Holmes vs Dracula, part 2!

I watch the late afternoon shadows in growing dread as they stretch ever longer, keeping pace with the sinking sun – even its very brightness seems to mock me. This last remaining day I have spent in desperate search for the Count's final resting place has been entirely in vain; and with barely an hour before sunset, I am left with only one recourse. Since I cannot go to Moriarty, I must therefore await his coming, for he surely knows that he shall never be rid of me while both of us draw breath. It is in God's hands now whether I shall live to see another dawn, as man or monster...

Deeper and deeper I plunge into the reeking maze of alleys and courts that is London's underworld. He will run me to ground all too soon, but every moment of delay is precious. At last, a tavern. Squalid hole that it is, it will serve as a brief respite, provided I do not linger too long. I am so very weary, though, and the chill in my bones seems to further sap my strength. Surely just a drop of ale could do no harm...

The darkness reaches to embrace me as I stagger back out into the alley. A faint golden glow lingers in the twilight sky, but it cannot find me here... I am lost among the shadows, one more nameless face in the night – hooray! No, no, quietly now, mustn't draw attention to myself... lot of dangerous folk in these parts, have to tread carefully... what was I doing again? Waiting for someone... Yes, that was it. Hope they show up soon, starting to get cold out here...

Without warning, I am seized from behind in a crushing embrace, arms like bands of iron holding me immobile, hot, fetid breath washing over my neck. "My dear Holmes," a hideously familiar voice tsks in my ear. "You disappoint me sorely. I had expected a far more satisfying hunt from such amusing prey."

"Well, I always aim t'give sat... satis... pleasure," I slur, then brighten. "C'ld always play ch'rades till 've sobered back up..."

His dry chuckle sounds almost regretful. "I think not. Much as I should relish your full appreciation of your demise, little detective, it would be most foolish of me to allow you the chance to regain your senses." The cold, razor-sharp point of a talon trails slowly up my neck. "It seems I shall simply have to content myself..." I gasp in pain and shock as the talon pierces my flesh like a needle of ice, and I can feel the warm, fresh blood trickling unchecked to my collar... I steel myself for what must surely follow... but there is nothing. Dear heaven, what new devilry is this? Does Moriarty seek to torment me further by drawing out this terrible moment to its fullest? Why does he not drink? Oh, dear God, could it be...?

A snarl of fury confirms my worst fears. God help me, he knows! In a heartbeat, I am slammed up against the nearest wall, held aloft by my still bleeding throat, claws digging in hard enough to break the skin afresh. "You dared?!" he hisses, and the hellish rage that twists his features now makes our first confrontation seem as nothing. "You sought to rob me of my powers with the very filth that made you half the enemy you could have been? Bah!" The pitiless grip steadily tightens as I struggle in vain to draw even one breath, clawing frantically to free myself... but the darkness is closing in again, crimson now with blood... and then a fearful shriek of agony stabs me to the heart and I am falling...

"Get back, monster!" A blessedly familiar voice rings out above me, clear and valiant as a church bell. "Be gone from this place! You shall not touch him again!"

I shudder at the creature's loathsome rasp, every word bristling with hate. "Very well, Doctor. Tonight is yours, but tomorrow night is mine! Guard yourselves well, for be assured I shall find you!"

"Holmes!" I cannot help flinching at the new touch on my neck – but these hands are also familiar, strong yet soothing, binding the wounds they find there with the greatest care. "Holmes, old man, can you hear me?"

I have just enough strength to nod slightly, eyelids fluttering open. "Watson..." The words are the merest whisper, abused throat in agony – I must have come within a hair's breadth of having my windpipe crushed. How in the world did Watson manage to find me, let alone in time?

"Don't speak, old fellow." Watson is doing his best to smile, but his eyes are strangely bright. "Let's get you somewhere safe."

I am lifted, Watson's arms cradling me as gently as if I were made of porcelain. My own eyes are beginning to grow moist – forgive me, my friend! You cannot regret my sending you away half as much as I... I have been so very blind. "Mary?"

"She and the boys are well protected, don't you worry."

"But Moriarty..."

"Has retreated for now – although he'll definitely be paying us a visit tomorrow night, once he's had a chance to heal." Watson smiles grimly. "If nothing else, I can't imagine his pride will stand the indignity of being garotted with a rosary."

I stare. "What?"

"You'd left it in the tavern, along with a certain other item..." Watson nods down at his bulging coat pocket, where my morocco case no doubt resides, expression stern. "Honestly, Holmes, drugging a vampire by injecting yourself with cocaine? You couldn't have had the least idea what effect that would have on him!"

"...no choice..." True, my plan to feign drunkenness had been a last resort, but it had seemed possible that the drug could slow a vampire down enough to give a human a fighting chance. How could I have predicted that the Count's sense of smell would be so powerful?

"Well, perhaps it's time you returned to the more traditional methods." Watson turns through a wrought-iron gate and bears me across a cobbled yard towards an open doorway, where a robed figure stands silhouetted against the lamplight. "But before anything else, you need to rest – and you'll get no more questions answered till tomorrow, so save your breath."

But I have no need to ask anything else. This hallowed ground will keep ourselves and our kind host safe until morning; and the darkness shall hold no more terrors for me tonight, knowing even as I dream that I lie beneath the steady, watchful gaze of my brother-in-arms.

Stay tuned for the final installment... and please review!