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Deep within the heart of Africa, the ancestral birthplace of humanity, was a hidden temple. Its very existence was known only to a select few individuals and for good reason. For within the temple there lurked an object that could spell disaster for all humankind.
Inside a single room was a statue of a tribal chieftain wearing a lionskin and standing proud with his spear and shield. Had anyone been present they would have agreed that it was a magnificent work of art. They would also have noticed a strange mist forming in front of the statue.
The mist gathered and condensed until it solidified into a man. He was smartly dressed in a grey suit with a black tie, black slacks, black shoes and a black trench coat with red lapels. His black hair was cut in a neat widow’s peak. In contrast his skin was a pale green-grey and his features were sharp and angular, with a pointed nose, pointed ears and red eyes. Light gleamed off the points of two long pointed fangs in his upper jaw.
Without a second of hesitation, he seized the statue, lifted it over his head as if it was weightless and hurled it to the floor. It shattered into fragments and dust. Amid the debris was a red crystal the size of a human heart.
“At last, the Blood Stone” he whispered.
As he picked up the crystal, he heard the sound of running feet. He turned around to see three women come charging into the room. All of them were dark-skinned, bald and dressed in red and brown uniforms covered in tribal designs. Each one was armed with a spear. Their faces were twisted into scowls of contempt.
“Get away from that” one of them yelled as they pointed their spears at him. “That item is property of the king.”
He merely smiled and looked them in their eyes. “Calm yourselves my ladies” he said, speaking with a strong Eastern European accent. “You do not want to harm me, your master.”
The women’s eyes glazed over and their spears fell to the floor. “How may we serve you master?” the lead one asked in a dull monotone.
“Merely stand where you are” the man replied. He licked his lips and opened his mouth wide, baring his fangs. None of them made a move as he approached them.
When he departed a little while later, he left behind a broken statue and three lifeless bodies that had been drained completely of blood. Normally he would be more discreet about such things but soon it would no longer matter.
Miranda Reed was in a very good mood as her motorcycle sped through the streets. A big part of that was due to the warm embrace of her girlfriend Keri Russell who was sitting behind her, arms wrapped firmly around her waist as they drove home from the cinema. The movie had been good, but then spending time with Keri was always good.
As they arrived home Miranda frowned as she noticed that the lights were on. “Someone’s inside” she said.
“A break-in?” Keri asked anxiously.
“I don’t think so. I don’t sense anything malicious. But stay behind me just in case.”
She opened the door and they stepped inside, relieved to see that nothing had been disturbed. A voice called from the living room.
“Welcome home.”
Sitting in one of the chairs was an elderly woman in a black robe. Miranda recognized her.
“Priestess Zelda, what are you doing here?”
“I apologize for entering your home like this but there is an urgent matter I must discuss with you.” She glanced over at Keri.
“It’s all right, we can talk in front of Keri,” said Miranda. “We have no secrets from each other.”
“I am glad.”
They listened intently as Zelda told them what had happened. Count Dracula, ruler of the vampires, had stolen an ancient relic known as the Blood Stone. With it he could perform a ritual that would plunge the Earth into eternal night. Fortunately, the ritual had to be timed to coincide with the sun rising which gave them some time.
“I’ll stop him” said Miranda firmly.
“We must hurry. I’ll prepare a spell to teleport you to his castle.”
“Be careful honey,” said Keri.
“I will” Miranda replied. She kissed her girlfriend tenderly on the lips and hugged her reassuringly.
Soon afterwards Miranda was ready to go. She had equipped herself with various spell components contained in a belt bag and her sword was strapped to her side in its scabbard. She also had a talisman to signal when it was time to bring her home.
“May the Lord and Lady watch over you” said Zelda as she cast her spell.
There was a flash of light, a brief moment of disorientation and then she found herself standing in a rocky, mountainous landscape. In front of her was a sinister-looking castle with towers on either side tipped with pointed turrets. The black stone walls seemed to hum with menace.
Lightning flashed and thunder boomed in the dark clouds overhead as she studied the outer wall. Before long she found a hole where part of the wall had collapsed. Once inside she soon found a black wooden door. She pushed it open and stepped through.
On the other side was a large hall lit by torches set into iron sconces on the walls. A stone stairway led to the upper floors and wooden doors lined the far wall.
Miranda stood in front of the stairway, took out a crystal pendent on a silver chain and held it in front of her. “Does this way lead to Dracula?”
The pendent swayed right. She began to ascend the staircase, not noticing a rat emerge from a hole in the wall. Its eyes glowed red as it watched her.
“What do we have here?” Dracula mused as he observed the intruder through his psychic link to the vermin he controlled. “I have no time for such a distraction. I must prepare for the ritual. Since I cannot deal with her personally…”
He disappeared in a cloud of mist and reappeared in the castle’s crypt. In front of him was a stone sarcophagus.
“Rise” he commanded.
The lid of the sarcophagus slid to the side with a scraping of stone and the occupant got to its feet. It bowed its head in deference.
“Gather your brothers and go to the upper levels. There is an intruder there. Find and destroy them.”
