Team Possible and Count Alucard

Chapter Three

Kim shook her head. Her voice trembled.

"No…no, that can't be right. He is out there. He always had been. HE IS OUT THERE!"

The Count shook his head as he turned to face her. But he stopped when a voice came from the darkness of the room. Kim's heart soared when she recognized the voice.

"OUT THERE, IN HERE"

Hours before

Ron stared at the castle rising against the darkened sky. Lighting flashes gave him brief, more detailed glances of the place where he knew Kim was being held by something from the most horrific nightmares. A stop at his old school in Japan had yielded him some suggestions from Sensei, the Lotus Blade and some other items Sensei thought would be of assistance. He was garbed in the uniform of his school. A complete black ninja outfit covered him head to toe. This was not just any ninja outfit, but was made of a special fabric that warmed him or cooled him as needed. The cloth also had the strength of chain mail. It could not protect him completely but considering what he was facing he needed all the help he could get.

Closing his eyes, he turned his thoughts inward back to the two weeks he had spent at Yamagouchi the summer before. Kim had been at a cheer camp as an instructor while he was there. He was given an advanced course in ninjitsu and was as Sensei told him later, one of the greatest students ever to attend the school. Never had any student not only mastered all of the skills needed but went beyond what was ever considered possible.

The chattering of Rufus brought him back to the present time. Rufus pointed to his wrist like he was pointing at a watch. Ron nodded as he got the message. It was time to move. He picked Rufus off his shoulder and placed him on the ground.

"Okay little buddy. Do your thing. Find KP for me and if you can get her free. I'll be right behind you."

Rufus saluted and scrambled up the rock face. Ron adjusted the devices attached to his hands and feet. They were part of a ninja kit and were called dragon claws. They were special metal claws that would allow him to climb all but the smoothest rock face.

"I'm coming KP."

Reaching out to the rock face he began to climb. A light rain made the rocks slick but the claws gave him all the purchase that he needed to climb. After some time he made it to the lowest window of the castle from the outside. Rufus was waiting for him at the open window having already scouted the room and the area. He reached the window ledge and pulled himself up and into the room. He silently slipped across the room and to the door. Rufus ran up to his shaking his head and pointing across the room.

"UH uh, door! Kim, Kim"

Looking in the direction Rufus was pointing he saw a narrow door set in a stone alcove. The door was slightly open. Ron knelt down and patted Rufus on the head.

"Okay little buddy. Now what is the story?"

Ron watched and listened for a few moments as Rufus chattered and pantomimed. He had talked to some of the rats that lived in the castle. Rat talk was rat talk if you could get around the accents. Apparently Kim was being held in dungeon in the lower areas of the castle. Whatever the Count was planning was going to happen real soon. The door Ron was looking at led to a tunnel that went to the lower areas of the castle. A rat friend Rufus had made would lead them to the dungeon.

Nodding when Rufus finished, Ron looked around once more and headed for the hidden door. Rufus ran ahead and met their guide. Soon they were moving swiftly through the tunnels until the rat stopped and pointed to a trapdoor in the floor. Ron slowly opened the door and realized that he was above the dungeon. There were a number of men moving around in the room apparently setting up the room for whatever was going to happen. Then he saw her. It was Kim. She was hanging by her wrists just to the side of the room. For the moment, she was unconscious. She was also wearing something quite distracting.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Picking up Rufus he placed him at the opening.

"Okay, you know what to do. If you can get KP free do so. Otherwise stay clear. The Count dude is mine. If you can stop any of the other dudes, they are yours."

Rufus saluted and disappeared into the room. Ron looked around again and noticed a dark recess among the ceiling stones near a column where he could hide. Stealthily he moved across the ceiling and snuggled up into the recess. About that time Kim regain consciousness.

The Count and some of his men were moving about the dungeon placing torches to light the room and drawing strange figures on the floor and wall. He saw a large table had been placed in the room and covered in a blood red satin sheet. Then candles were affixed to the perimeter. The four shackles were place from each corner. His blood boiled at what the Count was apparently planning to do.

