Behind The Shadows (part 2)

Title: Behind The Shadows (part 2)

Author: Suz W.

Feedback: It is happily accepted and appreciated!

Spoilers: After Proving Ground and 48 Hours (episode tag)

Rating: PG-13, S/J Romance, Friendship, Angst, Mild Language, and Mild Violence.

Summary: Sam and Jack discover the shadows that have been haunting them.

Disclaimer: All publicity recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended.

Copyright: The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Copyrighted on November 2, 2004, by Suzanne R. Whitmarsh.

Author’s Notes: This story follows “Behind The Shadows (Part 1)”. So are you on the edge of your seat? Here’s part 2 to hopefully answer the many questions I left you with in part 1. I hope that you enjoy this story and that it meets your expectations. I’m trying to be as creative as possible while sticking to the reality of the show. As always, any feedback you’d like to send to me would be greatly appreciated! Enjoy and Happy Halloween!!

Dedication: I just want to thank once again all of my dedicated fans that are reading my series as I write it…from everyone who signs the guestbook on my site to the ones who send me feedback. Your support means so much to me, and though I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: you are my motivation to keep going. So thank you for your kind words of encouragement and support. Knowing you’re out there reading them means the world to me!

The air was heavy with moisture as Sam opened her eyes. At first, she didn’t know where she was. A white swirling mist hung in the air, obscuring her vision to the sites surrounding her. Attempting to sit up, she found that her body ached tremendously and her head felt like it had been split in two. Holding onto one side of her head, she slowly sat up as the dead leaves crunched and crackled under the shifting of her weight. Sam squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, her ears piercing the quiet for any sounds. But there was nothing but the gentle whipping of the wind as it continued to stir the heavy fog, occasionally rustling some of the leaves that lay strewn on the ground around her. What had happened? Where was she? Where was Jack?

A low moan not far from where she sat suddenly sounded out. Without warning, memory flooded back and Sam remembered Roberts, the portal, Jack reaching out for her, a scream, and a creature racing after them. She also remembered the razor sharp nails to the back of her neck and then falling, tumbling to an uncertain fate. At the thought of it, her neck began to ache, and she used her right hand to carefully assess it. But as a sharp stinging pain suddenly shot through her body, she knew that the wound was more serious that just a scratch.

Another low moan sounded out, this time followed by her name. “Carter? Sam? Are you there?” It was Jack, and he sounded just as bad as she felt. Clearing her throat, she called out. “I’m here, Jack.”

Jack breathed a sigh of relief, happy to hear the beautiful tones of her voice penetrate the quiet. Grunting, he sat up and shook his head. He felt like hell, again. Waving a hand in front of his face, he called out. “Where are you? I can’t see anything in this damn fog!”

Sam, using his voice to place him, slowly crawled on her hands and knees to where she thought he was. As she got closer, she was finally able to make out the familiar form of his shadow in the early morning light that was somehow penetrating the fog. Overwhelmed with emotion from all that had happened, she couldn’t help the crackle in her voice and the tears in her eyes as she spoke up. “I…see you. I’m right here…beside you, on your left.”

Jack immediately turned to his left and could finally make out her shadow. Without saying a word, he crawled the rest of the way to her. Reaching out, he could see the emotions that had overwhelmed her were also being felt inside of his chest. With his left hand, he placed it on the side of her cheek. “Com’ here.” His voice was quiet but strong, hiding the emotions that were threatening to overtake him.

Sam collapsed into his arms, her body melting into the strength and protection that they offered. Letting her tears freely fall, she held him tightly. “Oh god, Jack. I thought I’d lost you. I don’t know what I would have done…”

Jack turned his head into hers and placed a gentle kiss into her hair. “Sshhh. I’m right here. It’s going to take a lot more than a little tumble down a hill to get rid of me.” Rocking her back and forth slowly, he let the quiet surround them for a moment before speaking again. “Sam, are you okay?” Pulling back some, he took her head in his hands and searched her face.

Sam gave him a quick nod and a weak smile, sniffing. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart on you. I guess it was just everything.” Pleading with her eyes, she looked into his. “Why does this keep happening to us, Jack?” Wiping at her tears, she could see that Jack didn’t have any more ideas than she did.

Jack kissed away the tears that were rolling down her soft cheeks and shook his head. “I don’t know. But I’ll be damned before I let anything separate us.” Giving her a determined look, he continued, his voice still soft. “Do you think you can stand? We need to get out of this fog. I don’t like not being able to see around me.” When Sam firmly nodded yes, he gave her a quick smile and then got up slowly, helping her to her feet at the same time. As they brushed themselves off, Jack looked around, his eyes searching for any opening to the heavy clouds around them. “So, Dorothy, any idea which way Oz might be?”

Jack’s sense of humor penetrated the bleakness of their current situation and she found herself softly smiling. She loved how he always found a way to make her smile, rather he realized that he was doing it or not. Reaching out, she took his hand and gently squeezed it. “Why don’t we try and climb back up the hill we came down. Maybe if we can get high enough, we’ll be able to get above the fog.”

