Chapter 11
Holly was picking flowers near the orchard. She hummed to herself, filled with spirit. Being a member of the village, she was still young in her twenties. She had befriended Cornell's sister Ada, and volunteered to take care of her while Cornell was away.
"Aren't you a pretty one!" She said, picking up a light blue flower that was speckled with white. As she placed the flower in her basket, she hadn't noticed Ortega sneak up behind her.
"Hello, Miss Holly." He said calmly.
"Hmm?" Holly turned and saw Ortega. He stood there with his arms crossed, just as calm as his voice. "Oh, hello Ortega. Your name is Ortega, isn't it?"
Holly had seen Ortega hang around Cornell sometimes and had managed to learn the man-wolf's name.
"It is. Fact is told also, my lord Dracula needs a sacrifice."
She became nervous and curious at the mention of the vampire's name.
"Dracula?"
"Yes. The sacrifice must be alive and well. Jubilant even..."
"Oh. I see..." Holly wasn't sure where all this information was leading. She didn't want to find out either.
"Do you know anyone jubilant enough for my lord, Miss Holly?"
She picked up her flower basket and attempted to inch away from Ortega. Was he sane?
"No--no, I don't believe I do..."
"Shame," Ortega said as he followed her. "I thought that you would do perfectly."
Sometime afterwards, Ada came to sit in the same orchard. She noticed Holly's basket lying under a tree near the forest. She picked it up and looked around. Holly was nowhere to be found.
"Miss Holly…?"
Ada looked around in the forest trees.
"Miss Holly?"
The forest was silent. Ada mused worriedly and went back to the orchard with the basket of flowers. She sat down under a large apple tree.
"Heya there, Miss Ada!"
Ada blinked. She looked up and was looking directly at Marcell, their faces barely an inch a part. Ada jumped up and took a step back.
"Oh, it's only you! You nearly scared me to death!"
Marcell grinned down from the tree branch he was hanging from.
"My apologies on that. Want an apple?"
Ada took the apple and threw it at him. "Why do you keep sneaking up on me?"
Ada's actions took her unexpectedly. At the apples impact, Marcell fell out of the tree like a sackful of potatoes. Ada rushed over to Marcell.
"Are you alright?"
"I think so, wait--Argh, I broke my leg!!"
"What?!"
"And my ribs too...!! Ack, the pain!!"
"Oh no! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I'll get someone to help!"
Marcell was a wonderful actor. He looked up at Ada as though he were about to get ran over by a stampede of wild horses.
"No!! You must stay here! Don't leave me to die alone!"
"You're dying?!"
"Argh, the pain!!"
Ada held his hand firmly. "Don't worry, I'm still here. Poor Marcell..."
Marcell couldn't help but to stifle his laughter. At first it sounded like he was choking.
"Are you okay, Marcell?"
He fluttered his eyelashes exaggeratedly and spoke with an embellished voice of flatter.
"Why Ada, I didn't know you cared about me..."
Ada furrowed her eyebrows and blushed slightly. The next minute, she pummeled him with more apples.
"Broken leg and rib, indeed!"
"Ouch! Hey! Argh! Have mercy Miss Ada--Ow!"