The Rise Episode 004 - The Vale Must Hold
The past is never truly buried.
As allies gather and long-held truths begin to surface, a shadow older than the Enclave threatens to reshape the balance of power.
Some legends are meant to stay sealed… but not everyone agrees.
SCENE 1 – THE LODGE
INT. HUNTER’S ENCLAVE LODGE – VAN HELSING’S WAR ROOM – NIGHT
The war room is dimly lit by hanging lanterns and a fire burning low in a stone hearth. Ancient maps, journals, and arcane diagrams cover a large wooden table at the center of the room.
Pinned to the map is a crude sketch of the Carpathian Mountains, the Vale of Shadows, and the surrounding villages.
Runic markings circle the Vale repeatedly.
VAN HELSING stands over the table studying the markings.
MULAN stands nearby, arms crossed, watching him carefully.
A moment passes before she speaks.
MULAN: Tell me you have accounted for Daculescu.
Van Helsing does not immediately look up.
He traces one of the runic circles around the Vale.
VAN HELSING: Krampus has kept his word.
Mulan raises an eyebrow.
MULAN: He agreed?
Now Van Helsing glances toward her.
VAN HELSING: He prefers chaos he can see.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: Resurrection is… untidy.
Mulan considers that.
MULAN: And he will hold Daculescu?
Van Helsing nods slightly.
VAN HELSING: Occupied.
A finger taps the map once.
VAN HELSING: Distracted.
Another beat.
VAN HELSING: He will not be in the Vale. Nor at Castle Dracula.
Mulan exhales quietly.
MULAN: Impressive.
Van Helsing turns back to the ritual notes.
VAN HELSING: Wicked Witch competed twice this weekend.
Mulan tilts her head.
MULAN: Two matches.
Van Helsing nods.
VAN HELSING: Two matches.
Mulan smirks faintly.
MULAN: You are factoring ring fatigue into a ley-line ritual. Even your own.
Van Helsing finally closes the Codex he has been reviewing.
VAN HELSING: I factor everything. I am fine.
A pause.
MULAN: And she will be diminished?
VAN HELSING: Slower.
Another beat.
VAN HELSING: Less precise.
He turns back to the map.
VAN HELSING: She will not counter-cast at full strength.
Mulan nods slowly.
Then she asks the question she has clearly been waiting to ask.
MULAN: And Grizelda?
Van Helsing does not hesitate.
VAN HELSING: Do I trust her?
MULAN: Yes.
VAN HELSING: No.
A beat.
He moves toward the map again and gestures toward three intersecting runic circles around the Vale.
VAN HELSING: The reinforcement requires balance.
His finger traces the first circle.
VAN HELSING: White. Magic of Life. Magic of Hope. Magic of Protection.
The second.
VAN HELSING: Grey. Magic of Balance. Magic of Neutrality. Magic of Self.
Then the third.
VAN HELSING: Black. Magic of Misery. Magic of Despair. Magic of Death.
He looks back at Mulan.
VAN HELSING: Glinda represents White Sorcery.
A pause.
VAN HELSING: Merlin stands for Grey Wizardry.
He lets the final implication hang.
VAN HELSING: Which means we require a master of Black magic.
Mulan’s expression tightens slightly.
MULAN: And Grizelda is the closest we have.
Van Helsing nods once.
VAN HELSING: Closest.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: Not ideal.
Mulan studies him carefully.
MULAN: You are compressing a ritual that once required multiple Eternals.
Van Helsing meets her gaze.
VAN HELSING: Yes.
MULAN: And you intend to carry the essence yourself.
Van Helsing nods again.
MULAN: Because of Garnett.
Silence hangs in the room for a moment.
Van Helsing’s voice lowers.
VAN HELSING: Because I sent Beowulf and Carmilla into the Vale.
He taps the map.
VAN HELSING: Velkan harvested Eternal blood from that mistake.
Mulan understands immediately.
MULAN: So this is penance.
Van Helsing shakes his head.
VAN HELSING: No.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: Correction.
Suddenly—
The war room doors burst open.
JASPER FANG storms in.
Behind him enter CRIMSON VANE, SCARLETT HOWL, and RUBY HOWL.
