Vampire Python: Part 5

Eric leaned back against Doune Castle as they took a quick break. The two Terry's were busy setting up the next shot. It was now 1974 and the python's were back together to make a medieval movie tentatively titled The Quest for the Holy Grail. After the end of season 3, John had finally thrown in the towel vowing never to do anything related to python again. It had been a big surprise then when he accepted the prospect of filming a whole movie in Scotland.

After only doing 7 shows of season 4, the rest had decided to quit as well and Eric had lost contact with Mike. He was glad to see his friend again and glad to see he was looking well, considering his condition. He watched as Mike strolled around the castle grounds taking in the scenery. Eric looked up and sighed as he looked at the overcast sky. It might have been good for Mike to have hardly any sun day after day but to Eric it was becoming depressing.

He shivered in his Sir Robin costume. It had rained briefly earlier that morning and the wool in his outfit had acted like a sponge soaking up all the moisture and holding it against his skin. He couldn't wait for the day to end. He wanted to beat everyone back to the hotel so he would be able to take a hot shower. The water in the hotel only stayed hot for about half the cast and crew and at the end of the day it was a stampede to get back.

He looked back over at the two Terry's who still hadn't moved from their spots. Both of them were talking excitedly and pointing at various places on the set. Eric sighed. He was getting tired of this. The two Terry's argued over everything on the set from the script to how a piece of twig looked in a given shot. He couldn't believe they had allowed two perfectionists to handle the directing duties. He looked over at Mike who was now watching them as well. He could tell he was just as bored and frustrated. The long hours on set meant that he had to wait until almost 11 o'clock at night to feed and it made him antsy. Eric looked to his left and saw John and Graham sitting in front of the door to the castle glaring at the two Terry's and talking to each other...

Eric nodded at Mike who was walking towards him...

"I wonder how long this particular break is gonna last?" He said to him as he leaned up against the wall beside him.

Mike rolled his eyes and snorted...

"I suppose it'll end when Jonesy and Gilliam get done putting every blade of grass in order." He said sarcastically. "It's two bad they don't have the same powers as God, maybe then they could wave their fingers and everything would arrange themselves to their liking and we could actually get out of her early for once!"

Eric grinned...

"Even if they could do that, Mike, the wind would probably blow a leaf onto the set and then they'd have to shut it down to go chase it away!"

Mike nodded...

"Christ, Eric. Why did we pick Scotland? Why couldn't we pick somewhere nicer to film like the Bahama's?"

Eric looked at him...

"I thought you couldn't stand that much sunlight."

"I can't, Eric, but I'd rather have burnt skin than wet and cold skin at the moment." Mike said grimly. "I'm so miserable, I can't stand it! I hate our hotel! I don't think I have gotten to use the hot water yet, because as soon as we're done, I have to go feed. I don't think I've been totally warm for three months now!"

"Where do you go to feed, anyway?" Eric asked. "Are you attacking young women or something?"

Mike sighed...

"No, I can't do that. I've been finding mice and rats and rabbits and deer and feeding off of them."

He looked over at Eric who had a horrified expression on his face.

Mike shrugged...

"I know it's disgusting and believe me, rat's blood is as horrible as it sounds, but, it's either a rat or you lot."

Eric nodded...

"Well, thanks for not choosing us Mike." he said

Mike grinned at him. He looked over and noticed the two Terry's still standing in the same place and arguing.

"Oh bloody hell!" Mike swore. "I'm about to go nuts waiting for them."

Eric leaned back up...

"I'm tired of leaning against this wall. We might as well walk around and try to dry off."

"Ha!" Mike laughed. "That'll be the day!"

He followed Eric as he walked out away from the castle. They had gotten a long way out. Suddenly, they both groaned as they felt raindrops hitting their faces...

"Oh Christ, We're in hell! I know we're in hell!" Mike said as he wiped the rain from his cheek. "I really am gonna move out of the country once we're done filming...somewhere like the Sahara where they've never heard of cold and rain."

Eric laughed as they hurried along. They ran over to a tree and stood under it. The rain began to pick up and in the distance they could finally see the two Terry's move from their spot as they, John and Graham and the rest of the cast and crew ran into the safety of Doune castle.

"Maybe they'll cancel filming for the rest of the day."

Eric snorted...

"I wouldn't count on it, Mike." He said.

He moved closer to the trunk of the tree as rain began to drip down on him from the leaves above. He reached behind him and pulled his hood back on his head as a kind of protection against the rain. Mike stared at him and did the same...

"Good idea!" Mike said pulling his hood over his unkempt hair.

The rain began to come down hard. Puddles began to appear everywhere and the walls of Doune Castle began to glisten. Eric and Mike stared at the entrance...

"Think we should make a run for it?" Eric asked.

"I don't know if I want to. We're kinda sheltered from the rain standing here." Mike said. "If we run, the rain is just gonna soak up in our wool and make us that much colder. Besides, I bet John and Graham and everyone else have to listen to Gilliam and Jonsey continue their argument too."

Eric nodded...

"I agree, I think we should wait and see if the rain clears up. Hopefully, it won't be long." He said looking up at the sky.

Eric looked from the sky back to Mike and frowned. Mike was now looking away from Doune Castle out across the meadow with a confused look on his face. He followed Mike's gaze and saw nothing out of the ordinary...

"What, Mike? What is it?" Eric asked, concerned.

Mike shook his head...

"Don't know...I just got a weird feeling...like we're being watched or something."

Eric furrowed his brow and looked again. He scanned the meadow, but didn't find anything or anybody. He looked back at Mike who was frowning.

"I don't see anything, Mike."

"No, I don't either. But I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching us."

Eric pointed towards the castle.

"Are you sure it's coming from that direction? Maybe someone is watching us from Doune?" Eric said.

Mike turned sideways. He looked towards Doune Castle to the meadow and back again....

"I don't know...now, I'm not sure..." Mike said hesitantly. He shook his head and sighed...

"Maybe I'm going nuts from being stuck here." He said softly.

At that moment, the rain stopped as abruptly as it had started. Eric and Mike stared at each other and started back towards Doune Castle...

Behind them, a lone figure watched them from the shadows and smiled...