Echoes in My Mind
Chapter 12: Taste
As I crept down a particularly dark hallway, I cast a nervous glance over my shoulder when I suddenly collided into something, or rather someone as I quickly discovered. The force knocked both of us to the ground, our limbs tangling together as each struggled frantically to get free. Somehow the other person managed to get the upper hand and I found them on top of me. Before they could try to pin me down, I grabbed their wrists and held them fast, though they still struggled in my grip.
"L-Let go of me…!"
I froze, recognizing the voice at once.
"Amber," I said, taking her face in both my hands to hold her still so she could focus on my face. "Amber, it's only me."
She stopped and stared wide eyed, finally recognizing me in the dim light. "Basil," she whispered as her arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace. I sat up and held her in my arms as she buried her face in my shirt, never wanting to let her go.
"Always running into each other, aren't we?" I chuckled.
She laughed nervously. "I'm glad it was you and not another vampire." She looked up suddenly, eyes wide with fright. "We have to get out of here now," she said urgently, leaping to her feet and looking back in the direction she had come from as if afraid someone would come around the corner any minute. I nodded and followed as she took me by the hand and led me down the hall.
As we went on our way, she asked how I came to be here. I briefly told her of how after she was kidnapped, we enlisted the help of Janssen and his assistant Damien for their expertise in dealing with vampires, and how after we were finally able to learn the location of Ratigan's castle, we infiltrated the ball. She then explained to me how the Professor had joined forces with the Count and that they were both responsible for the recent murders and kidnappings in Mousedom, and the argument she had just witnessed between them. The most shocking point of all was hearing that the Count had apparently gained control over the Napoleon of Crime.
"Ratigan made a deal with him," Amber said. "If he would join forces with him, Fane promised to give him incredible powers by turning him into a vampire. Only now, it's backfired, and Fane has complete control over him."
"This Count definitely has a larger role in all this," I remarked. "Damien mentioned him being responsible for the disappearance of Maria, Janssen's fiancée; and if the recent crimes are any indication, he's kidnapped and murdered countless others. Now he's gained the control of the world's greatest criminal mind?"
"Whatever Fane's plotting," Amber continued quietly, "he plans to use me too. Ever since we've met, he's acted strange toward me. I've never been able to figure out why. But I suppose it's sort of like what happened with Ratigan; maybe he's fallen in love with me and wants me to rule the vampire world with him, I don't know. But he ordered Ratigan to bring me to him." A look of genuine fear came into her eyes. "As soon as Ratigan finds out I'm gone, he'll compel me to come back. I try to resist, I always do; but whenever he controls me, I'm completely powerless against it."
She stopped suddenly and looked up at me, her eyes filling with tears. "Basil, I'm so sorry about what I said at the ball. I could see how it hurt you to see me being controlled by your worst enemy like that, but I couldn't stop. I-I didn't mean what I said…"
"It's alright, darling," I replied, taking both her hands in mine. "You have no reason to apologize. I have no doubt in you."
"Thank you," she whispered, though still hanging her head ashamedly. She inhaled deeply, almost as if she were smelling my arm. But most likely she was sniffling from crying, and was just hiding her face so that I wouldn't see. Then she suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around my waist, nestling her head against my shoulder.
"Sorry," she said again with a shy laugh. "It's just… I've missed you so."
"The feeling is mutual," I replied with a chuckle, stroking her dark curly hair softly.
"Everything about you," she continued. "Your scent…" She inhaled again and sighed deeply, then looked up at me, the soft glow from the lantern on the wall reflecting in her brown eyes, causing them to take on a dark golden hue. Her voice was low and quiet as she spoke, sounding like music to my ears as it had been so long since I heard it.
"…Your touch…"
My heart pounded wildly as her hands traveled slowly up my chest and came to rest at my shoulders. She reached up to caress my face, and I placed my hand on top of hers as she touched my cheek ever so softly. I wondered at the sudden change in her. She had never been so direct like this. But the feelings I was experiencing in turn were so unfamiliar, so foreign, I didn't know how to react. I simply closed my eyes, just reveling in the thought that we were finally together again. I opened them as her hand moved across my face, and I found myself holding my breath as her fingers brushed my lips delicately.
"…Your taste…"
With my heart rate now completely out of control, I acquiesced and bent my head down and kissed Amber softly. But as her arms wrapped around my neck, she pulled herself closer to me, deepening the kiss. I found my hands gliding down her shoulders and back. We broke the passionate kiss for air, and I shuddered as I felt her warm breath on my neck. Her eyes seemed to grow darker, and I was surprised as she clutched one of my wrists tightly and pinned it to the wall, wincing as her nails dug into my skin. She bared her teeth and hissed as her other hand tangled in my hair, and suddenly she jerked my head back, exposing my neck.
In that moment, my blood ran cold and I froze in shock, realizing her intentions too late as the awful truth dawned on me. Surely she wasn't already one of them…?!
However, instead of the sharp pain I expected, she was suddenly thrown backwards away from me. I slid to the floor, gasping for breath, unable to believe the scene unfolding before me.
Janssen stood between me and Amber, who backed away slowly as Janssen advanced on her brandishing a sharpened wooden stake.
"No!" I yelled, struggling to get to my feet, but surprised to find myself being held back by Dawson.
"It's alright, Basil," the doctor tried to explain, "he knows what he's doing—"
But I refused to listen and continued to fight against him until Damien had to step in as well. Feeling betrayed by my own so-called friends, I thrashed about in their grip to no avail as I watched Janssen continue to stalk Amber until she had backed into a corner. She crouched down on all fours and hissed, baring her teeth like a feral animal. However, as Janssen came closer with the stake, her attitude changed and she actually whimpered, turning her head away and shrinking back in terror.