When the men were finished the Count clapped his hands and all the men gathered in a line facing the Count. He came to attention and bowed to his men. All the men returned the bow as the Count spoke.

"I thank you my subjects. Now if you will move my bride to her place we shall proceed."

The men bowed again, then approached Kim and grabbed her arms and legs and removed the manacles. He watched as Kim struggled hard against them. They carried her over to the large table where they placed her down and attached a manacle to each of her arms and legs. She lay spread-eagled on the table. She raised her head and screamed at the Count. His heart leaped to hear her voice.

"You can't do this. Ron will be here and you will really be sorry."

He listened as the Count chuckled as he continued to work.

"I think not. You see I visited your Ronnie before I came to visit you. I made one of his nurses inject a drug overdose into his IV. The last I heard your Ronnie was in a secure ICU in a deep coma. He will never recover and he will never come here to save you."

Ron ground his teeth at what the Count had said. Now he knew the real reason there had been a problem that night. He owed the Count on that one. He watched as Kim shook her head, her voice trembling.

"No…no, that can't be right. He is out there. He always had been. HE IS OUT THERE!"

He watched as the Count shook his head as he turned to face her. Then he spoke for the first time loud and clear."

"OUT THERE, IN HERE"

Kim scanned the darkness for Ron but could not find him. Then she realized what was happening. Ron had gone back to that school in Japan for a couple of weeks over the summer during the same time she went to a cheerleader seminar camp. He never told her what he had learned other than that Sensei had taught him several things that would help on missions. He had learned well at the school for ninjas. He was invisible in the darkness. A small smile crossed her face. Ron had told her that special night that it was time for payback. Now it was that time again but he was the one doing the payback this time.

Count Gregory hissed as he looked around. A few thoughts raced through his mind. How did the boy survive and get here? Where was he? He heard the boy's voice clearly but he was nowhere to be seen. He turned around looking into every dark space he could see into. He also listened. His ultra-sharp hearing and senses could only find the girl but not the boy. Where was he?

Ron watched the Count from his perch in the shadow of one of the columns holding up the ceiling of the dungeon. He waited watching the Count waiting for him to make a move. He was using all the tricks Sensei had taught him and carried a few surprises for the Count. The Count started for Kim reaching out with his hand. Ron reached into his belt packet and pulled something special out. It was a pure silver shuriken. Wade's research and the Sensei's knowledge let him know that while the silver miniblade would not kill the vampire, it would hurt him pretty badly where a normal blade would not. He hurled the shuriken and hit the vampire in the outstretched hand.

Moving quickly Gregory took a step toward the girl. He would take her while the boy watched then he would rip the boy apart. He reached out only to hear a whirring noise then his hand writhed in agony when something hit it. Looking down he saw a silver throwing star sticking out of his hand. The pain of the wound radiated up his arm. Screaming he whirled around.

"Show yourself you little cretin!"

Another whirring sound and another star imbedded itself in his shoulder. He screamed in pain as he reached up with this good hand and pulled the object out of the shoulder. Turning in circles he hissed violently.

"Show yourself coward!"

The voice came from the darkness to his right and then from his left. It was almost like the voice was coming from all directions at once.

"Not yet. No I will not reveal myself yet as it is time to play a little game. You loved playing the game don't you Count Gregory. You love toying with your victims. Remember Louisa Van Blufeld's fiancé? It is said you toyed with him for hours dangling his beloved before him before you drained her of her life. Then when he was utterly defenseless you killed him. Remember any others?"

Another shuriken came from behind and hit him square in the back. He screamed and tried to reach back to pull the blade from his back. One of his men ducked behind one of the columns only to collapse with a thud, a black dart jutting from his throat. He screamed at his men.

"Find him, Kill HIM!"

Before they could move more than a few feet there was a barrage of darts and they all lay silent on the floor of the dungeon. Gregory stood stupefied for a moment then began to feel an emotion he had never really experienced. FEAR.

