Dracula's Groom

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE: The Sacrifice

Dracula

A single drop of blood had signaled the start of the war. Even as more blood was spilt, the endless array of bodies piling up in the vestibule only added to the rage that was currently racing through my system. And it was with each kill that brought me one step closer to achieving a victory I was hungry for. Blood flood like an endless river down the steps of the grand staircase as I thrust my sword into the body of another mortal.

His death-like scream was cut short as I grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him deeper into my sword and sank my fangs into him. More gunfire erupted down the corridor as I tossed the lifeless body over my shoulder and bared my fangs, charging at full speed with my sword held high. A bloodbath ensured the gruesome outcome as strikes of red sprayed over the windows and the drapes.

My chest heaved heavily, but I wasn't tired. I was just getting warmed up. As I lowered my sword, I heart another beating heart run up the stairs and stop at my back. It was Stranger. His eyes were wide at the massive amount of carnage that laid at my feet. I turned to look at him. "What is it?"

"Nathan, called. He says he's on his way back. He told me to come find you and see if you needed my help."

Just then, an explosion rocked the castle as I heard more intruders rush in, gunning for me. I looked Stranger dead in the eye. "I want you on guard duty," I said firmly, pointing at the door behind him. "In there is my daughter. You are not to go in there, understand? If anyone gets passed me, I want you to kill them. And do not hesitate because one little slip and if anything happens to my little girl, I'll kill you myself."

He nodded, without saying a word and stood in front of the door, looking to arm himself. Deep down, I knew that I had to trust him. I turned him in the hopes that he would be my bodyguard. But then I met Nathan, and forgot about him. It was only until recently that after my daughter was born, I decided to put him in charge of protecting the one thing that really mattered me. Our daughter...Astrid.

Down on the first floor, I continued my carnage of death, destruction, mayhem and soon found myself in the grand ballroom where the source of the explosion began. It was here that I would make my finale stand. Another group of SUV's appeared as more men raced across the backyard before stopping short of the hole in the wall. They aimed their weapons at me as I braced my body for the impact that was sure to hurt like a sonofabitch.

A squeeze of the trigger was all it took, but none of the men fired. That's because the gunshot didn't come from them. It came from behind them. The bullet struck a grenade on one of the guys as it exploded, killing the rest of them in an instant. As I peered through the smoke and the blaze, a lone figure appeared. My mate, my partner, my husband. Nathan. My Nathan.

His face and clothes were covered in dirt, while his eyes fueled with fire. I moved to greet him, to run to him. When Nathan was in the middle of a fight of his own. His body moved in perfect sync with the guns that opened fire from his hands. Like a dance, he managed to hold his ground against the gunmen who intended to kill him or worse capture him. As he finished killing what he thought was the last guy, another one sprung up behind him as I threw my sword across the open air and watched as it struck the unsuspecting gunmen in the back. Nathan turned around, his fangs protruding from his gorgeous mouth.

"You missed one," I said, walking toward him.

He chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks for that. But what about..."

I didn't even let him finish that sentence as I took his face in my hands and kissed him deep. Amidst the bodies and blood-soaked carnage, this moment right here would be forever burned in my mind. For that no matter whatever evil's we might face in this world, we will face them together.

"Dracula, stop," Nathan said in-between kisses. "Where's our daughter?"

"Astrid's still upstairs in our room. I have Stranger on guard duty."

"Astrid," he muttered. "Astrid, Astrid, Astrid. That's a pretty name. I like it."

"A pretty name. For a beautiful baby girl."

"Dracula!" A voice yelled as I turned around and saw Dr. Jekyll. "Why won't you die?!"

"I don't go down easy. But you will," I replied, reaching for my sword. "I'll make sure of it."

Nathan made the motion to move, but my hand stopped him. "Dracula, let me go." He said.

"Yes, Dracula, let him go." Dr. Jekyll, said with a grin. "Perhaps, I'll even let him say goodbye to his daughter before I take her away forever."

And there, in his arms, safely tucked inside her blanket was Astrid. I bared my fangs as I roared and readied my sword. Then my eyes locked on her face and suddenly my mind was filling up with images that could only take place in the future. A future that would one day make me proud to be apart of, as her father, and not just as a king. But also a future where anything was possible for my little girl.

My fingers tightened around the handle of my sword as my arm muscles throbbed to the point of pain. A single throw and it was done. But death would be too kind for a man such as Jekyll. No, first I would torture him. Slowly, painfully, cripplingly. By the time I'd be done with him, he would be begging me to kill him, to end his eternal suffering. A suffering that would be a like a breath of fresh air for both me and Nathan.

A whoosh of air came and went as Nathan suddenly disappeared. Not that Jekyll seemed to notice much. He was too busy staring at our daughter. I stepped forward and crept into his mind. My entire body shuddered at the endless array of tests and experiments that he had planned. I couldn't all that to happen. I wouldn't all that to happen. Not while I still drew breath and hungered for all things blood.

Bang! Bang! Two shots and Dr. Jekyll was brought to his knees, literally. With both his kneecaps blown out, he dropped to the ground but still managed to keep Astrid in his arms as Nathan appeared beside him and took our daughter away before quickly returning. I strided up the wounded doctor and placed the edge of my sword against the column of his throat as my fangs gleamed in the light.

"Tell me Dr. Jekyll, do you fear death?" I asked.

He sneered. "Do you?"

Reaching for the buttons of his shirt, he ripped it open, exposing his chest. A thin red light appeared just below the skin. It may have taken me a second to realize the danger of it all, but Nathan was quicker. He kissed me once more and with all his strength, threw me back as I fell away from the hole in the wall only to witness a fiery explosion in its place.

"NOOOOO!" I cried. "NATHAN!"

And for the first over the course of my long life, I cried heavily. But these weren't tears of blood. No, these were actual tears. Tears that were salty when I touched them with my quivering tongue. Tears that have not been shed like this in centuries. As my emotions ran high, I realized that I was crying for a whole bunch of different reasons. First, was the death of my father and brother. Second, was the night that I became a vampire. And last but not least, the death of my beloved Nathan.

But in the end, when love is involved no sacrifice is too great.

Author's Note: Well guys, it was hard having to write this scene. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change it. I felt bad for Dracula having to watch Nathan sacrifice himself for the love of his family. But something tells me that all will be right again once the Epilogue is complete and the novel is finished. Anyways, I'm off to bed. Goodnight.