by R. L. Ullman
But there were a few things I left out.
With everyone standing here, I couldn’t find the courage to tell him about my ‘dream’ that wasn’t really a dream at all. And I sort of left out the part about me being the one who opened the vault door. I couldn’t even imagine my team’s reaction if I dropped that stink bomb.
I mean, what would they think of me then?
Honestly, I’m not even sure what I think of me right now. Between this blunder and nearly drinking Rage’s blood, I feel like I’m totally losing control of myself.
And I’m scared.
I rub my eyes with my palms.
I don’t know what to do next.
“We are all in grave danger,” Van Helsing says suddenly, snapping me back to attention.
“Here we go,” InvisiBill says.
“The Artifacts of Virtue only work as a unit,” Van Helsing continues. “Removing one negates the power of all. They were passed down to me from my grandfather, Abraham Van Helsing, who stumbled across their legend in ancient texts while researching methods to defeat Count Dracula. My grandfather had to overcome great personal danger to recover each individual artifact, which had been scattered across the globe.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say.
“It is not your fault,” Van Helsing says. “Clearly, Count Dracula learned the Supernatural objects were here, protecting the academy from his influence, and he executed a plan to remove this barrier.”
But Van Helsing doesn’t understand. It was my fault. And according to what he just said, that voice on the other side of the door must have been Count Dracula after all!
I feel like I’m gonna puke.
“Wait,” Rage says. “Are you saying that Count Dracula could now come on campus?”
“Yes,” Van Helsing says. “He is free to walk the grounds, but there is one limit to his reach. As long as you remain indoors, you may be safe, for a vampire must be invited inside a building to gain entry. But that rule does not apply to his minions.”
Well, there’s something else I just learned. I didn’t realize a vampire needed an invitation just to enter a building. But I guess that doesn’t apply to me because I’m half-human. I have no problem going in and out of places.
“But here’s something I don’t get,” Aura says. “How did that tiger-dude get in the basement anyway? If the Artifacts of Virtue were doing their job, then I thought evil couldn’t step foot on school grounds?”
“An excellent question,” Van Helsing says. “But I believe there is only one possible explanation. The perpetrator was likely not evil at heart. Only truly dark souls cannot breach the Artifacts’ protective barrier. Those who are not evil, but merely misguided, are not impeded.”
So, I was right. Tiger-boy isn’t evil.
“Wait,” Hairball says. “I don’t understand. If the tiger-kid isn’t a bad guy, then why did he steal the bell?”
“Count Dracula is a master of manipulation,” Van Helsing says. “Who knows what he promised the child in exchange for the Bell of Virtue? But whatever it was, clearly it was motivation enough. We may never know the answer.”
“Well, I know how to get some answers,” Aura says. “Let’s go wake up Cat-girl. I bet she knows what’s going on. Come to think of it, I bet she’s the one who opened the vault door in the first place.”
“Yeah!” Stanphibian says unexpectedly.
“No,” Van Helsing says. “We will not subject that poor child to additional trauma. She is still recovering from her time in Dr. Moreau’s clutches. When she comes to, we will gain more answers if she has them. But until then, we will continue to operate under our mission as a sanctuary for monster children. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” Aura mutters, reluctantly.
As Van Helsing looks us in the eyes, I feel relief. I mean, I wouldn’t want that girl to be blamed for something I did. And if Van Helsing hadn’t stepped in, I’d be forced to tell everyone that I was the one who opened the door. I know I’ll tell them eventually, but first I need to figure some things out.
Like, what’s wrong with me?
“Monstrosities,” Van Helsing says, “I would like to thank you all for bringing this situation to my attention. We will discuss your punishments when I return.”
“Punishments?” InvisiBill says. “But we told you everything.”
“As I expect you would,” Van Helsing says, tightening his scarf. “But we cannot forget your actions violated our rules. Therefore, we will discuss the consequences at another time. At the moment, we have a bell to recover.”
“We’ll come too,” Aura says, clenching her fists.
