind.

§§§

Old Hayman had always feared Krolock would try to claim one of his children but he'd always thought it'd be his only daughter. Zhenia was the exact type of person his kind was usually after: young, healthy and beautiful, and he'd made it known on every possible occasion that he had an eye on her.

Vampires didn't have a habit of kidnapping people. They lured them in with idle promises of eternal youth and beauty so Hayman made sure his baby girl would not fall for them. Since she was little he drilled into her head that the von Krolocks were after her and that she was never to believe anything that came out of their mouths or she would meet a fate worse than death. In all of that he'd neglected his youngest son whom he reputed to be far too mediocre both in looks and character to be of any interest to the vampires. If only he'd known…

"We're sorry about Anton," said Dumitru as he, Gabor and Costache joined Hayman at the table in the corner where he'd been sitting for the second day straight drowning his sorrows in home-made țuică.

"It's all my fault if they took him," slurred the innkeeper. "If I had paid him more attention I might have noticed that something was going on."

He waved at Zhenia to bring them three more glasses. As she did, he clumsily poured in some țuică and offered one to each of his friends. They drank a round in Anton's memory, followed by a second and a third one.

"We can't just leave it at that," Costache said. "We must do something."

"Like what?" sneered Gabor, pouring everyone yet another round.

"Like… I don't know, sneak into the castle and get him back? We could do it during the day when the vampires sleep."

"Ha! Good one! And how do you suggest we get inside?"

Dumitru cut in, "Rumor says there's a hidden entrance in the back."

"I say we just walk in through the front gate." Saying that Costache produced from his pocket what looked like a smart key. "Dora had it on her when they found her," he quickly explained before anyone could get any ideas. "She must have used it to raise the portcullis."

Hayman grabbed at the key and stared at it for a moment with hopeful eyes, before throwing it carelessly into a corner. Costache immediately dove after the prized object while Dumitru and Gabor gave Hayman a confused stare.

"Don't you get it, you idiots?!" the innkeeper cried. "Those… monsters didn't just steal my bo! They turned him into one of them! There is nothing I could do to undo that!"

"Papa?" Zhenia approached the table, a couple of antique volumes in her arms. "I found these in Frau Eckstein's room when I went in to clean it the other day. They're some kind of science books about vampires."

Those books belonged in the castle library, Hayman was certain of it. It must have been them that Magda had been looking for the other night.

"Show us here," Costache extended his hand for the books. "How to recognize a vampire. How to ward off a vampire. How to kill a vampire... " he muttered to himself as he flipped through the pages. "Wait, I think I have something," he exclaimed suddenly. "It says here that if one was to kill the progenitor of a clan, all of their progenies would be released from the vampire curse. Their age would catch up to them so those who had long surpassed their natural lifespan would also perish." He closed the book and looked at the others. "Do you realize what it means? If we kill the Graf all of the other vampires will die as well. All except for Anton who's only been one for a day or two."

Hayman's face lit up. He was going to get his son back after all.

AN: There are 3 more chapters till the end of the story. I admit I have been struggling to finish it for like, 2 years or something even if I have everything planned out and I'm pretty happy with it overall. Thing is, I have no audience. At least I have none on AO3. I was hoping to find some here and perhaps get the motivation to finally finish this and get to work on other stories I have in mind. So if you read this, be so kind and leave a comment