Even knowing about Ron's MMP she could not believe what she was seeing and hearing. Ron's voice seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Then the small blades came from out of the darkness to hit the Count. She didn't believe anything could hurt a vampire except maybe a stake or fire. Whatever Ron was hitting the Count with really hurt him. Then before all the men helping the Count could move they were lying on the floor motionless. It was then she felt something under her left shoulder. She about screamed when a familiar squeak came from under her. It was Rufus. She was never so glad to feel and hear her little friend. Rufus picked the locks on all of the manacles and released her. She remained still waiting for a chance to move. Then something fell from the darkness next to her right hand. Glancing over she noted a silver dagger seemed to have fallen from heaven. She smiled as she knew the angel had delivered it to her was still watching over her.

Gregory moved next to one of the pillars in the room. He glanced around the room trying to find his assailant. It had been a hundred years or more since he had actually been injured even slightly. Now his body was racked with pain from his hand, back and shoulder. All of his men were down and the boy was still in the room somewhere. If he could only get to the girl and take her hostage then maybe he could force the boy to surrender. Then he would relish in killing him slowly. But first he had to get to the girl and that was the problem.

He took a glance to his right and then his left getting ready to make his move. When he looked back to his right it was as if the shape had appeared out of the darkness. It was clothed totally in black and moved with no noise. Screaming he snatched the knife he kept under his vest and hurled it at the figure. Fear rose in his throat when the figure snatched the knife out of the air before it even reached the target. The knife flew back at him and he was barely able to avoid it as it ricocheted of the stone pillar behind him. He jumped to the side and looked back where he had seen the figure. It was gone. Another hiss and pain in his right leg signaled the arrival of another one of those damnable silver stars. He staggered to the side the looked over to where the girl lay. He was amazed to see that the table was empty and the girl was gone.

The same voice came out of the darkness.

"Looking for someone?"

He spun to his left only to receive a punch to his jaw that was twice as strong as the kick the girl had given him. It snapped his head to the right and caused him to slump against the column for a second. He spun back raking his claws where the figure had been. His blow only hit air. The figure was gone.

"Having fun yet? I am."

This time the voice was behind him and he was kicked in his backside. The blow sent him face first to the floor. He rolled over on his backside and skittered back on his hands and feet. The figure had disappeared again. Getting to his feet he was surprised to see the girl across the room. Then someone tapped on his shoulder. He spun to see the figure right in front of him. The one thing he didn't recognize about the figure was the glowing blue eyes. With a scream he attacked the figure. The two traded blows, at least he threw blows but they were deflected and the figure's blow rattled his head and ribs. With a last scream he was able to cease both of the figures hands with his. He tried to bite the figure but was not able to get close to him. Then he tried to use his mind to force the figure to give up. It was like trying to get through a brick wall. A small thought came to his mind. The girl, she was standing over by the wall of weapons. His thoughts went over to her.

Kim watched as Ron literally toyed with the vampire. She hoped that he would not be too overconfident. Then the two of the started to grapple hand to hand. She watched fearfully as they struggled across the room. Then she felt something take over her mind. As hard as she tried she could not break away. The thing in her mind made her walk over to a wall of weapons and take down a crossbow. She placed the head of the crossbow and the floor put her foot in the stirrup at the head of the crossbow and pulled the cable back till it clicked. Then she was forced to place a wooden crossbow bolt with an iron tip in the slot and made to aim at the back of the black figure she knew was Ron. Her mind was screaming as her hand pulled the trigger.

Ron held the Count at bay with his hands. He had been playing with him at first but now the fight was in earnest. It took all of his strength to keep the vampire at bay. They struggled across the floor each trying to get an advantage over the other. Then he noticed that the Count seemed to be concentrating on something else. Then a slight smile crossed the Count's face. Then he remembered Kim was behind him and she would not be able to resist the mind of the Count. His MMP screamed danger. He used all his remaining strength to spin the Count around to change places with him.

