A/N: Aaand, last but not least, for the story's last two chapters we have the big bad monster himself. :)
Chapter 8: Dracula (Part 1)
Transylvania, 1462
Two armoured horses charged side-by-side, their hooves' sound almost rivalling the battlefield's screams and sword-clash noises. Yelling furiously, the left-hand horse's rider swung his broadsword at an enemy swordsman – wearing a metal turban helmet, below which chainmail protected his face and neck – who'd run at his side. The right-hand rider saw an archer ready to fire - he raised his bloody sword, the arrow bouncing off the blade. As the horses' path curved, the right-hand rider swung his sword at a turban-helmet who'd been gutting a downed soldier. Pushing further ahead than his partner, the left-hand rider slowed, then raised a gauntlet-clad hand – his partner behind him also slowed. He pushed up his faceplate, angular face's brown eyes scanning the stabbing, clashing ground-warriors and scattered horses. In two seconds he detected the unremarkable turban-helmet headed in the opposite direction, looking lost among the fighting ground-soldiers and occasional running horses.
"There!" the rider shouted. Re-lowering his faceplate, he took off, partner at his tail. The turban-helmet figure was skidding slightly leftward and rightward, to avoid fresh corpses and clashing pairs that stumbled its way. Looking over its shoulder, it saw the riders approaching and started moving faster. A horse bolted horizontally in front of the lone turban-helmet, who grabbed on by its saddle. Pushing the rider off, the figure took the reins, now moving at roughly-equal speed to its pursuers. Several ground-soldiers tried attacking the rogue turban-helmet, but it deflected with kicks to their helmets and blades' flat sides as its horse ran.
"We can't keep up!" the left-hand rider yelled, slashing at a ground-soldier. The right-hand rider raised his broadsword and other arm, pulling his sword arm back and pointing both arms horizontally like he were aiming a spear. After the left-hand rider cut down three enemies, the right-hand threw the sword - shooting in a straight line, it angularly stabbed through a bare patch on the turban-helmet's horse's neck. Its front legs collapsed, back end going above its head. The turban-helmet was thrown twenty feet forward, crashing to the mud. The riders didn't slow their horses, but jumped off. Seeing them, the turban-helmet grabbed a corpse's sword. The left-hand rider deflected the turban-helmet's swing, then harshly kicked him back into the earth.
"Greetings, Adrian," the other rider said, voice thick with an Eastern European accent. His partner tore off the rogue's helmet and pulled the chainmail neck down, revealing a slightly-tanned, unshaven face with sallow eyes. During a slight pause, another turban-helmet lunged at the accented rider, and was almost-instantly cut down. The angular-faced rider, grabbing the false Ottoman's chainmail, pulled him threatening close.
"Where is it?!" he shouted threateningly over the raging battle-noise. When the rogue's lips remained shut for two seconds, the rider punched him, and his body went limp with a sickening crack. Two more turban-helmets attacked – the accented man cut down one, his companion slew the other.
"Put him down!" the accented rider said commandingly, hurriedly dragging a corpse. His partner obeyed, and he threw the corpse over the unconscious man, then added another.
"You had better remember this spot!" the angular-faced rider yelled urgently.
"I always remember!" the accented man replied. Five seconds and two corpses later, the rogue turban-helmet was wholly buried. The horseless riders barely looked at the heap before raising their swords and rushing into the battle.
Helmet-less soldiers were gathered in small circles about the field, small fires driving the night off. Paying them no heed, the accented rider wound around them towards the tent. Helmetless – but retaining his dirt-caked armour – the rider's long dark hair was revealed, cascading down his back. Scrolled-up paper clutched in one hand, the rider's worn-seeming but handsome facial features were calm except for his blue eyes, which could've burned cold. Vladislaus Valerious had been finishing seeing to prisoners besides Adrian – most were politically-useless – when he'd received the letter, and its contents had best displeased him. Remembering Adrian, Vladislaus praised God for ensuring he and his partner had captured him. The order to hunt down Adrian – a high-ranking man in the Vatican – had allegedly come from the Knights of the Holy Order themselves – Vladislaus had heard the Order of the Dragon's inner-circle members call the Knights a myth, he'd thought them a myth himself until quite recently. Interrogating Adrian while showing him the other prisoners' executions, Vladislaus had learned Adrian had been seeking to defect to the Ottomans, so he could enslave their soldiers' wills using the dark-magic texts he'd stolen when he'd fled the Vatican – making Vladislaus all the more thankful to God for ensuring he and his partner had stopped him.
Vladislaus strode to the commander's-bunks tent. Almost throwing the flap open, Vladislaus saw Gabriel in the poor light by his chrome armour – he was lying on the central of three bunks lining one wall, jerking and making stifled noises in his sleep, mouth a firm line. Vladislaus paused for a moment, then slowly stalked to the bunk adjacent to Gabriel's and sat, calmly watching. He pitied his friend's condition, which no medicine man could explain, and he wished God would provide the means of healing it. After two minutes, Gabriel shot up in a sitting position, wavy brown hair sticking slightly to his head. Looking around, he saw Vladislaus' calm face. A pause followed.
"I was fighting the Umayyads in Iberia," Gabriel said. "I was one of the first men to emerge from the cave. I killed eleven of them. First with a sword, then when I lost it, I bludgeoned them with rocks from the ground." Vladislaus said nothing. No-one outside the Vatican, not even Gabriel himself, knew where he'd come from. He said he didn't remember further back than ten years, when he'd already been at the Vatican, and the Vatican forbade their knowledge of him being shared. Vladislaus didn't know if Gabriel could have truly been alive during these events, but he'd seen enough weak men in war turn to madness to know what false stories it could make roll of their tongues – not that he thought Gabriel weak or mad.
"My lord!" Vladislaus turned his head. The skinny soldier at the tent entrance quailed under his icy glare, taking a long second before remembering to speak. "A letter from your father has arrived." He showed the scrolled-up paper. Vladislaus stalked towards the soldier, taking the scroll and unrolling it. His eyes scanned the paper while the soldier stood still.
"You can go," Gabriel bade the soldier.
