The trip to America took many nights after leaving Transylvania and
returning to London. Adam and Madeline gathered up as much of their
folklore collection as they could before leaving for America. Madeline
also gathered up her ancient records about the ancient Egyptians hoping
that the records could help seal a deal with the witches by allowing them
to read about the culture of ancient Egypt. Madeline packed her records in
a special leather bag that she could carry with her on the ship to America.
Adam and Madeline rested, as well as Monty, while the servants brought their masters' luggage near the door for a quick departure when sundown arrived. They also caught as many rats and mice they could during the day to pack in a crate, their blood could keep Adam and Madeline alive during the ride upon the ship. They also packed fruits and vegetables for Monty's journey. The woman baked bread for Monty to eat if the fruits and vegetables began to spoil during the trip.
Sundown came quickly, and Adam woke to Madeline tugging at his arms. "Come on, Daddy, we must leave at once." Adam sighed in response to his daughter because he would have liked to wake completely before leaving. 'All well,' he thought. 'Sooner we leave, the sooner we will arrive at our destination.'
Halfway through the journey, Madeline pulled out her folklore records while on the ship. She was in her father's cabin and was reading by the light of a lantern hanging from a hook on the roof. The lantern gave off more light than the candles Madeline had packed, so she used it. She poured over what the records told of Ancient Egypt, and she was desperately looking for a clue as to where the Book of the Dead was. But all the records could tell her was that the book of the dead was a scroll that could be purchased before death. It had symbols and spells to protect the person in the afterlife. 'But, where is the original?' Madeline wondered.
Adam stood out on the deck of the ship staring out to the ocean, and he sensed the presence of witches. The presence was far away, but it was inevitably there. Knowing witches were waiting, Adam sent out a telepathic message to any witch that would answer. I am seeking the help of the Salem witches. I have a quest for them. Adam stared off into the darkness waiting patiently for a reply, and he stood there for many minutes with nothing in response to his call. So, he started to head back into his cabin with Madeline, but something stopped him.
You seek us, a voice rang loud and clear inside of Adam's head. What request do you wish us on?
Adam turned back around to the direction of the presence. My daughter and I are coming to find you. We have a request, and I will stop at nothing to see that my daughter's wish is fulfilled. I also intend to take some profit from her wish, he replied.
The reply was delayed by obvious discussion among the witches. Adam felt they were discussing what he'd told them. We will meet you and hear your request, but we do not accept many. We do not give favors to mortals.
Then I am in luck, he told them, For I am no mortal. I am a vampire traveling with my vampire daughter.
Ah, then maybe we can trade. We give you what you want, and you make a bargain with us. Of course, it has to be worth our time and energy.
Adam grinned and replied. I do not doubt it will be worth your time.
Then, we shall make your travel quicker. You travel by boat?
Yes.
Then, we will make the waters move faster to hasten your arrival. We believe there is much to gain from a meeting. You shall be here by tomorrow's eve.
Adam nodded to himself. Wonderful, I can't wait. I'm sure my daughter will be very pleased to hear this news.
The witches did not reply, but Adam felt the boat moved faster than its normal pace was. He felt confident in the short time it took the witches to hold up their word. 'I will enjoy my work with them,' he thought. 'They will make most promising acquaintances.'
Adam headed for his cabin, where he found Madeline examining her records once again. "My dear daughter." Adam said to her. "Why must you worry yourself over this when I come bearing good news?"
Madeline's head jerked up, tossing her curly hair backwards. "What news do your bring," she asked excitedly.
Adam leaned down so he was face to face with her. "The witches are causing the ocean to propel us to them faster."
Madeline smiled brightly. "Brilliant! All the closer we get to the witches, all the closer we get to helping reunite lost loves."
Once again, Adam found himself baffled by his daughter's fascination on reuniting Gabriel Van Helsing and Anna Valerious. They were just two mortals in a cruel world, who'd suffered cruel fate. But, a small voice deep inside of Adam told him that he too had felt that loss, and he knew how good it was to have the woman he loved in his arms again. 'I was given that gift once,' he thought. 'Perhaps this Van Helsing should be repaid for the pain he's in."
