Journia
3rd Level Blue Feather
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This is a chapter from a story of mine called, Necromance
This is already copyrighted.
Saul groped through the darkness searching for Necrae Morba’s arm. He felt a fim bony arm. He recognized it as her appendage. The elbows always seemed sharp.
“Necrae, We have to go. Or atleast get some light in here.” As if on cue, a bright light came on. They were in a foyer with a winding well of steps that led to a hall which slowly fell into darkness.
“My eyes!” saul cried shutting them tightly. Necrae looked in his direction. Her vision was quite used to flashes such as this. She saw that he held on to a long wooden pole leading up into the darkness of the ceiling. As his eyes adjusted, he found to his surprise, a large, old painting. He knew who it was. But, he was somehow forced to ask.
“Who is that?” he asked in an innocent way. In his head, a voice cried out Idiot in many languages.
“Tat? Oh, that is my father.”
“No, it can’t be. That man in that picture is over--”
“Six hundred years old. I know. We have been around that long.” Saul looked at the man with the long black hair, deep set, great lobed eyes. The sharp features, the pointed nose, sharp chin, the large lower lip. The look which suggested, I don’t give a deuce what you say. And the great, long moustache. The most famous in history. After looking at the portrait and then at Necrae.
“No, he can’t be. He was called the impaler, he was said to drink blood, but he is not one of the undead.”
“What makes you so sure love?” She smiled. The glint of a white fang caught his eye. “Father, would you come down here?” There were footsteps. And in the darkness, Saul could see a form move to the railing. The form began to descend the stairs. First, he saw, the shiny black dress shoes, then, the black pants. Then the black belt and shirt. Followed by the black tie and a long slightly pale neck. Finally, one of the most, feared, and publicized faces in the world. The Face of Vladislav Dracula. Dracula smiled a shining smile, which was filled with kindness, yet discipline.
“Ah, we have a visitor.” He began. His voice was not like in the movies, not hissing, or scratchy, the voice was that of a man in his early forties, who possessed great civility. He sounded a lot lke denzel Washington. Atleast to Saul.
“How do you do?” He held his hand out and smiled. His fangs were the most interesting aspect of his being, Saul could not take his eyes off of them. Even as he shook his hand, all that filled his mind were, My God! Look at those choppers! and I hope they have been fed! The next thing he noticed were his eyes. Dracula’s seemed a tad burnt.
“What happened to your eyes sir?“ if he answered the question correctly, there was nothing left to doubt.
“Those damned Ottoman Turks. They burned them out. Then my body..” He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a thin, muscular abdomen down the middle was a great brown mark. That is over three centuries of healing. And for over five centuries I have watched my daughter toil. She longs to live the normal life of a woman of her age. She wishes to live and die.”
“Saul knew very little of what the man was saying. He seemed unable to understand the significance. Dracula saw this and Began to explain further.
“My friend. Please, seet.” He motioned to a large chair by a large doorway. “Now, imagine if you vere alive over six hondred years ago. Leeveeng in the land of Vallachia. And jou vere vone of se most hated rulers in se vorld. And your daughter vas se most precious sing in se vorld. And everyday spies were trying to steal her avay from jou. And one day to your dread, you find that she has been taken away by the ottoman turks. You go to find her, only to find she has been killed. And on your way back, you are capturesd and tortured. Your eyes burnt out and your body set ablaze. Tied to the cold stone floor, covered with a thin layer of dry hay, which is being poured upon you as the fire grows.”
“Vat ees se point jou vish to make to me?” Saul asked in the father’s accent.
“My daughter has lived—Daughter what are you doing?” Necrae looked into a closet and pulled out a mirror. She hung it up on the wall. It was round with ancient wood carvings. She turned to Saul.
“Look into this and it will spare you my father’s tale.” She glanced at her father apologetically, who looked at her in a relieved way.
Saul stood in the center of the mirror’s direction. He looked into the mirror, for about forty-five seconds there was nothing. “I don’t think that there is anything goin—” He stopped and stared right into the mirror. His body went rigid and his eyes grew black. Saul could feel himself being sucked in. Soon, he landed in a stone room. He could hear footsteps coming near the door. A familiar voice. He was about to burst out of the door and into the hall when he remembered, separate time. Dracula has not met him yet and so he could be impaled.
The footsteps and voices passed the door and headed down the hall. Saul found a long black cape. He donned it and left the room.He went the opposite direction of the people who had just passed. With the cape over his head, he looked like a monk touring the building. As he descended the steps, two strong hands gripped him and brought him down the stairs.
“dRACULA ORDERS YOU TO THE CHAPEL.” ONE SAID.
“But why?” Saul asked.
“You must never question the lord. Nor should you our ruler.”
The men threw him into a room where there was a large crucifix on the wall. Along with four other monks stood Vladislav Dracula. A bit younger than when saul saw him. His hair was neatly pulled back with a hair collar. He wore a black military suit.
He began to ask questions of the monks.
“You,” he shouted pointing to a fat monk with a kind smile. “What do you think of me?”
“Oh, I believeth thou art the greatest leader of all time m’lord. If nothing else thou shouldst be a saint.” At thAT MOMENT, Five stakes were put up, hanging from them were three men and two women, all naked. The poles went through their anuses and out their mouths.