"He is not under your command, Gabriel," Vladislaus said, still reading. He finished five seconds later. "You may leave us." The soldier turned and marched out quite-quickly. Vladislaus saw Gabriel's disapproving glare.
"Must you always treat your men so harshly?" Gabriel said, exasperated more than anything else.
"Sternness is key to ensuring the men stay in line," Vladislaus sighed, exasperated at Gabriel in turn though benevolently. Gabriel looked away, jaw clenched slightly. Though they were brothers in all but blood, Gabriel had never approved of Vladislaus' more-brutal tactics. "Be glad I am not having my charges impaled or boiled, unlike my cousin in Wallachia."
"Some of the things we've done in the last two wars are hardly what I'd consider God's work," Gabriel said. He was one of the few men who could get away with saying that to Vladislaus.
"We are doing God's work," Vladislaus said, voice completely resolute. "We are preventing the advance of a mighty heathen enemy, who would snuff out Christendom itself if our defences failed."
"What does the letter say?" Gabriel asked, seeking a different topic.
"I came here intending to show you another letter, before it arrived," Vladislaus said, pointing to the discarded letter on the bunk in front of Gabriel. Un-scrolling it, Gabriel's eyes scanned the lettering – Vladislaus patiently watched his brother's eyebrows slowly furrow.
"I didn't think this war would have ended with a peace treaty, after the battle your father was in three days ago," Gabriel murmured, only surprised.
"It isn't the first war we've seen end this way," Vladislaus said, voice bitterly dark, thin mouth frowning and eyes icy as he looked at the tent's wall opposite Gabriel. The thought of ending these conflicts by negotiating with the Turks disgusted him, adding to his thoughts the King of Hungary was unfit.
"And the letter from your father?" Gabriel asked. Vladislaus looked back.
"He and my brother are immediately returning to Vaseria, and he has called both of us to my family's seat," Vladislaus said coolly, looking at the letter as he folded it.
"Why would he call for me also?" Gabriel asked, surprised. Vladislaus looked at him.
"He did not say, but I assume he wishes to meet my sworn brother-in-arms and see if he is a worthy specimen," Vladislaus said, putting the letter aside. "He must have written this message within hours of being told the war had ended."
"Being the count, you do not have to answer if you don't want to," Gabriel said. Vladislaus admittedly didn't outright enjoy the thought of seeing his father again.
"A son's loyalty to his father transcends material power," Vladislaus said. Then he smiled. "It seems you will at last get to see my birthplace and meet my family." The edge of Gabriel's mouth quirked upwards slightly.
"I had hoped those two events would one day happen," Gabriel murmured.
Gabriel and Vladislaus' journey to Vaseria only took five days, though they had to be wary of wolves and bears when camping. Despite having a small guard, both men had worn their armour under their traveller's cloaks, lest bandits strike unseen with a bow and arrow. They'd travelled northeast from the battlefield, then followed the Eastern Carpathians northward to the Vaseria valley.
As the party passed through the village square, peasants stopped to bow their heads or remove their hats, women and children watched from their huts' doorways, and voices murmured The Count and Soldiers admiringly. Gabriel looked slightly-sideways at onlookers' faces, giving them his acknowledgement.
Vladislaus led the party to Castle Valerious' front gate, Gabriel directly behind him followed by their guard. Seeing a castle guard at a high window disappear, Vladislaus dismounted his horse and let a semi-armoured guard lead it away. In less than a minute, the grate guarding the front door vertically rose in front of the party, then the huge wooden doors were pulled open from the inside. Valerious the Elder stepped out, long grey hair and dented yet intimidating knight's-armour standing out. He had a stoic face with steely grey eyes, decorated by scars of varying shapes and lengths. Vladislaus noted his father had a new scar on his left cheekbone. His forked beard was so long that his mouth was almost invisible. He wasn't tall, standing an inch shorter than Vladislaus, but he had a broad-shouldered physique, made intimidating by the way his armoured torso seemed to slightly shrink below the pectorals. Valerious the Elder's devotion to Christianity couldn't easily be overstated – in addition to his cross-emblazoned armour, he today wore four crosses around his neck. Vladislaus bowed his head. Valerious stopped in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"My son," he said in his gravelly voice.
"Father," Vladislaus said while raising his head, equally stoic.
"Where is Gabriel?" Valerious murmured gruffly, looking over the horses and soldiers. Gabriel dismounted.
"Lord Valerious," Gabriel said. Vladislaus saw the look his father gave when he was sizing someone up.
"I have heard much of your accomplishments in the defence of the faith," Valerious said, stepping towards Gabriel. Vladislaus turned his head, and watched Valerious put a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Tell me, how many battles have you won in the last year?"
"Three," Gabriel said softly. "Including the one in which the thief from Rome was just captured." Vladislaus' eyes narrowed very-slightly – Valerious would consider that average.
"Well, any soldier worthy to be sworn as my son's brother is certainly welcome in my house, and no doubt due to meet my son's family five years afterwards," Valerious said. "Come." He walked to the front doors. Vladislaus looked at Gabriel before they followed Valerious inside. Vladislaus found his brother and sister were standing in the front hall, to greet him and Gabriel.
"Allow me to introduce my siblings to you, my friend," Vladislaus said before his father, smiling at Gabriel. Valerious the Elder glanced out his eye's corner. "My middle sibling, Valerious the Younger-" Vladislaus gestured to a tall, burly man, who had dark hair like both his siblings. His beardless face resembled the Elder's, but he had pale-blue eyes. He nodded his head slightly. "-and my younger sister, Maria." She had a thin face with high cheekbones, and very dark-brown eyes. Her hair fell in ringlets, and she stood at Vladislaus' height. She smiled courteously at Gabriel, and he smiled back at her.
Vladislaus had told Gabriel a small amount about his family home – there was little historically-remarkable, since its foundation a century ago, to tell – then had left Gabriel to speak more with his siblings whilst he and his father discussed matters of state. Valerious the Elder had wanted to hear about how many casualties the Christian army had suffered, what strategies the enemy had employed, and everything about Gabriel that Vladislaus would divulge. He'd also informed Vladislaus that their distant Wallachian cousin, Vlad III, had been arrested and imprisoned by the King of Hungary – whether he was Orthodox or Catholic, they both agreed this was an outrage.
