Samantha Jones And The Embrace Of The Vampire (standard:adventure, 5118 words)
Author: Waldo Pepper	Added: Jan 03 2003	Views/Reads: 3761/5171	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
In the second instalment Samantha Jones and her assistant Rebecca investigate the disapprance of two village girls in Germany.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

that cascaded over her pillow and hid most of     her face.  What 
Samantha could see though although pale how extremely beautiful she 
was. Her eyes were closed and she appeared to be sleeping her long dark 
lashes fluttering occasionally. 

"Ingrid, Ingrid my dear are you awake," said the tavern owner? "How are
you feeling this morning?  I have some friends that I would like you to 
meet." 

"Oh good morning papa," she said slowly opening her eyes.  "I was having
the most wonderful dream.  I have been so tired lately that all I want 
to do is sleep." 

"Yes my dear but now you must rest and regain your strength," replied
the tavern owner.  "But first I would like you to meet Samantha Jones 
and Rebecca Clark.  They would  like to ask you a few questions." 

Samantha and Rebecca moved closer to the side of the bed and shook hands
with the daughter.  Rebecca could not get over how pale the young girl 
looked and as she brushed back a lock of hair from the side of her neck 
she noticed two small puncture marks. 

"Tell me about the dream that you had     last night Ingrid," said
Samantha? "Do you still remember any of it?" 

"Oh yes Miss Jones, and it was wonderful," she replied.  "I was running
naked through a field of tall grass in the morning  sunshine.  Suddenly 
I stopped and felt a tingling sensation going through my entire body.  
I tried to run once more and found that I couldn't.  Everything then 
seemed to go black and I heard my Papa calling me and I awoke." 

"Perhaps  now you should rest as your father has said and we will talk
later." said Samantha. 

The two women and the tavern owner then left the bedroom and stood in
the hallway.  the old man looked depressed and worried and stared at 
the floor. 

"You see what I am dealing with," he said.  "I am but a poor widower and
my daughter is all that I have.  Do you think you could find out what 
is happening to her. I have a little money saved and I would be willing 
to give it all to you for a few simple answers." 

"We don't want your money Mr. Steiner," said Samantha.  "All we require 
   is a room to sleep and a horse and carriage to get around in. Becky 
and I shall look into this matter for you so please do not worry." 

Steiner smiled and bowed slightly to the two women. 

"That is no problem,and you have made an old man happy," he said. "You
will be my guest and have the spare bedroom to the right of Ingrid.  
There is a good horse and carriage in the stable that should serve your 
needs and if you require anything else do not be afraid to ask.  I must 
leave you now and return to my tavern. 

Steiner turned and made his way to the staircase.  The two young women
watched him go and then turned and took a few steps to the bedroom that 
he had indicated. 

"What do you make of all this Sam," said Rebecca taking a seat on the
edge of the nearby bed? 

"I really don't know Becky," she replied.  "Hans Steiner appears to be
to be nothing but a poor tavern owner and devoted father.  That is why 
I offered to help him for free.  Now what is going on with his daughter 
is yet another story.  These     dreams that she is having has me 
baffled.  Someone may be feeding her some kind of drug or she may be 
just plain crazy.  In any event it will be up to us to find out." 

"Yes that may be true about the drugs Sam," replied Rebecca.  "I have
read that some of the even the modern sleep medication can induce 
dreams.  But did you notice how pale she was, and those little puncture 
marks in her neck. It is like she was bitten by some animal or insect. 
What  kind of thing would do that?" 

"Not anything that I have ever encountered Becky," she replied.  "I
would suggest that we sleep very lightly tonight and keep a careful 
watch on the bedroom of Miss Steiner.  We can do this by opening that 
adjoining door slightly.  It leads directly into her room.  If anything 
happens we will be the first to know." 

The tavern owner served his two young guests a hearty dinner of cabbage
soup and fresh dark bread with they ate with relish. They remained in 
the tavern for the rest of the evening sipping wine and observ    ing 
the constant flow of townspeople that wondered in for a nightcap.  It 
began to grow late so the two women returned to their room and prepared 
for bed.  Samantha opened the door to Ingrid's bedroom a fraction and 
then climbed into bed next to Rebecca.  Both women  had taken books 
from their luggage and for the next two hours lay quietly reading.  The 
wall clock had just struck two when Samantha heard footsteps just 
outside her window and he soft muffled voice of a woman. 

