I throw myself into the sea,
release the wave,
let it wash over me.
To face the fear I once believed.
The tears of the dragon for you and for me-

"Tears of the Dragon"-Bruce Dickinson

Vlad Returns

     Sometimes I picture myself as Simon Belmont, who was perhaps the most legendary figure in the Belmont clan.  Simon was not famous because he was any better than Trevor or Richter.  Simon was famous because he fought and defeated Dracula three times in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

     In the late fall of 1807 we had our first good snow for the upcoming winter, and I spent the day outside with my two sons and niece and nephew.  I was pushing Alcander and Sidra on a sled down a small slope when the sky went dark.  It was only for a moment, but it was unusual that is for sure.  Alcander and Sidra started to cry, and so did Lysander. 

     Richter (who was with me on that day) and myself gathered up our children and took them inside.  After our smallest children stopped crying, Richter and I decided to visit the village's astronomer.  Perhaps he would have an answer, but he did not.

     After we left the astronomer's home we discussed the other possibility.

     "Tepes, do you think that Prince Dracula had anything to do with what just happened?"

     "I would certainly hope not…but I also seriously doubt it."

     "How so?"

     "Well, Richter, what's the number one event that happens when Vlad the Impaler returns?"

     Richter did not have to think long.  "Why, when his castle returns."

     "Exactly!  And do you see the Castle?" I asked, while I pointed in the direction where the Castle was always located.

     Richter stared in the direction I pointed, but the Castle was not there.  "Nno," he said apprehensively.  "But I still want to investigate."

     "What do you mean?"

     "I mean that I'm going to journey to Castle Dracula."

     "What?  Why?!  That's nothing more than a waste of time!"

     "How do you know that?"

     "Because it's very simple Richter, the Castle's not there.  And if the Castle's not there that means Dracula's not there either."

     "But I want to check to make sure.  I don't want what happened last time to happen again, do you?"

     I said nothing at first.  Richter continued.

     "I don't want my baby girl to be snatch from her crib.  You don't want little Alcander to be taken from his crib by that monster either, do you?"

     "I don't believe that I've to answer that for you Belmont."

     Richter smiled back at me.  "I thought as much, Tepes.  Will you come with me?"

     "Yes, I'll come with you; but first let me tell my wife."

     The next morning Richter and I set out for Castle Dracula.  We took a new road that was built the year before that would make our journey to Castle Dracula faster, but when we arrived all we found were ruins.  The Castle looked exactly the same as it did the last time we watched it crumble.

     "I see no sign of a crypt Richter.  Everything is as it was the last time we were here."

     Richter nodded.  "It appears so, Adrian.  I guess I jumped the gun too quickly."

     "No," I told him.  "You were only concerned for the safety of your wife and children.  I can't blame you for that.  I'm worried about the safety of my family as well."

     "Well," Richter replied, "I guess there's nothing more for us to do here.  I guess we should return home."

     (I shook my head when I finished writing about Richter 'jumping the gun.'  He did not jump the gun, he was thinking correctly.  I, however, was not.)

     In March of this year (1807) I was reclining in my favorite chair with Alcander on my lap when Richter Belmont stopped by to pay me a visit.  He had some urgent news.

     "Adrian, I want you to read this," he told me, as he handed me a letter.

     The letter was from Father Isaiah Kelton, a Jesuit Catholic priest at St. Michael's University in Vienna, Austria.  Not only was Father Kelton a priest but he was also a doctor, who heard about Richter from an eastern-rite Catholic priest on campus. 

     In his letter, Father Kelton describes his two patients, Christina and Deifilia Blair.  They were the daughters of a lower noble family.  Their father, Lord Blair, had asked Father Kelton to examine them after they became ill.  Father Kelton described them as weak and with no desire to eat.  He adds that on their throats are two little wounds, white with red centers.  Father Kelton noted that the wounds are too far apart for an insect bite and too clean for an animal bite.  He assumed they were made by something human, possibly a vampire, but he wanted Richter to come and confirm it for him.

     "What the priest appears to be talking about does sound like a vampire," I replied after I finished the letter.

     "I've already talked to Annette, and I told her that it was my family's duty to investigate evil such as this."

     "I take it that you're going to Austria then?"

     "Yes."

     "How did Annette feel about that?"

     "She wasn't too happy, but she understood that it was my family's duty."

     "Well, I can sympathize with her."

