A Leap Into Destiny
Blood Feud
"Sam's survived that nutty castle before," Al told his captor. "He'll get out of this in one piece!"
"Really now?" asked Zoey. "By Sam's own drugged admission, this Count Nigel Corrington is a vampire. How could he possibly hope to survive the night?"
"Sam's taken down some pretty tough guys, lady!" warned Al. "I wouldn't count him out yet."
"And what is Sam to do once his throat is torn open and all his blood sucked dry?" Zoey taunted.
Al Calavicci hated to admit it, but he was quite frightened for Sam. Years ago when Sam had leaped into the eccentric gothic count, Al had been so frightened of Corrington's vampiric appearance that he had skedaddled out of waiting room like a mouse.
Was Corrington really as superhumanly strong as most vampires in fiction were portrayed? Would he really try to drink Sam's blood?
These were the questions that worried Al.
"You won't be going anywhere," Zoey told him, maintaining the portal with her hand. "So I suggest you sit tight and watch as your friend meets his merry end."
oooo
After some struggle, Sam managed to open the main entrance door of the castle and found himself outside in the garden. The gates were higher than could be reached for just about anyone and to add insult to potential injury, there was barbed wire at the very top.
Ever since Sam had managed to convince Corrington's wife Alexandra to leave behind her life with the count, Corrington had really gone out of his way to turn his own home into more of a fortress than it had originally been.
Looking around, he saw some boxes. He piled them one on top of each other but soon realized that they were not tall enough for him to be able to get over the gates.
"Oh boy," Sam sighed. "How do I get out of his mess?"
He looked up towards the sky. It was in the latter part of the afternoon and in about an hour or two, the sun would finally set, leaving him alone in the dark gothic castle with a potential vampire coming after him.
"Enjoying the sunset?" asked the voice of an old Englishman.
Sam turned around and saw old man with gray hair tending some sheep near the other side of the gates.
"Hi," Sam walked over. "And you are?"
"I don't believe we've met before," asked the older gentleman. "My name is Jacob. And this is my flock."
"I uh… look, this is going to sound crazy to you," Sam told him, "but I'm not who you think I am."
"You're not a butler?" asked Jacob. "You mean you're not here to serve that nightstalker?"
"No," Sam explained. "Well, that is… I was sent here accidentally against my will."
"You were?" Jacob's eyes widened in fear. "May the good Lord watch over you tonight!"
"Well, I will need all the help I can get," Sam admitted, trying to pry open the locks at the gates.
"What is your name?" asked Jacob.
"I'm Sam," the leaper answered.
"I'm pleased to meet you," Jacob acknowledged, "for the short time you may be here anyways. Once that vampire gets a hold on you, he will show you absolutely no mercy."
"A vampire?" asked Sam. "You mean Nigel Corrington really is a vampire?"
"Without a doubt yes," Jacob nodded. "Ever since Corrington's wife left him, he's grown increasingly deranged and bloodthirsty in his hunts. His superhuman senses help him find prey easily."
"Oh boy," Sam sighed.
Unfortunately for Sam at the moment, he did not actually possess the butler's body despite sharing his uniform. His aura only made him appear to look like the other person he had leaped into. He did not actually possess their bodies and if Corrington was able to tell he wasn't the butler through other sensory organs than the eyes, then he, Sam, was in big trouble.
"Look, I think I may be able to help," Jacob reached inside his pocket.
"With what?" asked Sam.
"With this," Jacob took out a cross.
"Will it work?" Sam inquired.
"I don't know," Jacob admitted. "Thus far I've never had to use it myself. Hopefully it might be able to help you."
"Whether or not Corrington is a real vampire," Sam looked at Jacob, "it's obvious he's not a good guy. What is his whole deal?"
Jacob looked down. "Corrington has been ruling these lands with an iron fist since before I was born. Periodically, he goes out on his nightly hunts for either victims or new women to be part of his Blood Moon rituals."
"How has he gotten away with this for so long?" asked Sam.
"Corrington possesses a fortune," answered Jacob. "He's bought off the local officials. Sure a few people have made connections to the victims making their way to Corrington's castle but the authorities always look the other way and cover up for him even though they claim they're working on the cases of those missing persons."
