Chapter Thirteen:
Flashpoint
10 November 1902.
The next evening saw John greeting me at the dining table, as I partook of my refreshing breakfast of pig's blood. He looked worn down as he sat down, and I reached out to touch his shoulder.
"John…?"
"Mr Harker helped me with the work of tracking down Holmes's contacts – along with a few of the present crew of the Irregulars," he began. "But Holmes's fears have already unfolded, Mary. Shinwell Johnson was killed last night, before Harker could get to the scene. He's certain it's another vampire attack. Otherwise, I think the others will be safe. Some of them are seeking safety with the authorities."
I bowed my head. "We will make Klein and the red robes pay for this…," I said lowly.
"That's not all…"
"Oh? What else has happened?"
"There's been a series of jailbreaks around London last night, Lestrade has informed me. Several, targeted prisoners were freed by various men and women, all dressed in black, who mysteriously appeared at the jails – though Lestrade reluctantly admitted to me that he's aware of one report by a surviving warden where a pair of bats were seen to land in the courtyard, before changing into a man and a woman." John paused and raised his troubled eyes to me, before speaking again. "One of the intruders matched the appearance of Baron Gruner – complete with a blinded eye from that holy water you splashed him with."
"My dear god," I muttered, disturbed at the news. "Wait! You said 'targeted prisoners'…"
He nodded. "Some were Klein's mortal lackeys – such as Gervais Bryce. But the majority were criminals that Holmes and I had helped to bring to justice. From the cases that I have published so far. Klein has studied my writings well…"
John abruptly slammed his fist upon the table, startling me. I had never seen him so angry before. So I rose from my chair, and held him, gently brushing my fingers through his grey hair. He calmed down after a minute or so from my embrace.
"Your good work undone…," I began to say. "I am so sorry, John. Will any of those prisoners come for us?"
He thought about that. "Possibly. Sebastian Moran wasn't among those set free. But one of those freed where the news stings me the most is Jack Woodley."
"The hot-headed would-be husband of Violet Smith, as she was then – back in 1895? The 'Solitary Cyclist' case?"
"Yes – him! As a doctor, I was obliged to save him from his bullet wound – before he was passed over to the police. Now he is on the loose once more. I pity any woman who comes within his orbit," John fumed.
"Having read your account of what happened, I have to agree, dear," I told John.
"It's worse than that, though, Mary. Culverton Smith was also broken out of his prison, a week ago. Holmes was informed about this by Inspector Gregson, at the time. I do not know the details – but Holmes did briefly mention to me he suspected that Klein may have arranged it. That man may well take his cold anger out on Holmes, though – rather than you or me."
"That vile poisoner. I see… Any word from Sherlock?"
"Only a short telegram. A black man was sighted at a greengrocers not far from the hospital where Sir Reginald died, buying supplies."
"And Sherlock thinks it could be Steve Dixie? But it could be…"
"…someone entirely innocent, yes. Despite there being few men of Dixie's colour in such a rural area. It is different, of course, in the melting pot of cultures to be found in London. But the general description – height, and age, indicate it could be Dixie. If Dixie has dressed himself in a workman's clothes, that is. So Holmes has a lead to investigate. He wants me to come back and help him with matters, Mary. He is trusting the Harkers to safeguard you – whilst I return to Sussex, and help him in his hunt."
My heart sank. "Then you should go…," I sighed.
John rubbed his moustache. It was a sign that his mind was agitated. "And if I do, we will have to see this hunt through, before you continue the process to turn me into a vampire. In which case you would have to start again, I take it?"
I nodded. "The process needs to take place over consecutive nights. So, yes. If you leave now, we will have to begin once more."
"Then I am staying with you, Mary. I will write back and urge him to have White Mason assist him as much as he can." John's hand was trembling a little now, even as he reached out and held mine. He tried to smile. "I would wish for us to share one more intimate night together, before I face my mortal end. How would you feel about that?"
"I…I wish for that too, John." I managed to smile back. "I should tell you… Mina and Jonathan…"
"Yes. They know about what we are doing." John bobbed his head. "Jonathan Harker admitted as much to me, after I last left you. We had a man-to-man discussion. I know they approve of me. I am grateful for that. Just…"
"What is it, darling?"
John averted his gaze for a moment, struggling to keep his emotions in check as he swallowed hard and let me of me. "If I don't come back to you, after the final kiss… Do not hate yourself, Mary."
I was unable to speak at first. I felt a lump in my throat, as I managed to swallow. "The Harkers will be there to help us for the Third Kiss…"
"Even so. If the process doesn't work – promise me that you will remember and love me, but that you will continue to hold onto your humanity even as you stay safe. That way, you can honour your memories of me."
"I…I will try, John," I croaked. "And if this works…"
"Yes?"
"Promise me, John, that I will never have a reason to stop loving you. Please do not become like Klein or Howells or Gruner, or worse…"
"We will continue to be a moral anchor for each other," John pledged. "Despite the dark temptations that you will share with me."
"Yes. We will," I vowed.
Our eyes met. He nodded, satisfied upon reading my expression – then kissed my forehead.
Finishing my breakfast, I rose and took his hand, before leading my husband to my bedroom in the sanctuary.
I will not share the details of what followed. Suffice to say that we both allowed ourselves to fully enjoy each other, even as we gave all of our love to one another. By now, thanks to my vampirism – as well as my self-control with John – I had become a confident lover, slipping in some tricks that I had learnt from the other ladies at Cherry Tree House.
As John and I lay in bed, basking in the afterglow of our beautiful lovemaking, with me listening to John's heartbeat as I laid my head next to his chest, the predator in me began to stir. But my mind was my own. My instincts were not geared to draining John dry – but instead to fully claim him as my own. To pass my supernatural nature onto him, so that John would become first my protégé, then my equal.
My hunting partner.
My undead lover, and husband for eternal life. Or for as long as fate would allow us to be happy together. I was still way too young in my life as a vampire to fully appreciate the implications of eternity. It was too scary to think about it, even in that moment, as I stirred and rolled onto John so that we were eye-to-eye as he twitched and opened his eyelids.
"Go ahead, Mary," he told me.
I flexed the tendons around my canine teeth, and they obediently lengthened into my fangs. Lowering my mouth to my husband's neck and identifying a promising vein, I carefully bit down, and slowly drank from him, gulping down his wonderful, hot blood - not wanting to stain the bedclothes as my lips and tongue did their work with my feeding. The 'venom' coming from the inside of my fangs acting as a pleasure drug – my husband now experiencing what the red robes at Cherry Tree House gave to their clients, even as they stole a little of their blood. John moaned, drowning in the ecstasy of the second bite.
I was as clean as a cat. I licked his wound, so that my vampiric saliva soon healed the bite marks I had made.
Then, feeling energised by my meal, I willed a fingernail to temporarily extend into a claw so that I could slit a vein in my opposing wrist. Presenting my dark-red trickle of blood to John, he took my wrist as he sat up and got to work, drinking from me.
