Scene 13

Doris had to hurry to keep up with the hunch-back man. One look at his pale-skinned, red-eyed face confirmed her suspicions; he was a vampire. As such she had to be swift, discarding her crimson dress in favor of the outercorset, silk shirt and hunting skirt underneath. Out came the whip too, clutched in a trembling hand.

The huntress did not fear for her fate as she took the twists and turns the Noble unintentionally led her through. Deep in the bowels of the mansion they descended, an example of the deary, dripping dungeon that was the classic of every horror story. Keys clinked together, clasped in his aged hand.

No, it was not for her that Doris worried over. It was for D who faced a Noble who appeared to be extremely powerful, and one that looked like his mother to boot. She recalled the locket the dhampire bore, with a woman in a white dress and dark hair, just like that one above. Doris didn't like to consider what that could mean, and she feared that the vampire hunter was stepping straight into a trap.

And for the children, the ten kids spirited away from the villagers. And for Dan. Strong and courageous as the boy was, even he had to be terrified, imprisoned by a mob of vampires. These thoughts straightened the young woman's spine even as she delved further into the catacombs of the mansion, with barely moonlight to guide her steps.

The vampire had not brought any torch or candle with him, able to see impeccably in the dark. So she had to trust her own instincts and a hand to guide her along the wall. Several times Doris slipped and fell, cutting herself in numerous places on the jagged flooring. Did blood ooze from her wounds? The element of surprise was her only advantage and she risked losing that now too.

Finally the vampire came to a stop before a single dungeon cell. Out from between the bars peered a few children, frightened and worn. Doris held her breath as she saw Dan rise from the floor and rush the bars. He, too, shook in fear but clamped his teeth together. The boy snarled, "You again! What do you want?"

"It is time, my little ones." The vampire had a voice to match his face, hideous and intimidating. "But I cannot send you to your deaths without tasting at least one drop of your sweet blood..." Out flashed his hand, ensaring Dan between the bars. The boy fought with him, but he might as well tried to fell a fire dragon. "Just stay still and this won't hurt as much."

Doris burst into action, sending her whip spinning. Despite the speed in which the huntress flew into action the Noble was quicker. He turned in around in an instant, grabbing her weapon-arm. The cold spread throughout Doris's body like a rapid poison, weakening her. She kicked out, but the Noble twisted her arm, knocking the whip out of her grip to mere inches from the cell.

As she struggled in his arms, the vampire grinned. "I knew you were following me. Even if you had not made such noise to wake the dead..." Here he laughed, exposing rotting teeth. "...I could easily smell your spilt blood. And now that I have you my pretty, I want to taste that sweet blood. But first I would taste something else..."

A hand slipped down the huntress's shirt. Screaming Doris fought, fear fueling her heart to pound. She feared for Dan, for the other children and for D. But now the huntress mainly feared for herself realizing with a coldness to her core what this Noble meant for her. She felt her head explode in pain as the vampire thrust her to the floor, towering over her, abandoning her breasts for her skirt, pushing it up to give him a good view of her panties.

"You've not a had a man, have you, my pretty?" The vampire's breath reeked of blood as he brought his face to hers. "Not even that beautiful hunter who came with you, hmm? Yes, I saw you come in, and I saw you dance. I knew I had to have you." His hand climbed up her thigh. "First I shall take you as a living women then as my undead bride."

The huntress couldn't keep the second scream in her throat, the very thought of this Noble taking both her soul and her virginity shredding into her sanity. In her mind's eye she saw Count Magnus Lee as he pierced her neck with his fangs, whispering of making her his very soon. D had saved her then, destoried the vampire before he was able to claim either of that. But somehow Doris knew that the vampire hunter could not rescue her now.

"Doris!" yelled Dan, and the huntress turned her head to see the whip fly over to her. Thrusting out her hand Doris caught it. The vampire was so focused on his vicious intent he didn't react fast enough to stop the flash of the whip as it struck him full in the face.

Shrieking, the Noble jumped back. Doris pressed her advantage, striking again and again. The vampire could not recover, the initial blast burning into his eyes, blinding him. The whip finally spun around his neck, dragging him to the cold floor. With a hard twist of her hand and the huntress tore the head from his body, blood blossoming at her feet.

The whole ordeal lasted barely longer than fifteen minutes but to the young woman eternity had come and gone. She dropped to her knees, gasping. In the background she heard the kids and forced herself back to her feet. Doris figured she could contemplate the horror of what she'd almost been put through later. For now, she had to get the kids out, like she'd promised D. And as for D...

...did he survive?

Snatching up the keys, the huntress quickly freed the children. For a moment fear freezed her, reminded that a short few days these same kids came at her and D, intent on harm. But doing a quick check of them she could tell whatever malady siezed them before did not appear to be active right now. Dan too, seemed alright as he grabbed her into a crushing embrace.

"Doris, I'm so glad you're okay!" Tears glistened in his eyes, but he kept them at bay.

"We have to get out of here, Dan." Doris gestured for the kids to circle her. They did so gratefully, trembling and some crying. "Listen to me, all of you. Take each other hands and follow me. We are going to leave here now."

"What about D?" cried Dan, stomping his foot in a way not unlike how she'd done earlier. "He came with you didn't he? We can't leave him!"

Biting her lip, Doris stared at the boy helplessly. No lie would spill from her lips; Dan was entirely too smart for that. "D promised he'd come as fast as he could. I made a promise to get the kids out to a carriage outside as quickly as I could. Now follow me!" Her hand extended to boy, imploring.

Dan took her hand and said to the other kids, "I told you we'd escape. Now follow us!"

Doris smiled, fighting back the fear she'd never find their way out, and the fear that even if D still lived, he soon wouldn't.