Author's Notes: The first part of the chapter takes place at the same time as much of Chapter 9 and the last that same evening. And once again, because of your reviews, I've been inspired to do a little more with this chapter than I originally had planned. This truly been a different project for me. It's only the second story I've written that has been actually influenced by the reviews I've received. The other was "Is This Your Masked Man?" which would never have had a second chapter if most of the reviewers hadn't asked for one.
Chapter 10
Blood and Wine
That same day, Boris rode into town around lunch time, looking for news. He was pleased to hear that the news of "Zorro's" attack had already hit town. People were edgy but not overly frightened, which was all to the good, as Dracula hadn't wanted to cause a general panic— at least not yet. They were traveling heavily armed and in groups, but they weren't yet hiding in their homes or starting large scale defenses.
The tavern was, as in so many other towns, the center for news and gossip, and the people who came in were hungry for news but would as easily listen to speculation. Boris was not naturally friendly, but he could play the game when necessary and thus, spent his time making the acquaintance of the likeliest men who came into the tavern. And as a newcomer to the area, he asked the right questions and listened attentively to the answers, told a few careful tales of strange things he or his master had seen, as well as buying as many drinks as he could reasonably get away with.
One very curious thing he noticed was that all talk of Zorro ceased the moment Victoria neared any of the tables. He had a hard time determining if it was from respect for her feelings or fear of her temper. People seemed to speak of both in lowered voices.
After lunch, he saw Victoria leaving the tavern to head to the de la Vega residence, at least according to one of the girls who worked in the tavern. He'd been watching her, trying to determine just what she might know or not know, but he didn't quite have the skill of his master at sensing what people were feeling or thinking. However, it was obvious that she worried about de la Vega, which was no surprise. He was reasonably sure she'd be back by evening, which was more critical for Dracula's purposes.
Conversation was more free once Victoria was out of the way, and it was much more useful to him. People of all classes seemed to be in awe of Zorro and fearful about his possible death. It was easy to work on that fear, nothing direct, just a hint or two. Zorro's anonymity in some ways could be as easily used against him as for him.
By the time siesta came around, Boris felt as if he'd accomplished all he'd set out to do. He'd encouraged more than a few rumors as well as gathered valuable information to aid in Dracula's evening plans . He knew about the reactions to the de la Vega vaqueros deaths, as well as their burials that afternoon. He'd learned about most of the nearby ranchos and the leading families and what they would or would not do. This was a strangely passive community. Good for easy prey, not so satisfactory for a good fight. Apparently, they'd gotten too used to having a hero to ever be in a hurry to defend themselves. Pleased with his day, Boris returned to the hacienda.
Checking with the men to see if anyone had approached during the day, he was interested that so far there had been no sign of anyone, except some lancers who had ridden by in the distance. It didn't make him overconfident. Solomon had been tracking him for some time, and he knew that Serghei hadn't thrown him too far off the track. While not enjoying being pursued, Boris could not help but admire the tenacity of the man who'd been tracking him so relentlessly and ruthlessly. It was rare to meet such skill and dedication.
He thought Dracula was a little too casual about the danger, just because Boris was his primary target. His master seemed to have forgotten that the one near miss in South America when Boris's own brother Bela had been killed, where it was clear that he not only considered Dracula an equal target but also knew exactly what he was hunting as well.
Boris couldn't help but be concerned that they might be either moving too slowly or not properly prepared for attack. He certainly believed it would be a mistake to concentrate too much on trying to get the book from de la Vega. He still didn't understand exactly why Dracula wanted it so badly, but then magic had never been his field of interest. That was for the other part of the family and Dracula to worry about. His job was to worry about their security.
Before sunset, he rechecked the perimeter of the area and checked that the exit to the underground cave was secure. As the sun was starting to set, he got the coach ready since that was what Dracula wanted to take into town this evening. The coach would be handy if they could find two more young women to add to the household.