“And you.” he asked pointing to saul who still had his cloak over his head. Without looking up he said this…
“Count Dracula I believe that you areew a despicable brute. Forgive me My lord for such harsh words, but your work hwre is nothing short of barbaric. Your deeds make you inequal to god, and nowhere near a saint. My beliefs you know count areb that the evil should be put up on the stake. And you have proven yourself worthy to be put upon the greatest stake ever made. Alongside the devil. But that can never happen.”
“Why is that?”
“Because, you and Belial are one in the same.” The fat monk turned to Saul with a look of extreme anger on his face.
“Who are you? How dare you speak of our ruler in such a way! You will be han—”
“Silence!” Dracula roared. He looked at saul expressionlessly. Then for a moment a smile could be seen upon the slim prince’s face. “Execute him.”
The prince’s guards walked over to the fat monk and held him tight. “What in the name of thy ruler are thee doing?”
Dracula turned toward him, his eyes narrowed. “Thou art to be impaled, for thou hast lied to thy lord, whom thy lovest so well.” He turned to Saul; “And he will get much wealth for he has told what is true in his sight.”
“No!” The monk cried as he was taken out of the room. Dracula snapped his fingers and two men hauled in four great bags of gold. A few coins dropped out.
“Come my priest, let us watch the traitor in his last moments.” He placed his long fingered hand about shoulders and led him to the window. Below them was a courtyard. Two men entered the yard and placeda long wooden stake in the middle. where a moment later, the monk was taken out and placed upon the
Stake which stood in the middle of the courtyard. the men keld him over the point of the stake and let him drop. His eyes bulged and he screamed loudly. Two men pulled his legs and two others pulled his arms. His eyes bulged more, and he screamed louder. Saul heard a loud smashing sound. He turned to see, a glass cup had shattered. He stared at the man who had screamed atr him once before. The monk’s head involuntarily turned upwards and his screams were muffled a bit. Then the point of the stake came up through his mouth, streaked with blood. Saul stood motionless, all of the color drained from his face. He just stared. The Mercy of this man is limited. Sia the voice in his head. Afterwards the prince invited Saul to the dining room to drink.
“I will have a cup of water please.” Saul told the servant as he sat down. Saul had not removed the hood from his head, lest he be exposed. He noticed he was considerably taller than the famed prince. His moustache had not grown to the size it was yet, unless he had cut it, which he most often did.
“Now, priest, ah?”
“Brother Saulon”
“Brother Saulon, you seem to have a habit of hiding yourself within darkness, eh?” Saul could sense what was coming up.He had to veer away from that point.
“How is your kingdom sir?”
“Quite well, actually, but I would be delighted if you could—”
“Do you believe that your religion is great?”
“Yes.”
“How great?””
“That my friend is not the point of my question.”
“There is an even more powerful religion in the west. It is on your heels now. “
“The turks, I believe you are referring to?”
“Yes, of course. They aren‘t that big now, but soon.”
“You speak nonsense. My warriors are the best my kingdom has, they are undefeated and, they are legendary.”
“Really.” Saul asked in an unconvinced tone.
“Truly, no turk shall ever cross thease borders. “
A servant rushed into the room, his hair, tied in a ponytail. He looked about frantically and called out Dracula’s name, then turning to see Dracula, he ran to him and hung onto his shoulder crying.
“My lord! My lord, it is terrible, terrible!” Dracula looked at the man then rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and it looked to saul as if he said, great.
“What is it Yarkocha? This is the thirteenth time you came to me this morning. It is not about the incident which forced you to wake me so early in the morning is it?”
“No, my lord, your Daughter has been kidnapped, the turks have left a ransom letter.” He handed the letter to Dracula.
“Dear Prince Vladislav Of Wallachia,
I have captured your daughter, Necrae Morba Draculea and taken her to my palace in Istanbul. Surrender your kingdom or I will have her throat slit and she will be impaled.
Sultan Mehmed”
Dracula threw the letter down and rushed off in a rage to a tower room. Saul followed him.the two of the ascended many long stairs to a lone room in a corridor. Saul stopped Dracula who had been cursing loudly.
“Please, allow me to open the door. My lord.” He said as he twisted the knob. Inside was a large room with walls the color of fresh blood. There were cast iron candle holders on each wall and a large, luxurious bed. A book was open and a feather quill was between the pages. The room would be the scene of peace, were it not torn to shreds. The books were strewn about the room, many of the candles were blown out and there was glass on the floor.
“How could this happen!” Dracula got on his knees and began to weep.
“Draculea, stand up, this is not the time to cry. The life of your daughter is at stake! We must go to the sultan and steal her back!”
“We?”
“Yes we! Now, gather your best men and we shall go!” A mist began to fill the room and Saul was sucked from the cloak and into the darkness. He found himself on a romanian horse, going through the desert. He looked to his right and saw Dracula, his neck showed many veins pulsing with blood. His eyes were red and slitted. Hmmm.. To think this is the one from whence the phrase brutally honest originated. Saul thought as he rode the horse ahead.
“Draculea, where are we going?”
“Istanbul. We are going to bypass the Turkish military barracks so that we may have an safe expeditious trip. Then we will take the palace and the city and rescue my child.”
“That may not be such a bad plan, except for one thing.”
“What?”
“What direction are we going in?”
“The west why?”
“Istanbul is in the east!”
“I am only joking.” And I am not Draculea, I am his double. The prince is in the back.” Saul left the group and rounded to the back and found his way to the middle. He looked about the bouncing uniforms of wallachian soldiers until he found the only one with a bullneck.
