Sun Lin, also known as the Jade Dragon, perched precariously on the head of a gargoyle high above the streets of Metro City. The ugly stone waterspout was part of the Great Cathedral of the Metro City Archdiocese. It afforded her an excellent view of the streets below, and since it was shrouded in darkness it afforded her complete anonymity.

She shivered, but it was not from the winter’s cold. Her costume was insulated against the freezing December temperatures. Her mind flashed back over the two years and six months of her crimefighting career. Two and a half years and she was only twenty years old. Not yet of voting age, provided Orientals were ever given the vote. She had encountered a number of brutal criminals during that short time and had defeated them all. But she had paid a high price for her victories. The images of the supervillains she had beaten paraded through her consciousness. First there was Boss Crunch – under his hands she had been raped and tortured. Then there had been Brick Henson. Again she had been raped and tortured. Finally she had beaten Ivan Retinoff, and she had been raped and tortured again.

She shifted her position, peering more intently into the darkness below the church tower. Her friends and companions had also suffered. The gutsy Suzi, also known as the Scarlet Falcon, had been captured and suffered sexual torture along with her. Then there had been Kyla Smith, the tall, beautiful gymnast with the power of invisibility and who went under the name of the Blue Avenger. Kyla had saved both her and Suzi from certain death. But later she had paid a heavy price, losing her virginity in a brutal rape. And finally, there was Natassia Green, the super strong heroine called Nova. Natassia had probably been more brutally raped than any of them.

"It is a sad legacy," thought the Oriental heroine. "Every time we go up against one of the city’s more notorious criminals we pay with our bodies."

She got to her feet. It was time to change position. The dizzying drop below her caused her no concern whatsoever. She was quite at home at any elevation. Fifty feet away was another gargoyle. It would enable her to view the other side of the building. She flexed her muscular legs and sailed across the gap with seeming ease. It was an impossible jump, but the Jade Dragon was using the powers of her mind to psychically increase the length of her leap. She landed catlike on top of the narrow perch and settled down to watch the streets below. There had been a series of muggings in this area of town in the last few days. She suspected that it was the same criminals involved and was determined to put a stop to it.

The street was quiet. She resumed her previous line of thought. Was the pursuit of justice worth the sexual humiliation and degradation that she and her friends were subjected to every time they had the misfortune to blunder into one of the numerous traps set by supervillains? It was a hard choice. Sun Lin believed that she had been given great gifts for a reason, and that reason was to help out the oppressed citizens of Metro City, but it seemed to be a never-ending task and one that was constantly threatened her virtue. She had never had a proper lover. Her only sexual experience had been at the hands of sadistic rapists.

"One day," she mused, "I will have a real lover. A man who will give me children and a proper home." Not that she was totally dissatisfied with her life. Master Zhou had given her a place to live and had trained her in the development of her skills. But it was not a place to meet eligible young men. Suzi, Kyla, and Natassia had other lives. They were able to socially interact with members of the opposite sex. Sun Lin, however, was alone. She did not mix with the Chinese community of Metro City. She was too different from any of them. Her secret identity would have been discovered and that might place Master Zhou in danger. She could not allow that.

Bored, she shifted her weight again. So much of her job consisted of waiting and watching, often without result. It was already past midnight and there was no sign of criminal activity. It was time to swing through a different section of town. She reached down to her utility belt and took out her grapple. Two hundred feet away loomed a skyscraper. She would use it to snag the roof and swing to a new location.

* * *

"Like myself a creature of the night. And a most exquisite creature at that." The apparition who spoke moved deeper into the shadows. He had been watching the Jade Dragon for more than half an hour, fascinated to find someone as strange as he was in the darkness of Metro City. He pursed his lips with amazement as she tossed a line across the wide gap separating the cathedral from the tall building opposite, and then leaped into space.

"Amazing," he thought, "I did not think any mortal could do that." Emerging from the shadows the black clad figure changed shape, diminishing rapidly in size. Wings sprouted from his dark furry back and he took flight in the direction the Oriental heroine had traveled. He found her on the roof. She was moving rapidly toward the other side of the building. Flapping his leathery wings he sped toward her.

The Jade Dragon turned, tensing, and then relaxed. "A bat," she thought. "Another night traveler like me." She turned back in the direction she had been moving and then she froze. Sun Lin experienced a strange sensation. A voice seemed to be sounding inside her head.

"That’s it my beauty. Wait for me. I have come for you at last." Her muscles seemed paralyzed, but she was unafraid. The voice was strangely alluring. There was something moving behind her, but she did not fear it. Instead she wanted it to come closer. It exuded a powerful sexual presence such as she had never felt before.

The bat swept toward her and then dissolved, changing shape and increasing enormously in size. In a second the figure of a man dressed all in black materialized beside the immobile heroine.

Count Rodna projected his mind into the Jade Dragon’s mind once more, maintaining his control over her. "Do not fight me my beautiful green dragon. You are meant for me. We are both attuned to the darkness." The Count now knew who the Jade Dragon was. His mind had fathomed her identity and had determined that she was probably the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered. He was overcome with the powerful animal desire that was part of his nature.

The Jade Dragon’s lips parted slightly and her breathing increased. She was being slowly subdued by an enormous sexual craving as the Count’s carnal appetite swamped her mind. She had never experienced anything like this, not even when she had been injected with the powerful sexual stimulant invented by the Mad Doctor (See Episode 4, The Jade Dragon Meets the Black Leopard).