Jack lightly brushed his fingers over her hair and noticed the dried blood on the side of her head. “Are you sure you’re up for that?” When Sam nodded, he sighed loudly. “Okay, lets do it. The sooner we get to the top, the sooner we can figure a way out of our current situation. And if I ever manage to get my hands on Roberts …well, let’s just say it’s not going to be pretty.”

Climbing with care, they made their way back up the hill they had tumbled down. As they continued to climb, they became aware of just how far down they had fallen and it made them that much happier that they were still alive. Finally reaching the top, the fog had thinned out considerably.

Jack looked around, his eyes finally able to make out the forest surrounding them. “Now this is more like it!” The sky above them was colored in a dull gray light, also heavy in clouds. The trees around them were dark, imposing the shadows that surrounded them, making the atmosphere that much more eerie. Not a sound could be heard, not even the song of bird or the sound of squirrels playing tag in the trees.

Jack instinctively moved in closer to Sam. “I don’t like this at all. Something’s not right here.” His voice was quiet, almost at a whisper as he continued to listen.

Sam silently nodded. When she spoke, her voice sounded out uncertainty. “Something…evil lives here. I don’t know why I feel that way, but I do.” Shivering in the chilly air, she once again touched the back of her neck, cringing at her own touch.

Jack noticed her reaction and was immediately concerned. “What’s wrong with your neck?” But before he even gave her a chance to answer, his brain kicked in. “Oh god! I almost forgot about that creature that came after us. It hurt you, didn’t it?”

Sam tried to shrug it off, mad at herself for letting on that she was in pain. They had a lot more to worry about then her injuries. “It’s not that bad, really, Jack. I think it’s just a scratch.”

Jack was behind her before she could blink. Cringing at the site of her deep wounds, his blood began to boil, wishing he’d been quicker at getting Sam out of harms way. “Damn it, Sam, these are more than scratches! Why didn’t you say something?”

Sam did her best to shrug it off. “I didn’t think it mattered overall. We’re both hurt and bleeding. It’s just another wound. I’ll be okay.” Turning around, she faced him, hoping to relay the same feelings in her eyes, but she had a feeling she was failing miserably. “Really, Jack, I’ll be okay. I think we just need to focus on finding a way out of here.”

Jack stared at her for a moment before nodding his head and answering her. “Okay, you win…for now. But as soon as we find a way out of this hellhole, that’s the first thing that’s going to be addressed.”

Sam nodded her head. “Deal. So, which direction should we go?”

Jack squinted his eyes as he looked around. “Well, we need to find out what happened to Roberts. As much as I’d like to just shoot the man, he’s our only link to getting back home. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that scream we heard last night after we came through the portal was from him. We’re just going to have to hope that we can at least find that device he used to bring us here.” Hesitating, he continued, fearing the answer to his next question. “Do you think you understand enough about it to figure out how it works?”

Sam shook her head. “I hope so.” When Jack just gave her a surprised look, she continued. “Okay…I know so?” Smiling, Sam nodded in the direction of where her senses were telling her they needed to go. “My best guess is we came from that direction.”

Jack nodded and sighed. “Good enough. Let’s move out. There’s no telling when it will get dark will all this fog, and I frankly don’t want to get stuck in the woods again with some wild creature on the loose.”

For the next fifteen minutes, they retraced their steps, this time carefully stepping over fallen branches and large rocks that jutted out from the ground. The forest around them was relatively quiet and unnervingly empty of the normal sounds of wildlife. The trees looked old, their branches twisted and gnarled around each other as large knots gave an uneven texture to their blackened surfaces. At every turn, large thorn bushes grew wild, overtaking some of the path that Sam and Jack were walking on. Fog intermittently wove patterns all around the foliage, creating an eerie pattern that had both of them on edge. As Jack followed behind Sam, new amazement kept flooding his mind each time he came across another obstacle. How they had made it through their wild flight without more injuries he didn’t know.

After a few more minutes of walking, Sam spotted a place on the forest floor that gave evidence to a recent struggle. As they were bending down to investigate the area, a rustling noise in a nearby bush drew their immediate attention. Without weapons to defend themselves with, Jack quickly reached down and picked up the biggest branch he could find. Their hearts raced as they took their stance beside each other and watched as the branches began to part. Expecting the creature that had attacked them the night before, they were surprised when only a man, tall and lanky, emerged in front of them. His face was hidden in the shadows, and upon seeing them, stopped in his tracks and held his hands up to chest level.

His voice held a slight vibration as he spoke. “Please! Do not be alarmed. I will not harm you. I am pleased to find you alive. I had feared the worst.”

Jack tilted his head, attempting a better view. “Who are you? Show us your face.” Jack and Sam watched as the man took two steps forward. As the heavy gray light fell upon his skin, it revealed a man late in his years. His face had been wrinkled from time, concentrating around his eyes and mouth. But as he continued forward, his posture seemed strong and gave no hint of age he really was. He was dressed in dark brown wool pants and a white tunic shirt. A black cloak covered him and his hood concealed all but his face.