Before dinner, Vladislaus donned a grey doublet and gold breeches, and also wore small golden earrings – he refrained from wearing them on the battlefield, but as a count, they felt to him like a sign of his status that went beyond clothing. Had done so since his father had pierced his ears when he'd been five years old, teaching him to resist pain. At dinner, Gabriel had dressed in a simple peach doublet and dark-grey breeches. The vast dining hall, in addition to the various weapons and the coat of arms above the table's head, had wooden crosses mounted between every two windows. Dinner usually would have been a quiet affair, but Vladislaus' father had permitted speaking in spite of Gabriel's presence.
"Does your horse have a name, Sir Gabriel?" Maria asked, sitting beside Valerious the Younger.
"I can't say it does," Gabriel said, sitting next to Vladislaus on the table's other side. Vladislaus remained quiet, having never particularly cared for little talk. "Not since my second horse died in battle."
"I am sorry to hear that," Maria said genuinely. "The white-and-black horse I had when I was five years old died when I was twenty. My brother Valerious brought me a new horse three months later, but I said he couldn't replace her."
"You believe that an animal is irreplaceable?" Gabriel asked.
"A loved animal," Maria said, an icy hint entering her voice. "But I believe that love never dies." Gabriel had an odd, thoughtful expression. "If you had to preserve something that you loved more than anything else, what would you do, Sir Gabriel?"
"I don't really know," Gabriel said – Vladislaus found the response suspiciously odd. "I suppose I would do whatever it took to ensure it stays in the world, so long as whatever makes me love it is never destroyed by my efforts." Maria smiled slightly.
"What do you have to say on the matter, Vladislaus?" Maria asked. Vladislaus looked directly at her.
"I would isolate it from every potential enemy that may take it from me or tarnish its beauty, so that only I can come anywhere near it," Vladislaus said. He wanted to be removed from this game, which Maria had forced him into when they'd been children.
"Is that not somewhat detached?" Gabriel said.
"It is rational when seeking to prevent an object's destruction," Vladislaus said coldly.
"I disagree," Maria said. "Is there any point keeping something precious locked away, if its beauty can never touch the world again?" Vladislaus didn't reply, having learned the answer long ago.
"That's an… interesting view of beauty," Gabriel murmured, smiling again.
"I have read and heard about so many things in the world that are beyond my reach," Maria murmured. "I have never seen Rome, the flat lands in the west, or the sea."
"See those things you shall not," Valerious barked gruffly, shooting Gabriel a warning look. "There are many dangers to a young maiden between here and there, from common criminals to Turk raiders, to enemies who would readily seize a valuable bargaining chip if they knew who you were." Maria lowered her eyes submissively, but Vladislaus saw the slight want for defiance that was always in her eyes, the refusal to wholly forsake her opinions when their father talked her down.
"Perhaps…" Gabriel said very cautiously, "there'll be a day when it will be safe for you to see the west, and the sea. Then your family can show you it." He looked at the Elder, who had a hard look but wasn't furious yet.
In the following days, Valerious the Elder talked with Vladislaus and Gabriel, sometimes separately and sometimes together, regarding the war. Vladislaus now suspected his father had summoned Gabriel partly to determine his competence as a soldier. Vladislaus spent most of his other time addressing matters of state, or practicing his swordsmanship with Valerious the Younger. He'd hoped Gabriel would join him, but Gabriel and Maria continued seeing each-other about once a day – they were often in the castle's living areas or walking in the grounds, under Valerious the Elder's watchful gaze, talking. Passing a room they were in, watching from a balcony or window, being in the same room as them; a strange, bitter feeling stirred inside Vladislaus. He started seeking less interaction with Gabriel, spending more time on state matters – it was as if Gabriel suddenly existed no longer as his brother, but as a jester who mocked and spited Vladislaus, who felled him on the battlefield in front of every ally and enemy and desecrated his death. With time, the feeling swelled like an overfed beast.
Fifteen days after returning home, Vladislaus sat at his private study's desk, the desk's candle the only light source with the window-shutters sealed. Barely beating back thick shadows, dull yellow light flickered on Vladislaus, whose hands were joined fingertips-to-fingertips in front of him. It was obvious to him what was happening. He'd kept the want locked in a proverbial box and buried several times over – feelings he knew would be so revolting to all around him if they were exposed, they might drive his own father to attempt to slay him. He wanted Maria to be with him, not Gabriel.
Thinking of Gabriel, the closest words that described Vladislaus' feelings were no longer friend or brother, they were rival, enemy, thief. Vladislaus stroked his right hand's ring with his thumb, looking at its insignia. He'd received it when he and Gabriel had first met five years ago – the day they'd been initiated into the Order of the Dragon, swearing fraternity before they'd properly known each-other. Whatever the method or the consequence, Vladislaus knew he was going to remove Gabriel from Maria's side. Even his formerly-absolute belief in God's glory was secondary. Vladislaus couldn't murder Gabriel in his sleep, as his family would suspect the culprit was in the house when the guards reported no-one had entered or exited. He considered murdering Gabriel and putting the blame on a pair of guards, but his father would personally interrogate the men – and Valerious the Elder had a way of forcing the truth out of lesser men. Pushing Gabriel from a balcony would be so disgustingly pathetic, Vladislaus would deserve to be caught. Hiring an assassin was another option - acquiring a skilled assassin would be impossible unless Vladislaus discovered one by chance, but he could easily find an unknown man willing to carry out cut-throat work for a slightly-large scrap of money. Vladislaus would have to hide his identity, which would be easy if he hired the assassin at night. Deciding this was his best option, Vladislaus spent a few minutes considering details before he had a complete plan.
