Blueblood 4: Dracula - 14. Confronting Dragon About Being Dracula

The weather was changing as it was going to be autumn soon and it was cooler at night now. Then again, my view of this part of the world was a little…well, a cave is a cave. I saw Egypt, mostly underground. I did see a lot of England, but Transylvania I saw mostly underground. The part of this underground world was like the others…carved out from centuries of habitation. Passageways were widen, floors were leveled out and torches burned to light the way. The seasonal changes could be felt outside, but it stayed the same down where we were.

I spoke with Gaius almost every night, but almost never with Dragon. I knew I wasn’t a therapist and I didn’t put myself in that position, but I did listen. That was the most important part of any therapy. I tried to pay attention to what they didn’t say as well as what they did say.

I needed to talk to Dragon as he would be the one to address the other vampires. The problem was…who would he present? Vlad the Impaler? The Dragon or…he claims he’s not and I knew he wasn’t, but people thought of him as Dracula!

The feature that stuck out the most with Dragon, was his voice. I’m not kidding when I said he used a form of hypnosis when he spoke. He could almost make me cheat on Colin. Almost, but that would not happen, I don’t care how convincing he could be. Thank God, he didn’t seem interested in having more than a friendship with either of us.

Stan sat with Dragon, while I watched as they planned this broadcast of Dragon.

“…and we don’t even have to show your face,” Stan explained. “I think it would add to the broadcast if you were seen, more like a face in the shadows. We need your voice more to convince others to come forward.”

Dragon nodded, but like any male, was fascinated more on how it was going to be done and fascinated by the gadgetry. “I’ll leave it to you to decide what is needed.” He looked at the little camera. “How does this work again?”

I smiled. “Well, the best way to describe it is…it will be a reflection.”

“Won’t that be backward?” Dragon asked.

I chuckled. “Okay…a reflection of a reflection.”

“Using the…controlled lightning you told me about.” Dragon nodded and shrugged. “But the things I see on the computer can’t be a reflection.”

“Without explaining it all…which I'll do if you like.” Stan began. “We found a way to…write it down so it can be viewed later as many times as you like. It’s a reflection memory.”

Dragon rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose and waved Stan off. “That’s okay, I guess I can find out later…for now, it’s giving me a headache thinking about it.”

Stan chuckled. “Many people can’t fully understand it now, either.”

I watched as Stan went off to do…whatever he needed to set things up. Timing was important, but…I looked at Dragon. At the moment, Dragon and I were alone. What I planned to do next…well, my heart was beating faster as I thought about it. This was not just for me or Colin, but all vampires in the world. We needed a strong confident leader, which Dragon was.

“You do understand what we’re doing, don’t you?” I asked. “And why.”

“Sure.” Dragon nodded. “I’m to speak to the other vampires to convince them to help you and bring them together.”

I nodded. “You will be the voice for us,” I explained. “You have a power we don’t. Think of the other vampires as…the extension of the people in Wallachia. These people need leadership and you will be the voice that brings them together.”

He looked up through eyes…even as a vampire were very compelling, but shaded right now. He had doubts. “Whether I want it or not.”

“It’s a heavy responsibility.” I nodded. “A responsibility you handled well in the past,” I said softly.

He grunted. “That’s why I’m seen as a monster.” He said sourly.

“That’s the problem right now. You are seen as a monster by some, but not by everyone. I don’t. You, however, see yourself that way.” I said as I came closer. I was shaking even before I began. I thought of Colin as I began. “With Gaius, I’ve listened to some of what he’s said about that past, but you haven’t said a thing.”

“Why should I?” Dragon asked in almost a growl. “I know what you’ve said about talking helping…but I’m facing judgment anyway…so…”

I nodded as my heart rate increased. “You’re God now?” I was in dangerous waters now.

“I never said that!” Dragon said quickly and a little angry at what I said.

I nodded. “You just did.” I pointed out. “You’ve judged yourself and condemned yourself to be punished, no matter what any deity has to say. You’re acting like you’re God!” I said just as loud.

Dragon rose from his chair and to say I was frightened would be an understatement; my heart was hammering inside my chest! He came and was glaring down at me. Whatever you fear…I mean real fear, like a shark right beside you with his jaws open and you knew he was going to chomp down on you in a matter of seconds; or this vampire with huge looming his fangs bared and a look…there are no words, but he could kill me and I had no doubt he's never broken a sweat! He was as big as Colin, perhaps bigger. “That’s not what I said. I know God can’t forgive what I’ve done!”

I couldn’t back down, but my voice was shaking now. “That’s what you said. You are condemning yourself without God’s input at all…you think you’re God!”

In spite of his attempt to scare me…I saw the rage in his eyes even as dry as they were, but I saw him realize what he was doing. “I sense the fear in you, but you don’t give in. That’s impressive.”

