Work Text:
1848
Bucharest
Otilia gasped when she woke up. Suddenly, in the early morning. It was still dark outside. She hurried to open the window, although she knew she shouldn’t. As the chilly air of a late October entered the room, she smiled. It worked, it truly did! she whispered to herself.
Everyone was aware of the vampire who lived isolated, in a castle hidden between the mountains, in Transylvania. He went by many names and a great deal of legends were born. He was also… dead. The identity of the hero, however, remained a mystery. What was agreed upon was that the credits went to a foreigner: Count Dracula did not suck more blood than that of the tourists. Quite the patriot, he usually avoided hurting his own. Therefore, the first to attack him were not his people, but fellow Europeans.
Weeks ago, victims, this time Romanians included, had been found dead in the towns and villages of the Carpathians. All bitten and either brutally murdered by having their necks snapped or by being dried out of blood. Now, anyone who lived outside Transylvania and not too close to its borders felt safe, thinking the creature couldn’t get to them. He seemed not to venture far from his home.
It was believed it was not the original vampire, as his MO was more civilized, and that somebody had taken his place. Somebody even worse, as if the first wasn’t enough.
Otilia had studied vampires since her teenage years, which did help with managing her fear of them. It also complicated matters as she accidentally opened herself to the occult. That is when the nightmares came about. To add to her woes, this new, cruel creature, understanding she had the necessary means to destroy him, attempted to poison her mind and drive her mad. Sleepless nights and a general, overwhelming state of severe anxiety followed. The woman made real efforts to protect herself. She prayed often and performed rituals, confining him to torture her only through occasional nightmares.
The scariest experience she had was when she could see his oddly wrinkled face and lifeless eyes in a dream. The picture depicted was no longer a shadow, or death everywhere portrayed by deserted lands and even human cadavers, or a curse being yelled at her from somewhere, but a vivid appearance of The New Count. A rotten, horrifying beast. She was terrified and unable to sleep properly for a while.
During her intense praying sessions, she would ask for strength and would keep casting away the creature so he would not visit her as she was asleep.
Otilia did not live by herself, but in Nicholas’ house, the husband of her dearest friend, Lavinia. He was aware to some extent of her abilities and fixations but chose not to interfere. Not that she would allow him or anyone else to. Because she felt alone and the nightmares did their number on her, she thought to ask The Divine for a partner. For someone who would understand her, keep her safe, and even… love her. She wished to find a husband, too. Her friend reassured her that at some point she would encounter her person, but years went by and nothing happened. Lavinia got married in the meantime whilst Otilia stayed single. The woman stopped asking eventually because it was not working. It did not only discourage her, it made her feel foolish as well.
Without any reason why, she decided to try again. And this time, she was listened to by The Creator.
It was not quite a dream, it was a place where her spirit could travel to while her body remained in the bedroom. She found herself in a forest with towering trees. She felt safe there. A hand touched her shoulder, and she knew the owner was much taller than her.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes”, she responded although she wasn’t fully sure.
“Why?”
“I think you know why.”
When the woman turned to face him, his features could not be discerned. Instead, he looked like a shadow, carrying, strangely, light with it. He could be the one indeed.
There was a palpable darkness about him, he wasn’t human. He wasn’t wicked either. His energy was clear and relatively easy to decipher, but his identity not so much. Otilia could not help but wish to get closer to him. He was supposed to be, after all, who she was hoping for in her utmost private moments. He had felt like a fantasy for such a long time and now he was next to her. It was happening. It was… genuine.
Their hands began moving at the same time, cutting the distance between them. The second their fingers intertwined, the trance came to an end. That was when she woke up.
Looking outside, Otilia saw the empty cobblestones under the lamp poles. There was nobody on the street. It was quiet momentarily. She closed the window, remembering the dangers that were perhaps way more real than whatever she had just experienced.
She did not speak much the following days. Instead, she waited for the night to arrive to call for him. He always came. And each time, without exchanging many words, they grew intimate. They bonded by being in each other’s presence. There was a kiss between their spirits at some point, which felt very real. So did all the other touching. Her only complaint was that he was rather quick to leave. The man had some business to attend.
“Tia! What is going on with you?” Nicholas asked one day at dinner. “Are you having nightmares again?”
The woman had to quit her pondering to answer his question.
“No… most certainly not nightmares. I am fine.”
“You do not seem fine”, Lavinia added.
Otilia looked at them both. She did not know what to tell them… the truth was personal.
“If it is about that vampire again…”
“What if it is, Nicholas?” she frowned, although The New Count hadn’t crossed her mind. “Somebody has to study him, he is a threat to all of us. Believe me, I would rather not think of him.”
“You don’t have to. No crime of strange nature has been reported recently. Maybe Dracula is gone and those were animals attacking humans who entered their territory.”
“He has been replaced! How else do you explain the broken necks?”
The man sighed.
“People kill other people.”
Unable to refrain from letting out a scoff, the woman said:
“Do not speak condescendingly to me! I can tell the difference between man-committed murder and the work of a creature. I saw him! And he is terrible!”
“Enough, the two of you!” Lavinia interfered. “I believe you, Tia, but this might be hurting you.”
The woman shook her head.
“It is not him this time, I swear. It is my own life, truly.”
They finished their dinner in silence. Such topics had a way of upsetting people.
Nicholas was afraid of the beast, specifically afraid of what he could do to his wife. He loved her deeply and he could not bear the thought that the vampire might harm or… kill her. He wasn’t exactly more comfortable with losing Otilia either, as he felt she was his responsibility, too. Both women lived under his roof, after all, and while he might not admit it, a beautiful friendship bloomed between him and Otilia. That is why denying the return of a Dracula-like menace was better.