Young female vampires were always good watchdogs. Amateur monster hunters usually succumbed easily to their wiles, and while Dracula enjoyed the company, he never got so attached that he'd miss them if a more experienced hunter took them out. They were easily replaced.
Just after sunset, Boris went down to the cavern. Dracula was watching his latest vampire. She knelt on the floor, in her hands she clutched a large rabbit which she was messily draining. Briefly she glared at Boris, blood dripping down her chin. She let out a low growl, clearly wary of this man who was not her master but went on feeding.
Dracula glanced back at Boris. "It wouldn't do to leave her here hungry. At least not until I'm sure she understands not to feed on our men. She has a fine fighting spirit; she's going to do quite nicely," he said.
He then turned back to her, lifted her chin and wiped a portion of the blood away from her lips with his thumb. "I know it isn't as good as human," Dracula said softly as he licked the traces of blood from his thumb. "Still it suffices and I promise you will get your chance at better. Stay here until I return," he commanded her.
She nodded submissively, then returned to her rabbit.
Dracula turned to Boris. "Now let's see what we can find in the pueblo, shall we?"
~Z~Z~Z~
Dracula had the ability to command the attention of the whole room with a simple gesture, and he used it to his advantage when he entered the tavern, which was certainly more crowded this evening than Boris had described it being in the afternoon. That was all the better. Some caballeros who had obviously heard about him and his relationship to the de la Vegas, however distant, made it a point to introduce themselves. Blood ties seemed to be all they required. He smiled thinly. Everything was about blood in the end. He just put it to better uses.
Politely accepting their introductions and diplomatically answering their questions, he then as easily excused himself to a table in the back of the room, preferring to watch than interact with people he saw as little more than prey. It was ironic; Boris was better at playing nice with people, while Dracula was better at analyzing their weaknesses. Señorita Escalante was by far the most interesting person in the room, so very much alive, but as she would be his key to Diego de la Vega, he had to resist the urge to sink his teeth into her and instead try to learn all he could from her before tomorrow's maneuvers.
He started by ordering a bottle of her best wine. While he never drank wine, he could when called upon make it seem as if he did, but he'd also realized that as long as he paid and paid well, no one particularly cared about those drinking habits. He studied Victoria as she brought the bottle to him. Her eyes were slightly red, but it didn't seem that she had been crying or at least not much.
"I heard there was some kind of trouble on the de la Vega lands today," he said, putting a bare modicum of sympathy in his voice.
She looked at him a little suspiciously as she opened the bottle. "Yes, three of their vaqueros were killed." She poured a glass.
"A pity," he said. "Is that why he isn't here this evening?" He put down enough coins on the table to pay for the bottle twice.
"Why do you want to know?" Victoria asked, ignoring the coins.
Dracula replied in an almost indifferent tone, "No particular reason. I had the impression that he spent a great deal of time here, and I hoped to see him. I don't know much about the de la Vega family, and I want to find out more. Perhaps you could tell me what kind of a man Don Diego is."
"I'm busy," she said, brusquely, starting to move away.
"Not that busy; surely your staff can handle things," he said, this time adding some persuasion into his voice, simply to see how malleable she might be.
She wavered a little. He could see wariness in her expression, but there was also a curiosity that held her in place. "I suppose." She took a seat at the table. "What is it that you really want to know?"
Dracula ignored the question but focused on her. She was suspicious of him, but sometimes suspicion was more useful than trust. "I know that you are close to the de la Vega family. I could see it when I first entered your tavern. Tell me what you think of Don Diego."
Victoria hesitated for a long moment, reluctance clearly warring with his influence. Finally, she said, "He's a good friend, interested in the arts and sciences, probably one of the most well-educated men in all of California, and definitely the gentlest, most peaceable man I know." She stared at him, suspicion even more clear on her face. "Why are you interested in the de la Vegas? Is it really all about a book?"
