Hotel Transylvania: The Aftermath

chapter 17

The Fire Spreads

The chaos instilled fear in the poor civilians that had not yet managed to escape. The town security was no match for the horror Eustice had unleashed. Every one of them had the brutality and the remorselessness of a vampire. Dracula couldn't sit by and let Eustice's storm ravage the town again. With them distracted, he barged through the force and beat back every one of them he could. He moved at lightning speed to avoid their field of fire. Although they were almost as quick as him, they couldn't get a clear shot past each other. For Dracula, these were only empty shells acting as prisons for the poor souls Eustice had stolen. Because of this, he had no hesitation in freeing them.

He covered himself with his cape before driving past two guards and twisting the neck of another. With a loud crack, he fell dead. He had at least managed to distract the army long enough to reclaim Eustice's attention. That was what he wanted. The Hybrid took out his MAC-11 and drove the Count back. He used the sharp alley ways for cover as Eustice tracked him down.

"Do you remember that day, Vampire!? Do you remember the look of horror on her face as I hunted her through the fields!? This town has so many memories for us! How apt it should all end here."

Dracula shot passed to reach a better spot. His blurred form was followed by a hail of gunfire.

"This is where we end this, Count! When you kneel in front of me and your mind is under my control, then we 'book' a room at your Hotel! I do hope room one seven four isn't taken!"

Dracula had to stay focussed, no matter how much he threatened Mavis. He had to find a chance to catch him out. The two of them were alone in that infamous alley way where Kathleen had once lived.

"Déjà vu, Vampire? Well, let me burn your misery away. Like I said, I kept a few of my old toys."

He pointed his flintlock pistol at the building and cocked it. As he did, dark energy filled the barrel. This was no longer a normal pistol. With a sharp pull of the trigger, the gun fired, releasing its energy. It burned straight through the brickwork and at first it didn't seem to do anything, right up until the entire building exploded. Fire and smoke filled the alley as Dracula was covered in shattered glass. The deafening inferno blocked out all sounds of gunfire that now rang out across the town.

Before the smoke could clear, Dracula broke his way into the house beside him. He headed upstairs and tried to find a vantage point. What he hadn't expected was to find two men flanking him. Eustice and his father stood on either side of him, having anticipated his next move. He tried to escape but was overcome with a sensation that paralysed him. It was as if something was preventing his mind from controlling his own body.

"You may have resisted my visions, but your will can still be mine." The tall man held out his hand towards him.

He struggled with all his might, be he felt it slowly drain away. The dark magic that had been made to create this creature was burrowing deep into Dracula's consciousness. The world around him was not what it once was. Memories began to blur into manifestations of his hosts design. He saw Mavis. Hatred filled her eyes.

You wiped my memory!?

"No…" Dracula tried to resist the lies that flooded his mind.

I hate you!"

"This isn't real!"

How could you Drac? We all trusted you!

Eustice savoured every second as his most hated nemesis saw a past that would destroy him. Eustice whispered his poison into his ears.