Their expressions are grim.
Determined.
Jasper steps forward immediately.
JASPER: We’re going.
Van Helsing does not appear surprised.
He simply nods once.
VAN HELSING: I expected you would.
Crimson steps forward.
CRIMSON:Then we go with you.
Van Helsing shakes his head.
VAN HELSING: Yes.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: I need you to guard the ritual.
Jasper bristles instantly.
JASPER: After what happened to our father—
Mulan steps forward.
Her voice cuts clean through the tension.
MULAN: You will not repeat his mistake.
Scarlett folds her arms, calm but firm.
SCARLETT: Then tell us where we stand.
Van Helsing turns the map toward them.
He marks three points around the Vale perimeter.
VAN HELSING: Outside the Ritual area,.
Another mark.
VAN HELSING: Western ridge.
A third.
VAN HELSING: Outer line.
Ruby studies the placements carefully.
Then nods.
RUBY: We hold the perimeter.
Van Helsing meets each of their eyes.
VAN HELSING: You hold the line.
Outside the lodge—
Thunder rolls across the mountains.
Tonight the Vale will either strengthen…
Or break.
SCENE 2 – CARMILLA’S ASSIGNMENT
INT. HUNTER’S ENCLAVE – LOWER CHAMBER – NIGHT
The chamber is quieter.
Colder.
Candlelight flickers along stone walls etched with ancient protective runes.
Standing near a long wooden table is CARMILLA NOCTURNE.
Around her neck rests the Blood Heart pendant, its crimson gem glowing faintly in the dim light.
She stares at it thoughtfully.
Footsteps echo in the hall.
Van Helsing enters.
Carmilla turns to face him.
She does not hide the concern in her voice.
CARMILLA: You’re going into the Vale.
VAN HELSING: Yes.
CARMILLA: Then I go with you.
Van Helsing shakes his head immediately.
VAN HELSING: No.
Carmilla frowns.
CARMILLA: You will need every advantage you can get.
Van Helsing’s eyes drift toward the pendant around her neck.
VAN HELSING: Mina’s Blood Heart is gone.
Carmilla instinctively touches her own pendant.
VAN HELSING: Destroyed. She has regressed.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: That leaves two anchors.
He gestures toward her.
VAN HELSING: You.
Then—
VAN HELSING: And Delisandre.
Carmilla’s expression darkens slightly.
CARMILLA: Delisandre has not answered any summons for many years.
Van Helsing nods.
VAN HELSING: Which is why you must find her.
Carmilla studies him.
CARMILLA: Where?
Van Helsing answers carefully.
VAN HELSING: We believe she is at the Circle of False Light monastery.
Carmilla exhales sharply.
CARMILLA: Ardan’s sanctuary.
A beat.
CARMILLA: That will not be easy to enter.
VAN HELSING: No.
Another pause.
VAN HELSING: Bring her back to the Lodge.
Carmilla understands the implication.
CARMILLA: And if she refuses?
Van Helsing meets her eyes.
VAN HELSING: Then convince her.
A quiet tension settles between them.
Finally Carmilla nods.
CARMILLA: Very well.
She turns and leaves the chamber.
EXT. HUNTER’S LODGE – NIGHT
The mountain air is cold.
Carmilla exits the lodge and steps into the moonlight.
She stops suddenly.
Someone is waiting outside.
CRIMSON VANE.
Crimson studies her carefully.
CRIMSON: You’re not coming with us.
Carmilla shakes her head.
CARMILLA: No.
Crimson steps closer.
CRIMSON: Then take me with you.
Carmilla looks at her thoughtfully.
Almost amused.
CARMILLA: The Circle would be very interested in you.
Crimson frowns.
CRIMSON: Why?
Carmilla’s answer is simple.
CARMILLA: Because they are interested in power.
She steps past Crimson.
The vampire attendant disappears into the darkness of the mountain trail.
Crimson watches her go.
A strange unease creeping across her face.
She cannot explain why.
But something about that exchange…
Feels wrong.
The wind picks up.
And far beyond the mountains—
The Vale waits.
