Revenge of the Vampires
Chapter 13
1
Angelique was not looking forward to facing Barnabas. She never should have allowed the separation of the two of them. Now Julia was back in the hands of Ramon. How would she ever tell Barnabas? The guards allowed Devlin to pass into the castle. She was greeted by two more of Dracula's servants.
"Miss Angelique! We couldn't believe it when we saw you coming down the path! The master will be overjoyed to see you."
"Where is he?" Angelique rushed through the doors.
"He's in the main hall with Mr Collins."
Angelique hurried past them, and headed for the main hall. When she arrived, she hesitated at the door. Barnabas and Dracula were standing with their backs to her. She could tell by their conversation that they were planning a rescue of her and Julia Hoffman. Now, it would only be the doctor they would have to go after.
"Vlad," she called out.
Barnabas and Dracula turned around at the same time. She could see the surprise on both of their faces. That surprised turned to elation on Dracula's face. With vampiric speed, he was at her side. Taking her into his arms, Dracula kissed Angelique with passion.
Barnabas looked behind Angelique, expecting to see Julia come through the doors. His heart sank when it didn't happen. The younger vampire waited impatiently for the greeting between Dracula and Angelique to end. When it did, the witch turned and walked directly over to him. "I am so sorry, Barnabas . . . "
Before she could explain further, anguish appeared on Barnabas's face. He turned away from her. "She's dead, isn't she?"
"No! Barnabas, she's alive!" Angelique reached for his arm and turned him around. "I never should have allowed us to split up. It was Julia's idea. She felt we had a better chance of at least one of the three of us reaching the castle. Devlin was against it, but I mistakenly agreed with the doctor. Servants from Tristan's castle overpowered and captured her."
"How do you know that?" Dracula asked.
A small smile appeared at the corners of Barnabas face. "Because she went back after her."
"I did, but it was too late. They came upon her just as I arrived. I had no choice but to quietly leave before they found me as well. I am so sorry, Barnabas." Angelique showed true remorse.
"I understand. You did the right thing. If you had not, you would have been captured as well." He turned to Dracula. "What now, Vlad?"
"We will continue with our plans to mount a rescue." Vlad walked over to Barnabas and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I will do everything in my power to bring her out of there safely. I promise you that, my friend."
"We can't go storming in there, Vlad. They would kill her. Ramon has given orders to do so if we try," Angelique said.
"We may have no other choice. I don't see how we can get her out of there otherwise," Dracula pointed out. "If they won't come out of the castle, then we must go in. It's the only way."
Angelique smiled. "There might be another way. Barnabas could go in."
The vampire looked at her. "Alone? That would be suicide."
Dracula agreed. "I have to side with Barnabas on this, Angelique. He would have to go in at night. There would be a hundred vampires there to confront him. No, I won't allow it."
"He would not be going in at night." Angelique smiled up at Barnabas. "He would go in during the day."
"That's impossible!" Dracula said, surprised at her suggestion.
Barnabas looked into Angelique's bright green eyes and smiled. "No, it's not, Vlad. I know what she is proposing."
"Well, would one of you please explain it to me, because I surely do not."
Angelique walked over and sat down in front of the fireplace. When she did, Barnabas and Vlad joined her. "You see, my darling, Doctor Hoffman has been working on a cure for Barnabas's vampirism."
"I know that. I also know she has not perfected that cure," Dracula said.
"No, she hasn't, but she has been able to make it possible for Barnabas to walk in the daylight for a few hours," she explained.
Dracula's eyes lit up. It disappeared almost as quickly. "He would lose his powers. I cannot allow him to go in there with no powers, Angelique. There are servants in that castle for every vampire residing there. He couldn't possibly get Dr Hoffman out of there unharmed. He would probably be killed as well."
"That is not necessarily so," Angelique said. She took Barnabas hands in hers. The gesture made Dracula a bit uncomfortable remembering the love she had for the young vampire for over a century. The witch sensed it, but continued. "Barnabas, isn't it possible that less serum would allow you to keep your powers and still allow you to withstand the daylight sun."
