This chapter was very fun to write. (I write the headers and footers after I write the chapter) Very fun indeed.
Anyway I thank you all for your reviews. You have been to kind. (Nods) But do to the lack of time that I have to write (am at school) I will be answering them in the next chapter, savvy?
Vlad is back.
"So… this is Oslo?" Van said as he fitted his way through the crowd. They had arrived on the out skirts of the city about half an hour ago and they soon found themselves in the midst of a booming town. The only thing that hinted that anything was wrong was when a door swung open and on the inside was painted a black cross.
Finally they found an Inn and dismounted, handing their horses off to the nearest stable boy.
"The winged Lion is what I believe it means." Dracula whispered as the three entered the inn. After arranging a stay for a few nights they headed upstairs to get settled in.
"That's odd." Mused Carl as they entered their room. Every mirror in the room was covered with a cloth and on the inside of the door was a black cross. A Bible lay out on a small table that was positioned near the window.
"Someone must have died." Whispered Dracula as he his fingers over the cross. A silence crept through the room as they situated themselves, trying to not get freaked out by the covered mirrors and mass amounts of bibles that littered the tables and desk space. (Along with beds and bureaus)
"I think a lot of people have died." Murmured Van as he removed a thick leather bound bible from his bed.
"Someone died in here." Whispered Dracula as he walked around the room, sniffing skeptically like a bloodhound on a trail.
"How do you- wait you can smell it right?" Van said as he got up and stood next to Dracula, tilting his head in the same manner.
"Yes… he was… murdered I believe, but that was over twenty years ago. The death that they are mourning now must be a family member or family friend." Dracula said as he moved toward the window and gazed out. The setting sun cast shadows through the streets, causing people to shiver and children to run home to warm hearths and food.
"City life…" Dracula mused, absent-mindedly twisting a button on his coat, "How I have forgotten city life." He sighed, a tang of sadness split through his chest, he quickly turned around to face his companions, willing old memories and feelings away.
"You alright?" Van asked, he had only heard part of what Dracula had said to himself.
"Memories Gabriel, that's all." He turned suddenly towards the door. "I'm going out to eat, I may pick up some information in the process." A dry smile curved his lips, "Mortal's tongues loosen once they are properly… bribed." With that he left in a flurry of cape and hair.
"Bribed?" Questioned Carl, not really wanting to know the answer.
"Intoxicated." Van said offhandedly. As for the other type of "bribery" well, he figured that Dracula considered himself above that.
"Oh." Carl said as he pulled out the over due library book. "We are going to have such large fines on this when we get back." Muttered the friar as he propped himself up in the bed. (Hate thin squishy not properly covered hotel pillows)
"Eh, Dracula can cover them.'
"When did he get rich?" Carl snorted then added, "probably stole it from someone."
Van glared at Carl but the Friar didn't seem to notice as he was currently buried in the book.
"He was born into money Carl, and he is a good money manager, I reason he has had little need to spend it for the past 400 years." Van said tightly, trying not to sneer at the friar. Their friendship had been strained for the past few days and Van was hoping it was just due to the lack of sleep and food.
Carl scowled but didn't say anything. Hours passed as the two sat there, once or twice Van left and brought back some food (mainly cheese and bread, occasionally a vegetable of some sort.)
Finally Van drifted off, the long no rest ride from Fredrikstad to Oslo had taken its toll on him, physically and mentally. (He was snarkier, well more than usual)
As the early morning light began to peep through the heavy clouds Dracula slipped back into the cold room. He walked over and rekindled the fire and removed his snow sodden cloak and shoes. He ten stole a blanket from Van (who complained sleepily) and stretched out in front of the fireplace, quiet content to let the heat dry him out.
Van shivered and woke, at first wondering why he was so cold, then the memory of Dracula stealing his blanket muddled its way into his mind. He sighed and sat up, feeling his head ring with the sudden motion. Asleep on the floor in front of the fireplace was a certain Vampire. (curled up in the blanket non the less) So, feeling rather generous and kind Van felt that he should let the poor fool have the blanket.
