Rage Of Dracula

By Jacqueline Steel

Faced with the annihilation of his village, Vlad gathers his army to stop the Ottoman army on a battlefield of his choosing. Never suspecting he was leaving the very village he was protecting defenseless to the blood crazed horde.

Finding his wife and child dead on his return, his rage brings about a merging with a demon of old. Changing him into a supernatural being whose only focus is revenge on those who murdered the defenseless women and children of his village. As the centuries roll by, he learns all to well the heartache of losing everyone you love. A never ending cycle of loss.

Leaving a long trail of dead over the centuries, he never imagined he would cross a man who would make it his mission to destroy him. A man with a need for revenge that rivals Dracula’s own. A man whose rage is so great, he would see all of England fall to the zombie virus if it gives him the opportunity to destroy the monster who killed his wife.

Dracula’s only chance is to ally himself with an unlikely ally. Mr. Darcy, who leads one of the few pockets of survivors. But can he ignore his thirst, his need to feed on the small pocket of survivors long enough to help them administer the cure they discovered. Can he save them from the madman who holds them hostage to destroy him?

Pick up your copy of Rage of Dracula today.

Storyline intersects with the novel Death Comes To Netherfield.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacqueline Steel
• Release date: Jul 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386607472

Book preview

Chapter 1

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It is done, my Lord.

Slowly, Dracula nodded, his reaction belying his true emotions. Thank you, Commander. He slowly looked around the room, where his men were gathered. I thank you all for what you have done. We will make that monster pay for what it has done to us. This is our home, and we will not let him take anything more from us.

Cheers filled the room. It lifted Dracula’s heart, because he knew that his people were behind him. After everything the Sultan had done, revenge was the only thing he truly wanted. Go to your families. Kiss your wives. Tell your children you love them. I know some of our brothers and fathers lost their lives to do this, and we will look after those who have lost anyone. That is my promise to you. No one will be left to deal with their losses alone.

With that his men left, Dracula with his commander. It was a hard fight, Vlad, as we expected. Had we not planned as we had, it would have been very different. I would have lost more men than I did, and I lost too many as it was.

You did your best, John. I could never have asked for anything more. Dracula stepped over to prepare them both a drink. Do you think this will be enough to get the Sultan to leave us be, or will he declare war upon us?

Unfortunately, with the Sultan, there is no way of knowing what he might do next. He may declare war, or he may send more envoys. John sighed. I must be honest with you. After all that we’ve been through I’m beginning to wish he would just declare war. Then we will know what’s going to happen next.

Like always, you are right. Dracula stepped over to John, holding a glass of wine. There is no way of knowing what the Sultan may do. It has always been a problem. The only thing I am certain of is that he wants Wallachia to be his, and that will not happen. I swear on the lives of my father and brothers that Wallachia will stay in the Dracula family.

John smiled, sipping from his glass. I know you will do anything you have to, Vlad. You’re just like your father. Their eyes met. I wouldn’t have done what I did if you weren’t, but I always knew you were the man who had to be on the throne after him.

Mircea may well have been a better leader than I. Dracula raked a hand through his hair, thinking of his older brother. The two of us never got on well before, but I do wish I knew what was to come. If I did then I would have done things differently.

None of us can ever know what is to come. If we did I would have been able to save your father’s life, and maybe even your brother’s. John shook his head. I wanted to do more, but I had limited options, and your father, the way he always did, made his own choices.

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Vlad held his wooden sword, fighting his invisible foes, as Dracula watched with a smile on his face. Your son takes after you, my love. Jusztina took Dracula’s hand in hers. I just hope he lives long enough to fulfill his potential.

John returned with good news. The Sultan’s envoy is no longer a problem for us.

She breathed a sigh of relief, gently pulling Dracula around to look at her. I am pleased to hear that. Her lips pressed hard against his. You are truly a man to be reckoned with.

