by R. L. Ullman
I’m horrified. All I can do is watch as my blood drips into the chalice. Then, when he’s satisfied he’s collected enough, he drops my arm onto the table and walks over to the skeleton.
“Do not worry, Bram,” he says. “When I am finished your pain will be over quickly. I will ensure Count Dracula sees to that. After all, only a vampire can truly kill another vampire.”
My arm is throbbing, but I’m still strapped in, so I can’t stop the bleeding. I’m woozy, but I need to stay conscious. I’ve got to get out of here before it’s too late.
“Prepare, Dracula!” Faustius commands, pouring my blood over the bones of the skeleton. “Prepare to rejoin the land of the living!”
Dracula’s spirit is swirling over the skeleton.
“Watch the boy,” Faustius orders the werewolves. “I must focus on the task at hand.”
Whatever hold Faustius had on me relaxes, because I can suddenly move again. But I can’t pull out of the arm or leg restraints. I’m losing blood quickly, getting dizzier by the second. There’s no way I can use my vampire abilities even if I wanted to.
Faustius begins chanting, his voice growing louder.
Thunder CRACKS outside, and the wind picks up, blowing into the room.
Faustius’ raises his arms. He’s concentrating, eyes closed, repeating the same words over and over again.
The next thing I know, the black mist forms a shape. I-Is that a bat? But then it disperses rapidly, flowing over the bones, covering them completely. Then, the skeleton starts smoldering, black smoke billowing into the air.
I-It’s working!
I have to stop it!
I try sitting up to bust the arm shackles, but the werewolves GROWL and push me back down. My energy is sapped, and my eyelids are getting heavy. I try keeping them open, but I can’t.
Everything is blurry.
I’m blacking out.
HOOT!
W-What’s that? An owl?
HOOT!
That sounded louder. Strangely familiar.
I force my eyes open, and I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s a girl. Floating down from the ceiling.
I-Is that an angel?
“SCOOT!” she says.
Scoot?
OMG!
Aura!
She’s alive! Well, I mean, she’s not dead! Well… it’s just great to see her!
I feel overwhelmed with emotion.
“Bram!” she yells. “Stop gawking and get moving!”
Aura furrows her brow and my restraints pop open!
But how? Then, I realize Aura used her telekinesis to free me!
“I’ll distract these guys,” Aura says, lowering herself to the ground. “You stop Faustius. Now catch me if you can you hairy morons!”
Aura takes off with the werewolves in hot pursuit.
She’s right. I’ve got to stop Faustius. But blood is running out of the cut on my arm. First things first. I grab a bandage off the small table and wrap it around my forearm to stop the bleeding. Then, I glance over at Faustius.
He’s so focused on what he’s doing, he’s got no idea what’s going on over here. But something weird is happening to the skeleton. It’s like it’s being wrapped in layers of black energy. It almost looks like the energy is forming into… muscles?
Dracula!
Instinctively, I close my eyes and think.
How can I stop Faustius?
An image of a flying bat pops into my mind.
That’s it! If I can turn into a bat, I can attack Faustius and stop all of this before it’s too late. But can I turn into a bat? I mean, it’s never worked before. But then I stop myself. There’s no time to dwell on the past. I shake the negative thoughts from my mind and concentrate.
I focus like I’ve never focused before.
I picture a bat.
I can become a bat. I must become a bat.
I lock in on that image.
Then, I start to believe.
Suddenly, I feel my body… transforming? My limbs begin to recess. My fingers extend, curling into sharp claws. Something sprouts from the underside of my arms. Are those wings?
Then, the world around me changes.
I pick up sounds I’ve never heard before, like the wind swishing around the skeleton’s body. Strange odors assault my nostrils, like the sweat from Faustius’ skin. New colors from hidden spectrums strike my eyes with blinding intensity. It’s like a sensory overload. What happened?
Then I realize, I’m a bat.
I-I did it!
But there’s no time to celebrate.