I lovingly held him in place and stroked him, as though I was a mother holding her baby to her breast. And in that moment I was reminded that this was the only way I could reproduce now. What I was doing was surely an affront to God, as well to nature – and yet neither of us had decided upon this without serious consideration. John and I were doing this for love. Just as Mina and Jonathan had.
After we had finished, John rested for a while in bed besides me. His heartbeat was weaker now – and the predatory side of me could tell that his body was changing inside, even as his vital organs fought harder to keep him alive. So he slept, even as I lay besides him. It was still nighttime, and I was in no state to sleep myself. Instead, I would guard him. With my life. Or rather, my unlife.
Just before dawn, John left me. After a breakfast of warm oats that he eventually managed to eat in his weakened state, his obliging cook, the mute Indian boy Ravindra, then used the Harkers carriage to drive John back to 221B Baker Street – accompanied by Beaver. An hour later, the latter young man reported back to the Harkers and myself.
"Doctor Watson's been called upon by the Yard," Beaver told us, as he doffed his cap. "The bill got a telegram from White Mason, in Sussex. Mister 'Olmes an' a constable with 'im have vanished whilst pursuing a lead, not far from Hurlstone Manor!"
"John is not well enough to travel there!" I exclaimed. I did not add that I wanted John with me, so that I could give him the third bite that night, and complete his transformation into one of my own kind. The mortals did not yet know, aside from Kaitlyn.
"Thought so meself," Beaver responded. "And the doc' has replied to the Yard, saying so. That he can't assist him right now. And that the Yard needed to alert Mycroft 'Olmes, before getting the calvary over to where Sherlock Holmes had vanished."
Mina and Jonathan gave each other a long look.
"It is time to pull in the others…," Mina instructed her husband.
Jonathan nodded. "I will stay up and alert the rest of our family, Mina. You and Mary should get to your coffins now and sleep during the daylight." He turned to face our gathered mortal servants. "Beaver, Shiner, Ravindra, Irene, Leonie and Kaitlyn. You need to take shifts in guarding this house during today! I will come back when I can…"
"Yes sir," they all assented – apart from Ravindra, who nodded and gave a little bow.
As everyone else got to work, Mina and I retreated to our own bedrooms – where our own coffins awaited us, so we could hide ourselves from the sun and rise anew, ready for the onset of the coming night…
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
At sunset that evening, Kaitlyn opened my coffin door. Even though my eyelids remained shut, I could still sense her in my bedroom. She wasn't moving.
She was waiting for me, then…
I opened my eyes and sat up in my coffin.
"What is it, Kaitlyn?" I asked her.
She curtsied. "Mrs Hudson was brought here by Ravindra and Leonie, after I thought you could do with the extra company tonight."
I immediately brightened up. "Thank you, Kaitlyn! It would be wonderful to speak to Martha again. Where is she now?"
"In the sitting room, Mistress. I have provided her with some supper." Kaitlyn again remained stationery as she finished speaking. There was something else, then.
"What else is your mind, Kaitlyn?" I asked her.
"Beggin' your pardon, Mistress. But it's tonight that you intend to give Doctor Watson the Third Bite, isn't it?"
"Yes." I smiled. "How do you feel about that, Kaitlyn?"
My maid grinned. "I am happy for you, Mistress Mary! Your husband truly loves you – and I am looking forward to having him even more as my Master than he is already as my employer…"
"You won't be able to become his Follower as well, Kaitlyn," I cautioned her. "Followers can only be blood-bound to one vampire. In your case, me."
"Oh…" Although disappointed, Kaitlyn was soon smiling again. "Nevertheless, I will be loyal to you both, Mistress. And I will still be proud to call your husband 'Master'. And…, it is that time of the week…"
"…to feed you my blood. Of course." I got out of my coffin and sat on the chair by the dressing table, ready to cut into a vein in my wrist and see to our weekly ritual before I got dressed for the night. Soon, Kaitlyn was gulping down some of my vampiric blood – the drug that she now depended upon, in order to function as an enhanced mortal, stronger and quicker than the average woman.
"What dress will it be tonight, milady?" Kaitlyn asked me after we had finished, pulling out a pair of outfits that were identical in design. Only one was a black dress – and the other was scarlet. I considered the night before me. I would be seducing John, and putting the final bite on him. Praying to God, that he would return to me and that he would find the right balance with becoming a capable, undead predator, yet still holding onto everything I loved about him…
"The red," I answered.
"You have been reluctant to wear a red outfit," Kaitlyn surmised. "Ever since…"
"Ever since my captivity – yes," I confirmed. "When I was forced to don red, as a scarlet woman. But now… I need to embrace my nature, and live by my own rules. I am not a scarlet woman. I am a crimson lady!" I said those words with pride, flashing the tips of my fangs to a giggling Kaitlyn.
When I was attired, I felt my vampiric heart beat a little faster with the fear – and anticipation – of what I had to do. "Is Doctor Watson here?" I asked Kaitlyn.
She shook her head, making my heart sink. "It is just us, Ravindra, Mrs Hudson, and that mousy, black girl who presently are at home, milady. Madam Mina went out hunting at the crack of sunset. Irene Adler insisted on accompanying her, saying her Master would be upset if something bad happened to Mina when she was by herself. Madam Mina assented – but wanted to get back here, as soon as she could. I believe Beaver is helping Mr Harker – and Shiner is currently with his young lady, Rosie."
"I see. Well, I guess I would act just as Irene had, if I was a Follower of the Harkers." My lips twitched. "I'm not sure that sunset 'cracks', Kaitlyn!"
"Well, neither does the dawn, Mistress! Least, I never heard it make that noise." She smirked back at me, then pulled out from the apron pocket of her maid's uniform a bone-bladed dagger. I instinctively stepped back. I could feel an aura of power from the weapon, a power that could kill me…
"Kaitlyn…?"
"Oh, sorry milady! Irene had this in her possession – but she wanted me to have this, whilst I guarded you. I've been practicing with it on the dummies in the store room next to the training room."
"The Harkers have told me about it," I spoke evenly, trying not to show my revulsion of the unnatural weapon. "It was the dagger that Sir Reginald Musgrave used to kill Count Dolingen, even as the Count was draining me dry…"
Kaitlyn nodded. "Irene told me it's an arcane weapon. The elder sister of the Harkers recognised the description of it, after Mina passed on word to 'em about it. Apparently, it's made from the bones of a vampire that Dolingen killed 'imself. He used a ritual to bind the bones together, an' make the blade sharp. Then his nibs kept it on his person whenever he went hunting on foot. It was something of a status symbol. A message to other vamps…"
"…not to mess with him. They would have sensed what I am sensing now. That the blade is supernatural. Dangerous to a vampire," I concluded. "Ironic that his own weapon was used against him by a mortal who was trying to rescue me. A lucky strike that killed him…" I stared at the bone dagger, which seemed to be wavering in Kaitlyn's hand. "Um… Kaitlyn. Please do not point it at me… It makes me feel uneasy."
