Reinhardt had been trying to break free of the bonds that
held him for about fifteen minutes. He looked to his right and two skeleton
warriors were carrying Carrie on a stretcher. Carrie was unconscious as she
was still thawing. When Reinhardt had first seen her, she was a block of
ice. The skull warriors that were carrying him stopped for a moment. Reinhardt
was also on a similar stretcher but with straps around the waist, wrists,
and ankles. The two skulls laid him against a wall beside Carrie who they
left on the floor. If Reinhardt could use one word to describe where he and
Carrie were right now, he would say hell. Reinhardt felt himself covered
in sweat. Beneath and around the floor of where they were, the structure
was built above a huge ocean of lava. The heat was incredible. The skulls
stood in front of Reinhardt field of view for a minute before they parted
and allowed a large figure to step before Reinhardt. The figure towered above
Reinhardt. He was a giant.
"Dracula," Reinhardt said.
Eyes that were hundreds of years old stared into Reinhardt's with contempt and hatred. Dracula grasped Reinhardt around the neck and lifted Reinhardt up. Reinhardt was somewhat surprised to see Dracula's face wrinkled and scarred. Descriptions of Dracula have been vague but nothing ever came close to describing what he saw. The Dracula standing before Dracula was a creature on its last leg of life. His breathing was shallow just like his voice.
"The name Belmont, has been a scourge in my life since I was prince of all this land." Dracula stepped closer to Reinhardt and stared into his eyes. "I look into your eyes and see a brief glimpse of my own life. How many years have a dedicated to wiping your bloodline from existence?"
"Not enough."
"I find it so odd. I have met so many of your ancestors, and yet with the rare exception, I have really only hated so few of them. You have no doubt trained your whole life for a moment that may or may not have come. I could easily have just waited a full hundred years before awakening and your whole life would have been meaningless. The highlight of so many of your ancestor's lives has been a ten minute battle with a hundred year old vampire whom they have never met before."
Reinhardt's expression did not change. He also did not find himself inclined to respond to his opinion about the life that he has led. Reinhardt was proud to serve, and so he imagined were all previous members of his family.
"Your coming has coincided with an important moment in my plans. It is ironic that you should have come now. Very soon I will be restored to full power. At that time, all of humanity will regret that they were born into this existence!" Dracula turned to the skull warriors that were around him and nodded at them. "Did I not tell you? All who oppose me will suffer and die."
The skull warriors picked Reinhardt up and carried him off through a walkway that led to a circular chamber. The chamber walls were made of the same stone as the floor of the rest of this tower but in this chamber the floor was a steel grille. The grille has a circular opening in the center. Reinhardt was placed lying against a part of the circular wall. Carrie, who was stilled dazed, was shackled to the wall not far from him. Reinhardt looked up at the ceiling and saw that there was a circular opening of equal size as to that of the opening on the grille. A new skeleton warrior entered the chamber. This warrior was actually dressed in armor. The skull stood before Reinhardt, and to his surprise, spoke.
"I am Harrhausen. This execution tower is my world. It will also be the last place you will have visited in your current existence. The chamber you are in is called a splash chamber." The skull pointed it's skeletal arm upwards to the opening in the ceiling. "Through that opening in the ceiling of the chamber, will fall rocks of various sizes. Each rock will fall into the lake of lava that flows beneath the floor of the tower. Depending on the size of the rock, the splash it makes will either hit or miss you. If a drop of lava spills onto you, count on pain. This lava will of course melt your skin off of your bones. It is at that point of course that you will die." Harrhausen turned and marched out of the chamber followed by his four warriors. Harrhausen was the one who closed and locked the chamber. Reinhardt immediately began to try and break free from his shackles but quickly realized that he could not. Reinhardt looked toward Carrie.
"Carrie! Snap out of it Carrie!" It was no use. Carrie was still to dazed to even hear what he was saying. Soon, a loud mechanical sound was echoing in the chamber. The sound emanated from the hole in the ceiling. The sound became louder and louder until it suddenly went silent and the first rock dropped from the hole. The rock was the size of a child's play ball and barely made a splash. Reinhardt breathed heavily. Reinhardt began to squeeze his hand through the wrist shackle but after several minutes had only accomplished to tear up the skin of his wrist. Now he was bleeding slightly. Reinhardt pressed himself against the wall as the mechanical sound started again. He looked to Carrie who was practically leaning forward.
"Damn it Carrie! Lean back! Lean back!"
