Echoes in My Mind
Chapter 13: Truce
As the last of the terrible screams died down, I stared about the carnage in a daze. Amber's voice had attracted them to our hiding spot in the woods where we had paused to rest. We had been ambushed so suddenly, we scarcely had time to react. In the midst of the fight, I tried to carry her to safety, shielding her as best I could and shooting any vampire that tried to stop me using silver bullets provided by Janssen.
The vampire hunter himself proved to be an expert marksman with his crossbow, taking down every opponent with the skill and experience of a master hunter. Damien was as ruthless as ever, fighting like a demon and taking on five other vampires at once. Even Dawson's military instincts came out as he stayed close by my side, trying to clear the way for me to take Amber to safety. I had finally broken away from the fray, but suddenly found a hand around my throat and was jerked upwards, causing me to drop Amber. I struggled in the grip of a vampire twice my size, fangs barred and red eyes flashing. My vision began to blur as his grip tightened around my neck, but just as I was about to lose consciousness it seemed as if his head exploded and he fell. I caught my breath and looked up from my place on my hands and knees to see Dawson shooting several more rounds into the monster's body to ensure that it wouldn't rise again.
I then wandered around the surrounding area, stumbling over bodies with stakes or silver tipped arrows protruding from their torsos, the stench of blood making my stomach churn. I had searched the spot where I had last seen Amber and was shocked to find her footprints leading away further into the woods… until suddenly they just stopped. It was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth.
Kneeling down by the spot where she last stood, I heard a slight sound behind me, and my ears twitched in that direction. But before I could react I felt myself lifted bodily into the air. The breath whooshed out of me as I was slammed into a tree. Once the starbursts faded from behind my eyes, I looked down to see Ratigan clutching the lapel of my jacket.
"Where is she?!" he snarled in my face, yellow bloodshot eyes glaring.
I struggled in his steel grip, though I couldn't move much with my back pressed up against the tree. "I should be asking you the same thing, you slimy, mangy, son of a—"
He cut me off by slamming me against the tree again. "You mean you lost her?!" he roared.
"Ugh, I didn't lose her," I hissed, wincing from the impact of my skull with the rough tree bark. "She was taken! Taken by you vampire scum!" I swung a good right hook at his face, but I would have been better off trying to punch a solid stone wall.
"Do not make the mistake of comparing me to that bloody Count," Ratigan threatened, his grip tightening around my neck.
"Th-The Count?" I asked, trying to pry his hands from my throat. "You mean, you don't… she's not with you?!"
"Of course not! I was trying to find her before he did, but it looks like you've managed to foil everything as always. Now there's no telling what he's going to do with her, and it's all because of YOU!" He slammed me into the tree again for emphasis.
"You're the one who kidnapped her in the first place!" I retorted.
"If I didn't, someone else would! Face it, Basil; so long as she remains with you, she will always be in danger!"
That was a low blow. "You think I don't know that?" I shouted in frustration. "That I haven't done all in my power to keep her safe?"
"Lot of good it's done, hasn't it?"
"Now see here!" Dawson interjected, coming to my aid. "There's no need for all this—"
"Stay out of this chubby," Ratigan growled.
"But the doctor's right," Janssen intervened. "Fighting is getting us nowhere, and each second that passes, that fiend is getting further away, and our chances of rescuing Miss Amber become slimmer. Now I know you two have a bitter history, but you must put all that aside for her sake. Professor, do you know where Fane might be taking her?"
"Probably to his castle in Romania."
"Could you take us there?"
Ratigan chuckled harshly. "Why the blazes would I bring you along?"
"Because we stand a better chance against Fane if we work together. Now we can sit here arguing, or we can leave immediately with all haste to try to catch up with them."
Ratigan and I glared at each other for a moment, loath at the thought of having to put aside our differences and work together. However, he finally released me, and I stood for a moment with my hands on my knees, panting tiredly. I shook my head at the irony of the situation. Although I hated to admit it, I needed his help. "So…" I finally remarked, extending my hand hesitantly. "A truce then?"
"Fine," Ratigan growled, taking my offered hand and shaking it, though he nearly crushed it with his strength. "But I'm not doing this as a favor to you," he quickly added. "I'm doing it for Amber."
