Chapter 18

Meanwhile, Ortega was fuming over Cornell's comment. "What about Ada"?! Was that all he could say, after what he had been through? What made Ada so special anyway?!

Ada could sense that Ortega was vexed about something. She decided to stay a small distance from him, incase he decided to turn his anger out on someone or something. Ada was wise. Ortega pounded the nearest demon statue into a pile of rubble.

Ada coughed as a debris cloud filled the air.

"Can't you move any faster, girl?" Ortega growled. "Hurry!"

Ada quickened her pace, still wary of Ortega's anger. Her feet were tired of walking... Ortega kept her moving at a quick pace, and every now and then they would have to double back and set a trap for Cornell. Ada was also very hungry. She had little to eat since she had left the village over four days ago; At least that's what Ortega told her. Even though he was antagonizing her, she knew that Ortega usually wasn't the kind of person to lie. So it was four days. Ada hadn't seen sunlight in four days. The castle was filled with gloom and little to no windows. Who could live in such a place...? This was becoming more than Ada could stand. Luckily, she had reached the end of her journey. Unfortunately, it was not a place she wanted to be...

Ada was outside. Alas, no sunlight. It was early morning and the sky was still dark. Ahead of her was a large and long stairwell made of stone. As she started to climb, she looked down and was dizzy with fright. There was no solid ground under the stairwell. She looked around and saw the tops of the highest towers. If she were to fall, it would be a terribly awful experience.

Ortega jerked her forward. "Keep moving!"

The long stairway led to a small, dark and empty sanctuary. Ortega opened the door on the other side of the room, to reveal a second, equally as long stairway. They climbed higher and came to a second sanctuary. The door after it revealed another staircase. Ada continued, not daring to take a glimpse down. At the end of the stairway was the final sanctuary. Torches made of stone luminated both sides of the stone doorway. A large symbol had been carved into the door. It sent frightened chills through Ada's spine. It was the sign of the devil.

Ortega opened the sanctuary doors. As the stone slabs slid back, Ada couldn't help but to quiver. The inside was three times as large as the other two sanctuaries. A dusty red carpet led from the doorway, over to a large coffin on the other side of the sanctuary. The coffin itself stood on a platform of steps and was large enough for Ada to fit inside three times! Behind and above the coffin, an enormous marble statue of a bat hung to the wall, its wings spread wide. None of this improved Ada's mood.

"Where are we, Ortega?" She asked quietly.

Before Ortega could have answered, Death appeared in front of them.

"Here is the girl." Ortega told him.

Death looked in Ada's direction. He held his sickle staff firm and flapped his wings idly. His voice came hollow and clear.

"Excellent. My lord is curious about this one..."

This was definitely not Ada's day. She sensed another presence behind her and Ortega. Just by the figure's presence, Ada felt enveloped into a deep darkness. There was no escape, she feared. A hand touched her shoulder and Ada turned around before she could stop herself. Her gaze was forced upward into Dracula's crimson eyes. Ada wasn't sure whether she was in a state of shock or mesmerized by one of Dracula's powers. Finally he let her go and walked away.

"You are not a man-wolf; There is no such aura about you." Dracula addressed Ortega. "What affinity does this girl have to the man-wolf?"

"I'm not sure, my lord. She has been with him longer than I can remember."

Dracula took a moment before he spoke again. This time he meant for Ada to respond.

"What is your name?"

"Ada, sir." She murmured.

"Ornament." Dracula translated.

Ada smiled to herself. She had never known the meaning of her name. Still she continued to stare at the floor. One look at Dracula was enough for now. As the owner of the large coffin, he was much taller than Ada or Ortega. His hair and short beard were grey with age and his face composure was solemn. His clothing was black and red, in a nobleman style. He also wore a flowing cape, which the collar was as high as his neck.

After Dracula finished contemplating, he waved a hand and Ada was suddenly trapped in a large crystal.

"She will stay here until the man-wolf arrives. Until that time, none of you will bother him. Let my castle alone hassle the man-wolf..."

Ortega's eyebrows twitched. Dracula seemed to see this even with his back turned. He looked back at him, daring Ortega to challenge his authority. Ortega knew better than to question Dracula. He nodded respectively and left the sanctuary. Of course, he still had other plans on his mind...

After Dracula and Death disappeared from the sanctuary, Ada was left alone. She still hovered in the crystal Dracula had entrapped her in. Despite the lack of space and air holes, she could still breathe. Ada felt the glass. It didn't appear to be thick. Perhaps she could break it...but with what...?

Ada took out the dagger she had hidden in one of her boots. This was the same dagger that Cornell had given her over a year ago. It was time to put it to use! Ada jabbed at the crystal, causing a small but effective crack to form. Ada continued stabbing at the crack that had formed in the crystal. It started to grow wider... With a final dagger thrust, the whole crystal shattered and Ada fell onto the ground. She got up and dusted glass shards off her dress. She had a few minor cuts on both arms, but she was otherwise okay. Ada kept the dagger at hand and started out the chamber. Should she have just stayed safe inside Dracula's chamber? No...by the looks of it, she was part of some scheme to lure Cornell... Perhaps if she found Cornell, they could both escape without any harm. Hopefully... Without further questioning herself, Ada continued down the long stairway.

Ada traced the route Ortega had taken her. So far there were no demons, but hunger and fatigue were her main enemies. She trudged on, even if it was at a slow pace. The tower she was inside was also becoming an obstacle. The sun's rays were filtered to light the inside of the tower. Even with the dim light, the inside of the tower was exceptionally heated and the air was close. Ada continued on. At one time she had momentarily fainted. A few yards later, she fell for the second time, only this time she didn't get back up.