The instant that the sound ceased another rock came falling through the hole. This rock was not so small. It struck the surface of the lava and drops of lava flew upwards and landed nearby the both of them. One drop land on the tip of Reinhardt's boot. His boot sizzled. In the heat, Reinhardt was finding it hard to think and concentrate. In his mind he was debating whether to continue squeezing through the wrist shackle or to take a chance that the next rock would not kill them both.
Flames erupted where the rock had fallen through. The flames grabbed Carrie's confused mind's attention. Carrie did not know that she was leaning forward to her death. Carrie's mind was elsewhere. Carrie was now traveling back eight years ago. Carrie remembered the caravan. She remembered her parents, her real parents. She remembered her cousin Ana being sick. She also remembered Ana returning and murdering everyone. Her parents ran. They ran for a long time, but eventually they were caught. Carrie had not even recovered from watching her entire clan burned alive that she had to then watch as her mother and father were also burned by nearby villagers. The image floated before Carrie's eyes and she instantly snapped back to reality. Her attention back where it should be, Carrie felt as her magical orbs broke the shackles around her wrists. As they broke, a large rock fell into the lava and Carrie once again concentrated and a shield was erected between her and the splashes. The shield protected Reinhardt as well.
"Quickly, Carrie, get out of these shackles."
Carrie attended to Reinhardt who within second was free of his bonds. With the shield still in place, they both walked towards the iron door that sealed them in. Carrie had to concentrate to keep the shield up. She felt the shield slip if her mind focused on something else. She practically had to ignore what Reinhardt was saying in order to protect them both. Reinhardt saw this and began looking for a way out. Reinhardt then heard a banging noise. Suddenly Reinhardt a voice call out to him as the locks on the iron door were undone.
"Stand back!" the voice called out. Seconds later the door swung open and Henry came running in. Hanging above Henry, he was carrying Harrhausen who was cursing loudly. Henry threw him into the lava pit where he slowly began to sink.
"Don't think you have seen the last of me! Sooner or later you will all face me once more!" Instantly an enormous rock came falling from above. The trio backed out of the chamber but saw the rock strike Harrhausen into the depths of the lava lake. It was Coller who slammed the door shut as the splashes of lava came hurling towards the walls of the chamber. Reinhardt was the first to subtlety ask who was their new companion.
"This is Coller. He is an old friend of mine."
Reinhardt looked at Coller's bandaged arm. He then noticed that Henry had taken off his helmet. Henry saw that Reinhardt had noticed this and merely said, "It's too hot to be running around in stuffy armor."
"Will you be joining our journey, Coller?" Reinhardt asked.
Coller stood silent for a moment. He breathed heavily and turned to Henry. "Lad, I don't think I will be of much use to you."
"Coller! You can't. Where would you go?"
"Aye. Where would I go. I have only got one arm, I'm tired, and out of shape. I'm useless to you all. Anyway, I have a quest of my ow to fulfill."
"Coller. If it is taking your vengeance on Actrise, you are more likely to find her and beat her of you come with us."
"It is not just that, lad. I left many things back in the castle center. Many of my inventions could be very harmful to the world if they got out. I cannot ask you all to back track just for my sake. So, it would be better if you three press on, and allow me to take care of my own."
Henry turned away from Coller. Reinhardt laid a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Coller, you are aware that if we succeed in killing Dracula, the castle will be destroyed and your work with it. There is no real need for you to go back."
Coller smiled. "You know, there is a story that one of the disciples was once trying to escape from a city where the Romans were rounding up Jesus' apostles. He could have escaped and lived longer, but you know what it was said to have happened? They say he saw Jesus walking back to the city. This was after the crucifixion so he should have known that it could not be Jesus alive, nevertheless, the apostle turned around and walked back to the city knowing that they would catch him and behead him. Well, I see the ghosts of many people walking back to my workshop. They're the ghosts of people who will die if I don't go back and make sure." Coller pointed toward a darkened hall. "That is the way for you to go. I showed Henry the path. You are not far from Dracula."
Reinhardt released Henry. He looked towards Coller and nodded his head in almost a saluting fashion. Reinhardt looked at Carrie and beckoned her to follow him down the hall. Carrie looked at Coller. What was only a brief moment Coller was an eternity for Carrie. In a small way, Coller was actually the last true family she had. He was married to a woman supposedly her cousin. She debated whether or not to tell him. She thought better, what good would it do him to know that Ana's soulless body was still floating about. Carrie turned and joined Reinhardt. Henry was the last one standing. Henry looked at Coller.
"You are sure?"
"Absolutely."
Henry shook his only hand. "Then I wish luck. I hope you make it out safe. If not, know that it was an honor to fight along your side."