“No,” Van Helsing says. “All of you will be going back to Monster House to await instructions from Professor Hexum. I will be leading a small team in pursuit of the tiger boy. Based on Bram’s account of his agility, he is likely far away by now. But we should be able to pick up his trail and track him to his destination.”
“Um, didn’t you say it’s not safe here anymore?” Hairball asks.
“That is true,” Van Helsing says. “But it is much safer if you are all together under the watchful eye of our faculty. Crawler, can you please collect Professor Morris and get ready for our journey? And please ask Professor Hexum to wait outside my office.”
“Yes, Headmaster,” Crawler says, heading out, but not before shooting me a disappointed look.
“As for the rest of you,” Van Helsing says. “I will notify Professor Holmwood, Professor Seward, Mrs. Clops, and Dr. Renfield to collect you and your fellow students at Monster House. I expect all of you to follow their instructions without exception. You are all dismissed. Except for Bram.”
As I watch the others file out with their heads hanging low, I shift nervously in my chair. This is not going to be good. I mean, I crossed the line the most by actually going into the forbidden basement. Van Helsing has to be royally upset with me.
It’s only after the door to his office finally shuts that he looks at me and says—
“Your life is at risk.”
“W-What?” I say, swallowing hard. Of all the things I thought he’d say, it certainly wasn’t that.
“Your life is at risk,” he repeats. “With the removal of the Bell of Virtue, the academy is no longer a safe haven for you. Now, there is nothing stopping Count Dracula and his minions from coming onto our campus and attacking you.”
My stomach drops.
“So,” I say, “are you’re telling me Count Dracula had the bell stolen just to… kill me?”
“Possibly,” Van Helsing says. “After all, you are the only thing standing between him and immortality. Remember, only a vampire can truly kill another vampire. A fatal blow from one vampire to another will not only destroy his mortal body, but his spirt as well, and that is the only way he will forever cease to exist. And as far as I am aware, you are the only two vampires left in existence.”
“B-But,” I stammer, “won’t he make more vampires? Isn’t that what vampires do?”
“Dracula is many things,” Van Helsing says, “but he is no fool. Since his reemergence, I have monitored the globe for reports of new vampires. But to my surprise, there has been nothing. That tells me he has finally learned his lesson.”
“Lesson?” I say. “What lesson?”
“That creating more vampires merely creates more enemies who could destroy him,” Van Helsing says. “Dracula is still weak, and he will not compromise his existence. I believe he is living off of animal blood for the time being, but that does not make you any safer.”
“Well,” I say, feeling more panicked by the second, “if I’m not safe here, where should I go?”
“Nowhere,” Van Helsing says, rising from his chair and picking up his Crossbow of Purity.
“Um, really?” I say. “But you just said I’m not safe here?”
“You are not safe anywhere,” he says. “But you also cannot afford to waste time travelling from town to town like a nomad. Here you can continue your trainin
g immediately under the supervision of Professor Hexum and Dr. Renfield. They will be by your side at all times, helping you to become both physically and mentally stronger for a possible encounter with Count Dracula.”
“O-Okay,” I mutter.
I can’t believe this.
“Now I must go,” Van Helsing says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “To protect us all, we must find the Bell of Virtue as quickly as possible. Do you understand everything I have told you?”
“Y-Yes,” I stammer.
“Very well,” he says. “Professor Hexum will be waiting outside my door for you. You must focus day and night on becoming the most powerful vampire you can be. Good luck, Bram.”
“Y-Yeah,” I manage to say. “You too.”
But as he exits, my mind is focused on only one thing.
Count Dracula.
THAT’S JUST FANGTASTIC
“He will destroy you!”
I hear Hexum’s voice in the distance, but I don’t want to listen. I’m in full bat-form, gliding through the air without the greatest of ease. He’s been putting me through death-defying drills for hours, and quite frankly I’m exhausted. But he promised me that this is the last one, so I’m gonna go with that.