The Count smiled. It was a cruel smile, devoid of joy, but brimming with triumph. He always felt like this when he had taken control of the mind of a woman. But this time the sensation was especially strong. He was controlling the mind of a superheroine and soon he would have more than her mind. He would have her body and her soul!

The Jade Dragon struggled against the attack on her mind. But it was like being under the influence of some strange hypnotic drug. Try as she might she could not break the hold on her brain. She did not even know what was happening to her, having not yet seen Count Rodna or his transformation. But her will was not yet gone. Exerting all the powers of her formidable intellect she fought to regain control of her faculties. But slowly her mind clouded. It was like falling into a deep well. The farther she fell the more impossible it was to get out.

Count Rodna’s dark eyes widened slightly. Incredibly, the masked woman was still resisting. He had never come across anyone with such powers of opposition before. He intensified his assault. The Jade Dragon stiffened, and then slowly relaxed. She had fallen under his spell. She was his.

Sun Lin’s eyes closed. She had entered a truly dreamlike state. Unaware of what was happening to her, she slowly sank to her knees. The Count scooped her up. He marveled at the perfect body he held in his arms. Now that he actually held her he knew that he was holding a perfect a specimen of womanhood. Even disguised beneath her costume her charms were obvious.

"This one," he thought, "I will not kill immediately. She is worth saving." He looked about for a worthy hiding place. "The cathedral tower, how apropos!" He moved to the edge of the roof and leaped into the air. Seemingly without effort he sailed across the open space to the bell tower. "This will do nicely. I will take her on holy ground!"

Gently he lay his sleeping burden on the stone floor of the bell tower. He bent his head and softly, almost tenderly kissed her on the lips. The Jade Dragon gave a muffled moan. She was helpless to do otherwise.

He peeled back the dark green and black cowl that covered her head, allowing her jet-black hair to cascade down her back. "What an exquisite face," he thought. "Absolute perfection!" He kissed her again and then found the zipper at the back of her costume. Almost reverently he peeled the cloth from her shoulders revealing the gentle curve of her high breasts. His lips pulled back from his teeth, revealing long, needle-sharp incisors. Bending his head he pierced her left breast just above her nipple. As the blood flowed gently from the wound his tongue greedily lapped up the life-giving fluid. He did not drink too deeply. He wanted this one to live.

"Aaaahhh!" A moan hat was almost like a sigh escaped Sun Lin’s lips as the Count licked the blood from her bleeding breast. Her chest heaved as if she were under some exertion, and then she relaxed once more, as his mind quieted her.

Lowering her torso to the floor, he removed her utility belt and then her thigh-length black boots. Raising her once again he reached the zipper at the back of her costume and pulled it all the way down. Then he peeled her costume from her body. She lay quiet and naked in the cold night air.

Count Rodna surveyed his prize. Her body gleamed in the moonlight its supple curves displayed in magnificent perfection. Her bosom rose and fell erotically, emphasizing the perfect curvature of her magnificent breasts and her stiff and erect nipples. He unbuckled his belt and removed his trousers. A mighty erection throbbed between his legs. Without further ado he moved between the thighs of the seemingly unconscious woman.

But Sun Lin was not unconscious. She was merely under the Count’s spell. He allowed her to retain a level of awareness that permitted her to appreciate what was happening to her. It was, however, a very low level of awareness, akin to a dreamlike state. He breathing quickened as he spread her legs and parted the lips of her vagina with the tip of his member.

"Oooohhh!" Sun Lin groaned as he slowly pushed into her. He was gratified to find that she was well lubricated, but still very tight.

"A virgin!" Rodna thought. But a little more penetration revealed that he was wrong. Her hymen was definitely gone. The tightness of her love canal had momentarily fooled him.

Rodna began to get well into his sexual invasion of the semiconscious heroine, thrusting slowly and deliberately into her. At the same time he massaged and squeezed her firm breasts.

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!" Each thrust elicited a quiet cry of passion. The naked crimefighter was responding, arching her body into his as his penetration deepened. Her hot breath condensed in the chill winter air and her body beaded with perspiration. Deeper and deeper the count plunged into her. Now her cries changed, becoming louder and more passionate as her excitement mounted.

"Aaaaahhh! Aaaahhhh!" Count Rodna had taken her right nipple into his mouth sucking the erect bud until it was fully engorged. The added sensation sent the helpless heroine over the top. "AAAAHHHHH!" A powerful orgasm shook her body and her vagina closed like a vise on the Count’s swollen member.

"Ooohh!" A groan escaped his lips. It had been a long time since he had taken a woman like this, centuries in fact. Yes, she was well worth keeping alive. He groaned again. He was close to orgasm himself, but he maintained control. He wanted this experience to last. Beneath him, the writhing heroine was still responding to his stimulation. His own excitement mounting, he continued to plunge into her, drawing her to an even higher level of arousal. Her cries rent the night air and mingled with his own as their bodies thrashed in carnal desire. For over four hours the Count rode the groaning, screaming, bucking heroine, calling on his superhuman strength to provide the endurance needed to complete his violation of the Asian beauty. Sun Lin reached orgasm again and again. Completely caught up in the forced passion, she responded with unconscious enthusiasm as the powerful vampire continued to ravish her.

But now a glow in the night sky indicated the approach of dawn. It was time to go. With a final powerful thrust deep into the Jade Dragon’s womb, he let himself go and with a great cry, ejaculated into the now whimpering heroine. She was completely done in, exhausted beyond even her endurance by the hours of continuous rutting.