After dinner, in their living room over tea, the couple were discussing their plans for the future and canceling their trip to Hermannstadt. Just to be safe. While none of them was particularly in love with the city of Bucharest and they both missed traveling, they couldn’t risk anything.
The two hadn’t been married for long so conversations about what life had in store for them were frequent. At times, they were left to converse alone by their permanent guest and delight in their privacy.
That night, after taking a bath and hiding under her covers, Otilia was rather suddenly engulfed by a feeling of bliss like never before. She knew she was to meet her mysterious man – or whatever he was – yet again. The woman thanked God for granting her the chance to love, even though it was not the usual type nor what she had in mind when she asked for it. It might have been only her spirit that was engaged, but the consequences of their interaction could be felt by her body. So, it was more than enough. When one is deprived of love their entire life, one does not find oneself in a position to make demands.
She closed her eyes and made the call in her mind.
I am waiting for you, you know where to find me. Come!
They did not meet in the forest like they normally did, but in her room. It was plain what the purpose of their meeting was this time. And the act was to be consumed in her bed.
It would all culminate with their spirits becoming one.
His spirit was more powerful than before, as she had been giving him more and more access to her each time they met.
The rational part of her brain warned her that he was essentially a stranger she was infatuated with, whose name, capacity, and endeavors were unknown. But the attraction and the desire were too strong. Their relationship was not dictated by regular laws, they did not have to know each other. Insanity or not, she had never felt this good. Therefore, when he asked: “Are you certain you want this?”, she responded: “Yes, take me!” Because, above all, what she wanted was to be consumed.
His kisses and touch were other-worldly, leaving her hot and pleased. She was opening herself almost automatically, inviting him in and pulling him closer. And when he got in, she moaned. Both there, with him, and in her actual room, where her body lay. It was not invasive or painful in any way, but delicately intimate. They were both connected without ever interacting in real life.
When she came back, opening her eyes and finding herself in her bed, alone and flushed, she covered her mouth. It felt a bit embarrassing, yet she did not regret it. Whatever that was, it was to her liking and her body responded well to it. She might have been agitated but she was also… happy. Not a feeling she was accustomed to.
Smiling, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning, Otilia woke up before the other two. They happened to be busy during the night too, so much so that they almost broke the sofa. Fortunately, the piece of furniture survived.
The paperboy left a newspaper at their door, and the woman heard the knock. She took it and read the first page: More victims of the beast, some were found dead and some disappeared. The New Count was not stopping, he had no intention to. Otilia learned that two bodies presenting fang marks on their necks and wrists were discovered yesterday in the northern part of Kronstadt, her favorite place in the entire world. Not much was known about the missing people. Their neighbors reported to the local authorities that they hadn’t seen them in a while. They were students at a confessional school renting a small house. The owner was away, visiting his family, and had to return immediately upon hearing the news.
Enough was enough for the woman and she decided then and there to travel to where the monster did his number. While traveling was difficult in the region due to its poor infrastructure, she was willing to spend a while on the road to hunt down the vampire.
She began packing at once. All her happiness was replaced by the harsh reality she was living and the imminent danger lurking. She had to at least move closer to him instead of sitting comfortably in Bucharest, hoping she was safe. Otilia felt she’d been wasting her time instead of actively seeking ways to kill the immortal creature. It made her furious.
“Whatever is it that you are doing?” Lavinia asked her.
The woman had returned to her room to prepare for her trip after consulting the newspaper and left the door open, unintentionally letting anyone in the house see her.
“I am leaving for Kronstadt. Have a look!” she pointed to the newspaper she had placed just earlier on her nightstand.
Lavinia’s eyes skimmed through the written piece and frowned.
“Are you out of your mind? Nicholas and I have given up on our plans for this specific reason.”
“I have allowed myself to get distracted and I wish to no longer delay what must be done.”
The woman shook her head.
“Where is this coming from, Tia?”
Otilia paused packing for a bit and looked at her friend.
“I have always wanted to do this but I didn’t dare since I was not feeling ready. Reading what happened gave me the impulse I needed.”
“I do not think you should be making such an important decision based solely on an article.”
“I cannot afford to wait either. Besides, I miss Kronstadt badly as we spend way too much time here. Do you not get sick of Bucharest?”
“Perhaps we would travel more if we did not have a vampire threatening to kill us.”
Naturally, when Nicholas woke up, he had the same arguments against Otilia’s sudden resolution. But she didn't permit them to deter her. The pull was too strong, she had to get there.
They served a late breakfast together before she departed.
“If you are not back by the 20th of November, we will come after you”, Nicholas declared as they were all standing in front of the house.
The woman smiled and nodded, hugging them both. That gave her about two weeks, but she knew she was going to end it faster.
“Remember to put salt at your windows and doors”, Lavinia said.
“Yes, of course. Do not worry for me and take care of yourselves!”
And so the carriage left.
Kronstadt
Way past midnight, after two days and a half on the road, the door of a modest, yet cozy accommodation was opened by an obviously exhausted woman. The owner’s helper, who was taking the night shift, welcomed her. He was a young boy, probably nineteen of age, with a friendly face. Big brown eyes, relatively thick eyebrows, and a small nose above a pair of thin lips. His hair was dark and healthy, yet he appeared as if he was not eating properly. The boy offered to help her with her baggage, but she declined.
They had plenty of rooms available, as most tourists were fleeing the place. The keys were given to her, and she proceeded to the insufficiently illuminated hallway after thanking him.
Otilia unlocked the door to enter a tiny chamber. It was rather clean and smelled nice. Some flowers were placed on a round table. She opened the window to let the harsh, but fresh air in for a bit. Standing before her was Tampa Mountain, big and beautiful. She was content to see it again.
The woman then lit the candles available and one of the four she was carrying with her.
