The snow continued to fall. It was cold, but nothing compared to what it would be like when night came. Snow gathered around the pit, settling on her and the others. She held the doctor close to keep her warm.
'Well,' Porter said at one point. 'We knew it was a trap. Can't say we didn't.'
'I hoped we'd get further than this,' Jane said, her teeth chattering. She peered over at Eddy. The snow was collecting on the poor coach driver. Dear Eddy. He really was a fine and brave man.
Jane scoured the pit for a way out, but it was pointless. The trap had been constructed hundreds of years before and had no doubt killed a good many in its time. The sides were straight up and down. There was no place to get a handhold. Lord knows others had tried. There were marks on the walls where other unfortunates had tried clawing their way out. Among the spikes lay bones and rotted clothing of others who had perished here.
Others have tried and failed to kill Dracula, Jane thought. Why did we expect to do better?
Their numbers were now reduced by a third. First, dear Eddy, and soon the doctor would expire if she didn't get help. That left only her. She might survive, but she dreaded to think of what lay ahead. Perhaps the best thing would be to die here in the snow. The alternative was to be rescued by Dracula.
If that can be called rescue.
The snow continued to fall, and the alabaster sheet of sky gradually turned to ash as the afternoon surrendered to night. The doctor snoozed, and Jane wasn't sure she would ever awaken. The world outside the pit was noiseless, but then she heard the crunch of boots on snow. Her heart sank as she glimpsed a sudden brightness spilling over into the side: torchlight.
More light brightened the pit, and Jane realised that several torches had been ignited around the exterior of the courtyard.
'My goodness!' a voice said. 'What have we here?'
Dracula.
Jane did not reply. She caught a glimpse of the vampire as he glanced over the edge at her. His face lay in half-shadow, but she could still see the mocking smile on his face.
'If it isn't Jane Austen!' he said. 'And the very capable Doctor Porter!' He glanced at Eddy's body. 'Goodness! Your driver looks a little worse for wear. Maybe a cup of tea will fix him up.'
'Be quiet!' Jane snapped, her teeth chattering.
'Of course,' Dracula said. 'You're cold. I'd forgotten the cold. I haven't felt heat or cold for thousands of years. I don't miss it, though. It was a fair trade for eternal life.'
'You're not alive,' Jane said. The air was freezing. Parts of her were numb, and the doctor's breathing was shallow. 'You're a creature—and a dead creature at that.'
'I suppose you'll know all about death very soon if I don't help you. Should I help you? After the way you betrayed me?'
'I didn't betray you.'
'But you did,' Dracula said, his voice turning hard. 'You shared a bed with that man. I hope it was worth it.'
Jane did not answer him.
The vampire continued. 'It was so easy to talk him into taking a walk to the cliffs.' The vampire paused. 'I asked if he loved you, and he said yes. I can understand that. I loved you once.'
'You didn't love me.' Jane squeezed her eyes together. 'You loved Mara.'
'She was obstinate too. Did I tell you what happened to her? The Romans crucified her. It was that cursed Christian religion. I told her it would not end well, but she didn't listen.' Dracula knelt beside the pit. 'I offered you the world, Jane. You could have ruled at my side as my queen.'
'Get us out of here.'
'Why would I do that?'
'I can't promise anything, but I will consider your offer.'
Dracula laughed heartily. 'Of course,' he said. 'You'll try to work out the best way to kill me.' He sighed. 'But I will help you and the lovely doctor from the pit. We can sit around and drink tea and discuss the old days.' He glanced down at Eddy. 'Although it's a little late for your driver. We might leave him.'
Dracula told her to remove her weapons and to do the same with Doctor Porter. He then lowered a basket on a chain into the pit. Jane piled the equipment in there, and he lifted it out. She had the feeling he had done this before. Probably many times. He then threw a loop of rope down and told her to place it under the doctor's arms. Porter was unconscious by now. The vampire hoisted her out of the pit, and the sound of his footsteps grew softer as he carried the doctor into the castle.
Finally, he returned and peered back over the edge of the pit at Jane. 'You know I could leave you down there.'
'I thought you were a man of your word.'
'Oh, I'm a man now?' he said. 'You called me a creature before.'
Jane didn't reply.
'All right,' Dracula said. 'I'll bring you up, but you must behave. If you don't, I'll be forced to impale you on one of those spikes and leave you there to die.'
The cold was so terrible that her fingers were numb. There was no feeling in her feet, either. She didn't mind dying so much. It was dying in a cold place that she minded. Besides, Jane had promised the doctor that she would look out for her.
'I will behave,' Jane said.
The rope came back down again, and Jane was soon being dragged unceremoniously over the edge of the pit. Her freedom did not last for long. The vampire grabbed her shoulder and dragged her towards the castle.