"Ingrid, Ingrid Steiner come to me," called a soft seductive voice.  "I
long to hold you in my arms once more so that we can be together again. 
Open your window I know your heart pines for my warm embrace." 

Samantha was half asleep and it took the young women a full minute to
comprehend what was happening.  When she became fully awake she  
quickly slid out of bed and made her way to the door of the adjacent 
bedroom.  Peering in she noted that the chamber was deserted and Ingrid 
lay sprawled over the window box the shutters thrown o    pen and the 
curtains blowing in the evening breeze. 

"Becky wake up," she called rushing over to the young woman.  "we have 
had a visitor." 

Rebecca was instantly awake and within seconds at her friends side.  The
two young women then carried the lifeless body of Ingrid back to her 
bed were Samantha felt her pulse. 

"She is scarcely alive," she said wrapping a blanket around the girl. 
"Whatever attacked her must have been frightened off." 

"There is also blood on that old puncture would Sam," said Rebecca.  And
I think that now she may be coming around." 

Rebecca was right for Ingrid's eyelids began to flicker and she slowly
opened her eyes.  Her breathing became less shallow and she tried to 
speak. 

"Oh Miss Jones," she said.  "Is something wrong?  I was having another
marvelous dream and then suddenly everything went dark." 

Suddenly a soft knock was heard on the bedroom door and the voice of the
tavern owner.  The door then opened and Steiner stood in its entrance. 

"Has somethi    ng happened," he said?  "I was just returning to my
bedroom when I herd voices and saw a light. 

"Your daughter is fine," said Samantha.  "She had another visit from
someone but I was able to scare him away.  If only I know who keeps 
attacking her." 

"I see," replied Steiner.  Perhaps you should pay Doctor Van Helsberg a
visit in the morning.  He is the village doctor and has made a study of 
ancient fokelore in this area.  Perhaps he can shed a little light on 
what is happening here." 

The next morning the two young women made their way to the small village
of Heidleberg.  Steiner told them that the doctor was usually in his 
clinic until noon and his office should be easy to find.  the doctor's 
office was a small wood and stone structure on the far side of the 
village and a faded brass shingle hung on the front door. 

"This must be it," said Rebecca peering at he sign.  "But do you think
that this country doctor will be of any real help?" 

Doctor Van Helsberg was a tall tin man of about fifty with g    raying
hair and a short neatly cropped beard.  He wore thick glasses and a 
white shirt, tie, and lab coat.  He escorted the two young women into 
one of the examining rooms and  offered them a set. 

"And what can I do for you today," he said looking over the two?  "Both
of you look to be in perfect health." 

"The tavern owner suggested that see you doctor," said Samantha.  "I am
Samantha Jones and we are trying to find out what is happening to his 
daughter Ingrid." 

"Ah yes, Miss Ingrid," he replied. "It is a strange case but some things
are best left unanswered." 

"What do you mean left unanswered," said Rebecca.  "Is she being
attacked by some type of beast that everyone is afraid of?" 

"Yes a beast, but one that has been dead for many decades," he replied. 
"Have you ever heard of the Undead and those who walk by night in 
search of blood to quest their thirst?" 

"Do you mean Vampires and Count Dracula and all that," said Samantha. 
"That is something that cheap novels and the movie t    heaters have 
made money on for years. But none of that is real." 

"I beg to differ with you Miss Jones," he replied.  "The legend of
Dracula is based on truth and goes back almost five hundred years.  At 
that time a rather unsavory character by the name of Valad Dracul and 
his wife both had a lust for blood and many a Saxon felt his wrath.  He 
would often sign documents Draculea or Draculya  which means the 
Devil's Son and was later distorted into Dracula.  His favorite means 
of killing was to impale his victim  with a spear or wooden stake and 
his renown traveled west into the Transelvanian town and into parts of 
Germany and Austria.  Cities were pillaged and burned and many a Saxon 
impaled.  He became known as Valad The Impaler until his death in 1476. 
 Horrified by these atrocities, the Saxons printed books and pamphlets 
in  which they told of his brutality.  In 1897 Bram Stroker published 
Dracula which made Valad the Impaler famous world wide." 

"Interesting," said Samantha.  "Do you think     that what has been
happening to Ingrid could be linked to this legend?  Her father 
believes that Countess Yorga is somehow behind all  this." 

