Preys and Predators Part 1 Chapter 48

 

48                Sacrificed 

 

The Professor with his face and hands bandaged looked to the figure hung by the legs on the garden. The figure was hung there on an improvised hanging structure, with the wrist severed to drip the blood into the pot below.

“I must protest, Professor.” Lord Dennis was not accustomed to the sight of such act.

“If you must, then stay away from my sight.” The Professor had instructed the hanging then.

“She will be the bait.” “Professor, I must …….” Lord Dennis was interrupted by the other Doctor. He had protested on the impalement and was given the leeway to just hang her there. The impalement would have killed her instantly.

“I have set the other sacrifices by the lawn.” Doctor Manfred motioned to the four technicians that were killed to harvest the organs.

 “The cats are brought out and will be ravenous on the scent of the blood. The other doctors had done the implants we spoke.”

It was a hasty action that only three of the so-named volunteers survived, while the others had died.

“Fine. Nobody leaves today until we kill both the doctor and the Count.” The Professor looked at the Admiral. “Shoot on sight anyone leaving.”

The Admiral nodded. He had brought over the three-inch gun; the Armstrong Breech Loading 12 pounder 8 cwt, later known as RBL 12 pounder 8 cwt, was an early modern 3-inch rifled breech-loading field gun of 1859. It needed a total of nine men to handle it.

“Load the gun.” The Admiral looked to the massive gun. He then saw the cats that were brought out. The cats were wild predators; one cheetah, and two were lions. They were leashed by the long chains. He was not a hunter of the great game, but fancied himself to be one with his library holding the stuffed display. They were more of gifts by his officers when they came a-calling. His favourite hobby was the collection of butterflies. He holds an impressive display of it in his house.

“The colours display are awesome.” The Admiral smiled.

The sight of Rosa was seen by Doctor Jekyll from the treelines. He had placed the Count behind some bushes for the latter to recover. There was no food but the wild berries were to serve as meals. He had seen the Count was weaker then.

“I must go to her.” Doctor Jekyll saw the lady he had desired was dying on the rope there. He had never seen the lady in the nude, but that was not caught his attention. Rosa was seen with lacerations and wounds.

“She is going to die.” Doctor Jekyll uttered in pain. “I have to ……”

“Save her, we must. Help me up. We will walk there.” The Count pulled at Doctor Jekyll’s left arm to stand up. The Doctor turned to help and soon they were walking out to the open area approaching the garden.

“They are coming.” Lord Dennis saw the two walking towards the castle.

“Obviously. Let them walk here.” The Professor had arranged a chair to be set up there at the lawn with a huge tent over the area. He then signalled the servant behind him. “Bring me my drink.”

The two men walked the distance towards the castle but stopped short of reaching there. “Bring Rosa down.” Doctor Jekyll called out.

“She is innocent here.”

“Rosa? I am curious. When have you ever address the servant by their name?” The Professor called back.

“I do not. Do you, Lord Dennis?” His lordship looked to the two men standing there. He had addressed his servant by their designation except for the butler, he had called by name; Belvedere.

“No, Professor.” Lord Dennis replied.

“Truly remarkable of you to do so. Perhaps my brother taught you that.” The Professor smiled. “He is affectionate with his servants. He drank their blood. Or rather sucked it.”

“You are a monster, Radu.” The Count leaning on the Doctor called out. “The pot calling the kettle black.”

The Professor whose real name was Radu Tepes.

“Who is the monster here? You, Him? Or me? I am made one by your blood.”

“I saved your life then, Radu. You were dying from the wounds.” “Wounds that were inflicted by you. If you could recall, it was our duel to the death. I was your victim, and soon made your ……. Minion. These were your words.” The Professor called out.

“Minion!”“Yes, you are my minion. And will remain forever.”

“Bastard! Vlad, you were never contented. We had a good life in the Sultan’s palace. We were given the best of the bests, and yet you revolted. I could had been killed for your insolence, but survived because I was smarter. I pleaded and convinced the Sultan, that I was faithful. I was his pet then. I had no name but called a servant.” “It was years later I was made the leader of his army. I led them to kill my own people, but were they mine or yours, Vlad? Were we truly princes or renegades? Did we lead the people to freedom or was it death serving us?”

“Vlad, you are the disillusioned one. Yet, you went the deviant way; becoming the blood sucking …... vampire, they called you. That is what you are. Not a prince. Not a King but a vampire. Count Dracula you are called.”

“Yes, I am Dracula.” Count Vlad found the strength to stand on his own. “I had to live to fight on. I was given the choice and made the sacrifice which till today, remained my curse. I thought it was a blessing and even shared it with you, my own brother. A path from certain death, but we are the undead here.”

“Radu, I still remain myself while you have become the monster.” Count Vlad looked at the other. “You are the monster here.”

“Release the cats upon them!” The Professor in his anger called out but the gathered there were all stunned by the revelation that the Professor was another vampire.

“I command you all to release the cats.” The Professor looked to the handlers.

“Release them or it will be your death, I command.” The Professor was still the leader in their mind. The handlers still hesitated.

“Do it now!” The Professor called out.