"Aye, lad. Same here." Coller released his hand and gestured to the hall where Reinhardt and Carrie stood waiting. "Go on now." Henry turned and slowly walked to the hall. When he reached the others, Henry turned to look one last time at his old friend. Coller stood there smiling. Henry barely knew the man, yet they had been brought together by adversity and become friends by journeying through fire. Henry turned and took the lead. He began to lead Reinhardt and Carrie following the directions that Coller had given them.
The three ran with urgency knowing that their journey was closer than ever to ending.
"Dracula," Reinhardt said.
Eyes that were hundreds of years old stared into Reinhardt's with contempt and hatred. Dracula grasped Reinhardt around the neck and lifted Reinhardt up. Reinhardt was somewhat surprised to see Dracula's face wrinkled and scarred. Descriptions of Dracula have been vague but nothing ever came close to describing what he saw. The Dracula standing before Dracula was a creature on its last leg of life. His breathing was shallow just like his voice.
"The name Belmont, has been a scourge in my life since I was prince of all this land." Dracula stepped closer to Reinhardt and stared into his eyes. "I look into your eyes and see a brief glimpse of my own life. How many years have a dedicated to wiping your bloodline from existence?"
"Not enough."
"I find it so odd. I have met so many of your ancestors, and yet with the rare exception, I have really only hated so few of them. You have no doubt trained your whole life for a moment that may or may not have come. I could easily have just waited a full hundred years before awakening and your whole life would have been meaningless. The highlight of so many of your ancestor's lives has been a ten minute battle with a hundred year old vampire whom they have never met before."
Reinhardt's expression did not change. He also did not find himself inclined to respond to his opinion about the life that he has led. Reinhardt was proud to serve, and so he imagined were all previous members of his family.
"Your coming has coincided with an important moment in my plans. It is ironic that you should have come now. Very soon I will be restored to full power. At that time, all of humanity will regret that they were born into this existence!" Dracula turned to the skull warriors that were around him and nodded at them. "Did I not tell you? All who oppose me will suffer and die."
The skull warriors picked Reinhardt up and carried him off through a walkway that led to a circular chamber. The chamber walls were made of the same stone as the floor of the rest of this tower but in this chamber the floor was a steel grille. The grille has a circular opening in the center. Reinhardt was placed lying against a part of the circular wall. Carrie, who was stilled dazed, was shackled to the wall not far from him. Reinhardt looked up at the ceiling and saw that there was a circular opening of equal size as to that of the opening on the grille. A new skeleton warrior entered the chamber. This warrior was actually dressed in armor. The skull stood before Reinhardt, and to his surprise, spoke.
"I am Harrhausen. This execution tower is my world. It will also be the last place you will have visited in your current existence. The chamber you are in is called a splash chamber." The skull pointed it's skeletal arm upwards to the opening in the ceiling. "Through that opening in the ceiling of the chamber, will fall rocks of various sizes. Each rock will fall into the lake of lava that flows beneath the floor of the tower. Depending on the size of the rock, the splash it makes will either hit or miss you. If a drop of lava spills onto you, count on pain. This lava will of course melt your skin off of your bones. It is at that point of course that you will die." Harrhausen turned and marched out of the chamber followed by his four warriors. Harrhausen was the one who closed and locked the chamber. Reinhardt immediately began to try and break free from his shackles but quickly realized that he could not. Reinhardt looked toward Carrie.
"Carrie! Snap out of it Carrie!" It was no use. Carrie was still to dazed to even hear what he was saying. Soon, a loud mechanical sound was echoing in the chamber. The sound emanated from the hole in the ceiling. The sound became louder and louder until it suddenly went silent and the first rock dropped from the hole. The rock was the size of a child's play ball and barely made a splash. Reinhardt breathed heavily. Reinhardt began to squeeze his hand through the wrist shackle but after several minutes had only accomplished to tear up the skin of his wrist. Now he was bleeding slightly. Reinhardt pressed himself against the wall as the mechanical sound started again. He looked to Carrie who was practically leaning forward.
"Damn it Carrie! Lean back! Lean back!"
The instant that the sound ceased another rock came falling through the hole. This rock was not so small. It struck the surface of the lava and drops of lava flew upwards and landed nearby the both of them. One drop land on the tip of Reinhardt's boot. His boot sizzled. In the heat, Reinhardt was finding it hard to think and concentrate. In his mind he was debating whether to continue squeezing through the wrist shackle or to take a chance that the next rock would not kill them both.