He thought about it for a moment. "Yes, I remember when Julia started giving me the new serum that I did walk in the daylight with my powers. As she increased the dosage, my powers waned."
"How long could you last before it would become dangerous?" Dracula asked.
"I don't know," he admitted. "After all, Julia is the doctor, not me. However, I think there is someone that could help us."
"Professor Stokes," Angelique said, letting go of Barnabas's hands.
"Yes. He might possibly be able to figure out how much of the serum I could take and not lose vampiric powers, as well as figure out how long I could stay out in the daylight."
"Then we must bring him here!" Dracula said.
"No, that would not be wise," Barnabas said. "All of Julia's notes and experiments are in the cellar of the Old House. If he is to figure it out, we must allow him to do it from there."
"Perhaps you are correct, my friend. You know Professor Stokes and Dr Hoffman's laboratory better than I."
"I will go back and explain the situation to him," Angelique said.
"No, Angelique, I must be the one to go back to the Old House. I am not certain Professor Stokes would trust you." Barnabas stood up. He headed for the door.
"I would like to go with you," Dracula told him, "but I don't dare leave Angelique unprotected in my castle."
Collins turned around to face the father of the vampire race. "I would never ask you to go with me. You must stay here. Angelique needs you. Julia is my responsibility. I shall go back through the time portal. It dropped me not far from the castle."
"The portal is actually in this castle," Dracula said. "It must have the ability to drop you far away from it. I doubt that you can leave the same way. Come, I will show you where the portal is." He looked back at Angelique. Dracula didn't want her to know where the portal was. If she knew, would she wish to return to Collinsport and try to win the love of Barnabas Collins? He couldn't bear the thought. He loved the witch and didn't want to go through eternity without her.
Angelique could read the concern on Dracula's face. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Although she already figured out where it was, she wouldn't let Dracula know it. When would he ever trust her completely? When would he trust her love for him? Barnabas was her past, Dracula was her future. She had no desire to return to Barnabas Collins.
"Vlad, I do not need to know where the portal is. You do not have to doubt my love for you. I will never leave you and return to Collinsport. I will always remain at your side. You must know that I love you. Trust that love."
Dracula looked at the woman he loved. Would she remain at his side or returned to Collinsport to Barnabas Collins? Did she really love him as much as she claimed? Maybe she was right. It was time he started trusting her and his love for him. After all, Barnabas would never love her. He loved Julia Hoffman. But, what if Julia Hoffman didn't survive? Would Angelique think that Barnabas was free game once again. Would she then again try to win his love? He knew he should trust her and let her walk with them to the time portal; he just couldn't do it.
"Thank you, my love. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Dracula and Barnabas left the room as the elder vampire escorted the younger to the time portal. When they arrived, Barnabas hesitated. He turned to face his friend. "You should have allowed her to walk with us. She loves you, Vlad. She no longer has feelings for me. You have won her love. Allow her to win your trust. She is not going to ever follow me back to Collinsport."
"I know I should trust her. It is just that her love was so strong for you." He said no more.
Barnabas decided he said all he could to ease his friend's mind. "Well, I must go. I'll be back as soon as I can." He offered his hand to Dracula who shook it, and then stepped through the time portal.
2
Tristan arrived at his castle just after midnight. He looked up at the tall structure and marveled at its magnificence. Tristan was extremely proud of the place he called home. His only negative thought about it was that it was so close to Dracula's castle. Dracula . . . what a waste. He was the father of the vampire race. Spending time with Barnabas Collins had humanized him. He no longer deserve the respect vampires gave him in the past. Siding with Collins regarding the human, Julia Hoffman, proved it. She was a mere mortal. A vampire should never concern himself with the safety of a mortal.
Barnabas Collins was a cancer on the vampire race. Tristan would see him destroyed before this was all over. He simply couldn't understand why the American vampire didn't embrace his condition. Instead, he was actively seeking a cure for it. Tristan couldn't allow such behavior among his kind. They were superior to humans. They needed to take their place as such. Morgan and Miranda believed that vampires should remain hidden among humans. That was unacceptable to Tristan.
