Chapter Twenty Five: Awakening the Past
It does not take you a long time to re-find Dracula's tomb. It is, as you expected, quite deserted. But you know this is not for long. He will soon return, and you must get your wits in order. The room is so cold and dark that you shiver all over. Memories dance upon the edges of your mind like ancient shadows of haunted trees. You are dangerously close to the awakening of a past life, and even closer to a mortal death. But Dracula was right; you fear becoming the undead. Still, you must face this fear as best as you can. You just do not know how long you can hold out against the Count's seduction.
You wonder what you will do once he returns. You try to think about things to say or do, just to hold him off until Van Helsing arrives. But other things cloud over your thinking processes like smoke from a nonexistent fire. Then you realize he is here. Your eyes fall upon him in the shadows, though you see him not. He walks around in the shadows, watching you. You watch him too, yet, you cannot see him. He seems to enjoy dragging out the moment, because he speaks not. You can tell he is amused by the fact that you cannot see him, yet, you still know where he is.
Finally, he steps out slowly and crosses behind the coffin, walking among the stone altars. "Hello, Mira," he says, rather cheerfully. "I do not find your last stunt very amusing."
"Oh come now, Count. Have a sense of humour," you say dryly. He simply frowns and continues walking around you.
"Now, Mira. You know I can feel nothing, nor have a sense of humour," he states.
"I had forgotten," you say blankly, watching him like a hawk.
"So why did you come back, after so … soundly clunking me off the head with that wretched thing of yours?" He asks, motioning at your sword. You unsheath your sword and place it on the ground as a peace offering.
"This time, I really came to apologize," you say. You mind races. You have to make this conversation last long enough.
"Apologize for what?" The Count hisses, "Which wrong-doing do you come to apologize for? Do you come to apologize for betraying me with Van Helsing four hundred years ago? Do you come to apologize for ruining me two hundred years ago? Or, perhaps, do you come to apologize for denying me plainly this very year?" His eyes glare out at you from the darkness.
"All, Vladislaus," you say, mildly, "But only if you could refresh my memory on what exactly my wrong-doings were…"
"Oh, Mira, Mira, Mira…" He chuckles. You whirl around as he comes out from behind you and starts pacing ten feet away. It is too close for your comfort. He sighs. "It no longer matters to me what you did wrong… you have the heart to make amends, and that is all that matters."
"But I wish to know of what I did," you insist, backing away a few steps. He shakes his head, approaching you.
"I can read your mind, Mira," he says, "You wish to know all… and you wish me to tell you all…" You gulp slightly, afraid that he might also know that this is just to keep him talking. "But come, let me show you all instead," he says, offering a hand.
"Are you going to take me if I take your hand, Vladislaus?" You say, stepping back more. He smiles.
"My dear, of course not… not yet, at least," he states. You wonder if you should trust this.
"Very well. Show me, then," you say, but you do not take his hand.
"Then take my hand," he says, stepping closer.
"If I take your hand, you are going to take me," you say, stepping back again.
"Who says?" Asks the Count, stepping towards you. You back away slowly and he follows, until you are against the wall.
"…I don't want to die," you say to him, "Not yet, Vladislaus…not yet. I want to know first." He reaches down and grasps your hand.
"Come, Mira," he says, pulling you out of the shadows, "Let me revive your memories." You wonder then, are you ready for this? But he pulls you persistently and you can tell there is no turning back now. You are going to discover your history, and part of Van Helsing's, whether you want to or not.
You enter the ballroom once more and find yourself stepping into Adriana again. It seems so real to you, that you almost believe it. But when you look at Vladislaus, you realize it is only a vision of the past. He dances with you across the floor.
"This," he says, swirling you around the floor, "Was supposed to be the happiest night of my life." Van Helsing appears in the shadows. "And then he had to show up," growls Dracula, walking you over to Van Helsing. You find yourself curtsying to him as he bows to you and Dracula leans against the pillar, watching. "He was born the son of a King, but, his mother was a servant. What a shameful position, to be born out of wedlock…" The vampire watches Van Helsing with interest. Lightning flashes and suddenly you are flying over a dirt road. The images of inns and various places flash in the sky through a dark network of tree-branches. "You ran for ten years away from me and my forces… then, my dear Adriana…" He smiles, baring his fangs, "We killed you." Lightning flashes and thunder cracks. You let out a screech of surprise, seeing the red velvet chaise located just outside of the laboratory, with a pale white form upon it, clearly in death. It is Adriana.
"Oh God…" You murmur, thinking you might pass out.
