Sick of hauling your love around,
want to run my train alone.
But the engine tracks straight through your heart,
and weighs me like a stone—

"Shooting Shark"—The Blue Oyster Cult

Seuche in Deutschland

Chapter III

On December 27th the Tepeses and the Belmonts celebrated Mass at the Belmont family chapel. After church Lysander asked his father, brother, uncle, and older cousin to remain in the chapel, while the female members of the family relaxed at the Belmont home.

Lysander handed his exchanged letters to his father, who passed them to each member of the family.

"So…what do you think?" asked Lysander.

"It almost sounds like a vampire to me," replied his brother. "But I don't think that's possible."

"What makes you think that, Cander?" asked his father, still an imposing figure despite his age.

"Because the last time I checked, Dad, Castle Dracula was in ruins."

"That's insignificant, Cander," responded his uncle, still in his vestments—and still an imposing figure in his own right.

"Vampires've been around much longer than Father—perhaps as long as mankind has been in existence. Regardless of whether or not my father exists is insignificant to their existence."

"That's probably true," replied Christian. "But I don't think that we should act too irrational on this. For all we know it could be something else."

"I agree," added Alcander. "Which is why I think this is something the Prussians should handle. Remember what that friend of Sander's said at the end of his last letter? He said that they've everything under control."

"Cander don't be such a fool," replied his brother. "Ingo's a good man, but he's also a politician. And politicans'll say 'everything's under control' even if the world was crumbling around them!"

Lysander's statement brought a laugh to everyone in the room. Except Alcander, who looked dumbfounded. Perhaps because he realized that he had placed too much faith in a politician.

"Well," began Richter, once the laughter stopped, "if this really is a case of vampirism there's nothing the Prussian Government can do about it."

"That's correct," added Adrian. "From the time I spent in the West I learned that they regard the concept of vampires as nothing more than a ridiculous superstition. And I think Sander should know that from his time in Prussia?"

Lysander nodded.

"So what should we do then?" asked Christian.

"I'll return to Prussia to investigate…And Cander'll go with me."

"What! Me!"

"Yes, Cander, you."

"Why…why do I've to go? Why doesn't Dad, Uncle Richter, or Christian've to go?"

"Because Dad and Uncle Richter're too old…"

Adrian Tepes and Richter Belmont chuckled at Lysander's comment.

"Christian has a wife who's with child—and despite the fact that I've a wife and a daughter—I know the city of Berlin better than he does, and I've contacts with the government. You, Cander, aren't married; and you don't have children."

"But I go to school!"

"You're an excellent student. You can surely take some time off. I know that a few words from Mom or Dad can arrange that, but I don't think you even need them to tell your teachers that you won't be in school. You're something of a celebrity in this village. Furthermore, wouldn't you like to see something different than Romania?"

Alcander sighed. "All right, all right—when do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"That early!"

"Yes. And if you're hung over, Cander, I'll drag your ass right out of bed!"

Alcander left the church, and returned to his home that—like Lysander's—was built on his parents' property. But at home he was restless. "I've been thinking about this ever since Sander came home. I'm sure she'll come by, but…I suppose I should go there now."

Outside Jessica's parents' home Alcander sighed. "I wonder what kind of reaction I'll receive? I haven't seen her parents since we separated."

Alcander knocked, and Jessica's father answered.

"…Alcander Tepes!" How're you doing, young man?"

"I'm all right, Mr. Sage. How're you?"

"About the same, it's been quite a while since I last saw you…I guess the last time was before your relationship with Jessica ended."

Alcander nodded.

"So, how can I help you?"

"Well, sir, I was wondering if I could speak to Jessica for a moment?"

"Oh, certainly—she's outside though. Why don't you go outside and surprise her?"

"Oh, I'm sure she'll be surprised! …Thank you."

In the field behind her home Jessica stood with her feet in the snow and observed a raven.

"Is this what you do in your spare time?" Alcander called.

Jessica gasped, and turned to him.

"It's from boredom like this that causes me to drink!"

"…Alcander…What're you doing here!"

"To see you, Jessica—I thought that I'd see you before you came to see me. But let me ask you, what're you doing out here? It's cold if you haven't noticed. Is a black bird really all that interesting?"

Jessica blushed, packed her hand around some snow, and threw a ball at Alcander.

Alcander dodged, and laughed before he returned fire.

Jessica was unable to dodge Alcander's snowball, and the ball struck her near the base of her dress. Jessica recoiled when the melted water touched her skin.

Alcander laughed. "I told you that those stockings weren't enough to protect you!"

"Damn it, Alcander! Now I'll have to go inside."

"Then I guess I'll have to wait out here then?"

"No…you can come inside. If I was to knock you down, I can tell that your trousers wouldn't be enough to protect you from the cold."

Once Jessica changed dresses and stockings she walked with Alcander through the forest adjacent to her home.

"So why did you come by to visit me?"

"Because I needed someone to talk to."

"You couldn't talk with your family?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"Because this isn't something I could talk about with them."

"What is it then, Alcander?"

"Well, I'm leaving tomorrow for Prussia…"

"Oh…"

"And…well, it's not completely serious, but I was worried that I might not come back."

Jessica frowned. "Why?"

"Sander and I're going to Berlin to investigate what he thinks could be a vampire…"

"A vampire!"

"Yes, at least that's the interpretation he has based on these letters he received."

"Is it…Vlad the Impaler!"

"No…I don't know what it is exactly, but…"

"Alcander," Jessica began, while she placed her silky hands into his, "why're you telling me all of this? Certainly you could've discussed this with your parents or other members of your family."

"Well…I wanted to tell you…You know since our relationship ended I've been with other girls?"

Jessica nodded, although she did not like to hear references to Alcander with other girls, unless he referred to his mother.

"Well…none of them've ever given me the same kind of warmth that you did. I wanted you to know that."

Jessica smiled and blushed, while snow began to fall around them.

"And…"

"Yes?"

"I still love you…Even though I hate it when you nag at me!"

Jessica chuckled, leaned closer to Alcander, and brushed his hair just above his ear.

Alcander blushed and smiled, while he leaned in closer.

The two kissed, as the snow melted in Alcander's blonde and Jessica's brunette hair.

Before Alcander departed he clasped his hands inside Jessica's.

"Will you come by my house later?" he asked.

"Yes. When?"

"Later this evening."

That evening, after Jessica's parents believed she was asleep, she left her home and journeyed to Alcander's.

Early the next morning, before the sun rose, Alcander ran his fingers through the brunette hair that rested on his chest.

He kissed Jessica on the top of her ear, before he gently pulled back his covers, put on some underwear, and placed an extra log on the fire.

Jessica yawned, and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She smiled at Alcader.

"What time's it?"

"I'm not sure, probably around four or five. It's at least an hour before the sun'll rise…Sander'll be here soon."

"I should probably go before he arrives…And before my parents find out that I sneaked out last night."

"Well…before you go," Alcander began, while he sat next to her.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we can…"

Alcander kissed her neck, and Jessica giggled; but she still stopped him.

"No, not now—we had plenty last night."

Alcander looked almost hurt by her statement.

Jessica smiled. "Remember one thing though."

"What's that?"

Jessica flashed her nude breasts. "Come home soon. These'll be waiting for you."