make their normal loud sound. Cornell calmly slipped in as quiet as a predator on the prowl. Coller did a quick search around the first floor checking for any unwelcome visitors while Cornell examined his surroundings. Coller saw that he was impressed by the lavish style of the home. But he also recognized their shared feeling of being out of place in such a rich atmosphere.
"Not what you're use to eh?"
Cornell nodded.
"Aye," Coller said simply. Cornell then started up the steps of the main stairway, Coller following close behind. "You know where you're going?"
"I don't where you're the witch might be keeping your love but I do know that Ada's scent is leading methis way. You're welcome to follow me. With any luck our quest will take us on the same path." Cornell turned to see Coller's reaction.
"I've kind of been deviating from me own quest for awhile. I think…aw hell. All right, I'll stick with that scent your nose is picking up on. You wouldn't last a day without me anyway."
Cornell smiled and continued going up the stairs. As they reached the door that led to the small rose garden Coller spun around quickly with his pistol drawn. Cornell followed Coller's aim.
"You heard it?" Cornell asked.
"Aye," Coller said through grinding teeth.
"Cooornell…"
"What?"
"I didn't say anything."
Cornell glanced at Coller for a moment and then switched his attention
to something moving in
the gloom. It was then that Coller noticed something about the villa.
It was darker. He looked at the windows and saw that the window drapes
were drawn. "There's a bloodsucker in here," he whispered.
"Bloodsucker?"
"A God damned vampire."
Then Coller gestured to Cornell to look up. The roof itself seemed
to be moving. Then there was
a sound that at first was just soft and barely noticeable. Now it was
unmistakable, flapping combined with breathing. Then suddenly a figure
was at the top of the staircase. But he had not risen from the first floor.
It seemed more like he had come down from above. Cornell and Coller watched
as the figure slowly approached them. Coller trained his pistol at the
figure. With so little light Cornell did not finally recognize the figure
when he stepped into a pool of light but when his eyes finally adjusted
to the darkness.
"Yohan?"
Coller did not even look at Cornell, "you know him?"
"Yes, he was a notary in our village outside Veros. But you're alive? Where is everyone else? Do you know where Ada is?"
"Yes."
Coller had to hold Cornell back with his free arm and try to keep his
other trained on Yohan.
"Where?" Cornell asked quickly and excitedly. Suddenly the villa was
filled with a soft whispering voice.
But it was not just one voice but more like hundreds speaking as one. All of them were muttering the same phrase over and over again. "The blood of the man-wolf is power…"
"We are all here Cornell. We have been waiting for you. We need you…"
"Where is Ada!" Cornell demanded loudly.
"…your BLOOD!" Then Yohan leaped forward and right into one of Coller's bullets. The momentum sent him flying backwards and Coller felt a sense of déjà vu. Coller then began to drag Cornell through the hallway leading to the rose garden. Using Cornell as a door opener he threw him against the door of the garden. Black silhouettes began to crawl over the walls of the hallway and the rose garden. Coller let off two shots and black shapes shrouded in darkness fell to the ground. Then, just as Coller pushed Cornell backwards through the door behind them, and then leaping back forwards to close it, Cornell glimpsed at almost a dozen faces flying towards them as the door slammed shut. Coller held the door closed with all his force but still claw tipped hands made their way through the corners of the door. Coller shot one of the hands and sent it sliding across the floor. The door then slammed shut again. Cornell quickly grabbed a nearby candle stand and set it against the door and the base of the steps behind them. Coller still leaned on the door and breathed a sign of relief.
"I'm sorry Coller. But any chance of finding Ada…"
"I know the feeling Cornell. Just make sure you snap me out it in time when I go crazy."
Cornell nodded and took a sniff of the air. Then he gestured towards
the stairs. Coller slowly
relieved his weight off of the door keeping his eye on it all the way
up the stairs. When Cornell reached the top of the stairs he raised his
hand up.
"Do you hear that?" Cornell asked.
"Not this time, no."
"Voices."
"Aye."
Cornell once again was over taken by the mere chance that he could
be close to finding Ada.
Cornell made for the nearby door that the voices were emanating from.
The door was the very same that Ada's scent was leading to. He rushed through
the door not waiting for Coller. The room was darkened just like the rest
of the villa but Cornell's eyes had already adjusted to the darkness so
the man banging on a door across the room was clear to him. What wasn't
clear were the details of his face. Between the darkness and the man being
turned around he could not tell if the man was old or young.
