Michael Belmont and the Heir of Van Helsing (The Adventures of Michael Belmont) (46 page)

Michael could see that Alucard was torn.
 
Should he try to retrieve the lance and find the fate of the Dragon, or go with Michael to find the girls and confront Mihnea?

Alucard shook his head.
 
“If only we had more time.
 
I’m not the best swimmer, and those caverns are deep.
 
I’m going to need to be better prepared before heading down there.
 
We’ll have to forget about the lance for now, and leave the Dragon to whatever fate has befallen him.”

“Alucard, there’s one more thing I think you should know.
 
I mean, it’s not really my place to tell you, but I think you deserve to have the truth.”

Alucard nodded and waited expectantly.

“The Dragon, he’s your grandfather.”

“What?” Alucard asked, as if he were waiting for a punch line.

“It’s true.
 
His real name is Vlad II Dracul.
 
He seemed remorseful when I talked to him about you, said there were a lot of things he never got to share.”

Michael watched as Alucard worked it all out in his head.
 
“Thank you, Michael,” he sighed.
 
I’m glad you told me, but it doesn’t change anything.
 
I’d still never be able to retrieve that lance or help him in time.
 
We need to focus on Mihnea now and rescue your friends while we still have the chance.”

“Maybe I can help,” Liam said, sitting up beside them and rubbing his head.

“It’s about time you woke up,” Michael told him while Alucard offered him water.

“I’ve been awake for a few minutes, laying there looking at the two of you.
 
Maybe I’m the best spy here.”
 
He took a long drink of water.
 
“That hits the spot.
 
Thanks,” he told Alucard, handing back the bottle.
 
“Anyway, something was said about the need for a proficient swimmer?”

Alucard raised his eyebrows.
 
“Thanks for the offer, but it’s going to take more than a good swimmer to get through those waterways.”

“You don’t understand,” Michael chuckled.
 
“Liam’s not just a good swimmer, from what I’ve heard, he’s an excellent swimmer.”

The kitchens of Dracula were truly something to behold.
 
The place looked more like a slaughterhouse than any kitchen Michael had ever seen.
 
Dark stains discolored the floor and counters, and a large pile of bones littered a far corner of the room.
 
One wall held several human sized cages.

Alucard led them to a place where a number of large pots and cauldrons were stacked.
 
Behind them was the circular, stone wall of a well.

Liam peaked over the wall and looked down, seeing nothing but blackness.
 
He dropped a torch and watched as it fell away into the distance, eventually disappearing without a sound.

“Are you mad?” he winced at Alucard.
 
“You’re suggesting that we just leap right into this thing?
 
That’s
your bloody plan?”

Michael held his lantern over the hole and looked in himself.
 
Even with the faery light they couldn’t see the bottom.

“This looks pretty deep, alright,” Michael said with a nervous chuckle.
 
“I mean, who could be expected to draw water from here anyway?
 
It would take all day just to pull up one bucket.”

“Cruel masters care nothing for the comfort of their slaves,” Alucard told him.
 
“Service in the kitchens of Dracula has always been a thankless task, but this well should grant us the fastest access to the waters beneath the castle.”

“Should?
 
What do you mean
should
?” Liam squeaked.

Michael offered him the lantern.
 
“Here, you’re going to need this a lot more than me,” he said.

Liam shook his head.
 
“You’re going to need that just as much as we are, you’d better keep it.”

“Look, getting that lance back might be the best chance we have at stopping Mihnea,” Michael pushed the lantern into his hands and snatched his remaining torch.
 
“Besides, I know how dark it is down there.
 
Trust me, you’ll need this more than I will.”

Alucard removed his cape and boots.
 
“Be careful Michael.
 
Be sure to carefully follow the directions I gave you, and don’t stray from them.
 
There are many deceptions and snares in this castle, and once you get off course you most likely won’t find your way back.”

“Thanks.
 
I’ll be careful, and I’ll follow the directions.”
 
Michael noticed the worried look on Liam’s face.

“I hate to see you go off on your own like this,” he placed his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
 
“Not in this place.
 
Will you be alright?”

“I’ll be
fine
,” Michael assured him.
 
“Just get back as fast as you can, okay?”

“We’ll meet you in the throne room,” Alucard told him.
 
“If everything goes well, we shouldn’t be far behind you.
 
Are you ready?” he asked Liam.
 
“This might be a bit disorienting.”

“Sure,” Liam said cheerfully.
 
“I’ll just think of it as a theme park ride.
 
That ought to work.”

“Good luck, Michael,” Alucard told him.
 
“And Godspeed.”

Without another word, Alucard snatched Liam up and leapt into the well.
 
Michael watched as they dropped out of sight, and listened to Liam’s frightened yell echo up for a while after they’d disappeared.

“All right,” he said with a slow breath, holding his torch out before him.
 
“I’d better be off.”
 
He tried to remember a time in his life when he’d been this scared, but he couldn’t think of one.

Magda Van Helsing peered from the shadows to make sure the coast was clear.

“We’re almost there,” she whispered to Abigail.
 
“That’s the throne room just up ahead, it has to be.”

“So what do we do now?
 
Wait here, or go in to take a look around?”

Magda thought about it for a moment.
 
“We need to get a closer look at that chamber- see if anyone else has arrived yet.
 
It won’t do us any good to hang back in the shadows, we might never meet up with anyone that way.”

Abigail nodded in agreement.
 
“Okay, I’ll be right behind you.”

Together, they gingerly crept down the hallway, keeping close to the wall.
 
Magda held aloft her daggers, and Abigail’s chain whip was curled up in her hand.
 