"Beggin' your pardon, mistress! The thing feels like it's alive in my hand. It's wanting me to point it towards you! Like it's made of iron, and you're a magnet."
"Give me to me…" I took the offered weapon from my maid, and turned away from her, cutting arcs in the air with the dagger, feeling its weight. Frowning, I passed it back to her.
"I feel no such pull, myself…," I observed. But that changed when I began to point the blade down at my feet. I sensed the weapon tugging at my hand, wanting me to impale my own foot…
I gasped and quickly handed the loathsome thing back to my maid. Immediately, I felt the urge to harm myself vanish.
Kaitlyn held the dagger at different angles, including pointing the blade towards her stomach. "It's only guiding me when I'm pointing it at you, Mistress!" she gasped. "As though…"
"As though it is designed to guide the holder into striking at a vampire," I mused. "Maybe Sir Reginald Musgrave's lucky strike was not quite a fluke after all…"
After that, I headed downstairs to breakfast. It was just me and Martha in the dining room this evening. She had some cheese and crackers to eat, along with some cocoa – whilst I had another glass of pigs' blood with which to fortify myself. And, of course, we got talking.
"We ought to go to another theatre show, like we did a few weeks ago, dear," Martha suggested. "It would help to take your mind away from all of this worry. After all, you are still disguised as Catherine Summers."
"Thank you, Martha. I will look forward to that. But at present, I dare not leave this house. Sherlock believes that I am in danger – and now he appears to have gone missing."
"So I have heard. Oh, I do hope he is safe!" Martha's smile faded. "And John… He is starting to look awful. I have seen the shirt he was wearing yesterday. There's blood marks around the collar. Have you…bitten him, Mary? Please…tell me the truth."
I sighed, and then nodded. "Martha… Do not tell Sherlock. I am… I am…"
She looked at me with a sad expression, before reaching out to hold my gloved hand. "You are turning him into a vampire, are you not?"
"Yes." I was relieved that my friend did not look at me as if I had suddenly turned evil. "It is John's decision. We want to be there for each other. Always."
Martha did not let get of me. Instead, her fingers interlaced with mine. I saw that she was weeping. With her free hand, she pulled out a handkerchief in order to dab at her eyes.
"It will break his heart, you realise. Losing John…" Martha told me.
"I know. We did not agree to this lightly, Martha," I declared. "But John is struggling with getting older. He wants to protect me. And this way…we can love each other without any restraints. I also know that my love for him will now be the death of him. His mortal death, that is. But… Oh, can you forgive me, Martha?"
"Forgive you? John Watson is your man, Mary! I think…what you are doing is…rather romantic. It will be sad not to have to cook for John – but I will not take it as a slight against me if you and your husband reaffirm your vows in a way…beyond us ordinary people." Martha smiled at me. "And do not worry about Mr Holmes. I will continue to see that he is looked after and eats enough food. Beyond my duties, it will be up to him to accept that sometimes things have to change, and hopefully for the better. That even he might have to change his ways for the better."
I squeezed Martha's hand. "Thank you so much for your understanding, Martha. You are wonderful…"
"You are welcome, Mary. And to be clear - I do not want it, myself."
I froze and took in her words and calm expression. If I could still blush, I would have. "I was afraid of asking you… What I am doing to John… It is still a dark thing. I am turning him into a predator. A likely killer…"
"I know, dear. But now you will never have to ask me." Martha gave a sad smile. "Mr Holmes and I will grow old, yes. Whilst you and John remain as you are now – but we will still see each other, and make the best use of the time left to us."
I blinked back the red tears that I could feel coming on. "Yes, we will…"
I trailed off as a sudden noise startled us both. It sounded as though someone had just fallen down the chimney. More than one person, in fact. We immediately tensed.
Hissing in agitation, I turned and hurried towards the sitting room. Kaitlyn appeared from the kitchen, and followed in my wake. With my heart pounding like a mortal's, I paused – and then flung open the door to the room.
There was no one there.
I let loose the breath I had been holding. Then we heard people moving upstairs.
"The other chimney! The base of it opens into the study!" Kaitlyn squeaked.
"They can't be vampires – surely? They would need permission to enter the house!" Martha exclaimed.
"Martha… Go fetch Ravindra and Leonie – and then find a place to hide," I whispered to her.
She looked reluctant, but then she nodded. "Mary…? What are you going to d…?"
"This is one of my homes now – and I will NOT run away. Now go!" I hissed. "Kaitlyn – stick with me!"
"Of course, Mistress."
Snatching a thick hardback from the bookcase, I hurried upstairs as lightly as I could. With the bone dagger already in her grip, Kaitlyn followed close behind in my wake. Soon, the two of us were at the study door. I saw dust pass underneath the base of the door.
Kaitlyn and I gave each other a look of determination. She nodded.
I flung open the door, my nails instinctively growing into short claws as I spied the outlines of the intruders amidst the dust-filled air of the study. I could make out several forms – the fourth of them now pulling a fifth up from the unlit fireplace. The two shapes closest to us were short – the others were women. Only Kaitlyn was coughing from the cloud of dust. Which meant…
Oh no. They had to be vampires.
As I thought this, a sixth arrival emerged from the fireplace. A bat, that swiftly changed into a finely dressed man who was in his forties, with sleeked black hair. The moustache had now been shaved away, revealing the narrow lips and the smile of a predatory shark.
His face now, of course, marred by the burnt skin around his face and one blinded eye. From the holy water I had splashed upon him, mere weeks before.
Baron Gruner…
My undead heart hammered with fear as I began to tremble. Making an effort to hold myself together, my panicking mind instinctively thought of John – and I concentrated, trying to send him a swift cry for help via the sire-fledgling bond of blood that was forming between us…
The enemy has found us! At the safehouse…!
For good measure, I tried to sent the same mental message to Mina, switching my focus upon her – hoping that the exchange of blood we had made had created enough of a psychic bond for this purpose. But before I could do the same with Jonathan, my time had run out.
"Benjamin and Kenneth…," the fifth intruder spoke in a smooth, Spanish-accented voice that made my stolen blood freeze. She brushed a hand against the soot on her black dress.
The first pair of shapes turned to us, revealing themselves to a pair of chimney sweep boys.
"Please Mistress. It's Benny and Kenny!" one boy announced, even as he smiled at me like a shark. My eyes widened as I saw his short canine fangs.
"Benny and Kenny, then… Take them down!" Isadora Klein barked at her two vampire boys. "Amber and Ruby – help them!"
"Of course, Madam Obsidian," the two women, dressed in now-stained red robes, answered as one, as they licked their own fangs in anticipation.
The kids yelled and charged for us; their claws outstretched to slash at us.
"Ravindra! Leonie!" I heard Martha scream downstairs, as she heard the battle begin.