SCENE 3 — THE BELLTOWER OF VEȘNICEL
EXT. VEȘNICEL — NIGHT
The village rests beneath a moon partially swallowed by storm clouds.
Veșnicel appears peaceful at first glance.
But the stillness is unnatural.
No lanterns burn in the windows.
No villagers move in the streets.
The settlement feels like a memory of life rather than life itself.
At the center of the village rises the Belltower.
Ancient stone.
Iron-bound doors.
The tower stands older than the village surrounding it.
Its bell does not ring.
It hums faintly, resonating with something deeper than sound.
INT. BELLTOWER — UPPER CHAMBER
A circular stone chamber.
Runes carved into the walls glow faintly in the lantern light.
White.
Grey.
Black.
Three disciplines of magic intertwined in impossible harmony.
Standing at the center of the room is BATRAN SIMION.
Calm.
Ancient.
Before him stands the cloaked figure known only as THE NIGHT WATCHER.
The Watcher removes his hood.
NIGHT WATCHER: The Vale trembles.
Simion nods slightly.
SIMION: It remembers being wounded.
The Watcher studies him.
NIGHT WATCHER: We were told the bindings would hold.
Simion’s gaze drifts toward the runes lining the chamber walls.
SIMION: They were never meant to hold forever.
The statement lands heavily.
The Watcher stiffens.
NIGHT WATCHER: Then tell me the truth.
Simion slowly raises a hand.
The runes in the room begin to glow brighter.
The chamber darkens.
The past begins to reveal itself.
THE BINDINGS OF DRACULA
Simion speaks as ancient images flicker across the walls like shadows of history.
SIMION: Dracula was not slain.
The runes show a figure impaled.
Held in place by a glowing stake.
SIMION: First… the blessed stake.
A spectral image of a stake through the vampire lord’s heart burns across the stone. Van Helsing watching Dracula fall.
SIMION: Driven through the heart to force eternal slumber.
The image changes.
Chains wrap around a massive coffin.
SIMION: Second… the silver-bound coffin.
Layer after layer of enchanted chains tighten across the coffin lid.
SIMION: Sealed deep within Castle Dracula’s lower sanctum.
The images shift again.
Three glowing crimson gems appear in the air.
SIMION: Third… the Castle Binding.
The three gems pulse like hearts.
SIMION: Anchored to the Blood Hearts of Mina Harker… and her two attendants. Within those stones their vampiric essence lies.
The Watcher speaks quietly.
NIGHT WATCHER: One was destroyed.
Simion nods.
One gem shatters in the air.
SIMION: Yes. Mina has regressed.
Only two remain glowing.
SIMION: If the remaining two Blood Hearts are broken…
The image of Castle Dracula flickers.
Cracks spread through its foundation.
SIMION: …the castle seal collapses.
But Simion is not finished.
The runes across the floor ignite.
White.
Grey.
Black.
The chamber begins to hum.
SIMION: Above all of this…
A massive shadow dome appears across the mountains.
SIMION: …the Vale of Shadows.
The Watcher studies the image carefully.
SIMION: It was born from three masters of magic.
White.
Grey.
Black.
SIMION: A White Sorcerer. A Grey Wizard. A Master of Black Magic.
The image shifts again.
A glowing pulse spreads across the Vale.
SIMION: And it was fueled by the essence of the Founding Eternal Hunters.
The Watcher looks sharply at Simion.
NIGHT WATCHER: Fueled?
Simion nods.
SIMION: Creation requires sacrifice.
The chamber grows colder.
SIMION: And destruction requires blood.
Silence.
Then the Watcher asks the question he fears.
NIGHT WATCHER: What blood?
Simion’s eyes narrow slightly.
SIMION: The blood of the Founding Eternal Hunters…
A beat.
The runes flicker.
SIMION: It carries the echo of the original ritual.
SIMION: With the proper spell… and the correct blood…
The Vale membrane could be pierced.
The Watcher exhales slowly.
NIGHT WATCHER: But even if the bindings fall will Dracula be fully risen?
SIMION: No, he will need to feed.
A beat.
SIMION: On the blood of the Huntress’ line. The eldest female.
