Daughters of Dracula (The Stoker Sisters #1)

by Kailin Gow

  Pinching his ill-fitting pants at the knee, the doctor sat down and reached for a few sheets of paper on the small table beside him.

  “Dr. Franz would like to ask you a few questions. I do hope you’ll be able to help him.” Mr. Stoker gently patted Alexis on the shoulder before exiting.

  Nodding, Alexis instinctively knew she had little intention of cooperating with this man. She stood waiting for him to carry on and could feel her sister’s eagerness to get the interview over with.

  After perusing the pages in his hand a moment, the doctor pulled off his spectacles and glanced up at the girls. “I assume you’ve heard of what has been happening in town.”

  The girls remained quiet and waited for him to go on.

  “Mrs. Coolidge went missing several weeks ago. Her body was later found among an outcrop of rocks on a deserted cliff side.” He glanced at his notes. “A few nights later, Mr. Trisler disappeared. His body floated up to the town pier the following day. Last week Mr. Barton was seen kissing his wife at the doorstep of his home just as he was leaving for his nightshift, but he never arrived at the bottling plant. Workers found him in a heap of rubbish.”

  “While we’re privileged enough to be well-guarded from the goings on in the city, we’ve heard of a few of the cases you mention,” Sadie offered.

  “The bodies all had common markings; a common cause of death.”

  The girls patiently waited.

  “Not a trace of blood remained in their lifeless bodies and they all had markings at the base of their necks; wounds that appear to have been caused by the fangs of an enraged beast.” He looked at them, his eyes skipping from one girl to the other. “A thin trail of blood has slowly been traced to Stoker Manor.”

  Sadie gasped while Alexis stiffened.

  “We know of the many guests who’ve resided with you over the course of the summer. I was hoping you’d spent enough time with some of them to perhaps enlighten me as to the conduct of some of these guests. Have you noticed anything peculiar? Have there been late outings with mysterious explanations?”

  “Our parents don’t allow us to cavort with guests very much. Our interactions are purely of a business nature which does not include spying on guests or verifying their comings and goings.”

  The man stood and approached the girls. “Yet you’ve both become rather familiar with a particular Lord Ashwin.”

  Alexis saw the instant blush that came to her sister’s cheek and only hoped her own heated cheeks didn’t betray her relationship to Ashwin.

  “The young Lord has been seen wandering the streets of Dorset at all hours of the night.”

  “I sleep rather soundly, Mr. Franz. And as you can see, the Manor is designed in a way that allows guest complete freedom of movement. If he chose to leave in the late hours of the night, no one would be the wiser.”

  Dr. Franz took in Alexis’ argument, but seemed dissatisfied.

  “Lord Ashwin has been nothing but kind with both of us, sir. He is a fine gentleman of superb standing. He has no need for such morbid nighttime activities as you suggest. Hundreds of guests have passed through the doors of Stoker Manor. It could be…”

  “Only Lord Ashwin has been a present in Dorset since the first disappearance to the most recent.”

  “I hardly believe this makes a case against him. Perhaps your murderer simply sought temporary refuge at the Manor after his nightly rampage without residing here.”

  **********

  The doctor remained for dinner, and the dining hall felt the weight of his presence. With few guests in attendance, the family shared their table with Dr. Franz and Lord Ashwin.

  Alexis watched Ashwin carefully. He seemed completely unperturbed by the doctor and even offered him a sincere welcome on seeing him enter the dining hall. But despite the great show Ashwin put on, Dr. Franz remained curt and professional.

  The doctor said little over the course of the meal, but his eyes constantly scanned everyone and Alexis found herself deeply scrutinized by the awful man on several occasions. She disliked him, a feeling that only intensified over the course of the interminable meal, and she was eager to see him leave.

  When he announced he’d be staying for the night, a knot filled her belly and a sense of foreboding enveloped her. She didn’t trust him and feared for Ashwin’s safety. With every fiber of her being, she ignored the possible underlying fear she had for her own safety.