The series of events that then unfolded are something of a blur in my mind, with several moments happening almost at once.
I was paralysed at first, horrified not only at the fact that Klein had added a pair of boys to her undead army, but that I – a former governess – now had to fight them, to save myself and Kaitlyn!
Both Kaitlyn and myself were forced backwards onto the first-floor landing, before I could rouse myself to fight back. One of the vampiric boys pinned me down on the landing, after tackling me – rugby-fashion. His weight straddled my chest and his feet on either side of my knees. Perhaps Klein had anticipated my weakness – but I couldn't afford to be soft on any of my opponents now. Sherlock was right – Klein was after me…
As fast as he could, Ravindra was running up the stairs to aid us in the battle, a knife in his hand. Leonie, similarly-armed, right behind him. But at a barked order from Klein, one of the vampire lads swiftly misted and reformed into a red-eyed German Shepherd. The vampire dog then rushed at the Indian boy whilst Ravindra and Leonie turned at the top of the stairs. They froze at the sight of the snarling canine like a rabbit caught in the glare of a lantern.
The three clashed – but the force of Benny's run caused him to slam into Ravindra like a football, which – in turn – sent him bowling into Leonie, behind him. In the next instant, they all crashed through the window at the end of the landing, and fell out of sight, screaming…
Klein did not react to this turn of events. Instead, she yelled: "Ruby! Adelbert! There is a woman downstairs…"
"She will not escape us, my lady," Gruner silkily declared as he dodged around us and hurried downstairs, followed by the red robe called Ruby.
Fuming to myself, I waited until their running footsteps indicated that they had left the staircase behind – then I willed my human form to dissolve into mist and reform on the other side of Kaitlyn and her vampiric opponent, who had briefly fought each other, but were now in a standoff - staring each other in stock, as Kaitlyn broke away, snatching up her weapon from the floor where it had fallen.
The vampire boy who had tackled me now collapsed upon the landing, wailing at the loss of his prisoner.
"Amber! Stop staring at that mortal and fight!" Klein yelled at her.
The soot-coated, russet-haired red robe whimpered. "Beg pardon, Mistress. Um… Her kn-knife… It frightens me!"
Klein's eyes widened as she saw the bone dagger in Kaitlyn's shaking hand.
"The Count's dagger!" she hissed. "Very well, Amber. Capture bloody Mary Watson, then! Kenny and I will deal with this mortal wrench."
Standing close to them, I noticed something odd. Kaitlyn mouthed something to Amber. I just managed to hear the red robe subtly shake her head and whisper back something that startled me.
"I can't disobey her!"
And with that, the young red robe pounced upon me, seeking to pin me down like Kenny had. We fought furiously, but – thanks to my training with the Harkers - within moments I was able to overcome the younger vampire and I twisted her round into a headlock, with her being forced to face the same direction as I was. She yelled and flailed her arms and clawed hands at me, trying to scratch my face. She was not a strong vampire – and I did not recall a red robe named Amber during my entrapment at Cherry Tree House. Had Klein newly-sired her?
"Don't make me squeeze your head in…!" I rasped.
"M-m-mercy!" she squealed.
Meanwhile, along the wide landing, Kaitlyn was trying to prevent Isadora Klein and the boy Kenny from outflanking her. Every time she swiped the air with the bone weapon that she wielded, the two vampires facing her hissed their anger and fear.
Being undead, they could no doubt sense the power in that bone dagger, like I could. A power that directed the wielder to strike true against an attacking vampire.
"Leave this house! You are not welcome! Or I will…," I shrieked at Klein, tightening my grip around Amber's head, hoping that the woman who tried to control me would retreat. Would I really kill the vampiress within my grip? I was a killer now, after all. But I had only killed two mortal men – none of my own kind. Yet. Amber had come to capture me – and yet I was missing something. Her voice was familiar to me. And that look between her and Kaitlyn…
But it was a foolish hope that Klein would leave. She ignored me and Amber. Instead, twisting herself and striking with the speed of a snake, the matriarch dodged Kaitlyn's latest swipe, and seized my maid's knife arm with both hands even as the blade flashed past Klein's face. With a 'crunch' of the forearm, Kaitlyn screamed and dropped her weapon. But it bounced off the wall and landed close to me.
Instinctively, I pounced – letting go of Amber and pushing her away. I grabbed the bone dagger and threw it at Klein's chest…
She roared her fury. With an incredible burst of speed equal to mine, she shoved Kaitlyn aside and snatched up the wide-eyed Kenny next to her with both hands – swinging him into position as a makeshift shield.
The sharp point of the weapon embedded itself into the child's throat!
I fell upon my knees in shock. "No…!" I gasped, too stunned to say anything else.
Held firmly within the tight embrace of Isadora Klein, the scruffy Kenny twitched and croaked his last. Trails of dark blood ran down his throat from the edges of the mortal wound I had made, flowing down onto his open-at-the-neck shirt and then reaching his trousers, making the soot-dirty clothes even more ruined. He passed away whilst looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, as if pleading with me to explain why he was dying a second time – when he had probably been turned vampire not so long ago. His potential for eternal life snuffed out all too soon.
I glanced around. The other women with me, Kaitlyn and Amber, were motionless and staring at Klein - dumbfounded at what had just happened. Downstairs, I could hear Martha Hudson scream as she fought Baron Gruber and Ruby.
Moments later, Klein roared her fury – breaking the spell that held us still. Yanking out the bone dagger from Kenny's throat, she allowed the vampire boy to collapse upon the landing. He fell down like a sack of potatoes and did not move again.
An instant later, she had me pinned to the floor – one gloved hand gripped around my long dyed-strawberry blonde hair, yanking my head to one side. Whilst the other hand held the blade of the enchanted weapon to my neck. I whimpered – broken and defeated.
"Mistress… The boy Kenny… Y-y-you…" Amber tried to string her words coherently.
"Una triste pérdida… So sad… He was a good boy. He died to save his Mistress from this traitorous rebel!" Klein snapped. "Amber – seize that maid!"
"Of c-course, Madam Obsidian."
As I saw Amber grab hold of Kaitlyn, I glimpsed a patch of auburn hair underneath the coating of soot. Suddenly I realised why I recognised the red robe's voice. When I had last seen her, she had been one of the white robes running out of the courtyard door at the side of Cherry Tree Lodge, wailing for me to stay as John, Sherlock Holmes, and Irene Adler had borne me away to freedom in that carriage…
A white robe named Amy – who had been kind to me in that den of vipers. But a prostitute who had to obey the line of command that I had rebelled against.
And now she bore fangs, just like mine. No doubt Klein had sired her. Why? To gather herself more immortal foot soldiers?
But why did Amber and Kaitlyn look at each other in shock…?
Oh. Of course.
Amy. Short for Amelia. Which could also be shortened to Mia. Kaitlyn's missing cousin Mia…
I had to distract Klein from realising the connection between the other women. So I summoned up my courage and spoke to her.
