"You won't do it...you know why? You're...too afraid."
"Shut up, vampire."
The lad looked at Laura sympathetically, almost pleading with the claw on his arm to stop. He could see Laura choking and wrestling to free herself from its grasp, but to no avail.
"You bother me," said the demonic claw. Laura and the lad managed a look of abject horror as the claw, with no sense of remorse or restraint, tightened its grasp and twisted on its wrist. The lad's mouth fell open, aghast, as Laura's limp body fell from the demon's grip with her neck broken.
"You...you killed her!"
"Of course I killed her," barked the demon, "She is your enemy! Falling for her guile and even daring to feel sympathy for her...you disgust me."
The lad was on the verge of tears. He forced himself not to cry. He looked away, unable to look at the girl's lifeless body.
"Now come," said the claw, "There is much more to be done if we are to find Count Dracula."
-----
"How long more until we reach the Doctor's laboratory?" Alice asked peacefully.