The unpacking did not last long. Frankly, the chiffonier wasn’t particularly spacious.
At the end of the hallway, there was a room containing a washbasin and two buckets filled with clean water. Cold, clean water. Otilia wanted to wash herself – she even brought a handmade soap with her – and while it was uncomfortable and she complained the whole time, she did it.
Shivering, she returned to her room. It was not warm enough inside but the accommodation provided extra blankets.
The woman managed to fall asleep, mainly due to exhaustion. She usually had trouble falling asleep.
It wasn’t, however, about to be a peaceful night.
At some point, her body grew anxious, as if warning her. She was most definitely in danger and her inner alarm system had been activated. A dreadful presence was announcing itself.
A raspy voice spoke, paralyzing her mind.
“You left Wallachia searching for me, foolish child. I know you carry weapons you wish to kill me with.”
Squirming in bed, she became painfully aware of her loneliness. There was no one to protect her from him. And it was night. And it was dark as she blew on all the candles’ little flames before going to sleep. And this New Count was there. And she did not want to see him again. But how could she remain under the blankets when that creature was so close to her?
Although the thought of him caused the woman to shudder, she did open her eyes, ignoring her heart’s palpitations. Tall, with his decaying body covered by a cloak, and uncanny, long nails, the vampire stood next to the bed. Ready, perfectly ready to attack. Before she could get up, he dug his claws into her shoulders. It was hard to defend herself against the beast, as he was larger and stronger than her. She clenched her teeth due to the stinging pain. The lack of light made him seem even more terrifying.
“I have noticed you but I did not imagine you would dare challenge me”, his pale hands moved to her neck.
It felt like touching ice.
“I have never challenged you”, she uttered as the vampire began choking her.
She opened her mouth for air. His grip was getting more and more suffocating. But as breathing became impossible, Otilia remembered the purpose of her trip and how he fed not only on people’s blood but on their fear too.
She placed her hands firmly on his shoulders and confronted him.
“I haven’t faced… hell… for nothing”, the woman managed to say, gasping desperately for air. “You cannot… destroy me! No one can!”
The vampire said nothing. In truth, very few would fight back or at least resist him. He could not bend her to his will either, she appeared, although at a disadvantage, to be immune.
“Leave!” she tried to yell. “Leave, you monster! You… have no power over me!”
The woman awoke abruptly, soaked in sweat. She placed her hand on her neck. Other than breathing heavily in agitation, she was fine.
Right after scanning the room to look for any shunned figure, she grabbed her purse and pulled out the wooden, dangerously sharp stake she had with her.
Steps could be detected near the door. She jumped out of bed to see if the vampire was outside and the scary vision was but the trailer.
She checked the hallway standing under the door frame, as she did not dare step out. Someone was there, indeed. A tall man, with long hair. His appearance was peculiar but simultaneously charming. Otilia suspired. He was most likely another guest. He looked human enough.
His light blue eyes were fixated on her and her weapon. The man was just about to enter his room when she materialized.
“Are you in need of aid?” he offered, rather elegantly.
“No… I thought you were someone else, I am sorry”, she explained, her voice shrill.
She immediately closed the door and hid herself.
Only when the first sun rays pierced the window, the woman could go to sleep. She did not wake up until noon.
Feeling somewhat better after resting, Otilia left her room. This time, the owner was present at the reception. A woman, most likely in her late fifties, who recommended her a restaurant nearby that her guests frequented. A meal did not sound bad at all.
Otilia found the place relatively fast. It did not have many tables, but it was quite generous space-wise. There were people there, in an excellent mood given the menace hanging above their heads. She ordered a soup.
As she was waiting at the table, she noticed the man she had seen the previous night in the hallway. Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She must have come across as insane.
Unfortunately, he noticed her too.
“May I?” he asked, pointing at the available chair at her table.
She agreed. At least she looked presentable so she might convince him she was not insane.
“I… I would like to apologize to you. As I said, I believed you were someone else.”
The man, whose features were now more visible, was not much older than her. His face was softly sculpted, though not without an indisputable hint of harshness.
“Do not mention it! My question is who did you imagine I was?”
“Excuse me?”
“You held a stake in your hand.”
The soup arrived. And so did his food – steak.
“Then you know the answer”, she responded once the waiter was gone.
Before anything else, the man introduced himself. Otilia learned that he was named Zophar and that he lived not far from the city, visiting once again.
Naturally, they began debating Dracula – the classic vampire-killing instrument could only lead the conversation that way. Zophar was reserved in sharing too many details concerning the creature, but he did specify he had his encounter with Dracula. An encounter so abominable that it changed his life for the worse.
“Whatever you think you could do, it is not going to work”, he concluded, suspecting she might want to kill the monster.
She wouldn’t be the first to try it. Men had perished before pursuing the same pernicious desire.
Otilia rolled her eyes. The two days and a half she spent on the road were not wasted. She did think of a plan as she understood she could not act without one. It was true that the previous night the vampire had taken her by surprise, but it wasn't unusual for him to torture her. All she needed was to muster up the courage to do what had to be done. Consequently, she did not afford to be scared by people’s horror stories.
“I already have two mouths telling me the same thing, I do not require a third.”
“How is it going to unfold, then? Your glorious hunting.”
The woman paused eating and looked him in the eyes.
“I am not doing this for glory, but because I believe I have a duty. People have lived in fear for so long, someone must put an end to it! I have always been quite fascinated with vampires and ever since he started haunting my dreams, I knew I would have to confront him at some point. Last night, for instance, he showed up again and tried to kill me. That is why you saw me, regrettably, in that state.”
“I do not doubt your knowledge or reasons, we are strangers after all. But no matter how prepared you are, The Count will deflect. He’s been alive for over four centuries, I can guarantee you he is more than able to anticipate your moves.”