The Watcher stiffens.
NIGHT WATCHER: Red Riding Hood’s bloodline.
Simion nods once.
NIGHT WATCHER: Then they will come for the girl.
Simion does not answer.
Instead—
The tower trembles.
A violent impact shakes the stone walls.
From below—
Steel crashes against the outer doors.
Voices shout.
The Watcher draws his blade.
NIGHT WATCHER: They’re here.
The chamber door explodes open.
THE AMBUSH
VLAD TEPES-CORVINUS strides into the chamber.
Behind him move soldiers of the CRIMSON HAND.
Disciplined.
Deadly.
Tepes studies the room.
TEPES-CORVINUS: Still hiding in towers, Simion?
The Night Watcher attacks instantly. He pushes them from the chamber into the courtyard.
Steel flashes.
The courtyard erupts into combat.
The Watcher moves like a trained sentinel of the Enclave.
He disarms one attacker.
Wounds another.
But the Crimson Hand swarm him.
Tepes steps forward.
Their blades collide.
Tepes fights with aristocratic brutality.
Precise.
Efficient.
The Watcher staggers as Tepes drives him backward.
A brutal strike knocks him to the ground.
The Crimson Hand bind him in iron restraints.
Tepes turns toward Simion.
He attempts to step forward.
But the runes on the chamber floor ignite.
A wall of invisible force slams outward.
Two Crimson Hand soldiers are thrown violently into the yard.
Tepes stops.
He cannot pass.
The tower rejects him.
Simion watches calmly.
TEPES-CORVINUS: It will not hold forever.
Simion replies quietly.
SIMION: It was never meant to.
Tepes gestures.
The Crimson Hand drag the unconscious Watcher from the courtyard.
As they leave, Tepes glances back once.
TEPES-CORVINUS: Tell your hunters…
A beat.
TEPES-CORVINUS: The tremor has begun.
They disappear into the night.
Simion stands alone in the glowing chamber.
Watching the Vale.
SCENE 4 — THE RITUAL
EXT. THE VALE OF SHADOWS — NIGHT
The Vale does not behave like a normal forest.
Fog coils along the ground like living breath.
The trees bend inward toward a central clearing.
At the heart of the Vale lies an ancient STONE NEXUS.
Massive monolithic stones form a circular ring.
At the center stand three raised pedestals, arranged in a perfect triangle.
Each pedestal holds a narrow carved socket.
Between them lies a circular stone floor etched with ancient runes.
White.
Grey.
Black.
This place is not simply old.
It is a conduit.
THE MASTERS ARRIVE
VAN HELSING steps into the circle.
Behind him enter:
GLINDA – White Sorcery
MERLIN – Grey Wizardry
GRIZELDA – Black Magic
Each carries a carved ritual staff.
Van Helsing looks at them.
VAN HELSING: Begin.
CHARGING THE STAFFS
Glinda raises her staff.
White light pours down its length.
Merlin strikes his staff once against the stone.
Grey magic ripples through the ground.
Grizelda closes her eyes.
Black energy crawls along her staff like ink through water.
The three currents begin to pulse.
White.
Grey.
Black.
The Vale trembles.
CUT TO — CASTLE DRACULA
Inside the throne chamber stand:
VELKAN THORNE
JONATHAN HARKER
THE WICKED WITCH
The Witch suddenly stiffens.
Her eyes blaze green.
WICKED WITCH: I sense powerful magic. White Sorcery, Grey Wizardry and Black Magic. Familiar all but it can’t be … Black Magic wielded by Grizelda.
Velkan glances at her calmly.
VELKAN: You know the signature?
WICKED WITCH: That traitor is casting.
Her voice becomes venomous.
WICKED WITCH: She feeds the Vale.
Velkan looks toward the mountains.
Unimpressed.
VELKAN: Let them try.
BACK TO THE RITUAL
The staffs glow intensely.
Glinda plants her staff into the first pedestal.
White magic floods the runes.
Merlin places his staff into the second.
Grey magic stabilizes the flow.
Grizelda pauses for a moment before placing hers into the third pedestal.
Black magic surges upward like dark flame.
The triangle is complete.
