By One Drop of Blood

Part 9

The stairway up to the main floor is located right at the end of the mace of crates. Armed with a new weapon I take the steps upwards. The exit door is no simple door to open. It is more of a hidden entrance. In front of the exit stands a wooden object most likely a shelf with books. Kicking against it brings it tumbling down. The books stored in it spread across the ground. Back inside the mansion I have to find my fellow men and the vampire. I do not know how much time has passed but it is still dark outside. The surrounding a lit brightly by the still burning fields. By now someone must have taken notice of the situation and is coming our way. The ground floor is empty and dark. All light was went off. Only the light of the fire from outside grants some illumination. I guess the men have left the house since on traces indicate a battle further than the one me and the vampire fought. Retreating through the main door I look into four rifle barrels that are aimed at the door. The first shock is quickly overcome by the fact that the barrels belong to my soldiers. All the four men are still alive. They lower their weapons and greet me.

"Sir, good to see you well and alive."

"Well, the vampire sucked me of. Otherwise I'm fine."

The sickness coming with being bitten by a vampire will usually kick in some hours after the bite. Until then we will have time to take down the vampire.

"What happened since I was taken out?"

"Sir, after you were chocked out the vampire turned into thin are and left with you in his possession. All we were left with were a bunch of bats. We left the scene and gathered around the house. What did happen to you, sir?"

"The vampire took me down to the basement and locked me up. I encountered the dog monster again and found this sword." I show the men the sword.

"Nice found, sir."

Standing outside the house the full scape of the fire becomes clear. The entire plantation is engulfed ans surrounded by fire which means we can not escape. We are trapped. But so is the vampire. He is this inside the mansion and unable to flee. The house has not caught fire yet. From inside the house something is stepping into the open of the balcony. The undead master of the plantation still resides in his made up castle. Resting his snow white hands on the railing he speaks down to us.

"You will find nothing but certain death on this lands!"

Again we enter the mansion. This time we go straight up the stairway up to the next floor. The upper floor splits into several rooms. One of them is a pitch black fully enclosed room with a coffin inside. The obvious resting place of the undead creature. Next to the former bed room is a dining hall, another fireplace and the entrance to the balcony. The vampire is still standing before the railing awaiting us. As we take stance around him he turns around.

The dark shadows cloak the vampire in the mist from which the dog monster crawled. Without being completely consumed in it he is lifted up in the air, over the railing and up to the roof. Shooting the rifles the men had with them shows no effect again. The vampire could escape over the roof. If he finds an opening within the flames he will be gone to be never found again.

"I will follow him to the roof!" The men look at me in disbelieve.

"Sir, you will be alone. You will stand no chance against the vampire. He sucked your blood already. If he will get you again there will be no way for us in helping you!"

The man is certainly right but I can not let even the slidest chance open for the vampire to escape. Before the men could stop me from what I am about to do I step onto the railing and jump up to the roofs ledge. Aided by the old trick of lifting one leg first from which I roll over the edge I have caught up to the vampire.

Annoyed and even a bit surprised he looks back at me.

"You relentless idiot! You don't know when it is time to let loose, aren't ya?"

"Never was. Never will be." I counter while still feeling the blood lose. Standing up right with the sword drawn in my hands I challenge de vampire for another fight.

"I see you found the sun shinning toothpick. That would be a problem if I ad not already killed it's prior user. You don't know how to use it, do you?"

I really do not know how to use whatever the special usage of the sword is. Reading my reaction the vampire laughs in his triumph.

"You my friend are no great warrior after all."

He draws his own weapon. This time I will not take the first step into combat. Fighting with a fully fledged sword is difficult. I only used a sabre which is lighter and faster to swing. The sword will take some time to adjust to. The vampire has its rusty sabre ready. He knows that he got no other chance than defeating me to get down the roof. The sun is already rising. At least that is in my favour. The vampire is amped by the recent blood intake. With its pupils wident and its skin a lot healthier in tone the creature is in possession of all its strength and willing to fight its way free.