“Draculea!” The man turned to Saul and reached out his hand. Saul grabbed it and brought his horse closer. “How long till we reach Istanbul?”
“A few more days. It will be much easier going through the western, less armed towns.”
“I am aware. Please, fill me in on this daughter of yours. Does your country know about your daughter’s existence?”
“My country knows nothing of her birth, or her existence. From birth, her mother wanted her to be unknown. And the public would have been outraged by her existence. If there was a princess, they would want me to marry her, so that there would be a king and queen.”
“But you already have a wife don’t you?”
“Yes, but that is the construed logic of the people of low level thinking. I am known as the impaler prince, therefore, I am not a king. So, if my daughter is known of, then she will be forced to marry me.,” Dracula wiped sweat from his brow, “Which I am sure she does not want.” They continued on into the desert.
A few days later, the army was passing through some of the less armed, and more deserted towns, controlled by the Ottoman Turks.
“We are a day away from Istanbul!” Dracula shouted as they stopped to rest.
“Here here!” the soldiers shouted as they cheered their leader. Saul had bgun walking around the town, he saw mostly desert as he approached a group of buildings.He was nearing the steps when he stopped and picked up a shiny glass ball at his feet. After brushing the sand off, Saul realized it was not a ball, but a pure quartz skull! It looked almost real except for it being made of quartz. He had read a lot about these in his spare ime so he knew a multitude of informative tidbits about them. He began poking at the skull to find any movable joints. He found only one and that was the lower jawbone. When he moved it, the skull began to move in his hand. It moved its jaw this way and that, then it stared up at Saul and sang in the famous tone of the infamous fat lady.
“OoAaoooooooooohhhhh!!!!” it sang loudly, the ground began shaking beneath him. Dracula heard the voice and ran on foot toward saul. He grabbed the skull and closed its jaw. The silence was deafening.To saul, it seemed louder than the skulls voice. I suppose that is how much I really appreciate silence. He thought as he watched Dracula examine the skull.
“Well, she has been here.”
“What? That is Necrae Morba\s?”
“Yes. I bought it from a mad foreigner for twenty ducats. He wanted it for less but I gave him what I thought it was worth. He said it caused him great depression and disaster.”
I can see why. He thought as H began to ask Dracula another question.
“Did you know, that that skull holds world secrets?”
“No, ansd that does not concern me now. I want my daughter back.” He placed the skull in a leather pouch and went to his horse. “Rest all of you, for tonight, we storm the city!” The soldiers once again cheered. He turned to saul and beckoned him to come.
“Yes Prince?”
“Brother, I wish for you to deliver a letter to the Sultan. Do not read it, and do not lose it.” Go to Istanbul.”
“But that it a day away! How are you all going to get there tonight?”
“It is only three hours away, actually I only say that fore the suspense to build now, go!”
“Saul leapt upon his horse and ran off at full speed. He arrived in Istanbul near dusk. Two guards were there to greet him.
“Off of your horse.” the taller of them shouted. Saul obeyed.
“I am here to deliver a letter to the sultan from prince Draculea.” The shorter guard jumped up and ran into the gates. The tall one looked at the sprawled form of the short guard and sighed.
“He was not meant to be a guard. Come on!” He led Saul into the city. The guard walked behind him so he wouldn’t run off. Saul, annoyed by this and a bit unnerved, turned his head.
“Hey what is that!” He ran into an alley. The guard pursued him, but when he got to the end of the alley, Saul was nowhere to be found. Baffled by this, the guard turned only to be kicked in the face. The guard fell backward and smashed his head upon a large brick. After seeing the man was unconscious, Saul dragged him near the shadows of a group of pottery. Saul decided to drop him into the large vase.
Saul finally found the palace of the sultan and found yet more guards.
“I am here to speak with the sultan. Is he seeing anyone at this time?”
“I am right here.” Saul turned to see a man dressed in white with the blackest beard he had ever seen. The man was a bit older than he was.
“You are sultan Mehmed?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes, I am Sultan Muhammed, or Mehmed, the second. I believe you have something for me?” He held out his hand. Should I give it to him? Yes, you should, to save Necrae Morba. But what if he is an impostor? There is no time for that now. Give him the letter! Saul thrust the letter into his hand The sultan read slowly, relishing this moment. After reading the letter, the sultan pointed at the two guards.
“Take this man away! Put him in the room with Dracula‘s daughter!”
Saul fought for a bit but resigned himself to his fate. He was carried below ground to a dungeon.
“Wait, Necrae Morba is in the tower.”
“So, we’ll leave himn down here.”
“No! Remember when he found we did not put the vases in the right place? Remember what we lost?” He held up his hand ro show a scar where one vein had been torn out.
“You are right. Let’s go.”
Saaul wondered how the turkls knew of Necrae Morba while the citizens of Wal;lachia did not. There was more timew for that later. He was thrown in to the tower room and the door was locked behind him.
The room was for the most part dark, with one side lit by the window which was open to the occidental sun.
Dracula had sent his forces toward the capitol. At sunset the turks would come out and then they would be caught. Dracula had designed his attack well, with his experience when he was younger, stAYING WITH THE TURKS. When his father was alive, before the boyars killed him.The turks would not know what was coming.
In the palace, Mehmed stared at the horizon contemplating his agenda. Soon the crown of yet another kingdom shall be mine, and my old friend Vlad shall serve me. The crown of Wallachia will belong to me, finally. He turned to his general.
