candelabrum throwing huge, garish shadows on the walls.
'Where are you taking us?' said Stoker fearfully. He stopped on the stone steps. 'These stairs lead down to the dungeons, don't they?'
'Yes. Mr. Stoker, they do,' the vampire said.
'In that case. I refuse to go another step!'
'I have no objection,' Dracula said. 'You may remain here if you wish and wait for us. Mr. Doyle, I think, would be interested in seeing what I have to show him.'
'Very well, lead on,' said Conan Doyle.
'Wait!' said Stoker, hurrying after them. He caught up to Doyle and whispered, 'Forgive me, Arthur. I am ashamed of myself. Whatever happens from here on, we shall face it together!”
'There is no shame in being afraid,' said Doyle. 'I can feel my own knees shaking, but we must screw our courage to the sticking point and see this thing through, come what may.'
'Listen!' Stoker whispered harshly. 'What in heaven's name is that?'
From below, as if from a great distance, came a keening wail, an inhuman chorus of animal shrieks that grew louder as they descended.
'My God, Arthur,' Stoker said hoarsely, 'what on earth have we gotten ourselves into?'
'Steady, Stoker,' Doyle said. 'Whatever it is, we shall find out soon enough. Be prepared for anything.'
They reached the bottom of the steps and followed Dracula down a damp, narrow stone corridor with a low ceiling. Stoker uttered a sound of disgust as huge rats scurried past their feet. Soon they reached another large wooden door. The screams were louder now. Dracula drew back a huge iron bolt and opened it. The chorus of screams rose suddenly in volume, almost deafening them.
They were on a stone landing high above a large, underground chamber lit by torches set into sconces in the walls. In front of them was a steep flight of stone steps, leading down to the dungeon floor. There was no wall or railing, nothing to stop them from falling to the stone floor thirty feet below should they lose their footing and slip.
'May the saints preserve us!' Stoker said. 'We have descended into hell!'
Below them in the dungeon, behind thick iron bars set into the stone, were scores of creatures bearing only a passing resemblance to men and women. Their clothes were torn and filthy, stained with blood. Some were completely covered with hair, looking like rabid, snarling beasts. They hurled themselves against the iron bars and howled like wolves. Some attacked each other, jaws snapping, claws slashing, and a few had fallen and were being greedily devoured by others in their cells. Still others looked almost normal, except for their emaciated appearance, their hollow, staring eyes devoid of any sanity, and their abnormally long and pointed canine teeth, visible as they opened their mouths to emit throat-rending screams and thrust their hands out through the bars.
There were manacles set into the Wall and, in the center of the chamber, there was a smaller room partitioned off by steel-framed glass, inside of which they could see a bizarre array of laboratory equipment, among which were a number of large standing lamps, metal cabinets with trays holding surgical implements and a long operating table with strong restraining straps.
'Here is the solution to your case, gentlemen!' Dracula shouted over the uproar. 'The dawn of a new race! The new breed brought forth by my creator!'
Both men stood frozen on the steps as Dracula descended to the floor of the chamber. He looked up at them, eyes blazing. 'Here is true insanity for you!' he shouted over the din.
You wanted to learn the truth? Well, gaze upon it! Allow me to introduce you to my family! My brothers and my sisters! My creator's legacy!'
He hurled the candelabrum at the iron bars with all his might. sending sonic of the creatures scampering back.
'Shut up!' he screamed. 'Shut up. damn you all. SHUT UP!'
As Conan Doyle and Stoker stood motionless, staring in stunned disbelief, the vampire slumped down, brought his hands up to his face and wept.
'For God's sake, Arthur!' Stoker said, grabbing Doyle's arm and spinning hint around. 'This is madness! Hurry, we must get out of here before-'
He saw the expression on Doyle's face as Doyle looked past him and quickly turned around, expecting some new horror. Standing on the landing behind them was a beautiful young woman dressed all in white, with long black hair hanging loose down around her shoulders.
'My God!' said Stoker, 'Violet!'
'Mr. Stoker!' she said, coming down towards them and holding out her arms. 'Help me! Please! Take me away from this dreadful place!'
Stoker started towards her, but Doyle suddenly grabbed him and pulled him back. 'Look out. Stoker!'
She snarled as Stoker was yanked out of her reach, revealing sharp, elongated canine teeth. She lunged at Doyle, but he twisted away from her and she screamed as her momentum carried her over the side of the long stairway. The scream was cut off abruptly as she struck the stone floor below, breaking her neck.
Dracula stood over the creature that had once been Violet Anderson, staring down at her broken body. 'Forgive me, Violet,' he said softly. 'I could not help myself.'
Slowly, he raised his head to look up at the two men above him on the stairway, his eyes glittering. Then he turned and walked over to the wall, taking a ring of keys down from a hook.
'Run, Stoker!' Doyle shouted.
As they sprinted back the way they came, the vampire threw open the first of the cell doors.
…
The lock on the warehouse door yielded to the laser easily. Steiger slowly pushed the door open while the others covered him.
'I think it would be best if you were to remain out here. Mr. Wells,' said Forrester.
'Absolutely not,' said Wells. 'I will ask you to remember our agreement. General.'
'I do remember it.' said Forester, “and I appreciate your cooperation more than I can say, but my concern is for your safety.'
'So long as Jane remains safe with your people at the Charing Cross Hotel, that is all that matters,' Wells said.
'Mr. Neilson and Miss Craven will take good care of her.' said Forrester, 'and with Dr. Darkness there as well, she will he more than adequately protected. I'd feel much better if you were with them. If anything should happen to you-'
'You need have no fears on my account.' said Wells. 'I have no intention of indulging in any foolhardy heroics. But you will need me to deal with Lin Tao and Moreau. They trust me, whereas, I am sorry to say, they do not trust you people at all.'
'I guess that makes us even,' Steiger said. 'I don't trust Moreau. And I don't know anything about this Lin Tao character.'
'What is it you wish to know, Colonel Steiger?' said a voice from directly behind them.
They turned quickly to see the old Chinaman come walking towards them slowly out of the mist. He stopped a short distance away front them.
'It's him,' said Andre.
The old man bowed. 'I am Lin Tao.'
'Stay right where you are,' said Steiger, covering the old man with his disruptor, but Wells immediately stepped in front of him.
'Put that away!' he said. 'Is that any way to treat a man who's trying to help you?'
'Stand aside, Wells,' Steiger said, reaching out to shove Wells to one side, but Wells batted his arm away.
'General,' he said, 'I insist that you honor the terms of our agreement!'
'Steiger… Forrester said.
'Sir, I really don't think — '
'Put it away.' said Forrester.
Reluctantly, Steiger holstered his disruptor.
