Chapter Eight - Too Late - Dracula
Complete and total darkness. That is all I see when physical body is torn from the beat of life and I am vastly conscious of it---a hell of complete sensory deprivation. There is no afterlife for me or for those like me. It is here, that I reflect on folly and triumph. I remember Anastasia, my first wife... and many a woman that I've used in an attempt to hide the pain of her loss and what I became to avenge her suicide, an act forced on her by mine enemies, the Turks. For centuries, I have acted as a monster, one that craves blood, a monster powered by blood. It is a transformation born of the darkest of arcane knowledge. Such knowledge bore strength and weaknesses, weaknesses that I had to defeat to achieve even greater strength. To battle the weakness of sunlight, I birthed an enchantment called "Moonlight". This enchantment can be worn in the form of jewelry and provides those like me artificial night. I've also found counter to the weaknesses of the heart. An enchantment that turned heart into phylactery and it is now a relic called "The Heart of Cursed Blood". To hide it, I created a pocket dimension for it to reside and those loyal to me need only preform a simple ritual to reform my physical body once a portal is opened to the pocket dimension I created. The dimension must stay open during the ritual and as a safety measure, this dimension moves around all over the Earth every month. Yes, I am no mere immortal. I have achieved godhood. Once my physical body is reformed, I will find mine enemies and I will enjoy impaling every last one.
And there it was. A door formed of blood had appeared in my dark prison, one likely of my own interpretation. I need, but walk through it, however, something was telling me of the contrary, as if... this maybe the last time I walk through this door. I swear I heard breath and song of my beautiful Anastasia in such an ill omen. Alas, this was all a fiction of my mind... I had enemies that need meet their doom.
I was covered in blood when I saw light again and those of my secret cult gawked at me like deer gazing at their predator before death. Those of my kin have slipped so far into the mind of the fool that I barely recognized them. Perhaps, they did not believe me to be real? Perhaps, a reminder that their god was not one that could so easily meet death on grounds favorable to it was necessary? Was this not enough, a rebirth of physical form in a cloak of blood? I appraised their guises of worship, hiding true fear behind flimsy masks, both real and within their faces they thought hidden. I opened my maw and every drop of blood upon me gathered to tongue for me to swallow, yes I swallowed it all, the first meal of my rebirth. The fools, however, did not do as instructed. This was not enough, so now? Their reserves would fulfill my needs.
First, I watched as the one that thought himself in charge stepped forward and knelt before me and in doing so, the rest followed suit. Then he spoke, "My liege, we summon you to walk the Earth once more to slay thine enemies. One not born of this world walks the Earth in your stead, one unknown in origin, but has much power. She defeats us so easily and for our kin to survive, she must die."
This... piqued my curiosity, so I asked, "And what is this one called, this new enemy?" He answered, "Asuya, my liege."
I have heard mention of this one before... one that posed as "Night Valkyrie" in the World Wars. "And you say she defeats those of my blood with ease? Do you not cultivate strength as I have? Do you not drink your fill of blood to gain power beyond mere mortality? Are you as the cattle we take as sustenance?" I asked them with a justified exasperated tone. Fear struck them as my voice boomed in the caves I found myself in. Then I felt it: Fear divided... I could hear it in their blood. They feared I would be heard by this... Asuya and while they feared me, it was her that took precedence in their hearts. This would make my next act justified as my previous queries. "Do you not think I hear you? Your fear is divided. Do you think me so easily defeated by this woman?" I cut off any sort of crude attempt at an answer to me by continuing my thoughts aloud, "I say this to you. You are no kin of mine. You are weak, poor excuses---unworthy of my blood and for this, your punishment is death." I opened my maw and through their eye sockets, I drew their blood from vein and artery that now carried blood taken from those I assume they've hunted, to the only organ they had left besides sexual organs. Their hearts. The blood was disgusting and of poor quality, yet still, I drank my fill. They shriveled like plants deprived of water, then burst into smoldering ash. I was alone in the cave now. To my right, clothing---or this century's version of it. Black shirt, leather pants, long coat, gloves and these spectacles that were also black. They also had my special Moonlight Ring---at least they did something right, though I could simply enchant another piece of jewelry for the same effect. This clothing seemed modeled after someone famous of this era. I put them on, using telekinesis and mused on my next act. Asuya would have to wait. I wanted to walk the Earth once more, partake of it's delights and it's peoples, to see if there was any dignity left in humanity.