     "Yeah, I can too.  I really don't want to go, but I feel that I must."

     Richter paused for a moment.  And because there was a pause I knew that he was struggling to find the words for a question that he wanted to ask me.  And I also knew exactly what type of question it was going to be.

     "Adrian, I would like to know…would you like to travel with me to Austria to investigate the Catholic priest's request?"

     I responded immediately.  "No."

     "No?" responded Richter; surprised by my answer.  "May I inquire why?"

     "Yes, you may."

     I rose from my chair, and held out Alcander for Richter to see.  "This little boy right here, along with his brother and his mother are the reasons why I don't want to go to Austria."

     "Well, Adrian, I didn't exactly want to leave my wife and children either."

     "I understand that, but it's as you said before, you feel it's your 'family's duty to investigate.'  Well, Richter, it's not mine.  If there actually is a vampire there—and I know there's not—I believe you can handle it.  You don't need my assistance all the time."

     Richter sighed.  It seemed as though I had made my point to him.  "Yes, Adrian, I believe that you're right.  But I do have one request I'd like to ask you?"

     "What's that?" I asked, while I placed Alcander on the floor.

     "That in case what I may discover in Vienna is something serious that you'll come and help me if I really need it."

     I nodded and said, "Yes.  If it's a grave situation I'll come and help you."

     "Thank you, Tepes," Richter replied with a smile.

     I had returned from the park with Maria and our two sons when I discovered a letter from Richter.  In the letter, Richter told me that there was indeed a vampire in Austria and that he had taken the lives of the two sisters that Father Kelton wrote about.  He asked for me help, and although I did not want to leave Maria and the boys, the next day I boarded a ship bound for Vienna.

     Vienna is an impressive city.  It's buildings date back to the middle ages, just like many of Wallachia's structures.  When the boys are older, I would like to go on vacation with Maria to Vienna. 

     Richter and I greeted each other on the campus of St. Michael's University.  The two of us made small talk before he told me something interesting.

     "Adrian, did I ever tell you about my cousin, Rachel?"

     The name did not sound familiar.  "No, I don't think so."

     "Well, she lives here in Vienna."

     "Well, that's nice to hear, Richter.  I hope you took some time to talk to her while you're here in town."

     "Yes, I did," but then Richter's face turned to one of concern.

     "Is something wrong Richter?"

     "She told me that she met a man…a Wallachian prince."

     "Wallachian prince?"

     "Yes.  She said his name was Vlad Tepes."

     I gasped when Richter said that name.  "It can't be Father, can it?"

     "I don't know.  He told her that he's a descendent of Vlad the Monk.  Are you familiar with him?"

     "Yes, he was a kinsman of my father who entered the monastery but…I don't believe that he ever had any children."

     "Perhaps we should investigate it?"

     I nodded.  "Agreed."

     "Good.  I learned from Rachel that this Vlad Tepes was to take her out for dinner this evening."

     "You know where she lives I take it?"

     "Yes."

     "Good.  That'll be the plan for this evening."

     "Right, but right now I'd like to take you over to Father Kelton's quarters and meet my companions.  They've already had some experience in vampire slaying."

     "Really?"

     "Yes.  With those two girls that Father Kelton was unable to save."

     I sighed when Richter told me that.  "I wish that I would've come with you that day.  Perhaps I could've helped save them."

     "I doubt it.  In this part of the world Adrian the idea of a vampire is regarded as pure superstition.  Their father, Lord Blair, thought that Kelton and I had gone mad.  It wasn't until he saw it with his own eyes that he came to believe."

     "You mean that he saw both his daughters as vampires?"

     "Yes."

     I had to pause for a moment after that statement.  I am a man with two children myself, and the thought of witnessing what Lord Blair witnessed with his own children…well, I did not even want to try and comprehend how he would have felt.

     Richter seemed to understand the thoughts I expressed through my body language.  "I sense where you're coming from, Adrian.  If it was Sidra…well, I don't even want to think about it."

     "Perhaps we should just go and meet your companions now?"

     "Yes, lets do that."

     I followed Richter to Father Kelton's quarters, but along the way I took some time to take in the university.  St. Michael's was a beautiful campus.  Some of the trees and small woodland area made me think about Romania for a moment.

     The student body consisted mostly of either the bourgeoisie or the aristocracy.  But this is usually the case for most facilities of higher education.  However, I think that I did notice some students that may have been from lower class families, but these students were probably studying for the priesthood and the Church was paying their expenses.

