The Crimson Project

-8-

I fainted, I could feel the air stopping in my throat, like something was blocking it and everything faded to black.
But when I opened my eyes, everything was different.
That smooth voice that got into my head seconds ago was there, outloud and right behind me.
I turned around, realizing how different I was in comparison to myself.
A mirror by my left, surprisingly, reflected me, and I saw a woman, older than me, probably in her thirties, golden locks falling from her head and towards her shoulders, a black dress and a locket.
I touched and my heart skipped a beat.
I recognised her, almost as I have imagined her the very first time I got my hands on Bram Stoker's Dracula.
I recognised her:
It was Mina Murray.
She was...me.
I breathed in and the voice spoke again.
-Mina...-he said and his voice warmed my heart.
How could it be so much love in someone's voice? Only by speaking my name, I could feel it.
-Count...-I replied and turned around to find him right in front of me in less than a second.
He held both of my hands for a second and moved them towards my waist, moving me closer to him.
-I can't believe you're here again...-He said and I could tell this wasn't happening.
This was a memory.
And I knew exactly every word to this script in my mind.
-You brought me... I didn't decide any of this.- I pulled myself apart from him and his eyes showed pain.
-I brought you, so you can finally decide what to do...about me. About...him- Dracula growled and stared into my eyes.
-I-I don't understand what you're talking about, I made my choice I have nothing to do here... you were never an option- This was what I needed to know, like I was experiencing a sequel to that novel.
-No... you can't keep on denying it!-he claimed and moved closer, his voice sounded like thunder.
-I can't deny what is not true! I was never yours, you thought I was someone else!-I was afraid, of him and the truth wandering inside of me. Begging for freedom.
-YOU ARE HER, I do know it! -Dracula held me close again and kissed my lips.
I knew it...

I opened my eyes, William was holding me and the twins were guarding us. Waiting to see if someone shows up.
I stood up and he extended his hand to me, I held it and he grabbed me, wrapping me with his arms.
-You scared me... I have seen something like that long ago and...-he lowered his voice while speaking.
-Time to go back to show, everyone-Marco said and we both splitted up.
-Are you feeling better sweetheart?-Kiara asked and I nodded with a smile, even though my mind was more messed up each second.
A security man came to us and I played my part.
-Ms Van Helsing, I need to know what to do with the prisoner, he is acting strange and we won't tell us anything. -The man said and handed me over a few sheets of paper and a red folder.
-I need to catch up with the experiments of today, and...-I scanned through the pages, to understand what was really going on. - I need a time alone, in my conference room, this lady and these gentlemen are accompanying me, they are interested in the projects.
The man nodded and led us to a white room, with no cameras.
Everything was prepared for her abd her co workers to be confidencial.
-Here, when you are done, the prisoner needs to see you, the committee believes they will get more information once you see him.
I agreed and he left us alone.
-Give me that-William claimed and he took the loose papers from my hands and started reading it. Kiara and Marcos got behind of me, reading as well.

Crimson Project
DAY 22nd , MONTH 6th
After the research on the European union being a failure, we came to a hint on were to find Alexander Bennet, as a possible leader of the vampires on the British Columbia.
My men are departing at sunrise.

DAY 25th , MONTH 6th
I can't believe my eyes, when I see him, is everything my grand grand dad used to talk about.
He is fierce, he is powerful but now, he is mine and with him under my orders, I can control a whole race of nocturnals.

DAY 26th, MONTH 6th
Our talk was unsuccessful, as he refused to tell us anything else, himself, Dracula himself is protecting his people.
I always pictured him in a more...egocentric way.
I brought one of his old friends, a woman, called Leila, which was loyal to him.
We snapped her in half in front of him but even thought he suffered, he keeps unbending.

I stopped reading when images of Lucy's corpse appeared between notes about the blood color and the body reaction to regular weapons.
They were studying us, in order to use us as weapons, like they did with me back at the laboratory and in order to learn how to destroy us.
To them, we were toys.

I saw the pictures around ten of them, and my heart ached from the savagery, the cruel way they teared her apart.
Something inside of me was screaming and crying her heart out.
Mina was horrified to lose her friend again.
In such a terrible and meaningless way.

DAY 15th, MONTH 8th
We came to a point of no return.
We tortured him, we killed everyone on his clan and he remain speachless...
I know what to do.
In two days, the sun will be entering through his cell, when the sunrise, he will have one last chance to collaborate with us or die in pain.

-What day is it today Marco?- Kiara with soft voice.
-August 17th... -he replied and William and I shared a stare in fear.
-What time is it?-I said and quickly pulled out my cellphone to realise it was 4.00 am.
-We have two more hours, we will be just fine... okay? Call the security, we need you, to talk to him, Marco and I will find the credentials to free him and Kiara will stay with you as security. Got it?-William said and I could tell how much he really cared about us, the vampires, nocturnals like Halley Van Helsing wrote in her project.
-Let's go.-We said in one voice and started to develop our plan.
-We go this way-Marco claimed and William nodded, Kiara held her brother while William came to me and smirked.
-It's been an adventure, isn't it?-He asked and I grinned.
-Don't try to pretend you or I won't make it out of this place, we will be fine, and we will have to create a new plan soon, to stop this madness. Those projects.
-I just know that the last time we separated like this... I lost you for almost a Century... I'm not losing you again, Irina... Mina... -William leaned closer to me and put his hands on my back, pulling me closer to him.
I kissed him and felt a electric wave through my whole body.
-You won't-I replied, winked at him and Kiara smiled while callling me towards the left corridor.
We shared one last look and a wave of memories of them, Mina and Jonathan came to my mind, trotting over my will to leave.
It took me a second to recover my breath and I finally decided to face the fate I have been avoiding for a century.

"I can't wait another second, Mina..."

The voice in my mind came back and I sighed.
We were led to a blank wall, with a little black pannel on its right corner and the security guard entered a code I tried to remind and the white wall vanished.
Behind it, a tall, pale man was sitting leaning his back on the wall, his hair black as a raven falling over his face, covering everything but his lips, which smiled when we were standing right in front of it.
He looked up and his tormented eyes broke my heart.
I remembered him, as a vampire, yes, but I could almost believe I knew him as a man as well...
Why?
"Welcome back... Irina..."