He stood and stretched, feeling the blood finally start to circulate through him, waking him up. Somewhat. After fully rousing Carl and pulling cloaks on they headed downstairs to get a proper breakfast and to hear the latest news.
"Did ye hear?" A large bearded man said to his companion who couldn't be described any other way than gray. Gray hair, gray eyes; gray skin, gray clothes, and a gray beard.
"Hear vat?" He rasped back, taking a swig of his drink. Which looked gray as well.
"Another death. Last night, same as before."
The gray man rolled his eyes, setting his companion into a pout. "It's alvays about death vith ye, can't ye talk aboot something a little more cheerful?"
"But that's all there is to talk aboot around here." He replied, still pouting making him look rather like a pug.
"Eh, mahbe ye're right. I dunno, I still think that ye talk aboot death too much. Anyvay, who died?"
A light came to the man's large round face. "Ah I knew ye vould vant to know. Vell ye know old Aricin?"
"Yes, how could I not?"
"Yes vell, he and his vife vhere out shopping then suddenly a thing dropped out of the sky and carried them off. A group of boys found their bodied this morning, mangled like all the rest."
The two men shook their heads sadly then got up to leave.
Van turned back to Carl with an expression of high interest on his face.
"So, the Valkyrie are attacking here as well." He paused and glanced around the room, everyone else seemed pretty sullen, most wearing black or other dark colors. Everyone had the sign of mourning on their faces.
"But I thought you knew that the Valkyrie where attacking Oslo. I mean you said so back a few days ago." Carl said. Van nodded and drained his coffee.
"Yes, but I wasn't sure. So now I am, we should wake Dracula and ask him if he found out anything."
Carl let out a sigh then heaved himself up and followed Van, not without leaving some money for the food of course.
"Dracula." Van said as he nudged the figure on the floor with his foot.
"What? Can't you see that I am trying to sleep?" The figure said, casting a glare in Van's direction before retreating under the covers.
"I can see that fine but can't you see that I am in need of some information that you might posses." He heard a sigh from the vampire as it turned over.
"Fine, fine. I'll tell you what I found, will you then let me go back to sleep?"
"But of course." Van said as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, Carl did so as well.
"Well I found out that there have been deaths going on for about three months, each body looks the same. Mangled, distorted, body parts and organs missing, you fill in the rest yourself." A pause. "The people seem to think that the gods, who they have been neglecting, are getting revenge. And of course, they are close to the mark."
Van nodded, a scowl forming on his face.
"What surprises me is that we haven't met up with Loki or someone that works for him."
Dracula blinked, his eyes flickering behind Van's shoulder.
"We have, you just can't see him… and old warrior from Valhalla perhaps, someone that is dead so we can't harm him. He has been following us for some time now." Van tensed and turned to look behind him. Nothing, the room was empty, but for the first time he sensed a chill. An unearthly presence finally made itself clear.
"You won't be ably to see him Gabriel. He is to weak to really make his presence known." Dracula said he layed back down, surveying the scene with a bored expression.
"What can we do then?" Van asked, instinctively keeping his voice down.
"Nothing, but that is the least of our concerns. Right now we need to figure out what to do with the Valkyrie." Carl and Van nodded.
"Can we rally some sort of force?" Carl asked, his voice slightly squeaky.
"We could try, not sure how many people would be for it though… I guess we should give it a shot." Van said, thinking over the possibilities of anyone risking themselves for this.
"You have little faith in men Gabriel, I'm shocked." Dracula mocked as he propped himself up on his elbows. "Mankind works in mysterious ways, you may have your army Gabriel, just be patient." A sparkle had come to Dracula's eyes. "Let me work some of my magic, ne? I can get them to join our cause, no their cause."
Gabriel nodded; he saw the change that went over Dracula. It was if the vampire was finally waking up. He had energy about him, energy he had never felt before. There was life to his eyes which had seemed dead only a few minutes ago.
"It seems that the dragon is finally waking up." Van muttered as he followed the now ecstatic vampire outside.
End! Review please!