"Mary, I need a drink! I'm so thirsty!" The man bellowed.
"No! Stay away from me!"
For a moment Cornell was suspended from what he perceived as reality.
Here in the midst of all
this madness was a man and woman arguing over a simple drink. The man
stood a good seven feet away from Cornell. The room was dark but Cornell
could make out a small but fancy table set with three chairs to accompany
it. In the left corner of the room was an equally luxurious bed. It was
there that Ada's scent was concentrated most. In the right corner was the
door that the strange man was banging on. Still unaware of Cornell's presence
the man continued his tirades against the female voice.
"Why do you talk to me that way, Mary? I am the lord of this annex and your husband. And I'm telling you I need a drink!"
The silence seemed to drive the man into a mad frenzy and he banged on the door harder than ever before.
"Ah, c'mon Mary…" It was then that the stranger noticed Cornell and Cornell realized that Coller had not followed him in.
"Oh! I didn't see you standing there. The wife and I have a domestic problem we're trying to work out now. I don't know what you want, but could you come back another time?" The man spoke in the most polite manner, which struck Cornell as odd. As he looked back checking for Coller, Cornell finally spoke to the agitated man.
"I'm looking for a girl by the name of Ada."
"Ada? I'm afraid I don't know anyone by that name."
"She had to have been brought here. I can still smell her blood."
"I said I don't know her and I mean it. Anyway, I am thirsty now, so..." Then the man turned slowly and Cornell saw for the first time the man's emerald green eyes. His skin was grayish and all around the man carried himself like a soulless creature. He smiled with the grin of a mad man. "You will do just nicely!"
Cornell barely had time to prepare for what was undoubtbley a prelude to an attack when he heard Coller's voice bursting through the door. Gun blazing Coller came running through the door.
"How's about a matching one Jeremiah?"
Once again Or De Rais felt the burning sensation spread over his
chest. It was the second time
that Coller had shot him and he hissed at him from behind his fangs.
Then or De Rais disappeared and in his place was a cloud of mist that spread
over Coller, choking him as it went out the door. With the vampire gone
Cornell helped Coller up from the floor he had fallen on.
"This time you could have warned me," Cornell said.
"Aye, twas my fault this time. But never mind that. I have a good feeling as to who is behind that door."
Coller led the way and opened the door. Behind the door was another
much smaller room with a
similar table set. On one side was an oak wood drawer and on the far
side was a mirror. Hiding behind one of the fancy chairs with an expensive
looking vase in her hands was a woman with brown hair wearing a green dress.
"Mary," Coller said.
Mary slowly walked towards Coller. When they were only a foot
apart she opened up her arms
and hugged Coller. Coller patted her in the back and merely said, "aye
lass, I'm sorry."
She wiped a few tears away from her cheeks and then put down her vase. "I assume you saw Jeremiah."
"Aye."
She turned and looked towards Cornell, "who is he?"
"A friend lass." Coller looked dismayed. It seemed like years since he had awoken to this same face only it was clean and full of life. After nearly dying at the hands of starvation Coller had believed her to be an angel taking him to a better place to await his Gen. Now she was a tired and frightened woman. Her only wish to have her husband and son returned to her. Cornell could read what Coller was thinking in his mind. This island was more than just an island of lost souls. This was an island that stole people's loved ones and challenged good people to do acts high above what any normal person should have to in any one lifetime.
"My name is Cornell. I am looking for my sister, Ada."
"Cornell?" Mary asked as though the name had struck a chord in her mind. Cornell became excited at the sudden expression on Mary's face. She smiled slightly and Cornell was sure that she had been here.
"Then I have good news for you. She was here. In that bed in the other room she slept." Cornell turned around and went to the bed. He touched the elegant sheets that covered it as though it might connect him to Ada, bring him closer to finding her. Mary and Coller walked into the outer room.
"I tended to her while she was here. When they brought her she had dirt all over her face and hands. Her clothes were blackened and charred. By the smell on her I assume she was in a fire for sometime. But aside from that she was fine. No bruises or cuts. I dressed her and fixed her hair all nice and proper, for whatever good it will do her. If she is going to face the same devils that took my husband's soul away she might as well look proper."
"Thank you," Cornell said.
"It was nothing. She spoke of you. That's how I recognized your name. She knew you would come for her."