“Of course, there is fear,” I said forcing my tone to be even as I could, but I was shaking inside. “Isn’t that how you operate? That’s what you do! That’s all you know how to do. No,” I shook my head, “I won’t give in.” I agreed. “But making people afraid, isn’t that what you do?” I asked. “Scare people?” I shrugged it off. “I’m frightened of you. Terrified, but I can’t let you push me around. Fear is not a bad thing, it keeps us safe. Right now, my heart is beating so fast preparing to run away, but I won’t.” I swallowed and even laughed. “You can kill me if you wanted to, but I’m not leaving and you would have to explain what you’ve done not only to Colin, but my mother, step-father and those in our group I consider my family. If you do, they will kill you. And George,” I laughed harder, “he knows more about vampires than anyone, I know he could come up with an effective way and then you will face judgment; from them!” I shouted and he looked away and started to walk off. “You’ve got fear right now in you!”

“I do not!!” Dragon shouted as he turned to look at me.

I laughed at his statement. “Sure you do, you’re afraid of God Himself! Afraid that when you face Him, He’ll cast you into Lake of Fire! You…” I said coming in front of him, “are scared!” I touched his shoulder. “I’m not going to coddle you. You did some things that are pretty gruesome, but you had a reason. The sooner you deal with that, the easier it will be.” I smiled. “Your name is Vlad, not Dragon. I’m not going away. You are not evil.” I said. “If I back down, Lucian wins. Brett Marshall wins and all those that want to stop us. They win.” I said. “You can hurt me, you can kill me without effort, but I don’t think you will hurt me.” I made him look at me. “Will you?” I had to pee really badly, but I couldn’t move.

He suddenly chuckled. “You’re a brave man, Devon.” He smiled.

I shrugged. “That’s the problem with fear; I don’t feel brave when I feel fear.” I chuckled. “The flight part of the fight or flight thing inside me is yelling to flee.”

Dragon nodded with a chuckled. “But you don’t run away, that’s brave.”

I nodded. “Well, you scared the piss out of me,” I said weakly and hurried off to where Repetate and Iustina had their makeshift toilet when they were out of their cell with Dragon in the great hall. I let out a stream…but letting it go felt so good.

I heard Dragon laughing as I came out. Dragon came to me and grabbed me in a hug. Yes, there was a lot of hugging with Colin, George…hell, I hugged Repetate and Iustina every time I saw them and before I left them. Dracula was hugging me!

“You,” Dragon said smiling at me, “my friend, are a unique human being.” He said kissing me on the temple. “I like you.”

I sighed. “I like you, too.”

That’s when Stan came back with his portable unit and froze. He looked at us hesitantly. “Should I come back? I heard a pretty heated discussion, but I see it’s all good now.” He grinned. “Do I give you a few more minutes?”

Then we heard rapid footfalls as Colin literally skidded to a stop. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He asked, looking at me. “I heard yelling.”

I grinned at Dragon and patted him on the shoulder. “We’re fine.”

Dragon did the manly one-armed hug of me and smiled at Colin. “You are a lucky man, Colin Wentworth. You have a great human being as a husband.”

Colin walked closer, still not sure what to make of the situation. “I know.” He said still not sure what was happening.

“Stan.” Dragon said. “Will this…record…my progress, taking the serum?”

Stan nodded. “Sure.” He smiled. “It’s a pretty long process, though.”

“But they will feel more assured if they see it.” Dragon explained. “No shadows, they need to see that I am what they are.”

I nodded smiling at what he saw was the best way to approach this. “But you need to be full on. Be Vlad Dracul. It will come across with more purpose.”

Stan came closer and held his hand up. “This might be hacked. No, I’m sure we will be.” He whispered. “There will be others that see this…others who aren’t vampires.”

I nodded. “We always face that odd, but can’t you scramble the source? Would they trace the signal here?”

Stan considered my question and thought. “A top hacker might be able.” He chuckled. “But I’m a top programmer.” He shrugged. “Hell, I’ll have it bouncing all around the globe! I got this, but it will be hacked, but it will be harder.” He waved the concern off.

Sitting on his throne…if you want to call it that, it lacked some of the ornate…whatever I’d seen on other, but it was a grand chair, but…though I didn’t expect it; his voice almost seemed…unnatural as he addressed the camera.

On the screen, we did start with a shadowed image of Dragon, but it lightened to show he was a vampire. The fangs and the eyes were plain to see. “I am the one called the Dragon.” He said as his voice almost seemed to…rumble, but that was his power. “I do not have to say more, but I have…” he looked at me, “…met some very good people from the United States of America, who are also like we are. I know having witnessed a few friends go through it, it will hurt, but they have a treatment for our condition and you will go through it with me.” He smiled. “I know in a week’s time, I will again eat food and be able to go in the sun again after several hundred years of living in the darkness.” He shook his head. “This is a new day for us. I have seen the results and now you will see me as I go through this.” He smiled. “I was asked, my friends are trustworthy, they have helped in their own country, in England and Egypt. You need to decide, is the way you live now what you want? Your help is needed. You have the means to reply. Those of us with medical and scientific knowledge is needed. Communicate with them. Trust them…or you can remain where you are…in the dark, waiting for the next feeding.” His face went to darkness again and he added. “The choice…is yours.”