     Other than that, this campus was probably the same as any other university run by a religious organization.  There was a church for Mass, and a few statues of Jesus, Mary, and some other saints.

     When we arrived at Father Kelton's quarters Richter immediately introduced me to him, and I shook his hand.  Father Kelton was a tall-thin man with dark hair and glasses.  He immediately offered me some refreshment and a place to sit down.  In many ways Father Kelton reminded me of Father Miceadu with the only difference being that Father Kelton was Catholic and Father Miceadu was Orthodox.

     The next person I met was Lord Blair.  Blair was a short-stocky man with brow hair who appeared to be in his late forties.  Although he was of noble blood, Blair dressed in a middle class business suit; and never in anyway acted as though he was better than somebody else because of his birthright.  The humility that Lord Blair showed upset me over more over the loss of his daughters.

     Finally, I met Ambrose Franco and Gabriel Potter.  Ambrose and Gabriel had dated Lord Blair's daughters at the time of their tragic ending, and they were two of the first people who started to take seriously what Richter and Kelton were saying about the girls' condition. 

     Ambrose was an Italian in his early twenties.  He was a tall man with dark skin and eyes, and a composer.  He moved to Vienna to try and make a name for himself in the 'city of musicians'. 

     Gabriel was a local son of Vienna, who was also in his early twenties.  Gabriel was about an inch taller than Ambrose with lighter skin and hair and blue eyes, and an actor. 

     Ambrose and Gabriel met each other while they tried to establish a name for themselves in their respected professions; and this was also how they came in contact with the Blair sisters.  

     After I greeted all of them I decided to speak before all of them about vampires and about how my father may be walking through Vienna's streets.

     "I would first like to thank all of you for your warm hospitality, now I believe we should get to the matter at hand.  Vampires do exist, and I know that all of you believe that based on what Richter has told me, even though it goes against everything the enlightenment stands for.  Yet they do exist, and have been around since practically the beginning of creation.  I, myself, come from such a tradition as well.  I'm the product of a human woman and a vampire, but fortunately through Father Richter Belmont and the Church I was cleansed of any trace of vampire's blood and I now have two beautiful young children.  You should feel special, because next to my wife; my brother-in-law, Richter Belmont; and my wife's sister, Richter's wife, Annette; nobody else knows about my family's history, and I'd appreciate it if all of you kept what I've told you here."

     The four of them nodded.

     "Thank you.  Now I think that we may've discovered the source of our vampire problem, but I'd like it if Richter would explain it to all of you."  I gestured to Richter, and then sat down.

     Richter rose from his seat to address all of us.  "Everyone, earlier today I met up with my cousin, Rachel.  Rachel told me that she has been seeing a man who addresses himself as a prince of Wallachia named Vlad Tepes.

     Prince Vlad Tepes is Adrian's father (Lord Blair, Gabriel, and Ambrose gave me a look after Richter said that), but he was also defeated four years ago.  Rachel told me that this man claimed to be a descendent of Vlad the Monk, a kinsman of Vlad Tepes; but Adrian told me that he doesn't believe Vlad the Monk had any children.  This leads me to believe that this 'Vlad Tepes' may be the vampire himself, known also to us by his nickname 'Dracula'.  Rachel told me that she was to see him this evening, and to make sure that it's him we'll wait outside her apartment tonight."

     "Richter," Gabriel began, "if it's him, what're we to do?"

     "We'll confront him."

     "How dangerous is this man?" asked Lord Blair.

     "Not as dangerous as he could be," I replied.  "I believe that he's still weak after his last defeat."

     "What're the chances that we'll be attacked?" Ambrose asked.

     "I doubt that'll happen," answered Richter.  "Still, we'd best be prepared in case that happens.  I'm sure you know what equipment we need?"

     The four of them nodded in unison.

     "Good.  We'll wait outside her apartment this evening then."

     Rachel Belmont lived in the working class area of Vienna, which was a far cry from the lifestyle Richter and I come from, which is mostly rural.  Working class, but rural.  I was actually afraid that we might experience an encounter with a petty thief, but fortunately we did not.

     The light of the moon cast its powerful glaze all over the city, along with the streetlights that were lit every evening.  We waited outside her apartment for about an hour, and while we waited the streets started to clear.

     Finally, Richter informed us that he spotted his cousin.  She was walking arm-in-arm with her date.

