Vlad wondered where Kara could be. She was gone far too long. He excused himself and went to go and bring her back. He hurriedly ascended the stairs to the second floor and to the door of Kara’s bedroom. Vlad did not bother to knock since the door was open. He boldly stepped into the room and immediately saw Kara lying unconscious on the floor. Vlad sensed another presence in the room. He scoured the room; there was someone in the shadows.
“Come out,” Vlad hissed. He cringed when a Knight of VanHelsing stepped forward with the book in his hands. “How did you get past security?” Vlad angrily demanded. There was no response. This infuriated Vlad and he screamed, “Give me the book. It will do you no good to have it.” Still there was no reply. Vlad kept his eyes on his adversary as he walked over to Kara. Vlad knelt down and checked on Kara. She was still alive. Vlad rose again to his feet.
“What is your name?” Vlad inquired. His lips curled into a satisfied smile, “For I know them all.”
Instead, his adversary drew the twin blades of death.
“Will you strike me down as you cowards have always done?” Vlad opened his arms in a gesture of submission. “Or will you give me a chance to defend myself?” His adversary tossed one of his swords. Vlad caught it by the handle. He swung the sword to see how it felt in his hand. “I have killed many of your brethren,” Vlad confessed. “As I am sure you have killed many of mine.” Vlad took up his stance. His eyes narrowed, “I believe it is your move.” Vlad expected an attack, but instead his advesary grasped his hood and removed it.
“You!” Vlad was taken aback.
Andrew bowed gracefully, with his gaze on Vlad.
“I want the truth,” Andrew demanded.
“Are you certain of that?” Vlad’s top lip curled to reveal his fangs.
“Tell me,” Andrew said, his sword at the ready.
“The plan was simple,” Vlad began his tale. “We wanted the book you hold in your other hand.” Vlad walked backward and closed the door. He locked it. Vlad continued, “Kara and I became lovers soon after she interviewed me for her book. It was actually her idea to go to Gothica and retrieve it. She setup the interview with Ana VanHelsing. Unfortunately, Kara was not successful. So we had to come with a new plan. We had to get someone on the inside Ana would trust. Wyatt was more than eager to help us retrieve the book. We suspected that Doctor Straussman was a Knight of VanHelsing. So I went to the council of elders and told them that Wyatt violated the laws of the coven. They voted to excommunicate Wyatt from the clan for not adhering to our bylaws. The next part of the plan was up to Wyatt. In one of his sessions with Doctor Straussman, Wyatt confessed his excommunication. He also confessed his desire for revenge. Wyatt later told me, that Doctor Straussman was in fact, one of our most hated enemies. She took Wyatt under her wing to train him, but did not take him to Gothica.” Vlad kept his place by the door; there was no way he was going to let Andrew simply walk out of the room with the book.
“Why were the Higgins’s murdered?”
“They never agreed with my plan to obtain the book,” Vlad was practically giddy. “And I knew we needed something that would force our enemy to protect Wyatt. A sacrifice had to be made. Because of Higgins’s lack of courage, the choice was easy.” Vlad laughed out loud. “Wyatt even volunteered to do it, but I would not let him. The honor was mine.”
“You spilled innocent blood,” Andrew held up the book and spewed forth his disgust. “And you killed them all because of this?”
“It was worth it,” Vlad was solemn. “Every life.”
“Even Talia’s?” Andrew cursed.
“The authorities believed Wyatt was responsible for the killings, because of evidence I planted at the house,” Vlad continued. “He had the motive and the opportunity. Because of the chance of their order being exposed to public knowledge, Doctor Straussman sent Wyatt to safety at Gothica.”
“But things did not go as planned,” Andrew surmised. “Did they?”
“No,” Vlad said with bitterness. “He could not find the book either.” Vlad eyes fixed on Andrew, “That’s where you came in.”
“Me?” Andrew scoffed at Vlad’s suggestion. “I was part of your plan?”
“Yes,” Vlad nodded. “You were a very important part indeed.” Vlad switched his sword back and forth front of him. “I long knew of your reputation as an investigator. Actually, it was quite impressive.”
“Really.” Andrew was sarcastic.
“The trouble was we had to convince you to get involved,” Vlad was full of pride. “It would have to be an authentic performance. And what better way to accomplish that than a very worried and desperate mother. She even convinced Father Michael by confessing to him the dire situation Wyatt was in. It was joyous news when Nedra told me you accepted the case.” Vlad took a few paces closer to Andrew, who immediately raised his sword. Vlad stopped. He went on, “From there we just let you do what you do best, use your skilled deductive powers to look beyond the ordinary. Unlike the bumbling authorities, who focus on the usual, you can see beyond the usual. When you contacted Kara to interview her about her book and how it related to the case, my heart lept for joy. If not, the plan was for her to use a cover story to contact you. The only loose cannon were Sheriff Delsmann. I never suspected she were a Knight of VanHelsing. We did not count on her hatred for you. We were very concerned the plan was dead when you were nearly killed, and suffered from amnesia.” Vlad took a step back, as if he were anticipating an attack. He eyed up Andrew and continued. “It was a glorious day for us when you recovered it.”
“Why would Nedra or Wyatt be willing to help you?” Andrew came back sharply. “What kind of hold did you have on them?”
“You mean by now you, the great detective, has not figured it out?” Vlad broke out for a few moments in a loud, boisterous laugh. He stopped once he had caught his breath, “Nedra and I met when I was younger. We were married, but later separated and soon divorced. Out of the fear of my enemies, we agreed to have the children take her last name of Collins. Wyatt and Chad are my sons.”
Andrew was numb. He never suspected any of this. How stupid and inept could he have been? Andrew was so focused on solving the case, and then championing the downfall of the Knights of VanHelsing, that he was blind to the brilliant mastermind of it all. There was only one thing left to do.
Kara awoke from unconsciousness. With her eyes wide open now, she saw Andrew with his back to her. He and Vlad were in the midst of a stand off. Kara lay down and slithered across the floor to the other side of the bed. Once she was there, Kara reached under the pillow and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun. She stood up and looked at Vlad first. He saw her, but did not acknowledge, for fear of giving her away to Andrew. Kara raised the gun and capped off the first round!
Andrew flinched as the first bullet slammed into his back. He let go of the sword as two more bullets struck. With each one Andrew’s body jerked. He dropped to his knees and turned towards Vlad with a look of despair. Andrew fell face down and did not move. He slowly closed his eyes.
Vlad put down his sword and applauded Kara. They rushed into each other’s arms and their lips came together in a fervent kiss of victory.
“Get the book and let us be on our way,” Vlad said as they parted.
Kara walked over to get the book. When she turned around, Kara’s face drained of color. Vlad’s back shivered with fear and he turned to see that Andrew had risen from the dead. Vlad scrambled for his sword, but Andrew spun and hit him with a kick to the back. Vlad skittered across the stone floor and right past the sword. Kara rushed at Andrew, but he hit her with a combination of kicks. Kara dropped to the floor, beaten. Andrew picked his own sword up, just as Vlad jumped up and finally got hold of his own. Andrew charged at Vlad, who was ready. Vlad thrust his blade and caught Andrew in the leg. Andrew howled as Vlad withdrew his blade. Andrew stumbled and fell to the floor with blood seeping from his wound. Vlad lifted the blade to his lips and tasted Andrew’s blood. Soon he would have more.