“Man reading should be man intensely alive.

The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.”

- Ezra Pound

I ducked my head beneath a beam in the clockwork tower of Atannica, following Rafael through the winding descent, heading for the old world castle that had been used as the foundations for the vampire city above. Rafael offered me his hand frequently and we moved through the gears and cogs, the tower an ever present hive of humming and clicking.

“I suppose the city is like one giant clockface, if you could view it from high enough in the sky.” I remarked, jumping to a gangplank then climbing down a ladder that dropped us in the bowels of the tower, in the very top part of the old world castle keep.

“You can see some of its design from atop the palace pinnacle.” Rafael unlocked a door and ushered us to pass through before locking it behind us.

We were now in the old castle, descending to the throne room and then, even further.

“I’m surprised Bastian didn’t insist on accompanying you.”

“I think Rob is more than capable of protecting me.” I glanced back at Rob who followed us closely.

“That I am.” He said without pride.

“Besides, you had your coffee, didn’t you?”

“I did.” Rafael nodded.

“And you have your coffee kit with you.” He carried a box under his arm with his favourite blends inside and a single cup mini brewer.

“I do.”

We continued to follow Rafael. “I’m curious about the poisoning of the wine drunk at the quincentenary celebration…why was it only possible with a vampire’s collusion?”

“The bottles are a specialised vintage and are sealed in a way that only a vampire’s fang can pierce it.”

“Oh,” I nodded, “and the deadly nightshade was injected into the bottles?”

“Yes. It will not kill any vampires but they should be disorientated and lethargic within seconds of drinking the wine though how long it will incapacitate them is unknown.”

“I surmise that despite being disorientated and lethargic, the vampires will not be easy to capture.” Rob remarked as we reached the armoury. He gained quite a few odd looks from the men who were preparing their weapons. There had been no time to change Rob’s outfit to a more suitable style but as he and I wouldn’t be going above ground, we decided it wasn’t worth worrying about. Hopefully, in the chaos and the aftermath of freedom, our presence would be quickly forgotten.

Rafael walked without glancing about himself and we followed quickly.

“Indeed. The resistance must be prepared and every contingency thought of. If even one vampire escapes the net, they could return with a vampire army built from the empty estates of the captured lords in attendance of the quincentenary.”

“Query, how is van Helsing going to combat other vampires rising to power in the absence of their lords?” Rob asked. “I presume that not all vampires will be in attendance. Some must stay in their lord’s estates.”

“Members of the resistance have already left for the estates of the absent lords with bottles of tainted wine.” Rafael explained as we walked through the hot house and then through the kitchens. There were far less people about than there were before. Everyone had a job to do. “They will be pronounced as gifts from Queen Catina and once the vampires partake, they will be captured also.”

“It seems a great deal to organise in so short a time.” I mused.

“Abram has been planning this event since the breaking of his curse.” Rafael took us down a corridor which looked familiar. I guessed it was heading towards Abram’s den. As we approached, we heard voices arguing.

“…need every body possible! Doing something like this now puts all in jeopardy!”

“I made a promise, Darla.”

“It wouldn’t be broken! It would just be delayed.”

“Five hundred years is long enough. Darla…this is Rafael we are talking about. I know he’s not just another vampire to you.”

“What’s that got to do with it?”

“Ahem,” Rob coughed artificially as we rounded the corner and saw Darla and Abram in his den, “greetings, Sir van Helsing.”

“Rob, good to see you. I had a hunch you would be escorting Bethany.” Abram looked at Darla. “You should attend to your post.”

“But…”

“This discussion is over.”

Darla’s mouth turned down. She spun on her heel and strode past us with a thunderous expression.

“I apologise for the timing of our arrival.” Rafael said formerly.

“Nerves are drawn tight.” Abram’s tone was light. “We’re all bound to be a little on edge. After all, we may not have another opportunity like this for at least a hundred years. Please, come in.”

We entered his den and Rafael put his box on the table.

“The equipment so that you can make your own coffee.” He explained.

“I have an insulated hip flask ready.” Abram chuckled. “It’ll help keep me awake.”

“You sure the tension won’t be enough on its own?” I asked nervously.

Abram faced us, his blue coat hanging from a hook and he sat on the edge of the table, studying me.

“I was of two minds when Rafael said he wanted to ask you to come.”

“I might have been of two minds myself, except that he assured me, and the guys agreed to, the provision that I am nowhere near the palace or even the streets of Atannica and that Rob was to come as my bodyguard.” I rubbed my hands and stood near the fire. “Rafael said it would be somewhere down here?”

“Yes, in that large hall with the ice windows.”

“That seems a strange, empty place to be in…”

“I have only my own experience to base the breaking on,” Abram admitted, “and I was trapped in a cold place.”

“Oh.” I glanced at Rafael who’s expression was grim. “Abram…is this really going to work?”

“The nature of the vampiric transformation is a lie.” Abram folded his arms. “What humans think they’re getting is immortality, speed, strength and power over other humans. And they do receive those things but the cost is slavery.”

“To who?”

“To the darkness that exists within.” Rafael tapped his chest. “We…think we are making friends with it…but it is one sided.”

“You’re not like that, though.”

“I’ve never gluttoned on blood, kept the grotesque at bay with near starvation.” Rafael explained. “Others, like my mother and Aurelius…”

“It’s why Rafael has a good chance at breaking his curse. He doesn’t have the same dependency.” Abram stood up. “Shall we?”

We followed the leader of the resistance through the castle and into the large hall with the windows of ice. There had probably been stained glass panels within the arches long ago but the ice had completely taken over.

“There,” Abram pointed to two thick hoops buried deep in the wall with chains and manacles hanging from them, “that is where you will be bound.”

“Bound?” I gasped. Rafael was unsurprised.

“To keep me from escaping when my possession becomes desperate.” It was disturbing to watch Rafael hold out his hands, Abram clamping the manacles around his wrists, locking them together. I shivered, inexplicably frightened and Rob came close behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. Rafael looked up, detecting the motion and gave me a small smile. “I welcome the restraints.”

I swallowed.

Abram also bound Rafael’s feet with the other set of manacles.

“Query, as vampires are impressively strong, will the manacles be enough to hold Rafael and indeed, all the other vampires you intend to restrain?” Rob asked.

“A vampire’s strength comes from speed and the force generated by movement.” Abram tapped the manacles. “Without the space to generate strength, the iron of the manacles will hold.” He put his hand on Rafael’s shoulder. “It is done. There is little else to do now.” He winced. “I wish there was more I could do…if I could spare you this agony…”

“You have given me hope,” Rafael stopped him, “that is something I have not had in a long time. Even my pursuit of coffee was just a replacement for blood and not a cure.”

Abram sighed. “Very well. I’ll check on you regularly but when the time comes for the feast…”

“You have more important matters to deal with than one vampire.” Rafael said firmly. “Go.”

I could see the conflict on Abram’s face. He had just delivered his son to the worst withdrawal symptoms a person could endure, even to the point of risking his life. He left the hall, every step weighed down heavily.

“Rob, now that I am bound, may I speak with Bethany alone?”

Rob looked at me pointedly. “It’s okay, Rob,” I nodded, “I’ll be fine.”