Once I found my way out of the cave that irritated me with sound of a waterfall, I was disappointed further at what my senses picked up. This place carried horrific smells. Blood that I sensed was tainted by strange drugs and diseases. The fat in their arteries could feed polar bears for centuries. Cattle needed cultivation and this was not that. I used my magics and turned into a colony of bats to fly towards the city I was nearest to. One of the signs on my way said "Albany". I reformed with the appearance of a human and oh how comical the reactions were to my arrival in such a way! I was compelled to laugh aloud at their muddled expressions as I stroked my gotee---no, I did not have a gotee... did something go wrong with the ritual? I could not see myself in a mirror, so I looked around for a street artist and once spotted, I approached. I dug into my coat, pulling out bank notes provided by the fools who now sustain me with their blood. I gave him one that had the number "one-hundred" on it. "Paint me or draw me as accurate as possible and I will give you another," I told him and I sat still... as still as the dead. This unnerved the man, but he went to work on the depiction I requested. When he was finished, I was a bit shocked at what was drawn and painted. I seemed to have grey hair, from the top of my head to eyebrow, to eyelash. I looked not more than twenty. I did not know what to make of this, but kept to my word and handed him another bank note and stood up, looking at the picture that he gave me. This has never happened before. I could use blood reserves to create a blood mirror, but if the artist did not lie with finger and skill, then this was my appearance. I did not resound of a young cadence. When I spoke, I had a manly voice, one that could boom with a commanding resonance. This was quite perplexing.
I paused a moment as I sensed something I've never sensed before.
It seems she did hear me.
I saw a woman standing down the street, not ten yards from me, with glowing blue eyes. It was as if the humans barely paid any attention to her. She simply watched me for the moment, to which, I simply smiled. She looked strong, not just physically, but I could feel the power that coruscated around her person, invisible to human eyes. She would not die easily. I squint my eyes at her as she smiled as well---it seemed she read my thoughts and found amusement in them.
"Good, we do not have to talk vocally," I said within my thoughts. "Why do you kill my kin?" This was an ironic question I asked her as I just recently killed kin of my blood.
She raised an eyebrow, perhaps catching that thought, before she answered, saying, "I do not, if they follow the truce made with me. Some have decided to break it and those die."
"Truce? I know not of a truce or any pact with you or your kind," I scoffed.
"You wouldn't. You were dead, or so was thought. It seems rumors of your death have been greatly exaggerated," she responded. She said that so naturally, but I'm sure I've heard that before---I believe a quote from Mark Twain.
I frowned at her for a moment. "And what is this truce?"
Seems she was all too glad to answer, "To no longer create more vampires and if you must drink, do not kill your victims. I do not enjoy the fact that some steal from hospitals, but if that avoids death, I do not mind."
I growled mentally, "And who are you to dictate what my kin are to do---" She cut me off! "Do not test me. I do not know of your current strength levels, but I know of mine and you would find it hard-pressed to destroy me, Vlad," she said. Such conviction! I admired that, but most of my fallen enemies had such traits.
"Asuya, was it? We do not have to be enemies. In fact? I will be doing a bit of... house-cleaning. You see, I have found that my blood has weakened with this generation and I will find the strongest and destroy the weakest..." That is what I told her in my thoughts, but she found me out...
"That is what you tell me, but after that, you will attempt to conquer the humans as they are not, but cattle to you. Do you think I will stand for that?" I frowned to her again. "And what of you, what do you eat?" I asked, curious now.
"I do not have to," she answered in a matter-of-fact tone. She didn't have to eat?! What in the world is she? Ah, right, it was said she is not of this world. An extraterrestrial? Whatever she is, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on---no offense to the memory of my beloved. She was wearing a dark blue bustier that bubbled her ample breasts with these strange black pants that left little to the imagination of her form. She wore boots with heels that were strapped thoroughly, black in color. Ah, I see it now... she was dressed for battle.
"There is one more thing. The Curtain, dividing the humans from those supernatural or otherwise. That cannot be broken, Vlad. If it is, you and I will be at serious odds..." she mentions. I did so enjoy this strange telepathy she had. I could tell she was reading more than just my surface thoughts. She was also reading emotion, gauging responses---an empath! Such a rare being, I bet her blood tasted... no, I sensed blood, but it was dangerous---was it really blood? What is this? I'm beginning to see why this creature so easily shattered my ranks whilst I toiled in the dark place... my very own Abisul Întunericului.
"It seems so much has changed without me. I'm guessing humanity has progressed to the point of having weapons that can destroy us, so we toil in darkness? Or is there another reason we allow cattle to rule?" I asked.
"They are not cattle, Vlad. They have skills, feelings, sentience, depth... when they want to---" I cut her off, as she did not sound convinced. "You say that, yet I sense doubt within you. Have they done something to disappoint you?" That angered her, yet she did not act against me. Instead, she responded, "Nothing of the sort, if you consider humans that are willing to do what is right."