"Leave her alone!" I shouted, but the vampire hunter ignored me and crouched down in front of Amber. He began muttering something in a foreign language, and Amber glanced up at him. Janssen held a hand out toward her as he spoke, and her eyes glazed over just as they had when Ratigan had compelled her. Suddenly she went limp and collapsed to the floor with a soft moan, unconscious.
"Wha… W-What just…?!" I whispered, unable to form a coherent sentence as Dawson and Damien finally released me.
"I assure you, I did her no harm," Janssen explained, returning the stake to a loop inside his belt while I knelt down beside her. "I merely put her in trance; she's only sleeping."
Dawson appeared beside me and checked her vital signs for any further injury. Janssen shook his head solemnly. "I'm afraid it's her mind that has suffered the most; the villain has more control of her than I expected. It is fortunate that we came along in time to stop her from feasting on your blood."
I looked down at her fearfully, horror growing in the pit of my stomach. "You mean she… she's…!"
"No, no, not yet," Janssen replied, to which I breathed an enormous sigh of relief. "But she is terribly close. When a person has so much vampire blood in their system, they begin to take on the traits of a vampire, such as heightened senses of hearing and sight; even a thirst for blood… especially the blood of those that they love most."
I cradled her head in my hands, looking down at her with a mixture of horror and pity. Even if her intentions had been sinister, I still loved her.
"But if she dies within the next 2 or 3 days…" Janssen didn't need to finish the sentence for me to see the result.
"Well we need to keep moving if we're going to stop that from happening," Damien urged.
"Yes, we must escape with all haste," Janssen agreed. "The further she is from the Professor, the less his power over her will be. And in time, when his blood is no longer in her system, the connection will be cut off completely."
I quickly gathered her up in my arms and carried her as we continued our escape. With Damien's guidance through the dark tunnels, at last we felt the cold night air on our faces. With the light of the moon to guide us, we sprinted through the forest as fast as our legs could carry us, away from that dark castle and its sinister inhabitants.
...
Amber…
I moaned softly, not wanting to wake up from my peaceful sleep. But the voice wouldn't leave me alone.
Amber… Amber… Come to me…
I opened my eyes suddenly, realizing who the voice belonged to.
He was calling.
I sat up slowly, feeling as if my head weighed a ton. I rose to my feet shakily, taking a few stumbling steps forward, feeling something crunching beneath my feet. Leaves, maybe? I couldn't be sure. Everything was so foggy...
Suddenly the world was a blur as something grabbed me and spun me around. I could see the dark outline of something tall leaning over me. It grabbed my arms, pinning them by my side. I could make out a murmured sound coming from the dark figure, but it sounded so far away, I couldn't be sure what it was saying. However, I heard his voice loud and clear, calling my name, bidding me come to him.
"Master is calling," I said in a small quiet voice, trying to explain to the figure holding me, struggling to get free. "I m-must go to him…"
But whatever was holding me only tightened its grip and continued to make those murmuring noises, sounding more urgent this time. I felt like I was pressed against them, as if they were hugging me tightly. But as I heard his voice call my name, I knew I had to get free.
"Let go," I said, still struggling. "Please let me go; he needs me!"
However, the thing still kept a tight hold on me. I saw others standing behind it, perhaps four bent over me and watching me. I felt a hand put over my mouth to keep me quiet, and I panicked, kicking out as hard as I could. But I still felt so groggy from sleep, as if a fog lay over my mind, making my limbs feel so heavy.
Suddenly even more black figures appeared, hissing as they approached. My voice must have attracted them. I couldn't tell for sure what was going on, but it appeared that the newcomers were attacking the ones who had been standing over me, and a massive fight ensued. I covered my ears against the harsh shrieking that came from these new creatures. One seemed to hover over me, but suddenly red erupted from its chest and it let out an ear-splitting shriek of pain. As it fell, the first figure I had seen knelt down beside me and picked me up, carrying me away from the chaos. Further away from him.
I struggled again, seeking to get away from this shadow, who strangely seemed to hug me close to his chest protectively, fighting against any who tried to take me from him. Something grabbed him from behind, lifting him off the ground, and I felt myself falling. I groaned as my head hit the ground and curled up in a ball, putting my hands over my head to protect me and trying to drown out the sounds of the battle.
Do not be afraid, came the voice again. I am near…
I looked up, searching for the source of the voice.
Come…
I crawled forward on my hands and knees for a little ways, away from the horrible sounds of the fight, until finally I got the strength to stand up. I staggered forward, calling out to him softly.
"Where are you?"
I am here.
At last, I saw him, standing tall and regal in the pale light of the moon. I smiled, urging myself on faster. Just a little further and I would be safe in his arms. I stumbled and fell, putting my hands out to catch myself, but found myself caught in his strong arms. I looked up to him gratefully, smiling in relief…
Until my eyes began to focus on the face. It was familiar, yes… But not the face I had been expecting. Not the face that belonged to the voice… I tried to call out to my master, but was paralyzed by the force that this creature was extending over me. I felt the world growing black again as I was engulfed in the darkness, a power infinitely more evil and more frightening than anything in this world. I whispered my captor's name in fright as my eyes closed.
"Fane."
...
Author's Note: Well this was a fun chapter to write xD Not so sure I did as well with this one though. I don't know. I hope everything's making sense, with all the vampirism and Fane and Ratigan's plans and everything. And the whole hypnotism/mind control thing. I hope I'm not confusing people! But if I am, just ask and I'll (attempt) to explain ^^'
Poor Amber... she just can't get a break can she? That's what she gets for being the perfect damsel in distress XD
As always, thanks for reading.
Basil, Dawson, and Ratigan (c) Eve Titus and Disney
Amber, Fane, Janssen, Damien, and other characters (c) me
Do not use without permission