Would vampires have to be controlled? To a certain point, yes. They would be allowed to feed on humans. They could not be allowed to remove more blood than needed to sustain themselves. Vampires would have to treat them like food to be grown and cultivated. All mortals would become the slaves of vampires. Enough of them would have to be turned in order to control the remaining humans. They would be allow to live their lives; to produce more humans for vampires to feed on. Of course there would be rules. There had to be rules. That was where he and Ramon differed. Ramon believed vampire should be allowed to kill at will. Tristan was wiser than that. If that was allowed, then what Morgan and Miranda feared would surely come to past.
Tristan would go along with Ramon to a point. When all was said and done, and they destroyed Collins, Dracula, and those on the council who sided with them, then he would become the head of the council. Ramon had designs on becoming the head, but Tristan would never allow that. He would present a danger to the race of vampires. No, he couldn't allow that. Ramon would have to be destroyed along with Collins, Dracula, and the Vampire Council. Tristan would build a council that agreed with his vision of the vampire race.
He walked up the ramp to his castle across the body of water under it. Something was wrong. Where were the humans who guarded the castle doors? They were nowhere in sight. Tristan knew no human presented a threat to him. That wasn't what concerned him. He worried Dracula may have made a move to rescue the women. That could account for the missing guards. Could the Vampire Council already have moved on his castle? No, Dracula would not be so reckless. Ramon would kill the two women under those circumstances. He wouldn't have taken the chance.
Tristan entered the castle. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Humans were bustling about with their various duties, all except the humans whose duties were to guard the castle. As he moved further into the castle, he was greeted by vampires who were there to help overthrow the council. Coming down the corridors, he could see Ramon. He walked directly up to him.
"Welcome home, Tristan. We have been awaiting your arrival. There is much I have to tell you."
"You can start by telling me why there are no guards at the castle doors. I left you in charge, Ramon. How could you leave the castle unguarded knowing we are going up against Collins and Dracula?"
"I didn't leave the castle unguarded. Do you take me for an idiot? I assigned Jeremiah and Adrian to guard the castle. They should have been there. Devlin was to see to it they were there."
"Where is Devlin? I want to speak with him," Tristan said.
Ramon hesitated. "That's a good question. He was not waiting at my coffin when I awaken. He grabbed the first human who walked by. "What is your name?"
Obviously scared of Ramon, the man responded immediately. "My name is Bernie Crypto. How can I serve you, Ramon?"
"By finding Devlin and the guards who were supposed to be guarding the castle."
"Right away. I will report to you my findings," Bernie said as he hurried away from Ramon and Tristan. He felt the tension between the two of them. Bernie was well aware many vampires took out their frustrations on the humans around them. He wasn't about to stick around and have them do that to him. It could mean certain death.
"Let's go to my chambers, Ramon. I want to know everything that has happened while I was gone."
The vampires walked the corridors in silence. Ramon didn't want to say anything to further anger Tristan. He had been around for several hundred years, but Tristan was older and stronger. The last thing Ramon wanted was a confrontation with Tristan. Besides, the two of them wanted the same thing; the destruction of Collins and Dracula as well as that of the Vampire Council. They arrived without any further confrontation between them to Ramon's relief.
"So where are the women?" Tristan demanded.
Ramon didn't like taking orders from Tristan. He was the one that planned everything. Tristan had to take off and go to Paris. Ramon took all the chances with Collins and Dracula. Now, he was back here issuing orders. Orders, that Ramon resented. He had every right to resent it. He was the one that went to Collinsport to kidnap Julia Hoffman. He was the one who went to Dracula's castle and picked up Angelique Bouchard. Tristan was not the one whose wrath Dracula and Collins was directed at. Yet, he walked in here and started taking over. The more Ramon thought about it, the more he realized Tristan would have to be dealt with the same way Collins and Dracula would. He knew he would have to be careful; the vampires in the castle were loyal to him. However, Ramon also knew he held their fear of him. Once Tristan was dealt with, their loyalty would change to him. Of that, he was certain.