“Send out the troops.”
“Yes my sultan.” the general said as he marched out the door.
Saul stood, draped in his cloak, (he had never taken it off.) looking out of the window at the troops. They were marching toward the gates. Why can’t anyone see Dracula’s army out there? He is right at the gates! He stared out the window and watched in horror and delight as the troops of Dracula lined along the walls and Mehmed’s rode on their horses toward the open gate.
“So, you have been brought here too? As what may I ask? My savior?” Saul turned to see the form of a girl in the shadows.
“You must be Necrae Morba.”
“Right. Now answer my question.”
“I am not your savior. I was here only to deliver a message.”
“I see. You don’t seem the kind of person who would save me.”
“Please, step forth into the light, I can’t really see you.”
“How clever, you wish to avoid an insult with a change of subject. “
“No, I really can’t see you very well. I am sure you are most beautiful. After all, you are of royal blood, and royal blood is finest.”
“I am also of Bathory blood and that is bad.”
“Please step forward.”
“Forward!” Shouted the general on his horse. The cavalry rushed toward the open gate. Mehmed stared from his tower watching his troops gloriously begin their leave. His eyes narrowed with delight. The muezzin began to call the adhan. Suddenly it was interrupted by a shrill cry, “Dracula and his men! They are at the gate!” Mehmed’s mouth hung open with horror.
Necrae had stepped forward and revealed herself. She was of a deep tannish color. Like her father. Her black hair hung in great locks. Her teeth were very white. She was not the white as a sheet girl Saul had known.
“And you must reveal yourself.” She said as she slowly removed the hood from Saul’s head.
The soldiers left the gate and almost immediately Dracula’s forces speared them from the side. The men were knocked to the ground and trampled as The Wallachians rode forth into Istanbul
“Get Necrae Morba and The Monk! Hamr only those that get in your way!” Dracula shouted as he sliced the head of a man holding a spear near him.
“I have met you somewhere.” Necrae whispered.
“Yes you have.” Saul replied.
“I remember. Yes I remember now.” Saul began to smile.
Smack!!! Necrae’s hand flew over Saul’s right cheek quicker than lightning.
“You were the one who fondled me then ran!” she screamed.
“What? No! No you have not met me before then!” Necrae’s hand raised for another slap. Saul retreated into the darkness. After about half an hour, There was a great crash and Wallachian soldiers entered and carried the two out. The room grew black again.
Saul reappeared in Castle Dracula. As westerners would call it. He could hear sobbing coming from somewhere in the next room. He listened through the wall closest to him. He thought he knew who it was.He stepped out of the room and began to search for the door. He stopped suddenly, he felt a cold breeze about him. He turned swiftly to find no one had passed. He then heard a scream. He took off in the direction of the scream. It sounded like that of a woman. As he neared the corner of the corridor, a shadow passed by him and rounded it first. It was draped in a cloak and held a scimitar. Saul ran faster and rounded the corner, slipped and slid to a halt. He looked up to see an old woman on the ground, the shadow held its shadowy scimitar over her head. It plunged the weapon through her head, and the woman fell silent. Her eyes bulged with fear. The shadow faded into the air when two guards arrived. Saul followed suit. He did not want to get arrested and possibly impaled by Dracula. He ran down the hall silently, which he realized he had never done before. It must be the shoes. He thought. He returned to the door where he heard the sobs and opened it to find Necrae Morba on a large bed sobbing into a dark red handkerchief. He snuck in and closed the door. He moved slowly and stealthily toward the window. As she was crying, Necrae Morba Gasped and Grabbed a dagger and flung it into the wall near Saul’s head.
“What are you doing in here!” She whispered between sobs.
“I am here to find what is wrong with you..”
“Do you not remember?” She turned to him with glowing red eyes. “The turks killed my father!”
“Dracula is dead?”
“Yes! Don’t you remember anything you see? The turks shot many arrows at the door we were leaving from and then my father ran forward. The sultan’s soldiers stopped and took him. He screamed “go on! Take her home!” Today, I received a letter from the turks, they have killed him. Tbhey burned his eyes out and burned his body.” The door opened and Saul hid und the bed. The two guards entered The walked near the bed and began addressing Necrae Morba.
“M’lady,” one said. “Another murder has been executed.”
“Really. Inside the castle?”
“Yes.”
“Sweep her up and throw her into the river.”
“Yes M’Lady.” They turned and left the room.
Saul crawled from under the bed and walked to the window.
“How many murders have taken place?”
“Thirteen.”
“When did they start?”
“This morning.”
“So this all happened since Dracula has died?”
“Obviously. Wouldn’t you have connected the dots?”
“Please let Sherlock holmes do his work.”
“Of course.” Saul began pacing about the room rambling on about different theories of his pertaining to the murders.
“Sir, would you please solve the murders?.
“I am a young brother, my dear, the youngest of them all.”
“Necrae Morba’s Nose wrinkled a bit, then she laughed. “You must be the most rugged also.” She replied in laughter which meant she did not believe a word that came from his mouth.
“Please give me a mirror.” Saul asked in a demanding way. Necrae handed him a mirror and for the first time, he saw himself since he had come to this age. He was tall and thin, but he had the face of a French Foreign Legionnaire. His mouth was covered in a black moustache. His nose was longer. His eyes were a piercing blue. Saul slowly put the mirror down as Necrae began to sob again. As he sat to comfort her, the room began to speed away from him, and retracted into the darkness.