     "My God that's him!" I whispered.  It was indeed my father back from the grave, although he was dressed in modern clothing.

          Father must have returned that day Richter and I watched the day turn briefly into night.  Richter acted seriously on the events that occurred and I did not.  I did not believe that Father was back because the Castle was not restored, and for over three hundred years Castle Dracula was always a sign of Father's existence.  I now believe that the reason why the Castle did not return that day was because Father was too weak to call for it.  What an opportunity Richter and I missed to slay him!  Father was probably still very weak from the affects of the Eucharist, which is why he left Romania to escape vampire hunters.

     Austria was a safe haven for him, because Austria—like most of Western Europe—had been affected by what was known as the 'Enlightenment.'  To children of the Enlightenment vampirism was nothing more than a ridiculous superstition that was invented by the Church to keep mankind in the darkness.  If someone dies from a vampire's kiss the vampire will be safe, because if no one believes that they exist how can they ever be hunted?  Under that philosophy, Father could find the time he needed to recover from the Eucharist.

     Father immediately stopped, and Rachel appeared confused.  "Vlad," she said, "is something wrong?"

     He did not answer her.  He only replied, "Alucard, come forth!"

     I was shocked.  He sensed that I was nearby, even though I know that he could not have seen me.

     Rachel was still confused.  "Vlad, who're you talking to?"

     Again Father did not answer her.  Instead he forcefully grabbed her by the arm, and placed his other hand over her mouth so she could not scream.

     At this moment all of us stepped forward, and I addressed him.

     "All right Father, I'm here."

     "Damn it, let her go!" shouted Richter.

     Father flashed us a grin.  "So you found me, eh?"

     "Yes, we found you," I replied.  "And I know that you'd prefer me over her, so please let her go."

     Father chuckled.  "You over her?  Not exactly.  You see, son, she's a Belmont.  What a victory it would be for me to make a Belmont into my image."

     Father flashed his fangs, and turned his eyes to Rachel's throat.  Immediately all of us raised our crucifixes.  Father snarled and turned away, but he did not let go of Rachel.

     "Put them away," he declared.

     "Only if you let her go," I told him.

     Father paused before he finally released Rachel to us then he vanished into the night.  Rachel was all right, just a little shaken.  We stayed with her for the rest of the evening, and when morning came we underwent our search for Father.

     Through shipping records we learned that a box carrying earth left port early that morning and was bound for Romania.  Father was trying to escape us, but we were not going to let him.

     That afternoon Richter, Kelton, Blair, Gabriel, Ambrose, and I all boarded a ship bound for Romania.  Rachel Belmont went with us as well.  For her safety, Richter did not want her to stay alone in Vienna.

     When we arrived at Warakiya Village we could see the Castle in the distance.

     "Vlad the Impaler has regained his power well enough to bring back the Castle," Richter said.

     I nodded and looked at everyone in the party.

     "Everyone," I began, while I pointed to the Castle; "tomorrow that'll be our destination, Castle Dracula.  Waiting for us will be the monster himself.  I'm sure that some of you're worried and there's nothing wrong with that.  Fear keeps us sharp and helps us survive.  But our fear of Dracula can be countered by one powerful gift."

     "What's that?" asked Father Kelton.

     "Faith, Father.  Never give up faith, and never give up hope.  These weapons are the most powerful weapon against Vlad the Impaler and the forces of evil."

     That evening Gabriel and Ambrose spent the night at my home, while Blair, Kelton, and Rachel stayed at the Belmont residence.

     I discovered that Gabriel has a fondness for children.  He really enjoyed spending time with my two sons, especially Alcander.  He told me privately that he would like to have a family of his own one-day, if he could survive the situation he currently found himself in.  I echoed the words that I told the rest of the party earlier that day.  Have faith and never give it up.

     The next morning our party attended a joint Orthodox-Catholic Mass at the Belmont chapel with Maria, Annette, and our children in attendance.  Then we set out for Castle Dracula.

     The journey to Castle Dracula took three days, and once we arrived it took us about three hours to reach the throne room.  Father, as patient as ever, reclined on his throne; and did not even acknowledge our presence until we were about ten feet away from him.

     "Six Alucard?  It takes six men for you to fight me now?  …I don't know what to think about you anymore, Alucard."

     "If you're going on numbers Father, you have an infinite number of servants to act as your guards."

     Father smiled.  "Always one for the clever comebacks weren't you Alucard."

