CHAPTER XXXIV

Rachael, Elma, Cassandra and Bryan sit in the taxi on their way to a destination only Cassandra's heart can pinpoint like an emotional compass.

The driver nags like a captain following the instructions of a vexatious sea witch.

Bryan smokes a Newport cigarette in the front seat, wondering how he got himself into this situation.

Elma is booming with enthusiasm as she looks forward to the end of their trip.

Rachael's eyes are filled with anger and confidence as she lights their spirits with her energy.

Cassandra is driven.

She knows she can't involve her pack in something like this, it would be an abomination but that won't stop her from going herself.

Good thing she has help now, even though she doubts their strength.

But she knows that if this human is here, then those two monsters that John works for will come.

That is the best she can do right now.

They should be able to hold on for a while.

Rachael is tired of losing people.

Will this choice prove her bravery or her naivety?

Vlad Tepesh lies in a garden of beautiful flowers, admiring his wife as she looks at the stars.

"I wonder what you see up there?", Vlad asks.

Justina's golden hair glittering beneath the moonlight.

"They are beautiful, my love.

My mother told me that there is a star up there for every one of us", Justina says.

"Your mother tells lies," "No, she doesn't. You are just blind.

Tell me, dear husband, what do you see up there?" Justina turns to her husband.

Vlad looks up into the sky; the bright moon screaming with the light on the creatures beneath its gaze.

Vlad feels nothing towards the beauty of nature, he only sees its ugliness.

Death, pain, sorrow and the beautiful illusion of the stars.

They make people temporarily forget the horrors of the world and appreciate the life they have.

Vlad sees through these constructs of God, even his happiness will leave him one day.

There is no true happiness except through the gates of heaven and he knows that he will never go there, not after what his father did in heaven.

"I see nothing, nothing but a world of pain and deceit," he says coldly.

Justina's eyes rest on his temple as she walks towards her husband.

She kneels between his legs as he sits up.

She takes his hand and places it on her protruding stomach, "I know you think there is only pain and terror in the world but there is also joy and love.

And this is the product of our love" she says.

Her beautiful green eyes carry a delight that quickly clouds the darkness that Vlad sees.

He kneels, his eyes staring into hers.

He kisses her lips, "You are more beautiful than all the stars in the sky,".

Vlad Tepesh served his people well until he was exposed as a creature of darkness and so they left.

He and his queen left their kingdom but the immortal was alright with it, as long as she was by his side.

Hunters tried to kill him on several occasions but they never succeeded.

And one day, the immortal returned home from a journey to meet his household on fire.

His wife's heartbeat was no more and what was left, was her burnt corpse.

His anger was wild and untamed and the people of Transylvania suffered his torment as he turned their streets to a path of blood and death.

He destroyed lands and villages close but no life he took made it feel better, he only felt worse as his pain became insatiable.

One day on the battlefield, a corpse covered in dirt stood before him and called his name.

"Vlad Tepesh Dracula.

I know what you want" the corpse said.

It was covered in mud and blood.

And its red eyes stared with evil desires lurking at its edge while its smile emitted a malicious aura.

Flames appeared above its head and in those flames, he sees his wife.

"Her soul is with me, in hell.

Sacrifice your children to me and I will give her back to you.

Give me a body to walk on this earth and I will bring her back.

I will give you what you want the most".

"Who are you, demon?" "Don't you know the voice of your father? I am Lucifer".

"My lord," Adrian's voice pulls Count Dracula out of his memories.

"The Satanic witches are here" Adrian reports, "Good".

The timing is right and the witches have arrived and all that is left are the twins.

This time the ritual will work and this time she will come back.

"Cassandra love, what are we doing in the Rocky Mountains?" Elma asks the werewolf.

"John is here" "Where exactly?" Bryan asks, "I don't know but I can feel him" Cassandra answers.

"Feel him? I thought you marked him" Bryan says furiously, "He is marked. That's why I know he is here," she says.

"This is crazy," Bryan mumbles.

"Come on Cassandra, lead the way." Rachael urges the werewolf.

They walk around the woods and spot a few cabins along the way but Cassandra leads past them.

It is almost dawn.

The group pauses as they pick up a strange scent, except Rachael of course.

Cassandra begins to growl, "They are here," John says.

Armed men come out of the shadows and point their guns at the group.

"I came here for my friend, John" Rachael says out with confidence.

Kate Martin-Tremblay finishes a cigarette and tosses it to the ground.

She steps on it.

Her family has gone on several hunts but this one is personal.

The last time they went on a hunt because of a vendetta was when Marcus lost his wife.

They killed a lot of supernatural creatures back then and now they may walk that same path for Mary.

They didn't even get to see her one last time.

Whoever this Dracula is, he must be killed.

Some guards come with a bunch of strangers.

They point their guns at the strangers, "What's going on? What is this?" she asks.

"We found them trying to sneak into the vicinity. There are two vampires here," a guard answers.

"Why are they still alive?" "I am here for John, the vampire you captured," Rachael says.

"She is human, ma'am" a guard tells her.

"And who are you?" Kate asks.

Rachael takes a deep breath. A question that Rachael isn't sure she can answer.

The daughter of a thief and a liar or the daughter of a loving father and a strong mother.

"I am Rachael McQueen".