Dracula's Groom

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: BRING ME TO LIFE

Nathan

Tears fell from my eyes at an alarming rate, making it that much harder for me to breathe. Inside, I felt like I was dying. Outside, it felt like my whole world was built on nothing but lies. How can he do that to me? I thought we were in this together, partners. I leaned my head against the cool glass of a taxi as it took me back to the hotel where my clothes and personal effects were waiting for me.

Pulling up in front of the hotel, the driver spoke to me via the rearview mirror. "$8.50."

I opened the door. "Keep the meter running. I'll be back shortly."

"You got it."

Back in the room I changed out of my fancy clothes for my street one's and grabbed my wallet that sat on the nightstand. The bed was messy, unmade, I easily pictured Dracula sleeping there and I with him. Sadly, our future would be over before it even began. As for the laptop I decided to take it with me. It was only when I went to go shut it down that there in the news feed showed a recent video of a man on fire in front of Buckingham Palace.

I couldn't see his face but as I listened to him scream. My heart sunk. It had to be him! I bolted from the room and took the emergency stairs down to the lobby as I quickly paid the bill and jumped back into the cab. I ordered the driver to take me to the nearest hospital as the look of confusion crept up on his face. Except he didn't argue when I through him a fifty. Amazing how that works.

A few blocks over, Rose General Hospital stood tall and inviting. As we pulled up to the main entrance I gave the driver another fifty and told him thanks. I quickly headed inside and ran up to the receptionist desk who looked startled by my presence. I was breathing so heavy that I struggled to get the words out.

"B—Body, burnt, male. Can you help me?"

"Okay. First, settle down. Collect yourself. When you feel you're ready I want you try again."

I stood up straight, taking a deep breath. "An ambulance just brought in a body a few minutes ago. I believe it was on the news. If it's too not soon, I would like to ID the body before the police get here."

"Give me a moment."

I paced around the lobby as the call took about five minutes. Finally after an eternity, she signaled me over and spoke in hush voice. "The coroner is on his way up to come get you now. But he wanted me to warn you beforehand about the severity of the situation. It's not good."

"Thank you for the warning. Which way do you want me to go?"

She pointed down a long hallway and told me read the signs that hanged overhead. Finding the only elevator in this place wasn't too hard. Just had to follow the little red line that read MORGUE. As I came around the corner, a fairly handsome man was waiting for me. I was taken back at first mostly by his appearance. I figured he would be you know, older. A white lab coat draped over the top of his slim shoulders while his hairline started to show signs of receding gradually.

"You must be the guy Leslie was telling me about. I take it you know the deceased."

"Yes. May I see him?"

"I can take you to him. But I must warn you it's not a pretty sight."

"I'll be fine doctor."

Down within the bowels of the hospital. Very little lighting was used in this sector. A slight chill crept up behind me as I shuddered and followed the coroner into the autopsy room. And there, lying on a metal slab still in a body bag was my Dracula. Or at least I hoped it was and not somebody else. We stood on either side of the table, the doctor staring me in the face as he reached for the zipper.