This is already copyrighted.
Kiziglu Bey
Saul groped through the darkness searching for Necrae Morba’s arm. He felt a fim bony arm. He recognized it as her appendage. The elbows always seemed sharp.
“Necrae, We have to go. Or atleast get some light in here.” As if on cue, a bright light came on. They were in a foyer with a winding well of steps that led to a hall which slowly fell into darkness.
“My eyes!” saul cried shutting them tightly. Necrae looked in his direction. Her vision was quite used to flashes such as this. She saw that he held on to a long wooden pole leading up into the darkness of the ceiling. As his eyes adjusted, he found to his surprise, a large, old painting. He knew who it was. But, he was somehow forced to ask.
“Who is that?” he asked in an innocent way. In his head, a voice cried out Idiot in many languages.
“Tat? Oh, that is my father.”
“No, it can’t be. That man in that picture is over--”
“Six hundred years old. I know. We have been around that long.” Saul looked at the man with the long black hair, deep set, great lobed eyes. The sharp features, the pointed nose, sharp chin, the large lower lip. The look which suggested, I don’t give a deuce what you say. And the great, long moustache. The most famous in history. After looking at the portrait and then at Necrae.
“No, he can’t be. He was called the impaler, he was said to drink blood, but he is not one of the undead.”
“What makes you so sure love?” She smiled. The glint of a white fang caught his eye. “Father, would you come down here?” There were footsteps. And in the darkness, Saul could see a form move to the railing. The form began to descend the stairs. First, he saw, the shiny black dress shoes, then, the black pants. Then the black belt and shirt. Followed by the black tie and a long slightly pale neck. Finally, one of the most, feared, and publicized faces in the world. The Face of Vladislav Dracula. Dracula smiled a shining smile, which was filled with kindness, yet discipline.
“Ah, we have a visitor.” He began. His voice was not like in the movies, not hissing, or scratchy, the voice was that of a man in his early forties, who possessed great civility. He sounded a lot lke denzel Washington. Atleast to Saul.
“How do you do?” He held his hand out and smiled. His fangs were the most interesting aspect of his being, Saul could not take his eyes off of them. Even as he shook his hand, all that filled his mind were, My God! Look at those choppers! and I hope they have been fed! The next thing he noticed were his eyes. Dracula’s seemed a tad burnt.
“What happened to your eyes sir?“ if he answered the question correctly, there was nothing left to doubt.
“Those damned Ottoman Turks. They burned them out. Then my body..” He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a thin, muscular abdomen down the middle was a great brown mark. That is over three centuries of healing. And for over five centuries I have watched my daughter toil. She longs to live the normal life of a woman of her age. She wishes to live and die.”
“Saul knew very little of what the man was saying. He seemed unable to understand the significance. Dracula saw this and Began to explain further.
“My friend. Please, seet.” He motioned to a large chair by a large doorway. “Now, imagine if you vere alive over six hondred years ago. Leeveeng in the land of Vallachia. And jou vere vone of se most hated rulers in se vorld. And your daughter vas se most precious sing in se vorld. And everyday spies were trying to steal her avay from jou. And one day to your dread, you find that she has been taken away by the ottoman turks. You go to find her, only to find she has been killed. And on your way back, you are capturesd and tortured. Your eyes burnt out and your body set ablaze. Tied to the cold stone floor, covered with a thin layer of dry hay, which is being poured upon you as the fire grows.”
“Vat ees se point jou vish to make to me?” Saul asked in the father’s accent.
“My daughter has lived—Daughter what are you doing?” Necrae looked into a closet and pulled out a mirror. She hung it up on the wall. It was round with ancient wood carvings. She turned to Saul.
“Look into this and it will spare you my father’s tale.” She glanced at her father apologetically, who looked at her in a relieved way.
Saul stood in the center of the mirror’s direction. He looked into the mirror, for about forty-five seconds there was nothing. “I don’t think that there is anything goin—” He stopped and stared right into the mirror. His body went rigid and his eyes grew black. Saul could feel himself being sucked in. Soon, he landed in a stone room. He could hear footsteps coming near the door. A familiar voice. He was about to burst out of the door and into the hall when he remembered, separate time. Dracula has not met him yet and so he could be impaled.
The footsteps and voices passed the door and headed down the hall. Saul found a long black cape. He donned it and left the room.He went the opposite direction of the people who had just passed. With the cape over his head, he looked like a monk touring the building. As he descended the steps, two strong hands gripped him and brought him down the stairs.
“dRACULA ORDERS YOU TO THE CHAPEL.” ONE SAID.
“But why?” Saul asked.
“You must never question the lord. Nor should you our ruler.”
The men threw him into a room where there was a large crucifix on the wall. Along with four other monks stood Vladislav Dracula. A bit younger than when saul saw him. His hair was neatly pulled back with a hair collar. He wore a black military suit.
He began to ask questions of the monks.
“You,” he shouted pointing to a fat monk with a kind smile. “What do you think of me?”
“Oh, I believeth thou art the greatest leader of all time m’lord. If nothing else thou shouldst be a saint.” At thAT MOMENT, Five stakes were put up, hanging from them were three men and two women, all naked. The poles went through their anuses and out their mouths.