"Yes, I can believe that," he replied.  "The tavern owner and villagers
are a very superstitious lot  and Countess Yorga is a very strange 
lady.  The villagers tried to burn her and her castle over two years 
ago and now every strange occurrence is blamed on her.  They believe 
she is some type of witch or demon." 

"Like a vampire," said Rebecca. 

"In some parts of the country that is what she would be called," he
replied.  "But that is all ancient superstition and I don't think that 
any of it is true." 

"How would you protect yourself against a vampire doctor," said
Samantha? 

"that is a good question Miss Jones," he replied.  "You see it is a
query of good over evil and any religious artifact would do.  A cross, 
holy water, or even a small Bible could protect you.  And remember a 
vampire  can only be put to rest by driving a wooden stake through its 
heart, ex    posure to sunlight, or being consumed by fire." 

"Yes, well we have taken far too much of  your time doctor," said
Samantha getting to her feet.  "We shall take heed to everything that 
you have told us and we shall keep in touch." 

The two women headed out of the village and made their way up into the
nearby mountains were the castle of Countess Yorga lay.  It was already 
late afternoon and when they approached the stone citadel that once 
belonged to the Countess the sun was beginning to set. 

"Do you think we should have waited until morning before coming out here
Sam," said Rebecca as she looked over the high stone walls of the 
castle?  "This place looks kind of creepy." 

"You are not afraid of a vampire are you Becky," she replied drawing the
horse to a halt.  "That cross I gave you should protect you from any 
apparition that you may see.  I think the sooner we look over this 
castle the better." 

Countess Yorga's castle was a massive structure of wood, stone and brick
that covered over     half an acre.  The courtyard was originally slabs 
of white polished marble but time and the elements had marred its 
luster.  This courtyard led to a immense wood and brass door upon which 
hung a giant knocker.  set in this portal was a small opening were a 
servant could look out and view anyone that wished to enter.  Samantha 
gasped the knocker with both hands and rapped twice.  No one answered 
so she knocked once more.  Finally the peephole slid open  and the eyes 
of a young woman peered out. 

"What do you want," said a soft female voice?  "We are expecting no one
so late." 

"I would like to discuss a business matter with the Countess Yorga,"
replied Samantha.  "My name is Samantha Jones and my associate and I 
have traveled a great distance to see her." 

The peephole suddenly slammed shut and a few moments later the large
wooden door began to sing open.  The two young women stepped inside and 
were greeted by an attractive young women of perhaps eighteen.  She had 
fair skin  and long golden blond hair t    hat hung halfway down her 
back and smiling blue eyes.  She was dressed in an attractive peasant 
blouse and skirt that  did little to hide her attractive figure. On her 
head was a maids cap and stepping aside she smiled ever so slightly. 

"I am Denise the maid and servant to Countess Yorga," she said.  "If you
will follow me I will tell my Mistress that you are here." 

She smiled seductively t both Samantha and  Rebecca and then led the two
women down a hallway into a large den or study and then excused 
herself.  Samantha glanced around the high ceiling room and found it to 
be very luxurious.  A long floor to ceiling bookcase lay on the north 
wall along with elegant paintings and satin drapes that completed the 
furnishings.  The entire room was bathed in a soft light from an 
unidentified source and three soft leather at omens lay in the corners. 


"I must say countess Yorga has some very nice things," said Samantha
picking up one of the leather bound books and turning a page.  "I would 
hazard a     guess that everything here is very old." 

"Yes, she certainly has good taste," said Rebecca.  "and did you notice
the way the maid looked at the two of us.  she had absolute lust in her 
eyes." 

"Yes, it was a hunger for something Becky," she replied.  "We will have
to remain constantly on guard all the wile that we are here." 

"Good evening Miss Jones," said a soft voice from behind her.  "I trust
that I have not kept you waiting long." 

Samantha turned and standing in the shadows directly behind her was a
tall statuesque woman of perhaps twenty five exquisically dressed in a 
white silk blouse and black skirt.  She moved into the light and made 
her way to a small liquor cabinet. 

"Can I offer the both of you a glass of wine before we conclude our
business arrangement," she said?' 

"Yes, thank you," replied Samantha.  "Becky and I thought that your
castle was deserted." 

"Yes, well it would appear that way," she replied.  "Part of it was
damaged by a fire a short wile ago and the repairs are now     just 
been completed.  I hope that you will spend the evincing with me a make 
a fresh start back to the village in the morning." 