Cornell face was again filled with conviction. So long as Ada never
gave up hope then they
would see each other again. Whatever mysterious purpose they need her
for will not come to pass. He would not allow it. Cornell looked back from
the bed and saw Mary turning to speak with Coller.
"Coller, can you help me? I need to find Henry. He is hiding near the entrance to the garden maze. If you take us out the East Gate, we can escape by a secret path through the forest. Please take Henry and me as far as this path. It's all I ask."
"How do you know that this path still exists? With the castle in place it might have been blocked."
"I know because when I left Henry hidden I saw that they were letting villagers in through that path."
"Why didn't they let them in through the main entrance through the castle wall?" Cornell asked.
"That would be my fault laddie. I had sort of declared the area in front of the villa as my territory. It was a lot safer in front than staying in the villa with all of those bloodsuckers around. That and in the castle wall there were a few things that I used to make me some more bullets. I'm only sorry that I left you hanging in the wind for awhile."
"It's all right Coller. Believe it or not but at first Jeremiah did not try to turn me. It was only recently that his thirst for blood over took him. That is why I hid Henry."
"Well Mary, don't worry, Cornell and I will help you find the lad. Then you two can get out of here and let us find the our loved ones."
Cornell finally entered the conversation after staying silent and observing what they said. "You said they were bringing in villagers through that path."
"Yes." Then Mary's face became reserved. "I told Ada about it. She seemed sure that they were from your village."
Cornell thought back to the faces he had glimpsed at flying towards
he and Coller. They were
faces of people from their village. But there was something else. So
far all the villagers he had recognized were not from his tribe. "Is it
possible they want something with his former man-wolf tribe?" Cornell could
not think of a reason why. With the exception of him, all of the powers
of the man-wolves were locked away. That could be the explanation. Perhaps
this Dracula has found someway to unlock their powers and pervert them
to his own use. It might explain the strange aura of energy that had surrounded
Ortega. That could explain what turned him to Dracula's side. As for why
Ada should be separated from the rest, it could be that Dracula believes
that since she is the youngest of the tribe she might be the most powerful.
Whatever Dracula's dark plan, Cornell would put a stop to it.
Together, all three of them slowly crept out of the outer room and into
the darkened hallway. Mary led them through the hall while Coller took
up the rear. Mary was about to open a door when suddenly they heard the
sound of shattering glass. All three spun around looking for the source.
Cornell looked at the windows that decorated the side of the hall. Each
one had the same stained glass image of a knight on them. None of which
were broken. Then Cornell saw movement once again. But it was not in the
darkness as before. The movement was slight and barely noticeable. Then
suddenly the image of the glass knight in front of them raised its sword
and sent it thrashing down almost cutting Cornell across the arm. Mary
was awestruck as she saw a bolt of light come out of Cornell's hand and
break the glass knight into small pieces. She then surprised even more
when two blue-green hands came from no where and pulled her into
the darkness of ceiling above. She watched Coller and Cornell's battle
from above as she was tugged backwards down the hall.
"Mary!" Coller yelled as he fired two more shots at another oncoming knight. Together Cornell and Coller were about to run after the vampire that had grabbed Mary from above when they heard a voice caution them otherwise.
"Stay away Coller." Then or De Rais stepped out from the darkness of the hallway. He shielded his eyes slightly from the light that poured from the stained glass. Beside him was Yohan holding Mary's arm behind her back. Or slowly passed a finger down his wife's cheek. She trembled at his cold touch. Then he took his finer away and faced Cornell and Coller.
"I hope you don't mind but I let in a few friends. I believe the lyconthrope knows most of my brothers and sisters in darkness." Yohan smiled and flexed his fangs, hissing at Cornell and Coller.
"Let her go Jeremiah. It's till death do you part and you are already."
"I've never felt so alive in my life! The warmth of someone's life-blood when flowing through my veins! It's the very fabric of life."
"Wrong," Cornell said, "it's death."
"Enough of this, my brothers and sisters are thirsty," then he looked at Mary, "as you shall soon be my love." Mary looked away from her husband as he licked her neck. Then slowly he opened his mouth wide and prepared to dig his fangs into her neck. Looking at her neck all Jeremiah could see were her veins.
All of them throbbing as blood rushed through. The very sight made him drool. Mary cringed as he came closer. Then with all her voice she yelled to Coller and Cornell.
