Red Fangs and Brown Feathers

by JessOfAwesome

Sequel to Bleeding Wings. Anastasis must now stick with Dracula as they learn more about what she is. Meanwhile, Mary and Simon are confronted by a holy order known as the Guards of God's Throne, who are looking for Dracula. Once the Guards discover Mary herself is a vampire, Simon and her must get help from Anastasis while all trying to get along to save each other.

9. Blood Stained

Lawrence's POV

The Heller house was empty. I had known Abraham died, but to see the still tapped up room, cleaned and provided no evidence of the crime. It was odd that the tap was still in place... I looked cheap, though. It's more like the fake tap you buy at Halloween. Had Mary in a state of denial tapped the room off herself? Had she been so haunted by finding him dead, she still could see the blood stains?

Only Father Uffizi and I entered the house once it was identified as empty. The others patrolled the house. I removed the tap and entered the room. The priest carefully examined the still shattered mirror. Blue light revealed the message in blood. "Follow me, for I am the way to eternity. It is in Aramaic," Uffizi informed me.

"Dracula speaks Aramaic?" I inquired over my shoulder, examining the room where the bed should have been. I immediately felt a pit in my stomach when the Father turned the black light into the room. The blue blood marks under my feet on the floor seemed too much. Too much for one man. "For blood suckers, they wasted a lot... especially for revenge killing."

Father Uffizi said a quick prayer, "Amen... we do not question the acts of demons. Animals act without thought, kill without reason other than nature. What we can hope to understand is why he knows Aramaic."

I did not know much about the vampire. Just my connection shacking me to the beast. I did know about Abraham Van Helsing. I thought he could have been my father, and Mary, my sister, most of my life. A cruel joke I played on myself to deny the truth. "Why did he feel the need to write in that language?"

Father Uffizi looked at me perplexed, "What do you mean?"

"Dracula likely knows hundreds of languages, ancient and modern. If it was a message for Mary or a threat to Abraham, why Hebrew Aramaic? A language not used much anymore anywhere. Why not English?"

"You imply it was not meant for them?"

I remained silient for some time. "Perhaps... perhaps there is more to it? A read between the lines, hidden message we can't see yet."

Father Uffizi nodded as he exited the room. "We must find Mary. For her safety, or destruction for the worlds. Let's hope Dracula and this 'Devils Wife' doesn't find her first."

"Annastasis?" I couldn't stop myself from saying. I knew I needed to explain quickly. "She used to work with me. She's no demon... but she's not an angel either."

Father Uffizi stopped and walked back to me, "Tell me what you know? Why does she now work against God?"

"It was an accident, really. And, it was my fault."