“Precisely, we are strangers! Therefore, why are you interfering with my business? It does not concern you!”
Zophar related to her. Since his transformation, he had been craving to murder the vampire too. But he had lost more than his heart could tolerate.
“Before you get to him, he will torment the ones you love to discourage you. Think of your friends and family.” He glanced at her hands. “You are unmarried, but if there is a man you fancy, he will go after him.”
Lavinia and Nicholas came to her mind immediately. While she rarely spoke to her parents and there was much affliction there, she did not want them to fall at the hands of a ghastly creature either. But doing nothing was not an option. If she had access to the spiritual, then she also had a responsibility to honor.
They finished their meal in silence. She never thought she would feel comfortable eating with a stranger without making conversation, although he did piss her off a little.
The chill weather and the way too gentle sun rays prompted Otilia to rearrange her shawl. Her coat, her dress, and the many layers underneath were to keep her warm. Instead of carrying on as intended, by herself, she asked the man:
“Care to join me for a walk? I have some questions for you.”
He accepted.
Strolling next to him made her aware of the height difference, setting a weird emotion in her body. However, she could not allow this aspect to distract her.
“Do ask your questions. But I also wish to learn more of your nightmares.”
“Fine. I shall go first: what is your deal with the blood-thirsty bastard?”
Zophar smirked.
“Fascinating choice of words! Similar to you, I desired to kill him but I couldn’t. Dracula is no ordinary enemy and we need something better than what the books are saying.”
She glowered at him with suspicion.
“Dracula is dead. This vampire is…”
“What?” the man interrupted her. “Whoever supposedly defeated him wasn’t as victorious as we might like to believe.” That would explain why Zophar mentioned earlier that the vampire was over four centuries old. At the moment, the fact did not seem of great importance. “What really went down was a confrontation between the two, where the human gravely wounded the immortal. He is thought to be from the Caddel Family, vampire hunters to be reckoned with.”
The name did ring a bell, she had heard of them before.
“He…”, Otilia commenced, unsure “has different ways of killing his victims. Besides, people went to visit the castle, nothing was found. For years, it has been quiet, nobody died.”
“He moved his coffin deep within the uncharted basement of his castle. He needed time to recover, he was too weak to fight and face anyone mad enough to venture deep into the mountains. He drank exclusively animal blood for a while. That is why he grew more savage and now kills anyone he can, however he can.”
People were passing them by, busy with daily tasks.
“But he looks different… does he not? Dracula looked like a regular person, except for the sharp, elongated canines.”
“That is correct. The damage sustained brought him closer to looking as what he is: a corpse. It takes a lot of resources to preserve a dead human body turned immortal. Now, tell me of your dreams.”
Zophar recalled seeing her for the first time and the evident terror on her face. He figured on the spot it was connected to the vampire. It reminded him of the sweat drops on his body when he had similar experiences.
She proceeded to tell him. It did not come easy for her to open up, especially to someone she only met, but she wanted to rid herself of the burden. Just the inevitable arrival of the night in a couple of hours represented a source of distress. He listened attentively, improving her disposition a bit.
Their steps carried them to the building of the Black Church, which rose imposingly. They stopped to sit on a bench and admire the gothic structure. Otilia dreamed of getting married here, although she was of another religion – not that she cared for religion –, when she still thought it was possible for her.
“You are daring, that is certain”, Zophar commented once she was done.
“Thank you, I try!”
“Whenever you meditate, have a token for protection with you. It can be anything. Before bringing the meditation to an end, do not forget to close the channels of communication that open during these activities. That is probably how he got in, a channel was left open for him to enter your mind.”
The cold breeze sent his scent right to her nostrils. Refined and woody. Of course he smelled good! The more she examined his flawless face, the more handsome she found him. The long, black hair did not bother her, despite not being used to seeing men wear it that way. It was probably just as long as hers.
“Duly noted”, she replied eventually. “Is it inappropriate to ask what you are doing tomorrow?”
“Do you wish to see me again?”
“Well”, she smiled mischievously, “I am traveling alone and you are the first person I met. I doubt it would hurt to suggest we have a coffee together.”
The man was starting to like her.
“Would that be a date, miss? Have I made such a good impression already?”
“You did try to discourage me but you will do for a date.”
Zophar smiled, too.
“That was not my intention. I was simply imparting the lessons learned from my experience.”
“How do you know so much about him?” Otilia inquired, changing her flirtatious approach to a serious one.
“I have interacted with him. Not in a nightmare or vision, but just as I am with you right now.”
The woman’s mouth formed a small ‘o’. She was more than curious about Zophar's meeting with Dracula but she understood it was not the time to request more details. God knows what the vampire did to him.
That night, Otilia said the one prayer all Christians memorize and lit a candle symbolically. The salt was in place as well. Before bed, she applied chrism on her forehead and wrists. Disquieted by another very possible visit, the woman told herself she must try to rest nonetheless. He couldn’t get to her, he was merely toying with her mind. But when the mind is strong, so is the body.
If she dreamed, she didn’t remember. It did not matter, at least she slumbered.
Otilia made herself pretty for her so-called date. Romance had been rather absent from her life so it was reason for a small celebration. She held no expectations, she only sought to enjoy herself.
She did surprise herself when she made the proposition. Good thing the man went along.
On her way to the Black Church, which they decided was going to be their meeting place, she recalled her unidentified lover. Was he an entity, allowing a connection solely through spirit, or was he a real person like her? Did the date and interest she had taken in Zophar count as cheating? On the other hand, her entire existence was physical. She could not disconnect herself from reality to live in other realms that were richer in joy. And yet… that man could not be forgotten.
Focused on the morality of her actions, Otilia did not see that her date had arrived until he called her name.
