Chapter III: Great Stairway
Serenity, Nathan, Hugh, Simon, and Richter made their way cautiously around the castle. They ran past Jonathan and Charlotte unseen once before coming to a series of large staircases towards the center part of the castle. Along the way they thought they discovered one of the paintings mentioned by the man while he conversed with Jonathan and Charlotte. It was a painting of a vast desert with a large pyramid in the background. None of them could get the painting to do anything, however, and decided it was best to just leave it be.
As they traversed the staircases they heard Jonathan shouting in anger in the distance. As they drew closer they heard him yelling, "There's no point in playing dumb! We already know the current master of this castle is a vampire by the name of Brauner!"
A deep, menacing laughter followed this causing Nathan and Serenity's blood to run cold, "Vampire Brauner…Even with my power, I didn't sense that. It seems I have been dormant for far too long."
Serenity shot her brother a look of concern to which he only shook his head and put a finger to his mouth as Jonathan replied smugly, "Don't tell me you didn't know. Well, it doesn't matter. You're connected to Dracula." Here he paused briefly before shouting, "That makes you my enemy!"
"Ha!" the voice laughed harshly, "You're no match for me! Your father was much stronger than you. And now he's dead!"
Serenity could feel her body moving on its own before Richter grabbed hold of her and put his hand over her mouth. She fought against him for a moment before Hugh came in front of them both and motioned for her to be still.
"Don't compare me to my father!" Jonathan shouted in pure rage.
"Calm down, Jonathan!" Charlotte shouted in anger, "You can't beat him without a strategy!"
"Oh," the voice remarked, "and to think he needs a little child to admonish him!"
Before either could make a reply the voice drifted away in a fit of laughter. For split second they all thought the owner of the voice was coming their way, but it went off in the opposite direction. Richter carefully let go of Serenity and she dropped to the ground with a light thud.
"There's no mistaking it," Nathan said absently.
"Do you know who that was?" Simon questioned looking at Serenity in confusion.
Her body trembled slightly as she shook her head, "I…I don't know what that was." She paused to look up at Simon. He had never seen her in such a state before, "It felt like I had no control over my body until Richter grabbed on to me."
"Death," Nathan said simply.
"What?" Hugh started in surprise, "Are you sure?"
Simon and Richter shared a look with each other before Nathan continued with a nod, "I didn't see him, but I remember that energy from the last time we fought against Dracula. He didn't talk to me when I fought him…but his power…it's the same."
"What was wrong with Serenity then?" Hugh asked helping her to her feet.
"Wait," Nathan said suddenly turning his attention to the left, "Jonathan and Charlotte are coming. Quickly."
Without another word Hugh scooped Serenity up in his arms and the hunters took off to the north. Thankfully they passed them by without seeing any of them, but it had been close. Too close for their comfort. While Serenity remained in Hugh's arms her hand went to her head. It was pounding horribly and she was finding that as the seconds ticked by she was steadily growing hungry.
"What's wrong?" Hugh whispered to her as they waited silently to make sure Jonathan and Charlotte had gone.
"It…it's nothing," she said shaking her head.
"Don't give me that," Hugh said, "I can tell something is bothering you."
Taking a glance at Simon and at Richter carefully she whispered back, "Later."
Frowning Hugh let her go when she shifted herself to be let down. He eyed Nathan, but he was looking off in the direction Death had flown.
"Nathan," Simon began, "Are you certain that was Death? Absolutely certain?'
Nathan nodded at once, "Yes, I am sure. I've never felt that energy from any other being."
"That can only mean Dracula isn't far behind," Richter said as he too looked off in the direction he had flown.
"We have to go," Serenity said renewing herself, "We need to take care of Death as soon as possible. There's no way Jonathan and Charlotte stand a chance against him.
In agreement the hunters ran off in search of Death.