"Leave me! Continue as planned, that's all I ask!" Then she looked her husband in the eye and he paused for a moment to return her stare. Cornell knew what was going through Coller's mind as he shifted his aim to the right of Or De Rais. Cornell looked into his eyes and hesitated to stop him. He could not believe that Coller could do it. After hearing his tale of the past several years, Cornell could not believe him to be the same cold-hearted hunter he remembered. Then Coller's aim shifted once again towards the left.
"God forgive me," he muttered, then he said in a loud voice, "Or De Rais!" Jeremiah looked back at Coller.
"I think you laddies need a bit of sun." Then he fired and destroyed the stained window closest to or DeRais and the other vampires. The light of the sun burned the skin of the vampires. The hallway was suddenly filled with the scent of flesh and smoke came from the vampires across the hall as well as the ones that were hidden above them. The ones from above fell to the ground and crouched in fetal positions as they moaned. Then Coller destroyed the last two windows and that made the vampires on the floor start to melt. Coller and Cornell did not wait to see the final effect or what Or De Rais did as he pulled Mary into the safety of the darkness. Cornell put his hand on Coller's shoulder as he closed the door behind them.
"There was nothing we could have done."
Coller did not look at Cornell. He merely went and opened the
next door leading to the garden
staircase and whispered under his breath and through clenched teeth,
"remind of that would you? From time to time…" And Cornell knew that he
was right. Mary had resigned to her fate. She loved her husband to the
end and will continue to wherever lost souls such as theirs go to.
"It shouldn't be too hard to find him."
"Why's that?" Coller asked as they both stood before the fenced entrance to the garden maze.
"There cannot be too many children hiding in there."
"Ah see you point."
While Coller reloaded his pistols, Cornell examined the fenced
gate. It was sturdy and had a key
lock on its double doors. Although they did not have a key, Cornell
had a very good idea on how to open it. "Ready," he asked aloud. Then he
heard the sound of the hammers on Coller's pistols being pulled back.
"As ever."
The sound of metal breaking apart was loud and echoed through
the maze. As the fenced gates
slowly screeched open Cornell felt almost as though he were back in
the silence of the forest outside the castle. "Hopefully there will be
no more skull warriors", thought Cornell. With both pistols pulled out
Coller scouted the area like a trained soldier. The garden maze leads in
two directions, straight ahead or to the left. Coller gestured for Cornell
to follow him saying quietly to him that this is where he last saw Henry
run off. As they went further down the left path they passed a wooden door
and finally they reached a dead end. Coller walked back and tried to open
the wooden door but it was locked. Then Cornell began to sniff the air.
"I smell a someone."
"Someone?"
"A human child. Heading this way, fast."
Then on cue a small boy came running towards them. At the sight of Cornell
Henry stopped for a
moment. Then Coller came away from the locked door and into Henry's
view.
"Coller!"
"Henry! Get over here lad!"
He came running over to them and bent over slightly as he was totally out of breath. As he struggled to get some air back into his lungs he pulled out a set of keys and tried to say something.
"What is it lad? What's the matter," Coller said as he took the keys. Then they heard it. The sound of large boots hitting hard against the ground. Cornell sniffed the air once more. "Smells like a rotting corpse, and its coming towards us." As a large figure turned the corner and the glint of a machete shined in Coller's eyes, Henry merely said, "Victor." Victor came running towards them with his machete raised for the attack. Coller fired his pistols while Henry took the keys again and fumbled to find the one he was looking for. Cornell prepared to engage in combat when Henry opened the previously locked door and grabbed him by his shirt.
"Come on stranger, we have to go." Coller fired one more shot and followed the other two through the door. As soon as they were through Henry locked the door and leaned on it for a moment. Then he screamed in pain as the blade of a machete cut him along his right arm. Coller grabbed Henry and Cornell poised himself for an attack. Victor suddenly came crashing through the door. Cornell shielded his eyes as pieces went flying through the air. Then he summoned one of his energy bolts that sent Victor into one of the grass walls. Coller picked up Henry and then he and Cornell made a run for it while Victor struggled to get up. Within a few moments they once again heard the ominous sound of Victor's boots heading after them.
"We can't keep running from the poor devil," Coller said. Cornell then stopped and looked around the narrow stretch of the maze they were in now. He looked at Coller and said, "stay right there and don't move." Coller shot him a glance. Coller tried to think of one occasion in his life where he was the bait as opposed to being the hunter.