There were so many thoughts going through his mind then, and he glanced at his son, thinking of his own father. Back when he was a young boy he’d believed it was impossible for his father to die, only for it to happen at the hands of the Sultan. He turned back to his wife, their eyes meeting. After everything that’s happened I worry that I won’t be enough. I want to be. I want to make the Sultan pay in a way my father couldn’t, but he died, and I... He shook his head. I know I need to believe in myself, but that is difficult, sometimes.

As she nodded, seeming to understand, Dracula wrapped an arm around her. Had I been through half of the things you have I would feel the same way you do. She put her hand over his. I know the Sultan is your greatest foe. You will win this war, my love. I truly believe that.

Hearing you say that is just what I need, Jusztina. Vlad was still fighting his invisible foes, without anything to fear, and that was how Dracula wanted to keep things. He was never going to let Vlad go through the things he went through when he was younger. You are my greatest supporter, and I can’t imagine doing this without you. He smiled when she rested her hand on his shoulder. Thank you for being there for me, even when things are bad.

I married you, because I love you, and loving you means being there for you when things are bad. We are together in this, no matter how bad things get. The two of us are going to do what needs to be done to bring an end to the life of the Sultan. It may take longer than either of us could ever have wanted, it may mean sacrificing things we don’t want to sacrifice, but, to finish this, we need to be strong. You are strong, Vlad, and you always have been. A strong man is a man who is able to cope with the horrible things you have been through without letting them get the better of him.

Some days it is harder than others.

Of course it is. I know you fight so hard to keep going, and that is why I am so proud of you. I will never stop being proud of you. You are my King, my husband, and my best friend. I could never have asked for anything more when I married you. These men trust and follow you because no man has your strength, my love. Your will to stand the hottest fire, these men will follow you to hell if they must.

I fear that is where I shall have to lead them before this is over. The Sultan seems to accept no less than ruling the world in the name of his religion. I pray I have the strength to see my people through what is coming. He sighed as his mind was already on what was probably coming. No longer aware of his wife’s hand as she rubbed his back.

Your Majesty, I apologize for the news I have to share with you. The man was bowing deeply, showing his respect, but then that could be out of fear. The envoy you sent to Wallachia... well, I am afraid to say we have found the bodies. The heads were put on spikes, but they are now on their way back, so they can be buried in a manner befitting those who were willing to fight for Allah. For the Caliphate.

Mehmed stared at the wall opposite him. Letting his emotions out on the messenger, as satisfying as it might be, was not something he wanted to do. Instead he breathed in deeply, before nodding. Thank you for informing me of the situation. You may leave us now.

Still bowing, the messenger backed out of the room. Seeming afraid that something might happen to him. Being the bearer of bad news was terrifying, and Mehmed understood that, but there was nothing he could do to make them any less afraid. He was their Sultan. He could do anything he wanted to, and they knew it. Yet he had always done his best not to blame those who were blameless for things, especially messengers, in the hope it would, eventually, help them. He turned to look at his warlord. Their eyes met for a moment.

Dealing with the Dracula clan has never been easy, Majesty.

No, it hasn’t. Mehmed let his anger out then, knowing his warlord would be able to deal with it, and threw something against the wall. It shattered, but he didn’t care at all about it. Suggestions.

Kill him.

That would be the simplest way of dealing with the problem, but I doubt his men were kind to those who were killed. I want them to pay for what they did. I want them to understand what they have done to me, and to hurt for those families who have lost fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles.

Nodding, the warlord smiled. There are things we can do, to make him pay, and it pleases me to help you with that. My brother was one of those who was with the envoy, and I want them to pay for what they did as much as you do. To give them the infidels death they deserve for their crimes against Allah and his devoted followers.

What do you believe is our best choice?

Send another envoy, only this time it will be so much more than it was before.

One of the reasons Mehmed had chosen his warlord was due to his thoughtful way of dealing with their enemies. Smiling, he nodded. I’m beginning to see what you might be thinking of, my friend. They had worked together for a long time, and in that time, they had become friends. I want to hit Dracula’s home village at the same time. I want him to hurt.

