Klaus Herden's bad day

With squealing brakes, the train stopped finally in the terminal station of Vienna. A last jolt and the wheels stood still. The passengers only realized how loud the train's sounds had been when silence spread. But silence was superseded by the new bustle when everyone grasped for their bags and coats and rushed out and on to the platform.

Along with everyone else was Professor Konstantin Abronsius. He took up his heavy bag and left the train without regret. Those last hours had seemed to drag on forever, especially since they had to undertake a sudden break after their last halt in Pressburg. A large tree had fallen on the tracks and it took about two hours until oxen had been brought there to drag it off. At least a terrible accident was prevented, for the obstacle was spotted early enough. Two boys were sent along the tracks to wave nearing trains down. Otherwise it would have been too late when the engineer had seen the tree.

But of course their arrival in Vienna had been delayed and now Abronsius wasn't the only one to gratefully have a good stretch as soon as they were on terra firma again. All around him, people greeted each other when travelers and relatives found each other in the bustle of people.

Professor Abronsius also edged himself through the crowd, looking around alertly. Finally, he spotted a very young looking boy, clad in a livery showing the emblem of the University of Vienna, searching the platform. He only got the boy's attention when he was mere steps away. But still, the servant looked skeptically at him. Abronsius didn't really wonder. Alibori had sent him the absolute beginner; he wouldn't expect a warmer welcome from his rival. Finally, he stood right before the boy, watching him questioningly. Only then the boy stammered:

"Pro...Professor Ambrosius?"

The old man perked his bushy eyebrows up and his jaw dropped. WHAT did this boy just call him?

"Abrrrrrrronsius," he corrected him and the boy flinched as if his word had been a whiplash. The Professor didn't stop to listen to the stammered excuses, but chucked his bag into the lad's arms and turned around to look for his costly charge.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Klaus fought against upcoming tears. It all was really enough to drive him to despair. This was his first day as a henchman at the university, but since morning, everything went awry.

He had been so lucky to get this job. He was fifteen and of course the wage would be low. But he could graduate and he could feed his family for now.

That was his task now, after they carried his father to his grave last week – whooping cough. His mother had never worked and had to care for his six younger siblings, so it was up to Klaus now to earn the money. He had to leave school and find work, so his family mustn't starve.

He had been a good pupil. He had always wished to be at the University one day – as a student, not a henchman. His father, a constable, had saved each possible Heller (A/N: Austrian money, 1905) to fulfill him that wish. Klaus Herden senior had been proud of his eldest child. Now the saved money would help them this first time when he was earning so few. Of course, it would be impossible for him to study now.

So this morning he had started his work. His mother would be so disappointed if it was also his last day!

But his first task ever – given to him by a certain Professor Alibori – turned out to be a disaster. It had sounded easy enough. "Go collect Professor Abronsius from the main station. The train will arrive at twelve. Hurry, so we don't have to wait with lunch that long."

A doable task, one might think. But he should do it all alone. Suddenly, he was set on a coach box and someone gave him the reins. He had never driven a coach! But there was nothing he could do – the stable-master explained the most important commands to him and then he had to go if he were to arrive at the station in time.

He had had some almost-accidents on the way. He was grateful to the horses, who obviously were good-natured and brought him safely to the station, after all. But he didn't even want to know if there had been complaints about him that would go to the university.

After he finally arrived at the train station, he cooled his heels. No one seemed to know when the train from Kronstadt would arrive. Twelve o'clock came and went. Klaus could imagine vividly the gentlemen sitting around their lunch, clattering the empty plates with their spoons impatiently while the soup was getting colder by the minute. It wasn't his fault, really! But who'd care?

The eagerly anticipated (and much cursed) train arrived more than two hours late on the platform. When streams of people came bustled out of the wagons, Klaus realized his next problem. He did not know Professor Abrusius. How in God's name would he find him in this crowd?

And when he finally found the scientist, he had insulted and annoyed him with his first words. But who was able to keep this absurd name in mind? He followed the old scientist, carrying his heavy bag (what was inside? Bricks?), trying not to lose him again. This day really couldn't get any worse.

