You are soon clopping back down the tower stairs. Carl only remembers how to get to the Antidote Tower from the front entrance. You are silent. Vladimir looks very grave. You finally turn to him.
"Vladimir, I can give Van Helsing the antidote," you say. Vladimir blinks at you.
"Mira, he said no," says Vladimir sternly.
"I know, Vladimir…but it is my responsibility. And I have fought a werewolf before," you reply. You have entered the hall with the fire basins now. Carl leads you along and off through a side door.
"Mira, I made a promise to Van Helsing when I awoke in the Courts of Andume," says Vladimir, "I promised him that no matter what, you would not die."
"Vladimir…"
"Mira, the answer is no. You stay away from Gabriel after he is unleashed," says Vladimir. You are silent.
"Stay away from him, Mira," Carl says, "Trust me. I was there the last time." You begin to ascend more stairs. But you are troubled. You do not feel it is right that Vladimir should risk his life for the man that you happen to possibly love. Was it love, you begin to wonder.
It does not take as long to get up to the top of the tower and you enter a short corridor. No guards are in sight. Carl suddenly stops and turns to look at you and Vladimir. You exchange glances as the friar seems to contemplate.
"Someone should stay here and keep an eye out for trouble," says Carl. He looks at you. Vladimir averts his gaze and starts whistling. You roll your eyes.
"All right. I'll stay," you respond, posing at the wall. Vladimir and Carl continue down the corridor and disappear into the room. Why must you do everything? You sigh, looking after them and then at the ring on your finger. A storm is rising outside. It must be nearing afternoon. Lightning flashes through the narrow windows, followed by a low growl of thunder. You hear a low creaking sound on the floor that sounds as if it should be accompanied by footsteps. You whirl around and face dead air. You whirl back around and face more dead air. Is your imagination playing tricks on you? You back up against the wall so that you can have stone at your back and face the rest of the room. "Vladimir?" You say, hoping he can hear you from the other room. No answer. There is more lightning and thunder. Your heartbeat is racing and your breathing is becoming deeper. You draw your sword in the silence, for comfort. "All right, Vladislaus…come out," you say in a low voice. A deep laugh rolls along the walls and then diminishes.
"I am here, Mira," says the voice with a hiss. It resounds from all directions. You almost shudder, but try to keep yourself composed.
"Show yourself!" You demand.
"I am only here in the mind," Vladislaus replies, "What do you think of my fortress, Mira?"
"It's cold and dark," you say, still looking around the hall, half-expecting him to come flying after you.
"Cold and dark," he murmurs, "Just the way we are, isn't it, Mira?"
"I am not cold and dark!" You yell at the shadows, "What do you want with me, Vladislaus!?" His laughter resounds once more.
"I have great plans for you, Mira…" He says. You don't answer. You are rather petrified by his statement. "To bear my children, be my bride," he whispers fiercely, "To live and rule the world with me, forever!"
"Stay away from me!" You cry, covering your ears. His harsh voice is still echoing all around. You grip the silver crucifix around your neck and hear whispers rising out of the walls. Dracula's laughter resonates all around you, the 'forever' echoing endlessly.
"All is set for you, Mira," he whispers. You grovel, trying not to hear it. But it sounds as if he is talking right inside your head. Perhaps he is…the goddamned monster. "All is set for us," he hisses. "Do you think you will destroy me? Do you think that Gabriel will somehow escape his prison before I execute him?" He laughs again and you feel as if your eardrums may burst. "You do know what I plan to do…take you right before his very eyes. It will slowly devour him from the inside, and then, he will go mad!"
"You're mad!" You cry, "You're mad!" He laughs again.
"No, I do not think that is the correct word, Mira. Or perhaps I am mad…" He chuckles, "And after Gabriel Van Helsing is driven mad, I will stake him…with a thousand wooden spikes!"