Lifting himself from her enervated body, he dressed, and then, still controlling her mind, helped the debilitated heroine replace her costume. He gazed at her for a few seconds more, taking one final look at the gorgeous woman he had conquered, and then changed form and flitted away, a bat flying home for the night.

Sun Lin dragged herself to her feet. She swayed unsteadily. Where was she? The last thing she could remember was swinging to the roof of one of the city’s skyscrapers, but now she was clearly in the bell tower of the city’s largest cathedral. She had also had a strange dream: one of being abducted and ravaged by a mysterious dark-haired man. She shook her head trying to remember. That dream had seemed so real!

She searched her memory. Exactly what had happened? She could remember using her skyhook and rope to swing from the cathedral to the top of the skyscraper. She recalled a fluttering sound as a bat flew over her head and then she could remember nothing else. She put out her hand on one of the railings surrounding the cathedral’s great bells and steadied herself. Why was she so tired? And cold! Her costume, she now realized, seemed to be soaked with sweat. And her body hurt. The tips of her breasts were very tender and her thighs and pelvic region ached. A shaft of light touched her. Morning! But she could remember nothing of the last five hours. Had she had some sort of blackout? She had heard of such things. It was best if she got home as quickly as possible before too many people started moving about. It was important for a vigilante to maintain her anonymity.

By now she had recovered much of her strength. Although still weak by her standards she felt strong enough to move from building to building. She took out her skyhook and gained the roof of an adjoining building. Sure that the grapple was secure she leaped from the bell tower and swept across to the roof of the neighboring building. She moved across the roof and repeated the process. Thus she moved rapidly toward her home, the residence of Zhou Jin, her master, and teacher of the ancient Chinese art of Wushu. She gained the safety of Zhou’s palatial residence without being seen and went immediately to her room. There she collapsed into her bed and slept without undressing.

She was awakened by a knock at her door. "Sun Lin, Sun Lin? Are you there?" Sun Lin recognized the voice. It was Suzi Kendall, her friend and fellow crimefighter. She arose and opened the door.

Suzi’s beautiful face registered surprise, her eyes widening slightly. "I came over because I though you might like to work out, but I see that you seem ready for action? Is there some sort of emergency?"

Sun Lin realized that she was still dressed as the Jade Dragon. There was, of course, no harm in Suzi knowing who she was. Suzi herself frequently donned her crimson costume and scoured the city in the guise of the Scarlet Falcon, a superheroine crimefighter like herself, but it was she knew, rather unusual for her to wear her outfit before dark.

"No emergency," Sun Lin replied. "I was out very late last night and was so tired that I forgot to take it off." She removed her cowl. Suzi gave her a penetrating look.

"You do look tired. What time did you get home?"

"About seven a.m. I seem to have lost track of time last night."

"You might," said Suzi, taking Sun Lin’s arm, "consider taking the night off. You might be coming down with something."

"So true," came a voice from behind them. It was Master Zhou. Both women bowed to the elderly Chinese master as he approached. "You stay up too late and do not leave enough time for training. You have not yet reached enlightenment. There are many more years of study to go. Tonight you stay and rest. Tomorrow we train."

Sun Lin bowed. She would never consider defying her master, and she did feel quite exhausted, despite the seven hours of sleep she had just had. Suzi was ushering her into the room. "I think you must have caught a cold. Take one of those mysterious Chinese herbs you are always telling me about and get some more sleep. I will do your patrol tonight. I’ll go with Kyla."

Sun Lin nodded. She did not feel like she had a cold, but did feel completely drained. Also her body was still very sore. That worried her. She was sore in areas where she should not have been. She said goodbye to Suzi and retired to her room. She stripped off her costume, surprised to find it soaked with sweat. Carefully, she checked herself out. She felt a cold feeling in her stomach. Her breasts were bruised and very sore, and her pelvic region felt as if she had been reamed out with a jackhammer. It clearly seemed that she had been raped, but she had absolutely no recollection of such a psychologically devastating incident. She would have to discuss the matter with Master Zhou, but first she was going to bathe.

She went into the bathroom and poured her bath. As she waited for the tub to fill she sat in the water and examined herself more closely. One part of her left breast was especially sore. It was almost as if someone had jabbed something into it just above the nipple. "This is strange," she muttered. "I must consult with the Master." Then she lay back in the perfumed water and tried to relax. She thought of Suzi. She was going to be on patrol tonight in her place. What if her friend and companion was heading into a trap?"

* * *

Suzi eased off on the throttle of her motorcycle and let the vehicle coast. She was just across from the Great Cathedral of Metro City. "This is where Jade was patrolling last night," she mused. "I had better keep a sharp eye out. I think something strange happened to her last night."

She checked her sidearm. She had taken to carrying a Browning semi-automatic lately. For so long she had gone armed only with her own inventions. These had proved deadly, but took quite a bit of skill to use. The gun seemed more direct, and she had spent hours practicing in its use. She knew that the Jade Dragon eschewed such weapons, but the Oriental heroine was much more proficient than she was in the martial arts. Suzi needed some sort of equalizer and she hoped that the firearm was it. In any case she had added the gun to her arsenal and felt much more comfortable with it. The square across from the cathedral seemed deserted. Feeding more gas into the engine, she motored across the open space, heading for the shadows on the other side.

Far above her, on the roof of the Cathedral a pair of yellow eyes watched her progress. The Count’s eyes widened slightly. "Another one," he muttered. "How many of these costumed women are there?" Quickly his eyes scanned the surrounding area. There was not a soul in sight. "Good," he thought. There would be no one to interfere with his pleasure. He waited until the crimson-clad figure was well within the shadows of the church and then he swooped.