“I shall wait outside the hall.”

Rafael and I watched him leave then the vampire turned to me. He seemed reluctant to start speaking.

“What’s it been like?” I asked when I couldn’t stand the cold silence. “Working with Abram and the humans?”

“I am treated warily but given my cursed nature, I do not begrudge their distrust.” Rafael admitted. “My…relations with that young woman have been…awkward.”

“Darla?” He swallowed. “She was in a position to try to get you alone, as far as I can tell.”

“Despite all her efforts, I never did.” Rafael’s eyes were sharp. “I swear.”

“You are not accountable to me.” I insisted. “Besides, she’s quite lovely to look at…if a little sharp in tone. And I think she genuinely cares about you.”

Rafael looked aside. “I…she offered herself to me.”

“Yes, I know.” I saw shame fill his face. “Oh…you mean since you joined the resistance?” He nodded. “When you say, offered herself…”

“To keep my cravings under control…”

“Did you?”

“Just once,” Rafael put his fingers to his face, “after which I begged Abram to fulfill his promise to help me break the curse. I suppose you think me selfish to want to endure this while others risk their lives for a greater purpose?”

I recalled Darla’s argument with Abram about Rafael.

“It’s possible Darla doesn’t know about the outside help. What with the combined force of Bastian, Faelan, Rob and Eustace supporting the resistance, you can take a backseat, as it were, to the revolution. Besides, once you come out the other side, curse broken, you’ll be a living example that those who want to be free can follow.”

Rafael sat on the ground. “You are too kind to me, Bethany.”

“I’ll admit I am a little concerned about your mother.”

“Why?”

“Won’t she crack it if you’re not at the ceremony?”

Rafael smiled softly. “Ah, well, that is where the drama which unfolded when you were brought before my mother and my protectiveness of you was exposed works in our favour.”

“How so?”

“You see, I have never shown preference to any human, except Darla and only to bite, nothing more.” Rafael explained. “My mother knows of my reluctance and my brother mocks me for my lack of blood lust. I have spent nights away from the palace before, only to return when I couldn’t stand the gnawing from the inside of me…however since that night, I have not been back…”

“Oh…and I disappeared!” I breathed. “Your mother thinks you ran off with me?”

“She has even sent scouts looking for us.” Rafael smiled. “The quincentenary celebration is so important that my mother wouldn’t halt it for her wayward and reluctant son’s unexpected but explainable and plausible absence…but she’d be planning on how to make me suffer for it afterwards when I inevitably returned home.”

“You mean, pitting you against Aurelius?” I tucked my arms around my body, the cold air seeping in through my clothes. “I saw the scars on your back.”

“There are many, I imagine.”

“I thought vampires were immortal.”

“We are, but we bear the scars of wounds made.” Rafael licked his lips and looked down. “Aurelius’ perfect body is now marred with a scar of my doing.”

“You didn’t rise to the challenge before or you just couldn’t beat him?”

“I lacked the killer instinct and I didn’t want to develop it.” Rafael cringed. “I couldn’t let him have any chance of making you his own…what he would have done to you…”

“You know, for a vampire, you’re awfully decent.” I said as lightly as I could, trying to forget Aurelius’ dark gaze that turned my spine to jelly.

“Not decent enough.” Rafael blurted then turned his head.

The chunks of ice flowing slowly through the water of the frozen lake crashed into each other, their violent dance echoing around us. Now and again one of them would drift close to the castle and their faint form could be seen through the windows of ice.

“I forgave you, Rafael.” I told him. “It’s done. You’re about to suffer horribly…please don’t add this to your burdens.”

“I would confess all so that I could begin life as a human without regret.” Rafael urged and I nodded. He took several breaths, each one failing to start him talking. He swallowed and closed his eyes. “That night…when you took pity on me…I could feel the depravity within me begin to demand all sorts of things from the innocent world I was in. It yearned to lash out and consume blood of unsuspecting humans…so I drowned those yearnings with fermented cherry syrup. The world was a blur and I couldn’t tell which way was up.”

“You nearly fell over a couple of times.” I breathed.

“I do not know what I confessed in your room…what I said…” Rafael’s breathing shuddered. “I remember your face, your fingers against my skin, so cool compared to the burning inside of me.”

“You begged to remain at ‘House of Figs’,” I whispered, “you couldn’t stand the thought of coming back to Engaland.”

“I…you were so close…and for a moment I…” Rafael shivered. “But then I smelt your blood…and I was overcome with darkness and venomous rage…terrible instinct…” I closed my eyes, shaking. “It was only for a second but when I tasted your blood…” Rafael put his hands over his face. “When I saw the horror on your face…”

“I’m fine now.” I said strongly even as my teeth attempted to chatter, “Rafael, Faelan healed my physical wounds and forgiving you healed the internal hurt.” He shook his head and, forgetting myself, I reached out to him. “Rafael, let it…”

“Don’t come near me…”

I recoiled. “Sorry.” Rafael shifted back from where I was until he was pressed against the wall, cowering like an abused puppy. His hair was almost completely black with only a little red at the tips. “Rafael…how long as it been?”

“Long enough,” he lifted his hand and tried to hold it steady as it quivered, “It feels stronger…like it knows…” He lifted his gaze. “I think you should leave.”

“I don’t want to leave you to go through this on your own. You’re shackled. You can’t hurt me.”

“There are many ways to hurt someone without touching them. Please…go.”

A tear escaped as I nodded and walked the length of the great hall. I turned at the end to look back at him, a long figure in black shackled to the wall and a sob broke out of my throat.

“Query, are you alright, Bethany St James?”

Rob embraced me as I shook my head.

“He sent me away. He doesn’t want me there. He’s going to go through this on his own…”

“I will spend as much time with him as possible.” Abram expressed and I peeked at him. “Ultimately, Rafael has to do this himself.” He looked at Rob. “You should take Bethany home now. I will come for you when we’re ready to infiltrate the palace.”

With a heavy heart and feet filled with lead, I followed Rob to the door. Abram had been able to find schematics of the clocktower and Rob’s logical mind had worked out where the door would be at any given point in the turning of the gears and when it would be accessible.

The next two days were the longest of my life with the exception of sitting beside my mother as she unconsciously clung on to life, unable to beat the cancer that had ravaged her body so quickly.

As a group, we made our plans.

Rob made sure that the social and media pages for ‘House of Figs’ announced that it would be closed for two days. He cited a ‘family emergency’ as the reason. In case either Bastian or Faelan were injured and unable to return to work, they made sure to prepare as much in advance as possible to the point where I or Rob could fill in if needed. Eustace laughed at the idea that something would happen to him.

“Dragons are not immortal.” I warned him.

“I’d wager we’re harder to kill than a vampire.” He chuckled. “Besides, I’m not leaving James on his own without a father. I will always return to him.”

“The protectiveness of a father would be a monumental obstacle to overcome.” Bastian remarked.

I thought of Abram watching over Rafael and wanted to cry again.

“I’ll stay here with Bethany and look after James.” Jet agreed.

“For someone who was almost kid phobic, you’re quite fond of him now.” I teased lightly.

“He’s actually kind of cool,” Jet admitted, “and when he wants to, he reverts to dragon form and goes for a swim in the stream.”