“Oh, I am sorry!” the woman said. “Did you wait for me?”
He shook his head. And they commenced walking towards what we would call a coffee shop today.
“Nervous?” Zophar asked.
She was unequivocally nervous, so she masked it with confidence.
“No. Isn’t your day better now that I’m here?”
“It absolutely is.”
The tall man was too much of a gentleman to ever make her or any woman feel bad in such a situation.
As they drank their coffee, it felt as if Dracula was no longer in the picture. They both sure needed the break.
“May I request information on your whereabouts the night we met?”
Zophar simpered slightly, holding his cup in his hands.
“For someone as concerned with vampires as yourself, I find it surprising you couldn’t tell.”
Otilia glared at him. He was mocking her, was he not? But the more she was paying attention to him, the more it made sense. His teeth were sharper and a tad longer than normal, his manners exceptional... He stood out. That was what made him attractive in the first place.
She searched for her words before speaking:
“That means… you are a Daywalker. I supposed they were a myth.”
“Not a myth, just exceedingly rare. Now”, he added with a warm voice, “do not be afraid. I can sense your heart beating faster.”
“Then”, Otilia tried, whispering, “that night you went out to… hunt?”
“Yes”, he responded casually. “No reason to fret, I only go for old animals that are nearing their end.”
After taking the last sip of her hot, flavored drink, the woman scratched her head a little.
“All right, Zophar. I have an avalanche of questions.”
“Feel free to address them.”
“How are you a Daywalker?”
“Our common friend attempted to turn me. He almost drained me of blood and made me swallow his.” Otilia covered her mouth with her hand. He put his cup down. He had finished drinking as well. “But the beast couldn’t complete the process because his body was still weak. He threw me away, thinking I was going to die anyway. He wasn’t wrong, I might have, had it not been for a bunch of locals who found me and nurtured me back to health. They suffered quite the shock, too. Discovering the bite marks on my body brought upon the realization that The Count was still alive.”
The woman looked around as if the proper reaction to what he said was somewhere in the establishment.
“I am so sorry. If this is too uncomfortable, we do not have to talk about it.”
“It is not. At least now you see why I warned you not to pursue him.”
She nodded.
“How did he get to you?”
“I was doing exactly what you are doing, had myself a fascination for the spiritual. I started dreaming him and, unlike you, I was not immune. I did what he told me – I went to his castle. That’s where he held me captive for a couple of weeks and where I discovered what truly happened. I ended up as his livestock and practically gave him enough strength through my blood to resume murdering humans.”
Otilia took his left hand in hers. Something in his heart flickered.
“It is wonderful you survived it! And what do you mean by immune?”
“I am certain he tried at least once to compel you but he didn’t succeed.”
The woman nodded again.
To ensure his suspicions were founded, Zophar placed his right hand over hers. When their eyes met again, he knew. He decidedly knew.
“It is you, is it not?” he abruptly changed the topic.
“What?” Otilia raised her eyebrows in confusion.
“You called for me. You are the woman I met in my… dreams.”
Completely mortified, the woman covered her face with her palms. She regretted touching him.
Zophar’s face was but a grin.
“No, damn it! This is not happening!”
After a while, she dared look at him. She was flustered.
“I am leaving”, the woman stood up.
“We are leaving”, he corrected.
She prayed for something to make her disappear from the face of the Earth, but nothing went down. She stormed out of the coffee shop.
“God must loathe me!”
“I do not think I was that bad.”
“Zophar, I could kill you, do not forget that!”
“No… You know how to kill me. It doesn’t mean you can.”
Otilia stopped walking.
“I could surely try. And why did you… come? Why did you respond to my calling?”
Locking her eyes with his, as if pledging himself to her, he said:
“How could I have not?”
The world stopped. They weren’t on the streets of Kronstadt anymore.
“Your calling was so sincere and so vulnerable, my heart did not allow a decline.”
With this line alone, he froze her. It made it seem impossible to resist her, a power she doubted she had. And he was serious, he did not utter it to merely make fun of the situation.
She turned her head away. She was her most needy self in those moments, her spirit was open to him. It brought her shame.
“It is natural to crave connection, Otilia”, he reassured her.
The woman faced him despite the resistance imposed by her body. His light blue eyes were burning her.
“I assume my nightmare had its benefits, we finally got to meet”, she tried. “Speaking of, why are you against killing him?”
“Nice deviation from our discovery, but I am not against it. I even tried to do it. Once I felt better, I decided to go after him. The fact that I was experiencing peculiar cravings, despite being able to enjoy regular food, further fueled my hatred. It ultimately confirmed that his plan had reached its goal. I left for the castle as soon as I could to get there before he would wake up. But it was a cloudy evening and nobody was home. He had vacated early. By the time I had returned, it was too late.” He was affected profoundly by the episode. “Dracula had killed almost every member of the family of locals that saved my life. The mother and her sister, the grandma, and the father’s best friend, a kind man who would always make sure I had fresh water. I could only save the father and his daughter.” Zophar took a moment before carrying on. “We fought and he ran away. That was when I realized The Count was better connected than I expected: he learned about me from another villager who worked for him.”
Otilia was absorbing every word.
“There must always be a traitor”, she remarked. “What followed?”
“I made sure the remaining family moved out, somewhere safe. And… I proceeded to kill the traitor. The first and only time I drank human blood. But it did not help me feel better at all, it only confirmed I had lost.”
The woman knew what he meant. His gesture was out of character and it was not as if it could bring any of the victims back. He clearly didn’t enjoy speaking about it.
After a while, they went back to the accommodation. Otilia kept thinking about what he went through. Her heart was breaking.
When she felt it appropriate to reveal her plan, she did.