After everyone in the castle had retired, Vladislaus donned a black, large-hooded cloak – under which he wore his sword – and exited his chamber. Using the secret passageways in the walls only his family knew about, Vladislaus exited through a mouth in the rock the castle was built on. He entered the village, sticking to the shadows to avoid being conspicuous and minimise the risk the passing villager might see under his hood. Vladislaus picked the second-nearest inn to Castle Valerious – a shabby-looking wooden building with a shutter-less window – and quietly slipped in. Two seconds after he'd entered, an ugly, stout man approached, glaring into his dark hood. When he glared a second too long, Vladislaus slightly pulled back his cloak, showing his sword's bright-chrome pommel. The man glared before backing off.
Vladislaus took a table in a corner, scanning the inn's patrons – some quiet and sullen, some laughing and jeering loudly, a couple scuffling near the far corner. Two men sitting together across the inn caught Vladislaus' eye - they wore partly torn and frayed traveller's clothes, meaning they likely weren't local or hadn't been in Vaseria long. Their faces were grizzled, but calm if miserable-looking. Observing their eyes, Vladislaus saw they both had the look of a killer. Only one of them had a drink, but their body language and shared table suggested they were familiar, so Vladislaus suspected they were a team. Rising from his own table, Vladislaus made his way towards them.
"You two look in need of work," Vladislaus murmured, grabbing a stool as he approached and taking a seat.
"Perhaps," one man snarled, showing his browned teeth. "What does it matter to you?"
"I have a job that might interest you – it's for someone who isn't well-known here," Vladislaus murmured. The men's eyes slightly narrowed in interest. "I want two able-bodied men to kill someone important." The second man scoffed and raised his glass.
"Find someone else," he spat. Vladislaus' eyes slightly narrowed under his hood.
"Do not worry about this person's importance, I can tell you how to get to him without being seen," Vladislaus said. The two men looked interested again. Vladislaus brought a hand out from under his cloak, holding a bag the size of his hand. He loosened the string tying the bag, letting the men see the gold coins inside. "I think this will be enough to persuade you?" he murmured hoarsely. The men's faces softened, looking at the gold like it was the most dazzling thing in the world.
Maria hadn't been able to sleep the previous two nights, and was feeling restless again tonight. So she'd taken to wandering in her white nightdress, holding a candle, in the hopes her body would tire. Walking the empty rooms, Maria was concerned about Vladislaus – these last several days since he'd returned home, he'd seemed different, more unwilling to engage in conversation than was usual. She'd talked to Gabriel, and he'd admitted he was concerned about Vladislaus as well, though thinking of Gabriel always eased Maria's worry slightly. She enjoyed Gabriel's company, despite – or perhaps in spite of – their disagreements about some subjects. There were times when something he said or his nonchalant tone just made her laugh. She didn't know how long he would stay in their household – he'd told her he had no lands but the accommodation the Church provided him. Having completed his mysterious assignment in Transylvania, Maria could guess he wouldn't be able to stay long before either the Church demanded his return or her father decided he'd overstayed his welcome. Maria truly didn't want Gabriel to leave her side permanently. She'd thought seven days ago that Gabriel had quickly become a dear friend to her, now another thought wiggled into her mind – however foolish and childish it was, since he of course could never make a-
Maria halted in the doorway. Beyond her candle's glowing orb, she'd seen a blot in the moonlight-crack slipping between the window's shutters. The blot had been there a moment, then it had moved, scuttling in the direction to her right. The empty guest chamber nextdoor to this room, which was directly nextdoor to Gabriel's guest chamber. Brows furrowed, Maria wondered if it was a guard, but doubted they'd scamper about like that – which suggested an intruder. Maria thought to call for the guards, but she didn't yet know there were intruders with certainty – suspicious as the scuttling person was, she had to rule out the possibility it was Gabriel or one of her brothers. The thought she was defenceless held Maria back from advancing, until she considered Gabriel, or that Vladislaus' chamber was only two rooms down from his with a door from Gabriel's chamber leading towards it. Had they been awake, Maria wouldn't have worried about them, but when they were asleep… She promptly withdrew through the doorway behind her, extracting a wall-mounted mace from beside the doorway with her free hand, before re-entering the room. She quietly moved forward, candle held out and mace raised. Silently passing through the moonlight crack, she slowed as she approached the right-hand doorway before crossing the threshold. The next room was empty, but in one of its two doorways – the right-hand one again, nearest the far corner – Maria thought she saw a clothed back for a split second before it vanished. That was the doorway to Gabriel's chamber. Angling so her mace-wielding fist could shield the candle's flame from an intruder's sight, Maria quickly but quietly crossed to the doorway. Slowly, she leaned her head past the doorway's edge. Squinting as far as she could through the near-darkness, Maria saw two pairs of something shifting about on the floor, near the bed. She thought she saw one of them slowly raise a bent arm holding something.
"Gabriel!" she yelled loudly. She heard startled shuffling. Then a sword being unsheathed, followed by Gabriel's voice yelling. There was the sound of two metals clashing. A figure suddenly shot from the dark. Maria raised the mace, just before the figure slammed hard into her middle, throwing her to the floor and causing the candle to fall. A hand sprained Maria's wrist, making her cry out, releasing the mace. In the growing light from the rug burning, Maria saw an ugly man's face above her, brown teeth bared, eyes filled with hate. A bloodcurdling scream that wasn't Gabriel's came from his chamber, making the man turn his head slightly. Thumping footsteps made Maria crane her head, she and the man looking at the way she'd come in – Valerious the Younger appeared, sword in hand, also in nightdress. He observed the sight for barely a second, before yelling and charging. In a one-second movement, the intruder extracted a dulled knife and held it to Maria's throat, the edge pressing in painfully. Her brother immediately halted. The figure didn't see Gabriel charge from his chamber, sword raised. Gabriel's blade sliced downwards through the man's scalp, liquid spraying out above Maria, who stared in horror. Wrenching his blade out, Gabriel kicked the man off of her – his body hit the slow-burning rug, damaged head a foot from Maria's.
"Maria, are you alright?!" Gabriel immediately crouched over her. In the candlelight, Maria saw Gabriel wore no nightdress at all, well-developed chest muscles laid bare. Valerious the Younger advanced into the room. Behind Gabriel, Vladislaus emerged through his chamber's darkness in grey nightdress, blue eyes taking in all three figures, the body and the rug.