The creature hissed eagerly in reply.
Miranda was making her way down a corridor when she sensed that something was approaching. Despite the ambient negativity of the castle, she could feel a strong concentration of eldritch energy. A second later she heard the sound of footsteps and something scratching against stone.
Coming down the passageway towards her were three humanoid creatures with pale grey skin, large pointed ears, clawed hands and long, stringy grey hair. Yellow eyes were sunken deep into their sockets and their mouths were filled with sharp, piranha-like teeth.
Ghouls she thought. Dracula must have sent them to stop me.
The lead ghoul hissed as it pounced, claws extended. Miranda nimbly pivoted to one side as she drew her sword, slicing the creature across the chest as it sailed past her. It hit the floor and glowed a bright blue. A second later it dissolved as the blessed blade purified it.
The other two ghouls hesitated. She used the opportunity to step forwards and drive her sword through the nearest one’s chest. It also glowed and disappeared.
With a low snarl the last ghoul crouched and slashed at her ankles. She jumped back to avoid it and it sprang back up, claws reaching for her throat. Miranda ducked under the attack, stepped back and then landed a kick that knocked it to the floor. Before it could get up, she despatched it with a stab to the chest.
She took a moment to compose herself. After whispering a thanks to the Lord and Lady she resumed her trek through the castle.
Some time later she sensed another concentration of eldritch energy, far stronger than the ghouls had been. There was also an eerie blood-red glow in the distance.
She emerged from the corridor into a stone chamber. Against the far wall was a throne carved from black stone. Heavy drapes were drawn closed on the right wall. In the middle of the room was an altar upon which rested the source of the glow. From Zelda’s description she recognized it as the Blood Stone.
A figure stood before the altar. His arms were raised and he was chanting something in a guttural language. He must have heard her approach as he stopped chanting and turned to face her.
“Count Dracula” she said, her voice calm and steady.
“Correct” he replied. He smiled wickedly. “You think you have come to stop me. In fact, you are here to serve me.”
Blood red met ocean blue as he looked right into her eyes and reached out with the full force of his mesmerizing power. “You cannot resist. I am your master; you must obey me” he commanded.
Miranda just smiled and shook her head. “I don’t think so” she replied casually.
His eyes bulged. “Impossible! How can you resist me?”
She laughed. “You’re not my type.”
Dracula sneered. “It matters not. I have nearly completed the ritual. Within moments the world shall be consumed by darkness!”
She took out a paper bag, tore it open and threw it to the floor, scattering rice in all directions. He growled angrily but there was nothing he could do. He was compelled to count every grain.
Miranda quickly set up a Sacred Circle around the altar. Once it was in place, she invoked the Lord and Lady and drew out some incense sticks. She lit them and waved the sticks slowly through the air.
“Blessed Lord and Lady, by thy power and the power of the elements, may this stone be cleansed” she chanted. “For the highest good of all so mote it be.”
The red glow dimmed as the smoke drifted across it. Seconds later it disappeared completely and the Blood Stone crumbled into dust.
Miranda smiled, sensing that the eldritch power had been fully neutralized. As she finished removing the sacred Circle, she heard a roar of rage and spun to face Dracula. The vampire had finished counting the grains and he was furious.
“You have ruined my plan! For that you will suffer!”
He reached into his trench coat and pulled out a sword, double-edged and with an upswept guard that was ornately carved in the shape of a dragon’s wings. Miranda drew her own sword and they both assumed ready stances.
Dracula attacked with a series of elaborate, weaving thrusts meant to drive his foe’s blade out of line and then skewer her. Despite his anger his form was perfect. Nonetheless she turned each one aside. He hesitated, surprised that his attack had been thwarted, and she went on the offense with a series of quick precise strikes. He deflected them all with casual ease.
They dueled back and forth through the throne room, blades clashing against each other as they cut, stabbed, parried and riposted. No matter what she tried she was unable to get through Dracula’s guard.
Then she noticed the heavy curtains and recalled what Zelda had said. She resisted the urge to smile as a plan took form in her mind.
Miranda parried a cut aimed at her head and circled around so that her back was to the curtains. She began to give ground, backing away towards the window. Dracula threw another cut at her head and she raised her sword, realizing too late that it was a feint. He landed a front kick to her torso that launched her backwards. She managed to perform a back break-fall, slapping her palms to the floor to absorb the impact as she landed and then flipped back to her feet.
“You are skilled” Dracula admitted. “But you are only mortal. You will tire and then I will feast upon your blood.”
“Don’t be so sure of that.” She swung her sword and it sliced right though the curtain, severing it completely. It fell to the floor, letting sunlight flood the room. Dracula screeched as he was engulfed in flames. Within seconds he was nothing more than a pile of ashes.
Later, Miranda was back home and telling her girlfriend what had happened. Keri listened closely and when the tale was finished, she smiled.
“He couldn’t control your mind huh?”
Miranda also smiled. “No. Like I told him, he wasn’t my type.” She leaned forwards and kissed her. “You’re the only one for me.”
Keri giggled. “I love you too baby” she said as she hugged her girlfriend warmly.