Silently, the count walked down the stairs holding a single candle. Behind him were two of his students - the ones that had gotten in trouble earlier - and for an excruciatingly long time the only sound they heard was of their own footsteps against the cold stone. The lower they got, the more the sound echoed and it felt like they were getting closer to the center of the earth than the ground floor of the castle when they finally reached a rusted wooden gate, with a golden handle shaped like a human skull. Dracula opened it.
Candles lit up instantly and the vampire rushed excitedly towards a giant closet that went all the way up the ceiling, opening it up with a big, dramatic gesture. Inside, there were all kinds of weapons - from swords, to pistols, spears - you name it.
“Each of you, pick one.” He said, without even trying to hide his sadistic smile. “You shall resolve your issues now, once and for all.”
"Tragic," Ainsley said as they entered the chamber, acting unimpressed by the display of macabre gothic furnishings. Instead, she crossed her arms, turning to glower at the Dullahan.
"Ye still up for this? Ain't too late to get cold feet, fair fight and all. Was holding back earlier, y'know."
She moved over to the weapons. Swords, maces, whips, and staves. Wrapping her hands around the handle of a particularly brutal-looking club, she tried to lift it and stumbled forward. Heavier than it looked, that. Feeling a little uneasy, she grabbed a shortsword instead, drawing it from its rack with a metal shink.
Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there! He wasn't there again today, Oh how I wish he'd go away!
The count certainly had a flair for the dramatic, leading them in silence into the depths of the school, their footsteps echoing louder and louder. The skull handle was a bit much, but the dark and gloomy decorations certainly made Sullyvahn feel quite at home. The presence of the cabinet and the Count’s sadistic expression made the question of using his own spinal weaponry die in Sullyvahn’s throat.
“I could say the same thing, fish.” Sullyvahn chuckled as Ainsley stumbled slightly with her first weapon choice. “Wouldn’t blame you for tapping out, certainly doesn’t seem like you’ve got the bollocks.”
Sullyvahn reached into the cabinet and pulled out a whip of well-worn leather. It didn’t quite have the heft of his, but it was a bit heavier than a regular one. He let the weapon uncoil, the excess pooling on the cold stone floor.
“So, whaddya say? Gonna have a go or are you scared, pup?”
To slip between shadows was an easy feat, for someone like her- and, oh, what choice she had. The room was as cavernous as it was convenient, with plenty of little resting spots hidden out of sight from the main atrium. It didn't matter which corner she settled in. It's not like any of them would see.
Perhaps, if she were wiser, she wouldn't have made the offer to throw the duel. It really was a stupid thing to do- especially in front of a teacher- especially when that teacher was Count fucking Dracula. But, an offer was an offer, and if there was one thing Aisling could never do, it was go back on her word. So, here she was, lurking in the darkness, waiting for the duel to begin.