Victor's large figure once again turned the corner and now he
was in the same stretch of the
maze as his prey. At first he ran but then as he saw Coller standing
alone with only Henry in his hands he began to walk slowly and menacingly.
He had his machete unsheathed and still stained with Henry's blood and
probably some of his own from when Coller had cut of his forearm. Coller
thought to chance calling out to Cornell but then thought better of it.
Victor suddenly moved his shorter arm as though gesturing it towards Coller,
and reminding him that this was his doing. Whatever was walking slowly
towards Coller was not the kind-hearted gardener that had tended to this
garden maze or played and run around with Henry as a child. It was a dark
and twisted devil living in Victor's dead shell. It relished every menacing
step it took closer towards Coller and Henry. The man that had cut off
his forearm and the little boy that had evaded him for too long. Coller
then smiled, as he knew that Victor had totally forgotten about Cornell.
He truly wished that Victor's expressionless face had shown some surprise
as Cornell leaped from the top of a grass wall and onto Victor's back.
With only one long arm that was busy holding a machete, Victor found it
impossible to get Cornell off of him. Cornell fired a large bolt of
energy from both of his hand while he held his head in his hands. The
shock sent Victor tumbling
backwards. Cornell scoffed as he landed on the ground with Victor's
motionless shell on top of him.
"Damn!" Cornell exclaimed. "It's like having the weight of ten men on top of you."
Coller put Henry down for a moment in order to help him from under Victor. Victor did not move, he did not even bleed from where Coller's bullets had hit him. Both Cornell and Coller figured that he would not get up again any time soon, if ever. Then they turned their attention to the boy who was lying on the ground bleeding. His eyes were closed and the short sleeved shirt he wore underneath his suspenders was stained in blood.
"God damn it!" Coller yelled loudly. So loud that it echoed through the maze. Coller had become to attached to this family. Coller was beginning to think that lately he was becoming attached to people to easily. First with the Fernandez and now the De Rais or Oldrey or whatever they were. Mother, father, and now apparently son too has succumbed to a terrible end. The weight of this was becoming more than what Coller could hold. Cornell put a hand on Coller's shoulder, "do not grieve yet. There may be something I can do." Then Cornell pulled out from one of his pockets a blue pendant. The same blue pendant that he had recovered from the entrance of his burnt down home.
"This pendant is very sensitive towards children. When my sister was very young I gave her this pendant. It was protection from the boy man cubs that played too rough." Cornell then placed the pendant around the boys neck. The blue jewel began to glow luminously. From it arose a very light blue cloud that began to slowly work its way to his arm.
"The wound is deep. The pendant will be able seal the wound but there will be a scar." Cornell's words rung true. Within seconds the bleeding had stopped. Coller took off his heavy overcoat and ripped off a part of the sleeve to soak up the blood that was still fresh on his skin. Underneath the only sign that he had just been slashed with a machete was the long stretch of skin that ran down from his upper arm to a little below his elbow. The scar was a slightly dark color than the rest of his arm and popped out somewhat from under his skin. The scar was like a snake underneath his skin. Henry's eyes opened up wide and his face had a look of slight pain as he tried to move his arm.
"Try not to move it yet. It needs time."
He looked at Cornell, "how? How did you…?"
"Magic."
Coller laughed for a few moments looking up towards the sky. Then he tapped Cornell and he to looked up. With all the concern over Henry's wound they had not noticed how dark it had become.
"Damnation!" Coller cursed.
"Is it me, or are the days on this island shorter than what they should be?" Cornell asked.
"They are. I noticed it ever since that castle came out of the ground," Henry said.
"We better get you to wherever it is that we are going to get you too. The vampires will be free to hunt us out in the open now that it is dark," Coller said.
Henry looked defiantly at Coller. "You're not going to send me away! I'm going with you this time."
"The hell you are lad. It's to damn dangerous. Your mother told us to…"
"Where is mama?"
Coller looked at Cornell who was already looking at him. Cornell knelt down to be at eye level with Henry. He put his hand on Henry's shoulder, "Henry, your mother asked us to take you to the East Gate. There is a path that will take you to the forest." Cornell then showed the pendant to Henry. "This pendant will help guide you away from evil spirits." Henry did not take his eyes off of Cornell. He did not even blink. He finally took his eyes away from Cornell and felt the slightly raised scar going down his arm, and said, "I'm going with you. I won't be left behind this time."