The man stopped a few feet from them and gave them a small, cautious smile. His eyes were kind as he spoke. “My name is Radu. I am the town’s healer or sorcerer as some like to call me.”

Jack looked briefly at Sam and then gave Radu a quick smile. “Well I’m Jack and this is Carter.”

Sam nodded. “You can call me Sam.” Pausing momentarily, she gathered her thoughts. “Um, you said that you were happy to see us alive. What did you mean by that?”

Radu looked confused. “Why, the Dark One of course. You were lucky to escape his grasp. Most are not so fortunate.”

Jack spoke up. “Dark one? Oh, you mean that big, ugly, and what I can only assume was slimy creature that took off after us?”

Radu nodded. “Yes, one in the same, but he is not slimy. Quite the opposite, actually. He has skin that rivals the white of the moon and eyes that glow blood red when he is hungry. His face and body are that of a man, but he possessed nails that are razor sharp and he feeds by sucking blood from men and women such as yourselves.”

Jack’s eyebrows rose up a notch. “I’m sorry. Did you say sucking blood?”

Sam spoke up with a surprised tone. “Are you talking about…a vampire?”

Radu’s eyes widened. “So you have heard of the Count! But if you knew of his terrors, why did you place yourself on his feeding grounds last night?”

Jack just shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. “Lack of choice…um, Carter, a word please? Excuse us…Radu, was it?” Lightly taking her arm, he steered her a few feet away, keeping his voice low. “Maybe I got confused in my history classes, but I was fairly certain that vampires didn’t exist.”

Sam furrowed her brow. “They don’t. The tales of Dracula are based off of a man that actually lived, but he wasn’t what we think of as a vampire. Vampires themselves are only myth.”

Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, well, not according to this guy.” Jack lightly thumbed in Radu’s direction, who was patiently waiting, watching them with curiosity. “So what do you make of all this then?”

Sam shook her head. “Well, I guess we need to determine if this creature really is a vampire. If he is…the first thing that comes to mind is that the portal we came through must have been a dimensional portal, transporting us to a different plane of existence.”

Jack held his hands up. “Whoa…different plane of existence? Carter, what are you talking about?”

Sam looked directly at him. “It’s always been theorized that there exists on a different level of time and space realms of reality that vary from our own. Kind of like an alternate reality, but not. This “reality” is in a completely different plane of existence. Basically, your dreams become your reality.”

Jack just shook his head. “I don’t understand half of what you just said, but I did get the part about dreams, and I sure as hell haven’t been dreaming of vampires.”

Sam sighed, trying to explain the situation better, though she didn’t completely understand it herself. “Well, it’s not up to someone to dream to make this happen. Honestly, Jack, I don’t completely understand how this happened. But whoever created that device obviously made it so that whatever planet the device was activated on, a different realm would be accessed based on that planet. Hence why we appear to still be on Earth. But why we came to this realm, I don’t know.”

Jack shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, well, let’s just hope we can get ourselves out of this realm and back to our own reality. I’ve had enough near-death experiences with the Goa’uld that I don’t need to start a whole new trend with vampires.”

As Sam opened her mouth to reply, Radu spoke up from where he stood. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we really must be going. The night draws near and the Dark One will be awakened and ready to feed again.”

Jack and Sam looked at each other and then moved back to where Radu stood. Jack cleared his throat. “Yeah, about that, where exactly are we going?”

Radu gave them a kind smile. “You can find your rest in my home. It isn’t much, but it is warm and you will be able to clean yourselves up. I also have some potions that will help heal those wounds of yours. Come. Let us go. It is not far.”

As Radu turned and started back the way he came, Jack spoke up. “Um, Radu, why did you come looking for us? Not that we’re not happy you did, but how did you know we were out here?”

Radu stopped and hung his head, his shoulders sagging slightly as he turned around and faced them. “In our village, we have what we call watchers that keep a close eye on the nocturnal activities of Count Dracula. It is for our protection, ensuring that all villagers are kept safe. Everyday, we slaughter pigs and place the blood on an altar where he will find it. It usually pacifies him, but not always. We have lost many souls to his blood-hungry ways, and from those lost, we have gained knowledge on how to survive.” He hesitated before going on, giving an indication that he was going to say something else, but then decided against it. “The watchers saw the attack on your friend last night, as well as your flight away from the Dark One. But they lost sight of you and could not determine if you were alive or dead. I came to see if you were alive and if you needed help.”

Sam spoke up. “About our friend…what happened to him? We haven’t been able to find him.”

Radu only looked remorseful. “The watchers observed Dracula feasting upon his neck. There was nothing they could do, less they place themselves in danger as well. The only puzzling thing is that usually once Dracula has finished with his victim, he leaves the body to rot. But last night, the watchers said that Dracula returned after chasing you and took the man with him. It is only safe to assume that he is dead.”

Jack cringed. “Man, that’s not the way to go.” Then reality hit him. Looking over at Sam, he could see that she had also had the same thought. “Let me guess…we’re going to have to find Roberts’ body in order to find that device.”