"Then you will stake me as well!" You rage, glancing wildly about the corridor. "Only mad men laugh as much as you…" You whisper, spinning around, looking about. He heaves a sigh that seems to wash over the walls and distort the rising whispers.
"I am merry," he says coldly.
"Not!" You yell, pointing your sword at the wall, "You could never be merry!"
"No…" says his voice, fading, "No, I feel nothing…no merriment…no pain…no sorrow…"
"No love!" You say, "NO LOVE!" You wish you could pierce him through with your sword. You know it would do nothing, but if you could have only the satisfaction of it, you would feel all the better.
"You will bring back my ability to feel, Mira," he swoons. The whispers start rising again, louder. "You cannot hide from me now! And you cannot escape!" His voice is hissing ferociously, "The portal is closed! The doors are locked! It won't be long Mira…it won't be long…"
"It will be longer than you can devise!" You scream, falling against the wall. He laughs coldly now and it fades, echoing.
"It won't be long until eternity," he whispers. His voice diminishes and you find yourself in a subconscious state; some realm that exists between reality and dreams.
Suddenly, three beautiful women dressed in flowing pastel colors appear a short distance away. They are partially transparent with devilish eyes and graceful figures. You look at them through hazy eyes. They are so ethereal that it is impossible for you to believe that they are truly there.
"Hello, Mira!" They say, laughing. Any more laughter is going to break you.
"Who are you?" You whisper, your sword forth, your head heavy. They laugh again.
"Who were we, you mean!" They respond, lifting upward and floating to surround you.
"For we are dead!" States the first.
"Dead!" Repeats the second.
"Dead!" Says the third. They laugh, baring fangs most maliciously.
"We were Vladislaus's brides," says the first. You stare at them wide-eyed and they grin.
"And you, my dear Mira," says the second, reaching out to touch you, "You will soon take our forms and give us life again!" They laugh. You draw yourself up firmly and bravely, your eyes burning with hate.
"Get away from me, you devils!" You say passionately, approaching the floating apparitions. They back away laughing.
"Your strength is calling to him!" Says the third.
"My strength will demolish him!" You respond. The three brides shriek and fade away into laughter.
"Mira? Is everything all right down there?" Asks Vladimir's voice. He is coming down the hall now, with Carl in tow. You still stand poised with your sword, staring at the place where the brides vanished. "Mira?" Vladimir rushes to your side, grabbing your hands. "You're cold…you're sweating… what happened?" Finally, the inevitable happens. You break down and start sobbing, falling to your knees. Vladimir is flabbergasted. Carl is obviously confused. "What should I do?" Vladimir asks Carl.
"I don't know!" Carl says, exasperated, "Van Helsing was the one who seemed to know how to properly deal with situations like this!" You can't even talk. All you can do is surrender to this hysteria and hope that somehow you will melt through the floor and disappear forever.
"Mira…I wish I could help you…but, I'm afraid I am quite unfamiliar with what I should be doing for you," fumbles Vladimir.
"Vladimir, 200 years and you still cannot console a woman?" Gasps Carl. Vladimir looks embarrassed.
"Well…" He starts, clearing his throat. Carl raises a brow. You fall over, losing the will to even kneel anymore. "Maybe the stress is just too much…maybe all she needs is a good cry?" Vladimir suggests. Carl rolls his eyes, looking around the corridor.
"Something happened out here…" Carl mutters. He drops to his knees next to you, scrutinizing you. Finally, Vladimir offers you a hand. You look up at him, quieting your hysterical sobs.
"Get up, Mira. You're a warrior," he says. Carl is looking at him sternly, as if he is trying to convey the message: 'Are you completely dense?' You blink, trying to regain your composure. Somehow, his insensitive statement brings you back to reality.
"Idiot," mutters Carl.
"Carl, she just killed a guard up there!" Protests Vladimir. Carl groans.
"Vladimir, the girl is sorrow-stricken! Clearly something has disrupted her nerves immensely! And I think she should now tell us of it," says Carl.
