WHEN AGATHA AWAKENED from her restless slumber, the men hauled her from her cabin and tied her to one of the masts on the main deck, the thick rope digging into her waist and her neck.

Olgaren accusingly pointed at her. "Anything to say before we hang you?" Arabella rolled her eyes are how hostile men could get when a woman threatened their dominance. Arabella stood beside Dracula, her arms crossed over her chest.

Even though all the evidence that Dracula placed pointed at Agatha, Yuri still defended her. "For God's sake, you saw her, she could barely lift her head!"

Olgaren stepped up to Yuri. "Captain, with respect, stay out of it," Arabella furrowed her brow at his rude words. "You kept the murderer safe on this ship!" He finished his point, his metal hook hand gently digging into Yuri's chest. 

Sacha stepped up from the other side of Arabella. "But look at her! How could she have the strength to kill those men?"

"Looks can be deceiving, Dr Sharma," Dracula stated, staring up at Agatha.

"It can't be her. Could she have taken Abramoff? Portmann? Look at her!" Yuri shouted at Olgaren.

"It doesn't matter how she looks, she did it!" Olgaren declared. Arabella rolled her eyes, shifting her weight to her other foot. "What are you rolling your eyes at?" Olgaren pointed his hand at Arabella with a scoff.

"It's just exhausting how dense you are," Arabella sneered back. Dracula pulled her back with a warning look. "You don't know she killed anyone! For all we know, she could be severely hurt. How do we know that is another's blood?" Olgaren scoffed, turning away from the woman. Dracula's grip around her forearm tightened, his glare digging into the side of her head.

"Gentlemen and ladies, please," Dracula's voice soothed out. "Let us not allow this situation to turn ugly."

"It's a lynching! How much uglier can it get?" Agatha shouted from above the rest of the passengers. 

"Why do you protect her?" Adisa asked Yuri, pointing to Agatha.

"I got a commission... with certain stipulations."

"From a man named?" Dracula questioned, already knowing the answer.

"Balaur, perhaps?" Arabella finished.

"Yes," Yuri hesitated. "He said his new wife was very sick, she needed to travel to England for treatment, and he paid handsomely for the Demeter to take her."

Agatha groaned in pain. "I am not Mr Balaur's bride!"

Arabella huffed under her breath. "Damn she isn't," Her whisper reached up to Dracula's ear, and his grip tightened - yet this didn't resemble a warning, but instead a kind and soothing gesture.

"Enough talking, just hang her!"

Agatha, Sacha, Yuri and Arabella all shouted protests. "You can't hang me!" Agatha shouted to Olgaren.

"Give me one reason why not," He sneered.

"Because, because..." Agatha trailed off, thinking of her reason. Arabella furrowed her eyes, thinking that Agatha would simply throw Dracula and Arabella under the bus, yet her next words caught everyone off guard. "I'm a vampire!"

Both Dracula and Arabella's expressions shone with surprise and wonder, while the rest appeared confused or frightened. Olgaren laughs. "Oh, funny, do you think? Well, listen to your captain. I am a frail and helpless woman. How did I manage to slaughter four people and toss their twitching corpses overboard?" The entire time Agatha spoke, both Dracula and Arabella stared at her with small smirks resting on their faces. "Because I am a vampire! A foul, stinking, slouching, monstrosity!" She seethed her words out, glaring down at the Count. "They can disguise themselves fairly well as ordinary people but are roused to a bestial frenzy by the mere sight and smell of human blood."

"You can't hang a vampire!" Sacha explained.

"He's right," Arabella agreed. "They won't die from a bit of rope. If you think she killed four people in her state, then why would a hanging stop her?"

"When this farce is over, I will feed on you first," Agatha nodded down at Olgaren. "Then I will feed on the rest, one by one, and you will be my last," she glared down at Dracula.

"Ah?" Dracula smiled in mock surprise.

"You think I can't?" Agatha challenged. "Think of the four people I've already devoured. Are you in a hurry to join them?" The passengers fell silent until Agatha spoke again. "Come on then! Which one of you has the courage to kick away the barrel?"

"Me," Dracula announced, stepping towards Agatha. "Shall we end this then?" He propped his foot on the barrel. "Cat got your tongue?"

A drop of blood fell from Agatha's lips, the droplet falling on Dracula's shoe, the crimson liquid trickling down the black material.

"Biting my lip," Agatha seethed out, spitting her blood out of Dracula's face. He growled with his fangs on display. He stumbled away, his head thrashing about, trying to control himself. "Look at him! I confess - I lied to you! I'm not a vampire, he is!"

"Count Dracula?" Arabella called out, worried he was going to expose the real him. Yet he patted a handkerchief on his brow and removed the blood.

"Forgive me if I'm repulsed by the blood of a murderess when it's spat in my face," Dracula argued. "Do what you want with her. I'll be in my cabin," Dracula turned away but was stopped when Yamini blocked his way. "Get out of my way, child."

Dracula clasped his hand around Yamini's jaw, his grip tightening. Sacha grew angry. "Don't you touch her!" He shouted. "Don't you dare touch her!"

Dracula let go of her jaw, only for Yamini to create the sign of the cross with two fo her fingers. "Clever girl, sign language," Dracula was repelled by the sight, holding his hand, blocking his eye-line from Yamini. Dr Sharma did the same, directing it to Dracula. Although, due to his close proximity to Arabella, his cross caused the witch to retch at the sight. 

"Lady Arabella, are you alright?" Lord Ruthven placed his hand on Arabella's shoulder.

She nodded, her hand clasped around her throat. "Yes. It's just... all- all of this. It's making me... lightheaded," she rasped out, her knees growing weak. Lord Ruthven's brows furrowed in thought, he raised his hands shakily and formed the sign of the cross with two of his fingers. Arabella gagged at the sight, shielding her eyes from his fingers.

"She's one as well!" Lord Ruthven announced, nodding towards Arabella, his hands still shaking with terror. His loud exclamation caught everyone's attention.

"No, she is a witch!" Agatha shouted. Everyone gasped. Sacha's eyes raked over Arabella's form. She shook her head, tears brimming her eyes, yet he moved his sign of the cross towards Arabella. Arabella screamed, her knees finally gave up on her and she collapsed on the dirty floor, she throat clenching on air.

Sacha's eyes flickered over her trembling figure. "Tha- that explains that night in my cabin. You s-said you could get rid of my scar and my memories. You were going to use your magic."

"Get away from her!" Dracula sneered, pointing his hand at Dr Sharma and Lord Ruthven. Arabella weakly crawled over to Dracula. He easily hauled the girl up in his arms, carrying him a bridal manner. Arabella laid her head down on his chest, her brain pulsing against her skull violently. He looked up at Agatha. "It is a pity, I was so enjoying this voyage - and the people. And I made a good detective, don't you think? I have a particular gift for... eliminating suspects," Dracula kicked the barrel from under Agatha's feet, causing the rope around her neck to tighten and her to choke. Dracula glided away into the ship, his grip on Arabella oozing with protection and security. 

Arabella reached her hand up to his cheek before she collapsed in his arms. "I love you, Dracula,"