The plan was simple but potentially effective. She wished to lure The Count into her room close to the night’s final minutes and trap him there until sunrise. The trapping was in case she could not stab him and he would win the fight – the most likely scenario, frankly speaking, she was not trained like the Caddels – so the sun rays could kill him instead. Placing salt at every corner of the room, closing the windows, and scoring the walls and door with a pointed object to draw runes should suffice. Going to the castle as Zophar did was not much of an option. It was too far away and even if she could get there during the day, it was clear she would not be able to find him. Just like the explorers who went to confirm the beast was gone. Besides, they went there as a group and had to bring ammunition to force open the gates. They even burned down most of it, leaving the castle empty and full of ashes. What chances did she have with her stake?
“I got in through a window”, he said. “Unless you can fly or jump real high, it is now impossible to get in. He changed the gates after the unsolicited visit. They have been hardened too, rendering any sort of weapons or explosives useless. Therefore yes, your smart plan could work, except it is a suicide mission!”
He was upset with her. They reached their rooms but remained in the hallway to finish the conversation.
“Do you believe sacrificing yourself is the solution? Is this why you came here unaccompanied?”
“What choice do I have?” the woman raised her voice. “He is a murderer! People are getting desperate, asking The Church for help, and the authorities seem to be doing nothing.”
“The authorities seem to be doing nothing because he has people infiltrated there. Heads of police, too. I have spent all this time teaching people how to protect themselves against The Count, went on night watches to save whoever I could while the authorities were just handing people to him. They kept the students that went missing outside after twilight on purpose so he could get them. I learned about it through conducting a less than orthodox investigation.”
“Stop it! He can be killed and I will find a way to do it!”
“He”, Zophar said with an unsettlingly calm tone, “is over four hundred years old. He knows his vulnerabilities very well and has perfected all the ways in which he can defend himself. There is no place in Transylvania where you are really safe. This very building we find ourselves in served as his personal buffet until my interference.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“He messed with the owner’s mind until she became obsessed with him. She gave him access to the guesthouse and invited him in every room. He fed on both her and her clients. I had to do the same thing to make her hate him. A priest came by to bless the place afterward.”
There was an empty chair at the end of the hallway, right next to the washroom’s door. Otilia went to sit there. She sighed.
Zophar had been fighting a silent war, essentially. It was the pain he underwent that was hindering him from assassinating the beast. It was his experience that exposed Dracula’s capacities and made him a bit more precautious. Zophar comprehended the risks better than anyone. Ultimately, he took it upon himself to serve as the only member of the resistance. Just like the woman took it upon herself to kill the vampire.
But looking at Otilia gave him a whole other perspective. Regardless of whatever reasons he had until meeting her, he was presented with a real opportunity to rid the world of the beast and to put an end to his relentless efforts.
“I… I have been stalling long enough”, he said eventually. “Let’s do it! Let’s kill Dracula!”
Otilia raised her eyebrows. She thought she would have to do way more convincing.
“I cannot summon him for he will know the summoner, and he has been avoiding me like the plague; given I have the necessary skills for it, of course. I am not sure I do. You, on the other hand, are able to perform. I shall be there, next to you, waiting for him to show up. The second he appears, I will close the window and stab him. Right in his putrid heart.”
The woman nodded in approval. It could work, although the idea of summoning Dracula was frightening and going to consume much of her energy. But at least she wouldn’t be doing it by herself, as she had always envisioned.
“I agree. How does tonight sound to you?”
“Such haste! You think you are prepared?”
“This is my third night in Kronstadt, let’s make it meaningful”, she jested. “Besides, he’s holding hostages as we speak, we’ve got no time to waste.”
“Fair enough! I will be in your room one hour before sunrise.”
Otilia spent almost all the hours of the night walking across her room. She kept encouraging herself for what was to come and reminding herself that she was far stronger than her fear. Frantic with worry about what could go wrong and about actually meeting him, she could hardly draw the pentagram on the floor. Her palms were sweaty. After that, she lit one taper candle, which she placed near the pentagram. The woman did not forget to apply chrism all over her neck, collarbone, and wrists once she was done preparing the place.
Her hands were shaking when she opened the window to let him in. The adrenaline was rushing in her veins, her entire body alert. So much so that she jerked when Zophar entered the room. Upon seeing him, she exhaled in relief, rubbing her temples.
“Are you positive you wish to do this?”
“Yes!” she declared, noticing he had a silver stake attached to his waist.
Otilia had never seen a silver one other than in the pictures of the books she studied.
The half-vampire positioned himself with his back against the wall, right to the window. She sat on the floor before the pentagram. She peeped at the night sky. The stars were there, twinkling, but, even though it was a Waxing Gibbous, approaching a Full, The Moon could not be seen from where she stood. It was as if the queen of the night was avoiding the scene.
After taking a deep breath, the woman closed her eyes. Normally, she would not seek to explore the piths of darkness with her mind, but life forces for exceptions to be made. She went low, closer to the dense energy of the nether regions of The Creation. Keeping her light in that tenebrous realm pressed heavily on her, but she had to find him. She had to find the immortal brute.
Zophar was watching her carefully. Her straining was palpable. He took out his stake.
Located deep down within the shadows, Otilia saw his sinister castle, as it jutted from the cliff on which it stood. Voices were whispering imperceptible incantations that sent shivers down her spine. She wanted to make them stop, yet their source was unclear. They bothered her so.
Somehow, Dracula’s home was getting closer and closer. She was not moving at all, but all around her seemed to. She had no control over her desolate surroundings. Her body was protesting against the ominous moor, begging to return.
Otilia found herself without warning in front of the gates. High and sturdy. They creaked open. Her breath ceased for a bit.
Standing behind them, waiting to reveal himself, was The Count.
