INeedAUsername8: there's still more to come
Plasma57: thank you
Ilikehats2: …. Ok….
Chapter 26: We Share Something In Common
(In Dracula's castle)
Peter had been avoiding the crowds of vampires throughout the fortress. He didn't want to take part in any meet-and-greet. He's still trying to figure out what was going on currently. The amassing amount of vampires in the castle led him to believe Dracula was going to start to organize an army for a full on war with humanity. What he didn't realize was the sheer number of the global vampire population. There had to be hundreds of vampires in the castle, and he heard some talking about recruiting the others once they marched to battle.
(This doesn't look good, how many are there?... I wish the others were here; I could really use their help... But I still can't figure out what Dracula is hiding… I guess I'll have to keep looking)
He silently crawled throughout the castle, trying to find any evidence of the vampire king's masterplan. Through several rooms, halls, and crevices Peter searched for answers; but he found none in his efforts. But he started moving through a hallway he hadn't checked. Peter could the sounds of groaning and grunting, and he recognized the owners' of those sounds.
'So this is where he's been keeping you all.' Peter thought to himself before entering the room.
As he attached to an angle on a wall, he found himself looking at the mind-controlled villains. They're in some kind of work room. Scanning the room he saw various machines and devices in a factory-style order. The most 'intelligent' of the villains: the Leader, Modok, etc. are creating various kinds of inventions. Some looked like various kinds of combat armor, exoskeleton suits mainly.
(Shit, advanced combat armor… Dracula's going to armor up his soldiers… How many does he plan on making…? And what's going to happen to these guys if he… I know they're villains…)
What he didn't realize/notice are vampire standing guard over the area. They caught a glimpse of Peter and leapt at him. His spidey-sense went off and saw the guards. He leapt out of the way before the got to close.
'Crap..' He grunted in his mind.
The guards dropped to the ground and prepared to attack. Peter didn't know what to do. If he didn't defend himself the vampires would kill him. But if he attacked and Dracula found out… he didn't even want to think about it. Before he could make a decision, both vampires relaxed and bowed.
(Wait… Why are they…? Crap…)
"I see you've found my little factory workers, Mr. Parker." A familiar, ghastly voice chuckled in Peter's ear.
The newborn turned around quickly to find Dracula standing before him. He looked in a calm mood. Peter didn't know what to think of this.
"You… You're forcing them into slave labor." Peter growled. "You can call it that if you wish. There aren't any whips or strict punishments here. But think what you want." Dracula calmly replied. "You sick…" Peter growled as he threw a punch forward.
Dracula raised his right hand and froze the newborn. Peter grunted as he tried to fight off the paralysis he was in. The vampire king sighed and shook his head. He lowered his hand and Peter was freed from the paralysis. He gasped for a few seconds.
"Follow me…" Dracula said as he began to walk off. "For what?..." Peter hissed. "I need to show you something." Dracula answered as he stopped walking, and turned his head around half-way.
Peter followed Dracula through the castle to secret entrance to the objects hidden by Dracula. Peter acted calm, trying to show no signs of nervousness. Dracula turned to face Peter.
"What did you think of the artifacts down in one of my secret chambers?" Dracula asked. "I don't..." Peter started to reply when Dracula interjected, "I saw you exit out from the curtain and I heard the door open. You fell on the cushions I keep there. You saw everything; you were down there for quite some time."
Peter felt his blood run cold, Dracula had known everything. Was he going to kill him now?
(I'm not looking forward to this…)
"This isn't what I want to show you. But was there anything down there that peaked your interest? Please… tell the truth." The vampire king demanded. "Everything down there was interesting I guess." Peter stammered. "Hmm… Intriguing… Very well… It's time to show you..." Dracula sighed.
They were instantly transported to a huge chamber. The room is lit with several torches bathing the area around it in a reddish-orange light. There are red drapes dressing the walls. Several nearby chests are filled with rubies by the hundreds. In glass cases there are bundles of roses carefully preserved, their red colors still looking full of life.
"Whoa…" Peter gasped. "This room is the one place in the world where I remember why I fight so hard to protect my kind." Dracula said, not even looking at Peter. "Protect them? You've called them servants and slaves? Why would you want to protect them?" Peter hissed. "Because… I failed one…" Dracula answered. "What?" The newborn gasped.
