February 14th 1831
Valencia. Spain. Vampire Manor.
Personal Journal of Leon Wagner.
14th Entry.
My Feet are killing me.
After dancing through the air for hours under the countess control, struggling to keep up with her fast pace and footwork. I was sure she would just kill me like the other huntsmen she had found out and lured to their deaths. But every time the next song ended I asked her why not just get it over with, she responded with a simple. "We'll see." and kept dancing. After a quarter to midnight there I was, exhausted and panting standing with her by the appetizer table after finishing a fast paced Flamenco dance with the countess. Swinging and lifting her through the air and to my amazement walking up sheer vertical wall's by her command and unnatural ability to fly.
Ready...To kill me now? I gasped. Still unable to break free of her influence.
"We'll see." She smiled. Taking another sip of her wine unafraid. The night is still young after all. There is still time.....who knows? As the countess swirled the red liquid in her glass, she surveyed the room looking somewhat bored. Her elongated sharpened ears then raised suddenly when her sharp gaze trapped on one sight in particular.
I do believe that is you're friend isn't it? She smiled pointing her talon to my fellow huntsman.
I began to panic as I saw Finnick approaching us. Having finally taken his leave of his undead dancing partner to reconvene with me. He was walking right over to me, completely unaware of the countess standing right beside me. My mind swirled at the horror's the countess would make me do to my ally. Would she order me to kill him? To betray him?
But to my amazement and sheer speechlessness the counte'ss then simply walked away toward one of the ballroom exits. Leaving me alone with my fellow huntsman. I could feel her control of me lift as my now exhausted limb's permitted me to collapse against the near by wall.
You alight man? Finnick asked concerned. Patting my back and helping me stand back up.
"The...The countess! I gasped. The swan mask! That was her her!...She was my partner.." I said with immense gratitude at my finally being able to move and talk of my own full free will. Finnick's eyes widened through his fox mask at teh realization and of my sheer stroke of bad luck. "Oh dear...well that is not what I was expecting. Sorry you got stuck with her of all people. You alright?
Yea...I'm fine. Just shaking. I need a minute."
We may not have a minute. He said sounding worried. I told you not to look into her eyes!
I didn't. That...That's not what got me. It was her voice alone that did it.
Wow..Finnick said admittedly impressed. She's good.
I grumled aloud at my weakness. "So..what now? If you're thinking of aborting the mission forget it. I'm not leaving until I have her head."
Hold up...Finnick then paused, trying to decipher why I was even still here alive. I still can't understand one thing. If that was her? Then why didn't she abduct you like the others before? If she controlled you then she knew your mission. Why would she let you go then to walk around unopposed?
I was at a lost for words. "I don't know." Was the only thing I could respond wtih.
Hmm...well this is very peculiar. Said Finnick confused as he rubbed his chin. "But we can still pull through...we're in to deep to back out of the hunt now."
"What do we do now? I asked. She knows I'm a huntsman and that mean's you too. She read my mind and got everything." Do we grab the gear now and fight?
"No...we need to know more before we can get the go ahead. If she knows you and I are here to crash the party then why would she not have her guards gut us right now? She is planning something or worse she's playing with us in a way we don't see yet. We need to know what she's up to and why she spared you of all people. We need to see the full painted canvas if we are to understand it."
"so what next then?"
Finnick hesitated in responding. Trying to give this new addition to the plan a great deal of through. "I did some digging while you were having your little fun escapade with your partner. One of Madam Corchova's friend's is quite the talker. She let it slip while we all talked together that her and her friends are going out tonight after the party is finished for an...endeavor.
An endeavor? I said hopefully. You mean a feasting?
Possibly. It could mean a many number of things though. A regular meal. Something gross. Who knows? We have to be sure before we attack. And very very prepared."
Finnick then pulled out a small pocket watch studying the time accordingly. His eye's then grazed the guests gathering together in the room from all corner's of the mansion. It almost looked as if they were preparing to surround us. I reached for my broch again nervously.
Easy..Easy...Finnick grabbed my hand holding it in place.
We watched in silence and breathed a sigh of relief as the guest's instead walked past us surrounding the center dinning table being set up for the main feast soon. After the majority of the guests passed us. We both resumed our secrets discussion.
"Weapons." Finnick whispered, his voice changing to serious and commanding. "We can't wait until dinner any more. Our cover is most definitely blown if the countess decides to talk's with the other guests. We haven't got much time. We have to get our gear smuggled and stashed in now in case a fight break's out soon and were caught empty handed.
I nodded. Ready to play my part wherever I was needed.
