“Devils!”
I turned. Amidst the commotion of the attacking vampires, I’d temporarily forgotten about the humans from the inn who now stood behind us. They were looking at us as if we were the monsters, trembling with terror. The innkeeper shoved his wife behind him, holding up his fingers in the sign of the cross.
“Devils!” he shouted again. “Monsters!”
In a flash of movement, Anara approached each one of them, speaking in low tones. I couldn’t make out her words, but the humans visibly relaxed, going completely still as they listened to Anara with rapt attention. She was putting them in a thrall, coaxing them into compliance through her words. I watched this with unease. I still found the vampiric ability to put humans in thrall eerie, even when it worked to our advantage.
When Anara walked back to our group, the humans simply turned and walked away.
“What did you tell them?” Abe asked, astonished.
“To find help. They will not remember us or what they saw here,” Anara said calmly, turning her focus to the two dead vampires strewn on the ground. She gestured towards them. “We can’t leave them here.”
We decided to split into two groups. Me, Abe, Gabriel, and Emma would head to the train station while Anara and Seward would dispose of the dead vampires.
The neighborhood around the inn was so abandoned that it seemed the fire had gone unnoticed. After changing our clothes in the partially burned-down inn, we had to walk for some time through the desolate streets before we found a main thoroughfare, where we spotted a lone cab clattering through the streets.
We sat in the back of the cab in somber silence as it transported us to the train station. I noticed that Emma looked particularly pale; she was no doubt unaccustomed to the violence she’d just witnessed.
“Are you all right?” I whispered.
“Yes,” she replied, giving me a polite smile that did not reach her eyes.
We arrived at the train station to find it mostly empty at this hour. We found benches near the entrance where we sat to wait for the others.
“How did I not sense them?” Gabriel asked, his words taut with frustration. “If those vampires followed us all the way from France—“
“They may have disguised their scent, or taken a different route,” I interrupted. “Do not blame this on yourself. We were fortunate—no one was harmed.”
“After we were attacked in Matford, I vowed I would be more perceptive,” Gabriel said, not appeased by my words.
“We’re getting closer to Bathory. That may not be the last attempt to thwart us,” Abe said. “Were you able to see anything in the vampire’s eyes, Mina?”
“No,” I said. “But what he said to me is worrisome. That is the second time I’ve heard a vampire refer to Bathory as a queen. Does she intend to rule over vampires like royalty?”
“How could Vlad and Skala have agreed to that? They didn’t seem to be the type who enjoyed sharing power,” Gabriel said, baffled.
“Perhaps they didn’t,” I mused, as an unnerving thought occurred to me. I recalled Abe’s concerns about the vampires celebrating in Paris as if they’d already won. “Perhaps we have done Bathory a favor by killing them.”
“What do you mean?” Gabriel asked.
“From what we know about her…she has more loyal followers than Vlad or Skala. She could have sent scores of her vampires to stop us. But she hasn’t. What if…what if we are aiding her somehow? Killing off the other leaders so that she can hold onto power for herself?”
A heavy silence fell; Abe and the others looked disturbed by my words.
“Godsamme,” Abe swore. “I fear that you are correct, Mina.”
Unease settled over me as I considered my deduction. Why would someone who commanded such a loyal following, who enjoyed sole power, ever want to share that power with anyone else? If there were no other vampire leaders, she could rule on her own.
It was now apparent—we had inadvertently helped Bathory by killing Vlad Draculesti and Aurel Skala.
23
Transylvania
Hours later, the sun sank beneath the distant horizon as we rode on horseback into the Transylvanian countryside. Our journey from Vienna had been strained and silent; the encounter with the vampires at the inn and the recent revelation about Bathory heavy on our minds.
I was riding with Abe, his arms protectively around my waist. Anara and Gabriel flanked us on both sides, while Seward and Emma rode at the rear of our group.
I took in our surroundings as we entered the region. Though I knew it was unlikely that life would immediately return to the region with the death of Vlad, I still found its desolation shocking. We passed entire villages and farmsteads with no signs of human life; even the safer fortified villages and churches that dotted the countryside stood vacant. I rarely spotted any animals; it was as if life itself had abandoned the region.
We were on sharp alert for any sign of ferals; even stopping periodically while Gabriel and Anara rode ahead to check for disturbances. But the countryside seemed to be completely abandoned.
We soon arrived at a fortified village deep in the countryside, surrounded on all sides by thick patches of forest. The village was typical of the region, consisting only of a church and several cottages, enclosed by a high stone gate. We settled into the church for the night; it was the most secure of the buildings.
“The other members of the Order will meet us here tomorrow. Until they arrive, no one leaves,” Anara said, locking the church door behind us as we filed inside.
No one was going to argue with her. In spite of the emptiness of the region, the threat of danger seemed omnipresent.
I looked around. The pews inside the church had been pushed to the sides; a half-dozen wooden tables with chairs were situated in rows where the pews had once been. We found several private rooms with small beds already nestled inside; the previous inhabitants must have stayed here as a last place of refuge before permanently fleeing the village.