That's what Klaus thought, at least.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Abronsius saw his coffin at first glance. The net, which he had slung around it to prevent anyone from opening it, was prominent and had recall value. Impatiently, he turned to the inept boy.

"Go on, we need a cart to transport the coffin. What..." he added, noticing the wide opened eyes of the lad "- you surely aren't afraid of a corpse in a coffin? This all serves science and the research of human culture. Go on now!"

The boy turned and looked around for a baggage car. When he didn't spot any, he hired four guttersnipes as carriers. He could only hope the Professor would provide some coins. It proved that four were too weak to carry the coffin, so they had to hire two more. But, finally they could leave the station for the coach while Klaus found himself strongly reminded of the funeral procession for his father a week ago.

With their combined strength, they heaved the coffin on top of the coach, where Klaus was fastening it more or less skillfully. Abronsius gave a stinted coin to each of the carriers and sat down inside the coach, leaving his arms stretched wide. After staring intently at him, Klaus finally realized that the Professor would want his bag back and so he gave it to him before mounting the coach box.

Praying to all the saints to lead him accident-free back to the university, Klaus pulled on the reins and clicked his tongue.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They really got back accident-free.

But only because halfway Professor Abronsius had shoved the boy aside and took the reins himself. His first impulse would have been to shove the lad off the coach, but a pleading look out of green eyes met him and the scientist felt his rage subside.

It was the same green as Alfred's eyes had. How often had his student looked at him, always with that brisk and interested glance. This boy now looked a picture of misery. Abronsius watched him. This boy couldn't be more than sixteen!

"What's your name, boy?" he asked. He didn't know why he was suddenly that interested in the boy. Was it just the Alfred eyes?

"Klaus Herden jun... Klaus Herden, milord," he corrected himself. He wasn't junior anymore. His father was dead.

Professor Abronsius had of course noticed this stumbling over that word. His brain's gears started working and logic brought him to the conclusion, that he was witness to a drama.

"How old are you, Klaus?"

"Fifteen, milord."

"That's pretty young. How long have you been working for the university?"

"It's... It's my first day, milord."

"And what did you do before?"

Klaus found the interrogation a bit inconvenient. He didn't want anyone's pity – even if he earned it honestly today.

"I've been at school, milord."

"The correct addressing would be 'Professor', not 'milord'," Abronsius corrected him. He sounded more lecturing than chiding. He didn't need to ask anymore; he knew exactly what had happened in Klaus' young life. There was only one reason why a fifteen year old boy had to leave school and apply for a minor job, especially since he suddenly wasn't "junior" anymore. If there was still a trace of rage, it subsided now and was replaced by pity. He wasn't exactly sentimental, but he still had a heart.

Maybe someone observing him today would never get the idea, but Klaus was an exceptionally bright boy. So he understood that the scientist wanted to help him by teaching him the right addressing. At least there were a lot of professors at the university. Who knows how often he would have addressed them incorrectly until someone rebuked him.

"Thank you, Professor."

"Did you like it at school?"

Another glance at the boy showed Abronsius that a wisp of a smile flashed over this young, careworn face.

"Yes, Professor. I loved it. I wanted to make my Matura (A/N: highest Austrian graduation) and then study. I'd went into research, microbiology, just like Professor Doctor Robert Koch, you know? He was here last year, holding a lecture at the university. And since my certificate had been that good, I was allowed to go there. Oh, if someone deserved to win the Nobel Prize, it's him, don't you think?"

Konstantin Abronsius had to smile about this outburst of enthusiasm. Yes, this boy was more like Alfred than just the eyes. He knew the fellow professor, who held a chair at Berlin's Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, but he had never had personal correspondence with him – their research fields were too far apart from each other.

"You know, young Klaus, I think Professor Koch's chances are not bad." And with this Professor Abronsius wasn't at fault. Just a few months later the medic got awarded the Nobel Prize, indeed.