Daylight fast approached, leaving Adam and Madeline deep in slumber. Monty found joy in helping the ship's crew. They had him do small jobs like swab the deck, but he got to be in the sunlight for once. Monty rarely saw sunlight, since he was Adam's number one servant and loyal friend. So, a chance to be in the sunlight was a joy to him, even if it involved having to work. Monty soaked in the warm rays of light that poured over his body like he had for the whole journey. Soon, he would have to return to living during the night, and it made him sad.
Monty woke up Adam and Madeline as soon as the sun went below the horizon. He burst into the cabin and yelled, "Sir, we've arrived!" Adam and Madeline rose up from their beds and raced to the door of the cabin. Madeline gasped at the sight of land, and said to Adam, "Daddy, look, we're finally here."
Adam put his arm around his lovely daughter and grinned evilly. "Yes, darling, we are."
The townspeople gathered to see the newcomers, and they feared they two blonde strangers and their servant. Adam glanced over at the crowd and saw the fear in their eyes, and he wondered if townspeople from the America knew what a vampire looked like. "Daddy," Madeline whispered, "Do they know we're vampires?"
Adam held his daughter tightly and stared blankly at the crowd using his mind powers to send them into a trance. Instead of fear Adam, they smiled at him and left to resume their sleep. Adam nodded from satisfaction with his powers, and he led his daughter towards the presence he felt on the boat while attempting to contact the witches. Soon enough, he saw a group of women standing in the forest at the edge of the town. They all wore dark robes that concealed their bodies and helped them blend in with the dark.
Adam saw the leader, who stood closer to where he, Madeline, and Monty were. She held out her arm and swept it to the left then turned and followed her coven ushering Adam, Madeline, and Monty to follow. The three did follow the coven, and they were eager to begin their bargain. Adam was interested in learning more about the witches because he had never seen a witch in London. If there were any at all, they stayed well out of the way of others. 'Perhaps it's a pity they hide,' Adam thought to himself, 'These witches are intriguing.'
The witches led the two vampires and their servant deep into the heart of the forest before arriving to the witch village. Adam was awe- struck by the houses seemingly untouched by time for they kept their fifteenth century appeal. All the houses were made of logs and had hay on the roof except where a chimney protruded from it. "You've kept your houses in such an out-of-date style. You live in records of time." Adam announced out of the silence.
The leader turned to him. "Yes, we like to keep our homes unchanged and simple. It's the way our ancestors would have preferred it."
Madeline was bursting with questions to ask of the witches. "What do you know of the witch trials?"
The leader removed her hood and stared deep into the young vampire's eyes. "I know that we lost a few of our kind in those trials, which killed a lot more innocent mortals than our kind. But, our family fled from the trials and settled deep in this forest knowing that the puritans were too afraid to tread this far."
She saw the thrill in Madeline's eyes, but there was a meeting to be held. "What of the meeting, vampires?"
Adam took his arm off of his daughter's shoulders and stepped up to the witch leader. "First, what is your name, good witch?"
The witch looked him squarely in the face. "You know not enough of me to call me good witch, but what is your name, vampire?"
Adam did not mind introducing himself first, in fact, he rather enjoyed it. "Adam Peter Christophen," he replied proudly. He was tall, nearing six feet, with well-groomed hair and green eyes that stood out against his dark upper class garb.
The witch nodded and held out her hand. "Victoria Lillith Robertson," she told him.
Adam held out his hand for Victoria to take, which she did. He kissed the top of her hand and told her, "What a beautiful name."
Victoria took back her hand and removed her robe revealing an antique dress of witches. It was a crimson red dress with gold trim along the neck, down the lace up front of the dress and around the bottom of the dress. The crimson made her black hair and blue eyes stand out, and Adam found her very lovely. "Flattery matters little to me, Mr. Christophen." Victoria told him. "Now, shall we discuss our bargain?"
"Yes, let's." Adam replied.
Victoria told her coven, "Please take Mr. Christophen's guests to where they'll be staying tonight."
Madeline stepped closer to her. "But, I'd like to be in the meeting."
Adam touched his daughter's arm and told her, "It's all right, Madeline. I'll make sure to mention everything."
Madeline pulled her Ancient Egyptian records out of her leather bag. "Here," she told her father before following Victoria's coven to a house that was boarded up and covered with heavy materials to keep light from getting in.