“Like father, like son.” Faelan observed. “I shall restring my bow.”

“I’ll sharpen my claws.”

“I have no preparations to make except those that are already completed.” Rob announced.

“And I’ll stay here.” I slumped into the chair.

“That was the deal.”

“I know.” I grunted. “I hate being left behind.”

“Apart from putting two feet into Eustace’s world, I haven’t been anywhere so stop complaining.” Jet pointed out.

Not only was the wait excruciating for Abram to come get us, I knew I would have to watch the others leave without me.

And I had nightmares about Rafael trapped within an ice prison, unable to get out as the room filled with blood.

On the day in question, I climbed the steps to the front door of ‘House of Figs’, the closed sign hanging over the gate. I had just been to visit Aunt Jo, depressed over the lack of change in any of her vital signs. When I entered the café, I was surprised to see the guys all huddled together, Bastian and Faelan arguing and Eustace agreeing.

“What’s going on?”

They peeled apart and I saw Abram standing at the back, his noble face stricken and torn.

“What is it? What happened to him?”

“Rafael…is still in the breaking.” I could hear the tortured sound of his voice.

“Still?”

“Given the strength of Rafael’s resolve not to follow in the usual habits of vampires, I suspect his internal war would be equally stubborn.” Faelan guessed.

“But what you’re asking is absolutely out of the question.” Bastian barked.

“Believe me, if I had anyone else I could ask, I would…”

“What is it?” I held up my hand at Bastian. “Let Abram speak.”

Abram breathed out. “I had hoped that Rafael would have reached the climax of the breaking by now but he has not…and the revolution is at hand. I am torn between my two responsibilities…”

“You want to stay with him but you have to go.” I paused. “You want me to sit with him?”

“No.” Bastian growled.

“In case the breaking occurs while the revolution unfolds. He’ll be weakened and frail. He’ll need help. I came across some gypsies who nursed me back to health. Who will be there for Rafael?”

“He’s at his most dangerous when he’s at the peak of withdrawals and you want Bethany to be there?” Eustace argued. “Even I think that’s a stupid idea.”

“And what happens if he finally breaks his curse?” I accused sharply and they all clamped their mouths shut. “What happens if he’s lying there, near death, chained to the wall in an ice prison and dies because you’re all off playing hero?”

I knew my words were scathing and hardly accurate but I wouldn’t take them back.

We were all quiet for a moment.

“Query, what if I stayed behind with Bethany St James?” Rob looked at me. “I could protect you.”

“You could stay behind without me.” I said softly.

“If Rafael does break his curse, I believe you are the one he would most like to see first.”

I swallowed, now torn between what I thought I ought to do and what I wanted to do.

“I can’t pretend that you would be perfectly safe,” van Helsing admitted, “however, you wouldn’t be anywhere near the streets of Atannica or the palace. Rafael is still bound deep below.”

“As long as you don’t mind losing Rob from the front lines?”

“I think you and I both know, that is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” Abram said strongly.

I nodded. “Well…I guess I’d better dress for cold weather.”

When I came down the stairs, rugged up so warm I resembled a marshmallow, I caught Eustace saying goodbye to James.

“You be good for Jet while I’m away.” He ruffled his hair and hugged him tightly. I spied Abram’s kindly expression taking in the exchange, the glistening tears that he blinked away and my heart ached.

“Bethany,” I turned to Jet who had come the moment we called, “be careful, yeah?”

“I will.” I paused. “Jet, one day, I’m going to take you to all the worlds beyond the Observatory except maybe for Infinitus. I am going to show you everything.”

He smiled almost sadly. “I suppose…I’m more used to seeing everything through a screen. Real life…maybe it’s a bit messy for me.”

I nodded. “It is messy…but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” I tilted my head. “You could hug me before I go, you know.”

“Oh…” He wrapped his arms awkwardly around me and gave me a hug. “Come back safe. Remember, you’re needed here.”

His eyes conveyed something more than the usual emotion and I was surprised at the way my heart lurched in response. The moment was broken as James launched himself at Jet, pointing upstairs to where there were many games, puzzles and movies to entertain them.

I followed the guys towards the Observatory, feeling the emotion wick away as if it had been perfume sprayed on me and I was leaving a trail of it behind.

I paused at the entrance to the Observatory and glanced up at the window. I saw Jet and James standing there, waving.

I waved back.

“I’m coming home. I swear.” I breathed my promise then turned and entered Engaland.

The resistance was gathered in the armoury when Abram van Helsing arrived with all of us in his wake. I had to admit, I felt like the odd one out, a weird sort of full stop after a line of hardy, handsome and competent looking young men. There was a large table with a drawing of a room done in charcoal. I recognised it immediately. It was the throne room.

“Before we get started with the final preparations,” Abram announced, “brothers in arms, I want to introduce you to some…out of town muscle.” He gestured to each of the guys in turn. “Bastian Wolfgang, a werewolf.”

“Werewolves aren’t real.” The young man called Wil blurted.

Bastian grinned at him, showing off his teeth. “Where I come from, vampires aren’t real…but I guarantee that you’ll find I’m a good match for one.”

“Faelan Iffah, an elf with a keen eye and a keener bow.” Faelan bowed. “This is Eustace, a water dragon.” Someone snorted. “He’s currently in disguise.”

“You wouldn’t want me in full form in here…” Eustace chuckled.

“Last but not least, Rob, a man impervious to a vampire’s bite.”

“What, is he made of stone?”

“My actual composition is thirteen percent titanium, twenty three percent ceramic…”

“Rob,” I hissed, “just say yes.”

Rob blinked in perfect unison which seemed to convince the sceptical fighters more than his simple answer of,

“Yes.”

“As we know, the last of the great vampire lords, and many of the lesser lords, have gathered in the palace of Atannica,” van Helsing pointed to the throne room, “tonight they will gather to celebrate Queen Catina’s five hundredth year reign and when the auspicious toast is made and the wine is drunk, we strike on my signal.” He looked around at the young men and women gathered. “You all know where you’re meant to be. This final gathering is for you to take note of these valiant men who are here to help us.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Why?” Wil asked bluntly. “Why would they, non humans, risk themselves for us?”

“We don’t need any more inhuman oppression.” Darla added and I suspect her remark was out of spite towards me as it was plain that my presence had brought in the flurry of new faces.

“Because Rafael is our friend,” Faelan responded calmly with his usual air of confidence that made him difficult to argue with, “and in learning of his torment, we were moved with compassion to help you end yours.”

“Well said.” Bastian nodded then grimaced. “I just agreed with the elf, didn’t I?”

Abram swallowed his smile down. “Faelan,” he pointed, “the ceiling of the throne room is high with many arches creating a network above the feasting table.”

“I could think of no better place for me to hide.” Faelan nodded. “With my stealth, I can cover the assault from on high without being seen.”

“That is exactly what I hoped.” Abram looked at Bastian and Eustace. “Bastian, your strength and speed will be critical if and when the vampires try to engage the resistance. There is a man among our number who is the weapons guard.”

“I have no need of weapons except my teeth and claws.” Bastian explained.

