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As I turned to meet the vampire’s assault, Magda threw her globe of fire at the attacking Bride. It caught her dress afire and the creature screamed as she flailed about.

“Elina!” The tiny, curly headed Bride hurled herself over my head, ripped a tapestry from the wall, and threw it over her sister to douse the flames.

The blond Bride rushed us as Magda withdrew to my side. Sweat beaded her face and her straining fingers curved as she attempted to summon more fire. I threw the torch onto the remains of a broken coffin near my feet as I shoved Magda aside. My sword swept toward the blond Bride and she arched her back so the blade swept over her. Catching herself on her hands, she raised her head and shrieked before attacking again.

I lunged toward her, my sword flashing in the light. I was startled by her swiftness as she dodged and ducked past the sweep of my sword. Her clawed hands lashed out, but I was quick on my feet and evaded her. I caught sight of Magda finally drawing forth another orb of fire and throwing it at the two dark Brides rushing her. They both screamed and retreated, scurrying up the walls like insects.

“Where is Vlad?” I demanded as Magda backed against me. Her hand was full of fire again.

“In his coffin. Where the countess left him, drained and powerless. Let me kill him! Help me kill him!” Magda fervently begged.

The blond vampire circled us slowly, readying herself for another attack. The fire and my sword were worrisome to her, but I could see that hunger and her devotion to Vlad would provoke her to attack. Grabbing hold of Magda’s wrist, I pulled her along as we rushed in the direction of the crypt. The fire in Magda’s other hand was wavering and I feared she was nearing the end of her ability. Her face was pale and covered in a sheen of perspiration. She was trembling, not only from fear, but exhaustion.

“Do not kill him!” the blond woman shrieked. She darted forward to attack, but Magda hurled fire at her. It burst over the vampire’s bosom. The Bride screamed and flung herself up into the darkness above us, vanishing.

“I will not kill him!” I vowed as I pushed Magda to Dracula’s crypt.

The coffin I had ignited was burning brightly now. The light licked up the walls, but did not touch the blackness enshrouding the roof of the desecrated chapel.

“We must!” Magda cried out.

“We cannot!” I told her.

Her palm caught afire again, but this time the flame was low and weak. I gripped her wrist, holding it firmly as I dragged her into the crypt with me. Her dark eyes were fierce, but terrified. I could see her desire was strong, but her fear was eating away at her resolve.

“There are greater powers than you and I at work here and we dare not strike him down,” I growled at her.

It was then we caught sight of him resting in his coffin, a shriveled corpse clad in his royal robes. Two candelabra adorned with red candles burned low in the darkness of his crypt. The dragon of the House of Dracula adorned the family crest that hung over his head. Drawing near Vlad Dracula, I could now feel his familiar presence though it was greatly weakened.

“Princess Cneajna of Hungary,” Magda read aloud, looking at the coffin set beside Dracula’s and the inscription on its side. “Beloved first Bride of Prince Vlad Dracula. ”

“She lays here to protect him,” I noted.

“She did this to him!” an anguished voice cried out behind us.

I looked toward the doorway to see the three women gathered under the arch. They were clearly fearful of our intentions and hungry with their blood lust. The fire had burned away the dress of the dark haired Bride named Elina and her nakedness enticed me. Princess Cneajna’s bodice was burned away, her breasts bare under her long golden hair. The third bride, Ariana, tiny and seductive, giggled as she clung to the waist of the blond vampire.

“He is our husband,” Princess Cneajna said in a husky voice. “I care for him. Do not touch him or I will crush you. ”

Magda raised her flaming hand higher and the three women shrank back.

“We are not here to kill him. ”

“I am,” Magda declared.

“I will not allow her to do it,” I vowed, my gaze steady upon the Princess. “It is not our place. ”

“If they let him rise, he will hurt the Countess!”

“Glynis!” Elina hissed. “That foul betrayer! She does not deserve the title Countess Dracula!”

Ariana wailed in distress as Cneajna’s eyes f

lamed red.

“Do not speak of her! That traitor impaled our husband and took his power!” The princess’ words were full of venom.

“Then why do you not let him rise again?” I asked pointedly.