Victoria led Adam into her home where the meeting would be held. "All meetings are personal. I am the coven leader, so I take care of all business. Please, come inside." Adam accepted and entered her home.
Adam and Madeline rested, as well as Monty, while the servants brought their masters' luggage near the door for a quick departure when sundown arrived. They also caught as many rats and mice they could during the day to pack in a crate, their blood could keep Adam and Madeline alive during the ride upon the ship. They also packed fruits and vegetables for Monty's journey. The woman baked bread for Monty to eat if the fruits and vegetables began to spoil during the trip.
Sundown came quickly, and Adam woke to Madeline tugging at his arms. "Come on, Daddy, we must leave at once." Adam sighed in response to his daughter because he would have liked to wake completely before leaving. 'All well,' he thought. 'Sooner we leave, the sooner we will arrive at our destination.'
Halfway through the journey, Madeline pulled out her folklore records while on the ship. She was in her father's cabin and was reading by the light of a lantern hanging from a hook on the roof. The lantern gave off more light than the candles Madeline had packed, so she used it. She poured over what the records told of Ancient Egypt, and she was desperately looking for a clue as to where the Book of the Dead was. But all the records could tell her was that the book of the dead was a scroll that could be purchased before death. It had symbols and spells to protect the person in the afterlife. 'But, where is the original?' Madeline wondered.
Adam stood out on the deck of the ship staring out to the ocean, and he sensed the presence of witches. The presence was far away, but it was inevitably there. Knowing witches were waiting, Adam sent out a telepathic message to any witch that would answer. I am seeking the help of the Salem witches. I have a quest for them. Adam stared off into the darkness waiting patiently for a reply, and he stood there for many minutes with nothing in response to his call. So, he started to head back into his cabin with Madeline, but something stopped him.
You seek us, a voice rang loud and clear inside of Adam's head. What request do you wish us on?
Adam turned back around to the direction of the presence. My daughter and I are coming to find you. We have a request, and I will stop at nothing to see that my daughter's wish is fulfilled. I also intend to take some profit from her wish, he replied.
The reply was delayed by obvious discussion among the witches. Adam felt they were discussing what he'd told them. We will meet you and hear your request, but we do not accept many. We do not give favors to mortals.
Then I am in luck, he told them, For I am no mortal. I am a vampire traveling with my vampire daughter.
Ah, then maybe we can trade. We give you what you want, and you make a bargain with us. Of course, it has to be worth our time and energy.
Adam grinned and replied. I do not doubt it will be worth your time.
Then, we shall make your travel quicker. You travel by boat?
Yes.
Then, we will make the waters move faster to hasten your arrival. We believe there is much to gain from a meeting. You shall be here by tomorrow's eve.
Adam nodded to himself. Wonderful, I can't wait. I'm sure my daughter will be very pleased to hear this news.
The witches did not reply, but Adam felt the boat moved faster than its normal pace was. He felt confident in the short time it took the witches to hold up their word. 'I will enjoy my work with them,' he thought. 'They will make most promising acquaintances.'
Adam headed for his cabin, where he found Madeline examining her records once again. "My dear daughter." Adam said to her. "Why must you worry yourself over this when I come bearing good news?"
Madeline's head jerked up, tossing her curly hair backwards. "What news do your bring," she asked excitedly.
Adam leaned down so he was face to face with her. "The witches are causing the ocean to propel us to them faster."
Madeline smiled brightly. "Brilliant! All the closer we get to the witches, all the closer we get to helping reunite lost loves."
Once again, Adam found himself baffled by his daughter's fascination on reuniting Gabriel Van Helsing and Anna Valerious. They were just two mortals in a cruel world, who'd suffered cruel fate. But, a small voice deep inside of Adam told him that he too had felt that loss, and he knew how good it was to have the woman he loved in his arms again. 'I was given that gift once,' he thought. 'Perhaps this Van Helsing should be repaid for the pain he's in."
Daylight fast approached, leaving Adam and Madeline deep in slumber. Monty found joy in helping the ship's crew. They had him do small jobs like swab the deck, but he got to be in the sunlight for once. Monty rarely saw sunlight, since he was Adam's number one servant and loyal friend. So, a chance to be in the sunlight was a joy to him, even if it involved having to work. Monty soaked in the warm rays of light that poured over his body like he had for the whole journey. Soon, he would have to return to living during the night, and it made him sad.