"Understood," I replied, wincing at the pain in my hand. I wondered if this was such a good idea after all…
….…
"Well, well…what do we have here?"
As I came to I sat up with a gasp, looking around in fright, not knowing where I was. I whirled around to find an amazingly beautiful female rat, a picture of elegance with her soft white fur and long auburn hair flowing down her back, a black formfitting dress that emphasized her curves… especially with the little cutouts on the sides exposing her perfect figure. She sauntered toward me with a smirk, followed by three other female mice whom I recognized as Fane's entourage at Ratigan's ball.
"You must be the little wench Master Fane keeps talking about," she remarked, tilting my chin up with a sharp claw to get a better look at my face. I felt my cheeks burning in embarrassment and I glared at her for a moment, but then averted my gaze down to the floor, feeling intimidated by the beautiful dark brown eyes with a faint bit of red around the edges. "I've been dying to meet you though." She chuckled softly, amused at her choice of words. "I'm Ali. Or 'Bloody Ali' as the locals have taken to calling me."
Before I could respond, the other three ladies appeared around me, examining me closely.
"Wonder what's so special about her that he would bring her all the way here to Romania?" Lulu asked curiously.
"Probably wanted some fresh young blood," Nadya remarked with a devious grin.
"Mmmm, she does look delicious," Acenith agreed, leaning in a little too close for comfort. I shrank back, but in a flash she had grabbed my wrist to hold me in place. "Perhaps just a small taste…"
"Now, now, ladies," Ali interrupted, pulling me away from them. "We must deliver her to Master Fane in one piece. Maybe he will let us have a bit of fun with her afterwards. Come along now, dear; we can't keep him waiting." Before I could protest, I was jerked up off the couch and led away, unable to get free of their tight grip.
As I was pulled along, I glanced around at my surroundings, finding myself in another castle that was even older and larger than Ratigan's. I didn't get to look around much though because of the ladies hastily pulling me down the halls. I gulped nervously at the thought of seeing Fane again. I knew something was suspicious about him, ever since we first met. Now the question was why did he kidnap me and what did he want?
It looked like I would have the answer soon, because a minute later we were entering the large oak doors into the largest library I had ever seen. Bookcases lined every wall, extending all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. And there sat Fane in a leatherback chair, the glow of the fireplace casting dark shadows all around him. I was pushed forward a bit roughly and stumbled over my feet, tripping and falling on my knees in front of him, much to the amusement of the four ladies, who all migrated across the room to take their places by Fane.
"Mortals are so clumsy," Nadya snickered, causing the others to laugh.
"Ladies, please," Fane reprimanded softly, his voice a low but dangerous purr that seemed to mesmerize them. "That's not how we treat our honored guest."
"It won't happen again, Master Fane," Lulu spoke for all of them, bowing slightly, but glaring daggers at me as Fane helped me to my feet.
"I have some business to discuss with Miss Amber," he said, "so you are all dismissed."
As the ladies reluctantly passed by me to leave the room, I let out a sigh of relief, glad to not be subject to their icy stares. But suddenly I found my arms pinned to my sides as Ali gripped my shoulders tightly, the long claws nearly tearing through the fabric of my dress and piercing my skin. "I don't know what Master Fane sees in you," she hissed, eyes narrowed and teeth barred threateningly, "but I suggest you stay away from him. He's mine, and no one is going to take him away from me."
"Ali…" Fane warned.
"Apologies, Master," she replied, though I could see she most certainly was not sorry in the least. Casting one final warning glance over her shoulder at me, she exited the room behind the others. I shuddered involuntarily at her threat.
"You must forgive Ali, my dear," Fane remarked with an apologetic smile. "She is still a fledgling and hasn't mastered her emotions just yet. And I am terribly sorry for bringing you here so suddenly and without warning. But I knew Ratigan wouldn't be too fond of the idea."
"Is that why you brought me here?" I asked. "To get me away from him?"
"In a way, yes. But also because… I need your help."
I raised one eyebrow suspiciously. "With what, exactly?"
Fane paused a moment before continuing, as if deciding what course to take with the conversation. "Are you familiar with the term 'doppelganger?'" he asked at last.
I pondered for a moment, confused by his question. "Isn't that someone who looks identical to another person?"