Sam nodded. “Unfortunately, Roberts had it in his pocket, and so it can be safely assumed that it is still in his possession.”

Jack clenched his jaw. “Damn!”

Radu looked puzzled. “What is this device you speak of?”

Jack looked up at him. “It’s a long story. We’ll explain on the way. Basically, we’re not from around here.” The light had begun to fade and the shadows were growing longer. Jack didn’t want another chance meeting with this new enemy, especially unarmed and on unfamiliar turf.

Radu turned around and began moving in the direction he had come from. As Sam and Jack followed, Sam carefully watched the area surrounding them. The forest was eerie and every tree and bush seemed unnatural. And she got the distinct impression that she was being watched. A cold chill ran down her spine and she drew closer to Jack, who instinctively took her hand.

Jack looked over at her. “Hey, you okay?” He eyed her with concern, as her color appeared to have washed out.

Sam briefly looked over at him and gave him a quick smile. “I’m fine. This place just gives me the creeps. It’s hard to believe this is real.”

Jack squeezed her hand and helped her over a fallen log. “Yeah, well, I’m not aiming to build a summer home here any time soon. It just doesn’t give that homey feeling.”

Sam found herself smiling as she squeezed Jack’s hand in a show of thanks for his efforts in keep her fears down to a manageable level. As they continued to walk, following Radu in silence through the dense forest, Sam’s mind drifted to the device and found herself hoping that they would not only find it, but that she would be able to figure out how to get them home.

After a few minutes, Jack couldn’t take the unsettling quiet around them. It was as if the forest itself was dead, and they were walking through an unending graveyard. Not usually interested in historical tales, Jack was willing to listen to anything, as long as reminded him that they weren’t also dead. Giving Sam a sideways glance, he spoke up. “So, tell me about this man that Dracula is based after.”

Sam looked over at him, surprised that he wanted to know. “Well, I don’t know everything about him, but enough I guess I can give you an idea of what you want to know. Daniel would really be the best resource on it.”

Jack’s lips curved up slightly. “Yeah, he would be loving this. Remind me to destroy this device should we ever manage to get home. If Daniel gets his hands on it, who knows how many realms he might try to access.”

Sam smiled at the thought of Daniel and how excited he got in discovering anything historical. “Well, the man based on Dracula was quite a character. His name was Vlad the Impaler. His father was initiated into what was known as the Order of the Dragon, where those apart of it, mainly princes and vassals, were charged with protecting Christianity and battling against the Turks. Vlad senior took on the name “dracul”. In Latin it means dragon. So when Vlad the Impaler was born, he took on the name “Dracula”, or son of the Dragon.”

Jack shrugged. “Okay, he sounds like a decent guy so far.”

Sam held up a finger. “Not exactly. From what I can remember of the Romanian history, Vlad and his brother were held prisoner as children in Turkey, ensuring the support of Vlad senior. But when they were released, the younger Vlad returned home to find his father assassinated and his older brother buried alive.”

Jack’s face lit up in realization. “Let me guess…this guy was out for revenge.”

Sam nodded. “Right. And that’s exactly what he got. But the stories told about him were told in different lights, everywhere from hero to incredibly cruel. Personally, I would never have wanted to meet this guy.”

Jack looked over at her. “Why?”

Sam cringed slightly. “He got his nickname Vlad the Impaler because of what he did to his victims. The Romanians said that he was just defending his country, but the Turks only saw him as a monster. He had a six year reign starting in 1456 and during that time, he killed thousands.”

Jack didn’t like her hesitation. “How did he kill them?”

Sam looked at him. “Some he placed on spears and watched his victims slowly slide down them to their deaths. Sometimes it would take the victims days to die. He did this to men, women and children. He also poisoned drinking wells and burned villages. There are a lot of unsettling tales of other acts that he did, from boiling people alive to eating them.”

Jack made a face. “Nice guy.” He took a moment and then spoke up. “So how is it that you know so much about this?”

Sam shrugged and gave him a small smile. “I guess I’ve always had an interest in science fiction. I do actually know more than just Astrophysics you know.”

Jack reached out for her, halting their progress for a moment. Touching her face, he gave her a smile. “I definitely know that. You continue to amaze me on a daily basis.” Closing in the distance, he gave her a kiss, warming her lips from the dampness of the fog and mist surrounding them.

As they parted, Radu turned around and waved them on, urging them to follow. Sensing the seriousness of their situation, they obeyed, picking up the pace. Jack followed Sam around a large boulder, keeping a close eye behind them. “So one more question. Why is Dracula always connected to Transylvania?”

Sam slowed down her pace enough for him to catch up. “Because Transylvania was one of the territories that Vlad not only took refuge in, but also later took away from the Turks by force.”

Jack nodded. “His old stompin’ grounds. Great. And I suppose in this realm, we’re in….”