In the streets far below, Suzi was blissfully unaware of the danger dropping rapidly toward her. Only at the last second was she aware of any presence other than her own. She heard a rushing noise and experienced a sensation unlike any she had had before. The hair on the back of her neck started to rise and then she was lifted bodily into the air.

"Ooooff!" cried Suzi. The impact drove the breath from her lungs. For a few seconds she was too winded and dazed to realize what was happening to her. Then she found herself being lifted high in the air. Feebly she kicked her feet, but desisted after a few seconds. Strangely found that she was totally without fear. Something seemed to be invading her mind. She fought against the frightening intrusion on her senses even as she was carried high to the cathedral bell tower. But she was helpless. Slowly her eyes closed as the Count suppressed her consciousness.

Count Rodna deposited his now limp victim on the stone floor of the bell tower, in the exact spot where he had taken the Jade Dragon. The scarlet costumed heroine sprawled like a rag doll on the flagstones. She was quite oblivious to her surroundings. Only the heaving of her magnificent bosom attested to any stress she might have undergone. The Count licked his lips, exposing his great fangs. He could not see the face of the unconscious woman lying at his feet, but the outline of her majestic body under her skintight costume had great promise. Bending he placed his hands on the cowl that covered her head and face, and peeled it off. "By Satan, I think I like this city!" he exclaimed. "I have seen few women who could rival her. She is every bit as beautiful in her own way as the one I had last night."

"Ooohh!" Suzi moaned. She moved slightly as if on the verge of awakening.

The count pursed his lips. "This one seems most resistant to my mind control. Perhaps I should further restrain her. It might be more fun in any case if she is conscious when I make love to her."

He stooped beside the prostrate heroine. Suzi moaned again and moved her arms and legs. She was definitely regaining consciousness. Quickly he removed her utility belt, and removed a coil of rope that was attached to it. Grabbing Suzi’s arm he flipped her onto her belly. She moaned again. If another minute or so she would be fully conscious. The Count made no effort to suppress her mind. He wanted this one awake and fully conscious of what was happening to her.

He detected the thin line that indicated the zipper that closed her costume from the back. Swiftly he pulled the zipper down, spreading her costume from her neck to the cheeks of her shapely buttocks. Next he pulled her arms behind her, yanked off her gloves, and then peeled the costume from her arms and torso, baring her to the waist. Only an overstressed brassiere remained to hide any of her charms. He continued the undressing process, pulling off her thigh length black boots and stripping the rest of her outfit from her legs. Now for the rope!

He first bound her wrists, and then with a snap of his fangs severed the rope. He next tied part of the remainder about her biceps and then looped several strands about her torso, both above and under her breasts. Pulling the rope tight, he effectively pinned her upper arms to her torso. By this time, Suzi was almost awake, and beginning to struggle. He turned her over. Suzi’s eyelids fluttered. In a few seconds she would be fully conscious.

The Count moved back a little from his prize, but kept hold of her ankles. He had not had time to study her fully. He had left her bra and panties on her. He wanted her to be fully alert when those came off. She was indeed a splendid find! She was a tall girl, standing about five-foot ten inches tall, and was perfectly proportioned. Her breasts were large and globular and were barely concealed by her inadequate halter as they rose and fell in magnificent splendor. The ropes that crisscrossed her torso above and below them and cut into the soft flesh, further highlighting their magnificence. Her waist was amazingly small, and her belly was flat. Her flaring hips declared her readiness for breeding and her long well-muscled legs seemed to invite him to move between them.

Her golden blonde hair was a little more than shoulder length and framed an exquisitely beautiful face. Her features seemed very young. He guessed that she was probably not much more than sixteen or seventeen, but she was very much a woman. Her eyebrows were beautifully arched, and her high cheekbones, and full, very kissable lips completed a picture of almost perfect beauty.

Suzi opened her eyes. Disoriented, she at first did not realize her peril. Then she tried to move and found that she was securely bound. Only then did she become aware of the dark figure hovering over her. She tried to move her feet, but whomever it was had her ankles held tight. She strained her eyes in the darkness, trying to make out her captor. A shudder ran through her. Although she could not see him well, there seemed something inhuman about him. Then she saw his eyes. They were like two glowing, yellow orbs.

"Who…what…are you?" she stammered.

The dark figure did not reply, but moved slightly, so that his head and shoulders received the full light of the moon. Suzi gasped. Whatever had her did not seem human. She shivered again. She knew from her almost naked condition that she was in serious trouble. There could be only one reason why her captor had stripped off her clothes. Then the strange being smiled and she almost screamed. She had heard of such creatures and even read stories about them, but have never supposed that they were real. She was in the clutches of a vampire!

Count Rodna’s cruel smile widened. "Ah, my little beauty. I see that you recognize me for what I am. I hope you appreciate the great honor that is about to be done you. It is not every woman who enjoys the pleasure of making love to a vampire."

Suzi opened her mouth to scream, but the Count anticipated her action. He clamped his hand over her mouth, and then reaching down to her loins he tore her silken panties from her and stuffed them into her mouth as a crude gag. He then tied them in place with what remained of the rope he had used to tie her up.