'I have already taken the good doctor to my chamber,' he said. 'She's waiting for us there. The fire is blazing, and soon you will be warm, and then we can talk.'
It was pointless trying to struggle free from the vampire. Dracula's grip was like iron. He pulled her up the stairs of one of the castle towers, flight after flight, until they reached the top. On one side lay a warm chamber with a curtained door. On the other was a snow-covered balcony surrounded by a low wall.
The vampire dragged Jane into the chamber. It was well lit by torches, with a roaring blaze in the fireplace that warmed the whole room. Jane looked about desperately for something she could use as a weapon. There was a bookcase, a large bed, an ancient wardrobe, and a chair. Nothing would do.
The doctor lay moaning on the floor near the fire.
'I trust that's warmer for you, doctor?' Dracula said. 'I like my guests to be comfortable.'
'Damn you,' Porter muttered.
'How unappreciative you are. I should have tossed you back onto those spikes. I once watched a man take three days to die on them. Persistence doesn't always pay off. He's still down there.'
The vampire shoved Jane onto the bed. She perched on the edge, glaring at the vampire as he crossed to a small table and poured some red wine into a glass. 'Would you like some? I lost my sense of taste when I became immortal. I just eat and drink to keep up the charade of appearing mortal.'
'No. Thank you.'
'So polite. Doctor? A glass?'
The doctor swore at him.
'Ever a creature of the gutter,' the vampire said. 'I would expect better of a woman of science.' He sipped at his wine. 'I do have a question for you, doctor. Will you answer it for me?'
Doctor Porter wrestled herself into a sitting position. 'What is it?' she muttered.
'Why?' Dracula gazed at her with interest. 'Why have you pursued me all this time? What did I do to deserve so much hatred?'
Porter climbed unsteadily to her feet. 'Why?' she said, rage in her eyes. 'Do you remember Stirling?'
'Stirling?' the count frowned. 'In Scotland?'
The doctor nodded. 'There's a little village north of the town. A tiny place. Barely even on the map. There was a girl you killed there.'
The count frowned in thought. Finally, he shook his head. 'I don't remember,' he said. 'I wish I did.'
'I don't suppose it would mean much to you.'
'So, you knew her,' the vampire said, snugly.
'No.'
'No?' Dracula stared at her, the glass in his hand. 'You didn't know her?'
'She was twelve years old. A child. That was enough.' Porter shook her head. 'You wouldn't understand. Whatever was human in you died a long time ago.'
Dracula nodded. 'I don't understand,' he said. 'But life is like that sometimes. Now I have a duty for you.' The vampire stared into Doctor Porter's blue eyes. 'I want you to go for a walk. Will you do that?'
'Yes.'
Her voice was dull.
'I want you to walk out to the balcony—'
'No!' Jane screamed. She scrambled to her feet and clawed at the vampire. Swinging around, he backhanded her, sending her sprawling onto the stone floor. She was insensible as he dropped to her side, placed a hand around her throat, and pinned her down.
He turned back to the doctor. 'You will walk out onto the balcony,' he continued. 'There, you will stand in the snow and say I love Count Dracula with all my heart and soul. Do you understand?'
'Yes,' Porter said.
'No!' Jane screamed, punching at the vampire.
'And then,' Dracula said, 'you will jump.'
'Yes,' Porter said.
Jane struggled against Dracula with all her might, but she could not break free. She watched as Doctor Porter slowly trudged from the room and disappeared through the curtain as if in a dream. Jane continued to cry out until she finally broke into helpless sobs.
Dracula slowly released her throat. 'Now,' he said, peering into her face. 'You belong to me.'
Jane shook her head. 'No. No. No…'
'Count your blessings. I had one man flay himself alive with a blunt knife. It took him a long time to die—and the blood!' The vampire sighed. 'It wasn't worth the trouble. At least your friend has died well. The drop is several hundred feet, and no person can survive that.' He sat on the chair and regarded her. 'This could have been so much more pleasant, Jane. You and I could have controlled this world. Instead, your friends are dead, I am confined once more to my castle, and you—' He stared at her. 'Well, you and I have unfinished business.'
Jane shook with rage. 'You are a monster!' she screamed. 'I will never love you.'
'You say that now, Jane,' he said. 'But you'll soon feel differently.'
She stared at him in horror.
He saw the look in her face. 'Oh, yes,' he said. 'Originally, I intended to kill you and your friends. That's why I lured you here. You betrayed me, and I was happy for you to die. But now that you're here, and you've survived my little trap, I believe I will make you mine.' He smiled coldly. 'I will mesmerise you and keep you mesmerised for the rest of eternity. It could have been different. I wanted it to be different, Mara. But look at what happened all those years ago. I let you leave and look at what happened? You ended up crucified in the name of an imaginary, silent God.' Dracula spread his arms. 'Where was your Jesus when you needed him? He wasn't the son of God. He was just another pretender.'