Radu finished for him. “Transylvania. Welcome to our village.” Radu had stopped moving forward, and when Sam and Jack joined him, they took in the site before them. At the edge of a small cliff, a valley spread out before them. Covered in a thin mist, crude buildings could be seen jutting out, their rooftops covered in wood shingles and straw. Their walls were made of clay and stone, and a large stone bell tower could be seen in the center of the village. Nothing moved in the town. It was as if they were observing a still picture instead of real life.

Sam spoke up, her voice soft. “Where is everyone?”

Radu answered her. “They are inside for the night. No one dares venture out during the night. Not while he is out.” As he finished his sentence, he pointed to a hill opposite them. And on top of it was a tremendous castle, it’s towers spiraling to the sky, with walls of blackened gray stone, showing the years of war that it had be through by the large crevices in the stone front that could be seen scattered around the front of it. There were a multitude of windows, all of which held low flickering yellow lights from candles sitting in the windowsills.

Jack gave out a low whistle. “Nice place. Bet it costs a fortune to heat, though.”

As Sam looked over at him, giving him a look, Radu’s voice broke the silence. “We have lingered too long. We must get to my home. He will be awakened at any moment! Come! It is not far.” Watching him take off at a light jog, Sam and Jack didn’t question but only followed, keeping one eye on the castle looming a short distance in front of them.

Twenty minutes later, they were settled inside of Radu’s home, warming their aching bone by a roaring fire. The house was small, made of only two rooms. The roof was thatched in straw and sticks of wood tied together. But for what the roof lacked in coverage, the hard clay walls made up for in insulating the heat coming from the fire.

It felt good on Sam’s face as she sat before it on a small wooden stool, warming her hands. Jack was beside her, being attended to by Radu, who had insisted on dressing their wounds. He was also going to provide them with clean clothes, which they had insisted was not necessary but appreciated.

After Jack’s wounds had been washed, treated and then covered, it was Sam’s turn. Radu worked with expert hands, moving swiftly but with great care. He started with the cuts on her hands and face, and then began to work his way around to her back. When he did, he suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on the deep scratches on her neck, now filled with dried blood.

Jack immediately noticed Radu’s concern. “What? What’s wrong?”

Radu took a step back as Sam and Jack directed their gaze on his now ghostly white face. When he found his voice, it was only a harsh whisper. “You have been marked by him. It is too late….there is nothing I can do.”

Jack’s heart sped up a notch. “Now hold on a minute! It’s just a couple of scratches. Granted they’re deep, but I’m sure you’ve healed worse.”

Radu just shook his head. “No, you don’t understand! The wounds I can heal, but he now knows the taste of your blood. He will be back for more.”

Jack stood up and moved closer to Sam. “The hell he will! Now just calm down, Radu. Dracula, the Dark One, or whatever it is you call him, doesn’t even know that we’re alive, let alone where we are.” He placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder, who then placed her hand over his, holding onto it as she continued to listen to what Radu had to say.

“That doesn’t matter,” Radu said, who was now pacing the room in front of them. “He had some kind of effect over his victims. And since he knows what your blood tastes like, he will be able to, in a sense, “smell” you out. He can hear the very heart beating in your chest.”

Sam spoke up, her voice slightly shaken. “Isn’t there anything you can do to prevent that?” She knew it was a long shot, but she had to ask. She felt Jack squeeze her hand, reassuring her of his presence beside her.

Radu’s face dropped. “I only wish there was.” Sighing, he looked at his guests. “The best thing for you would be to go back to where you came from. The only thing I can offer you is a place to stay for the night.”

Jack clenched his jaw in fear and frustration. “You know, I just don’t get it!” Jack’s voice echoed over the small room like a tidal wave. “Why do you people put up with this? Aren’t you tired of constantly living in the shadows of that thing? Do something about him!”

Radu gave Jack a defensive look. His voice was rocked with emotion. “That is easy for you to say, sir, but you don’t live among us. You don’t understand….”

Jack spit out his words. “You’re right…I don’t. So help me to understand it.”

The silence that settled in the room could be cut with a knife as Sam and Jack waited for Radu to gather his thoughts. His voice was soft when he finally spoke up. “We are a simple people, Jack. We live our lives by what we know. And when all we know is fear, how else can we live. Too many people have lost their lives trying to run, trying to fight him. It is not possible…he is just too powerful.”

Sam interjected, keeping her voice sympathetic. “We could show you how to fight him; provide you with the means to survive.”

Radu just shook his head. “I thank you for your offer, but no. I am old. My days are now few. I have no desire to change the way of life I know.”

Jack fisted one of his hands. “Who are you to make that kind of decision for everyone in your village? Maybe they would like a chance at a different life.”

“I cannot speak for everyone,” Radu said, his tone reserved. “But I can tell you that I’ve witnessed loss and suffering, along with the acceptance. People have buried their dead here, and for many, they have every intention of staying in a place where, one day, they will be buried alongside their loved one. I know that is my intention.”

Sam spoke up, the light from the fireplace reflecting in her eyes. “If you don’t mind me asking, who are you speaking about?”

