Author's Notes: Sorry about the brief meltdown yesterday (I'm better now), but my lack of confidence will not translate to any delays in this story going up. I have never worked to a schedule like this before, and I think I never will again, but this one is still on track to end on Halloween. Part of the reason for short chapters and an almost daily updating schedule is to give me more time to edit the later parts of the story. This currently is the only story I'm working on, and I will be glad when it's finished, not because I don't actually like what I've done (despite the strangeness of the tale and my own nervousness about it) but because I think I'd like to get back to something lighter and fluffier.

Chapter 8

Hunter and Hunted

Boris returned to the hacienda, pleased with the information he'd gathered, especially the key piece that he'd discovered. He was still concerned that Serghei and Vadim had not arrived. They weren't inclined to let themselves get distracted when under orders, nor were they weak fighters. However, their absence was not so critical that he intended to search for them.

He kept himself busy while waiting for sunset. He and Grigori took the wagon out to Diablo Canyon and buried a barrel of gunpowder in the middle of the rockslide, leaving a long fuse outside.

"I'll clear out all the tracks, while you get into position. Remember to light the fuse a half an hour after sundown and then make your way back to the house. I'll be back to take care of what else needs to be done."

Grigori nodded his head and climbed up the wall carrying the fuse end with him. Boris carefully removed all signs of the wagon before making his way back to the hacienda to make the final preparations before sunset.

Boris spent some time studying his maps to better keep in mind possible areas of attack and the best routes for escape. Just as the sun was starting to go down, he stepped outside to consult with a couple of the men. As he stood there he heard the signals that a rider was approaching. He watched the road until he spotted a lone rider approaching the hacienda, and it took a few moments to realize it was one of the two missing men. Boris almost didn't recognize Serghei, slumped as he was over the saddle.

"What happened?" he asked, as Serghei slid almost bonelessly off the horse into his arms.

"The hunter— he caught up with us. Vadim he killed. Me he left alive to give you a message... He said to tell you... to make your peace with God... or the devil... because there is no place in this world safe from him." Serghei was leaning heavily against him. "I rode wide to lose him... but..."

"But he's on the way," Boris said evenly. He helped Serghei into the house and then stepping outside for a moment, gave the signal for extra vigilance.

After treating Serghei's wounds, Boris made his way down to the underground cavern. Dracula dropped to the ground in front of him.

"Well?" he asked.

"Serghei is back."

"And?"

"Solomon's back on our— my— trail," Boris said. "Probably no more than three days behind us."

"Unfortunate," Dracula said looking thoughtful. "We'll have to accelerate things a little. Any good news?"

"Diego de la Vega is Zorro."

Dracula raised a brow. "How did you find out?"

"They had Zorro's cape in the alcalde's office. The scent is still strong on it, and I ran into de la Vega outside. There's no doubt at all."

"That is useful. Very useful," Dracula said.

"The similarity in your builds will make the impersonation much easier."

"True, and I think that the taverness is now a double-edged weapon."

Boris was surprised. "You think she doesn't know."

"I doubt it. The way he reacted around her, with a sense of possession he was trying to hide from her. She might suspect, but I don't think she knows. I think tomorrow evening we'll both visit the tavern. It should be... illuminating."

"And tonight?"

Dracula smiled thinly. "No change in our plans. We are still going to blacken Zorro's name a bit. Preferably around the de la Vega lands."

Boris bowed slightly. "As you command, my lord. What about the new girl?"

Dracula glanced at a long box in one corner of the room. "She'll sleep until tomorrow night. I want her out of the way until then. Now let's get to this evening's activities," Dracula replied.

"Yes, my lord." Boris moved back towards a trunk near the stairs.

There had been enough descriptions of Zorro's attire that it had proven easy enough to duplicate the outfit; in fact, they had multiple copies. Preferring not to deal with silver, they hadn't gone to the trouble of trying to copy Toronado's tack. It wasn't a critical part of the disguise anyway.

"I know you regretted missing out on the hunt last night, Boris," Dracula said. "Tonight you get your chance. We will both wear the black, and once we find the proper prey, it's your hunt. I'll round up any stragglers. If we do this correctly, no one will know there is more than one of us."

"Sounds like fun, my lord," Boris answered with a grin.

This time Boris saddled Malvado and Sombra, though Dracula would only be riding for parts of the journey, since it was much easier to find prey from the air. Once the two of them had changed clothes, they headed out, Boris on Sombra and Dracula in the air. Malvado despite his evil temperament ran alongside Sombra as obediently as if Dracula were riding. They headed in a southwesterly direction with Dracula flying ahead. When he spotted a group of vaqueros sitting around a fire in the distance, he turned back and landed smoothly on Malvado's back.

"I've spotted them. This is your game. I'll just circle around in case more than one escapes, unlikely as that is, since there are but four of them."

"As you say, my lord," Boris said.

After Dracula disappeared from sight, Boris rode closer to the group before dismounting and creeping silently towards the men who were laughing and talking around the fire. While he wielded a sword with reasonably skill, when it came to weapons, Boris had always preferred the knife; it was more personal.

One man was sitting quietly at the edge of the group, far away from the fire, and Boris slipped up behind him. He almost managed to get in a strike unseen, but something seemed to alarm the man, who cried out just as the knife slid in. The other men turned and spotted him.

Startled cries of "Zorro" filled the air, as the men charged at him. They didn't stand much of a chance against Boris, who with great glee fought them. One man, once he'd been wounded, managed to get to the horses, obviously intent on going for help. Boris let him go as that was exactly what Dracula wanted.

It wasn't too much longer before Boris had taken care of the last of the men. As before he marked the bodies with a Z, this time placing some torn black silk in one of the men's hands. Just as he finished, Dracula rode up on Malvado.

"I saw the one who got away; he didn't spot me, until he was far enough away not to realize I was another man. It encouraged him to flee faster," Dracula said pleasantly. Casually, he surveyed the carnage. "I trust that you enjoyed yourself?"

Boris was cleaning his knife. "Yes, my lord, though I would have preferred either more targets or better fighters. Still, it was a pleasant enough diversion."

"I'm pleased for you. Now go finish up at the canyon and return home. And don't get caught."

"Have I ever been, my lord?" Boris asked.

Dracula raised an eyebrow. "A man with vengeance on his mind has been trailing you since France. What do you think?"

Boris shrugged slightly, but said, "You have a point, my lord. I won't be caught."

"Good," Dracula said as he headed away.

Boris headed back to Diablo Canyon at a gallop. When he arrived, he was pleased to see that Grigori had set off the charge and was no longer in sight. The pile of rocks was blown and scattered. From one of his saddlebags, Boris pulled out a torn black sash which he placed under one of the larger bits of stone. From his other saddle bag, Boris removed some carefully prepared firework charges and placed them near the edge of the canyon. Lighting the fuses, Boris rode off and turned back as the fireworks went off, exploding in red sparks in the sky. His work done, Boris started on the long circular route that would return him to the hacienda.

~TBC~

Thursday: Chapter 9 - Heavy Burdens.

End Notes: So last evening, I was still struggling with fixing the ending. Something was missing, and it wasn't working out well, and then something from one of your reviews sparked something in my brain, and suddenly I knew exactly what was missing, and everything's finally falling into proper place. I'm actually enthusiastic about getting this properly finished, instead of feeling almost certain dread. So, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU all who have been reviewing and especially those of you who've been reviewing regularly. Your reviews are more helpful and encouraging than you know. And I also want to take a moment to thank the guest reviewer who not only gave this story a chance despite the fact they don't like vampire or monster fiction but also left a review as well. That was very kind of you.