Chapter Nine: The Count's Proposal
You wake in the middle of the night to strange sounds. When you open your eyes, you are still securely placed in Van Helsing's arms, but he is tensely still, staring past the fire into the bushes at the forest edge. He grips your shoulder and does not move his eyes. You take this as a sign that you should not move and instead, you follow his gaze to the edge of the woods.
You see nothing there but you hear the distant sound of footsteps upon the snow.
"He's coming," whispers Van Helsing. You feel your heart catch in your throat and gulp. "Listen, Mira," he says in a low voice, turning finally to you, "I need you to go into my tent and get my crossbow. Wake Carl and Vladimir and have that little device of yours ready. Understand?" You nod and get up slowly.
His crossbow is easily spotted in his tent, half poking out of his traveling bag. You grab it and return it to Van Helsing, who has now stood up. Then you run back to the tents and go into Carl's. He is sleeping face-down on the cot, snoring softly. Keeping your distance (you won't make the same mistake you made last time), you flip the cot and he leaps to his feet, taking a swing at you. After a few seconds, he comes to.
"What is it, Mira?" He asks with a sigh of relief, "You gave me a fright."
"Get your things together. Dracula is coming," you say quietly. His eyes grow wide and he gets to packing.
Next you go to Vladimir's tent, but looking in through the flap, you do not see him. Suddenly, you are grabbed by someone, a blade is at your neck, and a hand is over your mouth. You struggle a moment as you are pulled into Vladimir's tent and then released abruptly. You stumble away and turn, drawing your blade quickly. But it is just Vladimir. There are beads of sweat on his face.
"Vladimir?" You whisper. He stares at you, his eyes burning.
"What's happening, Mira?" He asks, his knife still drawn.
"It's Dracula," you say, eyeing his knife, "You can put your blade away." He approaches you, blade still at hand.
"Is he really coming?" Vladimir asks, lowering his voice. He walks towards you, his face darkening with every step. You back away, frightened.
"Vladimir?" You whisper again. A smile slowly alights on his face, but it is not a friendly smile.
"Yes, Mira," he responds, continuing to slowly walk forward. His voice is changing. His form is changing. He stretches his hands towards the roof of the tent, spins around once and when he faces you again, he is not Vladimir. It is Dracula. "Hello, Mira," he says, smiling as his fangs grow, "So good to see you again." His eyes appear to spin hypnotically.
"Where's Vladimir?" You demand, now backed firmly against the tent wall. With your toe, you dig along the edge, looking for a way to slide out. But you keep your eyes fixated on the Count.
"Vladimir went for a walk," he says. He is but three feet from you now. "But you, my love, are going to your grave…" He says in a low voice. He makes a grab for you and you flip out of his grasp, throwing yourself out of the tent.
"Van Helsing!" You scream, crawling along the ground.
"What is it, Mira?" Carl says as he exits his tent. Upon seeing Dracula he freezes, "Oh." He backs away and hides in his tent with a slight whimper. Dracula snarls, glaring at you. You inch away quickly to the fire and he lunges at you. In a swift movement, you grab the poker from the fire and stab him with it. It catches him off-guard for a moment and he moves back. But it is only enough time for you to get to your feet and go to the other side of the fire. You draw your sword, breathless.
Dracula stops, placing his hands behind his back. He chuckles, looking at you. His fangs have now retracted and he looks slightly normal, for a vampire. "So much like Anna," he says, beginning to circle towards you. You circle in the opposite direction, keeping the same distance between the both of you. You have your sword drawn, and you are wondering where Van Helsing is. "So very much like Anna," he repeats, "But more so like Adriana..."
"What do you want?" You ask, highly doubting he plans upon negotiations.
"I want Van Helsing," says Dracula, "Dead."
"Of course you want him dead. You will not have him dead!" You say angrily. Dracula laughs. He continues circling, as do you.
"On the contrary, Mira. I believe I will have him dead. Once I have you, that is," he says, his eyes gleaming.
"You won't have her!" Yells Van Helsing, suddenly, jumping up from the bushes with his crossbow. He doesn't fire however, and Dracula is closer to him than you are.
"Ah, Van Helsing," says Dracula, turning towards him, "So good to see you again."
"Go back to your castle, Dracula," says Van Helsing, "You're not wanted here." Dracula laughs.
"But I came to see you, my friend!" He resumes a serious pose. "I have taken the city. It is mine now."
"You bastard!" You cry, advancing on him.
"Stay, Mira!" Yells Van Helsing. You stop. Dracula looks at you, smirking.
"So, I come with conditions, Van Helsing," continues Dracula, "A trade-off."
"What sort of trade-off?" Asks Van Helsing, his crossbow still aimed at him.
"I give you these choices," says Dracula, "You can have the city back on any of these conditions: the girl or you, for obvious reasons."
"Do not assume," snaps Van Helsing.
"Either for the pleasure of killing, or for the pleasure of," Dracula looks at you with a smug expression, "…certain desires." He turns back to Van Helsing, "Then, once you have decided upon which person I shall receive, I demand that I be left alone in my castle; and I will kill only what I need to kill."
"Is that all?" Asks Van Helsing.
"Of course," replies Dracula. There is silence.
"Very well," says Van Helsing, "We will make our decision and see you in five nights in the city. Until this point, you are not to harm or kill any innocent persons." Dracula bows with a continuing smug expression and then he chuckles slightly.
"Good night, Van Helsing," he says. In a spurt of evil laughter, he grows into a flying beast, hovers over the campsite, and then disappears over the trees. You have broken into a cold sweat. Van Helsing stands, looking towards the forest. You rush to his side.
"He took the city!" You cry desperately, "My people are in danger!" Van Helsing grips your shoulders and looks you steadily in the eyes.
"Look, Mira. We will save the city, and your people," assures Van Helsing.
"But Dracula's terms!" You weep.
"Dracula's terms are false. I could see it in his eyes. He means to kill us once we have entered the city. By now he will have mobilized all of his forces to the city walls and he will have ordered that we either be captured or destroyed on sight," he explains, "We must be quick in formulating our plan. It must be quick, and very tactful." You nod, tears in your eyes.
"Vladimir is gone," you say, "I don't know where he is…" Both of you simultaneously hear a muffled voice coming from behind the camp. Walking over, you see Vladimir secured firmly to a tree, trying to break loose. You quickly cut his bonds and free him.
"What did the bastard want?" Growls Vladimir immediately.
"Stupid peace terms involving a trade-off," answers Van Helsing, "That are lies anyway."
"Why would he bother approaching you then?" Asks Vladimir.
"He wants his capture of us to be public, and easy," explains Van Helsing, "You see. He thinks we are stupid enough to be lured straight into the city. But we are obviously not so dense. Now, get back into your tent and pack. We are no longer making any camp stops. We need all available time to get to the Courts of Andume and figure out what we are going to do." Vladimir nods and goes into his tent. "Where is Carl?" Asks Van Helsing.
"Hiding," you answer, rolling your eyes as you say so. Van Helsing sighs.
"Oh Carl. Why do you have to be such a friar?"