"How…? How did you enter the house? Surely the lore around our kind… It would have stopped you from going down the chimney?" I croaked, not daring to move whilst that hateful dagger was poised above my throat, hungry to kill another vampire.
Klein gave a musical-like laugh as she smiled with her thin lips. "It was my idea, querida Mary. When we managed to track down where you were hiding, I scrutinised the building and I asked myself 'was it possible for a vampire to enter a house uninvited, through the chimney?'. I tried to test the barrier there myself, whilst I was in bat form – some days ago. I encountered some resistance – but I sensed that with my mental powers – my gifts of the blood – I would be able to breach the barrier."
"How…? Wh-when did you know where I was?"
"Oh - it was not easy. I only started to look for you – after a few years - once I had enough spies at my command, such as Amber here. Once one of my spies traced the places where Doctor Watson and Mrs Hudson were visiting with that private carriage of your friends, I recruited two of the chimney sweeper boys who worked on this street into my service. They helped me to focus upon the chimneys they had never been called upon to clean out. Your own servants must see to that task themselves…"
Yes, Beaver and Shiner did that – as one of their many various duties.
"So, my dear Mary…, having located this hideout a week ago, I waited until the right night to strike. When both of the vampires who you live with were absent. My strike force came down your chimney as bats, thanks to my mental will breaking through the invisible barrier. Gravity did the rest… And now, I require a reward for my efforts."
And with that, Klein shifted her weight and stared into my eyes, concentrating. I just had time to croak out in surprise – before my body turned rigid. Grinning, Klein then dropped her weapon in order to hold me in place, before she bared her drooling fangs and bit into my neck, drinking deeply, as she gulped down my vampire blood.
Damn her!
"Urrgghh!"
Klein suddenly winced and pulled back. Flecks of my dark blood splashed down upon my lovely red dress.
"Mistress!?" Amber spoke up, still holding Kaitlyn captive.
The matriarch vampiress clutched at her head, whilst I lay beneath her, feeling so weak. If only I could pick up the bone dagger and slam it into her black heart…
"It is nothing," Klein gingerly stood up. She turned as four figures came up the stairs. I was pained to see the bruises across a gagged Martha Hudson's forehead – but also relieved to see her alive, if somewhat groggy, as the red robe named Ruby frogmarched her to the landing. In front of them was the smirking Baron Gruner. But upon seeing Kenny's dead body, his expression darkened. So too did Ruby's.
The fourth person was Klein's black manservant, Steve Dixie, dressed in a dark suit. He was carrying a workman-style bag.
And yet Sherlock had been hunting him down in Sussex…
I wanted to question him as he grinned at me. But I was too weak to speak.
"What has happened, Isadora?" the Baron asked her.
"The Mistress… S-she…"
Klein gave Amber a glare, silencing the former Amy. "Kenny died in the battle, Adelbert. Now we must move!"
"Kenny…gone? Where is Benny? He will be distraught to see his twin dead…," Ruby spoke up, sounding distressed.
"Benny… Is dead also. I felt him die, about a minute ago."
So that was why Klein suffered that seizure. It was not my blood. She had been linked to the boys. Like the Baron and the red robes. Her childer, as we vampires term it – or so the Harkers had taught me.
And, thinking about it, Klein had never named the Harkers…
She did not know their true identities!
Without further ado, Gruner turned his attention to me. One of his large hands grabbed me by the throat and pulled me up into a sitting position. His single remaining good eye blazed hatred at me, as he purred his words in a smooth voice. At that moment, he was a like a cat playing with a caught mouse.
"Such a pity that you are one of us, Mary Watson. If you had still been a mere human, I would have…enjoyed you, as compensation for ruining my eye and face. I can no longer hunt for myself, without shapeshifting…"
I managed a smile as I reflected that he could no longer mingle in polite society, posing as a dashing mortal man. Not with his disfigurement from the splash of acid I had given him. From what Sherlock had learned of the Austrian, he had been a sexual monster for years. Naturally, becoming a vampire had made his vices towards young women worse.
But my reaction caused him to slap my face. Hard. I winced.
"Baron Gruner! I need her in one piece," Klein hissed at him.
"My apologies, Isadora. May I instead drink from h-?"
"No! You may not, Baron! I have already done so, to weaken her," Klein bristled at him. "Now we must perform the ritual before the Swales return. Remember the plan, Adelbert! You and Dixie are to remain here."
I saw Gruner's eyes shift towards my maid. He licked his lips. "I would like this mortal to keep me company."
I heard Amber make a sharp intake of breath. "Be-beginning your pardon, sir. But it will be… We will move faster with the younger hostage, rather than the older mortal," she suggested.
Klein stared at Amber for a moment. She nodded, and then addressed the Baron. "Your request is denied, Adelbert! I would not like you to risk killing your companion before you deal with Doctor Watson and Jade. Mrs Hudson will be a…less tempting…hostage for you and Dixie to handle."
The Baron hissed his disappointment. But he bowed his head. "Yes, Isadora."
Klein gave a sharp nod of satisfaction.
She turned to her mortal manservant. "Any problems, Mr Dixie?"
The suited thug smiled and shook his head. "All clear, out on the street, Mistress. Nobody noticed the bats entering that chimney, 'cept for me. An' the yard wall wasn't a problem to climb for someone as agile as me, once I've hammered a few spikes into the old mortar for steps."
"Good. I will see to it that you feed well from me on the next occasion, Steve. Now, the necrononicum?" Klein held out her hands.
Dixie opened up his bag, and pulled out a leather-bound tomb before giving it to her. So, Sherlock was right to suspect that Klein was responsible for Herr Schneider's death – directly or indirectly.
Klein then pulled out an amulet from underneath her black blouse, which was inlaid with a circular-cut piece of obsidian, as per her namesake. She glared at me and the other women – both her servants and the captives.
"Ruby and Amber – take Turquoise and her younger mortal with you outside. Reclaim my carriage for me - I saw it in the yard! I will rejoin you shortly. Steve – go with them!"
The mortal help and the two red robes bowed their heads, before Ruby seized hold of me and pulled me up. There was no compassion in the redhead's gaze towards me.
My neck had by now healed from Klein's bite. But I still felt weak. I managed to croak "Martha…", before I was herded downstairs along with Kaitlyn. As I glanced back, I saw Klein take off her amulet and pass it to Gruber, who then proceeded to rip up the landing carpet with his bare hands before drawing out a pentagram with a piece of chalk from one of his jacket pockets.
Dark magic… What were they aiming to do?
Oh, dear god! Please protect Martha…!
But Kaitlyn and I could do nothing. In the yard, Ruby and Amber frogmarched us towards the coach – with Amber forcing Kaitlyn before her, in front of me.
"Mia…," I just managed to hear Kaitlyn's whisper.
"Silence!" Amber growled back.
So, I was right about the connection between them...
I glanced at the broken first floor window, where Ravindra, Leonie and Benny had fallen from. There was no sign of any of them.
