Chapter 21

Cornell started back on his journey, eager to make up for the time he had lost. The second gate that was locked was now open. Cornell went through and ended up in the clock tower. This was different from the room of clocks. Instead of being in a room with clocks, Cornell was inside the clock itself. He climbed over the large moving cogs, being careful where he stepped. One false move and he could end up getting crushed in between them. Not a very nice death. None of the deaths here were nice at all. There were also levers and platforms that Cornell had to climb, all of which you'd find in a clock. A very very large clock. The air inside the clock tower was close and hot. It wasn't as smoldering as Tower Of Execution, so Cornell didn't complain. He was climbing higher and higher up the clock tower. No demons stayed up here except for imps and dragon bone pillars. Not nearly as bad as Cornell thought it would be. He found his way to a metal door. Outside of the door his sister laid on the floor. She was either asleep or dead...

"Oh no!" Cornell rushed to her side and tried to wake her. "Ada! Ada!!"

Cornell held his breath and hoped that Ada was alright. She had to be alright...

Ada's eyes began to open. She looked up and saw the brother she had missed for a year. She gave a small smile and Cornell returned it. He helped her up and they embraced.

"I knew you'd come for me...Oh, Cornell...the village has burned...all the people..."

Ada felt the bloodstains on the back of his vest. Once she let him go, she noticed the blood-soaked bandages across his side and shoulder.

"You've been hurt..."

"I'll be fine. It's going to be alright now..."

A scythe flew out of nowhere, aimed at the two. Cornell was quick to see it and pushed Ada and himself out of harm's way. Once he had gotten back up, Ada had been taken away by Death. The robed skeleton hovered next to the crystal that Ada had been recaptured in.

"I have found her at last. To think the sacrifice was hidden here! Searching for the divine sacrifice almost upset the timing of the ritual."

Death continued, "And I thought that stupid lycanthrope would prove to be a little useful. What a fool, disobeying the orders of the Count and wasting his own life."

Cornell was helpless but to watch Death disappear along with his sister. "Don't leave! No! Ada, hang on! I'll save you, I promise!"

He continued on through the clock tower at double the pace than before. He had to save Ada before the ritual! The clock tower became isolate of demons and it was an all out run and climb to the end. Cornell finally reached the stairwell that lead to Dracula's sanctuary. It was midday, but the sun couldn't shine through the clouds. He sprinted up the long steps and through the first sanctuary. Just before he was about to leave, he was met by another.

"I have been waiting for this. At last we reach the climax."

Cornell turned around to see Renon. The demon tipped his hat as usual.

"I have come to take my leave. You will no longer need my services, and this is as far as lord Dracula has instructed me to help you."

"Oh, I see. That's fine." Cornell was more concerned with Ada's dilemma at that moment. "Thanks for your help."

"Yes well, fortune to you and your sister. Perhaps you have what it takes to challenge lord Dracula after all..." Renon examined his pocket watch. "I must be gone. We shall not meet again...not during your lifetime anyway..."

The demon tipped his hat again and disappeared. Cornell hurried up the next staircase and sanctuary. After the last pair of steps, he entered Dracula's sanctuary. As Cornell came closer to the large coffin, he began to believe more in the legend of Dracula. Everything that had happened up to now was more than a coincidence. He came to a halt at the bottom of the steps that lead to the large coffin and glanced around the sanctuary nervously.

There was no one. Cornell nearly leapt back in surprise when the coffin lid opened on its own. He took three steps back, gripped onto his axe, and prepared for whatever was about to come out.

It was Ada! The crystal she was inside hovered a few feet above the coffin, out of Cornell's reach. She pounded on the glass and was yelling something. Outside the crystal, Cornell couldn't hear a word. He took a quick and correct guess at what Ada was saying: It's a trap!

Sinister laughter echoed around the chamber. Cornell turned around quick and searched for the source. All of a sudden, it seemed he had been taken off guard! Count Dracula appeared in front of him. Cornell stepped back nervously. The vampire was no mere myth...

"Y-you're Count Dracula?!"

"Well, I applaud you my boy, for finding your way to the devil's lair."

Cornell swallowed and regained his courage. "Let my sister go. Let Ada go!"

"Ha ha ha... Nothing quite so touching as the love between siblings. Well, well...this could be amusing."

The warrior hesitated. Dracula continued before Cornell could answer.

"Well man-wolf, you had better bring on all your power. If you want to save your sister, you must fight me with your full force. All living creatures will serve as the staff in my life of sweet darkness!"

Cornell commenced the fight. He charged at the vampire, brandishing his axe. Dracula disappeared inches before the man-wolf could touch him. Cornell expected that. He looked around the chamber for his missing quarry. Dracula reappeared but disappeared once again. Now he began flitting around the chamber, disappearing and reappearing in a wisp of cloud. Cornell was dizzy with trying to track him. Dracula took to his advantage and grabbed hold of his opponent's battle axe. Cornell held onto the axe tightly, but to his surprise Dracula had an extremely strong grip. He wrenched the axe from Cornell's grasp.

"You won't need this anymore, boy."

The axe disintegrated from his hand in a flash of fire. Cornell didn't let that affect him for long. While Dracula was close by, the man-wolf managed to put in a slash or two. Dracula disappeared again, but came back quickly. He hurled five balls of fire towards Cornell, all at once. The man-wolf tumbled out of the way the best his wounded side would allow. He got back to his feet to face Dracula, who began to laugh once more.

"What do you call that?! Why, you're not even trying... You can do better. I know you better than you think, man-wolf. She is not a man-wolf. She is a survivor of the humans your kind killed."

Cornell was momentarily stunned. He gave a quick glance back at Ada and focused on Dracula once more.

"Stop! Don't go any further!"

Dracula smirked. This was all new information to Ada. Through Cornell's harsh tone, there was also one of pleading. The vampire toyed with him anyway.

"You probably raised her as a man-wolf, but you cannot deceive me. Did you think that you could atone for your sins by saving her? Or did you think that you yourself would be granted an indulgence? Did you think that this young lady would be elated by your actions? It is nothing more than shallow deception by a man-beast!"

Dracula laughed again. "But if that is your design, then let us bare your true self!"

The crystal containing Ada started to float towards Dracula's outstretched arms. As it passed by him, Cornell leapt forward to catch hold of the crystal. His efforts earned him an electric shock that sent him flying backwards.

Ada was as terrified as Cornell. What would happen now? Despite the enchantment of the castle that he had seen so far, the man-wolf could hardly believe what happened. The crystal began to shrink into a miniature version. With a flick of Dracula's cape, the crystal disappeared inside. The crystal and Ada were gone! Cornell's vision began to fade also. He heard Dracula's voice through the darkness: "Now I will reveal to you my true form. This power is second to none! If you want to save this woman, you had better be ready to give your life!"