Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 5

 

5              The Count

 

The villagers at the valley of fear; a funny name to be attached to the valley when fear was their last concern. Ever since the last Turks invasion there, the village had been peaceful. There was an aura that the village was protected by the Count who dwelled in the castle near to it. The Count held a reputation as a vicious killer or warrior to some, but nevertheless, feared by many. He lived alone with his aide, the hunchback who collect the supplies from the village weekly.

The Count was previously a reigning King of the land, but was toppled by the Turks after he defied their annexation of his land. He fought them and inflicted massive defeats but the numbers soon overwhelm his might. He was exiled to the castle and was given the rank as Count. He was never seen since then, and it was decades that he was claimed to have lived in exile there.

Could immortality be with him?

An intriguing act by many and unheard soon after. As the same per the village, no one dares and if they ever did, survive to share the experience.

What of his aide?

No one saw the aide close for he collects the given supplies at the edge of the village, and it was darkness when he arrives. It will include a live goat and said that the Count loves them alive. Or when he was feeding on it.

The blood from it.

Does the Count have a name?

Prince Vlad as whispered by the elders.

Or Dracula by the others.

Unfortunately, the Count that day was not around nor was his supplies collected for over one season change then.

Is he dead? Ironic for one who lived that long to had died, but no one dares to venture to the castle to check. So, they wait and every week they looked at the supplies set there.

There was something not considered by the villagers; the Count could be away for a trip.

The carriage ride from the sea-port at Dover was arranged to travel only at night time to its destination and the list of taverns were pre-booked with specific arrangement to the furnishings; which were bare of chairs and tables, and heavy curtains were hung to shield from the sunlight.

The aide to the Count turned to look at the doorway when it was opened from outside. The aide held a squat frame due to his hunchback, and was dressed in the workmen’s attire. He had on him the Turkish dagger; a type of curved, pointed, double or single-edged blade in length and is separated from straight and double-edged wedges due to its curvature; and short muzzle handle. He had reached for it with his left hand then.

The aide saw the return of their host, Doctor Henry Jekyll.

“It is the host, Master.” The aide announced to the Count. “He is back.”

Doctor Jekyll stepped in and removed his coat, and hat. He left them by the hanger near the doorway. He made his way to the living area, dimly lit on the request of his guest, who was seated by the fireplace but unlit then.

“Rosa, please be kind to light up the fireplace. I am sure the Doctor need the warmth to his body.” The Count instructed the aide to lit the woods there while he moved to another seat a distance away.

“I am fine, Count. The evening was not that chilly at all.” The aide had moved to the fireplace and tend to the woods. Once he got the fire burning, he placed a low shade to shield the Count from the heat and burning light.

“Thank you, Rosa. Your forefathers have been kind to me, as you are.” Rosa Quasi was fifth generation to aid the Count. Their dedication to the Count was a lifelong servitude, and upon the retirement of the father, the son or daughter took over. They are not hunchback like the first ancestor, but wore the bag on their back to make it appear so when they walked slouched forward.

“Did you meet the Professor?” The Count smiled soon after he asked. He was the rare guest of the doctor who shunned from hospitality but the Count intrigued him with the unique qualities and had offered him great amount of wealth to fund his research on the cure for the Count’s affinity towards the consumption of blood.

“No, I did not see him. He may be delayed but I ……”

“Another murder?” The Count interjected in. It was their topic of discussion for two weeks. He had been a guest for over a month with the murders before that, but the Count was not to read the prints as the daily news does not interest him. It was one evening during their meals, that Doctor Jekyll brought up the topic.

“Yes, like the previous ones, it was ……”

“A savage act? Come, Doctor Jekyll. I held a reputation to that name.” The Count laughed. “Can we have our dinner now? Rosa had prepared some nice servings.”

Rosa had prepared for the meals; Szeged goulash; made from beef, veal, pork and apple with rice, and cabbage salad. Their dessert serving was chocolate cake.

“I am fattening by her meals.” The Doctor smiled at Rosa. He was unattached for his life dedication was his works, and find the attention of the lady most adorable.

“It is good that you are fed, for you will made a good meal to feed from.” The Count made the jest at the doctor.