At that moment, Sam recalled reading Dracula by Bram Stoker years ago, in addition to watching a movie or two about the fictionalized vampire. And in that story, there was always a human under the control of that vampire like Renfield who served their vampiric overlord either willingly or under mind control. And unfortunately in this scenario, the humans who served Corrington happened to be the local police force.
"Well the gates are locked and I'm going to be faced with a sociopathic count soon," Sam pointed out. "What else can I do?"
"Hope and pray for the best," Jacob sighed. "I know my prayers certainly won't bring back Ian."
"If you don't mind me asking, who is Ian?" inquired Sam.
"My brother," Jacob admitted ruefully. "He was an interior designer to this castle. For years he was under the employ of Corrington. But one fateful night, he discovered the truth of Count Nigel Corrington and his nighttime activities. Ian tried reporting it to the local authorities but instead, they tipped Corrington off."
Sam looked on helplessly, realizing where the story was headed.
"Corrington appeared before us one night and killed Ian right in front of my eyes," Jacob shook his head sadly. "Ever since then I've wanted to move out of this Godforsaken county. But I've barely been able to make ends meet for myself."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Sam lowered his head.
"All I can do is try to prevent one more loss," Jacob shrugged. "The sun will be setting soon."
Sam looked up, realizing the old man was right.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Sam.
"The castle is big enough," Jacob recommended. "Find the best hiding spot you can and don't leave it, no matter what happens. Once you survive the night, I'll return tomorrow with a big enough ladder and help you over these gates."
"Alright, I'll go do that," Sam agreed.
"Be careful in there," cautioned Jacob. "In any case, I'd better get going."
"Thanks for your help," Sam shook Jacob's hand.
"I do what I can," Jacob nodded.
oooo
"Would you look at this," Al sneered at Zoey. "Sam's chances of survival just increased."
"You really think so?" Zoey was unconvinced. "So he received a cross from a shepherd. How does that enable him to survive?"
"You don't know Sam like I do," Al pointed out. "He and I have both been through impossible situations."
"And yet here you are, unable to help him," Zoey reminded him.
Al had to concede that she raised a good point.
"You must feel so helpless as his observer," Zoey told him. "How does it feel not being there for your friend?"
Al glared at her. "How does it feel not having your observer? What was his name again?"
"His name was Thames," Zoey answered. "He will be missed… but not that much."
"Let me guess, you were the one who offed him to get to where you are now?" asked Al sarcastically.
"As a matter of fact…" Zoey smiled sinisterly towards Al Calavicci.
"You… you did, didn't you?" Al was in shock.
"I was made a better offer than what Project Chronos had been giving me," Zoey said simply. "How could I not have taken Kairos up on his offer?"
"Lady, you are twisted," Al glared at her.
"You're entitled to your opinion," she reminded him, "not that it will be relevant anymore once this is all done."
"It's not over yet," Al retorted. "Sam still has enough time to make it out of that castle alive."
The portal that Zoey maintained began to darken, indicating that night time had fallen.
"Let's put your faith to the test then, shall we?" sneered Zoey.
oooo
Having taken Jacob's advice, Sam had found himself a closet as a hiding place. It was a dusty small room with a few boxes, books, and various other Victorian artifacts. Sam had made sure to move those items to the further end of the small room, lest he trip over something and make enough noise to attract attention.
The room was dark and quiet, save for a small hole that had somehow been drilled on the door, providing a tiny bit of light and an opportunity for Sam to peak out.
Jacob's recommendation had been easy enough. Stay silent for the whole night and hope Corrington didn't find him. As Sam took a peak outside of the small hole in the door, he heard footsteps.
At that moment, Sam realized there was someone coming.
He continued his watch as a dark figure in a nobleman's outfit descended down the flight of stairs ominously. The man possessed pale, putrid skin and fangs that almost gleamed.
It was Nigel Corrington. At that moment, Sam realized that he never truly got the opportunity to see what the man looked like when he had leaped into his place during the night of the Blood Moon. His appearance was indeed a horrific sight.
Having gazed upon the man's face, Sam now knew what Al had felt like when Corrington had appeared in the waiting room.
Sam stood quietly and leaned against the wall in the darkened closet, doing his best not to make any noise. If he played his cards right, he would be able to survive the night and escape by the next day with some help from Jacob.
All he had to do was remain patient and quiet.