"GUARDS! FIRE!" Vladislaus roared into the castle. He rushed to Maria's side while Valerious the Younger came to Maria's other side, they slowly helping Maria off the floor.
"What is happening?!" Three heads turned, seeing a nightdress-clad Valerious the Elder arrive through the doorway Maria had come through; sword in hand, scarred face murderous. He took in his three children, and Gabriel standing back from Maria, sword in hand.
"Gabriel saved me," Maria said. Valerious the Elder's eyes briefly shifted back to Gabriel, then noticed the body by the growing flames.
"What happened?" he asked, immediately calming.
"I was walking the castle restlessly," Maria explained. "I saw a shadow move towards Gabriel's room." She looked at him. "I followed it. I saw two shapes moving inside. I shouted to wake you before they could…" She trailed off, hanging her head, trying to choke back tears. Despite it being women's job to shed tears and men's to appear strong, Maria had never been all that proud of appearing weaker than any man. Gabriel took a step towards her, raising his hand like he wanted to touch her face though he didn't dare.
"Thank God you're alright," Gabriel sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder. She knew he didn't dare hug her in his undressed state, with her father present. Vladislaus kicked the knife out of the dead man's hand. Valerious the Elder's hard grey eyes looked between Gabriel and Maria.
"You have my lifelong gratitude for protecting my daughter, Gabriel," the Elder said stoically.
"You did well, old friend," Vladislaus murmured at Gabriel's side, before turning his icy eyes on the corpse.
As Vladislaus had expected, his father had launched an investigation at dawn to find the assassins' employer, taking their bodies into the village to show the locals. He'd returned shortly after midday, having discovered the assassins had been at the inn two nights earlier and hadn't been locals. He'd guessed they might have been hired by Turks or another noble family, before relentlessly taking information from each and every guard, wanting to know how the men had gotten into the castle. Vladislaus had pointed out the east outer-wall's bricks were uneven below the first-floor window and it was left un-patrolled for minutes at a time, suggesting the assassins could have climbed up there. Valerious had accepted this explanation. Vladislaus had inwardly squirmed in fury that the assassins had failed. He'd planned to emerge right after midnight – the time he'd told them to kill Gabriel – catch them in the act and silence them both. Their failure also meant he couldn't hire assassins again, as Gabriel would be on alert afterwards, and his father had doubled the guards' watch. Considering other ways to remove Gabriel, two days after the failed assassination, Vladislaus watched from the castle's second floor as Gabriel and Maria strode side-by-side by the river. He couldn't hear what they said, but when they stopped and turned to face each-other, and Gabriel took Maria's hands, Vladislaus inwardly fumed to think Gabriel were daring to touch her in such a way.
Another day later, Vladislaus still hadn't thought of a feasible way to kill Gabriel when his father called the family to dinner. Vladislaus sat beside his brother, and Gabriel and Maria across from them. The dinner was a quiet affair, with Gabriel and Maria saying nothing but exchanging looks – Gabriel had a confident, almost reassuring look, Maria a slightly-less sure look.
"Lord Valerious," Gabriel said just after the main course had been finished, attracting everyone's attention. "If I may, I wish to make a serious request of you." Vladislaus looked at Gabriel, then glanced at Maria – she was practically brimming with anticipation.
"Yes?" Valerious the Elder murmured gruffly, gaze scrutinising.
"I wish to be given your daughter's hand in marriage," Gabriel said. Vladislaus' breathing slowed. Valerious the Younger's eyes widened before shifting to the table's end. The Elder was giving Gabriel a very scrutinising glare, making an extremely harsh picture with his scars. Then his hard gaze turned onto Maria.
"Why should I give you her hand?" he asked, gruff voice calm. "You are a holy soldier of Rome who has no lands of his own, Gabriel. What future can you provide for my daughter?" Turning his head slightly, Vladislaus looked at Gabriel. His face was cool and stern, but not brash.
"Though I serve Rome, I have taken no vow of celibacy nor against acquiring lands," Gabriel said carefully. "I have no homestead, but I am a knight of the Order of the Dragon, with twenty-one victories to credit my career. If you allow me to marry your daughter, I will secure a proper homestead before we are wed." A pause followed before Gabriel spoke again. "I cannot vow here and now to give her a peaceful, happy future. But I can vow that if I receive your blessing of our marriage, I will strive to build such a future for her; and if I do not receive your blessing, I won't dishonour your command." Vladislaus slowly looked back at his father – Valerious the Elder appreciated honesty very much. Maria also looked at him, eyes slightly anxious. Their father's eyes were still narrowed, but Vladislaus saw by his face's slightly-relaxed lines his hostility had decreased. The Elder's jaw clenched.
"Maria is my youngest child, Gabriel," he said quietly. "I will not have her married to a man without inherited lands, with whom she risks early widowhood." Gabriel's eyes lowered slightly. "But you have proven yourself to be a strong man by your accomplishments in battle, and importantly, your pledge suggests you are an honest man. I will not readily sell my daughter into a potentially-poor marriage – but if you fulfil these claims to becoming a fit match beforehand, I will consider it."
"Thank you, my lord," Gabriel said, bowing his head slightly. He looked at Maria, sharing a thin smile, then smiled at Vladislaus. Vladislaus stared, looking slightly astonished, then he smiled back, though his eyes had the slightest dark hint. Vladislaus was experiencing an urge to have non-valuable prisoners dismembered while he stood close enough to be drenched in blood.
Vladislaus stood in his chamber, back straight with hands clasped behind it, staring out the window. He was still as the evening light turned orange-golden, then dark-pink. His face was calm, eyes icy, whilst inside he felt like all his accomplishments were about to be stolen. He'd known what Gabriel and Maria's growing closeness would lead to in one form or another if it wasn't killed, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon, nor had he expected his father to ever consider the match. He had to stop this, but it would be foolish to attempt killing Gabriel again, so soon. In spite of which, Vladislaus was near-desperate – and he didn't like feeling desperate. Vladislaus thought about confronting Maria, then turned heel and walked from the moonlit chamber; making his way towards Maria's chamber. Approaching the doorway, he found her standing by her open window, moonlight pouring in around her. She was a picture of beauty by the way the moon outlined her silhouette's ringlets and made her nightdress look silver.