"That is one definition, yes," he replied. "Another is that it is a ghostly double that haunts its living counterpart. In some cultures it is believed that seeing one's doppelganger is a sign of back luck, or even an omen of death. But I'm sure you don't believe in such superstitions."
"Well I never believed in vampires either," I admitted with a shrug.
"An excellent point," Fane chuckled. His expression then turned somber again. "You know," he remarked quietly, "perhaps the most terrible drawback to being a creature of darkness is the lack of companionship. I do have my followers and servants, but it's not the same. But it's difficult to become close with anyone because of what I am. That is my curse; to be slave to my thirst, forever alone."
I was surprised to find myself sympathized with him. "I'm so sorry," I remarked quietly.
"Such is the fate of a creature of darkness," he replied with a sigh. "But I haven't always been alone. For a brief time… I was even loved."
Fane paused, as if hesitating whether or not to continue. I waited patiently while he gazed into the fire, finding the words to say.
"Her name was Adrianna," he said at last with a loving smile. "Her father was a general in my army. I knew we could never be together because of what I am, but still, I found myself falling in love with her. The most amazing thing is… she loved me in return; even after discovering my terrible secret. She came upon me in the midst of feeding on one of my servants. However she didn't run in terror as others did; she didn't even shrink back at the sight of blood staining my lips." Fane hung his head in shame, grimacing at the memory. "I even shouted at her, told her she should never see me again, threatened her… But she approached me with a look of sympathy… sympathy for someone like me… I warned her to get away, that she might be my next victim if I lost control again; but she didn't leave. Despite my curse, she loved me, and stayed by my side. We even became engaged. But…"
A look of infinite sorrow crossed his face. "Because of my ruthlessness in battle and apparent thirst for bloodshed, the townsfolk were so superstitious that rumors began to circulate, and I had gained such a negative reputation that her father forbade the marriage. But that didn't stop us. We married anyway, and as a result, he disowned her. "But even after that, he still wouldn't leave us in peace. He convinced the townsfolk that I was a demon, that I had corrupted his daughter and would do the same to their children. A mob stormed the castle, seeking to destroy me. I and what little followers I had fought them as best we could, but we were simply outnumbered.
"While trying to get Adrianna to safety, her father followed, shooting arrows at me. One pierced my back, but it didn't deter me, and I whirled around and attacked him. He let another arrow fly, but it missed, and I sank my fangs into his throat. As I looked down into his fearful eyes, he pitifully begged for his life. I called him a coward, along with many other derogatory names, disgusted at the way he had treated his daughter; and in my anger I snapped his neck, killing him instantly. But Adrianna's cry brought me back to my senses, and to my horror… I saw that the arrow meant for me had pierced her chest.
"I hastily carried her away to the only person I knew could help her; a witch that lived deep in the woods on the outskirts of town. But unfortunately, it was too late to save her. I held her in my arms as she died; watched the life fade from her usually bright eyes. But just before she faded away, the witch cast a spell that preserved her soul inside the gem of a necklace that Adrianna was wearing. She showed me another spell that would bring her back; but it won't work without a doppelganger.
"I've been around the globe many times, traveling the world to find this one who would finally reunite me with my love; and now… my efforts have been rewarded at last…"
Fane stopped suddenly and looked up at a portrait on the wall. As I followed his gaze and studied the girl in the painting, my eyes went wide and my heart nearly froze in shock. She was young, perhaps in her early twenties, wearing a gorgeous pale dress embroidered with gold; but it was that face, framed by shoulder length curly brown hair and deep brown eyes, that was the source of my astonishment.
...The girl in the portrait was me.
I trembled as I felt Fane's soft breath on my neck as he leaned in close from behind me. "You are Adrianna's doppelganger."
Author's Notes: Whew, that chapter was hard to write... But now we finally know what Fane is up to! Sort of... he'll explain more in the next chapter ;)
Gasp, Ratigan and Basil have to work together?! THE HORROR... Heh maybe they can put their rivalry aside long enough to save Amber (and not kill each other in the process)
Hope you like it! ^^
Basil, Ratigan, and Dawson (c)Eve Titus and Disney
Amber, Fane, Acenith, Nadya, Janssen, and Damien (c) Me
*Bloody Ali (c) Cellenia
*Lulu (c) LuluCalliope
*OCS were used with the creator's permission