Of course, there was also the distinct possibility that Corrington would tear down the doors out of nowhere and find him, with all fangs blazing.
To his relief, Corrington left the castle, opening the main doors and leaving the place.
"Whew," Sam whispered to himself. "I'd hate to meet that guy face to face."
The two 'vampires' he had encountered in his previous leap to this castle had been merely two humans who had been obsessed with vampirism. After the two of them had been disposed of, Sam had assumed that vampires no longer existed, that is… until he looked into a piece of silverware and realized that he had no reflection.
Though he was still safe for the moment, the question still remained. Was Nigel Corrington really a vampire?
oooo
"Looks like your plan didn't work so well," Al said to Zoey mockingly.
"The night isn't over yet," Zoey told him. "And in the unlikely event your friend survives the night, we have something better planned for him."
"Sam will make it," Al glared at her. "And once he's staked that vampire, he'll be coming for you and your warlock buddy."
"I heartily look forward to it," she replied. "Now if you'll excuse me for a moment…"
The hourglass on her neck glowed as Zoey disappeared. In that same token, the portal disappeared, cutting Al off from the vision of Sam.
"I don't know what's going on over there, Sam," Al whispered, "but stay safe, buddy."
oooo
"Kairos," Zoey walked up towards her master.
The time mage was conversing with Dr. William Oliver as she entered into the room.
"Forgive this interruption, William," Kairos told the scientist.
"Do you need me to leave?" Dr. Oliver asked.
"No, you may stay," Zoey waved aside his concerns.
"Speak," Kairos beckoned to her.
"A few other factors have arisen," Zoey informed them. "Sam Beckett's chances of survival may be higher than we anticipated."
"You mean some supposed vampire aristocrat can't do the job?" Dr. Oliver frowned.
"We don't know yet, as Dr. Beckett has not yet encountered him," Zoey replied. "However, because Sam Beckett has proven to be resourceful in the past, I would recommend moving forward to Phase Two of our plans, should Sam survive his ordeal."
Dr. Oliver smiled. "I always did like the sound of Phase Two better than letting Dr. Beckett run amok in some old vampire hideout."
"Kairos, shall we proceed?" asked Zoey.
"Very well," Kairos nodded. "Gather thy footsoldiers. And prepare the list of names."
oooo
Sam was not sure how much time had passed but it felt like hours. He held the cross Jacob had given him close to his chest. In the event Corrington found him out, he would have to be ready to do anything to survive.
Soon, his ears were alerted by the chirping of birds. Sam got up and looked outside the small hole in the door. So far it was still dark. Birds did have a reputation for chirping loudly early morning around four or five when it was still dark.
In the meantime, Sam was still trying to fight sleep. He was tired and exhausted with almost no rest.
However, in the event that he fell asleep, he would have left himself exposed and helpless. Even the smallest snore could possibly alert Corrington to his location.
The best thing even now was to stay put and wait until daybreak before going out there and waiting for Jacob.
"No, let go!" a voice rang out.
Sam got up, looking out the hole in the door once more.
The doors to the castle flung open as Count Nigel Corrington came in, dragging a victim into his abode with his bare hands. At once Sam recognized the man. It was Jacob being taken against his will by Corrington.
Finally, Corrington yanked Jacob forward and threw him to the ground.
"Do you know why you are here?" demanded Corrington in a terrifying voice.
"So you can finish what you started with my brother?" demanded Jacob.
"I never intended for your brother to die," Corrington replied with a touch of honesty to his otherwise eerie voice.
"Oh really?" Jacob glared at the vampire.
"He had a duty to attend to the well-being of my castle," Corrington explained. "I had no designs to make him one of my victims. But your brother discovered what I was. I gave him the opportunity to keep his silence along with his life. However, he attempted to expose me to the world. For that, he had to pay the price with his life."
"So you didn't want to kill him originally?" demanded Jacob. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"I gave your brother a chance to keep his life," Corrington crossed his arms. "Now I give you the same choice."
"What do you want from me?" Jacob got up.
"Your abilities as a shepherd are beginning to deteriorate with age," the count replied. "I found one of your sheep left behind just a few yards away from my castle. What were you doing so near my abode?"
"What else?" Jacob spat. "They needed pastures. I had to find someplace for them to graze."