"Alright then..Finnick cleared his throat and cracked his knuckles. Here goes' nothing.
Finnick then made an exaggerated patting gesture atop his head. His poor Spanish accent returning in it's entirety. "Oh dear! My hat. I have completely forgotten it. Servant boy! Go fetch it at once! Vamanos! Vamanos! He clapped his hands.
Si senor. I responded with a weak bow. I then exited the room Walking hastily yet calmly, trying not to draw any more attention. I exited the main mansion entrance from earlier and saw it was still guarded by the crocodile guard eyeing me suspiciously.
"Mi..... senor Sombrero. I explained clumsily before gesturing the shape atop my head. If Finnick's attempt at the accent was bad, mine must have been atrocious.
The guard simply shrugged and let me out. "Don't be long he said. "Or you're not getting back in. Don't forget the hat."
I nodded and rushed hastily out of his view over to the parked wagons. Calming the surprised horses by patting their noses before as I struggled to find our carriage amidst a dark sea of near identicals. After ten minutes of frustrated searching. At last I found it. I quickly opened our carriage and reached for the bag hidden under the seat. I looked inside with much scrutiny to make sure all the item's were still there, not wanting to be missing anything. I went down the list in my mind.
Holy water flask's. Burn's like acid.
Garlic powder bomb's. Repulses and weakens.
Hammer and Stake. Up close and personal.
And finally revolving stake gun. Cross between a revolver and a crossbow. Long range.
Perfect. A small but glorious arsenal to be sure. Custom tailored for tonight's quarry.
I closed the bag of goodies, grabbed Finnick's hat in order be able to get back in, and exited the carriage hastily. Beginning to sneak around the compound perimeter to the designated window Finnick had told me to meet him at.
Finnick! I called aloud upward while still trying not to be caught. Finnick!
No response.
"I'm afraid your companion is running a little late at the moment." I heard a familiar smooth eerie voice call from above my head.
I looked further above. And there she was. Still toying with us.
The countess walked down the walls calmly and vertically without any effort in the dark as if it were solid ground. The only source of light being the dim moon behind her and her glowing red eyes staring back at me. Smiling at the while until she jumped down right in front of me without making a sound. The two of us stared in silence at each other, alone in the near pitch dark patch of grass hidden behind the house from the others. Both of our allies unable to intervene in what came next. Skill would decide. I wouldn't be the fool again.
I reached for my stakegun from the bag and aimed it hastily at her as she stepped forward.
She stopped. I smiled. So she wasn't that confident.
Really? Is that anyway to treat your host? She responded sounding genuinely offended. Good I thought.
What game are you playing at? I asked her sternly. Clutching the gun tighter.
No game.. I just wish to talk. And now that we are alone. We may both speak freely without prying eyes."
Why? You already know everything about me? What more could you take from me?
The counte'ss averted her gaze toward the ground for just a moment. Her confident obnoxious grin becoming subdued for a brief moment.
"I am sorry about your family. Truly I am."
I fired.
She caught the speeding bolt in-between her skeletal fingers. Stopping it inches away from reaching her heart. She examined the wooden stake calmly without any regard to my action's before continuing to berate me with her cruel insults.
Please just listen to what I have to say. Afterwards if you wish to fight. Very well. I just need to let you know before either of us dies that I very sorry for my intrusion with my gaze from earlier. I meant no harm or disrespect but I needed to know your intentions and if you had the will to see them through. I apologize. I have to look out for the interests and safety of my guests.
Why would you ever be? You had all the power. You and your kind.
And you don't? She asked.
"I read your mind expecting deceit and cunning worthy of a huntsman assassins much like those who came before. I was not disappointed. But I was also found something I was not expecting.
Which is? I asked disgruntled. Loading another bolt into the gun.
Pain.
Loss.
A scar on your soul I know I had a part in causing. She stepped forward, unafraid or perhaps willing to face my gun.
"Mr. Waggner. I am truly sorry for what my husband and sister's has done to you. But I know words of comfort are not an excuse. I am sorry. I know that I can never atone for the past. But please...allow me to explain and then you will understand."
Who are you? I demanded.
The counte'ss gaze retuned to mine. Only this time she had no intention of controlling me. She slowly removed and lowered her swan mask revealing her nightmarish appearance to me fully. Her grey porcelain face was horrifying yet strangely beautiful as it reflected the moonlight. It held the strange combination of a naïve eternally youthful woman, and an aged cunning elder.
My name is Adelina. The vampire responded honestly. But I am sure you are more familiar with my recently deceased husband lord Dracula.