I start flapping my arms and lift into the air. I beat my wings furiously, totally unsure of how to do this flying thing when my head SMASHES into the ceiling.
Ouch! Too much flapping.
I adjust my flutter rate, and then divebomb Faustius, digging my toes into his back.
“Ahhh!” Faustius screams, breaking his chant.
I flap my wings in his face, pummeling him as best I can, but he’s inherently stronger and pushes me away.
“Is that you, Bram?” he says. “I don’t know how you got free, but I’m impressed. Unfortunately, you are too late. The deed is done.”
I want to respond, but I’m a bat. I manage a “SHRIEK!” and dive in for round two.
I get in a few more shots before Faustius grabs one of my wings and SLAMS me to the ground.
Ugh. My whole left side hurts.
I try righting myself, but I’m seeing stars. That really knocked me for a loop. Then, the area around me darkens. It’s Faustius. And this time he’s holding a large knife!
I try to fly away, but I’m in too much pain.
“I think it’s time you were grounded,” Faustius says. “For good.”
He reaches up to deliver the final blow, when a silver arrow suddenly penetrates his arm.
“Augh!” Faustius screams, the knife clanging to the floor.
What the—? What’s going on?
“Step away from the boy,” comes a familiar voice.
I turn to see Van Helsing standing in the doorway, a silver crossbow in his arms. Then, he fires two more arrows at lightning speed, and I hear werewolves YELPING in the distance.
Despite his gruesome injury, Faustius shouts out a strange incantation, and the next thing I know, Van Helsing’s crossbow leaps out of his hands and flies across the room, smashing into a wall.
I know I’m a sitting bat just lying here, so I focus my energy on turning back to kid-form. It’s a struggle, but I concentrate hard. Just then, I feel my limbs expanding, my wings retracting, my body growing bigger.
And then, I’m back.
But I’m so weak.
“Bram, are you okay?” Aura asks, appearing next to me from out of nowhere.
“Not sure yet,” I say, breathing heavily.
“How?” Faustius cries, backing up to the wall, his wounded arm hanging limply at his side. “How did you find me? I-I set a trap for you.”
“Yes, you did,” Van Helsing says. “But details were never a strength of yours. Let’s just say your organization now has several dozen openings to fill. As to how I found this place, I used this.” Van Helsing turns his wrist.
It’s a Spirit Sensor!
“Professor Morris lent it to me before our so-called appointment,” Van Helsing says. “Coincidentally, it was already set to track a certain ghost you have on the premises.”
Aura looks at me and smiles.
But my joy quickly turns to horror as I look at the metal table. The skeleton… it’s gone!
Just then, something huge drops from the ceiling.
“Headmaster!” Aura cries.
A robed figure lands in a crouch, cutting us off from Van Helsing. It’s a man—an absolute giant of a man—with broad shoulders, wispy black hair, and chalky white complexion. He’s wheezing, and I can see his ribs expanding and contracting through his paper-thin skin—like he hasn’t breathed for thousands of years. Then, he lifts his head, re
vealing wild, red eyes.
I-It’s… Dracula!
“Heaven help us,” Van Helsing mutters. “Faustius, what have you done?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Faustius says, grinning from ear to ear. “I have done the impossible. I have brought Count Dracula back from the spirit world. Now bow before me, King of Darkness. Bow and show everyone your gratitude towards me, your High Lord, the man who brought you back to the land of the living.”
Count Dracula rises unsteadily, and I realize how shockingly tall he really is. He hesitates for a moment, regaining his balance, and then steps towards Faustius.
“Yes!” Faustius screams. “Bow before your creator!”
To my amazement, Dracula approaches Faustius and kneels before him. Faustius’ expression is one of pure glee. I-I can’t believe it. He’s doing it. He’s actually controlling Dracula!
“M-My Lord,” Count Dracula stammers. His voice barely a whisper.