Dracula turned to look at Peter, his pale face is streaming in tears. Peter was shocked; he didn't ever think Dracula cried... he didn't think Dracula was even capable of crying.
"Centuries ago I was a mortal man, Vlad." Dracula said. "Vlad?" Peter said. "Yes. I was turned by the then vampire lord, Varnae… Eventually he died, I don't know how... But I became lord of vampires sometime after… I guess it was inherited from his bite… But that's not what's important… This is." Dracula said as he grabbed a torch and walked over and held it up.
When he did this, the light unveiled a painting. Peter saw the subject of the artwork: a young woman. She appears to be in her 20's, her features smooth and sharp. Her wavy, blonde hair hangs to below her shoulders. Both eyes a beautiful blue hue. The dress she's wearing is a beautiful ruby red, which went wonderfully with her necklace which is 'sporting' an arrangement of those very gems. Dracula softly brushed his free hand along the painting.
"What's her name?" Peter asked. "Maria." Dracula answered. "Wha… What happened? Who is she?" The newborn asked.
Dracula turned to look at him; Peter could see the great sadness and despair in his eyes.
"She died… Killed by those monsters… Vampire 'hunters'… She hadn't ever harmed anyone… They just stuck a silver dagger through her heart. I was unable to get to her in time. They had attacked us when we were in our favorite spot: a meadow… A beautiful place filled with a variety of flowers… Roses are her favorite. Several of those monsters flooded onto our favorite place and separated us." Dracula said, giving half a smile.
Peter was shocked and speechless.
"Maria… was… is my wife." Dracula said, hiding his face from the newborn. "Your… Your wife?" Peter gasped. 'He… had a wife?..' Peter gasped in his mind. "But there's more to the story… When I was turned by Varnae… Maria was present during the act… After I changed… he wanted me to feed on her…" Dracula sobbed. 'Just like…' Peter thought to himself.
Dracula covered his eyes with his free hand, but the plentiful tears dripped through the fingers. Peter's face was a mask of horror.
"I resisted his power… And he vanished, furious I resisted his powers. For a time Maria and I had trouble, we didn't know what to do. Being a vampire wasn't bad; I had the strength to protect her from anyone who wanted to do her harm… Than again, those stupid enough to attack her would find themselves on the ground bleeding… Maria was fierce." Dracula chuckled, recalling her assertive and fiery personality. 'Just like Tiger…' Peter chuckled in his thoughts.
Dracula calmed himself and wiped away the tears still present on his face. He turned to look at Peter.
"I eventually turned her, not wanting to live young for eternity without her. We were happy. After she was killed I was distraught… When I became the lord of vampires I realized I had the power to bring her back. But that failed too... Those 'hunters' destroyed the ceremony and the soldiers protecting those trying to help me…" The vampire king continued. 'So... he suffered the same heart-break twice?... No wonder the way he is…' Peter thought to himself.
Peter had lost his Uncle Ben, which was an experience Peter didn't want to ever relive. But Dracula lost his wife… twice… Peter couldn't imagine the way he felt.
"I don't want to fail the rest of my people the way I failed Maria. I will create a ceremony that will free them of the weaknesses a vampire suffers… Through your blood and my power… I'll do just that." Dracula said. "And do what?" Peter stammered. "Claim my kind's rightful place! To keep them safe! You… we'll be my greatest ally! We will protect the vampires of the world!" The king of vampires answered. "By destroying humanity?" Peter gasped. "No! I don't want to destroy humanity! But I want them to suffer for what they've done to us!" Dracula hissed. "But... but..." Peter gasped. "I'm not going to kill any of them…" Dracula growled.
Even at this Peter was horrified. He didn't know what to think. But he had an idea.
"Can't you try to make peace with humanity?" Peter asked. "Even if I wanted to... Do you really think they would agree? They'd attempt to destroy us then and there. They always have." Dracula snarled. "But you were once human! You once felt the way humans do!" Peter cried. "The night I turned you… I didn't believe it at first… But I do now…" Dracula grunted.
Peter's expression of horror turned to confusion. What was Dracula talking about?
"The moments after you rose as a vampire, I realized something… You did something I did a long time ago…" Dracula added.
(Wait, what?!)
"I realized we share something in common. I resisted Varnae's demands to feed on Maria because I loved her, and I still do… You didn't feed on Ms. Ayala when I ordered you to… You didn't feed on her because: you love her." Dracula elaborated.
To be continued…