“And you.” he asked pointing to saul who still had his cloak over his head. Without looking up he said this…
“Count Dracula I believe that you areew a despicable brute. Forgive me My lord for such harsh words, but your work hwre is nothing short of barbaric. Your deeds make you inequal to god, and nowhere near a saint. My beliefs you know count areb that the evil should be put up on the stake. And you have proven yourself worthy to be put upon the greatest stake ever made. Alongside the devil. But that can never happen.”
“Why is that?”
“Because, you and Belial are one in the same.” The fat monk turned to Saul with a look of extreme anger on his face.
“Who are you? How dare you speak of our ruler in such a way! You will be han—”
“Silence!” Dracula roared. He looked at saul expressionlessly. Then for a moment a smile could be seen upon the slim prince’s face. “Execute him.”
The prince’s guards walked over to the fat monk and held him tight. “What in the name of thy ruler are thee doing?”
Dracula turned toward him, his eyes narrowed. “Thou art to be impaled, for thou hast lied to thy lord, whom thy lovest so well.” He turned to Saul; “And he will get much wealth for he has told what is true in his sight.”
“No!” The monk cried as he was taken out of the room. Dracula snapped his fingers and two men hauled in four great bags of gold. A few coins dropped out.
“Come my priest, let us watch the traitor in his last moments.” He placed his long fingered hand about shoulders and led him to the window. Below them was a courtyard. Two men entered the yard and placeda long wooden stake in the middle. where a moment later, the monk was taken out and placed upon the
Stake which stood in the middle of the courtyard. the men keld him over the point of the stake and let him drop. His eyes bulged and he screamed loudly. Two men pulled his legs and two others pulled his arms. His eyes bulged more, and he screamed louder. Saul heard a loud smashing sound. He turned to see, a glass cup had shattered. He stared at the man who had screamed atr him once before. The monk’s head involuntarily turned upwards and his screams were muffled a bit. Then the point of the stake came up through his mouth, streaked with blood. Saul stood motionless, all of the color drained from his face. He just stared. The Mercy of this man is limited. Sia the voice in his head. Afterwards the prince invited Saul to the dining room to drink.
“I will have a cup of water please.” Saul told the servant as he sat down. Saul had not removed the hood from his head, lest he be exposed. He noticed he was considerably taller than the famed prince. His moustache had not grown to the size it was yet, unless he had cut it, which he most often did.
“Now, priest, ah?”
“Brother Saulon”
“Brother Saulon, you seem to have a habit of hiding yourself within darkness, eh?” Saul could sense what was coming up.He had to veer away from that point.
“How is your kingdom sir?”
“Quite well, actually, but I would be delighted if you could—”
“Do you believe that your religion is great?”
“Yes.”
“How great?””
“That my friend is not the point of my question.”
“There is an even more powerful religion in the west. It is on your heels now. “
“The turks, I believe you are referring to?”
“Yes, of course. They aren‘t that big now, but soon.”
“You speak nonsense. My warriors are the best my kingdom has, they are undefeated and, they are legendary.”
“Really.” Saul asked in an unconvinced tone.
“Truly, no turk shall ever cross thease borders. “
A servant rushed into the room, his hair, tied in a ponytail. He looked about frantically and called out Dracula’s name, then turning to see Dracula, he ran to him and hung onto his shoulder crying.
“My lord! My lord, it is terrible, terrible!” Dracula looked at the man then rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and it looked to saul as if he said, great.
“What is it Yarkocha? This is the thirteenth time you came to me this morning. It is not about the incident which forced you to wake me so early in the morning is it?”
“No, my lord, your Daughter has been kidnapped, the turks have left a ransom letter.” He handed the letter to Dracula.
“Dear Prince Vladislav Of Wallachia,
I have captured your daughter, Necrae Morba Draculea and taken her to my palace in Istanbul. Surrender your kingdom or I will have her throat slit and she will be impaled.
Sultan Mehmed”
Dracula threw the letter down and rushed off in a rage to a tower room. Saul followed him.the two of the ascended many long stairs to a lone room in a corridor. Saul stopped Dracula who had been cursing loudly.
“Please, allow me to open the door. My lord.” He said as he twisted the knob. Inside was a large room with walls the color of fresh blood. There were cast iron candle holders on each wall and a large, luxurious bed. A book was open and a feather quill was between the pages. The room would be the scene of peace, were it not torn to shreds. The books were strewn about the room, many of the candles were blown out and there was glass on the floor.
“How could this happen!” Dracula got on his knees and began to weep.
“Draculea, stand up, this is not the time to cry. The life of your daughter is at stake! We must go to the sultan and steal her back!”
“We?”
“Yes we! Now, gather your best men and we shall go!” A mist began to fill the room and Saul was sucked from the cloak and into the darkness. He found himself on a romanian horse, going through the desert. He looked to his right and saw Dracula, his neck showed many veins pulsing with blood. His eyes were red and slitted. Hmmm.. To think this is the one from whence the phrase brutally honest originated. Saul thought as he rode the horse ahead.
“Draculea, where are we going?”
“Istanbul. We are going to bypass the Turkish military barracks so that we may have an safe expeditious trip. Then we will take the palace and the city and rescue my child.”
“That may not be such a bad plan, except for one thing.”
“What?”
“What direction are we going in?”
“The west why?”
“Istanbul is in the east!”
“I am only joking.” And I am not Draculea, I am his double. The prince is in the back.” Saul left the group and rounded to the back and found his way to the middle. He looked about the bouncing uniforms of wallachian soldiers until he found the only one with a bullneck.
