The Draculan Hunter by E.M. McCarthy - HTML preview

Chapter 13

Kelly stood next to the T Rex on display. So many people waited on Count Van Horn to take the microphone. He was making his way across the crowd, shaking hands as he approached. They seemed so happy, the people who would be dead before the hour was over.

How fleeting it all was. She would be a slave to the Draculan curse through no fault of her own, and these people would feed her. Drained of their blood, the corpses wouldn't be found after the explosion. Would she kill Liam? Would she even understand that she killed him whom she loved? Could she stand a life as a monster with no end? Only there might be an end. Draculan hunters! There must be more. If she posted on Facebook and left hints, they would find her and kill her. It was her only choice after the third bite.

She saw the time on a clock and realized it was past midnight. It was now Halloween.

Mr. Van Horn paused to kiss his wife before he reached the podium. He saw Kelly and stopped. He walked to her, paused to shake Sigman’ s hand, and then said to her, “Ah, the type O. I see why Sigman agreed to the wedding.” He kissed Kelly and she wanted to run, but he gripped her by her back. He whispered, “If Sigman doesn't work out, coma and see me.” He let go and winked.

Kelly felt like fainting. She began to swoon, and Sigman stepped to her and helped steady her.

Sigman said, “Now, now, you don't mean to tell me you faint at the sight of blood.” He laughed.

Kelly saw something strange in the corner of her eye, but she dared not turn to it. She had a glimmer of hope, that Liam somehow hatched a plan, a good one.

Mrs. Van Horn stepped closer to Sigman and said, “Where is Amwolf?”

Kelly turned slightly, so as to avoid her eyes; she didn't want to reveal anything to her.

“He's probably sulking somewhere.”

“Siggie!”

“Sorry, Mommy. He's around here somewhere I just saw him not too long ago.”

Mr. Van Horn took the microphone and said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce the engagement of my second son, Sigman Herbert Van Horn to Kelly Megan Harper.”

A waiter appeared with champagne glasses, which they took from his tray, and raised for the toast.

Count Van Horn took the last one and said into the microphone, “A toast to the couple!”

Everyone answered, “A toast to the couple!”

Mr. Van Horn continued, “May Kelly give to Sigman an heir.”

The crowd laughed, but Mr. Van Horn continued, “May she be a fine addition to our kind.”

The crowd began to murmur.

“May she enjoy the delights that await mortality. Friends, it is not God who gives life. No, it is your blood!”

The lights went out and through the pitch-black hall Count Van Horn shouted, “Long Live Dracula.”

Kelly felt it, the fang against her, only in the dark Sigman had missed her neck and gotten her shoulder. She knew she was bleeding, and she clutched her wound.

“Oh, Kelly, the third bite is the best,” Sigman said as she felt his hands wrap around her throat.

 There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

Kelly thought of Leola, her parents, and then Liam. She didn't hold it against him that he couldn't save her. Maybe he'd do the ultimate good and slay her after she was turned.

Sigman’ s mouth covered her neck and for a moment she winced in pain. She heard him say, “Look into my eyes.” Kelly turned to him and she looked into his eyes as they glowed in the darkness.

It would be over in a moment she knew. She heard the screams of other victims and imagined half the guests must be vampires. A world of those unafraid to die routing around the dark alleys and underpasses of the city ready to drink dry the people who wandered into the shadowy night.

Nighttime and alleyways would be her new home, those weaker than she her prey. The dance of his eyes called her to a pain-free ending of her human life, but she wanted to feel the end, to somehow remember what had been taken from her, and so she looked to the ground. She wanted to remain aware to the end.

As the mayhem erupted in the hall, a flash of light illuminated the room.

At first it was like headlights from a distant highway, and then it became as daylight in the museum. As the door opened and hundreds of people entered, there was a furry of LED lights on strings being plugged in throughout the hall. The flood lights brought in were bright, and the Christmas lights made the nighttime day.

Draculans looked up from their mealtime, stunned like deer seeing a poacher's bright light flooding their field. Fangs and blood were now visible, and then, the terrible shrieking as the vampires came face-to-face with the lights.

Kelly saw Sigman Van Horn's expression of bewilderment as no blade had touched him, just a simple set of lights that cut through the darkness.

The lights were as the sun, and Sigman Van Horn turned to dust before her eyes. He was no more.

She saw the rest of his kind disintegrate as all the lights came on. She saw the caterers carrying in Christmas trees and more lights to hang throughout the museum. Then she looked for Liam. Where was he?

She kicked the pile of dust that had threatened her with death just moments before. Liam’s dagger lay over the ashes like a cross.  Where was he? She turned and saw Liam Abraham coming to her.

She ran to him, and he caught her, and held her in his arms.

He stated in disbelief, “You're still alive. You're still alive.”

“Yes. I love you,” Kelly said.

“I love you too.” Liam kissed her with relief and meaning, for what had once been lost was now found.

“I couldn't forgive myself for letting them take you. I thought I'd have to kill you,” he said.

“But you didn’t. How did you get all those lights here so fast?” Kelly asked.

“I asked the caterers if they did Christmas parties, outdoor events, that sort of thing. Then I offered them a cool million if they'd light up the museum to be seen from space in thirty minutes or less.”

“Thank you for saving me. You cut it close!”

“I tried to hurry them. If it hadn't been for –”

“Never mind. Just kiss me again,” Kelly said.

Liam Abraham had battled many types of creatures and won. Vampires were a particularly dangerous opponent, and he had defeated many of them. He was accustomed to winning.

The social worker in front of him repeated, “Well? Aren’t you going to kiss me?”

Here before him was a gorgeous woman with her lovely curves, and a soft voice, and he had been defeated.

The Draculan Hunter obeyed her.

The End.