Dracula

It's almost 10 PM, and nothing's happened.

"And finally, behold today's main item!" the man in the suit says. "The Crimson Stone!"

A woman pushes a cart onto the stage.

Set upon it is a golden medallion with six stars around it. With the centre, is a red star shaped stone.

Even through I'm no connoisseur of art, I can tell that it's worth a lot from one glance at the craftsmanship.

"Hmm... If it's only a few million, I wouldn't mind paying for such a beauty." Doreen says.

"Doreen, it's nice that you're looking into the worth of the piece, but don't forget why we're here." Victoria says.

"This priceless antique is said to have been worn by Dracula, leader of the vampire **** in the infamous Vampire War!" the man in the suit says. "It is also said that the Crimson Stone holds a special power, and that by wearing it, it will grant you powers. Astounding physical capabilities, or even effects such as rejuvenation and longevity! Because this medallion belonged to the lord of the vampires, surely its effects will be extraordinary!"

"Hmm... I don't usually have an interest in items sold outside the law..." Doreen says. "But that stone is strangely enticing. It excites the antique collector in me."

"Wow, I've never seen you controlled by greed before. That's an unexpected side!" Nemo says.

The auction seems to be proceeding smoothly.

"Asinine humans, do not touch that with your filthy hands!" a voice says. "As announced, I am gracing you with my presence to take back what is mine!"

Excited voices echo throughout the area. In reaction to the words "take back," the waiting bounty hunters all leap into action and take out their weapons.

"Is that him?!"

"The thief... Sounds like a girl. Where is she?!"

"Over there! By the tent entrance!" One man stands up and points behind us.

There is a female figure standing in the dimly lit entrance to the tent.

"A girl...?" I asked.

Whoever it is strides forward without faltering and raises her voice once she reaches the very centre of the tent. "Stand aside, fools! I am here to reclaim that which is rightfully mine!"

She is a brunette with fair skin, wearing a white dress.

"Doesn't look like a master thief to me." one of bounty hunters says. At his comment, the others around him start buzzing...

And soon the conversation shifts to laughter and ridicule.

"Hey. This is no place for someone like you. Go back home to your mommy." A man twice the girl's size approaches her and tries to shoo her off.

"I am no mere girl. I have come to take the treasure from you lowly humans! Didn't you get my letter?!" The girl shows no sign of backing down, however, and raises her voice even more.

The men around them begin shouting insults at the man who had approached the girl.

"Hey now! How are you gonna handle the thief if you can't even get just some girl to go home?"

"Idiot, she's talking circles around you!"

"Fine. Girls who don't listen to their elders need to be punished, don't they?" The man slowly raises his arm.

"Are you challenging me to battle? You're going to regret this." the girl says.

"You'd better watch your mouth...!"

The girl is in danger.

My feet start to move despite myself, but Van Helsing grabs my shoulder. "Don't go over there. This is dangerous."

"But--" I say.

"Don't misunderstand me. It's the man who's in danger." Van Helsing says.

"What?" I only took my eyes off of them for a second, but the man is suddenly high in the air.

A second later, he thuds to the ground. "What the hell did you do?!"

"I just gave him a light tap with my fist." the girl says. "Now, who else wants to fly?"

"Who is that girl?" I ask.

"She's a vampire." Van Helsing says.

"What?" I ask.

"Vampires? A sub-race that possesses extraordinary physical capability that other humans can never match. She's one?" Victoria asks.

"Hold on! She's can't be that strong, even if the girl is some vampire!" Nemo says.

"I could give you a detailed explanation, but we don't seem to have time for it." Just as Van Helsing says, the girl gracefully leaps up onto the stage while everyone around her stand dumbfounded.

"Hear me, humans." she says. "I am the Queen of the Night, the Lord of Vampires, and heir to the Dracula name. I am Countess Marya Dracula."

"A vampire!" a rich woman says.

"A blood heir to Dracula?! She's here to get **** on humanity...!" an auction attendee says.

As soon as they hear her name, people in the crowd begin to scream. The audience panics, and the people begin to flee and run about.

"Why is everyone is upset?" I ask.

It's true, the girl did show extraordinary strength.

But the people here seem to be afraid of something else.

"Vampires have been the object of fear for a long time. A few years ago, Dracula terrorised London." Doreen says. "Thus began a war between England and Transylvania, known as the Vampire War. And even though the war is over and Dracula has been slain, the people of Britain have always been living under the spectre of fear. That Dracula might one day return. That's the gist of it."

"As promised, I shall take this!" Marya shouts at the top of her voice and places the medallion round her neck.

"She's got it!" a bounty hunter says.

"We just have to catch her, that's all!" The men climbs onto the stagehand point their guns at the girl. "Don't move, girl! One step and you'll have more hole than Swiss cheese!"

"Really? Why don't you try?" Marya asks.

"Aim for her legs! We'll split the prize money, got it?" I hear gunshots. However... the girl does not look hurt. "We definitely hit her! Why isn't she wounded?!"

"Idiots. I evaded the bullets, obviously." Marya says.

"Don't be stupid! There's not a human alive who could dodge a bullet from this close!"

"I see. Unfortunately for you, I'm not human." Marya takes a fighting stance, and an instant later, all the men but one have fallen to the ground.

"No way." The last man collapses, and a profound silence fills the room.

The girl turns to the audience. There is hatred in her eyes. Hatred so great, it feels suffocating just to witness. "Fear me, humans! This is our anger, and our pain! I will make a proclamation here and now! The vampire lineage will never forgive you! I promise, the suffering and pain endured by our people will equally be shared by all of you!"

These words cause the panic in the audience to reach new heights, and the screams only get louder.

The girl onstage watches and laughs, then disappears behind the curtains.

"Let's go." Van Helsing says.

"Where?" I ask.

"That girl... It's hard to tell what she'll do when left on her own. It probably won't be long before she starts attacking people. I could see it in her eyes. We need to stop her." Van Helsing begins running to the stage.

"Wait, Van Helsing!" I try to follow her, but Lupin grabs me by the hand.

"Hold on, calm down. That girl's too fast for us. We'll never catch up to her." she says. "And that's very unlike Van Helsing. She doesn't usually get that heated. I wonder what's gotten into her."

"Aren't we going after her?" I ask.

"Don't worry. Even though she's got an attitude, she's one of us. We won't desert her. Let's go ahead of them and wait." Lupin says.

"Can we really get ahead of them? We don't even know which way they went..." Victoria says.

"Leave it to me. Have faith in Arsene Lupin, first-class lady thief." Lupin starts running, and we follow her out of the tent in a rush.