"It's too dangerous lad."
"I don't care!"
Cornell…
Cornell spun around quickly. He tried to pick out from where the
voice had just com from but it
seemed to be from everywhere. Coller helped Henry to stand up and all
three prepared to run. Henry suddenly yelped as a blue-green hand came
through the grass wall behind him. It grabbed at his left arm so now he
was screaming from pain. Coller grabbed the arm and pulled at it. Eventually
a head came through the wall and Coller fired. Now Coller's white shirt
was stained in blood, but not his own. Cornell looked at the head that
rolled along the ground, "I knew him" Another vampire appeared, this time
leaping from behind one of the walls. Cornell grabbed him by his clothes
and sent him flying into another grass wall. Then Cornell fired several
of his bolts and the vampire disintegrated into a purplish flame, which
quickly dissipated. But the vampire's flame was not the only one that was
sparked. The wall that Cornell had struck was now on fire.
"The bright light should buy us time, run!" Cornell yelled and they began to run in a direction away from the burning wall. When they were far enough away from the fire more of the vampire villagers appeared behind them. They scaled the walls of the grass maze effortlessly like spiders. As they ran Cornell being the fastest was leading them followed by Henry and Coller who was going slower in order to keep Henry in front.
"Turn right!" Henry said as they reached another intersection in the maze. But as Cornell turned the corner a horde of vampires, all of which he recognized were waiting for him hissing and preparing to lunge at him. The sight of so many familiar faces now distorted and twisted made anger swell up in Cornell's stomach. So much that he fired two very large bolts that set the ground between him and the vampires aflame. The vampires staggered back shielding their eyes. Coller and Henry had caught up with Cornell and Coller grabbed Cornell by the sleeve.
"They are leading us to where they want us to go," Coller said. Cornell did not bother to reply. He knew that he was right. Both Cornell and Coller had known the way of the hunter, only the means and the objective had been different. Coller used his guns and hunted to survive. Cornell had used his teeth and claw to feed. Now they were both falling into a trap that as hunters, had probably used on each other on several occasions. When they reached an oak wood door with an unusual image on it, the vampires suddenly stopped. Henry and the others caught their breath but both Cornell and Coller were prepared in case they should suddenly start to move again. But they did not. They merely stood their hissing and breathing. The hunger they felt was so overwhelming that Cornell could sense their craving.
"This is it," Henry said looking at the oak wood door. Coller looked back slightly.
"This is what?"
"The chamber. The crest that you picked out opened this door. The door where we found the old man, my great grandfather."
Cornell looked Henry and then at the door. "How do you know he's your great grandfather?"
"He told me. He's telling me right now. He wants us to come in. Can't you here him?"
Cornell could here nothing but then he looked at the vampires and he heard something. "Stay. Stay. They are not for you," The voice said. It was in a similar tone as the one that the vampires spoke in. Then he heard another voice, a woman's. Cornell could tell that Coller could hear it as well as his face became filled with anger and he muttered something, "the witch."
"Come in, come in. Perhaps your sister awaits inside." The woman's voice said. Cornell fought to keep himself under control. Already he had become too impetuous too many times. Now it seemed like it was his turn to keep everyone from losing their senses. Coller and even Henry were suddenly filled with uncontrollable anger.
"Come on Cornell, we might be reaching the end of our quest after all." Coller was facing the door when he looked at Henry. Then he pulled something out from his boot. Silver and shining in the night light, Henry took Coller's boot knife. "In case someone tries to bite you," he said.
Cornell grabbed Coller's arm. "Slowly Coller. We don't know what in there."
"I do." Henry said. Then all of the sudden the vampires were on the move again. Coller kick the door open and pulled Henry in. As Cornell ran in last and Coller closed the door he said, "looks like we haven't a choice."
A chill ran down Henry's spine as he walked down the long stairway
into the underground
chamber. The last time he had gone down them he was under the influence
of an angelic voice. It
commanded him to dig up a book from the ground in a spot that not even
his father had thought to dig.
That book eventually became his father's downfall. It resurrected his great grandfather, a vampire, who in turn made his father one as well. He clutched the handle of the knife that Coller had given him. All he could think of was how he was going to destroy that monster.