“Yes,” Faustius’ responds. “Speak, my loyal subject.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Van Helsing quietly inching towards his fallen crossbow.
“My Lord,” Count Dracula says, “I am forever in your debt for restoring my spirit and providing this magnificent vessel in which I can once again walk this earth. Were it not for you, I would be forced to live out my days as an ethereal being for all of eternity. Now I am free to repay you in any capacity you require. But at the moment, I am quite vulnerable and cannot help but notice there is a descendent of my ancient rival Abraham Van Helsing present. Therefore, I must make one small request before pledging my undying servitude.”
“Yes,” Faustius says. “Of course. What is it?”
“Sustenance,” Dracula says. Then, he reaches up and runs a finger down Faustius’ wounded arm. When he pulls it away, it’s covered in blood.
Faustius recoils, his eyes wide.
“And that sustenance,” Dracula says, licking Faustius’ blood off of his finger, “will be you.”
“Faustius!” Van Helsing yells. “Run!”
But Dracula grabs Faustius with remarkable speed.
“No!” Faustius screams, and then his eyes roll back in his head. He passed out!
Dracula catches Faustius’ limp body and throws it over his shoulder. Then, he wheels on me.
Our eyes meet.
I can’t look away.
I feel incredibly hot.
Feverish.
“Thank you,” he says, revealing long, sharp fangs. “Like Faustius, you have fulfilled your role in the first phase of my plan.”
Plan? What’s he talking about?
“We shall meet again.”
Then, with prey in hand, he jumps and breaks through the glass ceiling in one incredible leap.
Van Helsing grabs his crossbow and fires, but his arrow misses the mark.
They’re gone.
And Dracula is free to terrorize the world.
“What now?” Aura asks.
“Now?” Van Helsing says solemnly. “Now we prepare for war.”
It’s all my fault. I feel like a failure.
“I-I’m sorry,” I say.
“No, Bram,” Aura says. “It’s okay. It’s not…”
But I never hear the rest of her sentence.
Because I’m out.
THE END OF THE BEGINNING
I’m running through the woods at incredible speed.
A full moon hangs in the night sky. There’s a chill in the air, but it feels refreshing against my skin.
Everything is a blur as I weave through trees, duck beneath branches, and leap over fallen logs. I’m fast, but I’ve never run this fast before. The only sounds I hear are my feet crunching on fallen leaves.
As I run, my fists swing in front of me, but they don’t look like my fists. They’re much bigger than I remember, and they’re chalky white.
I want to slow down, but I can’t. It’s like I’m not in control, like I’m a passenger in someone else’s body.
What’s going on?
Then, up ahead in the distance, stands a tall structure. It’s situated high on a craggy mountain. As I get closer it becomes clearer it’s a castle, with towers, turrets and a drawbridge that’s closed shut.
What’s it doing here in the middle of nowhere?
Just then, my facial muscles contort into a smile, and my tongue slides over my teeth, slithering over two very sharp points.
They almost feel like… fangs?
OMG!
***
I spring up in a cold sweat.
What’s happening?
Was that a dream?
Or…?
“At last,” comes a gentle voice. “You are awake.”
I turn to find Van Helsing staring at me. He’s sitting in a chair, bundled up as usual, his neck wrapped snugly in a wool scarf. He’s leaning forward with his fingers pressed in a steeple position. I notice his silver crossbow propped against the wall.
For a second, I’m totally lost. And then I realize I’m hooked up to several machines, which can only mean one thing. I’m in the infirmary. How’d I get here?
Then it all comes flooding back.
Faustius. The werewolves. Count Dracula…
“Aura!”
“Do not distress,” Van Helsing says calmly. “She is fine. She is resting.”
I lie back down. Well, at least that’s good news. But honestly, Van Helsing is the last person I want to see right now.
“Much has happened,” he says. “I am sure you have many questions for me.”
He’s right about that. I have a million questions, but I don’t think I can face him without losing my cool. After all, he lied to me. I wish he’d leave me alone.