"You are free to use any grazing land in this area," Corrington reminded him. "However, my personal pastures are not for your use."
"I don't suppose I could say I'm sorry," Jacob said sarcastically.
"Why were you up here?" inquired Nigel Corrington.
"I already told you," said Jacob nervously. "I needed more grazing grounds for my sheep."
"You are lying," Corrington stared directly into his face. "I can see the blood rushing to your face. You are hiding something from me."
"I swear I'm not hiding anything!" protested Jacob, wishing he still had his cross right about now.
"After what your brother had done, I showed you mercy by allowing you to stay on these lands," Corrington growled, bearing his fangs. "And this is how you repay me?"
"Look, I'm not—" Jacob began.
Corrington did not allow him to finish. Moving quickly, he grabbed Jacob by the throat and forced him to his knees.
"I did not want it to come down to this, Jacob," Corrington's eyes betrayed a savage rage in spite of his nobleman status. "But you have forced my hand… just like you brother did before you!"
Jacob struggled as best he could but he could not break the vice-like grip of Count Nigel Corrington. At that moment, Sam had finally had enough and swung open the door to face the vampire lord.
"I especially savored your brother's blood," Corrington grinned ravenously. "I wonder if yours will also taste as sweet as nectar…"
"Let him go!" Sam shouted, revealing himself at that moment, throwing open the close door.
Corrington turned to Sam, loosening his grip on Jacob somewhat but not completely.
"You," Corrington hissed. "You wear my butler's clothes but you are not him."
"You're right, I'm not," confirmed Sam. "Now let Jacob go!"
Count Nigel Corrington threw Jacob aside callously.
"You are familiar to me," Corrington came closer to Sam. "Yes, I recognize your presence."
"We never formally met," Sam slowly edged away. "But we switched places and you entered into the waiting room."
"Yes, I remember all of it," Corrington slowly nodded his head. "I was to carry out the Blood Moon ritual and before it could come to fruition, I had vanished into that strange place you know as the 'waiting room.' It was you who stopped my Blood Moon ritual and made me lose my Alexandra."
"Newsflash," a sudden wave of anger flashed over Sam. "You would have lost her anyways if you had gone through the Blood Moon ritual!"
"She would have given her life for a noble cause!" Corrington hissed.
"Over my dead body she would have!" Sam growled.
As Corrington rushed towards Sam, the leaper forgot all about his previous fear as a new emotion took over, anger. Sam clenched his fist and unleashed a punch across Corrington's jaw. He wound up his other arm and punched the vampire lord yet again. Seemingly un-phased, Corrington rolled with both punches and then stared back at Sam with a sadistic smile.
Sam spun around, catching the nobleman across the head with a wheel kick that finally made the vampire stumble a bit.
Corrington, however, caught himself and regained his composure like nothing had happened to him.
Hissing like a cat playing with a mouse, Corrington backhanded Sam across the head. The force of the blow was so powerful that Sam's nearly snapped as the leaper was knocked to the floor.
"Oooh boy," Sam shook his head.
It was as if he had been hit by a locomotive.
"Run," the vampire grinned, flashing his teeth.
Sam got up, running away from the vampire and heading up the stairs, hoping to get some higher ground. By the time Sam got up, he saw Corrington raise himself from the floor almost as if he were floating. The vampire nobleman then floated up the stairs in a slow motion, as if he were savoring the chase and Sam's fear.
Sam ran across the hall on the second floor until he saw an open door to his right. He entered into it and barricaded the door. The interior of the room had a fireplace and some Victorian-era furniture. There was a painting of the vampire nobleman which hung on the wall to his left near the windows, which were completely covered up by the draping.
Just as Sam turned his back to the door, Corrington struck the door with enough force that it flew off its hinges and knocked Sam on his back near to the fireplace.
Sam groaned in pain as the vampire lord walked regally into the room, ready to end the life of his prey. Near to the leaper, however, was one of the pokers of the fire place.
"You took Alexandra from me," Corrington snarled. "Now you shall pay the price with your life!"
At once Sam grabbed the nearby poker and swung around, striking Corrington across the face with all his might.
"Aaaaahhh!" screamed Corrington as the sharp end of the poker cut through his face.
Sam got up, holding the poker in his hand. As Corrington turned around, Sam saw that he had managed to do some damage. There was a deep cut across his face from where the poker had struck him.