“Draculea!” The man turned to Saul and reached out his hand. Saul grabbed it and brought his horse closer. “How long till we reach Istanbul?”
“A few more days. It will be much easier going through the western, less armed towns.”
“I am aware. Please, fill me in on this daughter of yours. Does your country know about your daughter’s existence?”
“My country knows nothing of her birth, or her existence. From birth, her mother wanted her to be unknown. And the public would have been outraged by her existence. If there was a princess, they would want me to marry her, so that there would be a king and queen.”
“But you already have a wife don’t you?”
“Yes, but that is the construed logic of the people of low level thinking. I am known as the impaler prince, therefore, I am not a king. So, if my daughter is known of, then she will be forced to marry me.,” Dracula wiped sweat from his brow, “Which I am sure she does not want.” They continued on into the desert.
A few days later, the army was passing through some of the less armed, and more deserted towns, controlled by the Ottoman Turks.
“We are a day away from Istanbul!” Dracula shouted as they stopped to rest.
“Here here!” the soldiers shouted as they cheered their leader. Saul had bgun walking around the town, he saw mostly desert as he approached a group of buildings.He was nearing the steps when he stopped and picked up a shiny glass ball at his feet. After brushing the sand off, Saul realized it was not a ball, but a pure quartz skull! It looked almost real except for it being made of quartz. He had read a lot about these in his spare ime so he knew a multitude of informative tidbits about them. He began poking at the skull to find any movable joints. He found only one and that was the lower jawbone. When he moved it, the skull began to move in his hand. It moved its jaw this way and that, then it stared up at Saul and sang in the famous tone of the infamous fat lady.
“OoAaoooooooooohhhhh!!!!” it sang loudly, the ground began shaking beneath him. Dracula heard the voice and ran on foot toward saul. He grabbed the skull and closed its jaw. The silence was deafening.To saul, it seemed louder than the skulls voice. I suppose that is how much I really appreciate silence. He thought as he watched Dracula examine the skull.
“Well, she has been here.”
“What? That is Necrae Morba\s?”
“Yes. I bought it from a mad foreigner for twenty ducats. He wanted it for less but I gave him what I thought it was worth. He said it caused him great depression and disaster.”
I can see why. He thought as H began to ask Dracula another question.
“Did you know, that that skull holds world secrets?”
“No, ansd that does not concern me now. I want my daughter back.” He placed the skull in a leather pouch and went to his horse. “Rest all of you, for tonight, we storm the city!” The soldiers once again cheered. He turned to saul and beckoned him to come.
“Yes Prince?”
“Brother, I wish for you to deliver a letter to the Sultan. Do not read it, and do not lose it.” Go to Istanbul.”
“But that it a day away! How are you all going to get there tonight?”
“It is only three hours away, actually I only say that fore the suspense to build now, go!”
“Saul leapt upon his horse and ran off at full speed. He arrived in Istanbul near dusk. Two guards were there to greet him.
“Off of your horse.” the taller of them shouted. Saul obeyed.
“I am here to deliver a letter to the sultan from prince Draculea.” The shorter guard jumped up and ran into the gates. The tall one looked at the sprawled form of the short guard and sighed.
“He was not meant to be a guard. Come on!” He led Saul into the city. The guard walked behind him so he wouldn’t run off. Saul, annoyed by this and a bit unnerved, turned his head.
“Hey what is that!” He ran into an alley. The guard pursued him, but when he got to the end of the alley, Saul was nowhere to be found. Baffled by this, the guard turned only to be kicked in the face. The guard fell backward and smashed his head upon a large brick. After seeing the man was unconscious, Saul dragged him near the shadows of a group of pottery. Saul decided to drop him into the large vase.
Saul finally found the palace of the sultan and found yet more guards.
“I am here to speak with the sultan. Is he seeing anyone at this time?”
“I am right here.” Saul turned to see a man dressed in white with the blackest beard he had ever seen. The man was a bit older than he was.
“You are sultan Mehmed?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes, I am Sultan Muhammed, or Mehmed, the second. I believe you have something for me?” He held out his hand. Should I give it to him? Yes, you should, to save Necrae Morba. But what if he is an impostor? There is no time for that now. Give him the letter! Saul thrust the letter into his hand The sultan read slowly, relishing this moment. After reading the letter, the sultan pointed at the two guards.
“Take this man away! Put him in the room with Dracula‘s daughter!”
Saul fought for a bit but resigned himself to his fate. He was carried below ground to a dungeon.
“Wait, Necrae Morba is in the tower.”
“So, we’ll leave himn down here.”
“No! Remember when he found we did not put the vases in the right place? Remember what we lost?” He held up his hand ro show a scar where one vein had been torn out.
“You are right. Let’s go.”
Saaul wondered how the turkls knew of Necrae Morba while the citizens of Wal;lachia did not. There was more timew for that later. He was thrown in to the tower room and the door was locked behind him.
The room was for the most part dark, with one side lit by the window which was open to the occidental sun.
Dracula had sent his forces toward the capitol. At sunset the turks would come out and then they would be caught. Dracula had designed his attack well, with his experience when he was younger, stAYING WITH THE TURKS. When his father was alive, before the boyars killed him.The turks would not know what was coming.
In the palace, Mehmed stared at the horizon contemplating his agenda. Soon the crown of yet another kingdom shall be mine, and my old friend Vlad shall serve me. The crown of Wallachia will belong to me, finally. He turned to his general.
“Send out the troops.”