The Count was surprised to find himself standing in the place of the figure just as the girl fired. He felt a dull thud in the center of his chest and all strength left his body. He stared down to see the crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest. Sliding to his knees he tried to reach up and pull the bolt out but he had little strength. The hiss of a sword leaving its scabbard came to his ears. He looked up dumbfound to see the figure in front of him holding a shining silver katana. The figure reached up and pulled the black hood free. Blond hair and brown eyes appeared before. He looked into the face of the boy. The hands raised the sword and the blade hissed through the air and blackness claimed him.

Kim watched in horror as the bolt sped toward Ron's back, then in a move so fast her eyes barely caught it the Count was standing in the same place Ron had been standing a split second before. The bolt struck the Count in the center of his back and the hold on her mind was broken. The Count fell to his knees in front of Ron. Ron stepped back and drew the Lotus Blade from a scabbard across his back. Before she could even say a word the sword hissed through the air.

Ron watched as the bolt flew across the room and hit the Count in the back. The iron barb came out of his chest. He released the Count's hands and stepped back. It was not exactly the way he had planned to drive a wooden stake through the Count's heart but this would do. Pulling his hood from his head he made sure the Count knew who had defeated him. Reaching behind him he pulled the Lotus Blade free. The metal turned to silver at that moment knowing that this metal was most lethal to vampires. He hesitated for a moment before he struck. One of the other ways to kill a vampire was to remove the head. The silver Lotus Blade accomplished the job with one simple blow.

He stepped back as the head rolled one way and the body slumped to the other. Releasing a breath he put the Lotus Blade back in the scabbard across his back. Looking up his eyes caught Kim's as she stood across the room. Stepping around the body of the vampire he took a couple of steps toward her. She broke into a run and within a second was within his arms her lips capturing his.

Kim watched as the body of the vampire fell one way and the head rolled the other. Ron released a breath and put away the sword. Looking up he looked her in the eyes and stepped around the vampire's body on his way to her. Breaking into a run she dove into his arms. She captured his lips with hers and tried her best to suck the air from his lungs. His arm wrapped around her. She was in heaven as she wrapped herself in his embrace. Pulling away from the kiss she buried her face against his neck and chest and held on to him with all her might. He held her for a few moments before speaking.

"Uh KP. The hug is wonderful but air is becoming a problem."

She giggled as she pulled back from him. He looked down and blushing a deep red while he reached up and covered his eyes with one hand.

"KP having you up against me is really badical, but do you think we might be able to find you something a little less revealing to wear?'

Kim looked down and matched the blush he was showing. The peignoir had become untied in her rush to him and she had given him quite a look she had not intended to give him. She pulled the gown closed and looked around for something else to wear. Ron walked over to one of the unconscious men and pulled his jacket off of him. Putting it over her shoulders they walked from the room. Rufus appeared from the darkness and hopped onto Ron's shoulder. The three made their way out of the dungeon and up the steps.

Kim nestled herself against Ron as the Sloth soared into the sky. Behind them in the courtyard of the castle a bonfire burned. The body and the head of the vampire were at the center of the flames. The ashes would be gathered later by GJ agents and sealed in a silver tube. The tube would then be sealed in the secure safe in GJ Headquarters. Ron put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Hey KP when we get back maybe we can do some Trick or Treating. I still have the costume."

Kim looked up at him.

"No I think we might have something else interesting to do. I still have the gown and I plan for that to be my costume."

Ron nervously looked down into Kim's eyes. Her smile made him start to breathe heavy.

"Booooyah" he whispered.

I hope that you enjoyed my little story. I did a little research on vampires for my character. He was able to be out in the sunlight without any damage as some vampires can do this. He had extreme strength and the ability to control minds of others especially females. There were several ways to kill a vampire. Of course the stake through the heart is one way and cutting off the head is another. I just used both here. Also while silver is not lethal to a vampire is does prevent whatever wound caused by silver to heal, so silver weapons would cause a lot of damage to a vampire.

I am sure Ron will enjoy the Trick or Treating the Kim had in mind. That is if he does not spontaneously combust from the look she might give him. That and the "costume" she is planning to wear will melt him on the spot. Lucky guy.

Thanks for reading the story and reviewing.

This is the Captain signing off.

Roger and out

Right hand salute.