“Then you will join his ranks. His name is Grigore and he knows about your skill. Wil, you have a place amongst the weapons guard. Take Bastian with you.” Bastian showed his teeth in a smile at Wil who looked suitably alarmed. “Eustace, I need you to stay close with me and should a vampire escape…”

“I’ll catch him in my claws.” Eustace declared. “Should you need fire or water, just let me know.”

“I will do that.” van Helsing nodded. “We are on the cusp of change and can taste the freedom. Let us not falter at the final step. Dismissed.”

The resistance began to break up.

“What about the stone man?” Darla asked.

“Rob will remain here as Bethany’s bodyguard.” Abram explained.

Darla was understandably unimpressed.

“So while we risk our lives, she hides down here?”

“Bethany has her own task.” Abram warned then turned to us without further explanation. “Follow me.”

Bastian, Faelan and Eustace remained in the armoury while Rob and I hurried after Abram van Helsing.

“You must forgive Darla,” he said quietly, “she has developed a…”

“Crush? Attraction?”

“An obsession with Rafael.” Abram sighed. “It is my doing. I asked for female volunteers to try to win him over. Darla was the first and only volunteer. She has seen the way he has been treated and because of her…blood connection with him…”

“It wouldn’t help that I show up and usurp all that she has done.” I murmured. “I didn’t mean to make everything she’d accomplished all for naught.”

“We have to take the opportunities as they rise. Beggars cannot be choosers.”

“Query, this wine that they are celebrating with at the feast…what is it?” Rob asked. “I believed that vampires preferred blood over all beverages and even over food.”

“Ah,” Abram paused and turned back to Rob, “well…it is blood wine.”

“Oh gross…” I moaned. “Whose blood or don’t I want to know?”

“The most potent blood of all…the blood of the first vampire.”

“Dracula?” Abram nodded. “I thought vampires barely bled!”

“Then you can imagine just how hard it was to capture two dozen bottles of blood from him.” van Helsing shuddered. “Vampires are notoriously treacherous, even to their own kind. It’s why, despite the rise of vampiric dominance, only a few are lords. They’re quick to cut each other down if they get the opportunity but the way to kill a vampire is a closely guarded secret.”

“How did you find out about it?”

“I was captain of a vampire’s vanguard, sent out to wage war against another vampire. I had to know.” We entered the passage that would lead us to the great hall. Abram stopped us, his expression deeply serious. “I would have you know that the man inside that room now is not the one you came to save. Rafael is wrestling with the curse of the familiar dark. What he says…what he does…you must not hold it against him.”

“We understand.”

“I will check on him first then…I must go.” Abram steeled himself, his shoulders straightening and he strode into the hall. Rob and I strained to listen but we could hear nothing. A minute later, Abram returned. “He is unconscious.”

“What does that mean?”

“I wish I could tell you.” Abram took my hands. “You are already looking after Jo…now I must entrust my son to you.”

“We will watch over him.” I insisted gently.

“Mount your revolution.” Rob added.

Abram shook his hand then, after a painful pause, he strode down the corridor and turned a corner. I looked at Rob and he at me.

“I’m a little scared.” I whispered.

“Rafael is bound and I will protect you.” Rob blinked. “Shall I go in, instead of you?”

I shook my head. “I said I’d be there for him…that was a promise made to Rafael and Abram. I can do this.”

The great hall felt even colder than ever before. I clung shamelessly to Rob’s arm as we walked its length, heading to the collapsed form of Rafael at the end, bolted to the wall. He was slumped over, his hair in tangles and as still as the dead. Only the twitching of his fingers told me he was still alive.

“Rafael…”

Rob put his hand out. “Bethany, allow me to mark the floor.” I frowned and watched Rob scratch a line into the stone at our feet. “This marks the extent of the reach of the chains. You must not cross it.”

“I understand.” Abram’s armchair had been dragged into the room. I could just imagine him sitting in it, spending whatever time he could with his son as he went through the horrific withdrawals. Rob made sure the chair was behind the line and bade me to sit in it. “Rafael? Can you hear me?”

He shuddered, the only indication that he was aware I’d spoken.

“He must be freezing…”

“The chill might have something to do with the breaking process. We can but trust in Abram’s experience.” Rob insisted.

It was horrible. All I could do was sit and stare.

I had an epiphany of what a husband would go through while his wife bore the pain of labour. There was no denying that labour was excruciating but to sit and watch.

Eventually he began to pant, almost like a woman in labour and I could hear the air hissing out of his clenched teeth. His black nails scraped at the stone and small whimpers escaped his throat.

“Help…me…” He called with a voice raw from pain.

Without thinking I got up to go to him. Rob grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back.

“Fear the line.” He ordered.

Suddenly there was a dash of black and the clank of chains. I screamed when the pale face of Rafael was suddenly before me, his pupils like two tiny pinpricks in pools of ice blue, his lips turned into a violent snarl.

“No,” he mocked, “fear me!” He watched as Rob drew me behind him. “The artificial man…so quick to protect…you really think you would stand a chance against me?”

His voice was hollow. There was no kindness or compassion in it…nothing that made it human…

“Who are you?” I asked, almost convinced that something else had taken Rafael’s place on the wall.

Rafael’s pointed incisors peaked, his smile a terrible thing to behold.

“You are the darkness that Rafael has kept restrained for five hundred years.” Rob surmised.

“Eternally patient…waiting for the moment to rise.” He chuckled. “I knew you would come…”

His words were like guided arrows, going straight into my heart. I peered around Rob.

“Me?”

“I knew you could not resist…your compassion…for this one…” He strained so hard against the chains they began to cut into his wrists.

“Stop it,” I gasped, “stop it!”

He smirked and shifted backwards, the chains falling slack. Beads of sweat dotted his pale forehead though the room was like being in a freezer.

“Come closer…”

His voice was hypnotic, like the pull of a rip tide.

“No.”

“Come closer,” he glowered at me, “and I will finish what he began that night.” My hand slapped over my neck and he laughed darkly, running his tongue over his teeth. “I knew you would not forget our embrace…the thrill of the pain…the throb of the blood…”

“Bethany St James, I think you should leave.” Rob warned.

“No,” I shook my head, forcing my hand down, “whatever this thing is…it’s not Rafael.”

“You think he and I are so different?” The vampire began to walk up and down in front of us, the chains clinking as he went. “You really believe that he didn’t desire you the entire time he was with you? Do you believe him to be so honourable?”

“I remember his face after the attack.” I blurted. “He was horrified.”

“Ah…yes.” Rafael cracked his neck. “For a moment, one glorious moment our desires were entwined…and I felt the touch of your skin beneath my fingers and the taste of your life on my lips.” He shivered and turned to me, his pupils dilating. “Do you know what these humans call the taking of blood without permission?”

I knew he was goading me and held completely still.

Rafael leered. “Blood rape…as if they can hold us accountable to their standards by making what we have the rights to a crime.”

“Taking something from someone without permission is a crime.” I retorted.

Rafael laughed, an almost noiseless huffing, punctuated by the pulse of his throat.

“I rather like the term. Blood rape. It smacks of the old ways…of the first vampire…” Rafael breathed out long and slow. “Oh…how I yearn for those days when humans cowered before us. Now they come, they volunteer…pah…” He spat, going from calm to disgusted so fast I couldn’t keep up. “Vampires have become civilised and tame…”

“Query, would you see the vampire empire fall just so that you could return to the days of persecution?”

