CHAPTER 6
"I've checked all the meadows and the forest." Cornell told Ada and Marcell. "I couldn't find him."
"Malus has to be out there somewhere..." Ada said hopefully.
"I will go search the castle." Cornell said finally, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder. "I will find him, Ada."
"Let me accompany you," Marcell said to Cornell. "He is my son after all."
"I will be able to go quicker alone, and I have been in the castle before. Stay here with the village." Cornell hurried off in the forest, towards Dracula's castle.
A few minutes afterward, a village woman ran through the streets with a torch at hand. "Demons!" She yelled. "Demons in the village!"
Marcell and Ada rushed to the door and looked outside. A large pack of cerberus hounds and skeleton men raided the village, burning houses and killing as they went. Villagers had already begun to combat, while others had fled. This was the second time this had happened in the village's history.
"Go to the stable, take one of the horses and flee from the forest." Marcell said urgently to Ada. A pack of cerberus howled an eerie cry into the night. "You should be safe from there. I will stay here and fight."
Ada hugged and wished him good luck, then hurried off. She picked a bay horse named Thestlemane and rode through the fire and out of the village.
"Wait! Misses Ada!"
Ada stopped and looked back. Edward came running toward her, holding his younger sister Lydia by the hand.
"Please, our mother and father were killed by the Devils' hounds..." Edward pleaded. "Could we come with you?"
"Of course. Come on."
Edward lifted his sister onto Thestlemane, and then lifted himself on. The three rode into the forest, and into the night. A few feet away hidden behind the trees, Dracula sat on Nephalitheous. Through Malus' eyes he watched the village burn with grim satisfaction. Malus was speechless. He could only watch helplessly as his home was destroyed.
Now where will you go to, should you escape? Dracula asked. And who will you run to, now that your friends and family are gone? The survivors won't last the night or escape alive. I will assure you that.
One day soon, your day will come... Malus said quietly, with a heart full of rage. Someone will defeat you, and avenge the village and all the village's suffering and death will not be in vain.
You hope too much boy; And yet you still defy me. Stay silent and I might ease your troubles.
Never!
Dracula grimaced. Your disobedience will cost you dearly.
Nephalitheous galloped forward, flapping his great bat-like wings and lifting high into the air, heading back towards the castle. One of the things Malus always wanted to do was to fly. The cool night air rushed past him, and the trees and water below were nothing more than a blur speeding below. Yet one thing ruined his high spirits, and that was the fact that he was possessed by the Devil.
Edward heard a familiar screeching noise close by. He looked around, and let out a startled scream. "Misses Ada! The bats are chasing us!"
Ada glanced back. A large swarm of bats glided towards them with great speed, gnashing and swinging their fangs and claws angrily.
"Oh no..." She whispered.
Thestlemane galloped faster, but the bats were already closing in on all three.