Van Helsing steps forward.
His role begins.
THE SEQUENCE
Glinda speaks.
GLINDA: White first. May HOPE strengthen all those who enter the Vale.
Van Helsing removes the White staff.
Energy surges through his body.
He drives the staff into the central socket in the stone.
Light explodes outward.
Merlin speaks.
MERLIN: Grey second. May BALANCE keep the Vale strong.
Merlin hands him the Grey staff.
Van Helsing trembles as the magic intensifies.
The second staff locks into place.
Wind tears through the clearing.
Finally—
Grizelda speaks.
GRIZELDA: Finally Black third. May the unworthy be destroyed when entering the Vale.
Grizelda offers the Black staff.
Van Helsing hesitates briefly.
Then takes it.
The energy slams into him like lightning.
He drives the staff into the final socket.
THE CONDUIT
Instantly—
Three beams erupt from the staffs into Van Helsing.
White.
Grey.
Black.
The power flows through him and erupts upward into the sky.
A massive column of energy pierces the clouds.
Across the Vale—
Invisible fractures begin sealing.
Ancient sigils re-ignite.
The barrier strengthens.
But the power lasts only seconds.
Van Helsing screams through clenched teeth as the energy burns through him.
Then—
The beams vanish.
The staffs fall silent.
Van Helsing collapses onto the stone floor.
The ritual site grows quiet again.
The Vale holds.
For now.
But far off in the forest—
War horns echo.
The Crimson Hand is coming.
SCENE 5 — BLOOD AT THE VALE
EXT. VALE RITUAL SITE — NIGHT
The stone circle is silent again.
Three ancient staffs lie dark within the sockets of the ritual floor.
The sky above still crackles faintly where the energy column tore through moments earlier.
At the center of the runic circle, Van Helsing lies collapsed on the stone, barely conscious.
GLINDA kneels beside him, hands glowing with white light as she attempts to stabilize the damage to his spirit and body.
MERLIN stands close by, staff planted in the stone, weaving slow grey wards to keep the Vale itself from reacting violently to the ritual’s aftermath.
A short distance away stands GRIZELDA.
Watching.
Still.
Her purple cloak flutters slightly in the Vale wind.
She does not approach Van Helsing.
She does not assist.
She simply observes.
Then—
The forest explodes with movement.
Branches snap.
Steel flashes through the fog.
THE CRIMSON HAND ARRIVES.
Ten.
Then twelve.
Armored figures pouring through the trees like disciplined wolves.
Their leader stops abruptly when he sees the clearing.
His eyes widen.
A fallen Van Helsing.
The hunters’ greatest blade.
Unprotected.
He raises his hand.
The Hand advances.
THE AMBUSH SPRINGS
The first Crimson Hand soldiers step onto the edge of the stone circle.
Suddenly—
A crossbow bolt slams into one attacker’s shoulder, spinning him sideways.
Another cries out as a dagger punches into his thigh.
From the fog surrounding the circle—
THE HOODS EMERGE.
JASPER FANG crashes into the first soldier like a charging beast, his massive frame slamming the man backward into stone.
CRIMSON VANE appears beside him, twin blades flashing silver.
SCARLETT HOWL moves with surgical precision, striking joints and tendons.
RUBY HOWL stays just behind them, firing bolts and throwing knives with calm, lethal accuracy.
The Crimson Hand stagger.
They had expected wounded prey.
Instead they face the descendants of the Scarlet Huntress.
Steel erupts across the clearing.
THE BATTLE IGNITES
A Hand soldier swings a curved blade at Jasper.
Jasper catches the man by the collar and headbutts him brutally.
Two more attack.
Jasper barrels forward, shoving them off the ritual stones.
Meanwhile—
Crimson moves like lightning.
One blade parries.
The other slices across an attacker’s wrist.
She spins low, cutting another behind the knee.
Scarlett covers her flank.
A soldier lunges toward Crimson—
Scarlett intercepts, blade sliding cleanly between ribs.
She withdraws the blade without hesitation.
SCARLETT: Left!
Crimson ducks as Ruby’s bolt whistles past her shoulder and drops a charging soldier behind her.