“Query, would you see the vampire empire fall…” Rafael mocked and laughed again. “Artificial man, in my ideal world…I would drift upon the rooftops and live in the shadows…and when I saw a beautiful young woman…” His eyes found me. “I would follow her, slip into her room at night, watch her undress from the shadows, wait until she was in bed then join her, my hands holding her down as I…”

I slapped my hands over my ears.

“You’re not Rafael,” I chanted, “you’re not Rafael…”

There was a loud clunk that I could not shut out and I looked up. Rafael had collapsed on the floor, his body convulsing out of control, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

“Rob!”

“Stay back!” Rob ordered and walked over to him. “Rafael appears to be having a seizure.” He knelt down and the next thing I knew, two pale hands had grabbed Rob’s head and snapped it around, his body falling limply to the ground.

“No!” I should have known better than to run forward. Rafael was on his feet in the blink of an eye. I tried to stop, my feet sliding into his reach. Rafael grabbed my foot and the pain was like being caught in a bear trap. I screamed and kicked out, striking him in the face. I dragged myself out of his reach. Rafael chuckled at me.

“Oh how I love your torment! The fear of me and the love for him!” He crowed. “Glorious! I think about that night, about the way your body screamed for him and screamed at me only a moment later.”

“Shut up!”

“Imagine if you were a vampire, the human inside of you always trying to escape me while the vampire gave herself willingly…you would make an exquisitely tormented bride.”

“Never!” I sobbed. “I will never let you use me against him. You can hang there until you rot and Rafael goes free!”

“To do what? Make coffee? Make latte art?” His voice was beyond disgusted and he almost gagged on his words. “He’s screaming for it even now. I can feel him begging for a cup…for the taste of a dark roasted aromatic blend of single origin beans with a finish so smooth…” His voice softened for a moment and he was almost wistful.

I gazed at him, hoping.

“That’s right,” I whispered, “delicious coffee…with every blend a new surprise…”

“Hoping that the hope of life would restored with every mouthful…” Rafael breathed then shook his head, slapping his temple. “No! Never again! I will not be tethered to that mediocre existence!”

“It was his life!”

“And he bound himself to it!”

“Better than being bound to you! You’re going to die and he’s going to live!”

“Do you really think these bonds…can hold me?” He strained towards against them and I could hear the metal of the chains scream, trying to hold on. Dark fog began to pour from his body, curling across the floor of the room. “I embrace the darkness, the first covenant made…enslavement to my base desires for the power to do all…but imagine, just imagine…how powerful I would be if I could have tasted the blood of the first vampire, imbued with his power and abilities…” Rafael stopped straining and gazed at me. “Even a drop…tasted when biting through the seal of the bottles of unadulterated blood wine…”

“Oh no…”

He closed his eyes, concentrating…and then disappeared into a cloud of fog, the manacles falling to the ground…empty.

I let out a gulp, shaking violently, too terrified to look around, sure he was right behind me.

“I am…”

I heard the hiss and could almost feel the scrape of teeth on my neck when there was a screech of pain and I was shoved violently out of the way. Rob, with his head at a strange angle on his shoulders had Rafael’s arms pinned against his sides and drove his body onto the floor. The vampire struggled violently and then, seemingly through an act of gravity defying will, threw Rob off, spinning around to face him. Rob grabbed me and pushed me behind him as we backed into a corner.

“I will not allow you to harm Bethany St James.” Rob warned. “She is not yours.”

Rafael’s mouth turned into an awful smirk. “Shall we see about that?” He kicked out, striking Rob in one knee, snapping the artificial bones and tendons of his body. He sagged against the wall but pushed himself but up. Rafael went after the other knee and Rob dropped helplessly to the ground. I knelt with him, my arms around his body, holding him close. Rafael stood over us, casting no shadow as he was shadow himself. I looked up at him, shaking.

“You fear me now,” he smiled, “but that won’t keep you from me. I will see you soon…”

He turned and strode out of the great hall.

I sobbed onto Rob’s shoulder.

“Rob…”

“Bethany St James,” Rob pushed my chin up so I could look at him, “find the door back home, go through it and lock it behind you.” I was blubbering incoherently but I shook my head. “He knows…about the plot, the tainted blood wine…the resistance and the door…Bethany St James…you must flee.”

“I can’t leave you!”

“I will enter a shutdown state so that my self repair function can fix my injuries. I will be fine but I am in no state to protect you and Rafael has made his intentions known.”

“He’s going to kill everyone!” I shuddered. “I have to warn them!”

“No! Bethany St James…no!” I slid out of his grasp and stood up. Rob’s brown eyes implored me as he lay broken on the ground. “I am begging you…”

“I’m sorry…but I can’t stand by and do nothing!” I turned around and sprinted out of the great hall. I half knew how to get to the surface. I might have struggled to find the door back to my world but I knew I could reach the streets of Atannica and from there, the palace. The ruins of the old castle were deserted and all I could hear was my frantic breathing and the beat of my feet as I raced up the stone steps, into the base of the clocktower and found a door leading out.

The streets were also deserted. I didn’t know what the humans were doing while the vampires celebrated but they were not out and about. I found the curved main road and ran along it, coming across the palace gardens I had passed through when I’d escaped. The drain was easy enough to find and I ran into the darkness, not even pausing at the pit filled with decapitated dolls bodies and their discarded heads. I sprinted up the short flight of steps, leaping across the gap, scrambled to my feet and ran the entire way up. My legs were burning. So were my lungs. My heart was racing and I knew if I stopped, it would leap out of my chest and go on without me. I kept one hand on the wall and put one above until I felt the scrape of stone overhead. I scraped and scratched frantically.

“There has to be a latch on this side.” I whispered. “There has to be!”

My fingers were raw by the time they caught hold of a lever and I pushed and pulled it, finally twisted it around and the ceiling drew back, opening up so that I could clamber into Adela’s room.

I had taken a chance that she would not be there and thankfully I was right. Even the guards were not at her door, probably in the throne room which had been turned into the feasting hall.

I yanked my boots off, running silently down the long corridor of the wing and reached the entrance to the throne room. The doors were open with a line of human guards with their backs to the corridor standing watch. I crept as close as I could, trying to peer into the throne room through the legs of the guards without being seen. There was a gap between the guard on the left and the wall. I slid behind him then felt a hand grab my arm.

“You should not have come back.” I looked up fearfully and recognised Grigore.

“It’s gone wrong…” I breathed. Grigore’s eyes sharpened but before he could ask, the doors at the end of the feasting hall opened.

“Vampires…” Grigore pushed me behind him, against the side of the fireplace where I was mostly hidden. “Do not move.”

From my hiding place I could see vampire lords enter the room. One looked like a Chinese emperor and another like the Tsar of Russian from the time of Rasputin and Anastasia. There was an Indian lord, in Rana formal dress and a Kaiser vampire in German attire.

They had truly spread across the world. Each came with their own entourage of lower lords and nobles, the room filling with dangerous and violent adversaries.

