The forest seemed to no longer be cursed with a maddening silence so Ada was able to sleep most of the night. Cornell had stood watch over Ada during all that time. He could not have slept even if he had wanted to. The So many things had happened so quickly that he had no idea where to start. He sat crouched over Ada and pondered their future. The journey out of the castle had been much easier than the one coming in. Harpies did not circle the towers nor did any vampires haunt the villa. As Cornell looked at the reward of his long quest he looked back. Coller, Melinda, and Henry. Henry was something else that filled his mind. He had not waited for him at the castle wall. This meant either he moved on because of some danger orAnother casualty.
"The truth is she is not a man-wolf. She is a survivor of the humans your kind killed. No, the ones you killed" Cornell closed his eyes to see if it would block out the truth of Dracula's words but he continued. His words ringed in his ears.
"Did you think that you could atone for your sins by saving her? That it would make up for all the humans you killed? Or perhaps you thought that this young lady would be elated by your actions? It is nothing more than a shallow deception by a man-beast! Come now; bare your true self. Show her who you truly are! You are an animal!"
Cornell stood up from where he was and kicked at a nearby rock. He the thought back to what Ortega had said to him.
"You will, as always, keep your promise. I wanted to settle this score even if it meant disobeying Dracula. So I have no regrets, now that I have fought the true you. I only regret what I did to the villagers, but it is too late for that now"
There were so many unanswered questions. There were so many things he was unsure of. During the long journey out of the castle he had not tried to transform into his wolf form. The fact was that he was afraid to.
"Cornell?"
Cornell turned back and found Ada stirring. "Are you alright?"
"Ada" Cornell turned away not being able to bear the sight of her. Once upon a time she represented his redemption but now, all she did was remind him of what he truly was. Cornell was an animal. Dracula had proven it by forcing it out of him where Ada could see it. "Somewhere the ancients must be laughing," Cornell thought. Ada came closer to Cornell and touched his arm. Cornell did not turn around.
"Cornell, I don't know what to"
"You don't have to say a thing. After we get off the island we can go our separate ways if you want."
"No. That's not what I want. I don't remember my parents. I don't remember what you did to them. But I can't ignore the truth."
"I know."
"But I can not hate you Cornell. As long as I can remember you have been my brother. You have always protected me and kept me safe. You came for me against all odds, Cornell. I can't ignore that you love me or that I love you. You are my brother in every way that counts. I can't hate the only brother I have ever known."
"AdaI never gave you another choice. I" Cornell suddenly heard the rustle of leaves. He quickly scanned around and pushed Ada behind him. Then a shadow appeared beneath a nearby tree. Cornell saw the glint of silver and immediately knew that it was all right.
"Henry!"
"Cornell!" Henry yelled as he ran towards him. They ran into each other's arms and Cornell picked him off the ground. When he let him down they immediately began to question each not even leaving time for one another to answer. They were too relieved to see each other again to really care. Ada saw how glad they were to see each other, but being the proper lady that she was, she subtlety demanded to be introduced.
"Aren't you going to introduce to the young man?"
Cornell patted Henry on the head and allowed himself a smile. Henry being a properly educated boy needed no help. He knew how to introduce himself. He walked a few steps forward took Ada's hand and kissed it. "Henry De Rais at your service," he said. He said De Rais without flinching. Henry had thought it over for a very long time and decided it best to use the name for certain reasons. The reasons he would explain later to Cornell who had shot him a confused glance when he introduced himself. Ada replied to Henry's introduction with a short but formal curtsy. "Ada," she said simply and they both shared a laugh.
Cornell went and gathered firewood while Henry ad Ada got to know each other. When he had returned they were still laughing. He was glad, after all they needed it most. Cornell sat with his legs crisscrossed pondering how to get off the island.
"... and then the blue wolf went in front of me and led me out. Thanks to this pendant, I managed to avoid anymore evil spirits."
"Is that my pendant?"
"I believe it is. So therefore I must thank youagain." Then Henry and Ada laughed once more.
Ada turned around and stared and the first rays of sunshine coming between the
clouds. "It's going to be a beautiful day! Don't you think so, Cornell?"
Cornell then snapped out of his thoughts, "Uh, yes. I believe it will be."
"Ah, nothing beats the first bit of sunshine!" Henry exclaimed.
"Henry? Do you still have the white crystal?"
"Yes."
"Then that's our way off the island. Take it out would you?"
Henry pulled it out from the front pocket of his suspender and handed it to Cornell. Cornell looked at Ada. She knew what he was thinking about.
"Cornell, the sun of a new day is coming up. It is a new day. It can be the same for us. Please?"
Cornell considered for a moment. There were things that he must tell her, about his past. They might change what she thought of him but he must tell her. That was his quest now, a quest for redemption. He may never get it but that goal is not the real reward, the journey is. Cornell allowed himself another smile and took her hand.
"The darkness has lifted, Cornell." Ada said. Then she took Henry's and smiled. "And you will come along too won't you?"
"Always."
Cornell focused his mind and together an aura surrounded them. They stood there for an instant then with a flash of light they were gone. The wind picked up after they had gone. A single skeletal arm rose up from the ground and pushed dirt over the fire that Cornell had started until it died. The arm sank back into the ground and nestled near its owner. It lay there and rested until it was called again. For now, the island was back to normal its state. Everything was as before.
The inside of the keep was dark despite the bright sun that shined outside. Although the keep had no windows he felt uneasy. But he had to be here for the ceremony. It was his duty. Death hovered before the coffin of his mighty prince holding the Necronomican in hand. He waved his hand around and around. Hovering above the coffin was Cornell's anger encased in a red crystal.
"This is the man-beast magic extracted from the man-wolf? Such enormous power..."
"It's was all the jewel could contain. But it should be sufficient for the ritual." Actrise said from behind Gilles.
"O great powers of the underworld sealed under the man-beast's magic, bring back our master to his true state. Show us your exalted power. Provide the soul of this sleeping devil with a new body!" Death spoke loudly so that it echoed throughout the keep.
The crystal began to shrink into a smaller size until it became the size of a jewel. Then it slipped through the coffin. When it was through bolts of magical energy sprouted from the coffin and Death turned with a skeletal smile.
"The ritual is a complete success. All has proceeded just
as the Prince had calculated. Foolish humans! They will soon see. One day the
world will be again shrouded in pure unadulterated darkness!"
Chapter 20:
A Day In Light