Jane cast her eyes around the chamber. She wished there was some way out of here, but there was no escape. Eddy and Doctor Porter were dead. At least Max was safe. As for her…well, soon, she would be possessed by this creature. If only there were a weapon, but there was nothing.
She peered across at the curtained doorway. There was a way out, but it was not the Christian way. She could join the doctor by taking that great leap off the parapet to the rocks below. Surely God would understand her decision. Better to sacrifice herself than be the cause of pain and death for years to come.
'Crying?' Dracula said, seeing the tears running down her face. 'My Mara. I have loved and missed you so much.'
'I am not Mara,' Jane snapped. 'I am Jane Austen!'
Upon saying this, she made a break for the balcony door. Dracula made a grab for her, but she slipped through his fingers. Jane pushed through the curtain and onto the balcony. The wind struck her, and it was as if she had been slapped. Beyond the tower, there was only darkness and driving snow. A welcome oblivion, despite the cold tearing at her flesh.
Jane lifted one foot onto the snow-slicked battlement. She was just about to propel herself off when a hand grabbed the back of her hair.
She screamed, but her voice was carried away by the wind. Dracula pulled her backwards. Driving a fist into his face, she swore and fought him. He was too strong. He dragged her back from the edge and swung her around to face him.
'You've always been a wilful woman,' he said, gripping her shoulders and pulling her close to him. 'It's time you were properly tamed.'
He wrenched her head to one side, exposing the side of her neck.
No, Jane thought. Please. Not this.
Dracula buried his fangs into the yielding flesh of her neck, and she gasped as he bit down hard. She felt his teeth sink deeply as the blood drained from her veins. No. No. No. Jane's heart slammed in her chest. This was the end of her life, the end of her dreams, the end of the person known as Jane Austen. She would forever be a slave to Dracula, a puppet forever on a string.
Dear Max, she thought. At least you're safe.
Her eyes found the dark night, and she wished she could live forever in that darkness. Away from Dracula. Away from the endless horror that awaited her.
Then the vampire released her, staggered back. Jane saw a mixture of confusion and horror on his face. 'What is this?' he gasped. 'Your blood…' He convulsed as if about to vomit. 'Your blood is poisoned!'
The expression of disbelief on his face did not last long. It was replaced by utter shock as a thud echoed across the parapet. He cried out, stumbled, and now Jane saw who stood behind him.
'Doctor!' Jane cried in disbelief.
The woman was armed once more and had just jammed a stake into the vampire's back.
'The one and only,' Porter said. 'Sorry I took so long. Although I keep a few backup stakes handy, it's impossible to find anything in this jacket.' She tossed a handful of stakes to Jane. 'Let's finish this bastard.'
The doctor slammed a second stake into the creature's chest. Dracula screamed and flailed as Jane plunged another stake into his back.
'No,' the vampire gasped, falling back against the wall, his crimson blood spilling over the white snow. His eyes flicked between Jane and the doctor. 'It's impossible.'
'No,' Porter said. 'It's science. Colloidal silver is silver suspended in solution. My friends and I have been drinking it for weeks. I call it Porter's Potent Panacea.'
The doctor jammed another stake into the vampire's chest.
Dracula spat blood. 'But…I commanded you to jump!'
'You did,' Doctor Porter said. 'I've long wondered if your ability to mesmerise was some power from your eyes. It made sense that some kind of shield could be devised as a form of defence. Max Filador was kind enough to make one for me.' She pulled at her pupils, and a moment later, a pair of tiny sapphire-blue lenses lay in her hand. She looked back at Jane with brown eyes. 'Thank goodness I can finally be rid of these things. They are damned uncomfortable.'
'No,' Dracula gasped as he struggled to stand. 'It can't be. I cannot die.'
'Yes,' Jane said. 'You can.'
With this, she gripped the last stake in her hand and plunged it deep into Dracula's chest. This one went straight into his heart. Gagging, he fell away from her and went backwards over the wall of the battlement. Jane and Porter hurried to the edge and watched him plummet silently down the side of the castle until he disappeared into the darkness below.
'Do you think he's dead?' Jane asked.
'I doubt anything could survive a fall like that,' Porter said. She gripped her wounded leg. 'Now let's see if Dracula has some decent brandy. I need one after that fight. Maybe even two. And while we drink, I'll tell you about the time I tracked down a monster in Loch Ness. It's quite an amazing tale.'