The university's gate came into view, and so their conversation came to an end. Abronsius decided to cast an eye at young Klaus Herden – someone who spoke with such enthusiasm about science and research and seemed to be willing to learn – well, he needed a replacement for Alfred, even if he had a hard time doing so.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When Professor Abronsius had passed through the gate safely and the stables came into view, he gave Klaus the reins back before the agitated stable-master came running.

"Lord, boy, where have you been? Professor Alibori has asked for you several times yet. I just hope..."

The man stopped when Professor Abronsius showed him a dismissive hand. "Calm down. This young man has really no fault for the delay of the train. That was the fault of the tree, which had to fall exactly on the rails. Would you please care for my most valuable charge on top and bring it to Professor Alibori's laboratory? Come on, boy, you can carry my bag again."

With this, he dismounted the box clumsily and left it to the lad to get the bag out of the coach and follow him. Professor Abronsius walked determinedly over the huge area – he had been here before quite a few times, he knew exactly where Alibori's rooms were.

Klaus, stumbling behind him, was happy that the Professor apparently knew his way – he'd only fail again with finding those rooms.

Finally, they entered one building and went up the stairs. Now the boy recognized his surroundings again. They heard muffled voices coming from the private rooms of Professor Alibori. Abronsius knocked against the door resolutely and opened it before a "Come in" was to be heard.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"My dear Professor Abronsius, I almost thought you wouldn't come," Gianni Alibori said and stood up to welcome his unlooked-for guest. The telegram telling about Abronsius' journey from Kronstadt to Vienna had reached him yesterday and he still wondered what brought him hither. And what did he do in Kronstadt? Why had he been in Transylvania? Of course, Alibori had an idea what all of this had to mean. And he was curious to learn it from his rival himself.

"Professor Alibori – a pleasure to see you, as always," Abronsius answered, straining the truth. "Please excuse my delay, but there was an incident right after Pressburg. A tree fell on to the tracks and it took some time until the rails were passable again," he explained.

"Oh, that explains a lot. Well, we waited for a full hour, but then we did lunch, pray forgive us. But I'll get you served a bowl of soup right away, if you like?"

"Thank you, that'd be nice," Abronsius replied, pushing his coat into Klaus' arms.

"Mister – Herden, was your name? Please go down to the kitchens and get a tureen for my colleague from Königsberg."

Klaus nodded, hung up Abronsius' coat and put the bag neatly under it, before he left the room to go and search the kitchens.

Alibori pointed on a chair at the table and Abronsius sat down.

"This is Doctor Keller, a young fellow who came only recently to the university, to do some research," he introduced the other man in the room and Abronsius nodded to the young scientist. "Doctor Keller is interested in our research field and is very open-minded about it. I asked him to join us tonight, as I guess you have something new to add?"

Abronsius nodded. He knew the offer of the soup had not been based on pure hospitality, but to get the boy out of the room.

"I do, I really do. I found proof. Even something better than just proof. But you have to wait a bit longer for it. We'd want to be in the right mood, wouldn't we? So let's wait for nightfall. What are you researching, Doctor Keller?"

Abronsius had a glorious feeling of glee when he saw Alibori's expression. He knew his rival was close to bursting of curiosity. To hold the carrot before his nose like this was a real pleasure for him. This would be an entertaining afternoon...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Two coffin lids opened in a bedraggled warehouse and Herbert and Alfred got out of them. They glanced around for the moment to get orientated. Of course they noticed the human who was sitting on a chair, watching them. Herbert looked at him questioningly and the man said:

"I'm Markus." That was the agreed parole. Herbert pulled an envelope out of his cape and gave it to the man. Inside was his part of the reward for collecting the coffins from the station and taking them into a sunproof shelter. Afterwards Herbert pulled out the paper with the address Robert had given him. He just wanted to ask the man for the way when Alfred intervened. He laid a hand on the arm with the note and pushed it gently down.

"Excuse me please, how do we get to the university?" Alfred asked. He knew that they had to go there first to find the count. Herbert bit his lip – why didn't he think about this?