Dracula cocked his head at an angle. She had a very strong will and a great deal of curiosity. "It is about more than a book," he said with partial honesty. The truth could often be handy in disguising the lies. "It's about family history." Before she could respond to that, he leaned forward and said softly, "Tell me about Zorro."
"Zorro?" she asked. He could tell she was going to be even more careful to tell him nothing that anyone else couldn't tell him. Even that told him more than she thought. "He fights for justice and protects the innocent. What else do you need to know?"
"Is it true that you don't know who he is?" he asked watching her reaction very carefully.
"No one knows who Zorro is," she said flatly.
That didn't precisely answer his question. He pressed a little further. "So many people are saying he's dead, but not you. Have you seen him since the rockslide?"
"No one has," she said. "I'm not so quick to jump to conclusions. He's not so easily killed."
He smiled slightly. "You have a lot of faith in your mysterious masked man."
There was an odd hesitation before Victoria replied, as if she really didn't want to answer this question truthfully. "Yes. He's never let anyone down."
Leaning closer, he said, "Even though he hides his identity?"
It was if the shutters had closed behind her eyes, and Victoria stood up. "I have to get back to work. Enjoy your wine," she said, ice in her voice. Picking up the coins, she went straight to the kitchen.
He watched her with a calculating expression. He'd have to be very cautious tomorrow night. Far more than he usually would. But the challenge would be interesting, and he still had time. For now though, he was finished with his business in the tavern.
Signaling to Boris, Dracula stood and made his way out of the tavern. Once they were outside, Boris said, "That was brief."
"I learned what I needed. Let's go."
They headed towards the coach, when Dracula suddenly stopped at the edge of town. He could hear voices. Feminine voices. He signaled Boris who continued on to the coach, while Dracula moved towards the sounds. There were two young peasant women walking together out of the pueblo.
One was saying to the other, "Teresa, why couldn't we wait for Joaquin? Those bandits could still be around."
"Don't be silly, Rosa; it's not like I have far to walk. Besides Joaquin was being ridiculous. He's not my husband yet."
Rosa's voice was plaintive. "But your father thought you'd be staying in town with me..."
Teresa was insistent. "No, Joaquin would just sit outside the window and make a scene. I want to go home."
Dracula approached them. "Good evening, señoritas."
Rosa jumped when she heard his voice. Teresa just looked at him with an air of calculation, taking in his rich clothes and cultured voice. "Buenas noches, señor," Teresa said with a friendly smile.
"All alone this evening?" he asked walking towards them.
"Sí, señor," Teresa answered. "I'm going home."
"Alone?" he asked in apparent surprise. "That hardly sounds safe." He was very close to them now and all his focus was on Teresa. She was the one with the stronger will; if she agreed, the other would follow. "May I offer you a lift in my coach? I would be most distressed to discover anything had happened to two such young ladies because of my neglect."
Rosa, who stood a little behind Teresa, shook her head. "I don't think we should... Besides I live so close..."
Teresa turned. "Why not?" she said with a toss of her head. "He looks respectable enough, and how often do we get to ride in comfort?"
At that moment, Boris arrived with the coach. He dropped down and opened the door. Teresa looked at Rosa who reluctantly got inside with her. Dracula stepped in last, and Boris resumed his seat and started the coach out of town. No one heard a single cry. Not even the man who followed them.
~TBC~
Saturday: Chapter 11 - Truth Seekers
End Notes: Admittedly the scene with Jonata and the rabbit was a bit of an homage to the beginning of Monster Squad where one of the vampire brides was messily eating an opossum (the opossum being Monster Squad's homage to the geographically inaccurate use of them in the Bela Lugosi Dracula). Strangely, I decided against going with the opossum, which is equally nonnative to California as to Transylvania and instead went with a rabbit.
And speaking of classic horror homages, I'm going to go ahead and confess that in my head, Boris is played by Christopher Lee from his Hammer Horror era. He is so much better in my head than I can put him on the page.