"Maria." She turned, looking surprised.
"Vladislaus," she murmured softly. Her beautiful face was revealed in the moonlight. "You wish to see me?"
"I do," Vladislaus murmured, standing in the doorway. "About your relationship with Gabriel." Maria's eyebrows furrowed very-slightly.
"Do you approve?" Maria asked. Vladislaus slowly stalked forward.
"I do not," he said. "Maria, he cannot guarantee you a happy future. As he himself admitted, he has no material possessions – he may be equal to me in social and military standing, but he will never be able to provide you lands like our family possesses. And should another war break out, you will risk being widowed within a year."
"Vladislaus," she said, sighing softly. She put a hand on his arm – she'd never known how much he enjoyed her doing that. "I am not blind to the burdens I will face as Gabriel's wife. We discussed them with each-other at length before he said he would ask to have me." She put a hand to Vladislaus' face. "I already risk losing my father and my brothers every time men are called to war. And I have never felt such joy and happiness as I have these past three weeks before. Not ever. If I shun the chance to be with Gabriel after experiencing these things, I do not know if I will ever find happiness again."
"Gabriel is not the only man in the world-" Vladislaus began, feeling black jealousy spreading like a foul plant's roots in him.
"Have you not heard me?" Maria murmured, voice remaining sincere.
"You will not marry him!" Fast as lightning, Vladislaus dug two fingertips into Maria's jaw's underside, other hand grabbing her arm. "You will not marry Gabriel, because you are mine!" His voice was a hoarse, rasping growl, though he remembered not to yell. "You have always been mine, you will always be mine!" The words came out fast. "You are not Gabriel Van Helsing's! You are MINE!" Before he knew what he was doing, Vladislaus clamped his lips over Maria's. He sucked in her moist breath, tried furiously to make her tongue dance with his. An upwards knee-jerk to Vladislaus' groin made him release Maria, giving a hoarse groan. Maria ran to the doorway. Vladislaus saw her look back, shock and horror in her beautiful face. Ignoring the crippling groin-ache, Vladislaus staggered after her, quickly bursting into a run.
Passing through the next room and out to the hallway, Vladislaus saw Maria's silhouette running left, in the main stairs' direction. He ran after her, blood singing with fury. She turned a corner, which he rounded two seconds later. Maria looked over her shoulder when Vladislaus was nearly within arm's reach. She ran onto the landing overlooking the front hall, so fast she might've been intending to run into its stone barrier.
"FATH-!"
Grabbing her from behind, Vladislaus clamped a hand over her mouth. She fought his hold furiously, thrashing about. Vladislaus held firm, but after she inflicted three elbow-strikes to his stomach, his grip loosened and she tore free. She ran horizontally towards the stairs' top in the landing's centre – she'd be descending them in two seconds. Vladislaus lunged full-speed, snarling – he grabbed her before she'd descended the top step, they careened sideways, past the stairs' top to the other side of the landing. Tearing free before Vladislaus had a firm hold, Maria staggered back- And fell with a loud cry, tumbling over the landing-barrier's top. Vladislaus leaned over the barrier, eyes wide.
CRACK!
Maria lay unmoving, twenty feet below. Her body looked broken by her bent knees and arms, and her neck was bent at a horrible angle. A dark pool was rapidly spreading out from her hair. Vladislaus stared less than a second longer, before rushing from the barrier.
Valerious the Elder and the Younger ran towards the front hall, swords in hand. They'd stayed awake while everyone else had retired, discussing in the dining hall a suitor for the Younger; then they'd heard a woman's scream and a loud thump, prompting them to rush out. Before they'd reached the front hall, a new sound filled the castle.
"NO!" Vladislaus' voice yelled in fury and pain. The men emerged in the hall, and saw Vladislaus knelt on the floor, cradling a limp Maria's head, moonlight pouring in from the open front doors while two guards stood behind Vladislaus. Above, Gabriel threw himself against the landing's barrier, leaning over. His brown eyes widened. Craning his head, Vladislaus' icy eyes were murderous.
"You…" Vladislaus growled, teeth gritted. "YOU DID THIS!" he exploded like a thundershock, rising to two feet. The Elder and Younger immediately looked up. "I told you not to let your hurt rule you. And THIS IS WHAT YOU DO!" Valerious the Elder's wide-eyed stupor quickly contorted, baring his teeth animalistically.
"Seize him!" he barked. The two guards sprinted up the stairs. Gabriel didn't move, eyes remaining on Maria's body as the guards grabbed his arms and dragged him down the stairs, naked. Vladislaus glared darkly. Valerious the Elder's grey eyes were burning with hellfire-like hatred. As Gabriel was taken across the hall towards an archway left of the stairs; his wide eyes shifted onto Vladislaus, remaining on him until he'd passed through the archway.
At dawn, the Valerious men were gathered in the dining hall, silently mourning. Vladislaus had dressed in a grey thigh-length houppelande, and boots which nearly reached his knees. His hands were in front of his chest, head lowered. The Elder and the Younger had dressed in black doublets and grey breeches. Valerious the Elder's usually-stoic face was a picture of heartache – grey eyes distant, eyebrows sad. The only other time he'd been like this had been when Vladislaus' mother had died giving birth to Maria. Valerious the Younger stood straight-backed, eyes mournful.
"When will Gabriel's sentence be carried out?" Vladislaus asked quietly, looking at his father. The sadness vanished, a shadow of fury passing over the Elder's scarred face.
"He will be removed from the castle storeroom and publicly executed in two days," Valerious said, voice thundercloud-black. "I've sent word of the incident to the Order of the Dragon's highest members." Vladislaus was somewhat elated to think Gabriel's death would be that soon. Hopefully, Gabriel would be walking to his death before he ever guessed what had made Vladislaus accuse him. Vladislaus thought he would stay in Castle Valerious while he and his family grieved, then leave to resume state matters as soon as possible. After losing Maria, he intended to take a more direct role overseeing county law enforcement, the desire to see suffer any Turkish spies they captured burning fiercer than ever, the only-
A loud war cry outside the hall made three heads turn, a thud and another man's cry following. The guard at the arch looked right, startled.