The woman’s eyes widened as she met his: dreadful and devoid of any life. His presence was debilitating. Dracula was looking at her as if she was but an insect about to be crushed. Tears started falling down her cheeks, tears that Zophar could see as well. Insane amounts of fear were permeating her brave heart. She was feeling sick already. She could swear it was the end.
This encounter was different from when he would trouble her in her dreams. This encounter made her flesh crawl. She couldn’t even tell when the chilling voices became quiet as nothing else mattered.
“I call upon you!” she somehow said, her voice trembling. “I call upon you, Count Dracula!” she repeated, this time with a bit more force.
Otilia was violently brought back into her room. She opened her eyes, coughing. Zophar hurried to her, putting his palm on her back.
“He…”, she announced, breathing heavily, “he is on his way.”
Her body was holding onto every resource it had not to faint. Zophar resumed position, tightening his grip on the weapon.
They could both sense the vampire’s arrival.
When The Count stepped into the room, through the window, the woman was kneeling on the floor. She looked at him and got up. It was like a nightmare come true.
“What do you want? Are you willing to offer me your maiden blood?”
His hoarse voice broke the silence of the remaining minutes of the night. The energy in the room shifted.
Before she could say anything – she was too tired anyway - Zophar swiftly closed the window, determining Dracula to turn at the sound of it. The Count was surprised. Salt was then thrown all over the window sill, as the half-vampire had some in his pocket.
“Have you missed me?” Zophar asked.
It goes without saying that Dracula was unnaturally fast, but the Daywalker was faster. The Count stuck his claws where his opponent’s neck and shoulders met. Zophar stabbed him aggressively right away, forgetting to flinch because of the pain inflicted on him.
Dracula groaned. The silver stake transpierced his putrid heart.
“I should have killed you myself!” the vampire declared.
“Indeed, that was your mistake”, Zophar replied.
His retractable fangs came out fully. That would partially explain how Otilia did not realize he was a vampire – his looks also happened to be rather distracting.
In the meantime, she grabbed her stake from where she left it.
There was a strong, nearly impossible-to-break resistance coming from the beast. Zophar could have used some backup. The woman was inspired enough to climb on the bed – she needed support as the two were far taller than her – and thrust her stake in The Count’s neck. A second groan was heard. Blood trickled down her hands, Otilia involuntarily smelling its disgusting stance.
Ignoring the twinge in his neck and shoulders, Zophar held his weapon steady. It had to be in there for a while before the vampire’s regenerative abilities were numbed.
But the night was finally over. The Sun was beginning to show, welcoming a new day in the city of Kronstadt. Some of its rays touched Dracula. They did not only burn his skin but also made it shrink.
The creature was losing his powers. No matter how much he hated it, he was facing certain death. His claws finally set Zophar’s skin free. He glanced at the two before losing his balance and falling to the ground. They were to remember his eyes.
Dracula contracted for a few minutes to finally succumb to a permanent demise. Hell had been waiting. Otilia’s stake was still in him. Unlike the half-vampire, she was too caught up in the moment to take it out before the fall.
She got off the bed. Was it actually over?
“Are you well?” Zophar checked on her, seeing how she couldn’t help but stare at the cadaver.
“Uhm…” Otilia turned to him. “You are wounded, God!”
He shook his head.
“They are already healing. Thank you for work!”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Zophar smiled. Boy, was he dashing!
“Then let us say it was a team effort.”
Only when the authorities came to pick up Dracula, grimacing at the sight of him, all commenced to feel somewhat normal again. The tension accumulated in Otilia’s body was being released. Zophar was experiencing a sense of liberation like never before. He could live his life again, they both could.
Little known fact, there was a cure for the likings of Zophar. He was not condemned to remain a vampire until the end of his days. Daywalkers were not immortal. They lived about three to four hundred years, keeping a youthful appearance for the duration of their prolonged existence. Their transformation was more often than not reversible. Now, as he had heard of it, Zophar had the chance to search for the cure and leave The Count in the past. There was light in his future.
It was decided by the city council to burn the monster in the city square and make it a public event. The crowd was thrilled.
Zophar and Otilia kept their distance, listening to the people shouting: “To Hell with the vampire!”, “Dracula is dead, we have a body!”, and watching them as they set the monster on fire. Dancing and cheering followed, they threw quite the spectacle. It was a historical day for Transylvania.
The body was crackling under the flames – that, for many, was the sound of freedom.
A team was later dispatched to the castle to recover the missing students.
Sitting again on the bench next to the Black Church, Otilia took a deep breath in.
“For the very first time in a while, I do not find myself concerned at eventide.”
“You tell me”, Zophar replied.
A bittersweet taste engulfed the woman. She did fancy the half-man, half-vampire she met only three nights ago. And their meeting was reaching its epilogue.
“Do what you want to do instead of looking at me like this”, he told her.
She blushed a little. It was challenging to pretend he was not the man she was yearning for in the dark, the man she got intimate with… spiritually, in that ethereal realm. It was especially challenging now that the main perturbing factor was dead and that they could focus on the more enjoyable aspects of life.
“There isn’t anything in particular I want to do.”
“Fine!” he smirked.
His hand touched her cheek before he kissed her. They closed their eyes. It was bound to happen.
She let herself get lost in that kiss. It was just as they experienced in their trance: personal, driven by desire and curiosity. Their lips, despite making physical contact for the very first time, knew each other.
When they parted, she said:
“I wish to return home. This city holds a special place in my heart and I fear the recent events might shed an unfavorable light on it. I cannot linger anymore, although my stay was short. If… I write down the address for you, will you come visit me?”
Zophar’s eyes filled with warmth.
“When did I ever turn down your calls?”
Bucharest, again
“This fire is not going to keep us warm”, Lavinia remarked, staring at the fireplace.