Once we were somewhat settled, I sat with Abe, Seward and Emma at one of the tables to eat a meal of bread, roasted vegetables, and ale that we’d purchased from an inn near the train station.
“I thought vampires would have overrun Transylvania by now,” Seward said, taking a large sip of his ale.
“They have gone to the cities,” Abe grimly replied. “Millions of humans to feast upon and transform.”
“Why did we not consider that Bathory was the true leader all along?” I asked with frustration. “She’s the one we should have focused on—the most powerful one.”
“We were only aware of Vlad when this all began,” Abe said, but he looked equally stymied.
Weary from our journey, Abe and I retired for the night after we ate, settling into one of the rooms in the back of the church.
“We should use my blood to poison her,” I told Abe, as he shrugged out of his shirt. “It took time for several vampires to wound Francois, and he’s just her child. She’s far stronger. If we attempt to use weapons on her—“
“Are you suggesting that we use you as bait?” Abe demanded, whirling to face me. “We have discussed this, Mina. I will not allow you to put yourself in danger again—especially after what happened with Skala. Why must you be so damned obstinate?”
I blinked, stunned by the magnitude of his anger. Abe was glaring at me, his entire body vibrating with tension.
“I’m just proposing a sound way of defeating her,” I protested, my own voice rising in anger. How dare he try to order me about? “If we attempt to attack her outright—“
“The only way she can ingest your blood is if you use yourself as bait. That is what you are proposing, are you not? I was powerless to stop you when you insisted on risking your life to kill Vlad—“
“Did I not succeed? It was our best way to kill him at the time! I’m not proposing that I use myself as bait for Bathory—I’m not a fool! I simply want a way of killing her that lessens the risk of someone else dying! I have seen
too much death, Abe. If I can prevent it—“
“There may be more deaths—more loss. We are attempting to kill a powerful vampire! I do not want any of our friends to come to harm, but it is not up to you to protect everyone, Mina! We shall surround Bathory and kill her with a stake in her heart. Even the most powerful vampire cannot withstand that. We will not use your blood. You promised me you would not risk your life to—“
“I won’t!” I shouted. “Abe, please understand, if there is a better way of destroying her, then –“
“We destroy her together. I—I cannot bear the thought of losing you. You are the love of my life, and I want to spend the rest of our lives together!”
I froze as his words permeated my haze of righteous anger. I stared at him, astonishment replacing my irritation.
“What—what are you saying?” I stammered.
Abe was silent for a long moment; his breathing ragged, his eyes filled with an array of emotions—love, frustration, fear.
“This is not how I wanted to propose. Not during a row,” he muttered. After another moment of silence, he stepped forward to take my hands in his, his expression softening. “But I have already spoken the words. I was going to ask when this was all over; I suppose I cannot wait any longer. I love you so…I always have. Wilhelmina Murray, my heart…will you be my wife?”
My eyes brimmed with tears as I gazed into the blue depths of his. Joy and love had completely taken over my senses; my anger of moments earlier was forgotten.
Abe had proposed before, during the first iteration of our relationship, when vampires were nothing more than an absurd whisper of a rumor, and the future seemed bright with promise.
Now, I smiled at the man I loved…the man I’d always loved. When Jonathan had proposed, a brief flicker of uncertainty had darted through me before I accepted. There had been no such uncertainty when Abe first proposed. I loved him to the very core of my being.
“Abraham Van Helsing,” I whispered, raising his hands to my lips and kissing both his palms. “Yes. I will marry you.”
The world around us temporarily faded away as our lips met in a passionate kiss. When we finally broke apart, breathless, Abe enfolded me in his arms.
“I do not wish to resume our argument—not after such a passionate interlude,” he murmured. His tone was light and teasing, before it turned serious again. “You will not put yourself in danger, will you?”
“No,” I promised. But I still longed for a different method of killing Bathory without a direct confrontation from our group. She was able to hold an entire ballroom of vampires in thrall. What would she be able to do to a smaller group of humans and vampires?
Trepidation over the looming confrontation with Bathory and happiness over my engagement to Abe battled for dominance in my heart, but I chose to focus on the happiness for now. True happiness had been limited since I’d become involved in the war. I wanted to relish in it for as long as I possibly could.
We decided to not tell the others about our engagement until after the attack on Bathory, though I longed to share the news with Gabriel and Emma.
Yet I continually underestimated the perceptive nature of vampires. Gabriel, Emma, and Anara studied us intently when we joined them at one of the tables for breakfast the next morning.
“What happened between you two?” Anara asked, her eyes narrowed. “Do not deny it—there is something different.”
I couldn’t halt the grin that spread across my face at her words. I glanced at Abe, and he gave me a rueful nod.
“Abe and I are engaged,” I said. Speaking the words out loud infused my heart with happiness.
“It’s bloody well time!” Seward said, getting to his feet with a teasing smile. “I knew the first moment I saw you two in Arthur’s drawing room that you belong together.”
I returned his smile as he embraced both me and Abe. Gabriel approached, enfolding me in a warm embrace.
“After this is all over,” Gabriel said to Abe, when he released me, “make my sister happy. Mina deserves all the happiness in the world.”