"Mmmmmpphh!" Suzi protested, but it was no use. She was bound and gagged; helpless at the hands of the vampire count. Desperately she struggled to escape. A terrible fear clutched at her guts. When she was fourteen she had smuggled a book out of the adult section of the Metro City Public Library. It was Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The story had given her nightmares. Now her nightmares had become reality. And she was terrified at what might happen. Her fear gave her added strength. She strained at the ropes with all her might, even to the extent of rubbing her wrists raw, but the Count had done a god job. There was no give in the ropes. Despite this, she continued to struggle, her blue eyes wide with fear and apprehension as the Count unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants. Despite the winter cold her body was covered in sweat. She was about to be raped by a monster and there was nothing she could do about it!

The Count entered her mind again, reveling in her fear. He should have taken the Oriental heroine the same way. The next time he would not cloud her mind so completely. He dropped his shorts, revealing his impressive male member, and spread the legs of the writhing blonde beauty.

"Mmmmmpppphhh! Mmmmpppphhh!" Suzi’s muffled screams emanated from the bell tower. If anyone had been within earshot she would certainly have been heard, but there was no one close by and even if she had been heard, it would have been difficult to rescue her from so isolated a spot. Her heart pounded violently in her chest as the vampire settled himself between her thighs. His distended organ was only inches from her vagina. Suzi arched her back, trying desperately to avoid the impending violation, but the vampire encircled her tiny waist with his hands and drew her to him. His rigid phallus was now resting against her vulva. Suzi was hardly able to believe what was happening to her. She had been abducted and raped before, but never by what she considered a mythological monster.

But the vampire did not take her right away. Instead he was moving his hands over her body, caressing her, attempting to stimulate her sexually. Suzi attempted to resist as best she could, but now she felt the vampire in her mind again. He was forcing arousal upon her, assaulting her with his mind. This double attack was too much for her. She felt her body responding. Her breasts began to enlarge and her nipples became fully engorged. This was further enhanced when the vampire swept his hands up her trembling body and slipped her bra off. The touch of his fingers on each of her swollen nipples sent her over the edge. Her vaginal canal was flowing with sexual lubricants. In spite of her every effort she was succumbing to the vampire’s power.

Count Rodna prepared to take her life force. His victim was responding perfectly. He had taken partial control of her mind, leaving just enough of her own consciousness to allow her to "enjoy" what was happening to her. He felt her fear and loathing, and her sexual desire. He knew that she was terrified by what was happening to her, but fully aroused at the same time. His already stiff sex organ hardened and he leaned into her.

"Ooommmppp!" Suzi cried out as she felt herself penetrated. And then the Count bared his fangs and sank them into her left breast, just above the nipple. "MMMMPPPPPPHHHH!" What would have been a scream issued from her gagged mouth. Her body contorted as her lifeblood flowed from the twin puncture wounds. The Count drank deeply, lapping her blood like a cat, and then satiated, thrust his rod deep within her.

"MMMMMPPPPHHHH!" The Count had penetrated Suzi almost to the full length of his impressive phallus, forcing her tight vagina to accept him. It was well that she was well lubricated otherwise the power of his thrust would have torn her open. As it was, the pain was formidable. But the vampire was just getting started. He withdrew from her aching love canal and then reentered, this time more slowly. He began a slow rhythmic pounding of her nether region, working himself in and out of her in a practiced manner. As he did so, he caressed her firm breasts, working the supple flesh though his fingers.

"Mmmmmmmm!" Suzi groaned again, but this time her pain was mixed with pleasure. The vampire controlled her mind and now controlled her body. Unable to stop herself, she began to respond. Lust overtook her and her heaving body began to move in harmony with his. Bound, gagged and helpless, Suzi endured what seemed like an endless ordeal. The Count made violent love to her all night long, departing as he had with the Jade Dragon, just before dawn. Near the end, the vampire count took complete possession of Suzi’s mind, suppressing her memories of what had been done to her. Only the pain and injuries of her ordeal would remain to remind her of what had happened.

Suzi awoke naked and shivering in the December cold. Her costume lay next to her body and she was alone. It took her some time to work herself out of the cords that still bound her, especially in her somewhat enervated condition. But eventually she managed to get one of her wrists free and struggle out of the rest of her bonds. Confused, she dragged herself to her feet and managed to pull on her costume. Her body hurt incredibly. She was covered with scratches and bruises and her nether region felt at if she had been making love to a jackhammer. In the back of her mind was a memory of some sort of horror. But there were no concrete memories that she could fathom. Barely able to walk, she stumbled down the stairs of the cathedral tower and made her way out to the street and back to her bike. It was lying on its side, but she managed to right it and climb into the saddle. She headed for Master Zhou’s home. She needed his help. She knew that something terrible had happened to her and wanted to find out what. Somehow she knew that the Oriental Master would be able to help her.

Li Mei, also known as the Black Leopard, studied herself in the mirror. She had just come from her bath and was combing out her lustrous black hair. The thick mane hung down to her waist and glistened with water droplets as she swept her comb through it. She turned sideways and arched her back, admiring her perfect figure and accentuating her exquisite breasts. Her twin mounds were so firm that they hardly quivered as she moved. Turning back to the mirror she set down her brush and flicked the two large gold rings that pierced the dark pink areola of each breast. She smiled, but there was no joy in it. Rather, it was as if she was remembering the cruel circumstances that had resulted in the adornment of her nipples. The evil mad scientist Doctor Ivan Retinoff had put them there. She had gotten her revenge over the mad Russian by emasculating him, but had later decided she liked the effect the oversized rings gave her breasts and had decided to keep them. She tweaked her nipples, enjoying the sensation and then got on with her preparations. She could play with herself later. Right now she had work to do.