Monty woke up Adam and Madeline as soon as the sun went below the horizon. He burst into the cabin and yelled, "Sir, we've arrived!" Adam and Madeline rose up from their beds and raced to the door of the cabin. Madeline gasped at the sight of land, and said to Adam, "Daddy, look, we're finally here."
Adam put his arm around his lovely daughter and grinned evilly. "Yes, darling, we are."
The townspeople gathered to see the newcomers, and they feared they two blonde strangers and their servant. Adam glanced over at the crowd and saw the fear in their eyes, and he wondered if townspeople from the America knew what a vampire looked like. "Daddy," Madeline whispered, "Do they know we're vampires?"
Adam held his daughter tightly and stared blankly at the crowd using his mind powers to send them into a trance. Instead of fear Adam, they smiled at him and left to resume their sleep. Adam nodded from satisfaction with his powers, and he led his daughter towards the presence he felt on the boat while attempting to contact the witches. Soon enough, he saw a group of women standing in the forest at the edge of the town. They all wore dark robes that concealed their bodies and helped them blend in with the dark.
Adam saw the leader, who stood closer to where he, Madeline, and Monty were. She held out her arm and swept it to the left then turned and followed her coven ushering Adam, Madeline, and Monty to follow. The three did follow the coven, and they were eager to begin their bargain. Adam was interested in learning more about the witches because he had never seen a witch in London. If there were any at all, they stayed well out of the way of others. 'Perhaps it's a pity they hide,' Adam thought to himself, 'These witches are intriguing.'
The witches led the two vampires and their servant deep into the heart of the forest before arriving to the witch village. Adam was awe- struck by the houses seemingly untouched by time for they kept their fifteenth century appeal. All the houses were made of logs and had hay on the roof except where a chimney protruded from it. "You've kept your houses in such an out-of-date style. You live in records of time." Adam announced out of the silence.
The leader turned to him. "Yes, we like to keep our homes unchanged and simple. It's the way our ancestors would have preferred it."
Madeline was bursting with questions to ask of the witches. "What do you know of the witch trials?"
The leader removed her hood and stared deep into the young vampire's eyes. "I know that we lost a few of our kind in those trials, which killed a lot more innocent mortals than our kind. But, our family fled from the trials and settled deep in this forest knowing that the puritans were too afraid to tread this far."
She saw the thrill in Madeline's eyes, but there was a meeting to be held. "What of the meeting, vampires?"
Adam took his arm off of his daughter's shoulders and stepped up to the witch leader. "First, what is your name, good witch?"
The witch looked him squarely in the face. "You know not enough of me to call me good witch, but what is your name, vampire?"
Adam did not mind introducing himself first, in fact, he rather enjoyed it. "Adam Peter Christophen," he replied proudly. He was tall, nearing six feet, with well-groomed hair and green eyes that stood out against his dark upper class garb.
The witch nodded and held out her hand. "Victoria Lillith Robertson," she told him.
Adam held out his hand for Victoria to take, which she did. He kissed the top of her hand and told her, "What a beautiful name."
Victoria took back her hand and removed her robe revealing an antique dress of witches. It was a crimson red dress with gold trim along the neck, down the lace up front of the dress and around the bottom of the dress. The crimson made her black hair and blue eyes stand out, and Adam found her very lovely. "Flattery matters little to me, Mr. Christophen." Victoria told him. "Now, shall we discuss our bargain?"
"Yes, let's." Adam replied.
Victoria told her coven, "Please take Mr. Christophen's guests to where they'll be staying tonight."
Madeline stepped closer to her. "But, I'd like to be in the meeting."
Adam touched his daughter's arm and told her, "It's all right, Madeline. I'll make sure to mention everything."
Madeline pulled her Ancient Egyptian records out of her leather bag. "Here," she told her father before following Victoria's coven to a house that was boarded up and covered with heavy materials to keep light from getting in.
Victoria led Adam into her home where the meeting would be held. "All meetings are personal. I am the coven leader, so I take care of all business. Please, come inside." Adam accepted and entered her home.