"They are being held in the lower levels in cells," he answered.
"I hope you had the foresight of putting them in separate cells. Furthermore, the guards should not be inside the same room as the cells. You know the witch would be able to reach into their minds."
"Of course I put them in separate cells. The guards are not in the same room. They are outside of the area where the cells are." Ramon didn't like having his judgment question. Obviously, Tristan wasn't completely aware of what a witch was capable of. Angelique could have reached their minds even if they were outside, behind a closed door, and away from the witch. There were too many humans in the castle that would stop her from getting away. The witch was well aware of that. She wouldn't do anything. She would wait for Dracula and Collins to come after her and Julia Hoffman.
"Has Dracula and Collins been informed that we have them?" Tristan asked.
"No, I thought I would wait till you arrived to do that. However, I doubt that they are unaware of both abductions. It wouldn't take much on their part to figure out where they're women are being held."
"Of that we agree. I am surprised the Dracula has not already stormed this Castle. After all, he has Morgan and Miranda, and the entire city council with him. That would include a large number of vampires that are loyal to him."
"Dracula knows fully well both women would be killed before he would ever be able to rescue them. He will not storm the castle."
"You are a fool if you think Dracula is going to sit back and do nothing. Either are Collins, Morgan, Miranda, and the rest of the council. I don't think you realize that what we have done is declare war on all of them. It is unavoidable."
Ramon couldn't believe the gall of Tristan. He couldn't wait to end the existence of this self-absorbed vampire. With the elimination of him, the council, Dracula and Collins, he would become the sole leader of the vampire race; a dictator. He would decide exactly what the race would become and how they would do it. He was tired of weaklings like Dracula and Collins. The entire council sickened him. Now he had to deal with Tristan who was almost as bad. Ramon knew his vision and Tristan's vision of how the vampire race should exist didn't agree. Tristan would just be another Morgan or Miranda. He wanted rules. Ramon was aware from what other vampires had told him that Tristan would not allow them to drain the blood of humans until they were dead. They would not be allowed to turn anybody without the council's permission. Where was the difference between him and the current Vampire Council? He would only allow them to turn enough victims so that the vampires became the master race on the planet. Ramon would demand very few rules of the vampire race. Those who violated what rules he set would be punished with their own destruction.
"Ramon, I asked you a question. I expect an answer."
He had been so lost in his own thoughts that he had not heard Tristan's question. "I am sorry, I did not hear your question."
"Stop daydreaming and listen! Where is this servant of yours? Devlin, that is his name, isn't it?"
"Yes, that is his name. Bernie is supposed to come back with that information."
"Well, where is he then?"
There was a knock on the chambers door. "You may enter!" Tristan growled.
"On the other side of the door, Bernie hesitated to enter. He could tell by the tone of Tristan's voice that he was in a near rage. With the news that he had to report to him, there wasn't any doubt he would go into a complete rage. He opened the door and entered Tristan's chambers.
Ramon decided to take charge. He was not happy to see that Devlin was not with him. "Where is Devlin?"
"I am sorry, Ramon. I have discovered that Devlin is no longer in the castle."
"What! That's impossible. He wouldn't dare leave this castle without my permission!"
Tristan looked at Ramon with disgust. This was the man he was depending on to help him defeat Dracula and Collins. It was becoming painfully obvious that he was incompetent. "Obviously, you have no control over your servant whatsoever."
If Ramon thought for one minute he could defeat Tristan, he would destroy him right now. He couldn't stand this vampire. Then again, he wouldn't have to put up with him much longer because he would find a way to destroy him. Tristan didn't know it, but his days were numbered, and his castle would belong to Ramon.
"Why are you just standing there? Get together some vampires and go find Devlin," Ramon ordered.
Just as Bernie turned around, he heard the fury in Tristan's voice. "Stay right where you are," he shouted.
It angered Ramon that the servant paid more attention to Tristan then he did to him. Bernie stood there and waited for orders.
"Is that all you have to report?" Tristan demanded.
"No, Tristan. I was only going to leave to carry out Ramon's orders."