Both girls were ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
 
They heard and saw nothing while approaching the door, and Magda cautiously peaked around the corner, holding her breath as she scanned the room.
 
It looked empty, but she still wasn’t convinced.

“Wait here for a moment,” she whispered, and Abigail nodded.
 
Magda quickly scanned the room again before leaping into a somersault and scrambling behind the closest pillar.
 
She inspected the room from her hiding place, relieved to see that no one else was around.
 
Standing to her feet, she waved for Abigail to come over, and a few seconds later the girl was hiding behind her.

This was definitely the right place.
 
In the center of the room was a large iron throne.
 
It was a fascinating thing, designed to look like a fierce, roaring dragon, with its wings spread out wide.
 
Its arms were the armrests, and its clawed hands looked strong and ready for battle.
 
The beast’s tail wrapped around the throne several times, forming steps that led up to the seat.

Magda pointed out two stone obelisks a few dozen feet in front of the throne, which were also carved in the shape of dragons.
 
“That must be the gateway,” she said.

Abigail nodded.
 
“Michael said the gateway in the Tomb of Anubis appeared between two Obelisks kind of like those.
 
Have you got any ideas on how to destroy it?”

Magda shrugged.
 
“I have no idea.
 
I guess I need the sword, but we’ll have to wait until Mihnea shows up with it and get it back somehow.
 
For now, we’ll just have to stay out of sight.”

Abigail ran her fingers through her hair, trying to brush away the remaining cobwebs she’d picked up along the way.
 
“I hope Michael and Liam are okay.
 
I’d really hoped my dad and his friends would be here too.
 
I wonder what happened to them.”

“I don’t know, Abby,” Magda put her arm over the girl’s shoulder, pulling her in close.
 
“I wish they were all here with us, but I’m proud of you for being so brave through this, and if your family was here I know they’d be proud of you too.”

“Thanks,” Abigail told her, squeezing tightly.
 
“You’re a really great friend, I’m sorry I attacked you- back at the orphanage I mean.”

Magda chuckled.
 
“Don’t worry about it, I attacked you back, remember?”

Abigail smiled.
 
“Yeah, that’s true I guess.
 
Let’s never fight like that again, okay?”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

A sour frown suddenly spread across Abigail’s face.
 
“Gross, look at that picture!”

Magda followed her eyes to the tapestry hanging on the wall in front of the throne.
 
It was the image of an armored warrior on a white horse.
 
Behind him were people impaled on spikes, and a familiar looking castle rose up in the background.

“Dracula,” Magda whispered in disgust.
 
“Though that monster is dead, his legacy remains.
 
But not for long Abby, not for long.”

“And you think that you’re the one to put an end to it, do you?” the mocking voice of Mihnea echoed through the chamber.

Magda’s heart began to pound.
 
“Show yourself,” she called to him.
 
“Or are you too frightened to face us?”

He only laughed again.
 
“I can smell your fear, Magda Van Helsing.
 
It smells almost as tempting as your blood, but I have something very special in store for the two of you.”

Magda suddenly caught sight of him.
 
He was leaning over the balcony peering down at them.
 
Elizabeth stood at his side and waved at them cheerfully.

Confusion and fear washed over Abigail’s face.
 
“Elizabeth?
 
But I thought th-that—”

“That she was safe?” Mihnea finished for her.
 
“That she was rescued by your father and his two idiot friends?
 
No, I’m afraid she’s been with me all along, and I’m happy to report that my influence over her is absolute.
 
I’ve achieved powers that even my father would envy.
 
I wish he could see me now, he’d be so proud.”
 
He leaned over and planted a kiss on Elizabeth’s cheek.

“Mihnea said you’d be putting on a little show for us,” she called down to them.
 
“I’m so excited, you guys are the best!”

Abigail stared at Elizabeth helplessly.
 
“But…the werewolf guards—”

“I killed them myself.
 
I needed to make your father believe that Alucard had reached her first.
 
My plan worked, and I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that he and his friends promptly left.
 
They’re trapped outside the perimeter of the castle and I’m afraid they won’t be joining us.”

“AND MICHAEL AND LIAM?” Abigail screamed, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THEM?”

“Ah yes, of course, how inconsiderate of me to forget.
 
Those two were much too curious for their own good, I’m afraid.
 
Burned to death, the both of them.”
 
He gave them a sympathetic grin.

Both girls began to sob, clinging to each other tightly.

“I don’t believe you,” Abigail wailed.
 
“You’re LYING!”

Mihnea shook his head.
 
“I have no reason to lie to you girls, but I’m afraid you’re beginning to bore me, so let’s move on with our day, shall we?
 
Abigail, you’re one of us now.
 
You can stay here with Elizabeth and I; we’ll make a good family.
 
I can feel the struggle going on within you.
 
Join us, my dear.
 
Kill Magda, and your transformation will be complete.”

“NEVER,” Abigail screamed, shaking her fists at him.
 
“I’M NOT A VAMPIRE!
 
I’M NOT, AND I NEVER WILL BE!”

“It is too late, Abigail. My blood is in your veins.”

“SO IS MINE!”

“I’m going to kill you,” Magda wept.
 
“For what you’ve done to Michael, and to Olaf, and to everyone else you’ve hurt!
 
I’m going to make you pay, or I’m going to die trying!”

Mihnea looked at them in disappointment for a few moments.

“So be it,” he said with a sigh.
 
“But first, I promised my bride a show before the wedding.
 
I hope you enjoy your gift, my dear,” he said with rub of her shoulder.

Mihnea snapped his fingers and a set of double doors beneath the balcony creaked open.
 
Two forms appeared out of the darkness and strode into the room.