  Chapter 4

  Sadie’s sleep had been restless and troubled. She turned in her bed, each movement accompanied by a vision of Lord Ashwin. When troubling sounds entered her light sleep, she was certain it was a dream, but as shouts and the sounds of panic finally seeped through, she knew something was wrong.

  With a jolt, she sat up and gripped the sheets about her. She heard screams coming from out in the garden, while from down the hall she could make out the muffled cries mingling with an inhuman roar.

  Shaking off the remnants of sleep, she reached for her robe, pulled it on and slid her feet into her slippers as she stood. Eager to find the source of this midnight chaos, she rushed to the door, but halted before her hand could reach for the doorknob.

  Smoke billowed at her feet where it crept in beneath the door.

  No, she wanted to shout. She ran to the window, pulled back the drapes and gasped at the sight of flames escaping so many windows around her. Fear gripped her as she glanced back at the door. She could now make out a faint orange glow under the door. How long would it be before the flames made their way through the door?

  She rushed to the door and reached for the doorknob, hoping to escape the fire by running towards the servant’s stairwell to the left. The moment she touched the brass knob she recoiled as the intense heat seared her fingertips.

  She was trapped.

  Trying to control the wave of panic that threatened to overcome her, she returned to the window and looked three stories below. A fall would be fatal. Smoke was slowly filling the room, sweeping past her as it made its escape out the top panel of the window. It slowly choked her in passing, raising the level of panic. A quick glance at the door told her of the smoke that continued to infiltrate her room. Another glance out the window told her this wasn’t a viable way of escaping. She’d never survive the fall.

  Part of her wanted to sit in the corner and wait for her father to come in and save her. Looking out at the rest of the east wing she feared her parents’ circumstances might already be direr than her own. Their window was spewing long, heated flames that seemed to relish the horror they struck in her heart.

  Had they already escaped? Were they searching the grounds hoping to find her safe? Or were they just as fearful as she was and hiding in some semi-safe corner of the manor?

  Growing faint, she gave her window a shove, pushing it open, but the flow of smoke entering intensified, relishing in the path she’d opened for it. She wanted to shout, but her throat wouldn’t allow it. Her eyes burned and tear, making it difficult to focus.

  The roar of flames at her door became murderous, crackling through the wood and licking the floor.

  “Help me,” she croaked.

  As she crumpled to the floor, the door to her room burst open and a tall shadow of a man blocked out the flames that surrounded him. Only a few strides had him at her side and just before she succumbed to the choking smoke, he scooped her up, threw the window open and jumped out, landing on sturdy legs that quickly ran towards the safety of the water’s edge.

  Despite escaping the engulfing flames, Sadie’s throat and chest constricted tightly, and her breath became shallower and thinner. She was choking, her breath no longer flowing. The notion of time was blurred…she only had a few minutes, seconds even before death would take over. Something moist, thick, coppery, and salty spilled into her mouth as she opened it to gasp desperately for air. Then she saw Lord Ashwin’s beautiful tortured face sweep down to her neck, sharp needle-like fangs extended like a cobra snake. “It’s the only way for me to save you. Forgive me
, Sadie.” Ashwin’s eyes grew amber as he bit down into her creamy neck, sucking hard, while Sadie felt at first a jolt of pain then euphoria. Pleasure tinged through her entire body, and she arched her back moaning. Ashwin drank on, groaning in unbridled bliss. Months of cold restraint melted as Ashwin fulfilled his thirst for Sadie. Sadie’s throat burned, her body burned as all sensations in her body faded into soreness. Finally, it was over.

  Sadie felt lost as she opened her eyes to find herself enveloped in darkness that was unfamiliar. In the distance she could hear the chaos of Stoker Manor as it was consumed by flames.

  Alexis, she thought. Had her sister managed to awake in time? Had someone gone in to save her? Shadows shifted around her and as the fog of sleep slowly ebbed, she could make out faint moaning nearby. The shadows mingled and tangled, raveling themselves about one another.

  The moans intensified and Sadie felt a chill of horror as she tried to fathom what was happening in the shadows.