     The next thing I know Lord Blair stepped forward.  I had no idea what he was thinking, and when I tried to ask him he gestured me away; but I was about to find out.

     "Vlad Tepes?"

     My father looked down at him.  He was probably as surprised as all of us that Lord Blair stepped forward.

     "Yes?"

     "I've but one simple question to ask you.  Why did you take my daughters away from me?  They posed no threat to you.  They were my only children, and as someone who has children of his own, how could you do that to me and my family?"

     I was surprised how calm Lord Blair remained after he asked my father such a sensitive question.  But what I was not surprised about was my father's uncaring attitude.

     "Your daughters were innocent victims."

     "What?  What do you mean by that?"

     "I mean that they were two innocent victims in the war with God."

     "What?!"  Lord Blair was now becoming agitated.  "I don't understand you."

     "Well, it's quite simple really.  Your daughters' names were Christian and Deifilia.  Now Christina is the feminine version of the name Christian, while Deifilia's Latin for 'God's daughter'.  What better way for me to get even with God then to use two names that have such close ties with Him and morph them into my image."

     Lord Blair was furious.  "What?!  You mean that you did this just to get even with God?!"

     Yes, Lord Blair.  This is unfortunately how my father works, but Father responded by brushing off the criticism and placing it onto Lord Blair's shoulders.

     "Don't blame me for what happened.  It's your fault not mine."

     "My fault?!"

     "Yes, all you had to do was to name them something else when they were born and this never would've happened to you."

     "You son of a bitch!" screeched Lord Blair.  "I'll send you right back to Hell!"

     Father roared in laughed as he stood up from his throne.  He was wearing a cloak, and a gust of wind caught it.  Father appeared to stand as a warrior of old when he declared to Lord Blair, "By all means, try!"

     Lord Blair was the first to attack.  He splashed a bottle of holy water that sprinkled on Father's arm, burning his skin like acid.  Father snarled, but was quick to counterattack.  He grabbed Lord Blair by his wrist, but Richter quickly cracked his whip, which forced Father to lose his grip and retreat behind his throne.

     Father then used the same attack that he did when Trevor and I battled him over three hundred years ago.  Richter and I helped Blair and Kelton to farthest corner of the room where they would be safe from the flames, but Lord Blair wanted to fight!

     "I want to kill that son of a bitch!" he shouted.

     "I know," I told him, "but you're in no position to battle with him right now."

     "And I suppose you're any better?" he countered, and he did have a point.

     Father was not a stupid man.  I seriously doubted that he would have fallen for the same strategy Trevor and I used three hundred years ago, but perhaps he would fall for something else.  I whispered to the members of my party and we hatched a plot.

     "Father!" I shouted through the flames.  "I know that you'd rather fight me more than any of the other party members here!"

     "Ha!" Father shouted back.  "I'd prefer actually to fight the man who called me a 'son of a bitch' and said he was going to send me 'back to Hell.'"

     "You know perfectly well Father that, that man's in no condition to battle you."

     "What lies!  I was the same age he is when my earthly life expired, and I could still fight!"

     "Yes, but you were a trained warrior, and he's not.  Fighting him would be the equivalent of fighting my two-year-old, who'd use his baby bottle as a sword." (I apologized to Lord Blair afterwards for making that comparison, but I had to say something to turn Father's attention away from him and onto me.)  "The rest of my party will throw down their weapons and you can fight me one-on-one."

     Immediately the flames subsided, and Father looked at me right in the eyes.

     "Tell them to lay them down now."

     I motioned to everyone to do as Father requested and they did.

     But then Father added, "Now tell them to kick their weapons over to me."

     I did not expect this, and Father's words made some of the party members apprehensive.

     "Should we really do that?" asked Ambrose.

     I nodded affirmatively.  "Have faith, my friend."

     Everyone else agreed, and pushed their weapons towards Father.  He gently stepped over them, which made all of us aware that if we wanted to use them again we would have to go through him.

     Father unsheathed his sword, ready for battle, but before our swords clashed together Father received a bullet in the chest.  Gabriel had kept a small handgun under his coat, and I told him that when the time was right to fire.

     The bullet did not actually hurt Father, but it did cause him to stagger back.  With Father staggered, I seized the opportunity to pierce him with my sword; but that was not the final blow.  That honor went to Lord Blair, who avenged his daughters by inserting a piece of the consecrated Host into Father's mouth.