I turn the corner and swoop down over the target, a yellow number 2 pencil. All I have to do is pick it up with my little bat feet and fly back to Hexum before the timer runs out.
It sounds easy.
Unless, of course, someone’s firing arrows at you.
THWIP!
I flap hard, lifting myself up just as the arrow zips by, it’s feathers brushing my derriere. Whew! That was way too close for comfort. I can’t believe Van Helsing left me in the care of this psycho.
This time, Hexum is training me to sharpen my radar—and I can tell you it’s working on overdrive! I send my signals out again.
THWIP! THWIP!
Two more arrows! Heading straight for my wings!
I rotate sideways and suck in my gut as the arrows whizz past on each side. Thank goodness I had a light lunch. But this guy is nuts!
His training is literally going to kill me!
I set myself over the pencil and drop down, wrapping my feet around its hexagonal barrel. Then, I pull up into the air.
Time to end my torture once and for all.
I spot Hexum at the far end of the gymnasium. He’s leaning on his walking stick and looking at his watch. I had one minute to get the job done and based on all of the time I used dodging killer arrows, I’m pretty sure I’m right on the bubble. But now I should be in the clear.
I’m going to make it.
I pulse out my radar one last time but nothing pings back, except for a strange reading from the pencil I’m carrying. It seems… bigger? And when I look down, I’m no longer holding a yellow pencil, but a dark green snake with yellow bands running down its body!
It's a King Cobra!
SSSSSSSSSS!
AAAAHHH!
I open my toes and the snake plummets. But right before it hits the floor it turns back into a pencil and rattles against the gym floor.
“Time!” Hexum barks, as I fly over his head.
What happened? I land on the ground and focus on becoming a kid again, transforming back to my normal self. Then, I look at Hexum’s smug face and I realize he’s tricked me again. That pencil was never a snake. And those arrows weren’t real either. Hexum put all of those things in my mind.
“You failed, Mr. Murray,” Hexum says. “When will you learn that your mind is your weakest instrument. If you are easily tricked, you will be easily defeated.”
“What can I say? You got me,” I admit.
“I did,” Hexum says. “But luckily for you, I am only your teacher. Count Dracula is your enemy. His powers of deception are legendary, and he will show you no mercy. If you are going to defeat him, you will need to harden your mind to see beyond the obvious. Shall we try again?”
“No!” I say, with more passion than I intended. “I mean, sorry, but I’m just… tired. And you promised that was the last one. Can’t we take a break? Please?”
Hexum stares at me for a few seconds, drumming his fingers on the silver cap of his walking stick.
“Very well,” he says. “It appears to be Dr. Renfield’s shift anyway. I guess time does fly when you’re having fun. Good evening, Mr. Murray. And good luck.”
Good luck? What’s that supposed to mean.
But I guess I won’t have to wait long to find out, because as soon as Hexum leaves, Dr. Renfield enters the gymnasium. He smiles when he sees me and I instantly get a case of the heebie-jeebies.
I don’t know why this guy creeps me out so much. Maybe it’s because he put me in a trance and embarrassed me in front of the whole class. Or maybe it’s because he seemed so excited to study me like I was some kind of a lab animal. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something strange about him.
“You must be tired, Mr. Murray,” he says, walking towards me. “But don’t worry, we won’t be doing anything physical this evening. That is Professor Hexum’s area of expertise. Headmaster Van Helsing has tasked me with helping you to better understand yourself.”
“Can’t I just hang out with my friends?” I ask. “I haven’t seen them in a while and I just want to relax.”
“Unfortunately, no,” he says. “It is a dangerous time, Mr. Murray. And right now, relaxation is a luxury you cannot afford.”
“So, you think Dracula is coming for me also, don’t you?” I ask, my voice rising. “Hexum is convinced he is.”
“Shall we sit?” Dr. Renfield suggests.
Why not? I guess I’m gonna be here a while, so I nod and plop myself down on the gym floor. Dr. Renfield follows, positioning himself directly across from me.
