#more....

The blood of a vampire. Or at least his blood. Agatha’s scientific mind couldn’t help recognizing it as a key to success of the Count’s attempts at creating more like him--though this not something she needed to think on at the moment. His blood was clearly something more than a combination of the lives he took. She had the notion before tonight that it was, but now she knew for certain. His blood had saturated her with something more. She felt empowered.

Agatha noticed everyone’s scent more strongly now and realized this may soon become a problem. Luckily, she was well fed enough for now. She walked the infirmary to check on her Sisters, still needing the confirmation that they were fine, in spite of knowing the convent was safe at the moment.

When she opened the door, it was with such force that she almost took the wood from its hinges. It would no doubt take a while for her to grow accustomed to her newfound strength.

Her Sisters looked at her in horror when they saw the state she was in. Maria, Lily, and Florence noted it looked like the nun had come out of battle.

“Are you alright?!—You’re bruised and bleeding,” said Maria, rushing over to her with a handkerchief. “And have some…red on your chin.”

“Oh, right,” said Agatha, wiping off some of the blood. Truly she must look worse than she felt. “I’m ok. Really.”

“What on Earth happened?”

“Well, Count Dracula showed up, as expected. But he’s gone now. We had an argument, that was all,” she stated simply.

“Oh. Well, I reckon I’ve never had a proper argument before,” said Florence, wide eyed and inspecting the state of her clothes and marks on her chest.

Maria nudged her, before she could continue saying anything else along those lines. Agatha ignored the comment, rubbing her neck. She would heal soon enough.

“Is he really…gone then?” Maria asked.

“From the premises, yes,” she said. “He tried to turn me against you all, the miscreant.”

“And you’ve fed…” said Lily. “From him?”

“Yes. It was necessary at the moment.”

“Well, you’re glowing, Agatha,” said Florence. “In spite of your frenzied state, you must feel well, I imagine. What was it like?”

“Florence, she was literally just in a room with a vampire, you shouldn’t be asking her such things,” stated Lily.

“It’s alright. It was fine,” she said waving a hand in the air. She didn’t exactly want to articulate on the matter, though she could relate to her younger Sister’s curiosity.

“I do feel quite rejuvenated I admit. Now, onto important matters: You’re all safe. Keep every part of the convent surrounded with the pages as we did tonight, for precaution. The convent must remain properly guarded. You know about the rest, correct? There’s garlic, I presume that could help as well. Holy water too, definitely…” she chuckled. Agatha’s thoughts seemed to race quickly through her mind. “…They must invent some sort of revolvers that shoot out water instead of bullets. That would be very helpful…”

“Slow down, Agatha…” said Lily.

“Oh, and the silver. I just found out it works.”

“How do you know?”

“Well, I stabbed him with it,” she said, ignoring her Sisters’ surprised reactions. She needed to deliver as much knowledge as she possibly could.  

“It does not kill but it does create a temporary paralysis. I have some blades in my study, which I will leave you with before I go. Along with anything else that might be helpful. Stakes, of course…”

“You’re leaving?” asked Maria.

“Yes, of course, I must.”

“Why? Agatha, we trust you. We know you won’t hurt us. Even if you did stroll in here with blood on your chin and almost breaking down the doors,” Maria smiled. “We need you here.”

“I did hurt you. Involuntarily as it might have been, I did. I have brought a vampire into the convent, and not one as harmless as myself,” Agatha said. “I can’t continue to risk that. And you don’t need me. All you need are two things—Wits and weapons.”

“Can’t you control it? Stop the dreaming?” asked Lily.

“That is the problem. I can try but I’m not sure how effective that will be. It’s not exactly easy to…remove the Count from one’s mind. And given that I’ve had more of his blood,” she sighed. “I am not going to allow that to occur here any longer.”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. We’ll go with you,” Maria insisted.

“You will stay here. I will not hear anything more of it. Now, the daytime is fine. At night stay in your rooms. Take care of the others. The convent is properly guarded. Oh, and as for Alma and Emily—"

“We will nurse them back to health, I know.”

“I was going to say, stake them,” she said.

“Oh. Right.”

“If they show any further changes or aggressive behavior, of course. They are isolated, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Keep at a safe distance and if it needs to be done, stake them while they sleep in the day. It is for their own sake.”

“Agatha,” said Maria. “Will you be ok?”

“Yes, I will be,” she smiled softly, trying to offer as much comfort as she could. “I’m going to go pack some things and then I’m leaving. I’m going to find Stefan.”

“You’re going to stay with the Detective? Agatha, I don’t think that’s…allowed…”

“Given the situation, I don’t have much of a choice. Besides, I’ve practically been sleeping with the other one, so either way I don’t think I am on good terms with God at the moment…I left you all some things in my study. Enough for you and the rest of the convent. Is everything understood?”

The Sisters nodded, knowing there was nothing they could do to stop their (very stubborn) Sister.

“I’ll write to you.”