Radu’s eyes sparkled with moisture. “My wife. She was so full of life and she loved it here. Despite the danger, she always saw good in everything around her. She was even convinced that the Count had good somewhere in him.” He suddenly chuckled in remembrance. “Her optimism was infectious. She even managed to convince me that it was possible for such a dark creature to possess good. But after she died…all of that died with her.”

Sam watched as his face went from pale to shadowed. Hesitating, she asked her next question, gripping onto Jack’s hand a little tighter. “How did she die?”

Radu gazed into the fire, lost in thought. “She had been out in the forest that day, gathering berries to make a special dessert for us. When the sun began to set and she hadn’t returned, I began to worry. I was tending to a sick child that afternoon, so I asked a few of the other villagers to find her.” His voice cracking, he seemed to be searching for the strength to continue. “It was the watchers who found her. She apparently had fallen and twisted her ankle. She wasn’t able to escape him…”

Sam softly gasped, bringing her other hand to her throat. “Oh, God…”

Jack felt like he was in an unending nightmare. He averted his eyes from Radu’s face, bringing their focus to the fire heating the room. “I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine losing…” His eyes found Sam’s face and met her eyes. Unable to finish his sentence, he cleared his throat to keep the emotion from welling up and spilling over. His mind was racing with possibilities and fears that he’d never even considered a day ago.

Radu quietly watched them as Sam and Jack exchanged looks. It wasn’t hard for his heart to recognize the love between two soulmates. Observing them, he could almost feel his wife’s presence in the room, making him miss her even more. Getting up, he went over to a large wooden trunk and opened it. Reaching inside, he felt like he was touching a part of his past that had been locked away in his mind. His fingers ran over the soft fabric of the dress that his wife had made for special occasions. The red velvet fabric had been a gift to his wife from one of the wealthier members of the town for caring for their children while they recovered from a bout of Scarlet Fever. His wife had made the dress but had only worn it twice.

Pulling it out of the trunk with care, he turned around and presented it to Sam. “Since you are in need of a change of clothes, you are welcome to wear this. I know my wife would approve.”

Sam was touched by the gesture. “Oh, Radu, that is very kind of you, but really, I’m okay.”

Radu just shook his head, his eyes almost pleading with hers. “Then accept this as a gift. It should fit nicely. You remind me of my wife…in so many ways.”

Sam looked at Jack briefly before reaching out with hesitation and taking the dress into her lap. With the look that Radu was giving her, she couldn’t turn him down. Finding her voice, she gave him a small smile. “Thank you. Um, I guess if there is a place for me to change…”

Radu’s face lit up with pride. “Of course! Right through that door is the bedroom.” Looking at Jack, he continued. “I’m sure I can find something for you to wear. Give me just a moment…” With that said, he moved off into the bedroom, leaving Jack and Sam alone for a minute.

Jack looked over at Sam and placed a finger under her chin, directing her face to his. “Hey,” he said, his voice soft as he stood before her. “You okay?”

Sam looked into his eyes and nodded. “I’m okay. I guess I just don’t like being in a situation like this that I can’t just fix. I only hope that when we do find that device, I’ll be able to figure out how to get us home.”

Jack’s lips curved into a half smile. “If anyone can figure it out, you can. Besides,” he said, taking her into his arms and holding her tightly against him, “all Dorothy had to do was click her heels three times and think there’s no place like home.”

Sam pulled back to look into his face, her voice a little lighter than it had been all evening. “I think it’s going to take a little more than heel clicking to get us home, but thanks for the positive thoughts.”

Jack smiled and lightly kissed her lips. “You’re welcome. But for right now,” he said, his voice getting more serious, “I’m more worried about those scratches on your neck and the fact that there may be some flying rodent out there looking for you.”

Sam brushed a finger over his cheek. “Hey,” she said softly, “what happened to my knight in shining armor? You haven’t failed me yet.”

Jack frowned. “Yeah, but I’ve never had to protect you against something like this. Besides, I forgot to bring my string of garlic and a cross. What good is a knight without his weapons and a shield?”

Sam was about to answer him when Radu came back into the room, carrying a pair of pants and a shirt. As he approached them, Jack and Sam parted, both turning towards the man who had taken them into his home without question. When he handed the clothes to Jack, he smiled at both of them. “Forgive me if I’m speaking out of turn, but it is obvious to me how much love there is between the two of you. You remind me of when my wife was alive.” Briefly reaching out and touching their still intertwined hands, he looked from one to the other. “Love is a strange and wonderful thing. It can make your heart soar one moment, and then cut it in half the next. But as long as you have each other, and you hold onto that love, any problem that you face can be resolved…together.”

Shaking his head slightly and giving them a simple smile, Radu handed Jack the clothes. “Listen to me, the sentimental old fool that I am. Please, make yourselves at home. I will give you some privacy to change. Though the hour grows late, perhaps you will join me for some tea. It should help you to sleep better.”

Jack nodded. “Well, I don’t know how well we’ll be sleeping with fang boy out on the lose, but we’ll give it a shot. Thanks.” Sam and Jack exchanged another look before parting ways, with Sam going into the bedroom to change, while Jack stayed in the main room, changing into the clothes that Radu had just handed him.

