Plasma57: thank you

Ilikehats2: he's half vampire, not monster; everyone has a different definition of what a monster is

Chapter 25: Into His History

(At Doctor Strange's House)

For the past few days Iron-Fist has been searching through Doctor Strange's extensive library for anything to do with vampire legends and lore. They'd come across some interesting facts about the history vampires as a whole including: their origins, mystical and physical attributes, etc. But this wasn't what they needed to find. Dracula's personal history and the ties to the Pure of Heart with the vampire world.

"Have you found anything Daniel?" Strange asked as he ran through a book. "Nothing yet, just the same information. Patience is a virtue, but the longer we take… who knows what is happening to Peter." Iron-Fist sighed.

Danny is probably the calmest and most 'zen' of all the heroes Peter has ever met. He's wise, strong, and honorable. In times of a crisis, he would be patient and wait for things to work themselves out. But one of his friends is currently in trouble, and they had no idea what the vampires are doing to him. This was starting to take a toll on Fist. He's trying to be his normal self, but all he's feeling is worry.

"You're worried about Peter? We all are, but you are close to him. He's your friend." Strange said as he kept reading through the book. "He is my friend. He helped me take back my place in Kung-Lun. I know we're all worried… But I believe Ava is the most… hurt by Peter's kidnapping." Iron-Fist replied. "We've all noticed. Even Peter's Aunt has shown more signs of calmness than the girl." Strange said.

Iron-Fist has a strong bond with Peter, all of the young heroes do. Spider-Man has been by their side during very tough times and led them through times of great despair. They are all upset and shocked by his capture…. But Ava had been the most unpredictable ever since Dracula's ambush. After Spider-Man was taken, she had cried for some time before her anger set in. She would lash out at almost anyone who she believed was mentioning Peter in a negative manner, or felt like getting up. Black Widow even had steered clear from her from time to time.

"Daniel, I believe we need to take mystical action to gain the information that we seek." Strange sighed as he put the book up. "Agreed, my friend." Danny replied as he put the book he had up.

Searching through Strange's library had bared favorable fruit. They'd come across some vampire legends of various subject, but nothing of great value. It was time for them to call upon the mystic arts to further their search, hopefully with results.

"Let us begin." Strange said.

Stange and Iron-Fist stood 10 feet apart from one another. The sorcerer held up his arms and began chanting in a foreign language. A circle of mystic energy encircled both individuals in the form of a ring of blue fire. Strange's eyes illuminated in a royal blue hue and shone like spotlights. Iron-Fist closed his eyes and cleared his mind. As Strange continued to speak the words of unknown origin, the fires began burning more fiercely. The room was consumed in a bright, blue-white light. When Danny opened his eyes, he and Strange found themselves in a torch lit room, with shadows cast in the corner.

"Are we ..?" Danny asked. "I hope." Strange replied, his voice filled with nervous energy. "Your majesty!" An unknown voice gasped.

Both turned to see an average man kneeling on the ground. He appears to be about 5 ft. 9 in. in height and has an average build. He appears to be in his late-20's. His hair is dirty blonde and styled into a crew-cut, and has no facial hair. Both of his eyes are ice blue which illuminated his pale caucasian skin. The clothes he's wearing looks as if he's been through poverty and war-times, for the rags are barely holding together.

"Who is he?" Iron-Fist asked. "I don't know, let's see where this leads." Strange replied. "You know who I am… But I don't have the same luxury." A familiar, ghastly voiced hissed from the shadows.

Both 'travelers' turned to see Dracula manifest from the shadows, seeing his searing red eyes first. The frown on his face displayed his boredom with the situation.

"We are seeing his memories. Brilliant, my friend." Iron-Fist. "And tiring, it was hard getting access to his memories. One as powerful as Dracula isn't easy to crack into. But I'm afraid we'll only get to see certain memories, hopefully ones in our favor." Strange replied. "Hopefully." Danny replied. "Well… Answer me…" Dracula snarled. "Only a man who wishes to serve the king of vampires, true ruler of this world." The man replied. "Hm… Keep going…" Dracula said. "I would be honored to be your servant. For if I may, I know a way in which to take control of this world." The young man boldly answered.

The two 'memory travelers' watched as the vampire thought to himself about this. A wicked grin spread across his pale face.

"Interesting…" The vampire chuckled.

Suddenly the room changed into the throne room of Dracula's Transylvanian castle. Dracula sat atop his throne as a familiar individual walked into the throne room. Iron-Fist and Doctor Strange saw several pairs of red eyes gleaming from the sides of the room, hissing echoing from the vampires' fanged mouths. The tall man bowed his 'respect' and stood up straight.

"So… you aren't dead… The rumors are true… You're alive… Red Skull…" Dracula hissed. "Indeed your majesty." Skull responded plainly. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right at this very moment. Your involvement in trying to conquer my lands decades ago still stings me, mortal." The vampire snarled, baring his sharp fangs. "I have a piece of information that might serve you well." The Hydra leader answered. "Really?" Dracula chuckled.