Abe smiled, giving Gabriel a nod of assent as Emma moved forward to embrace us both.
“Felicitations,” she said, beaming. “You already seem as if you have been together for many years.”
“Hold on to each other….love each other well,” Anara said, when Emma had stepped aside. “Human life passes in the blink of an eye. Savor every moment,” she added, her eyes flickering briefly over to Seward.
“We will,” I promised, moved by her words.
We gathered round the table to share a congratulatory toast of ale. I beamed at my friends, wishing I could preserve this happy moment in time.
But we had to get to the matter at hand, and began to discuss our plans for the attack on Bathory as we sat down to eat.
“You can’t possibly attack Bathory on your own,” Emma breathed, when Anara proposed approaching Bathory’s manor without the members of the Order.
“The Order should have arrived by now,” Anara said, her brow furrowing with worry. “There is the possibility they’ve backed out due to cowardice—or they've been attacked by Bathory’s followers. We may have no choice. If we can—”
A sudden pounding on the church doors interrupted her.
We were instantly on our feet. Abe, Seward, and I reached for our weapons, while Anara and Gabriel moved into protective stances in front of us. Behind us, Emma stumbled back, her hand flying to her heart.
A desperate sob came from the other side of the door.
“Anara! It is Rudella—from Berlin! Please let me in—they have killed the others!”
I lowered my kukri, but Anara looked suspicious.
“Your scent is odd. What is our secret phrase? The phrase we decided on in Berlin?” Anara demanded.
Rudella’s weeping only increased.
“Anara, please! I—I don’t—“
“Anara, perhaps—“ I hesitantly began, but she silenced me with a look.
“The phrase, Rudella!”
“Deya shir imel fin,” Rudella cried. "Please—Bathory's ferals killed everyone! Let me in!"
Anara shoulders relaxed. She moved to the door, unbolting it and swinging it open.
My heart plummeted in my chest at the sight that greeted us.
Rudella was held in the arms of a towering female vampire…Elizabeth Bathory. With her black dress and cloak, she looked as if she’d stepped directly from a nightmare. Rudella’s eyes were wild; she looked as if she wanted to scream, but she did not move. Her words must have been forced from her by Bathory.
The room seemed to tilt on its axis as Bathory twisted Rudella’s neck, and her lifeless body fell to the ground.
Before we could attempt to strike out at her, Bathory paralyzed us all with a simple look, and our weapons fell from our hands.
24
Fear
Bathory entered the church, stepping over Rudella’s body as if she were discarded waste, her dark eyes sweeping over each of us with amusement.
“I have known you were coming for me since you left France. Did you truly think I would be as easy to kill as those impetuous fools, Vlad and Aurel?” she asked, her powerful voice dominating the church.
She stalked towards us; a snake approaching her helpless prey. She reached me and stopped, surveying every inch of me. Up close, I could see just how striking she was; ageless ivory skin, a heart-shaped face framed by flowing auburn waves, a full mouth that was now curved into a bemused smile, sparkling obsidian eyes. The coppery scent of blood emanated from her; if I wasn’t paralyzed I would have recoiled from the smell.
“As much as I enjoy killing, I enjoy making new children even more. New loyal followers. Wilhelmina,” she continued, her eyes intent on mine. “You fascinate me. A mere human woman who has killed so many of my kind. What Skala did to you…it was typical of his lowly nature. There are more creative ways to get into your mind. More…enjoyable ways.”
My heart pummeled against
my ribcage, icy fear coursing throughout my body as she continued to gaze at me. Though I was terrified, I prayed that she would drink from me. If she were weakened, we’d be released from her thrall and could attack all at once.
Instead, she leaned forward, pressing her blood red lips to mine. A wave of revulsion rolled through me at her touch, but it was soon replaced by an odd sense of calm.
I watched in a daze as she did the same to the others, pressing her lips to each of theirs in a kiss. I tried to keep my eyes open, but a great fatigue had settled over me, and the church gave way to blackness.
I awoke in a windowless room, sitting up with a strangled gasp.
Shaking, I looked around. The room was bare—nothing but wooden floors and walls. It was too upscale to be a cell; both the floor and walls gleamed as if they’d recently been cleaned. It could have once served as a library or private study.
My limbs were stiff and heavy, I had to force myself to my feet. I stumbled to the door, turning the fine brass knob, but it was locked from the outside. Though I knew it was futile, I hurled myself against the door, hoping to somehow dislodge it.
The door did not budge.
I stepped back, my breathing ragged with panic. Where were the others? Why hadn’t Bathory killed us on sight? I thought of her words in the church. I enjoy making new children.
Was it her intention to change us? Despite the horrifying possibility, a tiny flicker of hope sprang forth. If so, she would drink from me.
A wave of dizziness suddenly hit me, the same dizziness I’d experienced in the church before I blacked out, and the room around me once again faded away.
This time, there was no void of blackness. Instead, I found myself standing in a familiar-looking forest. I looked around, frantic. Was this in my mind—or was it truly happening? A torturous moan from a clearing up ahead pulled me from my panicked thoughts.
The Mina Murray Series Bundle, A Dracula Retelling: Books 1-3 Page 48