An hour later, Jack walked Sam to the bedroom. They had just shared a cup of surprisingly good tea with Radu in front of the fireplace. The conversation had been light, allowing the silence to penetrate their ears, keeping their senses sharp in order to listen for anything unusual going on outside of the small dwelling. It had been decided that they would sleep in shifts, with Sam turning in first. They had informed Radu that he was not obligated to stay up, but he simply brushed them off, telling both Sam and Jack that in his old age, he didn’t sleep much anymore and he would prefer the company to empty dreams.

Going inside the room, Jack checked the lock on the large window that was on the outside wall. Sheer white curtains hung over it, half opened. Closing them, Jack turned around and took in the sight of Sam before him. The red velvet dress that she had put on had taken his breath away when he had first seen her in it, and it still had the same effect on him now as he watched her walk over to the bed, touching the quilted fabric with her fingertips.

The dress hung off her shoulders, it’s long sleeves coming to a point at the base of her wrist. The neckline went straight across her chest, with the fabric flowing down into an empress waistline. From there, the dress billowed out around her, flowing freely. The deep red color gave her skin a milky white appearance as her blonde hair glowed in the soft candlelight around the room.

When Sam looked up, she caught Jack watching her. Tilting her head to the right, she gave him a secret smile. “What? You look as if you’re a million miles away.”

Jack gave her one of his sexy half smiles again. “Well, watching you and seeing how good you look in that dress, the house could be falling in around my head and I don’t think I’d notice.”

Sam moved over to where he was standing and gave him a small laugh. “So much for my confidence in your ability to protect me.” Wrapping her arms around him, she closed her eyes when he pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. Sighing, she spoke up quietly. “Oh, Jack. It would almost be too easy to just want to stay in another realm, living our lives the way we want to, without any restrictions or having to constantly watch what we say and do around others.”

Jack pulled her back to look into her face, his expression serious. “You know I would do anything for you, right? And even though I have no real desire to spend the rest of my life running from a bat, I would stay if that’s what you want.”

Sam took a moment to look into his eyes, reading his soul. Giving him a quick smile, she reached up and placed her hands on either side of his face. “There are so many things I love about you, and you just keep surprising me by coming up with more reasons to love you.”

Jack tilted his head slightly, her hands still on his face. “Well, what can I say…”

Sam squeezed his face a little harder, loving his personality. “As much as I would like to just forget our responsibilities back in our own reality, you know that we can’t. There’s too much left to do, and besides, as much as I do love you, I think I’d go crazy without my lab.”

Jack shrugged. “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but you know how much I hate missing episodes of The Simpsons.” Pausing momentarily, he made a face. “Damn! Now I’ve got another reason to hate that Roberts’ guy. I’m missing another episode!”

Sam smiled and gave the frown on his face a lingering kiss, her lips soft against his skin as she took in the taste of him. Wanting to so badly just pull him to bed with her and lose her senses in emotions only he could make her feel, she released him and smiled at his now starry eyed gaze. “Now go so I can get some shut eye before my shift starts.”

Jack sniffed and shook his head slightly. “As soon as the room stops spinning….” Giving her a puppy dog look, he continued. “Do I really have to go?”

Sam covered her eyes. “Jack, that’s not fair. You know that I don’t want you to go, but you have to. I’ll be right here…missing you terribly.” Uncovering her eyes, she took his hand and led him to the door. “You can look in on me as much as you like, though.”

Jack nodded, his expression suddenly growing dim. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I can sit in here with you….”

Sam squeezed his hand. “I’m not going to have you catch your death of cold because you are sitting in a cold, dark room without any heat. And if you come to bed….well, we’ll just never get any sleep that way.”

Jack reached for the door handle and opened the door. “I’ll be right outside of this room if you need anything. Just call out.” Lifting her chin with his finger, he looked into her eyes, giving her a small smile. “And I will be looking in on you.” Kissing her lips tenderly, he sighed and then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Sam turned around and faced the now empty room. Moving over to the bed, she pulled the covers back and climbed underneath them, hating to have to sleep in such a beautiful dress, but not wanting to have to take the time to put it back on should they need to leave quickly. Turning on her side towards the bedside table, she gently blew out the single candle that was now left to light the room. As the dark settled in around her, she closed her eyes, listening for Jack’s familiar movements in the next room, lulling her to sleep.

His voice echoed in her dreams, calling out to her, encircling her mind in a mystical fog that blocked out all other rational thought. She could feel his eyes watching her in her mind, making her blood run cold and her heart beat uncontrollably. It was hard to breath, every breath like a sweet poison to her lungs. Her dreams were void of anything save his eyes, red with passion and desire. Her chest ached, battling feelings of both need and fear.

But when Sam opened her eyes, the fog didn’t disappear and his eyes remained in her mind. She could hear his voice, a silent whisper in air, penetrating her ears, urging her to come to him. There were no other sounds, no light to help her to fight the magical pull he had over her.