"Well, that depends. There are a lot of buildings all over the town. But if you want to go to the main areal, you have to go like this..." Markus explained the way and Herbert and Alfred walked off. It was a good way to go.

"Can't we go faster?" Alfred asked impatiently. This unrest was unusual for him, for he normally was patient. He didn't even know where that feeling of urge came from.

Herbert, on the other hand, tried to moderate his eagerness, helping himself with the calm the other vampire emanated. "No, we must walk slowly. I have to concentrate to find my father's mind." He then gripped Alfred's arm before his eyes became empty again. Alfred understood and led the light blond vampire through the nightly streets of Vienna. Fortunately, not many people were still on the roads.

Alfred found it to be astonishingly easy not to attack the first person they met. It had been the same before with Markus. That was quite different from his encounters with humans up to now.

Alfred was very intelligent. So he realized easily that there had been a lot of changes for him since Herbert drank a few drops of his blood last night – after he drank some of Herbert's.

Something had happened in this instant. Before, it had been hard for him to feel anything at all. Since then he was, at times, flooded with emotions, without being able to name them or even seeing a relation to himself or his situation. Moreover, he now felt a special allegiance to Herbert he didn't feel before. Before it had only been that strong with the Count himself. Oddly enough, he somehow seemed to be able to read Herbert's thoughts now too – yesterday there had been no need for the noble to point out that the time has come to retreat into their coffins. They decided it both within the same second. After having spent the night with sensual kissing.

Alfred felt a tingling sensation in his stomach when he remembered those kisses. They kissed right into ecstasy and if it had been up to Alfred, they would never have stopped. There had been only kisses, but they soon had also kissed face and neck from the other. Alfred would not have minded if Herbert had gone further. But the Count's son had scruples as long as his father was a captive. Alfred knew that. But how did he know it?

Herbert owed him an answer to all of this. But right now he was deeply immersed in searching the surroundings for a trace of his father's mind. Since Vienna was a very thickly populated city, that wasn't exactly easy.

Herbert had lain down in his coffin this morning with swollen lips and aching, since untouched privates, but perfectly happy. Only when the coffin lid was closed and his arousal had subsided, he was fully aware of what he'd done.

He had entered a bond of blood.

What had got into him? It had been an impulse when he had tasted his own blood in his mouth. Only once had he allowed someone else (aside from his father) to drink his blood – but never did he drink their blood as long as his blood was still in their body. For that was required for a bond of blood.

But now it had happened and Alfred would be bound to him as long as he existed. On a level even telepathy could never reach. He, Herbert, would be able to feel Alfred's emotions as his own. He would always know how Alfred felt and would be able to predict what he'd do or say next moment.

Herbert knew that he should be horrified, or at least remorseful. But he was neither. What he did still felt so right. His father would probably have a completely different view of things, though. And Herbert knew he couldn't keep it a secret for long – as soon as their minds connected the Count would detect his lapse effortlessly.

Only few vampires ever entered a bond of blood. Sometimes there were couples who celebrated it as a kind of vampiric marriage. But mostly they were close relatives or friends who swore eternal allegiance.

This bond did not bind Alfred to him in a sexual way. This would have been beyond Herbert. He didn't do this to get Alfred into his bed. It was bad enough that he did it without cautioning Alfred about the consequences.

It was now more like the other way round – and this was the only reason Herbert cursed himself for jumping into this bond: He would now be unable to force Alfred to do anything the other didn't really want. Even if Alfred did volunteer – he'd feel his disgust as if it were his own emotion. So he was damned to hope Alfred to reciprocate his feelings, or at least find pleasure in everything that was yet to come.

He needed to tell Alfred what he'd done, and soon. Herbert was sure Alfred already guessed a lot of it – he was really exceptionally bright.

But first they had to free the count. He must now forget anything distracting him from this task. And so he let himself be led by Alfred, while he was looking for his father. He knew he could trust Alfred blindly. He had arranged it himself.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After about half an hour's time, Herbert suddenly gasped and halted. Alfred still held his arm and looked at him tensely.