“What would you like to know?” he asks. “You can ask me anything.”
Too little too late is all I can think. But I figure I’ll throw him a bone and maybe he’ll leave.
“Is that the Crossbow of Purity?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you knew about it.”
“Seward covered it,” I say. “He asked about it on one of his quizzes.”
“Of course,” he says. “Is there anything else?”
“Nope,” I say. “I’m good. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Bram,” he starts, “I am—”
“If the next word you’re going to say is ‘sorry,’ then don’t bother.” I’m fuming mad. I look down at my right forearm which is covered in bandages. That’s where Faustius cut me and used my blood to resurrect the evilest villain in the history of the world.
“I am truly sorry,” he says with deep sincerity. “I can understand why you are angry with me. I am disappointed in myself.”
I’m ready to fire back with all the fury I can muster, but I can’t. His apology took the wind out of my sails. But I still can’t forgive him.
“Well,” I say, “I’m still upset.”
“I understand,” Van Helsing says, his head down.
“I mean, why didn’t you tell me I was the Blood Grail? Don’t you think that’s something I should’ve known?”
“You are right,” Van Helsing says. “I should have told you. It was unfair of me not to. The truth is that I thought it would be too much too soon. I never expected you to be so bold as to break into Faustius’ office. Just as I never expected Faustius would lay a trap for you there.”
“Right, then there’s that creep,” I say, feeling agitated all over again. “Faustius told me you’re using me. He said only a vampire can kill another vampire. He said you’ll sacrifice me to kill Count Dracula.”
“I would never do that,” Van Helsing says, shaking his head. “I hope you realize Faustius is an opportunist. He would say anything to sway you to his side. But he was not completely wrong on one count.”
“What?” I say, sitting up again. “What does that mean?”
“He was correct that only a vampire can truly kill another vampire,” Van Helsing says. “Make no mistake, a
s the last vampire you have a tremendous responsibility. Only you can truly destroy Count Dracula. But my purpose was never to use you. My only hope was to train you, so you can come out of this alive.”
“Great job you’re doing,” I mutter.
“I admit, things could be going better,” he says, “but I saw you transform into a bat. That tells me we have accomplished quite a lot. It also tells me your powers are within your control, a very positive development.”
“A whole lot of good it did me,” I say. “I just helped Dracula come back to life.”
“You are not to blame,” Van Helsing says. “We cannot rewrite the past, we can only shape the future. But yes, it is true your blood is now running through Count Dracula’s body. But you are not at fault. You fell victim to an evil plot far darker than even I could have imagined, yet one I should have seen coming. Do not give up, Bram. Never give up. Dracula is out there, growing stronger night by night.”
At the sound of his name, I remember my strange dream. It actually felt like I was him. Like I was the one running through the woods in his body. And clearly, he was a lot stronger than when I last saw him. I want to tell Van Helsing about it, but something holds me back.
“What happened to Faustius?” I ask.
“I fear the worst,” Van Helsing says. “He always teetered on the fringes of darkness—all the way to the bitter end.”
“That’s sad,” I say.
“Indeed,” Van Helsing continues. “But darkness is an unyielding adversary. It entices the weak—just as it enticed Faustius. Left to its own devices, it would doom us all. But together we can fight against it. Together, we can break its evil lure. I cannot force you to help us. I only hope that you will.”
Despite my desire to run away, I know I can’t.
After all, I’m the one responsible for bringing Dracula back to life. Everything that happens from here on out is my fault. I could never walk away knowing that.
So, no matter how dangerous it’s going to be, I know I have to fix the problem I created. It’s all up to me.
“Don’t worry,” I say. “I’ll stick it out. But you’re going to have to tell me everything from now on. And you can’t leave anything out. Deal?”
“Deal,” Van Helsing says, offering his hand.
We shake just as my friends pile through the door.
I see Rage, Hairball, and Stanphibian. And I’m sure InvisiBill is around here somewhere.