Turning her eyes to the window, still covered by the sheer white curtains, she got up and moved over to them, walking as if she were a zombie, asleep yet awake, unable to think for herself. His urging became more insistent, making her heart beat even harder. She wanted to fight it, wanted to call out, but she couldn’t. He was waiting for her, right outside. She could sense him as if he were a dream floating on the air, penetrating every pore in her body.

Using her fingers, she pushed the curtains to the side and unlocked the window, quietly sliding it open. The cool night air touched her skin, brushing over it like a paintbrush on a blank canvas. Looking behind her at the dark room, she wanted to say something, wanted to call out to…someone. But she couldn’t. The desire to go was too consuming, too real. She then quietly climbed through the window, her bare feet touching the cold, hard ground beneath her.

All around her, a thick fog swirled, making it impossible to see anything. But she could still hear him…he was in front of her, only a short distance away. Moving slowly forward, her red velvet dress sparkled in the pale moonlight that had managed to penetrate the fog. As she continued to walk, a dark shadow appeared in front of her, his cape gently swirling in the invisible breeze. She could see nothing of his face, except for his red eyes, watching her approach.

Once she was with an arm distance of him, the voice that had been floating in her mind became real. “Samantha. I have searched your mind, my dear, and there is so much I can learn from you. Come to me…let me put to rest those desires beating in your heart. I have great plans for you…”

Unable to fight the pull that he had over her, she walked the rest of the way to him, her mind numb. Yet in a small portion of her soul, she was screaming, wanting to fight the spell that had her mesmerized. She wanted to call out to Jack, but she couldn’t. As she came face to face with Dracula, her eyes moved over his stark white face, eventually landing on his lips and the subtle smile he held there. She felt his arms come around her, felt his hands move up her spine to the base of her neck, his sharp nails poking at her skin.

With her heart beating in her ears, she allowed her neck to fall to the side as he guided it. Her eyelids fluttered and closed as her arms hung at her sides. And then she felt his lips on her neck, moving over her skin that seemed to suddenly be on fire. The veins in her neck pulsated wildly, and she could feel the chill running down her spine as he drew back.

And then for a moment there was only peace, washing over her, making her feel like a rag doll. But then suddenly, the dream turned into a nightmare, as sharp piercing fangs suddenly penetrated the skin on her neck. Her eyes flew open and she let out a small gasp in pain. She could feel him holding onto her, as if she were a lifeline for him. And she could feel the warm blood leaving her body, making her cold and weak. In her mind, she was calling out to Jack to save her, to give her life. The world began to spin and she lost all strength as her heartbeat began to quiet, become less intense as he continued to drink….

Jack’s eyes flew open in a panic. Something was wrong. Sam needed him. He could almost hear her soul calling out to his. Damn it! Why had he fallen asleep? He hadn’t been tired. His body was running on adrenaline, with the fear of what could happen keeping that natural stimulant going. So why had he fallen asleep? Getting up, he raced to the bedroom door and opened it, bursting into the room as if the devil were after him.

When his eyes fell upon the empty bed, his heart dropped as his fear increased. Looking across the room, he saw the opened window as the sheer curtains billowed out around it. “Sam!!” He called out in desperation, running for the window and pulling himself through it. Stepping out into the foggy night, he called out again. “Sam! Where are you?” Moving forward, he was about to call out when he heard a gentle whimper not far in front of him.

With his heart beating wildly, he picked up speed, running until he halted at the sight suddenly before him, emerging out of the fog like a bad dream. There was Sam, being held in the arms of a creature he’d only read about in fictional tales. Her body was limp, giving no indication of life. And then the creature known as Dracula released her neck and placed her on the ground.

Jack could feel the mixture of rage, fear, and sorrow seeping out of him like water pouring out of a pipe. “NO! You bastard!”

Dracula looked up, hissing as he stood up, with bright red blood running down from either side of his mouth. As Jack started to run forward, ready to kill the thing in front of him, a powerful burst of energy punched into his gut, sending him onto his back. Trying to shake it off, he watched as Dracula spun his cape around him and then transformed himself into a bat, flying at Jack’s head and making him duck, barely clipping his head as he went by. Jack reacted by trying to grab at the creature, but to no avail. It flew off into the night, disappearing into the fog.

Jack took a second to catch the breath that had been knocked out of him. Moving forward on his hands and knees, he crawled the short distance to where Sam was lying on her side. Gathering her up into his arms, he called out. “Sam! Can you hear me? Please, baby, wake up!”

Looking into her lifeless face, she appeared to only be sleeping. But her skin was pale and clammy, and on the left side of her neck, two distinct puncture wounds were visible. Holding her to him in his lap, he kissed the spot on her head that his lips knew so well. Rocking her gently, he called out again, this time more softly. “Sam, please! Open your eyes. I can’t go on without you….” Two silent tears suddenly rolled down his cheeks and his chest began to vibrate as the sorrow that was in his throat was released. And as he held her tightly to him, allowing his tears to run freely, the fog once again began to settle in all around them….

To be continued.

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