Sam rushed the vampire lord, swinging the poker again. Corrington, however, caught it and punched Sam with enough force to send him crashing onto the rug on the floor.
"For that indignity, I will drain every inch of your blood," promised Corrington. "And I will do it slowly, with great relish!"
Before Corrington could reach, Sam, however, a man leaped onto his back, trying to hold him back. As Sam shook his head to clear his vision, he saw that it was Jacob on Corrington's back, doing his best to hold back the bloodthirsty vampire.
"Run!" Jacob ordered Sam, holding on for dear life.
"I see you choose your brother's fate!" Corrington growled.
Corrington grabbed Jacob after a brief struggle and threw him out of the window, sending the man plummeting to the ground below from a tall second story. However, as he did, the light came pouring out from the broken window, exposing Corrington's skin to the sun.
"Jacob!" shouted Sam.
"Aaaahhh!" hissed Corrington as he felt a burning sensation from the exposure.
Quickly, the vampire backed away from the sunlight as smoke emitted from his flesh.
At that moment, Sam realized that, in addition to being a true vampire, Corrington did have a weakness to sunlight. Getting up, he crawled towards one of the unexposed windows, hoping to open up the drapery and expose more sunlight into the room.
Unfortunately for him, Corrington realized what he was doing and grabbed Sam from behind by the collar. Spinning Sam around and then grabbing him by the neck, Corrington lifted Sam straight up into the air with his inhuman strength. Sam choked and struggled against the might of Nigel Corrington but could not break free.
"Now you die!" promised Corrington.
Suddenly, Sam remembered the cross that Jacob had given him. Using it against Corrington was just about the only hope he had left. After all, if vampires had a weakness to sunlight, then why not religious objects?
Fumbling in his pockets just as the life was being choked out of him, Sam grabbed the cross and used his hand to plant the object right on top of Corrington's forehead, drawing a pained and agonized scream from the vampire.
At once the cross began burning right into the vampire's head. Sam used his other hand to grab the vampire from the back of the hand as his right hand continued to press the burning object into the vampire's forehead.
With a burst of strength, Corrington finally threw Sam off of him near one of the unopened windows. The vampire lord fell down to both knees gasping for air. As Corrington tilted his head up, Sam saw the burnt markings of a cross embedded in his head. Hissing angrily like a snake, Corrington got up slowly and then began to charge at Sam like a raging beast, bereft of all rationality
At that moment, Sam grabbed the draping on the windows and yanked it aside, revealing the sunlight that Corrington had dreaded. As soon as exposure was made to Corrington's skin, the vampire lord screamed in agony as he began to burn up, running towards Sam in a half-crazed daze.
Sam leaped out of the way just as the Count finally caught on fire. The vampire nobleman crashed through the window like a crazed bull, finally exposing himself to the searing morning sun. His burning body smashed into the lawn, writhing painfully for several moments before finally expiring. By the time the smoke cleared, Corrington was little more than a smoldering corpse.
Then he remembered Jacob. Sam turned and sprinted down the stairs, opening the door and running towards the fallen Jacob.
"Hang in there Jacob!" Sam knelt down.
Unfortunately for Jacob, the fall had injured him to a serious degree, made worse by his own advanced age.
"I… promised I'd return to help you," Jacob said in a pained voice.
"Corrington's gone," Sam cradled Jacob's head. "He'll never hurt anyone ever again."
Jacob looked at the cross in Sam's hand and smiled sadly.
"I may not have been able to save my brother," he whispered, "but at least I was able to help you."
"Don't give up on me, Jacob!" Sam's voice became more emotional.
"Thank you Sam," Jacob's body grew colder. "And Ian, I'll see you soon..."
"Jacob!" cried Sam. "JACOB!"
Finally, Jacob breathed his last. Sadly, Sam put his hands on Jacob's eyes and closed them for the old man. As he laid Jacob down on the ground, Sam got up miserably and stumbled back.
"Why?" he said to himself.
At that moment, the leaper's aura surrounded him once more, taking him away from everything that had happened. The only thing remaining were the golden rays of the sun shining upon a once darkened castle.
This chapter is dedicated to the memory of Sir Christopher Lee(May 27, 1922 – June 7, 2015).