Castle Of Tears

Chapter 9: A friend

The door was large and imposing, engraved with intricate patterns of golden leaves against a base of white mixed with fine swirls of grey.

 It was an odd combination to Dracula, seeing such a refined marble door against a crumbling tower of old stone, but anything was possible when freed by the bounds of the material plane.

What had caught his attention was that the door was bare, with no handle or knob for him to pull or twist. It looked more like a tomb's seal than a door.

He grunted, knowing that any action would cause the protective ward around the tower to activate. He could already feel it now, stirring at his presence, the air becoming thick with its pungent stench. He could even feel his power waning, causing him more grievance.

He closed his eyes and reigned in his anger, knowing he had a task at hand to complete. Letting out a faint sigh, he contemplated how he would deal with the impending strike once he opened the door.

By experience, he knew the tower's magical properties would make it difficult for him to gain access. He just had to anticipate its attack because he could not afford a lethal blow. If he were to die here, he would die in real life; one of several reasons why he hated astral projection.

Not willing to waste more time, Dracula took a step forward, preparing to counter whatever awaited him.

He placed one large hand against the smooth surface of the door, pressing down with great force. The moment his skin had contact, the earth beneath him began to tremble. Surprisingly, his hand began to sink into the door, blood seeping from the exterior until it engulfed his hand. He scowled, knowing he needed to keep pushing until his whole body was swallowed up.

He did not close his eyes as he entered through the darkness. He could feel the blood cover him whole as he traveled through, only to come out untouched on the other side.

He found himself inside the first level of the tower, nothing but torches lighting his way. He knew it was far too easy to let down his guard, so he scanned the open floor hoping to find anything lurking in the shadows.   

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"Wake up." A voiced whispered gently.

There was no response.

"Wake up." It urged softly.

She began to stir.

"Wake up, wake up now!"

Her eyes fluttered open, her sight slowly adjusting to the dim light of her room. She noticed the small flickers of fire dancing off the wicks of several candles adorning her end table. Odd, since she never needed nor seen these candles before.

She lifted her head, holding herself up by her elbows, retaining the position as her brows scrunched together in thought.

Why was her room void of light?

Her eyebrows instantly arched high as her eyes widened with realization. The sun never set, neither did it ever move from its constant set position. Surprised, she sat completely up, leaning towards the end of her bed. She turned to the large opening at the balcony's entrance and gazed up into the night.

It had been a while since she saw the sky cloaked in black and the twinkling of countless stars. If only she could remember more about the night—so alluring and mysterious in its way.

The moon!

She couldn't see the moon itself from her bed, but she could see the light it cast through her sheer curtains. How beautiful, yet subtle was its glow.

She moved closer towards the edge, hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon. She felt a sort of urgency in her chest, fearing it would vanish at any moment.

"You're up." A voice spoke from the shadows.

Startled, she turned towards the sound. Behind the light of the candles, stood the dark silhouette of a woman. She narrowed her eyes, trying to catch any detail from her distance, but the woman was too far from the moonlight's range to be discernable.

She did not know whether to be glad or afraid by this unannounced stranger. She had been keeping herself company for so long, she found herself at a loss of words.

"Who are you?" She finally managed to ask.

The stranger took her time to respond, allowing her eyes to roam the young woman's person for a few awkward moments.

She grew apprehensive of this stranger, feeling uncomfortable by the eerie silence that fell between them. Although she could not see the woman clearly, she could see the gleam in her penetrating gaze.

"I am a friend." The stranger replied.

"A friend?"

"A friend." The stranger affirmed, walking into the moonlight's path and revealing herself to her.

She was astounded by the stranger's beauty. Her black hair was as dark as the midnight sky, cascading past her hips in gentle waves, and her eyes a striking green, crystalline and sharp. Her lips were full, painted in a crimson red, turned slightly upwards in a faint smile. This woman's face stirred something within her thoughts as if she seemed familiar.

Did she know this woman? She looked at the mysterious beauty, noticing that her smile did not reach her eyes. Those penetrating orbs were as cold as ice, holding no warmth for her "Friend."

Something was not right.

The stranger's eyes narrowed slightly, noticing the confliction within the woman.

"Do not fear me. I have come to help you." She said. "Arise from your bed and come here to me. There is something I must tell you."

She did not move. She was too scared to leave her bed, fearing the stranger's comforting words to be blatant lies.

"I fear I am not feeling well enough to leave my bed. Please, just tell me from there." She said.

The stranger's face turned hard, but it was only brief. She let out a chuckle and nodded her agreement, stepping closer to her bedside.

"There is a man—not quite a man—who has entered your sanctuary. He has come here for you."

A gasp escaped her lips as she clutched her bedsheets to her chest. "What do you mean? Is he here to hurt me, or rescue me?"

The stranger frowned at her last word. What did she need rescuing from?

"He is death, a creature of the night. And he is coming to take you with him."