Renfield Tomar's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Renfield now knew the true lock. To free himself, he had to reach Dracula's thirst. But he could not simply act. As cupbearer, he stood beside his master every hour. He poured the blood. He tasted it first. Eyes watched him always. One wrong move and the Mother would end him. Tonight he carried the goblet to the great hall. Dracula sat on his throne, cape pooled at his feet, the gold dragon shining on his chest. The Mother stood near, her red veil flowing out the doors. Renfield's plan was small. He would slip a fasting root into the blood, a witch's herb meant to dull hunger. If it dulled the thirst, even a little, he had proof his path was real. His hand shook as he poured. The dried root was tucked in his sleeve. He had to drop it while tasting, unseen. He raised the goblet to his own lips first, as the rite required. His fingers moved. The root slid toward the rim. "Stop." The Mother's voice cut the air. Renfield froze. She crossed to him, veil hissing over stone. She took his wrist and turned it. The root fell into her palm. "Fasting root," she said. She did not raise her voice. "In the king's cup." Dracula rose. "Explain this." Renfield's throat closed. He looked at the Mother. She held his life in her hand. One word from her named him a poisoner. He waited for it. The Mother studied the root. Then she looked at Renfield, and something passed behind her eyes. "The servant is a fool," she said. "He thought the root would ease his own curse. He meant to eat it, not serve it. He dropped it by accident." Dracula's red eyes moved to Renfield. "Is this so?" "Yes, my lord," Renfield whispered. "For my hunger. Nothing more." A new voice spoke from the hall's edge. "He is too weak to plot, Father." The Scarlet Princess stepped forward in her red gown, veil trailing behind her. She looked at Renfield the way one looks at a broken tool. "Let him crawl back to his rats." Dracula sat again. "Take more care," he told Renfield. "The next mistake will be your last." Renfield bowed and backed away. His legs barely held him. In the corridor, the Mother caught him alone. She pressed the root back into his hand. Her fingers were cold. "I did not save you for mercy," she said. "I saved you because your death would raise questions I do not want. Try this again openly and I will let him kill you." She leaned close. "But the vault beneath the chapel. No magic works there. No eyes reach there. If you must move against his thirst, you will do it where I cannot see, or you will not do it at all." She left. Renfield stood shaking, the root in his fist. His open path was dead. But she had shown him a hidden door.