Coller walked down the steps keeping close to Henry. Henry had
seen so many of his family and
friends killed and turned into monsters that he knew that it was taking
its toll on the boy. Coller knew that these experiences would do either
three things. One, the sight of his family being killed one by one could
crush him emotionally and mentally, but there is no evidence of that. Two,
the boy could become a hardened, remorseless, and vengeful man. The third
and final possibility, he could grow to be a man before his time. Coller
hoped the last would be true. At this point his future was uncertain. There
was hope that the knife-wielding boy beside him could act like a mature
adult seeking vengeance in a mature way, like Coller. Coller wanted to
kill Actrise but he would not let that get in the way of rescuing Gen.
In fact now that Coller thought of it, he and the boy have a very similar
goal. Cornell's sister hadn't been turned into a vampire or into a mindless
killing machine, his chances of finding his sister in one piece were much
higher than either one of Coller's or Henry's loved ones.
The unnatural flames that lit the gloomy chamber were not enough
for the three to see who it was
that was standing in the center of the chamber. The figure stood motionless.
When they were about twenty feet away Gilles De Rais's voice suddenly boomed
through the chamber.
"Do you seek death?" They remained silent but Gilles continued. "That is what awaits you if you choose to continue on your hopeless quest."
"We will never give up. Not until our loved ones are returned to us. By force if necessary!" Cornell said.
"Preferably by force," Coller added through gritted teeth.
"You have been warned," Gilles said walking slowly towards them. When he was close enough they could see that he was no longer wearing the armor that Coller and Henry had seen him in previously but in a clean velvet suit. Perfect for any respectable gentleman. Not something one would expect a vampire lunging to grab Cornell by the shoulders to wear. As he grabbed Cornell, Coller and Henry felt themselves being pushed away by a cloud of mist that surrounded Gilles. Cornell meanwhile broke from Gilles' grasp.
Gilles shot one of his arms out with a fist and Cornell grabbed it with ease. Firmly grabbing his arm he flipped Gilles onto the ground. Still on the ground he fired two of his bolts of energy. Only one of them hit Gilles, which made him curse from the pain. The cloud of mist that surrounded Cornell and Gilles did allow Coller to see who was winning or allow him to participate. Also, from the mist appeared a horde of bats. One went towards Coller the other towards Henry. Coller easily shot the bats one by one. Henry on the hand got one nibbling on his arm, his scarred arm. Henry stabbed it with his knife but more were coming towards him. Coller did not fire afraid that his aim was not good enough to avoid shooting Henry.
Henry ran and jumped to a nearby wall, grabbing one of the torches that hung from it. The purplish flame burned the bats as Henry waved it around and striking any little critter that came close to him. Coller smiled almost like a proud father. More likely thinking that Henry's father would be proud, if he were still human.
Cornell threw a hard kick into Gilles De Rais's back, once more
sending him kneeling on the
ground. He stood over him and fired three of his energy bolts. Gilles
howled like an animal from the pain and the cloud of mist that had surrounded
him disappeared. Cornell looked around glad that he could once more see
Coller and Henry. Cornell almost laughed when he saw that Henry was now
holding a torch in his hand. "I wonder what happened to them?" he asked
himself. Cornell turned his attention back to Gilles who was now staggering
backwards. His back was turned to them and they could see as puffs of smoke
rose up from where Cornell's bolts had hit him.
"Tut tut Gilles. Did you really have to take him on by yourself." Coller immediately reacted to the sound of Actrise's voice. "The witch," he muttered. Cornell saw as the grip on his pistols tightened and his teeth began to grind. Then Cornell followed his aim when he suddenly brought his pistols up to a single spot in the chamber. In that spot a figure materialized. It was Actrise. Gilles staggered to her side.
"Ugh. It's true, he is not a mere man-wolf."
"Quite a show there, lobo."
Cornell walked closer. He was becoming wearisome of people who appeared and disappeared when they pleased. And although Coller had mentioned them, this was Cornell's first encounter with these devils and he wanted answers. "Who are you? Where is my sister?"
"A man of you skills should be able to put up a good fight against Him."
"We don't have any idea the power of the man-beast's magic," Gilles said clutching the smoking wound on his shoulder.
"It's so exciting, don't you think?" She suddenly erupted in a loud laughter. Gilles looked at her. His look was one of concern. He believed that this witch was getting into something she was not prepared for.
Nevertheless, his master had instructed them provide a healthy distraction for the adventurers. Now that they had done so it was time to move on. He would another chance to dance with the lyconthrope and then perhaps the gun toting hunter. Actrise's laugh continued as slowly they faded from Cornell's, Coller's and Henry's sight.