Ruby reloads with practiced calm.
THE HAND REGROUPS
The Crimson Hand are disciplined.
Their commander barks an order.
Shields forward.
Spears thrust.
The battle shifts.
Now the Hoods are pressed.
Jasper takes a spear across the shoulder but rips it free and keeps fighting.
Crimson flips over a sweeping blade and drives both daggers into another soldier’s chest.
But more Hand soldiers push into the clearing.
Reinforcements.
THE AIR TURNS GREEN
Suddenly—
The wind dies.
The fog twists violently into a spiral of green mist.
Lightning cracks overhead.
Two figures step from the vortex.
THE WICKED WITCH
And beside her—
VELKAN THORNE
The battlefield freezes for half a heartbeat.
Then the Witch sees her.
GRIZELDA.
Her eyes blaze with fury.
WICKED WITCH: Traitor!
Grizelda smiles faintly.
GRIZELDA: Professional disagreement.
The Witch raises her hand—
Before the spell can strike—
POOF
A burst of purple smoke.
Grizelda vanishes.
Teleported away from the battle..
The Witch snarls.
She turns on Glinda and Merlin.
Green lightning erupts from her hands.
Glinda raises a barrier of white light.
Merlin slams his staff into the ground, reinforcing the shield with grey magic.
The clearing becomes a storm of colliding sorcery.
VELKAN OBSERVES
Velkan watches the battle calmly.
He studies the field.
Then—
His gaze settles on Crimson Vane.
Recognition flickers.
Interest.
He speaks quietly.
VELKAN: Take the girl.
The Crimson Hand immediately change tactics.
Now they surround Crimson.
THE HUNTERS DEFEND
JASPER: Crimson!
Three soldiers rush her.
Scarlett intercepts one.
Ruby drops another with a bolt through the throat.
But a third grabs Crimson’s arm.
A knife slices across her sleeve—
Barely missing flesh.
Crimson explodes with fury.
She headbutts the attacker and buries both daggers in his chest.
But the Hand keep coming.
Four.
Six.
Eight.
More soldiers emerge from the forest.
The numbers turn.
Velkan watches with quiet satisfaction.
THE TURNING POINT
Jasper roars and charges the incoming wave.
He slams through two attackers.
Another spear pierces his side.
He snaps the shaft and keeps fighting.
Scarlett and Ruby close ranks beside Crimson.
They form a defensive circle.
Steel rings through the clearing.
But the Crimson Hand now number dozens.
The perimeter collapses.
MAGIC INTERVENTION
Behind them—
Glinda and Merlin exchange a look.
They cannot hold the Witch forever.
Merlin strikes his staff against the stone.
Grey magic spreads across the ritual circle.
Glinda channels white light into the spell.
A teleportation sigil forms beneath the heroes.
FINAL MOMENTS
Crimson slashes another attacker away.
She meets Velkan’s gaze across the battlefield.
He smiles faintly.
Like a collector studying a prize.
VELKAN: Soon.
Merlin shouts.
MERLIN: Now!
White and grey light erupts across the circle.
The Hoods.
Van Helsing.
Glinda.
Merlin.
All vanish in a blinding flash.
AFTERMATH
The light fades.
The clearing stands empty.
The Crimson Hand look around in frustration.
The Witch snarls.
Velkan remains calm.
VELKAN: They bought themselves time.
He turns away.
VELKAN: Let them spend it.
The Hand withdraw.
The Vale falls silent.
SCENE 6 — AFTER THE STORM
PART I — BELLTOWER
White and grey light erupts inside the tower chamber.
The hunters appear.
Van Helsing collapses again.
Glinda and Merlin steady themselves.
The Hoods spread defensively.
From the shadows—
BATRAN SIMION
SIMION: You survived.
Glinda sees him.
Her eyes widen.
GLINDA: Mas—
Simion raises a finger to his lips.
Silence.
Merlin notices.
Says nothing.
Simion approaches Van Helsing.
SIMION: The Vale has sealed again.
He looks toward the forest.
SIMION: If Dracula rises…
A beat.
SIMION: He cannot leave it.
Relief spreads briefly.