"We would be honored Countess," replied Samantha.  "It is growing late
and these country roads are not safe to travel at night." 

"Excellent, I shall make out a check for you and then Denise the maid
will show you to you to your room. I will also have her bring you up 
some food from the kitchen and if there is anything else you require 
please ask." 

The two women finished their wine and then followed the maid up a flight
of stairs.  The bedroom that they were escorted to was as lavish as the 
den of the countess with more elegant paintings on  the walls and a 
soft double bed. 

"Do you think we should spend the night in this place Sam," said
Rebecca?  "This old castle gives me the creeps and that maid keeps 
looking at me like I'm her long lost love." 

"Yes, I have noticed that Becky," she replied.  "But I don't think you
have anything to be afraid of.  She is onl    y the servant of the 
Countess and we may be able to use this little infatuation to our 
advantage.  If you can keep the young girl occupied I may be able to 
slip out and see what is really happening here." 

"I will try," said Rebecca blushing slightly.  "But please don't leave
me alone with her too long.  The sooner we get out of this spooky place 
the better." 

A few minutes later a soft knock was heard on the bedroom door and the
maid entered with a platter of cold meats, bread, and a bottle of wine. 
 As she began to lay out the food Samantha slipped quietly away to 
explore the castle. Having completed her task the young serving girl 
turned to go. 

"Could you stay for a minute and perhaps have a glass of wine with me,"
said Rebecca?  "Sam  has just stepped out for a second and I thought 
that we could get better acquainted." 

"Yes, that would be nice," she replied.  "We get so few visitors to the
castle nowadays talking to you will be such a treat." 

"Have you been a maid to the Countess     for long," said Rebecca
pouring out two glasses of wine? 

"For almost two years," she replied.  "And the Countess can be a cruel
taskmaster at times.  If things do not go right I am often beaten and 
locked away in a small dungeon in the south wing of the castle for days 
at a time." 

"How dreadful," she replied.  "I suppose that you were here when part of
the castle was destroyed by fire." 

"I was indeed Miss Becky," said the maid.  "The Countess blamed me for
the whole affair and even today I carry the scares were I was beaten." 

As Rebecca and the maid continued to talk Samantha slipped quietly out
of the castle and made her way to a small cemetery that lay a short 
distance from the stone structure.  A few broken grave markers littered 
the site and at the far end lay a large mausoleum that had gone to 
ruin.  She quickly made her way to its entrance and pulled open a heavy 
stone door.  Entering she turned on a small flashlight that she had 
brought with her and began to look over the chamber.  Three c    askets 
lay in the damp musty tomb and the largest and most elaborate bore a 
large faded brass plaque with the name "Countess Yorga Transelvania 
1792-1812" inscribed on it. Samantha slowly lifted the lid and peered 
inside.  It was empty, no skull, no bones, nothing to indicate that 
anything had ever been put to rest in its enclosure. 

"So she is a vampire," she thought closing the lid.  "And these must be
the coffins of the two village girls that have gone missing." 

Samantha having found the other two coffins empty she quickly left the
tomb and slipped back into the castle.  As she approached her bedroom 
she heard voices coming from the end of  the long hallway.  Slipping 
into the shadows she moved closer and found the Countess and the maid 
engaged in an angry discussion.  Standing on either side of the 
trembling serving girl  stood two of the missing village girls each 
having a firm grasp on the serving wench's arm. 

"you are becoming quite a disappointment to me Denise," cried the Counte
   ss! "It seems that you can't even carry out the simplest task of 
serving food efficiently.  Perhaps the sting of my lash and a day or 
two in the dungeon will improve your skills.  Take her below and 
prepare her to be severely punished." 

Samantha slipped quickly into her bedroom and closed the door.  she
found Rebecca pale and shaken pacing the floor. 

"Sam, I'm ever glad to see you," she cried rushing to her friend's side.
 "That Countess was just here with two of her ruffians and when she 
found Denise and I having a glass of wine she began to rave and carry 
on like you wouldn't believe.  Her two associates finally grabbed her 
by the scruff of the neck and pushed her out of here. It was horrible." 


"Yes, I overheard part of it in the hallway," she replied. "The Countess
said something about being lashed for incompetence and a dungeon.  I 
did find out that all three are vampires and our hostess may be over a 
hundred years old. 