I shook my head to her. "You will find that a rarity, dear Asuya. Humanity has fallen to base instincts. I can hear it and so can you. Do you not think it is time for a changing of the guard? Do you not think it is too late for them to try and change their fate, now that I am here? Let vampires rule. I can show you a world without their foolishness, a world where their childish notions do not take precedence over what is important. It is a wonder they've survived until now without guidance of a god such as myself." I could hear her laugh at what I merely thought true. "A god you say? You are no god, vampire. You are merely a narcissist that think himself so."
I ignored her foolish notions and decided to expand my senses. Yes... I sensed my kin nearby, but their hearts... they have turned against me for this... woman. I could also sense the Moonlight enchantment in their midst, but it was so weak! With such weakness, they could only tary in sunlight at limit! "Do you expect a god to simply walk amongst humans? No, I will replenish my ranks with their blood, ranks you destroyed and I will do what I came to do. Take this Earth as my own," I declared to her. "Do you sense any fear of death within me, woman? You will never convince me contrary to my purpose as a god."
I could hear her no more. I had an advantage: She cared for these cattle. I would use that against her so that we could danse macabre for eternity! To show her that I would exploit such a weakness, the artist who painted and drew me? I began drawing blood from him---no... I couldn't. This was strange. Something stilled his blood from being drawn. Can that woman control blood as well? Still, the man fell over in pain as we struggled with his blood. Interesting, I could not usurp her strength---we were about equal! I released the man from my attack and smiled to Asuya. "Join me, Asuya. Your strength is worthy of me. Humanity's time is up, you know this to be true," I said, speaking aloud for all to hear, my voice booming with the cadence of the god I am. The cattle began looking to me now, gazing upon their better. My gaze was not upon them, however, it was upon my next bride.
Suddenly, I felt pain... pain I've never felt before, as if my neck was being twisted beyond it's limits! This was a punch! I focused and I was at least a mile skyward! I surmised this an attempt to keep me away from my cattle.
My neck healed immediately, yet I did not see my foe. In my disorientation, I could feel hands trying to take my Moonlight Ring! Foolishness! That is not possible as once it is on my person, my powerful enchantments would keep it there! Then I saw my foe---it was Asuya! Was she so strong that she could hit me with such force?! It was time to test my own speed with this new body. I threw a punch to her and to my surprise, it landed, sending her off in the distance. I used this time to look down at the cattle either looking up at us or running and screaming. I said to them with my booming voice, "Look upon your superiors! Look upon your god and kneel or be devoured!" Surely with this act, I would rend this "Curtain" as it is so called.
Within minutes, flying contraptions with these strange propellers flew nearby, hovering with a man hanging out of it pointing something at me. Hm... that looked like a more advanced camera. I would not stand for this noise. I felt compelled to summon my weapon, the very weapon I enchanted with my suffering the loss of my beloved perpetuated. I used my claws to reach into my chest, where my heart use to reside and pulled it free. It was not, but a handle, however, the blood that exploded from me as I drew the weapon out, it would be drawn to this handle, forming the blade! Yes, watch you overgrown gnat as I slice you in two! With that, I did just that, slicing the flying contraption in half with my blade. The force of my slash utterly obliterated the thing! This younger body was growing on me... I wonder what they did to change the ritual? Perhaps, in my haste to feed, I killed the very ones with that secret. I had no regrets as they were fools.
My advantages over this Asuya were stacking. She had no weapon and I? I had Despair, a weapon forged that would change at a whim of my own blood. It seems she was willing to renew her attack, but I anticipated this, changing my weapon from blade to whip! I was fast enough to get it around her neck, pull her in and hit her so hard with a haymaker left, I could feel the shockwave. She crashed into the streets below, killing a few cattle and shattering a few windows! I felt the compulsion to laugh again, this time in my triumph over this extraterrestrial woman! Surely, she did not survive such a blow!
I was wrong. A rare thing, to be sure.
She got up from the blow and disappeared from the crater made from her violent landing. She was so quick! She had me by my right ankle, a grip that would crush stone! She used the momentum of her strength to toss me. I could feel the wind whip through my body as I landed on water and at that speed? Without an enchantment, it would have ripped through my new clothing and perhaps torn flesh! I had to think fast to keep everything in tact! With her speed, she scooped me up from being a skipping stone to this river, using her sharp claws that most certainly ripped my shirt, then slashed through to my flesh, sending me skipping further down this river! At this speed, we parted the water of the river and flooded the shores adjacent to it. I attempted to slash her with a sword version of Despair multiple times, but she parried with the long claws of her left hand, keeping her right claws impaled into my chest and upper abdomen. We were nearing a bridge, so I took the opportunity to make my weapon much bigger and cut the suspensions of the structure so she would let me go!