"Never mind Ramon's orders. What else have you found out?" Tristan demanded.
"The guards who were guarding the castle were found dead." He hated to report this final piece of information. Stepping back away from both Tristan and Ramon, he continued, "It was discovered that Angelique and Dr Hoffman had escaped. Their guards were also found dead. They did not get very far away from the castle when their escape was discovered. Several of the men went out looking for them. Apparently, they separated. They were able to recapture Dr Hoffman, but Angelique got away."
Tristan turned his fury on Ramon. "Is this how you take charge? Four dead guards, your servant has deserted you, and Angelique has gotten away. Now, just where do you think she went. I can tell you. She headed right back for Dracula's castle. By now, he and Collins know that we are holding Dr Hoffman."
"What difference does that make?" Ramon attempted to keep the irritation out of his voice, but he knew he was not succeeding. "We would have issued him an ultimatum soon anyway. Besides, there is no doubt in my mind that they already knew we were holding them. They would have to be stupid not to know, and neither of those vampires are stupid."
"Unlike you." He turned back to Bernie. "See to it the guards are placed at the castle doors. I also want four humans guarding Dr Hoffman."
"Isn't that a bit of overkill? Hoffman can't get away. She's locked in a cell and has no special powers, unlike Angelique. The witch probably used her powers to seduce those guards and then kill them. She likely killed the guards at the castle doors as well." Ramon was having a hard time containing his anger. Tristan didn't seem to understand what a witch was capable of."
Tristan grabbed Ramon by the throat and lifted him in the air. "You stupid fool! You can't even see what is in front of your face. It is obvious to me Devlin helped them escape. He is the one responsible for the death of those human guards. Since he is your servant, that makes you responsible for their death. I should destroy you right now. I won't do that as right now I need your help. Get one thing straight, Ramon, if you don't do exactly as I say, destroying you is exactly what I will do. Do I make myself clear?"
It was fortunate that a vampire did not need air to breathe. Ramon would have been dead if that weren't the case. He couldn't even answer Tristan as the hold on his throat kept him from speaking. He attempted to nod.
Tristan loosened his grip and set the vampire down on the floor. "I suggest you find your servant and kill him. I will choose your next servant. Obviously, your judgment in servants is lacking. Now get out of my sight and find Devlin."
Ramon left Tristan's chambers. He would enjoy destroying Tristan more than he would Dracula and Collins.
3
Barnabas Collins stepped out of the portal in the woods in Collinsport. He knew with all certainty he was home. The vampire traveled through the time portal enough to know that it would drop him where ever and when ever he wanted. All he had to do was think about where he wanted to go. The secret of how the time portal work was discovered by his San Francisco detective friend.
Barnabas wasted no time. He headed directly for the Old House. When he arrived, he opened the door to the mansion he called home and entered. Willie Loomis came out of the drawing room. Shocked at the appearance of his friend and master, Willie went directly to him.
"Barnabas! I wasn't expecting you so soon." Looking around, he didn't see the one person Barnabas went to rescue. "Where's Julia?" he asked.
"Still in the hands of Ramond. Willie, do you know if Professor Stokes is in his cottage?"
Willie scratched his head. "Gee, I don't know, Barnabas. He was supposed to go to Bangor to lecture a group of college students on something. I have no idea what."
"Has he left yet?" Barnabas asked.
"Like I said, I don't know. What do you need the professor for. If you need help, I can go back with you."
"No, Willie, with this, I will need Professor Stokes. You must go to his cottage and ask him to come here at once."
"I will if that is what you want, Barnabas. Just remember, I will do anything to help you if you need it."
"I know that Willie. You are a good and faithful servant. Now go!" Willie left the Old House as fast as his legs would carry him.
Barnabas headed for the cellar. He would have to find all of Julia's notes on his cure if the professor was to decipher exactly what she had done so far. The vampire knew this was a long shot. The professor was not a doctor or a scientist. How would he ever figure out what the dosage would be which would allow him to walk in the daylight, yet keep his vampiric powers at the same time. Angelique was trying to help, he knew that. Still, the more he thought about it, the more he felt this was futile. At worst, it could be his destruction if the serum wasn't the exact dosage to accomplish what they required.
