Water rushed over the man's head, plunging him downwards. The S.S Hortensia's lights shone dimly, a small beacon of hope as the drowning man desperately paddled water to reach it. Another forceful ocean wave submerged his head and he sputtered to breathe. The salt water burning his nostrils.

"Help!" he cried. In this furious storm no one would hear him. Even they had hearing as keen as a bat's. The ebony sky acted as a black hole, doubled with the navy blue ocean. Suddenly, something wrapped around the man's ankle, and he was pulled down at an incredible speed. Wildly kicking to free himself, his foot made contact with the foreign object and it immediately let go. Clambering through the water to reach the surface, the man broke through and inhaled a massive gulp. What had just attacked him? The man decided not to waste time thinking about it as he slapped water trying to reach the ship. Then, as if back for revenge, the thing attacked him again, this time pulling him down and refusing to let go. The man could not do a thing as the cold water began to freeze his limbs. Like a trapped wild cat, he thrashed around in the water. A strange feeling came over him as the water turned dry, and was replaced with air…

"Daniel…" a voice called from the void.

Daniel gasped and opened his eyes to see a faint glowing candle. Behind it was The Baron of Brennenburg, Alexander. He was dressed in elegant night robes.

"Still having nightmares I see." he said nonchalantly, straightening up.

"Yes," Daniel panted, "they come every night."

"I know. Your feral shrieking and screaming can be heard on the next floor where I study. You are disturbing my servants." he scolded, his eyes were dark where the candlelight did not shine. It was an eerie thing look upon.

"I'm sorry. I've tried everything Dr. Tate suggested."

"Perhaps. Why don't you spend the night with me. If you begin to have nightmares I shall wake you before they go too far." he offered, moving toward the door.

"All right." Daniel agreed, slipping out of bed. He then realized his night clothes were soaked in sweat.

"Perhaps you should change, I do not fancy a moist bed." Alexander sneered, the candlelight grew dim as he moved down the corridor. Daniel wrenched the shirt from his body and quickly pulled on fresh clothes before the light faded completely.

Brennenburg was surprisingly busy the more Alexander and Daniel moved away from this chambers. The servants were busy in the dark, and Daniel tried to keep his head by not looking. Their faces were quite gruesome to look upon. Many of them went quiet as they passed, and a few uttered disturbing growls. Daniel sought to Alexander's side for comfort.

Alexander's room was grand and elegant as much as he was himself. Daniel looked up in awe at the cathedral ceilings and towering bookshelves. The bed was massive, and coated in luxurious blankets and furs.

"Try not to be nuisance then, I do have a lot to accomplish." Alexander warned, moving back to the small workplace he had set up on the bed. A few layers of parchment were spread across the wrinkled surface. Daniel crawled beneath the many sheets of blankets and nestled in. The Baron paid him little attention as he began to work.

After a few minutes of laying with his eyes closed, Daniel realized he could not get to sleep. Sitting up and leaning back against the headboard, he eyed Alexander's work. Much of the text was in German, he had no knowledge of the language. Rubbing his eyes he gave a frustrated sigh.

"Having trouble getting to sleep now, Daniel?" Alexander gazed at him. His eyes looked oddly…hungry from over the rim of his reading glasses.

"Uh, yes. I am."

"Well then," the baron left the bed, "I can make a cup of herbal tea if that helps." he offered.

"Oh, yes please." Daniel flushed, feeling odd from being waited on by this older man. Alexander mixed the tea in plain view, then he turned to block Daniel's view from the cup. Turning around after adding something, he brought over two cups. He held out a plate. Daniel cautiously took one, murmuring a thank you. For a while, the young Englishman stared into the cup. I wonder…He thought. He snuck a look at the baron, who was sipping from his cup without worry.

"Drink it Daniel, before it gets cold or you will have wasted it." he snapped without looking. Daniel flinched slightly, before taking a hesitant sip. In thirty seconds, he had downed the tea.

"There, what did you think? It was poisoned?" Alexander chuckled. Daniel froze. Why would he say that after I had drunken it?

"No, of course not." he lied. Scooting away from the baron, he placed the empty cup on the nightstand. In about a few minutes, Daniel's vision grew blurry, and his body numb. Soon after that, his body fell limp against the mattress. Alexander's eyes slowly roved over to the young man. Setting down his tea and moving the parchments aside, he grabbed Daniel's body and pulled him closer.

"Now, let's see what you have under these clothes shall we?" he purred sinisterly.

….

Daniel lurched awake, and was instantly blinded by sunlight. Oh gosh, I must've overslept.

"Come on, Daniel!" an impatient voice from the door snapped. It was Alexander, standing fully clothed in his robes and glaring.

"Sorry, that tea must've been too strong for me." The baron chuckled lowly.

"Oh, no, it was to perfection." he mumbled.

"What did you say?" Daniel asked.

"I said move along or I shall leave without you. We're burning daylight." Alexander began to leave the room. Just before he left, he poked half his head from behind the door.

"And Daniel…" he said oddly, "I believe you should have that cut on your hip tended to."

…..