Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter

It must be terribly sinful.

What?

Well, vanity is a sin,

isn't it, Ann?

Well, if that's the only one,

you'll do.

There.

Where are you going now?

I'm going to get some flowers

to braid in your hair.

That was quick, Ann.

Did you fi...?

Ann?

Ann!

Ann?

And what crime

have you committed?

I danced on a Sunday.

We're heading east.

That'll do.

Get on the wagon.

Happy birthday.

God bless you, my child.

And this to make it

a happier birthday.

It belonged to your dear mother.

It was her last wish

that you should have it.

Happy birthday, dearest sister.

It's wonderful...

but I daren't wear it.

What if I were to lose it?

No fear of that.

That lock's as tight and cunning

as a money lender.

May I go and show it to Petra?

May I, Papa?

Of course.

She'll be so envious.

Mind you, get back

before dark, now.

What's your name, girl?

Carla.

I'm Grost...

Professor Hieronymos Grost.

Professor?

I profess to be.

What about him?

What's the "K" stand for?

Is he a king or something?

A king?

Yes, in a way, I suppose he is.

But the "K" stands for Kronos...

Captain Kronos,

late of the lmperial Guard.

Well, if he's not a king,

why does he leave us

to do all the work?

He has to conserve his strength.

We've ridden far,

and tomorrow we will be...

where we must be.

And that's when his work

will begin again.

Work? What-what work?

I'm turning in, Grost.

Where do I sleep?

We've only blankets

enough for two.

Suit yourself.

Good night.

Isabella?

Isabella?

Isabella?

Isabella?!

Marcus?

Aye.

Dr. Marcus lives here.

Who wants him?

Marcus!

Kronos.

Marcus.

You ol' leech lover.

Who is he?

Him in there?

Your master.

His name's Kronos.

Captain Kronos.

And he's not my master.

I'm merely an old army friend

passing through.

As you wish.

Your letter urged us

to make all speed,

but gave no reason.

Young girls suddenly

become greatly aged.

Is that sufficient reason?

And these girls, they died

with blood upon their lips?

Yes. Why?

Vampires.

What?

No, it can't be.

What he doesn't know

about vampirism

wouldn't fill a flea's codpiece.

Vampires.

Dr. Marcus, it is commonly

supposed that a vampire attacks

in only one way...

by biting the neck

and draining the victim

of blood.

But that's true.

The girls you spoke of,

they were not drained of blood

but of youth.

Of life itself.

You see, Doctor, there are

as many species of vampire

as there are beasts of prey.

Their methods and their motive

for attack can vary

in a hundred different ways.

And the means

of their destruction.

Aye, traditional stake

through the heart

does not always hold good,

you know.

Some can only be destroyed

by hanging or decapitation.

Or fire or water.

Or by other means.

But these girls

were invulnerable.

Each one wore a crucifix.

The cross can only protect those

who firmly believe.

But these were good girls

from God-fearing families.

Perhaps their minds were not

their own

at the moment of attack.

I suspect mesmerism in this.

Mesmerism?

Hypnotism.

The subjugation of the mind.

Oh, you don't believe

in that nonsense.

Well, it is

highly improbable.

What could be more improbable

than God?

But I believe in Him.

And I, too, but...

Thank you.

...vampires?

Oh, come now, Doctor.

You had already reached

the same conclusion.

Or why else send for us?

Vampires...

here in Durward.

I suppose

you'll be moving on now?

No, I'm staying.

If you'll have me.

Oh...

I'll have you.

What is it?

What's happening?

Time for us to start work.

You want to come along?

What work?

Oh, didn't I mention it?

We're vampire hunters.

Professional vampire hunters.

Paul?

Dr. Marcus.

To my shame,

I'd completely forgotten.

I'd completely forgotten.

Seven years.

Is it so long?

To the day.

Days and years

flit by like a whisper,

taking its toll of all of us.

And healing old wounds.

For some, but not all.

Your mother still bears

a grudge?

My father died in your hands,

remember?

Yes, but of a plague,

a virulence.

There was nothing I could do.

There was no hope.

I understand that,

my dear, Marcus,

but my mother...

She's there?

You must allow me.

My Lady Durward.

She will not

acknowledge you, Doctor.

Paul...

Her face.

She's become so aged.

Your mother's sick.

She's ill.

With grief.

If only she would let me

examine her.

She will see no one.

Least of all you,

Dr. Marcus.

Paul...

Good day, Doctor.

Paul?

Toad in the hole.

Not many more to do.

Mark the spot.

It's an old Chinese herb.

Herb?

I ought to be out

scouring the countryside,

chasing after phantoms.

Isn't that

what you're thinking?

Never rush

into a battle unprepared.

Remember, the war taught us

that, if nothing else.

There's a time to think,

a time to plan

and a time to act,

and that time will come

soon enough, don't worry.

I see my needlework

has held good.

Mm-mmm.

I know you've got guts, Kronos.

I've seen them.

Evening.

I play chess.

And I have a bottle

of very good wine

tucked away for a rainy day.

It's pouring.

Queen to king,

and mate in one.

There was blood on the mouth.

In the church.

Blood on the mouth.

Just the mouth.

Why?

That's how he attacks them.

Through the kiss.

Oh...! Ooh...

Oh...

What's wrong?

I thought I saw someone

over there.

Ah, you're

imagining things.

No, there was someone.

Probably a forester.

No, it was someone old.

Someone very old.

I think it was a man...

Oh, really,

I ought to be going now.

I'll take you home.

And have my father see you?

He'd skin me alive

and you, too.

Well, look, you can't go alone.

Not with everything that's

been happening around here.

Now, look, there's

the edge of the forest,

and there's my house.

Now, what could possibly happen

in that short a distance?

Ah, well, just the same,

I'll-I'll stay here

and watch

till you're out of the woods.

Silly.

Silly.

See you tomorrow.

Myra?!

Myra...

Myra.

Myra!

Another, and this time,

we have an eyewitness!

I stood and watched her,

and she was never

out of sight.

Never completely out of sight.

But you saw no one else?

No one at all?

No. Oh, Myra thought

she saw someone.

Who did she see?

Just someone very old,

she said.

Very old.

You're mystified?

Mm!

Well, you've a right to be.

Grost ringed the forest

with dead toads.

"If a vampire should bestrode

"close to the grave

of a dead toad,

"then the vampire life

shall give,

and suddenly the toad

shall live."

It's an old folk rhyme,

and like most of them,

there's a grain of truth in it.

"Then the vampire life

shall give,

and suddenly

the toad shall live."

A coach or a wagon

of some kind.

Recent, too.

Four horses.

Grost!

We'll ride

over that way,

take a look.

Look for what,

someone very old?

On the contrary.

This thing attacks to

sustain life, youth.

That's what we'll be seeking.

A cheek with a bloom to it.

Someone young and fair.

Fetch the horses!

Hmm... dead end.

What lies down there?

Oh, the village.

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