“Now, to answer your question,” he says. “Yes, I do believe it is likely. But I also know there are other things here at the Van Helsing Academy that are of great interest to him. However, if you are his true target, then you must be prepared to defend yourself. Now, shall we begin?”
“Hang on,” I say. “Are you saying I might not be his target? That there are other things here that interest him more? Like, what kinds of things?”
“Oh, I don’t think that is very important right now,” Dr. Renfield says dismissively. “We should use our time more wisely.”
“No,” I insist. “I think I have a right to know.”
Dr. Renfield looks hesitant to tell me, but right now I’ll take any reason for why Dracula wants to invade the school as long as it isn’t me.
“Very well,” Dr. Renfield says. “But after this, we will have to begin.”
“Okay,” I say. “Sounds fair.”
“How should I start?” he asks. “Well, you are aware that Headmaster Van Helsing is a collector of Supernatural lore. After all, you have seen his Crossbow of Purity and, of course, the Bell of Virtue. But it is rumored that Van Helsing also possesses many other Supernatural artifacts—one of which is of particular interest to Count Dracula.”
“Really?” I say, my curiosity peaked. “What is it?”
Dr. Renfield peers over his shoulder to ensure the coast is clear, and then he looks back at me. I lean forward, eagerly waiting for him to tell me, but I can see he’s hesitant.
“I swear,” I say, putting my hand over my heart. “I won’t tell anybody. I’ll keep it to myself.”
“Very well,” Dr. Renfield says. “It is an object of great power. An object known as the Spear of Darkness.”
The Spear of Darkness?
Why does that sound so familiar? Then, it clicks. I vaguely remember Professor Seward talking about it in his Supernatural History class.
“Based on your expression,” Dr. Renfield says, “it looks like you have heard of it?”
“Yes,” I say. “I mean, I’ve heard its name mentioned before in class. What does it do?”
“According to ancient scriptures,” he says, “the Spear of Darkness gives the one wielding it the power to blanket
the sky in a shroud of darkness, blotting out the sun.”
“Blotting out the sun?” I say. “You mean, like, getting rid of daylight?”
“That is correct,” Dr. Renfield says. “As you know all too well, sunlight is the enemy of the vampire. When vampires are directly exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time, their mortal bodies will be destroyed by the light. That is why Count Dracula operates only at night. Now, imagine a world without daylight? There will be nothing stopping Count Dracula from terrorizing the innocent at all hours, day and night. He’ll grow stronger faster, quickly becoming unstoppable.”
I swallow hard.
I mean, I know exactly what he’s talking about. My skin burns easily when I’m exposed to sunlight, but I never imagined that anything could blot out the sun. I guess it would solve my sunburn problems, but that’s just being selfish. There’s no way I’d ever want Count Dracula roaming around uninhibited.
“You can see why obtaining the Spear of Darkness would be so valuable to a monster like Count Dracula,” Dr. Renfield says. “But unfortunately, I don’t know if it is truly here at the Van Helsing Academy or not. I was unable to ask Headmaster Van Helsing about it before he left, but if it is here, it will be up to us to protect it from Count Dracula and his minions, just as we need to protect you.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I would think so.”
“If only we knew if it was really here…” Dr. Renfield says, his voice trailing off. “Did Van Helsing ever discuss the Spear of Darkness with you—even as just a passing comment?”
“No,” I say, wracking my brain, but I don’t remember anything. “He’s never mentioned it.”
“Are you sure?” Dr. Renfield presses. “After all, this is very important. I’m sure he must have mentioned it at least one time. You just have to think harder.”
“Um, okay,” I say. I mean, I know finding the Spear of Darkness is important and all, but it’s not like my answer is going to change.
But as I look into Dr. Renfield’s eyes I realize I might have been wrong about him. After all, Van Helsing clearly trusts him, and it seems like he wants to stop Count Dracula as badly as I do. So, maybe my first impression was wrong? Maybe I can put my trust in him?