"I've found him," Herbert simply said. He kept on concentrating and tried to enter his father's mind, but he couldn't get in. His father blocked him! Herbert drew his mind back, without losing his father's.

"We have to hurry. Something's happening right now to him. He can't answer."

"Why?" Alfred asked, since he did not really understand the principles of telepathy yet. Herbert hadn't explained more than the basics.

"Probably his full attendance is needed in his presence. I mean – you saw me – you're a little distracted while doing 'telepathy', as you call it."

Alfred nodded. Of course he should have known it, seeing Herbert's empty eyes whenever he talked to his father this way.

"You wanted to go faster earlier? Well, now we really should," Herbert said, grasped Alfred's hand and started running, faster than any human eye could see.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Abronsius delayed his colleagues until darkness had fallen in front of the window and the sun was certainly set. Klaus had brought him a bowl of soup. Even though the boy had found his way back much faster this time, the soup had been only lukewarm when he finally arrived. But Abronsius did not complain and Klaus was very grateful for this. Now the boy stood silently in a corner, waiting for new orders – or permission to leave.

"So, I think I can reveal my discovery now," he murmured finally, when it was dark enough for the Count to be certainly awake. "Come on, boy," he ordered Klaus, while his colleagues stood up. "You can be a witness to a big revelation tonight. Professor Alibori, if you'd be so kind to lead us to your laboratory?"

Klaus would have liked it better to go home, but he did not dare object. He knew the ominous coffin to be in Professor Alibori's laboratory. What if the Professor from Königsberg wanted to open it? Klaus shuddered. But when asked, he took the Professor's bag again uncomplainingly and followed the scientists.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When Breda opened his eyes this evening, he still stared at the inside of this coffin lid; he was still bound by ankles and wrists. Well, he guessed that was still better than to lie cut open on an autopsy table. He closed his eyes again to search the surroundings for a trace of his son's mind, but couldn't find him. He really hoped Herbert and this Alfred were on their way yet. He had a feeling that there wasn't much time.

He didn't know how much time had passed while he was searching when sounds ripped him back into the present. Those were steps nearing the place he was and he could tell they were from a couple of persons.

"I promise you, you will be flabbergasted," someone promised to others. It was Professor Abronsius's voice.

So he was about to be presented to other scientists as if he was a dancing bear. Rage flamed up inside of him. Not on his watch!

A door opened and the steps entered.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Klaus first glance went to the coffin, which was placed on a table in the middle of the room. Again, he felt that horror he already felt in the station.

"Well, Klaus, put my bag here," Professor Abronsius ordered and it needed all of Klaus' courage to approach the coffin and place the bag beside it, where the Professor pointed to. Abronsius opened it and rummaged around. Finally, he extracted several items – a crucifix and some very pointy carved sticks. He gave a stick to each person. Klaus looked warily at his stick, while the two Austrian scientists regarded them rather curiously.

"Well, these stakes are a measure of security for you and this coffin might have already told you what I'm about to show to you now. Yes, it's true: I've found one. There can be no higher proof for their existence. This coffin holds a real vampire."

Ringing silence fell. Klaus' horror doubled. A vampire? Like Dracula? His mother's brother lived in London and he has always written letters with his eldest cousin Johannes. They were both the same kind of bookworms and it was not long ago that Johannes had enthused over a book he had read. Unfortunately, he could only retell the story to Klaus, since there was no German copy yet and Klaus' English skills were limited on some words. It had been a vampire story about Count Dracula. Klaus had been thrilled by Johannes' re-narration and he had tried to find at least some background literature about vampires. His book dealer had already a reservation for a possible German copy for him down. He had used his new knowledge to scare his little sisters. They loved it when he told them spine-chillers. But never, never would he have believed these creatures to really exist.

"Please..." he heard himself say and the three scientists looked at him, faces full of anticipation. "Please, may I go? My mother – she didn't expect me to be gone for so long. She's all alone now with my six siblings, the youngest still on her breast. She needs my help. It's time for dinner, the kids must be brought to bed... Please, let me go."