  “I saw what you did.”

  It was clearly Alexis’ voice and Sadie closed her eyes and thanked the Lord. Would she hear her parents’ voices next?

  “I meant to save her.”

  Though the voice was decidedly male, it was far from the genteel voice of her father. Her memory sought to recognize the tone that was etched with so much gravel.

  “You’ve turned her, haven’t you?” Alexis said.

  “This is not the time to discuss it. We need to move.” Tinged with anger, the male voice held a distinctive note of fear.

  Sadie opened her eyes and saw the tall shadow looming over the vague form that was stretched out on the ground. Behind the shadows, the murderous flames forged on relentless, moving across the manor with the intent of leaving little but worthless rubble.

  “I want you to do the same to me.”

  “Alexis, you don’t know what you're asking of me.”

  “Do it to me!”

  But the pain at her throat wasn’t restricted to the working of her lungs which had inhaled a near fatal dose of acrid smoke. Her neck, just below her ear, was sore. Passing her hand over the sensitive skin, she felt some swelling and was surprised to see blood on her fingertips.

  “Do it, Ashwin.” Alexis persisted.

  Sadie tried to focus, watching carefully as the tall shadow of Ashwin slithered slowly to the ground and posed above Alexis. The motions were difficult to make out, but she clearly saw Ashwin’s lips poised near Alexis’.

  A sudden ache in her heart gripped her and she wanted to shout out the injustice of having to watch her sister’s seduction.

  “Hurry.”

  The lips that had seemed poised to render a passionate embrace parted, baring teeth that couldn’t possibly belong to any man. Alexis arched her back, seemingly eager for what was to come from the animal perched over her.

  “Argh!”

  The strangled cry broke out and was far from the gentle, almost passionate groans she’d heard before. Sadie ignored the waves of nausea that swept over her and sat up to see what was truly happening. The image before her was surreal and barely believable. The inhuman fangs she’d glimpsed were firmly imbedded in her sister’s neck.

  Without thinking, Sadie’s hand returned to her own neck, fingering the two wounds as she watched Ashwin relish the taste of Alexis’ skin. Or was it the blood he was so intent on tasting?

  Feeling faint, she tried to understand what he was doing and why, but just as she was about to recline and get her bearings, shouts of anger broke over the din of the fire.

  “We need to move.” Ashwin released Alexis and tried to get her to her feet.

  “Why are they angry?” Sadie’s voice was barely audible, but Ashwin was quick to turn his attention to her.

  “Sadie.” He seemed relieved to see her up. “Can you follow me?”

  She rose onto her shaky legs, but didn’t know how long she’d manage to stay upright. “Yes,” she murmured.

  The angry cry of the townspeople became clearer and more enraged. Words of death, bloodlust and murder were distinctive throughout the growl of the crowd.

  “What do they want?”

  Ashwin scooped Alexis up and hurried to Sadie’s side. “Me.” His eyes wide with the urgency of the situation, he passed her, tugging her arm gently in the process. Making his way over the jagged rocks he led her down to the water’s edge, but the townspeople were still at their heels.

  “Why?” Sadie struggled to keep up and tried to understand how this genteel Lord of such standing could incur the wrath of an entire town. The people of Dorset were welcoming, friendly people. But tonight…

  Rushing across the sand, Ashwin ignored the question and quickly made his way to the wall of rocks that jutted out into the sea. The cliff rose above them over thirty feet while strewn rocks covered the foot of the cliff. Sadie tried to keep up, but had difficulty navigating her way over the dark stones. Brief flickers of dim light from the distant torches occasionally helped her along, but she stumbled time and again. Too weary to continue further she stopped and sat.

  In a heartbeat, Ashwin was at her side. Alexis had begun to stir and Ashwin set her feet on a flat stone, holding her steady. One strong arm reached out for Sadie and he crushed her against his chest, easing the fear that had begun to consume her. He showed only the most minimal effort as he lifted her off her feet and quickly made his way across the rocks.