"We need two horses, sister…," Ruby instructed her fellow red robe.
Amber smiled. "I have worked with horses as a girl. I will see if I can charm them out of the stables."
Ruby nodded. "Good! First, let's use the rope here in this yard to tie up our prisoners…"
Minutes later, all was ready. The red robes and Dixie had used a piece of rope laying around to bound the wrists of both me and Kaitlyn. Then, Ruby and Dixie had forced us into the coach – whilst Amber cautiously led an agitated, but obviously beguiled horse into place to be harnessed to the carriage. Then, hurrying back to the stables whilst Ruby and Dixie watched over us, she returned with the second of Klein's lost horses. From my place in the carriage, I could hear the conversation between the red robes through the glass, thanks to my vampiric hearing.
"Good work, sister," Ruby complimented Amber. "And…Benny?"
Amber's eyes shot down. "I found him in the stables, sister. His skull… It is broken. One of the horses must have kicked him there."
Ruby hissed. "And the mortals he fought?"
"Both dead. Their bodies in the stables. Benny must've killed them both, before the horse panicked and got 'im," Amber muttered, turning her head to focus on the restless horses.
I bowed my head, saddened by the loss of the two servants. Then Klein emerged from the house.
"Mistress… Can I…taste the fallen young mortals? Before they turn cold." Ruby pleaded to her superior.
"No hay tiempo! I have sensed the Swales returning here. We leave NOW!" Klein snapped as she ran over to them from the house, the tomb of dark magic in one hand.
I heard the yard gate being unlocked by Dixie, even as I glanced across at Kaitlyn – both of us frightened ladies unable to free our hands. Seconds later, Isadora Klein climbed into the carriage and sat facing us with a contented smile, the bone dagger in her other hand, throbbing its subtle power, making me squirm. Next to her, Ruby took her seat, eyeing Kaitlyn's throat and slowly licking her lips, exposing the tips of her upper fangs.
Then either Dixie or Amber cracked the driver's whip. The horses started to pull the carriage out of the yard and into the street, where they broke out into a trot – taking us away from both the safehouse and the places where the fallen had died in the battle. And away also from poor Martha Hudson, who was still trapped in the breached house with the terrible Baron Gruner…
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
From Dr Watson's diary:
Date of writing, Tuesday 11 November 1894.
I had my coat, hat, and cane at the ready, about to set off from 221B to the safehouse when the psychic message from Mary struck me, making me gasp and collapse into the nearest chair in the sitting room. The message, brief has it had been, was clear in my mind – Klein and Gruner had found Mary, Martha and Kaitlyn.
For a few minutes I lay there, recovering my mortal strength. Then I managed to get up, prepare my revolver, grab my medical bag, and then head downstairs, wondering what to do other than to hurry to the safehouse as quickly as I could. In my weakened state, I could not hope to fend off the enemy vampires once the holy water-filled bullets in my revolver ran out.
However, luck was with me. The front door was being banged as I carefully approached it. Calling out to the other side, I was relieved to hear that it was none other than Jonathan Harker.
"Thank god! Jonathan… Mary's being attacked…," I rasped.
"I know! Mina sensed it whilst hunting," he replied briskly. "She mentally sent a message to me, whilst I have been trying to gather the rest of our blood-family. The carriage is outside! Are you ready for a fight, John?"
I nodded grimly. "They are going to regret hurting the ladies that I cherish. And the woman who I dearly love!"
Jonathan clapped me on the shoulder. And so, closing the door to behind me, we hurried over to the carriage where Beaver was ready to drive off.
Despite Beaver pushing the horses hard when he could do so, by the time we arrived at the safehouse, more than half an hour had elapsed – and I saw that the property's yard doors were open before we wheeled into the yard.
As soon as we halted, I was opening the carriage door in my agitation and despair. Mina was there to greet both myself and her husband. We stood in the light from Beaver's lantern.
"Mina… Thank goodness you are here! Is Mary safe? Are the other ladies safe?" I breathed.
She inclined her head to us, not smiling. "The situation is…complicated. Your wife is not here, Doctor Watson. I can sense just one vampire in the house – and it is not her. I have tried to cast my psychic abilities beyond the walls, but there is a barrier keeping my mind out. The same barrier prevents me from entering our home!"
Jonathan's expression was grave. "That vampire must be powerful, to be able to conjure a means to keep us out of our own property!" Fuming, he strode over to the rear door to the house – the one that led to the scullery. There, it was as though he had walled into an invisible wall. Hissing, Jonathan Harker pushed against the barrier, but without any success. He looked over to Mina, who spoke again.
"The same for me – here, and at every other possible entry point, darling. Even the broken window at the end of the landing."
Jonathan stepped back and carefully appraised the outline of the house against the evening sky.
"What about the chimney…?"
"That's how they must have got in, Jonathan! I've tried to do the same, after flying up there. But I feel the barrier repelling me there as well."
Suddenly, another woman was running pass the opened gates to the yard, to join us. Dressed as a man, in her tweed jacket, plus-fours, and a flat cap, the newcomer was greeted by Jonathan and Mina. I took in the paleness of her face, similar to that of the Harkers – as well as the redness of her lips, which was somewhat at odds with her manly disguise.
She was another vampire, then. A sister-in-blood to the Harkers.
"Thank you for coming here, Elizabeta ," Jonathan began. "The situation is…"
The newcomer held up her hand and nodded to me. "He is trusted?" she asked in an accent that sounded that it came from somewhere deep in the continent.
"He is. This is Doctor Watson," Jonathan clarified. "He is the husband of the latest addition to our lodge."
The lady took off her cap, revealing her deep red hair, bound in a tight bun. She smiled, exposing the sharp tips of her canine teeth, and she gave me a little bow. "I am Elizabeta – one of Mina's and Jonathan's sisters."
"Pleased to meet you," I managed to reply to the attractive vampiress.
Mina turned to face me. "Doctor Watson – please follow me, and quickly!"
Puzzled, I followed Mina Harker as she hurried into the stables. Jonathan kept pace with me, commenting that the carriage we had stolen from Isadora Klein was missing as we slipped undercover. Elizabeta followed close behind.
Mina nodded. "That's how they left." She did not speak again until all three of us reached the door to the furthermost stable, where – behind a snorting horse – Irena Adler was nursing a wounded Leonie, by the light of a lit lantern, surrounded by a mass of hay. She looked as though he had come off badly from a fight. Then I saw the two other youths sprawled on the stable floor.
Ravindra's head was at a twisted angle, compared to the rest of his body – and it was apparent that his neck was broken. I knelt next to him and checked for a pulse. Finding nothing, as expected, I closed his eyes.
The other fatality present was a mere boy, a chimney sweep ragamuffin – his eyes staring into nothing. His mouth open with shock, exposing his small vampire fangs. Dried blood matted the deep injury to his head – and with a start, I recalled one of Holmes's cases.