"It is Gabriel!" he yelled, pike pointed. "He's escaped!" The war cry sounded again, then there was metal clashing. Vladislaus and his father unsheathed their ceremonial swords, while Valerious the Younger ran to the wall to grab one. The clashing sounds ended with bone-crunching and a pained cry. The archway guard yelled and ran right – just before Gabriel appeared in his path, naked as last night, deflecting the guard's pike with another guard's like deflecting a sword. Screaming, the guard made to swing his pike like a staff; Gabriel slammed his pike's bladeless end to the man's face, knocking him out. Turning, Gabriel looked at the Valerious men, stood ready for an attack. His eyes shifted between them all a couple times, stopping on Vladislaus.
"You…" he murmured, pointing the pike. Looking out of his eye's corner, Vladislaus saw his father's bared lower-teeth through his beard. His brother's face was likewise dark. "You…!" Gabriel repeated, more fervidly. Vladislaus suddenly charged, yelling. Gabriel swung the pike, Vladislaus' sword catching on the pike-blade in a lock. Vladislaus and Gabriel's faces were inches apart, teeth bared. Vladislaus heard his father and brother charge, yelling. Suddenly, Gabriel broke the lock and pushed Vladislaus back with the pike-stick.
"Vladislaus falsely accused me!" Gabriel yelled at the other two, pointing the pike at Vladislaus. They halted, Valerious the Elder's face remaining dark.
"If you lie…" the Elder said, in his darkest tone Vladislaus had ever heard.
"I would've died before hurting her!" Gabriel had to be silenced now, his tone was too earnest. Vladislaus charged again, swinging his sword – Gabriel deflected with the pike-blade. Vladislaus stepped back before Gabriel kicked, then made to slice Gabriel's exposed leg. Gabriel spun, and tried to swing the bladeless pike-end at Vladislaus' head. Vladislaus ducked and sliced upwards. Gabriel's arms flew upwards, but not fast enough, the tip of Vladislaus' blade cutting him. Vladislaus was aware of his family standing by all the time.
Vladislaus stabbed down, Gabriel moving his foot back before the blade hit stone floor. Gabriel kicked at Vladislaus' head, sending him reeling backwards into the dining table's edge. Leaping, Gabriel swung the pike again. Slashing upwards, Vladislaus' sword cut the stick in two, then he rolled sideways before Gabriel landed on the table. Standing and spinning, Vladislaus swung his sword for Gabriel's neck. Gabriel backed jumped backwards off the table, at the exact moment another blade blocked Vladislaus'. Vladislaus saw Valerious the Elder was wielding that blade, before the scarred man pushed Vladislaus back through their blade-lock. Gabriel ran, jumping onto and off the dining table between him and Vladislaus. Vladislaus raised his sword, just before Gabriel threw his head at Vladislaus' midsection, knocking both men to the floor. Gabriel almost-immediately grabbed and sprained Vladislaus' sword-hand, forcing the blade from it. Then he dragged Vladislaus off the floor, throwing him against the table. Gabriel stood back, not attacking.
"Tell them," Gabriel snarled. "Tell them what happened to Maria last night!"
"I don't know what you are talking about!" Vladislaus growled, glaring icily.
"I was asleep when I heard her scream, and found you cradling her!" Gabriel yelled, stopping Valerious the Elder advancing. "You were the only other person who was on the first floor that night!" Gabriel's voice was low, eyes burning when he next spoke. "You murdered her, didn't you?!" Silent, Vladislaus' eyes shifted between Gabriel and his family. His brother's torn-looking face and father's uncertain look told Vladislaus there was a serious risk they'd believe Gabriel. "Why did you do it?!" Gabriel growled after a pause. "I noticed the way you stopped talking with me after I started speaking with Maria; she told me you did the same with her!" Vladislaus' lips were tightly sealed, eyes cold. After a few moments, Gabriel raised the halved pike high.
"GABRIEL!" Valerious the Elder boomed, making Gabriel halt. "If this is true, he must have a chance to confess to God, to save his soul! If you plead innocent, release him and we shall discover the truth!" Vladislaus looked between Gabriel and his father. Gabriel slowly looked back at him. Vladislaus could see Gabriel's mind working, and knew in this moment, his fate was in Gabriel's hands. Any ordinary man would've thought he were going to live after a few seconds of Gabriel simply staring, but Vladislaus wasn't an ordinary man. After nearly ten seconds, Gabriel yelled and drove the pike downwards. The blade cut through Vladislaus' ring finger, making him scream. His father and brother lunged, dragging Gabriel backwards, while Gabriel fought their hold. Pike held above their heads, Gabriel threw it.
THUNK!
The entire blade was buried in Vladislaus' chest, rest of the stick protruding. A strange ringing filled Vladislaus' ears. Gabriel's and his family's yelling suddenly seemed distant, their movements sluggish and meaningless. Vladislaus was barely aware of blood filling his mouth, pooling over its corners. The world's colours merged, losing their former variety. Vladislaus' eyes threatened to roll up. Every shape blurred, until everything in Vladislaus' senses was a white, ringing, shapeless weight.
Then Vladislaus was lying in the exact same place, but he felt nothing, not even numbness. The dining hall was shadowed and grey. He didn't know how long he remained still, back on the dining table – time seemed meaningless. He slowly rose into a half-sitting, half-leaning position. Somehow, Vladislaus felt light and free, like he'd been a rock in water before and was now a feather on air. Looking down, he saw the pike wasn't in him, but there was a tear in his clothing where it had punctured. He saw the unconscious guard, Gabriel, and his father and brother dragging Gabriel backwards; still as statues. It was as if time were a sprinting man, who had just stopped. Looking around the hall, Vladislaus was alone apart from the unmoving men, not seeing-
No, he was not alone. There had been no indication air even existed, but now, Vladislaus felt a cold breeze like in late autumn, brushing past the frozen men. He heard a rhythmic thunk-noise slowly repeating. The figure walked slowly past the unmoving men, cane appearing first. It had a slight limp. The boots nearly reached the figure's knees, and the breeches covered nearly the entire thighs, leaving only a stripe of hose exposed. The breeches were black, and embroidered with strings of gold that didn't shine. The figure's long coat was varying shades of red, like it had been coloured with blood several times over, and rivers of dull-gold string were stitched through the fabric. The coat's lapels and cuffs were fur-lined, the latter embroidered with gold buttons. The figure's hands were bony, fingernails long. The cane's head was a screaming human skull with goat-horns, many tiny wailing faces etched into its surface. Inside the coat was a doublet, which was pure-black save for the line of gold buttons down the front. The doublet's collar ended just below the jawline, and had a small ruff made of gold silk. The figure's face was thin and pointed, looking youthfully handsome. Vladislaus noticed the skin was flawless, so much so that it seemed vain, possibly even unnatural. The man had silver hair, tied back in a ponytail. The eyes held Vladislaus' attention – the irises were bright-yellow.