He began reading her journals. Barnabas was pleased with what he read. Julia was actually more optimistic than she had allowed him to believe. The experiment was further along than she was telling him. He supposed he understood why she was keeping the results from him. She didn't want him to be disappointed if it failed. He would be anyway. After all, it would mean he would have to remain a vampire forever. Barnabas couldn't bear the thought of that. He wanted to become human. He wanted to live a normal life. It was the only way he and Julia could truly be together.
Barnabas could turn Julia. She would be more than acceptable to it. He knew that. She loved him that much. It was gratifying to know that there was a woman that finally loved him so much she would sacrifice her humanity and become one of the living dead to be with him. Yet, he knew he could never do it. He loved her too much to condemn her to the life he was now forced to exist, and exist was exactly what he was doing. He couldn't truly live. He couldn't see the light of day. Of course, Julia made it possible for him to walk in the sunlight for a few hours a day, but he always returned to his coffin as a member of the living dead. He hated this existence of his and he would not allow Julia to live the same existence.
He continued to read her journals. He found the dosage she was giving him, but it didn't indicate whether it was the dosage that allowed him to maintain his vampiric powers, or the one that removed them entirely. He thought she hadn't got that far yet. He hadn't even thought about it when Angelique brought it up. The vampire had been just so excited to think there might be a possibility he could go into Tristan's castle during the day, eliminating any human who got in his way, and rescue his Julia.
He wondered if he would ever live a normal life even if Julia found the cure for his condition. If they stayed in Collinsport, there would always be the supernatural events to deal with. Would he be able to deal with them as a mortal human being? The more important question was would he ever get the chance to try in the first place.
Minutes turned into an hour before the door to the lab opened and Willie walked in with Professor Stokes. Relief appeared on the vampire's face with the appearance of the professor. "You can't know how happy I am to see you, Elliott," Barnabas told him. "Did Willie fill you in on why I need you."
"No. He only said that you needed my help," Stokes answered.
Barnabas realized he didn't tell Willie anything about the serum and what they wanted to do with it.
"Barnabas, does this concern Julia. Have you not secured her release from Ramon?" Stokes asked.
"No. Dracula and I believe storming the castle would only result in Julia's death. I can't let that happen."
"So tell me what it is you want me to do."
Collins explain how Angelique was kidnapped by Ramon and how she escaped.
"Then Julia was recaptured?" Stokes questioned.
"Yes. She is still being held by Ramon. Angelique thinks that you might be able to figure out what dosage of the serum that would allow me to walk in the daylight but still keep my vampiric powers. Do you think you could do that, Professor?"
Stokes rubbed his chin. "I am not a scientist, Barnabas. If I guess wrong, it could mean your destruction."
"I know that, Elliott. It is a chance I will have to take."
Stokes sat down on a nearby stool. "First, tell me more about what is happening. I might be able to figure out another way."
"Ramon has an army of vampires in the castle. The castle belongs to Tristan. He has been away, but I found out before I left that he is back. He and Ramon will join forces. They will soon make a demand which I believe will be that Morgan, Miranda and all of the vampires loyal to them resign and allow Tristan and Ramon to become council members. They would allow vampires to kill at will, at least Ramon would. I don't know what Tristan's stance would be."
Professor Stokes began reading Julia's journals. Barnabas and Willie remained silent and allowed him to absorb everything in them. Two hours later, he closed the last journal.
"Well?" Barnabas said.
"There is nothing in here that tells me what dosage would do as you asked. I have no idea what to do. I am sorry, Barnabas."
The vampire sank onto the nearest stool. "I am running out of options to save Julia. I just don't know what to do."
"There might be another way," the professor said.
Collins perked up. "What way?"
"You have the answer right in front of you. All you have to do is use it," Stokes said.
"What answer, Elliott?" I don't see what you are driving at."
"Time travel, Barnabas. You could travel back in time and destroy Tristan and Ramon. You have the means to do so."