The Interdimensional Dilemmas of IAN and Betty

by D R Brooks

CHAPTER 6

  IAN and Gabriella stood outside of her house, waiting for Dracula and Betty to arrive.

  “Oh, stop giving me that look, Gabriella, this isn't the first arranged marriage you have been in and I'm sure it won't be your last.”

  ‘Have you seen the state of his finances?  Dire. He has bled more widows of their fortune than he has virgins of their blood.”

  “I see your judgment has blinded you to the hypocrisy of your protest.”

  “I am not blind.  I'm quite aware that for first time I am on the wrong side of the arrangement.”

  “Oh, I have faith in you.  Besides, there are more important things than money.”

  “Well it's certainly not loyalty.  I mean, you just handed her over to him.”

  “If she going to travel with me, I need to know if she can handle herself.  Don't let the Miss Marple act fool you.”

  Just then Dracula and Betty’s carriage arrived.

  A decidedly rosy Betty jumped out of the vehicle before the wheels had stopped turning. "Gabriella, IAN, how delightful to see you both again! I had a simply superb time!" Dracula floated out of the carriage and stood beside her. He turned to Gabriella.

  "My lady, I do believe we have an understanding?" He handed her a red velvet box.

  Betty jumped up and down and clapped her hands. "Oh, the master and the mistress are to be wed. Oh, how lovely.”  She sighed "I do believe I am crying with happiness. Oh, IAN, isn't it just perfect? Maybe we can all live together!"

  “You're quite happy.  I take it dinner went well?”

  "Oh, didn't I say? Perfect! Just perfect, everything was perfect, right master?" She hung on Dracula's arm, but he promptly shook her off.

  "Now, now, don't bother the adults. We have business to conduct. IAN, Lady Gabriella, shall we go inside?"

  “Before we go anywhere Count, I want a few things clear about this nuptial. Firstly, I, I…” Gabriella looked deep into Dracula eyes.  “I, I am yours to command, my Love.”  She said as she knelt down before him.

  He smiled. "Open the box."

  Gabriella opened the box, finding a ring atop a human heart.

  “My Love, it's beautiful.”

  Betty reached toward the box. "Oooo, sparkly." Even though it was plainly a dull paste gem.

  Dracula took Gabriella by the hand and entered her manse. Leaving Betty and IAN to follow. As soon as they were through the doorway, Betty visibly calmed.

  "My. That was strange."

  As IAN continued, she caught his shoulder. "IAN, I don't know what Dracula is planning to reveal, but I'll tell you one thing. He is NOT to be trusted."

  “Of course.  But the real question here is if I can trust you when you are around your master?”

  "Hm. Yes. That is the issue, isn't it? It seems the answer would be a resounding no."

  “No worries, if need be, I will find a way to use it to my advantage.  Do tell me what was it like to feed for the first time.”

  "Really, the whole night is a bit candlelight-fuzzy. Like being drunk on champagne." Betty cast her eyes down. "It's not something I want to dwell on right now."

  Betty kept her eyes down while they enter the mansion, but as soon as she was in the presence of her master, that look of shame was glossed over with a trance-like bliss. A look she shared with the once strong-willed Gabriella who had walked over and taken Betty’s hand.

  “Come my pet, we must go and slip into something more appeasing to our beloved Count.”

  Dracula leaned against the mantel of the fireplace. "Silly girl, why she would bother with the expense of lighting fires every night, when we cannot feel the warmth, I do not profess to know." He rubbed his hands together. "So, Van Helsing, you have kept your side of the bargain. What do you require of me?"

  IAN paused for a moment as he watched the ladies go upstairs. “An explanation.  How and why did an Ancient teleport using a Bigfoot as its vessel?”

  "The Council has not yet revealed this to the populace and, in fact, would be very...upset with me should they know I revealed this to an outsider, but we have not been able to 'crossover' on our own for a long time now.  Before you had me thrown in prison, I was the last one who could cross at will. I believe it was due to all the culture seeding I had accomplished on previous visits. The legends, the books, the poems, the art, the films…”

  “It has become routine to ride the coattails of another's crossing over, though the Ancients will not stoop to such low transport. Your big footed creature, he contained a small one of theirs, yes? A trifling being, one assumes."

  "We do not know what has happened to close the Dimensions to us, but it is a growing concern. How else are we to procure new humans when ours wear out?"

  "Even you, Van Helsing, must know how important it is to keep such a large Ancient civilization satiated."

  “Don't play me for a fool.  The Ancients are up to something.  What is it?”

  "Helsing, you impugn my honor. That is dangerous ground. You would do best to tread lightly here. Furthermore, I assure you, that is all I know. Something has been weakening all of our abilities; Ancient and lower forms alike."

  Dracula paused for a moment. "Though, even through prison walls one hears things. The children of the night, they tell me of such...but surely those are rumors only." Dracula suddenly straightened and one could almost see glamour, like a mask, cover his face. "Ladies, you have returned! How lovely. You can say goodbye to our guest before he journeys on."

  “Oh? Am I going somewhere?” IAN questioned as he looked over the ladies’ rather interesting and seemingly bridal attire.

  Dracula stared intently into IAN's eyes. "I believe you said you had somewhere to be, did you not?" He glided over to the women, who immediately looped their arms through his and began leading them to the dining room. "Gabriella, dear, where is that hulking servant of yours? Surely, he can see out our visitor?"

  “Of course my Love.  Schreck!” Gabriella snapped her laced gloved finger while Betty stared lovingly at her master.

  Schreck arrived, this time with battle axe on full display.

  Gabriella directed him.  “Be a dear and show the professor out.”  Dracula and his brides glided i to the dining room.  As soon as the doors shut behind them, there came the sounds of a significant scuffle.

  Then they heard a scream so loud they all turned and looked at the door, only to snap their heads back to the table where IAN sat, covered in blood, a battle axe in hand.

  “My old friend I am afraid you misheard, I have nowhere I need to be and I graciously accept your invitation to dine.”

  "Perhaps the time for civility has passed. I have told you what I am willing to tell you and I ask that you now leave me with my fiancée and the fledgling. I know I was supposed to return her, but look, she is so happy here with us."

  Betty smiled blissfully at her master.

  IAN looked at her searchingly.  “Is that true Betty?  Are you happy?”

  Her smile faltered, almost imperceptibly. "Um. I'm not?"

  Dracula raised an open palm to her and reflexively, Betty punched him in the jaw. He stood there, stunned. "Did...did you just strike me?"

  "Yeah. I guess I did."

  “Losing your way with the ladies, I see.”

  Dracula looked over at IAN and extended his fangs.  This only allowed Betty to run over behind IAN.