Predictable. She let me go to save cattle that were now trying to save themselves from falling to their deaths.
What I saw next was incredible. She was using the very waters themselves to suspend the bridge! I've never seen anything like this! Was she too, a deity? I felt the need to retreat as our battle would go now where like this.
Sun Tzu advocated for strategic retreat to preserve forces, regroup, and avoid losing battles. This was a regrouping effort. Perhaps, this human was inspired by a deity to write such words, how else would he know of such tactics?
I retreated as a colony of bats and left Asuya to pick up the pieces left by our clash.
This "Curtain" surely existed no longer.
Chapter Eight - Too Late - Asuya
It seems Master Thais was right, he was a match for my power. His retreat did not signify that he was running from me, no, this was a tactic. Such powerful blows he landed and so easily against my speed and strength. It seems training was in order for me, things that Kiname taught me before he was taken away. During this, I'm sure Dracula would replenish his ranks with beings much stronger than the current Masters. What was interesting, however, was my ability to track him, even now, but my priority was to save these people from death, using my ability over water. Once the bridge was evacuated by authorities, I let the waters calm and the bridge fell apart. With that, I left. I wanted nothing to do with the authorities who saw our fight---which I know they did, some way, somehow. I slipped through the shadows, very literally, going back to my penthouse... and to my surprise, Master Thais, Master LaCroix and Walter were there.
Master Thais spoke first, saying, "It seems you've exposed his true intent. The Curtain was to inevitably fall. I'm sorry we failed, Asuya... though I did not know the extent of Dracula's madness and arrogance, I did not think it to be this terrible."
Walter spoke next, saying, "Are you okay? We saw the fight and you took some powerful blows, Asuya..."
"I'm fine," I answered. Even as such blows were powerful, my durability held, despite damage to the Mithic Energies within me. They would replenish so that I could use Munakou once again.
Master LaCroix spoke next, "Asuya, you need a weapon against him. Right now, he has more advantages than you have."
I had a different concern. Since he is a lich, I needed to find his phylactery, but if I destroyed it, would his kin evaporate with him? I turned to Master Thais.
"Master Thias? I have a grave question I must ask. It seems Dracula is directly tied with his kin through blood. Will you all cease to exist if I find his phylactery?" It seemed this question disturbed them all, even Walter. Master Thais answered, saying, "I truly do not know."
I began reading their emotions, curious to see if they wished to join Dracula after such a question. Thais was on the fence, Walter did not want to join Dracula and LaCroix... did. Out of survival, those were her thoughts. I frowned to her and her gaze dropped from me to the floor. I eased their minds, saying, "Then I will not destroy his phylactery or attempt to find it. Did it not take Dracula's Heart centuries to find it due to the powerful enchantments hiding it's location? I can work with that. If they resurrect him again, I will simply be there to stop him or die trying."
That completely won them over. They even looked to me with sympathy, but I spoke true. I did not want Walter to die and I grew fond of Rueth's honesty. In fact, I enjoyed their company, contrary to Sil instincts. "I will train and get stronger in our ways and even use weapons left over by my fight with the jiangshi if I have to. They seem strong with enchantments and may not break easily with my swings."
Master Thais and Master LaCroix simply nodded with approval. Walter had a disgusted look on his face, looking between them---thankfully, he was behind them so they wouldn't see, but I'm sure Rueth could hear his thoughts regardless. She did not act as she knew that would anger me.
"That is the plan for now, though I must reveal that I know of his location even as we speak. It seems that my kind has a knack for tracking energies no matter where they are once I receive their essence. I will monitor him from here as I train. Master Thais, Master LaCroix? Please... do something to handle the media or at least hold them off from what was seen?" I kept the guise of not knowing what exactly I am so that they would not know either.
Master Thais nodded once. "We will try, Asuya, but that encounter will be all over social media platforms and the like."
"I will be a blur as I make sure I am not captured fully at all times. Dracula was moving pretty fast himself, but his monologuing and villainy nonsense could have been captured..." I muttered.
Both Masters nodded and left the penthouse. Walter stayed behind and just looked to me for a moment. He then, said, "You sensed something in them, didn't you? They were going to turn on you, weren't they?" I slowly nodded. "Rueth mostly. Master Thais was on the fence..." I revealed to him truthfully.
I smiled as I had an idea. "Walter, I need you to use your detective skills and report to me what happened when I killed Master Venerick. If all of his line died under him upon his death, then my suspicions are true. If they still live? Then I will find Dracula's phylactery and end him." I saw Walter gawk at me with a little shock. "That's a damn good idea, Asuya, I'll get right on that. You just train, however you do and kick this guy's ass, yeah?"
I gave Walter a thumbs up and said, "You got it."