The Uncanny Sirens

Chapter 45: The Spawn of Dracula- Part 1

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel Comics.

A graveyard somewhere in Upstate New York-

Penny walked through the abandoned graveyard as if she were in a trance. She had felt a voice in her head summoning her to this place. The poor young woman had no idea how she had gotten to the graveyard, she didn't even remember walking there or anything. Penny spun around as she heard something rustling nearby.

'Come to me…' A voice whispered in the darkness. 'Come to me…'

'Who's there?' Penny asked nervously. 'This had better not be a trick. I'm warning you, whoever you are.' Penny gulped down a nervous breath. Her words were a lot braver than she actually felt.

'Come to me, little one.' This time the voice was clearer, as if the person speaking was right behind Penny. The young woman spun around to see a handsome man with a moustache and cape and piercing red eyes standing behind her. It was Dracula, Lord of the Vampires!

'No…' Penny whispered. 'Leave me alone…'

'You know you cannot resist.' Dracula continued as he worked his magic on the young woman. 'Come to me, little one.'

No matter what the rest of her body told her, Penny couldn't resist but walk into Dracula's embrace.

'Excellent…' Dracula smiled, baring his fangs. 'You are mine for all eternity.' The Lord of Vampires sank his teeth into Penny's neck, feasting on her warm blood.

'Noooo!' Penny sat bolt upright in her bed. She wasn't in an old graveyard, she was in her bedroom back in the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Penny rubbed her eyes and lay back down in her bed. It had been quite some time since her encounter with Dracula, why had she started to dream about him now? (1)

The next morning-

Penny hadn't told anybody about her dream. It was doubtful; that anybody would even believe her. Even those that were present when she slew Dracula. Penny decided to try and forget about her dream and carry on with her normal day. She had classes to get to.

Penny was sitting at her desk in Kitty Pryde's computing class with all the other students when the voice in her head started to speak to her again.

'Come to me…'

Penny rubbed the bridge of her nose with a heavy sigh. The dream was nothing important, it was just a dream after all. Penny closed her eyes tight in an attempt to rid herself of the voice in her head.

'Hey Penny, you okay?' Megan asked her classmate. 'No offence or anything, but you look terrible. Didn't you get any sleep last night?'

'I'm fine…' Penny smiled weakly. 'I'm just a little tired, is all… Ow!'

Penny felt a sharp pain in her neck. The same spot where Dracula had bitten her all those months ago. She put a hand to her neck, and when she pulled away there was blood streaked on her hand.

'Penny, what's the matter?' Megan asked concerned. Penny got up out of her seat and ran out of the classroom.

'I have to go…'

The infirmary, a little later-

Penny was now in the infirmary being checked over by Moira MacTaggart and Cecelia Reyes, part of the Institute's medical staff.

'As near as I can tell, there's nothing wrong with ye, lass.' Moira said as she examined the scar on Penny's neck. 'There's no sign of blood loss.'

'You said that you've had problems sleeping recently.' Cecelia said. 'Are you sure this wasn't just a way of your mind telling you that you need more sleep?'

'But it seemed so real.' Penny told the doctors. 'I'm not going crazy, am I?'

'Having an encounter with a vampire is hard for anybody.' Moira continued. 'God, I cannae believe that I just said that. I never even used to believe in all that sort of thing. I cannae tell ye how shocked I was when I found out vampires and werewolves were real. I always thought they were just stories.'

'Can I go now?' Penny asked. 'I'd really like to get back to my classes.'

'Aye, ye check up fine.' Moira confirmed. 'Get back to yuir classes then, lass.'

Penny hopped up off the bed and headed towards the elevator to take her up to her room. Perhaps some rest would do her good. Unfortunately, Sharon Smith had heard that Penny had run out on one of her classes and wanted to hear all the gossip.

'I'm surprised it took you this long to freak out about all that Dracula stuff.' Sharon told her friend. 'You're not going to sprout fangs and start biting people, are you?'

'It's not funny, Sharon.' Penny glared at her friend. 'I was really scared. I thought it was going crazy.'

Sharon put a comforting arm around her friend's shoulders. 'Honey, what you need is a girl's night out.' The lavender-haired mutant grinned. 'I'm gonna get the girls together and we're gonna make you forget all about this Dracula business.'

Penny hung her shoulders sadly. She really didn't want to have a night out with the girls. All she wanted to do was try to get some sleep.

Salem Centre, later that night-

Penny had allowed herself to be dragged to a club somewhere in Salem Centre. She didn't even remember the name, she was still in a daze from the business earlier with her mysteriously bleeding neck and the dream with Dracula.