Each was announced but I couldn’t hear anything through the pounding between my ears. I peered up, trying to find Faelan amongst the rafters but of course, as an elf, he was invisible to my human gaze. I didn’t know who else to get the attention of. I did spy Bastian dressed as one of the guards but he was focused on his task and didn’t see me.

Petre’s grating voice announced Adela and Aurelius and they entered the throne room. Aurelius sat at the right hand of the throne at the feasting table and Adela sat on a little stool close to her mother. The table was made up of several, long, marbled dark red and black wood tables with candelabra along its length, candles burning with unseen flames. Beaded lace hung from the sides of the table, creating a veil that rippled and sparkled, peeking out between the high backed chairs along the length. Plates were set out with gold cutlery and in front of every place setting was a small, sherry sized glass.

“Stand and give homage to the dark mother, the Queen of Atannica, Empress of Engaland in whose shadow we bask and for whom, we bleed…Catina Grayson!”

Her beautiful face looked out from her mane of dark hair in luscious black curls, her lips coloured red and tiny teardrop rubies adhered to the outer corners of her eyes. The bodice of her gown was off her shoulders, her slender form shown to advantage. Her gown was styled like a red and black peacock, a high collar of peacock feathers erupting from the choker around her neck. Each of the feathers looked as though they possessed red eyes. The skirt of her gown was hemmed with luxurious fur with the pattern of peacock feathers continued in flocked fabric.

She walked to her throne and I saw her eyes flit lightly to the empty seat to her left before she sat down. Once she had sat, the other vampires did the same, the air quiet and tense. Catina looked at Petre and nodded as he unfolded a scroll.

“Never before in the history of our reign, has there ever been such a gathering of vampires in one place.” Petre narrated. “Never before in the history of our reign has a woman risen to the heights that our beloved Queen Catina has…and certainly no male has ever lived as long as she. You who are here tonight, bear witness to the quincentenary of the greatest vampire rule since the first.”

Catina’s dark eyes glittered as she looked over her guests.

“In honour of her majesty’s rule, you have all come…in honour of your acquest of her rule, you will be inordinately blessed.” Petre continued. “For your pleasure, we have prepared the very best…”

Doors opened and women, dressed in such finery as I knew they would never know as ordinary humans on the streets, entered the room. I spied Darla amongst them and suspected more of the resistance were sprinkled throughout the ‘very best’. There were several men in the offering but it was mostly women. The vampire lords admired the selection with naked longing, some licking their teeth and lips as they anticipated a feast.

“Yet we all know…this is not why you have come.” Catina’s voice was heady like wine itself and everyone turned to her. “You came because of a far rarer…far older vintage…”

The tension in the room escalated as handsome and oiled men entered the room carrying a framework where bottles were suspended in coiled springs. Catina’s fingers scraped over the surface of one and I swear some of the vampire lords were almost leaping out of their seats.

“Dracula…” She breathed. “One drop…and the empire of vampires was born…this is why you are all here…but in order to partake of it…you must swear allegiance to my rule.”

“Tsar Isidor Maksimilian of Rusia.”

The vampire sitting next to Aurelius, in robes of dark teal and gold, stood and held out his glass.

“I swear my allegiance to Queen Catina.”

She held out her hand and a bottle was placed into her slender grasp. She bit down into the seal, tearing it away and poured the blood wine herself. Tsar’s eyes gleamed at the sight of it but he sat with his disgusting beverage and Petre called out the next name.

Over and over the pouring went, each vampire nearly crawling out of their skin to taste it yet held fast in anticipation. At last, Aurelius was called and he made a sweeping bow to his mother before receiving his glass. Catina’s eyes flitted again to the empty place where her other son ought to be seated as her own glass was filled. I couldn’t understand it. Where was Rafael?

Had I misinterpreted what he’d done?

Had he gone to my world instead?

My heart sank as I realised Rafael could have gone to ‘House of Figs’ and attacked Jet and James. They would have been unprepared.

The whole world would be unprepared!

What had I done?

“All rise!”

The vampires stood, their glasses in their hands.

“To Queen Catina!”

“To Queen…”

The main doors to the throne room burst open, a cloud of fog rolling out from the threshold. At its cusp, a figure lounged against the side of the doorway and looked up.

“Don’t tell me you started the party without me?”

His hair was smooth and sleek and entirely black. His skin was almost white and his lips were thin and pale. His eyes were as cold and sharp as a rapier dipped in ice water and his clothing was changed to flamboyantly gothic.

The silence in the room was heavy. Rafael adjusted his coat and walked up the length of the table, his presence oozing a terrible confidence, saturated with superiority.

“My, my…what a turn out…even the most worthless vampire lords are here…”

“Rafael,” Catina breathed, her expression cast in surprise and almost breaking her mask of poise, “my son…”

“Hello mother,” Rafael smiled as he reached the throne, “please forgive my tardy arrival,” he bowed low to her then looked up, his eyes intense with meaning, “but I am here now.”

“My son,” she reached out to grasp his hand, “we have waited so long for you.”

“As have I.” He kissed the top of her hand before sweeping up his glass and holding it out. “My allegiance is to my mother, may she live forever!”

His glass was filled and he smelled it, his jaw trembling.

“What happened to that human morsel you ran off with?” Aurelius demanded coldly.

Rafael didn’t answer. He just licked his fang and smiled.

“Perhaps, after dinner, you will share the story of your…change of heart?” Catina asked.

“I am afraid I may be a little…preoccupied.” Rafael said sadly then turned to Petre. “Put the best of Aurelius’ harem into my chambers. It’s time they knew what a real vampire acted like.”

Aurelius went to argue but Catina’s hand silenced him.

“Give him what he wants,” she simpered, “for my son has come home.”

Aurelius glowered at Rafael who only smirked in response.

“Now,” Rafael looked around, “I believe I interrupted a toast and, as we all know, this,” he held out the glass, “is why we are here…the captured and imprisoned body of the first vampire, Dracula, bled for years upon years…drop upon drop…” He breathed out with longing. “Yet he only lasted a hundred years…a fifth of my mother’s reign…you have done,” he turned to Catina, “what no other woman has ever, in the history of this earth…you will live forever and your story will never end.” He raised his glass and the other vampires did the same. “To the bloody queen!”

“To Catina!”

I stared at Rafael, unable to fathom what he was doing.

He knew!

He knew about the poisoned wine!

However, as he raised the glass to his lips, he paused.

It was unmissed by almost all, the vampires greedy for their portion of Dracula’s blood. Even the lower vampires, the servants like Petre, all had a small allotment which they devoured greedily.

But Rafael paused…and Aurelius noticed.

The brother stared at each other, Aurelius’ expression going from angry to suspicious while Rafael held his gaze, almost amused.

The other vampires were rapturously overcome, sinking into their seats, moaning in delight. Even Catina and Adela had not hesitated, slumped against their chairs.

“You are not drinking, dear brother.” Rafael taunted.

“Neither are you.” Aurelius threw his glass aside.

Rafael chuckled. “Do you know something, I am relieved you’re not as big of a fool as I thought you were. I was going to let the resistance kill you…but I’m looking forward to severing your head from your shoulders.”

Aurelius snarled and leapt at him from across the table. Rafael side stepped but then launched himself at his brother.

And then, all hell broke loose.