It clear to me that the horse present had kicked this vampire urchin as it had panicked. The imprint was the correct shape for a horse shoe.
"My word, Leonie!" I spluttered. Edging my way past the horse, I slipped over to tend to the injured young lady, who was bleeding from a gash at the side of her neck – the offending knife now on the stable floor, close by. The handkerchief that Irene was pressing against the wound was slowly turning crimson all over.
I put down my medical bag, and got to work, doing all I could to stem the bleeding. Leonie insisted on talking, despite my attempts to calm her down.
"Need to tell ya all…!" she gasped. I broke my leg 'pon landing in the yard after falling out of the house."
"Fall?" I questioned. "The glass in the yard…?"
Irene looked up at me. "Th-there was a fight in the house, Leonie told me," she stuttered. "On the landing. The boy vampire here launched himself at Leonie and Ravindra. They all smashed through the window and landed in the yard."
"Ravindra grabbed me… Helped me in here. Tha' little vamp came after us. He snapped Ravindra's neck, then bit me! But Moonlight here, kicked the boy vamp in the 'ead." Leonie struggled to breathe properly, even as she stared forlornly at the Indian boy. "Poor Ravie…"
Elizabeta moved in closer and held the dark-skinned young lady, her expressive grave. "Leonie! Do not die on us! You are my favourite of our servants…!"
"Sorry, Miss E! Got to finish my story…before I'm finished meself!" the dark girl panted. "One o' the red robes came for the carriage and a pair o'horses… Thought I was a goner when she found me. But 'stead o' finishing me off – she held back from the horse…, and tossed some hay onto me – said it would make it difficult for the Mistress to smell me. Then she said sumthin' 'bout a temple - before taking the 'orses and carriage..," Leonie told us.
I glanced at the Harkers in my amazement, even as I kept the pressure on the young lady's wound.
"Did she give a name?" Mina asked.
Leonie weakly shook her head. "Pretty lady, though. Short auburn hair. Mole on her left cheek."
"There was a white robe at Cherry Tree House who looked like that. Her name was… Let's see… Amy," Irene declared. "So…she's a red robe now. She must be luring us into a trap..." She trailed off as Leonie began to cough up blood.
"No!" Mina yelled. "Leonie!"
"She is dying!" Elizabeta hissed. "Leonie… We can save you… If you permit it!"
"You are turning her into a Follower?" I panted, trying desperately to keep the dark-skinned girl alive for as long as I could.
Mina cast her eyes down. "She is fading away too quickly for that…"
Leonie's wide eyes gleamed with a look of understanding. She managed a nod, and her hand grasped Elizabeta's. "Want…to live…"
The red-haired vampire regarded Mina and Jonathan. They both nodded, too.
Sighing, Elizabeta opened her mouth wide – and I saw her four canine teeth extend to their full length. Knowing what she was about to do, I passed Leonie into her open arms. Then Elizabeta bit down into the girl's neck, away from her wound. For about a minute, the Harker's blood-sister gulped down Leonie's blood. Then she extended one of her fingernails into a claw and carefully slit her opposing wrist with it, before pressing her own fresh wound to the mouth of the girl servant.
Just as Mary had with me.
"Drink slowly. But take all that I am offering, fată," Elizabeta whispered to her, as Irene held Leonie in place before the watchful gazes of myself and the Harkers.
Leonie nodded, and licked at the dark blood now staining her lips, trying to drink what she could with her fading strength.
After another minute or so, Leonie's eyes rolled. A familiar, ghastly noise was emitted from her throat, and she then turned limp in the arms of Irene and Elizabeta.
Silence fell between us for a long moment. Finally, I dared to break it.
"Is she…dead now?"
Elizabeta looked up at me, even as she checked upon her now-healing wrist. "Leonie is indeed dead, Doctor Watson. But hopefully, she has now entered her death-sleep. We will wait three nights – the usual period. Then we will discover if Leonie will rise again as one of us. Vampir. As my new blood-daughter."
Three nights, I reflected. Just like Jesus Christ dying on what we marked the anniversary of as Good Friday – only to be resurrected on the following Monday…
We were interrupted by Beaver entering the stables. He paused a few feet away, gasping as he saw the ghastly scene and our sombre faces.
"What 'appened?" he gasped.
Jonathan went over to him, to explain the situation. "I'm afraid Ravindra's dead. But Leonie might live again…"
When I was able to leave the stables. I walked back into the yard and leaned against a barrel, to recover my composure as I used my handkerchief to wipe away the sweat on my forehead. I glanced at Leonie's bloodstains now upon my grey coat. Mary would be distraught to see me like this – but now she was missing again. Taken by a wretched, evil, undead woman who I wanted to see aging to death as her immortality fled her body…
"What happens now?" I asked the Harkers, croaking. "You were calling upon the…rest of your family."
Jonathan nodded. "The two who are in the city, yes. Elizabeta is here. Whilst her hunting partner will soon join us, Doctor Watson. But I suspect that neither of them will not be able to enter our house, either."
"I sent Irene into the stables when we heard Leonie call out," Mina mused. "She has not tested the barriers to the house herself."
"Let me do that," I muttered. Putting my medical bag down, and pulling out my loaded army service revolver, I hurried over to the scullery entrance. I felt no barrier repelling me – and I told the others so. The only issue was that the door was firmly locked. Irene then jogged over to test the door for herself – with the same results as I.
"So…," she fumed. "It's some magic designed to keep our vampire friends out of their own property – but not their human associates. We need to be careful, Doctor Watson!" Irene warned me.
"Another trap waiting for us?" I mused aloud. "Well, I can kick down th-"
"Wait! Let's try my means first, doctor." She quickly fished out a set of skeleton keys from inside her dress. After a few false starts, Irene then managed to unlock the door and slowly open it wide. We both slipped inside. The house was unlit.
The Harkers were still unable to enter the house – despite Irene's attempts to invite them inside. Evidently, some other force was continuing to keep our vampire allies outside. But why…?
"Do not turn on the lights. Move slowly and quietly, Doctor Watson," Irene whispered to me. "We know where in the house the occasional creaky floorboard can be found – but do they?"
"Good thinking, Irene," I muttered. "But this darkness… Vampire eyesight in the dark is better than a mortal's, is that not so? And I need something to see by, to avoid bumping into the walls!"
"Your matches, then," Irene conceded.
So, passing my revolver to her, I lit a match – being careful to shield it with my free hand, whilst Irene slowly opened each door we approached. Naturally, I had to strike several matches for us to see by, by the time we reached the hallway. So far we had not seen – or heard - any sign of activity.
In the silence I fancied that I could hear Irene's pounding heartbeat. I started to salivate, wondering what her blood would taste like. Warm of course – but she was a Follower, who fed on vampire blood once a week. And so, her blood would not be as fresh as an ordinary mortal's…
I froze, reeling for a moment. I carefully rubbed my tongue along my upper canine teeth. They seems to be a tad longer, and sharper.