The man halted between Vladislaus and the still figures. An inexplicable dread for his entire being's safety filled Vladislaus. The man lazily turned his head to the still men, beautiful face harsh. Then his yellow gaze returned to Vladislaus.
"Vladislaus, son of Valerious," the man purred tauntingly, in a royal yet decrepit voice.
"Who are you?" Vladislaus murmured warily after a pause. The other man tsk-tsked, shaking his head.
"I'm disappointed that you need to ask," he murmured patronisingly like he were addressing a simpleton. The thought slowly crept up as Vladislaus remembered Gabriel spearing him.
"Are you Death?" Vladislaus murmured, hoping it wasn't the other being he suspected.
"I am not, I'm afraid," the man murmured, grinning blackly. "Try again." If Vladislaus still breathed, it would've stopped.
"You are the Devil," Vladislaus murmured, voice a shaky growl.
"I am," the man purred almost-soothingly, head slightly lowered. "Do you know why I am here?" Vladislaus tightened his jaw slightly, keeping his eyes on the yellow-eyed man. Every shred of his soul quaked, thinking what it meant if he was dead and the Devil was here.
"You will not have me," Vladislaus growled defiantly, taking a step backwards along the table's side.
"I already have you," the Devil murmured darkly, stepping forward. "You saw to that." Vladislaus thought back to the assassins, Maria's fall, and Gabriel killing him after his father had said he needed to save his soul. Suddenly, his face turned dark.
"No," he growled, voice trembling with hate. "Gabriel did this to me!" The Devil chuckled – it was a low, dark sound. He stepped closer – Vladislaus wanted to step backwards, but one step backwards suddenly seemed like walking two miles.
"What a pity he didn't give you a fair chance," the Devil purred, walking past Vladislaus and circling behind him. "How unjust that He should allow this to happen to you, one of his most devout servants." The Devil's lips were inches from Vladislaus' ear, voice apathetic and mocking. "And now, you're mine forever." He placed a hand on Vladislaus shoulder, and suddenly Vladislaus felt like he was burning in the hottest fire imaginable, making him scream. Glowing, fiery-orange veins spread from the Devil's touch through Vladislaus' skin and clothing. He felt like a fire was burning every drop of his soul it touched – except what it burned didn't die, forced to remain raw and continue burning. Vladislaus' suffering was all-consuming – all he knew was neverending agony that wouldn't kill, all he'd ever know was ceaseless agony which he could never escape from-
The Devil suddenly removed his hand. Vladislaus' knees almost gave as he gasped. His spirit still felt seared by the experience, the memory looming over him.
"But you can escape," the Devil murmured, face by Vladislaus' ear. Vladislaus took some time to look at the Devil. When he did, his blue eyes were cold, face serious.
"How do I escape?" Vladislaus asked, wholly meaning it. The Devil smiled wickedly, showing his slightly-pointed, pure-white teeth.
"It is rare when a man with your mind and your will is born and falls from His grace," the Devil murmured. "I will give you back your body so you may walk the Earth again, for eternity. More than that, you will have more powers than any servant of darkness has had on the Earth since He died for man. You will have the strength of twenty men, dominion of the night and its many creatures to see and hear through their senses; not even the most grievous of wounds nor the most destructive weapons will be able to harm you. You will be the son of the Devil."
"What is the price?" Vladislaus murmured, eyes wide.
"I already have your soul," the Devil said. "The night will be your domain, but in the day you will rest only in the grave. To sustain yourself for eternity, you will consume the blood of the living."
"I accept," Vladislaus said after two seconds. Slowly, the Devil raised his left hand, and bit into the wrist. Pure-black liquid trickled on his skin.
"Drink," the Devil said, showing Vladislaus the bitten wrist. Despite the trickle, there was nothing but blackness inside the opening, like a neverending pit. Wispy black vapour rose from the wound. Leaning forward, Vladislaus slowly brought his head to the Devil's wrist, clamping his mouth over the wound. He sucked, and felt the blackness enter him, seeming to make his insides feel harsh. Vladislaus drank until his whole being felt horrid, making him pull back and gasp. He felt like a tree made of poison was rooting itself inside him, piercing every wall of his being. Hands flying to his throat, Vladislaus felt like he could vomit, but also felt like the blackness was now nestled in his stomach's pit. Then he felt heavy, like he were tied to a sinking rock. The shapes of the dining hall became unclear, the grey shades grew darker and the shadows thicker. Vladislaus was aware he was slipping into a dream, consciousness and unconsciousness regaining meaning. Field of vision floating, the blurred yellow blotches of the Devil's eyes stood out to Vladislaus. Then his vision wandered off that, seeing the dark, horizontal strip of the dining table, then seeing shapeless grey, then nothing.
A/N: Please R&R and tell me what you thought of this penultimate chapter! :)
I'm betting a lot of you didn't see the twist with Dracula and his sister coming! :) I hope you like my take on Dracula's backstory – I love the idea that Dracula and Van Helsing were friends but Dracula turned to the dark side, even more so I love Aleera-mistressofallevil's idea in her own fanfiction that their falling-out was a love triangle.
The next chapter will conclude Dracula's backstory, explaining what happens immediately after his deal with the Devil. Stay tuned for next week! :)