“Yes my sultan.” the general said as he marched out the door.
Saul stood, draped in his cloak, (he had never taken it off.) looking out of the window at the troops. They were marching toward the gates. Why can’t anyone see Dracula’s army out there? He is right at the gates! He stared out the window and watched in horror and delight as the troops of Dracula lined along the walls and Mehmed’s rode on their horses toward the open gate.
“So, you have been brought here too? As what may I ask? My savior?” Saul turned to see the form of a girl in the shadows.
“You must be Necrae Morba.”
“Right. Now answer my question.”
“I am not your savior. I was here only to deliver a message.”
“I see. You don’t seem the kind of person who would save me.”
“Please, step forth into the light, I can’t really see you.”
“How clever, you wish to avoid an insult with a change of subject. “
“No, I really can’t see you very well. I am sure you are most beautiful. After all, you are of royal blood, and royal blood is finest.”
“I am also of Bathory blood and that is bad.”
“Please step forward.”
“Forward!” Shouted the general on his horse. The cavalry rushed toward the open gate. Mehmed stared from his tower watching his troops gloriously begin their leave. His eyes narrowed with delight. The muezzin began to call the adhan. Suddenly it was interrupted by a shrill cry, “Dracula and his men! They are at the gate!” Mehmed’s mouth hung open with horror.
Necrae had stepped forward and revealed herself. She was of a deep tannish color. Like her father. Her black hair hung in great locks. Her teeth were very white. She was not the white as a sheet girl Saul had known.
“And you must reveal yourself.” She said as she slowly removed the hood from Saul’s head.
The soldiers left the gate and almost immediately Dracula’s forces speared them from the side. The men were knocked to the ground and trampled as The Wallachians rode forth into Istanbul
“Get Necrae Morba and The Monk! Hamr only those that get in your way!” Dracula shouted as he sliced the head of a man holding a spear near him.
“I have met you somewhere.” Necrae whispered.
“Yes you have.” Saul replied.
“I remember. Yes I remember now.” Saul began to smile.
Smack!!! Necrae’s hand flew over Saul’s right cheek quicker than lightning.
“You were the one who fondled me then ran!” she screamed.
“What? No! No you have not met me before then!” Necrae’s hand raised for another slap. Saul retreated into the darkness. After about half an hour, There was a great crash and Wallachian soldiers entered and carried the two out. The room grew black again.
Saul reappeared in Castle Dracula. As westerners would call it. He could hear sobbing coming from somewhere in the next room. He listened through the wall closest to him. He thought he knew who it was.He stepped out of the room and began to search for the door. He stopped suddenly, he felt a cold breeze about him. He turned swiftly to find no one had passed. He then heard a scream. He took off in the direction of the scream. It sounded like that of a woman. As he neared the corner of the corridor, a shadow passed by him and rounded it first. It was draped in a cloak and held a scimitar. Saul ran faster and rounded the corner, slipped and slid to a halt. He looked up to see an old woman on the ground, the shadow held its shadowy scimitar over her head. It plunged the weapon through her head, and the woman fell silent. Her eyes bulged with fear. The shadow faded into the air when two guards arrived. Saul followed suit. He did not want to get arrested and possibly impaled by Dracula. He ran down the hall silently, which he realized he had never done before. It must be the shoes. He thought. He returned to the door where he heard the sobs and opened it to find Necrae Morba on a large bed sobbing into a dark red handkerchief. He snuck in and closed the door. He moved slowly and stealthily toward the window. As she was crying, Necrae Morba Gasped and Grabbed a dagger and flung it into the wall near Saul’s head.
“What are you doing in here!” She whispered between sobs.
“I am here to find what is wrong with you..”
“Do you not remember?” She turned to him with glowing red eyes. “The turks killed my father!”
“Dracula is dead?”
“Yes! Don’t you remember anything you see? The turks shot many arrows at the door we were leaving from and then my father ran forward. The sultan’s soldiers stopped and took him. He screamed “go on! Take her home!” Today, I received a letter from the turks, they have killed him. Tbhey burned his eyes out and burned his body.” The door opened and Saul hid und the bed. The two guards entered The walked near the bed and began addressing Necrae Morba.
“M’lady,” one said. “Another murder has been executed.”
“Really. Inside the castle?”
“Yes.”
“Sweep her up and throw her into the river.”
“Yes M’Lady.” They turned and left the room.
Saul crawled from under the bed and walked to the window.
“How many murders have taken place?”
“Thirteen.”
“When did they start?”
“This morning.”
“So this all happened since Dracula has died?”
“Obviously. Wouldn’t you have connected the dots?”
“Please let Sherlock holmes do his work.”
“Of course.” Saul began pacing about the room rambling on about different theories of his pertaining to the murders.
“Sir, would you please solve the murders?.
“I am a young brother, my dear, the youngest of them all.”
“Necrae Morba’s Nose wrinkled a bit, then she laughed. “You must be the most rugged also.” She replied in laughter which meant she did not believe a word that came from his mouth.
“Please give me a mirror.” Saul asked in a demanding way. Necrae handed him a mirror and for the first time, he saw himself since he had come to this age. He was tall and thin, but he had the face of a French Foreign Legionnaire. His mouth was covered in a black moustache. His nose was longer. His eyes were a piercing blue. Saul slowly put the mirror down as Necrae began to sob again. As he sat to comfort her, the room began to speed away from him, and retracted into the darkness.