'For crying out loud, Penny!' Sharon groaned. 'You're not even trying to enjoy yourself, are you?'

'I didn't want to come here tonight, Sharon.' Penny sighed. 'Why did you make me come here?'

'Cos you need cheering up, sweetie.' Sharon told her friend. 'You've been down ever since you broke up with Nicholas. Life's too short to start worrying about stuff like that. Enjoy yourself!'

'Leave Penny alone, Sharon.' Megan piped up. 'So what if she doesn't want to come out with us. Let her live her own life.'

'Why did we have to come to this club of all places?' Laura chipped in. 'You know I hate loud music like this.'

'Oh, so you're going to start complaining as well.' Sharon groaned. 'I go to all the trouble of organizing a girl's night out and this is how you repay me?'

'Guys, let's not get into an argument over this.' Hisako tried to calm the group. 'Maybe it was a mistake bringing Penny here. If she want's to have an early night, then let her have an early night.'

'Fine.' Sharon groused. 'But you guys owe me one.'

Much to Sharon's reluctance, the girls all headed outside. Penny stopped in her tracks and grabbed her head as if she was in pain.

'Penny, what is it?' Sharon asked in concern for her friend.

'I think we have company.' Laura said as several pale people walked out of the shadows. 'Vampires.'

'How do you know?' Hisako asked. 'Do vampires, like smell different?'

'You never forget the smell of a vampire.' Laura growled as she unsheathed her claws.

SNIKT!

'Hello, girls.' The lead vampire grinned, flashing his fangs. 'Lovely night for a bite, don't you think?'

'Stop messing around and grab what we came for.' The lead vampire's raven-haired companion sneered. 'We don't have time for you to indulge your sense of dramatics.'

'Oh, where's your sense of fun, Lilith darling?' The lead vampire chuckled. 'You know I like to have fun before I eat. How rude of me. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Xarus, by the way. Dracula was our father.'

'You're the guys that were giving Penny those freaky dreams!' Sharon realized. 'Why?'

'We're here for vengeance.' Xarus explained. 'Sure, we hated him, but we kind of take it personally when mutant filth kills our father.'

'Vampires aren't supposed to be mean like this…' Megan whispered. 'They're supposed to be sparkly and sexy…'

'Get with the program, Megan.' Sharon retorted. 'This isn't any of that Twilight crap. These are real vampires!'

'Enough talking!' Lilith hissed angrily. 'Get them already!'

Xarus and Lilith's minions did as commanded and leapt to attack Penny and the girls. The first vampire to attack found his way barred by Laura. The teenaged clone of Wolverine stabbed him in the chest with her claws.

'Ha! It's a pity those claws of yours aren't made of wood.' The vampire laughed in derision. 'You really should to your homework.'

'You really should do less talking.' Laura retorted as she jumped up and sliced off the vampire's head with the claws on her feet.

'Here, kitty-kitty.' Another vampire hissed as it advanced on Sharon.

'God, I hate vampires…' Sharon growled as she changed into her were-panther form and leapt at the vampire. 'Rraaaghh!'

'Aaugh!' The vampire screamed as Sharon tore at him with her claws. 'Get her off! Nobody told me we'd be fighting were-creatures! Aaaaugh!'

Penny's hands elongated into claws as she turned to take care of Xarus.

'You picked the wrong night to mess with us.' Penny said, her words once again sounding more brave than Penny actually felt.

'You don't want to hurt me do you?' Xarus smiled charmingly. 'Come now, Penance. Come in peace, won't you?'

'Yes…' Penny's arms dropped down to her side. She was powerless against the Son of Dracula's hypnotic powers.

'Penny! Get away from her!' Megan yelled as she flew in to defend her friend. Unfortunately, Lilith was ready for her. The Daughter of Dracula swatted the winged mutant away as if she were nothing.

'This has gone on for far too long.' Lilith told her underlings. 'Grab everybody and leave!'

The vampires did as they were told and grabbed everybody apart from Hisako and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving her sprawled on the ground.

Hisako picked herself up from the ground and dusted herself off. The sound of sirens could be heard approaching from the distance.

'I have to go tell the other X-Men.' Hisako muttered to herself as she ran off in the direction of the Xavier Institute. 'I knew it was a bad idea coming out tonight.'

TBC…

Next: The Spawn of Dracula- Part 2

Hisako seeks the help of her fellow X-Men to rescue her kidnapped friends. Will the combined powers of Armor, Rockslide, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Wolfsbane, and Iceman be enough to save Penny and the others from the clutches of the spawn of Dracula? Tune in next time to find out!

Author's Notes-

(1)- Penny and the rest of the Sirens encountered Dracula back in Chapters 31 and 32.