The cry came out for the resistance to attack and there was a surge forwards from the wall, humans tackling the vampires, binding them during their drugged rapture. Suddenly I was hopelessly, painfully exposed and unable to hide. The vampires, though drugged, fought back, trying to escape their capture. Chairs were broken, vampires screamed and humans cried out for their freedom as they attacked.

A hand grabbed me and Bastian’s furious face appeared.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” He snapped. “Bethany, hide!”

I spied the edge of the table, the beaded curtain and dove for it, scrambling beneath its length, hiding like a child in the shadows.

I couldn’t see anything. I could only hear the sounds of battle going on, chairs tipped over and someone landing hard on the table above. I shuffled backwards then shrieked, clapping my hand over my mouth when I ran into someone. I twisted and saw Adela slumped on the ground, her eyes wide open but her body, unable to move. She was hopelessly incapacitated by the nightshade and had fallen from her chair in the chaos. Her eyes asked a thousand questions but I didn’t have any answers.

Suddenly there was a terrible roar and I heard a thump as a body landed next to the table…followed by a second thump as a head followed it. I was almost suffocating myself as I put my other hand over my mouth, retching in horror.

“That is for all the scars you gave me.” I could hear his voice above. “Stay back, van Helsing…your little resistance may have had a chance against these foolish, greedy castrated vampires…but you’ll not have the same opportunity with me.”

“Rafael…if you’re still in there…”

Rafael’s laughter was high and maniacal.

“Is he still…he’s dead!”

“You’re still in the breaking! Don’t give in!”

“He can’t hear you…and I have tasted unadulterated blood of Dracula…” There was a muffled whimper. “Oh mother…fear not for I have no intention of killing you. I meant what I said, that you will live forever…bound…deprived…starved…and bled day by day until, when I reach my own quincentenary, I will enjoy the vintage of Queen Catina…but first, where is my little sister…”

I looked at Adela and I saw fear in her eyes.

“Little sister,” Rafael sang like a creepy lullaby, “where are you?”

The table flew from above us, shattering against the wall and Rafael stood over us. His eyes enjoyed my horror.

“I told you, you would not be able to resist my pull…” He smiled. “But first, Adela…sweet, little, eternally young Adela…shall I free you too?”

“Don’t touch her!” I squeaked as bravely as I could, sheltering her though I knew it was futile.

Rafael laughed and grabbed me by the throat, dragging me up off my feet.

“Yes, defy me! Refuse me! I will only enjoy your conquest all the more!” He turned me around and I felt his breath against my cheek. “You think these…humans and the freaks from other worlds can save you?”

I could see van Helsing standing helplessly, staring at the two of us. Bastian was snarling nearby and Eustace was clenching and unclenching his hands.

“I’d hate for them to end up like your poor artificial lover…” I sobbed. “It seems they cannot kill you to kill me…the very thing you promised not to do…” Rafael inhaled my scent. “Perhaps I will let them have my mother…and feast upon you within an inch of your life…before making you my bride. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? No more fear…no more responsibility…just pure, dark, unrestrained, passionate instinct…”

Rafael jerked as a whizzing sound ripped through the air. He shifted, his hand catching an arrow fired from Faelan’s bow. Before he had a chance to mock, Bastian launched himself at Rafael, slamming him with all his might. Rafael had to drop me to get out of his way but once he did, Bastian could not land another blow, Rafael’s speed just a blur compared to the werewolf’s fists. Bastian didn’t let up, driving Rafael back although it seemed as though the vampire was simply playing, dancing around the attack. He shifted sideways, grabbed Bastian by the throat and with strength I couldn’t fathom, threw Bastian over his shoulder, slamming him onto the ground, striking the raven statues with such force that they burst into powder.

“I will show you the true power of a vampire!” Rafael snarled and raised his hand up, fingers clawed, ready to decapitate Bastian.

“Now!”

Eustace released a jet of water that would have put a firefighter’s hose to shame. It shot across the room, striking Rafael, throwing him from the ground, out through the stained glass window which shattered into countless shards and the vampire disappeared from sight.

The silence afterward was unnatural.

I scrambled to my feet and ran to the edge of the broken window. The top of the portico was just below but Rafael wasn’t there. Faelan went streaking past me, alighting on the tiles of the portico and leaned over the edge.

“He is down!” Faelan cried and leapt off the roof. Eustace and Bastian followed Faelan. I turned to van Helsing and, without a word spoken between us, we sprinted for the doors, past the bound vampires and the humans in the resistance, down the stairs, through the main courtyard where the feasting hall was situated above and out the front doors. Faelan, Bastian and Eustace were standing in a row, staring at the ground. Abram and I ran forward to see the broken body of Rafael lying on the stone surrounded by shards of coloured glass.

“No…”

Abram walked forward and knelt, taking Rafael’s head and shoulders in his arms, cradling him on his lap. “My son…”

I looked at Faelan. “Can’t you…”

“He is dead.” Faelan’s expression was grief stricken. “I can do nothing.”

Tears trickled down my face as I joined Abram, taking Rafael’s hand in mine.

“Wake up,” I whispered, “please…please wake up…”

“Bethany,” Abram croaked, “he is at peace. If he were a vampire…he wouldn’t be dead. He died a human.”

“No,” I couldn’t swallow it, “no, no…you have to live, Rafael. You have to. You have a job to do, at ‘House of Figs’. There are so many more blends of coffee to try…you can’t give up…just think of it…coffee…that you bound yourself to…Abram…where is your hip flask?”

He blinked, his grief overwhelming him. “What?”

I didn’t ask again. I searched him over, laying my hands on the small flask and I opened it, the smell of coffee wafting from its small mouth.

“Rafael, can’t you smell it?” I drifted it under his nose. “Can’t you taste it?” I opened his mouth and tried to pour some in but it trickled out the side.

“Bethany…” Abram croaked painfully.

“One last mouthful,” I looked at the flask, “the hope of life restored.” I tipped it into my mouth and held it there as I scooped Rafael’s head into my arms and pressed my lips against his, pushing the coffee into his mouth, holding him tightly so it couldn’t be lost. I was starting to lose myself to despair, my body shaking with sobs but I held firm, willing him to be restored.

Then I felt the smallest of movements, his lips against mine and my thumb, which was stretched across his throat, rose and fell as I felt him swallow.

I gasped and pulled back, gazing down at his resting face…as his lips pressed together and he swallowed again.

“Rafael?”

His lips moved and I leaned down to listen.

“What?” Abram demanded. “What did he say?”

I laughed and kissed Rafael’s forehead before looking up.

“He said you didn’t grind the beans enough.”

Abram gasped and scooped his arms around Rafael. “My son…praise be…”

The feasting table in the throne room had been cleared of all ceremonial adornments but the table itself remained, less the one Rafael had broken. I suspected that the throne room, once the seat of supreme vampiric authority would come to represent the chance for humans to govern themselves. I paced back and forth until the doors opened and Rob, helped by Bastian and Wil, hobbled in.

“Rob!” I ran to him as they deposited him into a chair. “How are you?”

“Operating at eighty two percent efficiency.” Bastian announced. “He’s going to be fine.” The werewolf pulled a face and wriggled his shoulder. “Me on the other hand…”

“You should have let Faelan have a look at that.”