"We have to help Denise Sam," said Rebecca.  "She has been held captive
in     this castle of horror for almost two years and is being 
constantly beaten by the Countess and her maidens of blood." 

"We will help her Becky," she replied.  "She may be a great help in what
we have to do." 

Rebecca then went over the conversation that she had with the maid and
were she might be held.  Samantha then threw open the shutters of the 
bedroom window and noticed the sky was beginning to brighten in the 
east. 

"Are you sure that this is the way Becky," said Samantha as she followed
her friend down a dark passageway into the very bowels of the castle. 

"I think that we are almost there Sam," she replied coming to a halt. 
"There is  the chamber now." 

They made their way into a large dimly lit room  that displayed all the
implements of torture of the middle ages.  An array of whips, heavy 
leather belts, and iron pinchers lay on a table and beside it hung a 
pair of chains  and shackles were a victim could be held.  Off to the 
right was a series of small cells were the captive coul    d be 
confined.  a key was in the door to one of these cages and Rebecca 
quickly threw it open. 

`	"She is in her Sam," cried Rebecca throwing open the door to one of
the cells.  "And they have worked over pretty good." 

the two women carefully helped the maid out of the small cell and into
the dim light of the torture chamber.  Her back was a mass of fine cuts 
and welts that were made by the lash but looked a lot worse then they 
actually were.  Samantha found a basin of water and a piece of rag and 
began to clean the wounds. 

"Thank you Miss Samantha," said the maid smiling a little.  "If you
hadn't come I would have died in that cell." 

"That is the last beating that you will take," said Rebecca.  "Let's
find that she wolf and put her out of commission." 

"Yes, the sun is quite high now," said Samantha.  "The Countess and her
two maids should be asleep in their coffins.  It will be a perfect time 
to destroy them all." 

Denise got slowly to her feet and looked for something to make a stake
out of.      she smashed a wooden stool and sharpened the ends of its 
four legs with a knife she found on the table.  Selecting a heavy iron 
mallet from the other tools of torture she handed these to Samantha. 

"You will need these Miss Samantha," she said.  "Now remember drive the
wooden stake directly into the heart with one blow." 

The three women slipped quickly out of the castle and into the bright
morning sunshine.  They made their way to the cometary and towards the 
ancient shrine that the Yorga family had erected many years ago.  The 
graveyard did not look as sinister in the morning light and even the 
broken grave markers took on a pleasant appearance. 

"So this is were they go to hide for the day," said Rebecca pulling open
the door of the tomb and glancing inside.  "They have all the comforts 
of home in here." 

"Yes, a vampire must sleep on the soil of her homeland," said the maid. 
"And even the faintest bit of sunshine will destroy them." 

Samantha opened the coffin to one of the missi   Áng village girls and
found her sleeping peacefully.  She drew one of her sharply pointed 
stakes and positioned it between the women's breasts.  Clasping the 
mallet in her other hand she struck the pole driving it  deep into the 
chest cavity.  Suddenly the woman's eyes burst open for a second as if 
she were about to scream and then the body went lifeless. Glancing over 
at Rebecca who had opened the second coffin she passed her a wooden 
stake and mallet. Rebecca dispatched her sleeping vampire with one 
swift blow and then closed the lid to the coffin. 

"So, you have discovered my resting place Miss Jones," came the voice of
the Countess from behind Samantha.  "It will do you no good for I shall 
feast on the blood of all three of you and then enjoy yet another day 
of sleep." 

"I do not think so Countess," cried Denise moving quickly to the large
door of the crypt and throwing it  open bathing the entire room in 
early morning sunlight.  "This is f   þor all the beatings and 
punishment in the dungeon that you have given me.  Die you sadistic 
monster die!" 

The bright sunlight caught the Countess and struck her like a force of
lightning throwing her to her knees.  She tried to struggle back to her 
feet and seek the comfort of darkness but that was impossible.  She had 
begun to suddenly grow old and in a matter of minutes was reduced to a 
few bones and a mass of dust. 

"I think that we have seen  the last of her," said Samantha walking out
of the tomb and into the fresh morning air.  "Her reign of terror is 
over." 

"I cannot persuade you to stay for two more days Miss Jones," said the
tavern owner.  "Myself and the villagers are planning a little 
celebration in your honor." 

"We would like to," she replied.  "But we promised Denise to travel to
Berlin with her and help her settle into a new position. But when that 
is done we will all be back and delighted to spend some time with you." 



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