Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Ultimate Proposal
"Don't you ever do that again!" Vladimir scolds, pointing his finger at you, "Now you have made a pact with the devil!"
"…Van Helsing never hesitated to bargain with Dracula," you defend softly. But it seems to have no effect. Father Delavego is pacing restlessly.
"Look at it this way, at least we know he is mobilizing troops from Budapest," says Van Helsing.
"And what good does that do us!?" Fumes Vladimir. It is still night, but dawn will be rising in three hours. "We cannot escape an army in the sole period of the day! The Courts of Andume are going to be attacked unless Dracula is destroyed!"
"What were you doing out there anyway?" Asks Carl, a bit more practically. You exchange a glance with Van Helsing. Van Helsing takes out the vials and places them on the floor. Everyone just stares at them.
"What's this?" Asks Vladimir.
"Werewolf venom," says Van Helsing.
"And, what good is that?" Demands Vladimir.
"We coat our weapons with it, and kill Dracula," explains Van Helsing.
"You're daft," remarks Vladimir, walking away.
"That's ingenious!" States Carl. Vladimir glances at him incredulously. "He will never see it coming!"
"What makes you think it will work?" Asks Vladimir dryly.
"Well, everyone knows that it's the werewolf venom that kills Dracula, not just the wolf's bite," says Carl matter-of-factly. "It's practically fool-proof. I don't know why no one thought of it before."
"Because no one thinks that way. It's far too simple," you answer, nodding.
"Ingenious…" mutters Carl, "Wish I had thought of it…" Father Delavego starts muttering to himself as he paces.
"Father?" You inquire, looking at him. He looks up and stops pacing.
"Oh, Mira, my child…" He says, walking over to you, "How on earth will we defeat an entire army?"
"They're not necessarily coming to the Courts," you say.
"Yes they are," says Vladimir, "I tell you, we can count on it."
"What if we set up an entire façade?" You ask, "Defeat his lies with more lies?"
"What do you mean?" Vladimir asks, looking at you. You shrug.
"Well, it would take intense planning, but it could work…I was thinking something similar to the Trojan horse strategy," you answer.
"Your plans don't work very well," states Vladimir.
"No one's plans have worked," you counter, glaring at him, "I am just offering my suggestions. Not to mention, I should have power now. It is my city." You look around at everyone. "And I don't think anyone else has any ideas…"
"Speak, Mira," says Van Helsing finally, "Tell us your ideas." Vladimir rolls his eyes and starts pacing. Father Delavego stands nearby listening, and Carl is sitting on a stool, twirling a silver stake around his hands. He curses when he accidentally grazes his fingers with the tip. Then looks up, realizing everyone is looking at him. He smiles and says nothing.
"We equip the townspeople with weapons," you begin, "And then we all surrender ourselves when the army comes. That way, no one is harmed. We re-enter the city. I resist the Count's seduction once more and play weak; I've become good at that. During the day, I find the antidote, find Van Helsing, and inject him with it. We get our swords, coat them with the werewolf venom, and then depart once more. I return to my room, and when the Count returns, I kill him. Carl, you take the light device and activate it in the middle of the town. That will kill off any of the vampire members of the army. Then I do what I must with the Count's body, and all is well."
"Too many things can go wrong with that plan," says Vladimir immediately.
"It just needs some revisions," defends Van Helsing, "Mira, isn't Dracula bringing you the antidote?"
"Do you truly believe he will bring it?" You ask, looking at him uncertainly.
"I do not think he could try to deceive you in that way," Van Helsing says, "It is one simple request, and I do not think he would want me to be a werewolf anyway."
"He does have a point," says Carl. He is playing with the silver stake again.
"Okay, so that will be our back-up plan… but what will our plan of action be?" You ask.
"First of all, where are we going to get enough weapons for all of the town?" Asks Van Helsing, "Are they magically going to appear?"
"There is still a weaponry hall in this fortress," states Father Delavego. "It is hard to get to, but it can still be reached under safe circumstances."
"Will there be enough weapons for the entire town?" Inquires Van Helsing.
"It once held enough weapons to equip seven hundred thousand men," replies Father Delavego.
"Impossible!" Exclaims Van Helsing.
"Not impossible. I do not believe the weapons have been moved," says the priest, with a faithful nod.
"Well that problem is solved then," says Van Helsing, "Mira… you must be certain to retrieve the antidote and get it away from Dracula before he tries to take you."
"Then I will kill him," you say.
"And Carl will activate the light device," concludes Van Helsing, "Oh, my! I think it shall work!" He seems very excited. You are nearly ecstatic, but it fades.
"Don't get your hopes up," you say quickly.
"Right…" He answers, looking a bit sheepish.
"Let us not waste another minute then!" Exclaims Carl, leaping to his feet. He nearly drops the silver stake.
"Lead us, Father Delavego," you say, standing proudly. Father Delavego nods, walking towards the back of the hall. So the five of you descend down a stairwell that looks as if it has not been used in centuries. Father Delavego has a torch with him, and he lights the torches in the stairwell on his way down. Finally, you enter a vast hall with enormous, high, stained glass windows. Father Delavego busies himself with lighting the room, since no light is provided outside yet. You are amazed at the expanse of weaponry before you. They are all heavily laden with dust.
You pick up a near-by sword and blow the dust off. It reveals a sharp edge in dull silver. The weapons have obviously not been disturbed for quite a while. Van Helsing is equally amazed. He picks up a mace and swings it around. He seems satisfied with it. Vladimir does not touch a thing. He seems a little un-nerved at the weapons hall.
"We will bring the people down here at dawn," you surmise, "And then we will briefly instruct them in how to properly kill a vampire if attacked by one."
"Good. Well, we should try to get some sleep before we do so," expresses Van Helsing.
"Since when do you sleep, Gabriel?" You ask, grinning.
"Since I suddenly am overcome by the lack of it," he replies. You notice finally that yes, he does look very tired.
"The dawn should properly illuminate this room," says Father Delavego. He looks around and then turns back to you. "Carl, Vladimir, and myself have slept enough. We will ready the room and meet you upstairs at dawn." Vladimir looks as if he is about to protest, but he says nothing. He just glares at you.
"Very well," says Van Helsing, "Shall we?" He looks at you and offers his arm. You smile, taking his arm.
"See you at dawn, Father," you say.
"Sleep well, child," Father Delavego says. You and Van Helsing ascend the stairs. When you reach the top, he just cannot help himself. He nearly smothers you in an affectionate kiss. You giggle slightly and let him carry you into the tent.
"Vladimir was giving you a rather evil look down there," grins Van Helsing, placing you in your cot and 'accidentally' toppling on top of you. You laugh.
"That's just Vladimir," you say, "He's like that."
"Yes, well, hm…" Van Helsing looks around and then kisses you again.
"We should be sleeping," you whisper.
"We should be," he whispers back, looking into your eyes. His face takes on a certain seductive softness. You blink at him.
"No, Gabriel," you respond immediately.
"Right," he replies gently, kissing you again, his hands seeking your shoulders in tender ardor. You take his hands in yours and then bring them to your lips, placing a kiss on them.
"Till death do we part," you whisper. He sighs, getting up and moving over to his cot. He lays down, looking at you still. Then he blows you a kiss.
"Till death do we part," he repeats. You smile, turning over and falling asleep, his kisses still warm upon your lips like sacred ghosts.
A/N: Yeah, yeah, I know what you were thinking in that last scene…so sorry to disappoint you. :: Grins evilly ::