I shuddered. In fear, and with some anticipation. It was beginning. After the second bite, I was now transforming into a vampire myself. But I was supposed to die this night. To receive the Third Bite – the kiss of death – from my Mary. And complete my Baptism of Blood. But if we could not find and rescue Mary, then my transition would be incomplete…
"Where are they…?" Irena grumbled.
Forcing myself not to think about biting my companion, I held up my hand for silence. Perhaps it was due to my past army experience, and from my brushes with danger with Holmes at my side. Perhaps it was because I was beginning to turn. But my senses now seemed sharper in the dark. I could hear faint noises underneath us – a muffled cry, slow footsteps…
"The cellar!" I hissed. I turned and hurried to the door set underneath the stairs. Opening it, I could see a faint light, probably coming from a lamp, judging by its wavering quality.
The hallway gas light was suddenly turned on, startling both Irene and myself. Next to the switch, in the doorway of the dining room, stood Baron Adelbert Gruner, dressed in a soot-stained suit. He smiled at us with his thin lips. Once again, his expression reminded me of a shark, seizing up its prey. A one-eyed shark in his case. The stain from the acid splash permanently marked around his white, blinded eye.
"Mortal company, as we had hoped for!" he declared smoothly. "Welcome, Doctor Watson. And you must be 'Jade' – or whatever your true name is…"
"I am Irene Adler," she proudly declared.
A look of surprise passed over the Baron's face.
"Adler… Not Norton. And you are no longer in the United States. Interesting… I look forward to questioning you later, after I have…dined…from you. But first, I must deal with Doctor Watson."
Dropping my now-spent match, I took hold of the pistol that Irene had just passed back to me, before aiming it at the baron.
A cry suddenly rose from the cellar. "Doctor Watson!" the familiar voice called out. It was then abruptly ended by what sounded like a loud slap.
"Mrs Hudson...!" I rasped. "Irene… Go and rescue her. Now!"
Irene drew in a sharp breath. "What about you?"
"I've got my pistol here. I'll watch over the baron. Go!"
And so, she ran downstairs – accompanied by Gruner calling out a warning.
"Watch out, Dixie!"
"Enough!" I roared. "Do not think I will not hesitate to shoot the likes of you, Gruner! Where is my wife? Where's Kaitlyn?"
"Klein has taken them away from here," Gruner held up his hands, smirking. "And now that I have answered your question, answer me this – why are the Swales so keen to interfere in Madam Obsidian's affairs? There must be more to it than just returning your delightful wife to you."
"They are honourable vampires, who wish to defend this city from their more ruthless kin! Klein's attempts to corrupt the government will not be tol-… Urrgghh!"
Baron Gruner's eyes seemed to pierce into my mind. I was suddenly rigid, the contents of my brain being probed. Violated. I began to shake, unable to aim my pistol at him.
"Isadora had spent much of her mental energy breaking the barrier that holds us vampires out from a property we've not been invited into," Gruner commented quite calmly as he probed my mind. "Then she and I had to conduct a ritual that allowed us to take possession of this house, making it ours. That way we could thin out the herd of Mary's friends – keeping all but you and Miss Adler outside. But over time I have learnt to tap into and increase my own mental abilities, thanks to my blessed state. Now, I will find out the truth behind your undead friends… What!? The missing Harkers? They're of…Count Dracula's bloodline!?"
At this instant, I heard yells as Irene Adler and Steve Dixie clashed in the cellar below me.
Distracted by the noise, and momentarily stunned by the information he had gleamed from my mind, Gruner's mental control over me faltered a little – but just enough for me to raise my revolver and fire at him.
He tried to rush at me and close the four-five feet distance between us, but he was not quick enough to prevent me from firing a couple of shots. Unfortunately, my shaking arm was so poor, my first bullet struck his upper chest on his left side, rather than his heart. The baron cried out in agony as the essence of garlic within the projectile was ejected from the holes in the casing. Even so, his raised hand wrapped itself around my gun before my eyes could track him – and so the aim of my second bullet was wildly off course. By sheer chance, it shattered the overhead gas lamp, plunging us into darkness.
Then my pistol was sent flying in the confusion. I heard it striking the door leading to the kitchen and scullery behind me, back in the direction where Irene and I had entered the safehouse.
"Doctor Watson!?" I heard Mrs Hudson scream out for me. There were pounding footsteps on the cellar stairs, coming up.
A whiff of gas assaulted my nostrils, as I staggered back into a wall. The baron was now on his knees, gritting his teeth against the agony of my bullet wound upon him.
"Stay downstairs, ladies! Both of you!" I yelled back. Panicking, I tried to search the floor of the now-dark hallway using my feet as hands, trying to find my service revolver.
By the time, I managed to find it, and bend down to pick it up, my right hand – holding the weapon – was again seized by Gruner.
"Isadora would not let me…play…with your wife, Doctor Watson. She deserves what's coming to her, for ruining my face and eye! But she has given me permission to kill you, instead! And I will do so, with great pleasure."
"Damn you! What do you villains want with Mary?" I yelled back, trying to throw Gruner off me, as we danced a bizarre dance of death in our physical struggle. The moment ended with me being lifted into the air, as Gruner's other hand seized me by the throat, causing me to drop my revolver. Then, as he stepped forward into the kitchen, he grinned and threw me across the room, causing me to crash into a pipe that was connected to the cooker. The force of the blow actually broke the pipe…
I wheezed, fighting for my breath. Gruner had badly crushed my throat. I began to lose focus, unable to get air into my lungs…
An idea, born of desperation, quickly formed in my mind, even as I ever so slowly began to die.
I crawled over to the open door to the scullery, face down. Reaching it, I forced myself to pull myself upright, using the door handle for support, to prevent me from toppling down the short flight of wooden steps before me that descended into the scullery. Still facing away from the baron as he grunted from another spasm of pain from his bullet wound, I fished inside my jacket. With my fading strength, I got my hands to work, gasping for breath.
"I can hear your heart faltering, Doctor Watson! You are dying from your injuries. And your fear will make your blood taste more delic-… No! Put that match down!"
I gave him a pained smile – then I pulled back my right arm and throw the lit match at him, as if it was a paper plane.
Or rather I was throwing it into the path of the hissing, dangerous coal gas that was escaping from the broken pipe leading to the oven.
In the split second before I forced my arm to slam the door shut, I saw Gruner's mouth widen in horror. And then the flashpoint ignited. The force of the explosion blasted the rickety door off its very hinges, slamming me down the scullery steps as if I was a cricket ball struck by a bat. The door gave me some protection, as the kitchen was engulfed by a ball of flames. The oxygen was sucked out from the air next to me, used up as fuel for the fireball. The heat and pain I endured, as I lay pinned to the floor, was terrible.
Even above the roar of the explosion, I managed to catch Baron Gruner's piercing scream of agony. Then the house began to fall down around me.
Within mere moments, I knew nothing more…