Her business was crime and she was very good at it. There was just one problem, or maybe four problems depending on how one counted, with doing crime in Metro City and that was dealing with the four superheroines who constantly patrolled the city. The Black Leopard had come up against them several times and had not always won. The last encounter had been particularly disastrous. Her entire crime organization had been almost completely destroyed and she had been betrayed by her supposedly loyal henchman, the brutal mad doctor. She could not afford too many more setbacks like that. It had taken her months of carefully staged burglaries to get her back to a decent level of existence. She needed just one more big crime and then she could branch out into something really lucrative. She had spent the last few weeks researching her latest theft. It would be risky, but spectacular, and if successful would make her very wealthy indeed.

She pulled on her costume and left her bedroom. She entered into a common room. There, waiting for her, were her four accomplices. Li Mei called them her Pussies. Ocelot, Cheetah, Tiger, and Cougar were four astounding beautiful and equally corrupt young women. All of them were completely loyal to Li Mei. She had recruited and trained each of them, and had instilled them with a love of crime and excitement that rivaled her own. Tonight she would take all of them with her.

The black clad villainesses exited the Black leopard’s lair through a secret underground garage. The roar of the powerful engine of the mighty Dusenburg filled the night air as Tiger directed it down the dark streets toward the center of Metro City. The windows of the luxury vehicle were tinted to hide its passengers, and this late at night there were few to see the car in any case. Nevertheless, Tiger halted the car several blocks from the museum. They would go on foot from there and return to the car after finishing their robbery.

Keeping to the shadows of the poorly lit streets, the quintet closed in on the museum. Soon the neoclassical structure loomed before them. It was an imposing structure. Huge Corinthian columns lined the front of the building making it look like some ancient temple, as was intended. Li Mei knew that the edifice was very well protected with burglar alarms and heavily patrolled inside by numerous security guards. Such precautions were normal for a building containing so many valuable artifacts. This night, however, Li Mei knew the museum was even more heavily protected. The museum was hosting a special exhibition, a display of a dozen of the world’s most valuable gems. Their replacement value was incalculable, but they were insured for hundreds of millions of dollars. Li Mei planned to scoop them all, in what she hoped would be the crime of the century.

Her plan was simple, but she hoped effective. With so much security guarding the museum, robbing it would be almost impossible. What she needed to do was draw off the guards, leaving the way free for her to strike during their absence. It was to be the Pussies’ job to provide the distraction. For that purpose the four young women had hauled a two-inch mortar with them. It was the perfect instrument for the job. They could set it up in a secure location and lob shells anywhere they wanted without being detected. The chaos and confusion caused by the mortar attack should draw off enough of the security force near the museum to enable the Black Leopard to strike.

The five women broke into a five-story warehouse about three blocks from the museum. This was a routine break-and-enter and it took them only seconds to gain access to the building. Then the four Pussies carried the mortar to the roof. It took them only minutes to set it up. Then they waited for the Black Leopard to get into position.

Li Mei worked her way to the park next to the museum. Although it was winter, the trees and shrubs provided enough cover for her to move within several hundred feet of the building. From her utility belt she took out a small flare pistol and pointed it above the museum. She pulled the trigger and a few seconds later a bright star shell exploded high above the museum roof. It was the signal the Pussies had been waiting for. A few seconds later a two-inch mortar shell exploded on the roof of a nearby building. Then there was a second explosion and a third. The Pussies were lobbing the shells randomly, but the explosions had the desired effect. Police streamed into the open area in front of the museum. Orders were shouted into the winter night and officers ran off in all directions. Most of the police headed off in the direction of the explosions, while a number of others attempted to locate the source of the bombardment.

The Black Leopard moved from her hiding place. The way to the museum was now open, the mortar attack having provided the necessary diversion. Crouching low, she crossed the open ground around the museum and gained the security of its shadows. Then she took out a powered grappling hook and fired it to the top of the museum. It was one of the mad doctor’s little inventions. Although he and she had had a falling out, she still made use of his ingenious devices. The hook caught, and she quickly climbed to the museum roof. She looked about her. No one seemed to have noticed her ascent. So far so good. He plan was working. She now had to find her way into the museum interior and deal with the guards that were still inside the building. Climbing the sloping roof, she made her way to the huge glass skylight that was right over the center of the museum. Directly below was the gem display. Working quickly and silently, she cut a hole in the glass. Then she unhooked a canister from her belt. There was enough compressed sleeping gas in the cylinder to render a thousand men unconscious. It should do the trick. She hooked her finger into the pin and began to pull it out…

* * *

Winging his way above the city, the Count spotted a stealthy movement on the rooftops below. He was searching for his playmates of the previous two nights. They seemed to be nowhere about, but he had come upon someone new. He lighted on the museum roof, in the shadows of a large gargoyle and changed back to man-form. His yellow eyes widened at what she saw. There was another costumed figure stealing its way through the darkness. He shook his head in wonderment. Three nights, and three different costumed women. What sort of city was this? It seemed to be full of exotic and beautiful women who roamed the rooftops at night just for his pleasure. This one was different, however. As he probed her mind he detected the presence of an evil that rivaled his own. This night he would not be despoiling a heroine, but instead taking a villainess.

