Chapter 19: Dracula's Return

He found himself lying on the floor with Tails, Blaze and Silver staring at him. "What...?"

Shadow sighed. He defeated Mephiles at last. The vampire got to his feet and stared at the others. "Mephiles is dead." Shadow smiled weakly, but then it faltered as a single tear made its way down his cheek. "But it came at too high a price..."

"What price?" Silver asked. Blaze and Tails were also concerned.

"Sonic is gone," Shadow whispered.

Blaze and Tails gasped. "What do you mean?" Blaze asked.

"He...sacrificed the last of the good in himself and gave it to me as power so I could fight Mephiles."

Tails' eyes widened and filled with tears. "N...No...You're...you're lying...it's not true!"

Shadow just looked at Tails sadly, then, shocking everyone, he walked over to Tails and hugged him. "I...wish I was lying Tails...I really do..." Tails felt something wet hit the top of his head and he realized that Shadow had begun to cry as well.

Blaze and Silver were also in shock; they couldn't believe what happened.

"So...what do we do now?" Silver asked. "Is Sonic...Dracula...going to take back control and leave you as a split personality, or...what will happen?"

Shadow pulled away from Tails and sighed as he swiped his arm across his eyes. "Most likely...he'll take over and get rid of me completely..."

Everyone's eyes widened in fear but then they sighed, nodding.

"When will that happen?" Blaze asked.

Shadow sighed. "I don't know..."

Silver smiled halfheartedly. "Well, we could go feed. It is night now."

Shadow nodded. "Alright."

They went out of the castle and down to the countryside, ready to have their fill of blood for the night.

"We'll have to hunt animals for tonight. Sonic..." Shadow sighed and finally relented. "...Dracula...he killed every human for miles."

They nodded. "Alright," Blaze said. "Let's go."

Shadow nodded. The vampires looked around for animals to hunt and feed on. Soon, they came upon a herd of deer and eyed them. Shadow turned to the others. "Our wolf forms might be better suited to hunting deer."

The others nodded and transformed into their wolf forms. Shadow's was the largest: a sign that he had gained the power from Sonic, and another that he was the Alpha. He sent a silent signal to the others and they began to stalk the deer. The deer sensed something and looked up, but then went back to eating. Shadow growled, and then pounced on one of them as the other wolves did the same. Then they turned back to normal and started draining the deer of blood, killing them once they were done. Once they'd drained the deer completely, Shadow and the others hunted for smaller prey. They found a few smaller animals and killed them also.

"Are there any other villages around here with humans?" Blaze asked.

Shadow thought about it. There probably were. "Maybe, do you want to go hunt in them, or just stay in the forest?"

"We can hunt humans," Silver said. "I don't mind. Besides, animal blood doesn't taste very good."

Shadow nodded. "We'll do that then."

They ran out of the forest, looking for another village. Soon, they found one and attacked. The humans screamed as they attacked. Shadow smirked and bit into the necks of a few humans, draining their blood. He felt himself go into a blood frenzy and snarled in rage, continuing to slaughter the humans. Tails and the others, who had split off from Shadow, had already drank their fill, so they went to look for Shadow, and were horrified by what they found. The rest of the humans in the city were dead, and blood was everywhere. Shadow himself was covered in it from head to toe.

Tails whimpered. "S...Shadow?"

Shadow looked at them. He hissed when he saw them, but then he grabbed his head. He fell to the ground, screaming in pain. His fur started to change entirely to black, and his eyes turned pure white. Some crystals appeared on his fur also. When he stood up, he was no longer Shadow. Dracula had taken control once again, this time possibly forever. He smirked as he saw Tails and the others.

"So, you have had your fill of blood for the night. Excellent."

"What have you done with Shadow, Dracula?" Silver asked.

Dracula chuckled. "He is still a split personality but is now under my control. He will gain control of my body when I tell him to."

Tails gasped. "No..."

Dracula chuckled. "Yes. And now, you will continue to be my servants!" He exclaimed, and rushed towards them.

Silver hissed and tried to immobilize Dracula with his powers even as Blaze threw fireballs at him. The vampire chuckled evilly and bit all of them on the neck once again, turning them into his loyal servants.

Dracula smirked, then saw the sun beginning to rise.

"Chaos Control," he shouted, and everyone vanished in a flash of light. They followed Dracula into the castle and lay down in their coffins, falling asleep until the night would come again.

It came quickly and Dracula was the first to awaken. He looked around and chuckled as he saw the others wake. They looked to him for orders.

Dracula chuckled. "Go out and kill the humans in Transylvania," he said. "Turn others as well. Soon, the reign of Count Dracula will begin again!"

"Yes, Master." Tails spoke tonelessly, echoed by Sliver and Blaze.

The evil vampire nodded and walked up to Blaze. "Stay with me," he said, kissing her.

Blaze purred. "Of course..."

Dracula smiled and the two kissed again. They broke apart and he looked at the others. "You heard me," he said. "Go out and do what I have commanded!"

Without a word, the others transformed into bats and descended upon the village, spreading terror throughout the night.

Dracula stayed in the castle, hearing the sweet screams of terror. He chuckled and turned to his bride, extending his hand. "Come, Blaze. It is time for us to...shall we say...enjoy ourselves."

Blaze nodded and followed Dracula, leaving the other vampires to do his bidding.