"Never mind!" Says Vladimir, "It doesn't matter, Carl! No need to dwell on the past." There is silence.
"You're right, Vladimir," you say softly, after the pause. You take his outstretched hand and get up. Carl rises slowly afterwards. Vladimir looks at you gently now, almost caringly. He is still holding your hand, but he doesn't seem to realize it. "I don't want to be like them," you state.
"Them?" A frown crosses his face, "Who is 'them?'" You shake your head.
"The ones I am to replace," you reply. Vladimir's eyes look dark.
"Mira, look at me," He takes your hand gently in between his hands and meets your eyes, "Did you see the brides of Dracula?" His face is serious and concerned.
"I saw…their spirits," you say, "Yes…their spirits." Vladimir sighs and embraces you. Your instinct is to pull away, but you realize that for some reason, Vladimir understands now why you had a moment of hysteria.
"You will never be like them," he assures, "It's not in you. You could never be evil."
"Don't say that, Vladimir," you whimper, "If Dracula takes me, I will be evil! He can already control me at times. He has done something to me. I don't know what."
"Mira…" He looks in your eyes, "Don't give up…"
"Well," interrupts Carl, "I have the antidote, and I think it's about time we go investigate the scene on Frankenstein's reassembled laboratory." Vladimir lets go of you (rather reluctantly) and nods at Carl. There is more lightning and thunder at that moment and Carl jumps, looking around alertly.
"Yes, let's go," Vladimir states. This time, he leads the way to the stairs and Carl follows. You linger in the hall for a moment, watching them walk. There is a violent crack of thunder accompanied with an extremely bright flash of lightning and then unexpectedly, stone blocks fall just short of you. "Mira!" Vladimir yells firmly. You quickly run (scared to death) to join them at the stairs and look back. You can hear whispers rising again, speaking in horrible voices and the laughter of Dracula resounds once again. With a brief cry of terror, you rush past Vladimir and fly down the stairs. "Mira, wait!" Calls Vladimir. You don't stop. You run, trying to escape the horrible noise. But now, he laughs within your mind and it feels as if your forehead will split open from the awful sound.
You stumble and nearly fall, but Vladimir runs past and catches you quickly, holding you close. You weep again, burying your face in his chest. He holds you, kind of uncertainly but willingly. "Mira, it's ok. It's going to be over soon," he says.
"His voice is inside my head!" You cry, hearing terrible whispers swirling about within you and then hitting your insides, trying to break you open.
"Dracula, get out of her!" Yells Vladimir, looking wildly about the room of doors, "Get out of her!" He holds you tightly, stroking your hair. "Sh…it's going to be ok…it will be all right…look at me again, Mira…" You raise your eyes and look at his face. He sighs, stroking your cheek with utmost sincerity. He stares at you for a long time and then moves closer as if he is going to kiss you.
"Vladimir!" Exclaims Carl, entering the room. Vladimir quickly jerks his head back. "Inability to console!" Carl grins. You sigh within yourself, thankful that Carl did not notice that last little event.
"Hm," says Vladimir, letting go of you. He pauses in the next doorway. "There's work to be done. Let's go." You exchange a momentary glance with Carl before following. "Carl, which way to the laboratory?" Asks Vladimir.
"To your right," says Carl, "It's surprising that we don't seem to have been noticed by anyone yet."
"Oh trust me," you reply, "We've been noticed." There is more thunder and lightning and then you hear voices in one of the distant halls. Things are just going to get harder from here on in. Dracula will awake in about five more hours, and then, the true hysteria will commence.
A/N:
Hello Readers. I would like to say that I owe this whole little "Vladimir-gets-a-little-romantic" section to the ideas of xangelic crimson. So, I would like to thank her, as she is my first faithful reviewer. And don't worry, I am still most likely far from the last chapter, so there will be lots more for you to read. :-D Thank you, all! I appreciate it much!
Your obsessive author,
The Gothik Faerie