He entered her mind, freezing her in place. The canister she held in her hand fell from her paralyzed fingers. He held her there while he made sure that she did not escape. As in the case of the red-clad heroine, this one was equipped with all the necessary equipment for bondage. He took a coil of silken rope from her utility belt. How would he secure this one? He tried to think of something imaginative. He looked about and spotted a row of flagstaffs near the edge of the museum roof. They would do nicely. Still holding the Black Leopard with his mind, he moved to the edge of the roof and snapped off two of the flagstaffs. He was left with a couple of wooden rods each about five feet long. He returned to the mesmerized villainess and picked her up. Carrying her into the shadow of the gargoyle, he removed her gloves and thigh length boots. Then her lashed her wrists to each end of one of the wooden poles, spreading her arms apart over her head. He noticed with enjoyment how the action served to lift and accentuate his victim’s full breasts. Then he repeated the process with her ankles, spreading her legs in an identical manner to her arms. The captive woman was now spread in the shape of an X.

Standing back he surveyed his prize. Even though she was still masked she was impressively beautiful. The perfect contours of her body showed clearly beneath her skintight costume. It was time to release her mind and let her discover her situation.

* * *

Li Mei awoke with a start. Alarm filled her mind. It seemed that only a second ago she had been getting ready to gas the museum guards. Now she had awakened in terrifying circumstances. How could she have fallen asleep? Had she, herself, been gassed or anesthetized? She tried to move but found that she was spread-eagled, her wrists and ankles bound with cleverly contrived knots that held them securely in place. Looming above her was a dark and mysterious figure. Even in the blackness of the night, she could see his gleaming yellow eyes. Suddenly filled with a deep and terrible fear, she opened her mouth to scream, but she got no chance to make any sound. As her mouth opened a handkerchief was stuffed into it. Li Mei recognized it as one taken from her own utility belt. Immediately, a second handkerchief was knotted behind her head, holding the first in place. Almost gagging, Li Mei could do no more than make muffled protests. Frightened almost beyond belief, she awaited her fate. She had little doubt what it would be. There was little reason other than rape for her captor to bind her the way that he had.

A smile of satisfaction parted the Count’s cruel lips. He could feel his victim’s fear. It was like a powerful aphrodisiac. Already a mighty erection was stirring between his legs. He hooked his taloned finger just under the edge of her mask and pulled. The razor edged claw sliced through the elastic material. A couple more slashes and she was unmasked. He moved his claws down to the neckline of her costume, just above her heaving breasts. Drawing his finger down, he split the costume from neck to crotch. Then, he sliced through the material covering each of her arms and peeled the destroyed garment from her body. Li Mei’s body shook in the frigid air, her magnificent breasts quivering and her nipples hardening as they were exposed to the cold.

"What’s this?" the Count inquired, fingering her nipple rings. "Decorations? Breasts such as yours need no adornment."

"Mmmmppphhh!" Li Mei protested. Unlike the Jade Dragon, she knew the ancient legends and realized that she had been captured by a creature straight out of one of them. There was no mistaking that she was in the power of a vampire. And she knew that women who were taken by a vampire usually died. She struggled again, making her breasts dance, but could not free herself from her bondage.

"That’s it, my beauty, excite me." Count Rodna resumed his destruction of Li Mei’s costume, slitting the material from her crotch to her ankles on both legs. The elastic garment peeled away, leaving her completely naked. Li Mei fought harder, her terror giving her almost superhuman strength and endurance, but the Count had bound her well. There was no give in the knots he had tied. Her overheated body was covered in beads of sweat that steamed off into the winter air. The Count moved between her legs and she almost went wild with fear. Her body bucked and heaved in a desperate attempt to break free. Her struggles were made even more fierce by the horrifying knowledge that he was in her mind, partially controlling her. He was causing her body to become sexually aroused, preparing her for his assault.

"MMMPPPHH! MMMMPPPPHHHH! NNNNNNNNGGGGGHHH!" The Count had thrust into her deeply, forcing open her hot vagina and filling it completely. It was pain, pleasure, passion and humiliation, all at the same time. Li Mei did not now how to react. One part of her body told her to enjoy it and another to resist with all her might. "MMMPPNNGGHHH!" The count used his control over his body to enlarge his already impressive phallus. The massive organ seemed to be splitting her in two. Then the Count thrust it home, using his mighty rod as an instrument of torture. Under her gag, Li Mei screamed mightily. But it was just the beginning. For the next three hours the vampire hammered his oversized member in and out of her, raping her raw. When he finally withdrew, her love canal burned with a terrible fire, but the undead fiend was not yet finished with her. There were still three hours left before daybreak.

Li Mei felt herself being turned over on her stomach. She shrieked in protest at what was coming next, but there was no way for her to stop the Count from impaling her with his hot poker. He reduced it in mass and pounded it into her tiny anus. Without the gag, all of Metro City would have heard Li Mei’s cry of pain. But it got worse, much worse. Having gained access to her rear entrance, he expanded his shrunken phallus and rammed it deep with in her. For a few seconds Li Mei fainted from the pain. But when she awoke the Count was still there. The anal rape continued for another two hours. Then, as the sky lightened, the Count turned her over for the last time. Bending over her swollen breasts, he sank his fangs into her left tit, just above the nipple ring. The blood flowed. He drank deeply. And then satiated, he left his battered naked victim, changed form, and flew off into the morning.

Battered, bleeding, and still bound, Li Mei lay helpless, confused and beaten. At the last minute the count had clouded her mind. She had no clear recollection of what had happened to her, only a dazed vision of a brutal assault by some unknown assailant. Completely exhausted, she lay on the roof in the freezing cold, too beaten to struggle or try to free herself.