Flames erupted where the rock had fallen through. The flames grabbed Carrie's confused mind's attention. Carrie did not know that she was leaning forward to her death. Carrie's mind was elsewhere. Carrie was now traveling back eight years ago. Carrie remembered the caravan. She remembered her parents, her real parents. She remembered her cousin Ana being sick. She also remembered Ana returning and murdering everyone. Her parents ran. They ran for a long time, but eventually they were caught. Carrie had not even recovered from watching her entire clan burned alive that she had to then watch as her mother and father were also burned by nearby villagers. The image floated before Carrie's eyes and she instantly snapped back to reality. Her attention back where it should be, Carrie felt as her magical orbs broke the shackles around her wrists. As they broke, a large rock fell into the lava and Carrie once again concentrated and a shield was erected between her and the splashes. The shield protected Reinhardt as well.
"Quickly, Carrie, get out of these shackles."
Carrie attended to Reinhardt who within second was free of his bonds. With the shield still in place, they both walked towards the iron door that sealed them in. Carrie had to concentrate to keep the shield up. She felt the shield slip if her mind focused on something else. She practically had to ignore what Reinhardt was saying in order to protect them both. Reinhardt saw this and began looking for a way out. Reinhardt then heard a banging noise. Suddenly Reinhardt a voice call out to him as the locks on the iron door were undone.
"Stand back!" the voice called out. Seconds later the door swung open and Henry came running in. Hanging above Henry, he was carrying Harrhausen who was cursing loudly. Henry threw him into the lava pit where he slowly began to sink.
"Don't think you have seen the last of me! Sooner or later you will all face me once more!" Instantly an enormous rock came falling from above. The trio backed out of the chamber but saw the rock strike Harrhausen into the depths of the lava lake. It was Coller who slammed the door shut as the splashes of lava came hurling towards the walls of the chamber. Reinhardt was the first to subtlety ask who was their new companion.
"This is Coller. He is an old friend of mine."
Reinhardt looked at Coller's bandaged arm. He then noticed that Henry had taken off his helmet. Henry saw that Reinhardt had noticed this and merely said, "It's too hot to be running around in stuffy armor."
"Will you be joining our journey, Coller?" Reinhardt asked.
Coller stood silent for a moment. He breathed heavily and turned to Henry. "Lad, I don't think I will be of much use to you."
"Coller! You can't. Where would you go?"
"Aye. Where would I go. I have only got one arm, I'm tired, and out of shape. I'm useless to you all. Anyway, I have a quest of my ow to fulfill."
"Coller. If it is taking your vengeance on Actrise, you are more likely to find her and beat her of you come with us."
"It is not just that, lad. I left many things back in the castle center. Many of my inventions could be very harmful to the world if they got out. I cannot ask you all to back track just for my sake. So, it would be better if you three press on, and allow me to take care of my own."
Henry turned away from Coller. Reinhardt laid a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Coller, you are aware that if we succeed in killing Dracula, the castle will be destroyed and your work with it. There is no real need for you to go back."
Coller smiled. "You know, there is a story that one of the disciples was once trying to escape from a city where the Romans were rounding up Jesus' apostles. He could have escaped and lived longer, but you know what it was said to have happened? They say he saw Jesus walking back to the city. This was after the crucifixion so he should have known that it could not be Jesus alive, nevertheless, the apostle turned around and walked back to the city knowing that they would catch him and behead him. Well, I see the ghosts of many people walking back to my workshop. They're the ghosts of people who will die if I don't go back and make sure." Coller pointed toward a darkened hall. "That is the way for you to go. I showed Henry the path. You are not far from Dracula."
Reinhardt released Henry. He looked towards Coller and nodded his head in almost a saluting fashion. Reinhardt looked at Carrie and beckoned her to follow him down the hall. Carrie looked at Coller. What was only a brief moment Coller was an eternity for Carrie. In a small way, Coller was actually the last true family she had. He was married to a woman supposedly her cousin. She debated whether or not to tell him. She thought better, what good would it do him to know that Ana's soulless body was still floating about. Carrie turned and joined Reinhardt. Henry was the last one standing. Henry looked at Coller.
"You are sure?"
"Absolutely."
Henry shook his only hand. "Then I wish luck. I hope you make it out safe. If not, know that it was an honor to fight along your side."
"Aye, lad. Same here." Coller released his hand and gestured to the hall where Reinhardt and Carrie stood waiting. "Go on now." Henry turned and slowly walked to the hall. When he reached the others, Henry turned to look one last time at his old friend. Coller stood there smiling. Henry barely knew the man, yet they had been brought together by adversity and become friends by journeying through fire. Henry turned and took the lead. He began to lead Reinhardt and Carrie following the directions that Coller had given them.
The three ran with urgency knowing that their journey was closer than ever to ending.