The scientists looked at him blankly for a while – this was a historical moment, and this boy wanted to leave?

"Balderdash!" Abronsius finally called. "Your mother will be able to wait for another half an hour for you. If you want to be my assistant, you need to show a bit more bravery." His compassion has been flooded away by scientific enthusiasm. Even Alfred had not been that fearful, and he had been bad at times.

"But... But I never wanted to be your assistant, Professor," Klaus objected confusedly and wondered if the old man was a bit deranged.

"Just hold on to your stake and marvel," he ordered him, as if he didn't hear his objection.

When Abronsius fiddled with the clasps of the coffin, Klaus closed his eyes and wished he had never left the house this morning.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Breda closed his eyes and stopped breathing. He hoped his face to be relaxed and not showing his anger. Hell, even he would let this boy go after pleading that heart-meltingly – and according to those men out there, he was the monster.

The lid was opened and a bit of light came through his closed eyelids. Apparently it was electrical light, for it did not flicker.

"This is it. May I introduce you: Count Breda von Krolock. Your Excellency, if I might present you to my dear colleagues... Your Excellency?"

It was hard for Breda not to smile. Abronsius should have a hard time with him; he'd be the perfect corpse, as long as possible.

"Well, I don't understand. He usually is awake by this time. Sunset, I observed it," Abronsius explained.

"Well, it's my impression, that this one will never be awake again," a derisive voice Breda didn't know said.

"Oh, I don't know, Professor Alibori," another voice said. "Professor Abronsius left Kronstadt yesterday morning, which is almost 36 hours ago – therefore this 'corpse' seems to be very fresh."

"That's right." Professor Abronsius sounded relieved to have found an ally. "And he looks like this for 288 years already. According to his information, he turned into a vampire in 1617. Oh, he told me even more – in the night before my train ride to Vienna he answered many questions regarding vampirism. Your theory about them being able to change into cockroaches is complete nonsense, my dear Alibori."

"And what about my theory about their reflections?"

"Well, we both know that it's MY theory about reflections and yes, it's true, they don't have one, never."

The other Professor – Alibori – started to rant, calling Abronsius some names, of which charlatan was surely the nicest. Abronsius didn't seem to mind, he talked to him instead.

"Your Excellency, I know you're awake. Consider it best for your health to cooperate now."

Yes. But for how long? In the end his health would be affected by destruction, he guessed.

He had to muster all concentration to stay a corpse when the Professor started to shake him by the shoulders, as if he was a ripe fruit tree. That was when Herbert finally found his mind. But he could not let him in right now, his attention was needed here. Herbert drew back after some vain trials. But he'd be here soon now.

Which was really necessary for Abronsius started to get tougher with him. He heard him rummaging in his bag and then a sound of a bottle being opened. Damn it. He knew what that meant. Hoping it wouldn't show, he clenched his teeth.

"Well, you seem to want it this way. Let's see how long you'll play dead man when I sprinkle you a bit with holy water," Abronsius confirmed his suspicion. The old man waited a bit longer to give him a chance to surrender.

Then Breda felt the sharp pain the drops caused to his face and hands. Inwardly screaming, he managed to stay calm on the outside. He only had to go on for a bit.

"You know, Professor Abronsius, I get more and more the impression, you're doing desecration of a corpse here. Maybe you're overtired and we should..."

"NO!" the white-haired man scolded. "Obviously the Count wants to play a prank. Well, as I know from personal experience, there is nothing worse for those creatures than silver. So isn't it perfect that I have a silver knife? We'll see if the Count is still that relaxed when this silver blade is driven through his belly."

Whoa! Abronsius really didn't need long to get radical. That wasn't nice at all. Breda guessed he wouldn't be able to bear this attack, but he was determined not to cave in. His inner eye could see the Professor letting the blade soar over his body menacingly. Teeth clenched, he awaited this incredible pain.

TBC