A grin spread across Red Skull's face. Iron-Fist and Strange's eyes narrowed with anger.

"I know the way to curing you of your weakness and giving you unimaginable strength." Red Skull said. "You do?... Tell me…" The king of vampires hissed. "Captain America's blood is the key to gaining the power you want…" Skull answered. "I'm listening…" Dracula said, as he leaned forward in his chair in a 'relaxing manner'.

Then the area around them changed into a what looked like a ceremonial alter. There's a flat stone table in the center of a circular granite ring. Several figures in long red cloaks are standing around the table. Dracula is standing before the table, a strange look on his face.

"It's time." Dracula said as the moon turned full.

The moon bathed the table in its white light. Dracula took off the top of the table, letting the light enter what is inside the granite. Iron-Fist and Doctor Strange look at one another with confusion and look back.

"Now is the time!" Dracula said.

Then he and the red eyed cloaked individuals started chanting in an ancient language. The moonlight began to illuminate brighter, the mystic energy hidden coming forth through the incantation.

"What are they doing?" Danny gasped. "We should go look, my young friend." Strange replied.

Both of them walk up to look into the granite mound. They don't know what they see at first. There's dirt covering something, something that looked like silk. As they continued to look closer, they saw jewels and something pale. When they tried to look closer, the sounds of shouting and screaming are heard. Both look up to see knights in armor and men wielding gleaming, silver swords race forward. From the night pounce hidden vampire soldiers. Both sides engage in battle. Some of the cloaked vampires begin to tremble in their words. But Dracula continues to say the words, his voice growing fiercer in tone. But before he knows it, one of the men drops a torch into the mound.

"NNNNOOOO!" Dracula screeched with rage and despair. "Hahahaha!" The man laughed in triumph.

The man's laughing didn't last long. Suddenly Dracula appeared before him. The expression of blistering rage and hate on his face and burning in his eyes. One hand grabbed the man's left shoulder; the other grabbed the man's right shoulder. The man screamed with hysterical fear as Dracula tore him into 2 bloody pieces. The men and knights were shocked undeniably by this. Dracula turned to them and let out a blood curdling screech as he pulled out his golden sword.

"YOU MONSTERS! HOW DARE YOU! I WILL KILL YOU ALL FOR THIS!" Dracula bellowed, extreme anger in his ghastly voice. "My lord! We must retreat!" A vampire called.

Dracula looked to see his soldiers being cut down by the silver armed men. He growled with anger.

"Retreat!" Dracula called out.

All the vampires present turned into their mists forms and fled. The men cheered at their 'moment'. But some of the men didn't look all to pleased. Both 'memory travelers' suddenly teleported to a hill several hundred yards from stone circle which was now lit by fire. They saw Dracula's followers panting there.

"What is going on?" Fist said. "No... No, no, no, no!" Dracula hissed. "My lord, I am sorry. We didn't know they were… but how… he…" One of the cloaked vampires couldn't finish his sentence as a sound caught the gathered crowd's attention.

They heard the beating of wings and the cawing of a raven near them. Dracula saw a piece of paper in its feet. The bird landed on his right arm and held the paper out with one leg. He took the paper and read it. He also noticed the spot of blood on it.

"My spy sent this to warn us… They killed him… The message arrived to late…" Dracula gasped.

The vampires' expressions didn't look like ones of happiness. They turned to their king when they heard him crying. Tears ran down his pale face.

"I will find a way…" Dracula sobbed. "Huh?" Both Fist and Strange gasped in unison.

Then the area around them changed into a meadow. They looked around to see a young man with dark hair and dark eyes in fine 15th century clothing walking through the field. Both 'travelers' saw the man holding a red rose in his hand as he walked through the field of flowers. They followed him until the man was tackled by blonde blur. Both heard the sounds of blows landing and the man grunting in pain.

"Ow! Ow! OW! Ok, I know I'm late! I'm sorry!" He said, his voice sounding very familiar. "You're always late!" A fierce feminine voice growled.

They saw a beautiful, young blonde woman on top of the young man. She's wearing a beautiful, red silk dress and fine rubies on a necklace. Her fierce blue eyes locked on the shaking brown eyes of the man she's holding down.

"I got you your favorite." The man nervously chuckled as he offered her the rose.

She took the rose and she took a slow, deep whiff of the flower. She smiled and a purr escaped her lips. The young woman put away the flower in her 'robes'. Her gaze turned to the man, but it was one of a seductive 'measures' and a grin to match. The man smiled and they kissed with loving passion as they laid in the meadow.

"I love you." The man said. "I love you too, Vlad." She answered. "VLAD!" Both travelers shrieked.

Instantly they were back in Strange's home. They looked at one another with shock.

"We went into his history… And we…" Strange gasped. "We have to tell the others." Fist replied. "Hold on!" Strange said.

A familiar orange orb appeared in the sorcerer's hand, which them engulfed the two to teleport them to where they needed to go.

To be continued…