"Then, Van Helsing pursued me… and he defeated me…" Dracula's eyes grow dark. "He took my ring," he recalls as well. You quickly cover up your hand, afraid that he would discover that you now carry his ring. "I made my pact… I became the undead…" He smiles devilishly. The room whirls about you and you collapse in Dracula's grasp. He laughs slightly. "Talia," he says, "Princess Talia…a much shorter, sadder story…" You gasp as you suddenly transform into a gorgeous, dark-haired French lady, in a stiff gold gown that is nearly suffocating you.
"I hereby declare Count Vladislaus Dracula an enemy of the country!" You find yourself saying, to a large assembly, "May he and his countrymen perish into the fiery abyss of hell."
"Ruined me…" Dracula whispers, scenes flashing through his eyes. It whirs by and changes again. "Then you left that meeting to return to your dear amant at the nearest inn," says Dracula. (amant: FR. Lover n).
You are walking down a street at night, and it is foggy. The scene still looks unfamiliar to you, but suddenly you are attacked by Dracula and he sinks his teeth into your neck. You scream and flail your arms until part of you somehow perishes, and he draws another part of you up to his side gracefully. You look down at the dead Talia Dulaq, in horror.
"So he came after me again," says Dracula, "And I killed him." With a sweep of his cape, this awful scene disappears, and you stand in the present, still in the ballroom. You stare at him with mixed emotions.
"You've been a monster all of your life…" You whisper, backing out of his grasp. He laughs, as if he is proud of it.
"Yes, Mira…yes!" He says. He sweeps dust off the floor in his hands. "You had, of course, lives before that, but they are relatively insignificant. You are I were lovers in 200 BC, you and Van Helsing were lovers in 132 AD, etcetera, etcetera…" Your head spins as he slowly lets the dust seep through his fingers.
"You are summarizing!" You accuse, pointing at him rather blindly. You nearly fall over in your momentary delirium. He grins, catching you and holding you, suspended, above the dusty floor.
"Yes, love. I am summarizing," he says, "Because the past is unimportant now. I have you, I have Van Helsing, and everything shall be my way…"
"Not yet!" You yell, trying to get away. He grips you tightly, arching your back so that you are virtually defenseless.
"I gave you the information you wanted!" He says fiercely, running his cold hands up over your body. You catch your breath and tense up, your heart beginning to pump faster. He closes his eyes listening.
"Such a beautiful symphony of life," he whispers, his hand running up your neck You gasp, trying to move. He opens his eyes and stares at you, hypnotizing.
"Get away from me!" You cry, shifting your feet, trying to scuttle across the floor. He remains unmoved by your actions.
"Oh, so helpless my dear. Always so helpless…" he grins, and his fangs appear, lengthening to dangerous spikes.
"No, no!" You gasp, "You did not give me all the information!"
"Nonsense!" He growls, forcing your back into a perfect arch. You feel your spine crackling in this shape and you scream. "Relax and it won't hurt so much," he suggests, flicking your hair away from his victory spot. "I can make it painless," he says softly, pulling you closer to his fangs, "Relax and it will be painless…"
"I will never be yours!" You scream, lifting a foot to kick him square in the stomach. He falters slightly, allowing you a brief moment to get a handle on the floor and wrench away. You run but he pins you to the nearest pillar. He snarls at you.
"Fine then! Resist! It will make you stronger… and your desire to kill will be fervent," he grins satanically and clutches your body to him, with the strength of a thousand men. It feels like he is crushing you to death. You gasp, the pain vibrating through you, your heart racing a mile a minute. The tears ravage your eyes, burning your vision it seems.
"I refuse to be yours!" You croak, cuddling your neck close to your shoulders so it is unreachable. He looks deep into your eyes and places a firm index finger on your chin. He slowly lifts your head up and pushes it back. His face seems to be transformed into that of a devil. The greed and lust show plainly on his features, making him even uglier. But his eyes begin to trick you into believing he is not such a monster.
"Forever…" He whispers, moving in, "Forever… it sounds in your veins… it resounds in your heart… embrace it, Mira. Become one in my darkness and share my burdens…" He seems so caught up in the sound of your heart beat that he moves very slowly to perform his action, almost as if he is reluctant to hear that sound dying. You breathe heavily, your chest rising and falling against his firm hold.
"God help me…" You mutter, "God help me…"
The fangs of Vladislaus Dracula pierce your neck and you scream as he drinks the blood slowly. He does not gash your neck in uncontrolled passion, but rather, savors every moment, completely enraptured.
It seems to you, that this could be the end of every mortal life you have led…
Quick A/N: Yeah, I know, that was evil. Stay tuned for more.
GF