Not a problem, Majesty. His warlord stood. I will talk to my men, and get everything prepared. It will take a little time, but a little time will mean they’ll begin to think they’re safe from us, at least for the time being.

Chapter 2

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We have a problem, my Lord.

Tell me what it is, John.

After the trouble we had before, the men are less willing to leave their families behind in order to deal with the Sultan’s men.

Sighing, Dracula nodded. I’m not going to say I’m surprised. What do you suggest?

You should lead them, Vlad. John stepped forward, their eyes meeting, and it was easy to see how uncomfortable he was with the very idea. The last time he’d gone into battle with a Dracula that man had died. They need their King to take them into this, because you have as much to lose as they do, and that will give them the courage they need. The courage to do what needs to be done.

I will do this, if you truly believe it’s the best thing I can do. He nodded, seeing the logic behind it as his trusted friend and defender went on.

Going out with you is the thing I want to do least. Losing you will make the Sultan’s job a hundred times easier than it needs to be. I don’t want that, but they need your courage to give them a reason to keep fighting.

Then I will go. Explaining this to Jusztina isn’t going to be easy.

Jusztina will understand. She’s your wife for a reason.

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How can you have made that decision without me, Vlad? Jusztina paced from one side of the room to the other, her annoyance easy to see as it filled the room with tension. This... She raked a hand through his hair. What happens if you die? Your son will have to be the one to take on this war, and he’s far too young for that.

I know, love, and I will come back to you. Our son will not be the one who must lead the war. That’s my job, not his.

The Sultan will want you dead for what you did.

For now, it’s just another envoy. Obviously, he wants to give us another chance to convert, even though I’m certain he knows that will never happen. Not after what he did.

Then why is he doing it?

Honestly, love, I don’t know why he’s doing it, and I made the decision a long time ago that it was far too complicated to try to work out the reasons the Sultan was doing anything. I can only think he feels some sort of connection to me. He did spend a lot of time trying to convert me when they took me. I believe he’s doing the same thing now, because he doesn’t want to have to kill me. Dracula shrugged. I, on the other hand, only want him to be dead, because of what he did to my father and my brother. That choice was always going to influence how I was going to deal with things.

Jusztina nodded. It could be a trap. Maybe what he wants is for you to go, so he can kill you. With you gone...

We have thought of that. John and I have thought of all the possibilities, and I am ready if it is a trap. Dracula was as ready as anyone could possibly be. Traps like the one the Sultan might choose to spring wouldn’t be easy to deal with, but he didn’t believe it was a trap. John wants me to go as little as you do, love, and he wanted me to be certain I was making an informed decision. He reached out to take her arm as she paced by him. I will do everything I can to make sure I survive what is going to happen. It may not be easy, but I wouldn’t be going if I didn’t think I would be able to survive whatever the Sultan might throw at me.

For a moment, she refused to look at him, but then she did. Her fear filled her eyes. I don’t want you to go.

I have to. The men need me to go. They need my courage to keep them going, and I’m not going to walk away from that. I am their leader. I’m the one asking them to go out there to kill or be killed. Staying home isn’t fair on them, especially when there is a chance it is a trap. Leaving you is the last thing I want to do, but I don’t have a choice if I’m going to be the leader I want to be, and we both know that’s what they need.

Silence followed his words. I know you’re right, Vlad, and that’s what I hate so much about this. She shook her head. I hate the thought of being one of those women, waiting for the man I love to come home to me. A tear trickled down her cheek. I don’t want to lose you.

You won’t. Dracula wiped the tear off her cheek. I am going to come home to you. Nothing will take me from you, Jusztina.

Promise.

I promise. He pulled her closer to him, and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth. You are my reason to fight for my life. Nothing will stop me from coming home to you, the love of my life.

Smiling through the fear in her eyes, she nodded. I believe you will do everything you can to come home to me. It’s not fair of me to stop you from going with the men who are risking their lives for you.

"Your fear is understandable, and I am sorry I have to leave you, but it is