“And give the elf the pleasure of my owing him twice over?” Bastian snorted. “I’ll let my werewolf body heal itself, thank you very much. Come on, Wil, we have vampires to guard.”

I sat on the table and looked at Rob. He studied me, his head tilting as he did so.

“Sorry,” I blurted, “for leaving you like I did…I didn’t want to…”

“Query, does it never occur to you to look after your own safety first, Bethany St James?”

I sighed. “I didn’t know what else to do. I thought Rafael was going to expose the resistance plans and kill everyone. It never occurred to me that the…thing inside of him would see the resistance as an opportunity to rid himself of the vampires that he despised.”

“Given the depth of his depravity, it is quite the feat for Rafael to have restrained those dark impulses for as long as he did.” Rob blinked. “Query, how is Rafael?”

“Resting.” I put my feet on the chair next to him and leaned forward. “Faelan did what he could but there were some other humans injured so he and Eustace had to spread their healing ability around. Eustace took Faelan back to the door under strict instructions to go to his mother and restore his balance.”

“Query, where is Eustace now?”

“Hunting down a couple of vampires that got away.” I licked my lips. “One of the Tsar’s underlings had irritated his master and had been forbidden to come to the ceremony. When he heard what was happening, he took off. And Petre, Catina’s own grovelling little sycophant.”

“Query, where are the captured vampires now?”

“Shackled down below in Catina’s own dungeons.” I shivered. The deadly nightshade had worn off within an hour and their fury was mighty. However, they could not break their bonds no matter how hard they tried. Abram had put a great deal of thought, not only into the initial attack but also in the manner in which the vampires were restrained.

I didn’t go down to see them.

I’d had enough dealings with vampires.

“Query, where is Catina Grayson?”

“She’s down there too. The only one who isn’t is Adela. Abram said she could remain bound in her room.” I swallowed. “Abram’s going to have to give his daughter a choice of going through what Rafael did or dying at the guillotine.”

“Query, does she know that he is her father?”

“I don’t think anyone, outside our group, does.” I admitted.

“Query, does Rafael know?”

That was hard to say. Abram had called Rafael his son but whether or not Rafael had been conscious enough to hear it…

I shook my head and shrugged. Rob studied me.

“Query, when was the last time you slept, Bethany St James?”

“I’m not tired.” That much was true. I didn’t know how to explain to Rob that I was weary to my core. It was a relentless ache in my body, the damage that tension and trauma inflicted. I wasn’t sure if I would ever feel rested again. “Do you need anything?”

“Only time. The damage to my neck has already been rectified and my self repair function is now addressing my knees.”

I slid off the table and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re alright, Rob.”

“Thank you, Bethany St James.”

I went down to Rafael’s chambers but was afraid of waking him so turned around and left. I spied several of the resistance taking boxes of books into a room and looked in curiously. It was a library. I walked in, marvelling at the height of the walls and the amount of books on them. It was a beautiful and extensive library.

“When vampires came to power,” I turned and found Abram leaning against a library ladder that slid on rollers along the shelves so that readers could reach the books high above, “one of the first things they did was confiscate books. Humans could show their submission to vampiric rule by throwing their books onto bonfires.”

“We’ve had similar such occurrences in our world.” I admitted.

“Only vampires were allowed to possess libraries…”

“What about all the books in your den?” I gestured to the piles that were gathering in the library.

“Saved from the flames by bibliophiles.”

“Aunt Jo would have been quite the Robin Hood if she lived in this world.” I giggled. Abram looked around, a cup of coffee in his hands. I studied him. “Did your love of books happen before or after you met Aunt Jo?”

He gave a small smile. “Don’t I strike you as a reader?”

“Not when you’re planning a revolution.”

“A fair assessment,” he laughed softly, “I suppose, in the early days of my breaking, I wanted little more than to overthrow the vampires and kill them all. I hated how I was forced into service to them as a human and then, as a vampire. I was motivated purely by vengeance and dreamed of a guillotine slick with vampire blood…but your aunt, she questioned the merciless methods I planned to enact. She pointed out that there might be others like myself who would want to break their curse if they had the choice. I argued that with the time it took to give them the choice, some vampires could break free and didn’t want to let them have that chance” Abram chuckled. “We had many a heated debate over it. She can be so…stubborn.”

“When it comes to thinking of others, yeah.” I nodded then paused. “Actually…that’s the way she was in general. I guess you have to be when you take on a place like ‘House of Figs’ without being married or partnered, looking after her niece then all the guys, managing a business…turning it into a home…all on her own.”

“Did she ever say why…”

I shook my head. “I think she always preferred the guys in books to the ones in real life.” Abram gazed into his coffee, his eyes tender. I folded my arms and studied him. “Abram…can I ask…you and Aunt Jo…do you…”

“Yes.” He replied without hesitation even before I’d managed to form my question.

“Then I also have to ask…why did she stop coming back?” I caught myself before I could keep blundering on. “Look, you don’t need to say…”

“We fought.” Abram’s tone was quiet. He moved to the table where the notes for his memoirs were scrawled.

“Sounds like you did that a lot. What was different about this one?”

The older man’s face crumpled into pain. “I…I asked her to marry me.”

“You did what?” I sat up, shocked by this newsflash. “What did she say?”

“Well, given that she isn’t here being Mrs Abram van Helsing…”

“Oh…right.” I wanted to slap my head. “So, um…why did you fight over that?”

“Well, I’m responsible for the revolution and she is responsible for ‘House of Figs’…and I said it was just a job…” Abram groaned. “Bloody hell…five hundred years old and I’m as big of a fool as ever. I don’t blame her for not wanting to come back.”

“Well, she did…but that’s when she found Rafael and brought him to ‘House of Figs’.”

“I suspect that was the day she left the haiku for you in a letter box used for resistance communications. She knew I would receive it. She didn’t come again for me.” Abram’s voice was certain.

I studied him a moment. “But she did.”

Abram stared at me. “She did?” I nodded. “When?”

“I don’t know…Rafael said he found her here and sent her home.” I swallowed. “Well…okay, so I don’t know why she came back…I’m just guessing…”

“It’s something, though…” Abram reassured me then sighed deeply, his shoulders bowing. “I should not be thinking of my personal life now. I have to prepare for tomorrow.”

“What’s tomorrow?”

“The day of reckoning…the march of the vampires to the guillotine.”

I stared at him. “That soon?”

“The longer we wait, the likelier that one or more will escape. It has to be done.”

I shivered. “What about Adela?”

“What about her?”

“She’s a child!”

“A five hundred year old child.”

“She’s your daughter!”

“She doesn’t know who I am.” Abram shook his head. “Nor does she want to know me.”

“She has no love for her mother, I can tell you that.” I walked over to him. “Abram, you’ve got to tell her…cause the moment that blade falls and you know she died in ignorance, you’ll hate yourself forever.”

Abram gazed at me warmly, his blue eyes soft and amused.

“How alike you and your aunt are…”

“I honestly wish I was more like her.” I admitted. “Please, Abram…visit Adela in her room. Look at her dolls, the ones on the bed. Please…”

Abram put his hand on my shoulder and nodded.

“I will. I swear it.”