Harry's running slowed as he realised he had no idea where he was going. His desire to flee from the throne room had been instant and he had followed his instinct. Now that the compelling force had gone his brain began to work again. That thing must be Dracula, he reasoned, but he looked so young! In mortal years he must be fifteen, maybe younger? So Zillah had been right about the picture, Dracula had been manipulating the media before there really was one. Harry could see how Dracula had survived the ages, he was cunning. It was the same feeling of survival that Harry had felt in the storm, an animal's instinct to kill or be killed. Harry was glad he had seen through Dracula's plan before it had been too late. He didn't know how but he was sure if he'd let that thing touch him any more he'd be as powerless to resist the Count as was Mina. He shuddered that he'd been so close. His magic curled protectively around him like ivy. He had to find Edward.
The corridor he was on was hewn from the stone, its rough walls and jagged edges made it hard for Harry to go at anything more than a quick walk. He seemed to be going down and down, the floor taking on a subtle gradient as he walked along. The same scones lit the walls in a flickering amber light which made shadows of each of the stones protruding from the walls. Harry could hear a voice in the distance. The voice was singing. Curious Harry slowed his pace and tried to be quiet.
'God save the queeeeeeeeeeeen – ah!' the voice bellowed in a punk sort of way. Harry smiled to himself. The last thing he'd expected to hear down here was the National Anthem! As he approached the singing he could see that there were hollowed out rooms on each side of this corridor. The few he passed seemed empty and dark but ahead he could see light shining from several arched doorways. The lights seemed to be coming from a small portcullis in each door. He crept closer.
'No future, no future, no future for ... oi who's that?' the voice stopped and a steely blue eye cast a glance down the corridor from one of the barred doors. The voice had a cockney accent and this made Harry feel so much more comfortable. He edged nearer to the door. Inside was a tall, skinny blonde man wearing a black leather trench coat. The man looked surprised to see him and Harry watched realisation dawn over his face.
''Arry Potter?' he asked grinning, 'nice to finally meet you. Having heard so much about you!' he waggled his eyebrows expressively and Harry felt himself blush. 'don't you worry about it mate,' the blonde man crowed, 'sounds like you and Edward 'ave 'ad a whale of a time!' he slapped his leg, also clad in black leather and then straightened up, his face serious. 'Listen, you've not run into Eddy boy then? I'm bit worried about him.'
Harry was amazed, this man knew him, knew Edward!
'How did you..?' He trailed off not sure what to ask first.
'Me and Edward shared our stories, through the bars, you might say. He was convinced you were coming to rescue 'im. Before those blonde birds came and took 'im to Dracula that is.' The blonde man tried to look down the corridor, obviously the way Edward had gone. He shook his head. 'I'm Spike, by the way. Charmed I'm sure.' He stuck a skinny hand through the bars, Harry took it numbly.
'Harry Potter,' he mumbled, 'but you already know that. Is Edward all right? I mean, have they hurt him?' the last words were rushed out.
'Dunno mate,' shrugged Spike, ' maybe Drac's trying to get him to join his merry gang, like he did with me, though I can't see how them gorgeous vampire chicks are going to convince Edward...' He looked at Harry's anguished face. 'Oh don't worry; he's your boy all right. Bet he won't lay a finger on them girls.' Spike looked wistful, 'bloody lovely there were though.' He shook his head again, 'no, not your Eddy, he's batting for the other side now.' Harry looked confused and Spike was about to explain when Harry interrupted him.
'Is that what Dracula did? Tried to get you seduced by vampire girls?'
'Yeah, nearly 'ad me too if one of em 'adn't been a bit blonde like Buffy, and that got me thinking and then, no I turned em down. Pretty pissed off 'e was too, the count. Did he try the birds on you? Did you get a look at that brunette's...?' Harry shook his head.
'No girls. Just Dracula, looking like Edward.' He added risking an eye at Spike's expression. Spike whistled.
'Oooh nasty nasty, 'he shook his head in sympathy, 'did 'e... I mean did you?' Harry shook his head. Spike let out a breath.
'Phew. Close one there eh mate? Wonder if that's what he tried on Ed...' his voice trailed off as he caught Harry's expression. 'Sorry, I'm sure he didn't. Ed'll be fine.' He tried to pat Harry's shoulder through the bars. 'Look, could you?' he mimed waving a wand,' these doors you know?'
Harry pointed his wand at the lock on the door 'Alohomora!' he commanded. The door swung open. Harry frowned. If Dracula had a powerful wizard at his command why weren't the doors bewitched? Maybe they hadn't been expecting him to get this far.
'Come on,' Spike was already moving along the corridor 'we might need to get these guys out too.' Which guys? Harry hurried after the blonde vampire who was stopping outside some of the cells and checking their occupants. Harry looked through the nearest door to him.
Inside sat a young woman with an unearthly beauty. She looked to be barely seventeen but Harry guessed from her pale skin and absolute stillness that she was far older than her appearance showed. Her pale face was composed and her fine eyebrows rose slightly as she saw Harry peering through the door. Her long blonde hair fell to her waist and she pushed it back impatiently with long, slender fingers as she rose and glided to the door. Harry stepped back and saw what? as she bent to put her lips to the bars.
'Set me free,' she whispered seductively. 'Please.' This last word would have melted the hardest heart and Harry felt himself raise his wand without thinking.
'Cut it out Carmilla,' snapped Spike, 'we'll free you as soon as we get Sir Francis 'ere out!' he thumbed a gesture to the cell next to him. Inside was a very ugly little man, who sat with his head in his hands. He seemed to be upset.
'Put a sock in it mate and 'urry up.' Spike was scolding him. Harry could hear the man mumbling 'don't deserve to escape, don't deserve to live'. Spike turned to Harry.
'This,' he gestured again with his thumb, 'is Sir Francis Varney. 'E's always like this but a useful bloke to 'ave around, on account of his great vampire strength.' Harry opened the door with his wand. The ugly man sighed and got up with an air of desolation. He shrugged his shoulders at Harry and sighed again.
'Now your turn darlin',' Spike turned to the cell of the beautiful woman. 'Come on 'Arry, get Carmilla's door open.' Harry pointed his wand in the direction of the young woman's door. It swung open. Carmilla swept forward as though she was a mist. She bent to touch Harry's cheek with her beautiful cold lips.
'Thank you, 'she breathed, 'I had tried to get through the door as mist but there seemed to be a barrier.'
'You can become a mist?' Spike grabbed Carmilla's arm and swung her to face him, 'is there anything else you can do?' Carmilla shrugged off Spike's hand and smiled at Harry. 'Look you're not his type love and from what I remember he's not yours either.' Carmilla slowly turned to face him. Her voice was chill.
'I can walk about during the day and I can transform myself into a mist or a black cat. Is that the sort of thing you wanted to know?' Her smile was not friendly. Spike slapped her arm and grinned.
'Perfect,' he said striding off down the corridor. 'Come on; let's see who else is down 'ere!'