Then—
SIMION: But the Night Watcher was taken.
Jasper spins.
JASPER: What?
Simion explains the attack.
Jasper moves toward the stairs.
JASPER: Then we go get him!
Van Helsing grabs his arm.
VAN HELSING: No.
JASPER: They’re taking him to Castle Dracula!
VAN HELSING: Exactly.
A beat.
VAN HELSING: We regroup first. Night Watcher is far more capable than any realize..
Jasper seethes but stops.
Simion studies Crimson Vane.
Then whispers to Van Helsing.
SIMION: Keep her away from Castle Dracula.
Van Helsing frowns.
VAN HELSING: Why?
Simion only answers:
SIMION: Trust me.
Across the chamber—
Crimson notices them watching her.
She cannot hear.
But she knows.
Something is wrong.
PART II — CASTLE DRACULA
Velkan and the Witch return to the castle.
Jonathan Harker waits.
HARKER: They completed the ritual.
VELKAN: Yes.
Moments later—
VLAD TEPES-CORVINUS enters.
Blood on his armor.
TEPES-CORVINUS: The hunter is secured.
Cut to—
CASTLE DUNGEONS
The Night Watcher is thrown into a cell.
Across from him—
GRINCH HEYMAN looks up from the shadows.
The doors slam shut.
Two prisoners now sit in darkness.
BACK TO THE GRAND HALL
Tepes asks:
TEPES-CORVINUS: Where was Daculescu?
Velkan pours wine calmly.
VELKAN: On a mission with Krampus.
TEPES-CORVINUS: With Krampus?
Suspicion fills the room.
The Witch snarls.
WICKED WITCH: Dragomir. It must have been him to turn Grizelda on this path.
Velkan remains calm.
VELKAN: Do not concern yourself with Dragomir.
He turns toward a black mirror mounted in the stone wall.
VELKAN: I will deal with him in time.
He touches the mirror.
Dark ripples spread across its surface.
VELKAN: Coldmere.
The mirror glows.
Fade.
EPILOGUE I — DEMONIC LEGION
Krampus and Grinch Heyman (Daculescu in disguise) materialize inside the Legion lair.
Smoke dissipates.
Heyman adjusts his tie.
GRINCH HEYMAN: That appeared to be a successful meeting.
He smiles.
GRINCH HEYMAN: I look forward to welcoming our new associate.
Krampus says nothing.
Heyman continues.
GRINCH HEYMAN: Though I must admit…
A pause.
GRINCH HEYMAN: I still do not understand why I needed to attend.
Krampus slowly turns.
His eyes flare red.
The room grows cold.
KRAMPUS: Because I asked you to go. That is all the reason you need.
Silence.
Heyman smiles tightly.
GRINCH HEYMAN: Of course.
Krampus gestures.
KRAMPUS: You are dismissed.
Heyman leaves.
OUTSIDE THE LAIR
Heyman walks alone.
A device vibrates in his pocket.
He answers.
VELKAN (through device): Your excursion appears to have concluded.
Heyman stiffens.
Velkan informs him of the Vale ritual.
Then adds one final warning.
VELKAN: Be careful, Lord Daculescu.
A beat.
VELKAN: Krampus may be playing a deeper game.
The line goes dead.
Heyman stands in silence.
Now wary.
Very wary.
FINAL EPILOGUE — THE HEART OF HOPE
The North Pole.
Endless ice.
Aurora lights the sky.
Santa approaches an ancient citadel.
A voice stops him.
VOICE: Augustus Coldiron.
Santa turns.
NATANIS emerges from the storm.
The Frost Walker.
Ancient armor.
Greatsword planted in the ice.
Eyes glowing blue.
SANTA: Natanis.
SANTA: I am here about the Heart of Hope.
Natanis nods.
NATANIS: It remains secure.
Santa studies the frozen citadel.
SANTA: Dark forces may seek it.
Natanis grips his sword.
Lightning flickers along the blade.
NATANIS: Then the storm will greet them.
Santa nods.
He turns and walks into the snow.
Natanis remains standing before the citadel.
Watching.
Guarding.
Waiting.
THE VALE MUST HOLD
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