"Him? The man-beast's magic?" Cornell said to himself quizzically.
"God damn that bitch! I swear to God I'll rip her to pieces!" Coller
cursed. Cornell turned around and Coller walked towards him.
"I tell you Cornell I'm angry. No, I'm god damned furious! I want those bastards!"
"Calm yourself Coller. Were going to get them but we have to keep our heads clear and focused."
"To hell with focus! I want heads! Theirs!"
All the while Henry watched as Coller began to curse over and
over again. Cornell tried to keep
him calm so that they could think of what to do next but the fact was
that Cornell was just as angry. Henry meanwhile clung to his knife and
looked around the chamber, forgotten by the other two. Although his heart
raced as he did so, Henry walked closer to the coffin. Cornell and Coller
both turned simultaneously when they heard Henry's yelling. They ran towards
him and found him lying against the coffin. He alternated between looking
into Coller and Cornell's eyes. "Sorry," he simply said.
"What is it?" Cornell asked.
"Oh, nothing. I found a tunnel."
"Where?" Coller asked. Henry merely pointed above him. The two men then walked closer so that they could see inside the coffin. Inside the coffin there was no body. There was not even a flocked or cloth interior like some coffins. Inside the coffin there was blackness. Cornell and Coller knelt by the coffin and looked into the blackness. Henry in turn got up and looked as well.
"What's old saying about looking into the abyss," Coller asked himself quietly.
"Can you see a bottom?" Cornell asked aloud.
"No."
"Me neither."
"Coller, hand me that torch hanging on the wall," Cornell said. Taking the torch Cornell threw it into the coffin. The light from the torch was visible for a few moments, as it seemed to fall further away from them. But suddenly it just faded away. Cornell looked at Coller.
"What do you think?"
"Ah think we stand a better chance running at the hoards of vamps outside with nothing but rocks in our hands."
"Why would this be under a coffin? And why would it open up now?"
"Henry has a point Coller. I have had the feeling that my progress at least, has been guided. I am being led somewhere. Although they say that they want to stop me, there have been to many hints to the contrary. I think they want me to come after Ada. And at any rate, that witch Actrise does not seem done with you yet. I don't think her intent is to kill us, yet. She and the others only want to control our progress until the time is right."
"Time for what," Coller demanded. "What the hell do these bastards want from us?"
"I don't know Coller. Ortega said something about a sacrifice…"
"Ortega?"
"He was…"
Cornell the stopped in mid-sentence. Coller looked at him perplexed
for a moment but then he
understood. Coller could feel his garments tugging at him. He felt
as though he were being pulled. Cornell could hear a sudden whistling of
wind. But where this wind was coming from he could not tell. Then Henry
looked at the torch he was still holding. The flames were waving in the
direction of the wind. The pull that they felt, it was coming from the
coffin. All three tried to run against it but could not. Coller was the
first to slip. Cornell would have tried to help him but he had to grab
Henry who could barely move an inch on his own. Coller was digging his
nails into the wood of the coffin. He was now halfway inside the coffin.
His legs dangled as though he were in the air. He looked down for a moment
but all he could was blackness. But the blackness soon faded and he was
suddenly looking at a moonlit sky. He had time enough to yell, "what the
hell," before he fell in. Cornell was pushing Henry forward but for all
his strength he could not get him far enough away to escape. Finally his
strength gave way and Cornell flew into the coffin, not even having the
chance to grab hold like Coller. Henry flew as well but managed to
grab hold at the last minute. He held on as long as he could but eventually
he too disappeared into the coffin.
When the wind receded into the coffin the chamber was filled with
silence. Silence until the
entrance crept open. Mindless, thirsty vampires came in from the dark
night and walked towards the coffin. They sniffed at the air and delighted
at the mere hint of human blood that was in the room. For a moment the
hoard stared at the empty coffin now filled with blackness once more and
pondered jumping in. Such was their thirst that they would blindly follow
the scent of their drink. But as the first vampire made its move the tunnel
that had revealed itself to Henry closed and the vampire jumped and struck
the hard oak wood of the coffin's underside. Suddenly the silence that
filled the chamber was replaced by the laughter of a woman.
"Like mice," Actrise said. Her game was being well played.
Chapter 13: The Outer Wall