  Clinging to him, her arms intertwined with Alexis’, Sadie watched Ashwin’s movements, trying to understand the floating sensation she felt. His every step was fluid and graceful, and before long the cries of the townspeople were barely audible. Her curiosity and need to know who he was, what he was brought her to glimpse at his face.

  Though still as handsome as she remembered, there was something different. His eyes held the determination of his endeavor and betrayed a hint of the concern he felt. But it was his lips that captivated her. Pale and dry, she could clearly see remnants of Alexis’ blood that stained his lower lip.

  Sensing her scrutiny, he glanced at her and licked his lip, a movement that was both riddled with embarrassment, but nonetheless provocative and hinting at restrained passion.

  **********

  Ashwin finally entered a shallow cave and set them down. “We’ll night here.”

  “Many people have gone missing of late,” Alexis said. She wanted to know what was happening and of Ashwin’s involvement.

  “The tide is coming in and no one will be able to reach us here for a while.”

  “I’ve heard of the investigation and more recently talk of Stoker Manor involved in the disappearances.”

  Intent on ignoring the accusations Alexis seemed determined to make, Ashwin turned to look out at the ocean.

  “All those nights you’ve gone out. You're the one Dr. Franz was looking for, aren’t you?”

  Ashwin continued to stare at the ocean.

  “You’re the one.” She touched her neck. “Is this what you did to them?”

  “Don’t move from here.” He headed to the opening of the cave.

  “Where are you going?” Alexis felt panicked by the circumstances and reluctant to have Ashwin leave.

  “The tide might not be enough to deter them. I must divert them and keep them from you.”

  Before Alexis could argue, he disappeared.

  With the sound of the waves crashing nearby, the girls huddled close and allowed their bodies to rest and recoup. Their ordeal with Ashwin had left them drained and though Alexis wanted desperately to stay awake to await his return, fatigue took over.

  It seemed only moments had passed when she was violently stirred from sleep. A fist held a tight grip of her hair as it pulled her to her feet.

  “Get up, you slut.” The growl accompanied the enraged gesture.

  The sound of footsteps outside the cave caught the man’s attention and he quickly dropped her, letting her hit the stone floor with a painful thud. His footsteps echoed in the cave as he rushed out.

  Alexis craw
led to the entrance and was shocked by what she faced. Harold Bennett, the town baker, had plunged a wooden stake deep within Ashwin’s chest.

  Without thinking, without even knowing what she was truly doing, Alexis took a solid grip of her skirts and sprinted towards Harold. She heard the wild cries of a mad woman and only realized it was her own voice once she’d tackled Harold to the ground and knelt over him.

  His eyes widened with confusion, fear then anger. Harold tried to shake her off. But her movements were fast, her instinct strangely sharpened and in tuned to his every motion. With the hunger of a beast and her teeth now prominent in her mouth she lunged forward and sank her fangs into the tender skin of his whiskered neck.

  He let out a cry, fearful, panicked and almost feminine in quality. But it barely seeped into Alexis’ consciousness. Her thoughts were consumed by her act. Both bewildered and intrigued, she let his warm blood trickle down her throat and was strangely aroused by the sensations that filled her.

  When sated, she rose and looked around her. Only a puddle of blood remained where Ashwin had lain dying. Perhaps he’d gone inside, she thought.

  The moment she turned and faced Sadie’s horrified expression she felt the full weight of what she’d done. She should feel guilty, or at least ashamed, but she felt invigorated and alive. She brought her fingers to the corners of her mouth and was fascinated by the sight of blood. With a knowing grin, she glanced at her sister and licked her fingertips. “Tis not as bad as it seems,” she said as her smile broadened.

  Sadie’s heart sank, as she took in Harold’s body. She approached him, reached out a hand to touch him, but his arm shot up to grab a hold of her throat. With fluid animal reflexes, Sadie didn’t think, she didn’t flinch as she sank her teeth into his neck, succumbing to her first initial thirst as a vampire.

  Chapter 5

  Dublin, Ireland - Present Day – Nearly 300 years later