“It doesn’t get bigger than this. And I believe you should put something on because you are the only one complaining about the cold”, Nicholas said.
His wife threw one of the sofa’s pillows at him. The man did not react.
Otilia was sitting on the armchair, her sight focused on the window. It was snowing outside. She spent the first week, week and a half after her arrival taking in all that went down in Kronstadt and trying to adjust to a new reality: one where The Count was indeed gone.
The night following the confrontation, the owner assigned her another room. As she was to depart in the morning, she decided to act upon her desire. So, without considering any possible consequences, she left the door unlocked for the half-vampire.
The attraction was strong and, in truth, she did not try to resist it. One could blame it on the Full Moon.
The instant he entered the room they began kissing. They had been both thirsting for it. One thing led to another, and just as it happened during their other rendezvous, not many words were exchanged. Before she knew it, Otilia found herself, wearing nothing but her rather sheer, white nightgown, in bed, under him. It unfolded rather naturally as it was not exactly their first time getting intimate – it was but the physical manifestation of a relationship that had already started. He did ask the question and she gave her consent. He took his time, too, preparing her body for what was to come, and filling her with desire and sweet anticipation.
The consummation was exactly what the young woman craved. She had never been happier about making a bold proposition – she never imagined she would, really. Reflecting on it a month after it happened made her question herself: who simply invites a man over to make love? Maybe more people than I’d assume, she thought.
Zophar complied with all of her requests, including not removing her cotton gown. Lifting it was enough, as Otilia was not ready to be seen fully naked.
What bothered her was his tenderness. Why was he such a gentleman when that night was not supposed to mean anything? Why did it seem like he cared? She even mentioned she was not expecting him to commit nor to feel in any way obliged towards her. Which was not what she wanted, of course, but the woman tried to play it cool.
Snowflakes were getting glued to the window. They were of different shapes and sizes, but equally gorgeous. Otilia was looking at them carefully. She wanted to cry but she held back.
He did essentially say he would visit her but perhaps he didn’t mean it or changed his mind. The last time they saw each other was the morning she left for Bucharest, after sleeping in his arms. She had never felt so protected. The woman could only hope that he was content and that she would forget him. She did not dare call on him at night either.
“Are you with us, Tia?” Lavinia asked.
“What?” the woman responded.
“What are you thinking about? You haven’t been yourself since your return.”
Otilia forced a smile to conceal her aching. She had only spoken briefly to her friends of the half-vampire.
“I might be tired, I am not sure. But it doesn’t matter.”
“It does”, her friend insisted.
“You never opened up to us about the killing of The Count. Are you certain you do not wish to discuss the event?” Nicholas added.
She signaled him to stop with her hand.
“No. I am only sorry they found one of the students dead. The poor girl was emptied of blood.”
“That was preposterous, indeed”, the man agreed. “The papers said he had sucked on the others too, but at least they are alive. What a heinous creature! However, why aren’t you proud of yourself? That act alone makes you and the half-vampire heroes.”
Otilia wasn’t sure of what to say. She and Zophar both refused to sit for an interview because the subject was unpleasant to them.
“Yes, dearest. I haven’t seen you celebrate”, Lavinia remarked.
“There is nothing to celebrate! I shall go for a walk.”
She headed to the hanger and snatched her coat.
“Where? Should we accompany you?” her friend offered.
“No.”
“Why not? Are you at least going to be back for dinner?”
“Yes. It’s barely four in the afternoon.”
Nicholas chose to remain silent. Just like his wife, he suspected something else transpired and was keeping the woman miserable.
A stroll is an exceptional opportunity to contemplate, even if it is winter and your nose will turn red. Otilia went outside, her boots making a squeaky sound when stepping on the snow. A thick layer was covering the ground like a blanket. The city was slowly but surely preparing for the winter holidays.
Horses could be heard as a carriage entered their alley. Its driver touched his hat to salute her. He then parked the carriage in front of their house.
She glared at the horse-drawn vehicle’s door as it opened. A tall, polished man got off. His black hair was styled in a long, low ponytail, and he too wore a hat to shield him from the freezing weather.
Otilia’s heart skipped a bit. Zophar was there.
Why was she so nervous about seeing him?
She took a deep breath in and walked towards him, faking a nonchalant attitude. He heard her way before she reached him.
“Oh, look who is here!” Otilia exclaimed as if she wouldn’t have been waiting for him the whole time. He never specified when he would turn up so he was neither early nor late. “How was your journey?”
“I can tell that your heart is beating fast, do not pretend to be indifferent.”
She rolled her eyes before he pulled her in an embrace. Zophar had thought of her while they were apart, returning home and getting his matters in order as fast as he could to get to her. He thought of her determination and courage, of her smile and her voice, of how he enjoyed talking to her, of the taste of her lips, of her brown hair, which smelled so nice, cascading down her shoulders the night they shared the bed.
He also thought of some other things that cannot be written here.
“I am glad you came”, she admitted, her face buried in his chest.
“Me too. It was worth traveling for five days in precarious conditions.”
She giggled. Then she raised her head, his arms still around her. Oh, she did miss those peculiar blue eyes!
“Bucharest, despite its many downsides, can be addictive, so I surmise you will relish your stay. Have you been well?”
“Fortunately, yes. What of you?”
“Being with friends helps. Speaking of, they are inside and I would love for you to meet them!”
“All right, I shall meet them”, he agreed before they stepped inside, holding hands.
And so Zophar was introduced to the couple. And Otilia had the people she cared for under one roof. And Lavinia and Nicholas were animated to share their house with another pair, even though it was temporary. And Dracula was dead and perhaps, after it all, better days were coming for these small, overlooked, but rich and beautiful lands of Eastern Europe.