"Blackie? Blackie?" A voice sounded nearby. Li Mei could only moan in reply. "Blackie!" It was Tiger. One of her Pussies had found her at last. Quickly the apprentice cat burglar cut her mistress free. Li Mei was in no condition to stand. She felt like she had been raped with a fence post. Her disciple hauled her to the edge of the roof and secured a rope about her. Then she gave a signal, a high-pitched whistle. Two blocks away, a car exploded into the street. Li Mei felt herself being lowered to the ground. Cougar was waiting for her there. Within a few seconds Tiger joined them and together the two black-clad young women hauled her into a waiting vehicle. Ocelot was behind the wheel. Still too dazed and pained to completely understand what was going on, her companions spirited her away from the scene of her latest defeat. She had experienced a night that she would not soon forget.

"Then we’ve got to find him," said Natassia Green, also known as Nova. "We don’t dare take a chance with such a monster." She was seated around a table with her three friends, Sun Lin, the Jade Dragon; Suzi Kendall, the Scarlet Falcon; and Kyla Smith, the Blue Avenger. The other women nodded in agreement. They were seated in a semicircle facing an elderly Oriental. This was their mentor, Zhou Jin, the octogenarian Chinese martial arts master. Following the strange assaults on Sun Lin and Suzi, the four heroines had decided to hold a joint counsel in Zhou Jin’s home. This was convenient, as it was also the home of his adopted daughter Sun Lin. It was a counsel of war, with Master Zhou acting as their spiritual guide and advisor. They had hoped that the elderly martial arts expert would be able to shine some light on what had befallen the two heroines. After listening to their stories and inspecting the twin puncture marks on the left breasts of Sun Lin and Suzi, the ancient master had delivered his verdict. They faced perhaps the deadliest opponent they had ever come up against. A vampire. An undead creature of the night, possessed of superhuman strength and strange powers of the mind. He might prove more than a match for all of them.

"Be assured," Zhou Jin had said, "that this creature will prove most difficult to destroy. He can take the shape of any creature of the night, and is possessed of the strength of his past victims. Each time he kills a little of their life force flows into him, giving him the power of ten men. He is also possessed of immense hypnotic powers that he can project from afar, paralyzing his victims before they even know he is there. He is also very persistent. Once he has selected a victim, he will come back again and again until he has sucked the life from her. Sun Lin and Suzi have fallen into his clutches and they must be protected from him. This will not be easy, as he gains extra power over those he has victimized. Sun Lin and Suzi will want to resist him, but they may find that they are helpless in his presence. They will have to be closely guarded."

"But," protested Suzi, "that will mean we can no longer go on patrol. We will be forced to hide from him in order to prevent him from taking us again."

"That is so," agreed Zhou Jin, "but that can be turned to our advantage. The Vampire will be drawn to Sun Lin and Suzi like a moth to a flame. If we keep both of them here under guard, we may be able to trap him. There are certain things to which he is vulnerable." The assembled women went quiet while Zhou Jin explained.

"First, he cannot stand the sun. Its rays are fatal to him. He can only come out at night, and that is when we must be on the alert for him. During the daytime we can engage in a search for his hiding place without fear. Second, there are certain substances that are poisonous to a vampire. We can use garlic as a barrier, as no vampire can tolerate its presence. Also water that has been blessed by a holy man will burn him like acid. He is also repelled by certain religious symbols, such as the Christian cross or Oriental yin yang. We can use these things to defend ourselves."

"Well," said Suzi, "I guess we better get started. I will work on some portable equipment that will help us if we track him down."

"I will attend to the defenses of this house," said Sun Lin. It is daylight now and I will go to the market and purchase as much garlic as I can find."

"I’ll see about the Holy Water," said Kyla. "I’m Roman Catholic and should be able to persuade the priest to give me what we need."

"I guess that leaves me to do the tracking," said Natassia. "I’m probably the only one who comes close to him in physical strength in any case. The problem is, I don’t know where to start looking. Metro City is a big place."

"Be very careful," cautioned Zhou Jin. "Sheer strength alone is not enough. A vampire can only be killed by exposing him to sunlight or by driving a stake through his heart. That is not easy to arrange. Also, beware of the powers of his mind. I suspect that the Dragon’s Eye may protect you from his hypnotic powers, but there is no guarantee."

Natassia touched the large green gem that she now wore in a choker about her neck. It was the Dragon’s Eye, the mystical stone that was the source of her great strength and other powers. The mysterious jewel had saved her and her friends on more than one occasion.

"As to where you should look," said Suzi, why don’t you check the city’s land registry to see if there is anything a vampire might like to have that has been sold in the last few months?"

"And what do you think a vampire might like?"

"Sun Lin and I were attacked near the Greet Cathedral. Why don’t you start your investigation in that area? There might be a suitable property that has changed hands near there."

"Good idea," Natassia replied. As she finished speaking she bowed to Master Zhou, and then pulled on her jacket. The other women copied her and soon all four young women were going about their appointed tasks. Together they were going to defeat the monster that had dared to molest two of their number.

* * *

It was easier than Natassia had thought it would be. Suzi’s suggestion turned out to be inspired. There were a dozen properties within a four-block radius of the Great Cathedral that seemed to be strong possibilities as a vampire hideout. It shouldn’t take too long to check them out. She was using her bright red roadster as transport. It was a easy way to get around. It had taken her a couple of hours to check the land records, and it was now just after one o’clock in the afternoon. With any luck she should be able to check out all the possible sites before dark.

The first six locations she investigated were a waste of time. They were all occupied by stereotypical Metro City families. All of the houses had one thing in common. They were all quite large and expensive. It was Natassia’s guess that a creature as powerful as a vampire would not live in a dump. As a result, the houses had live-in servants that she could question. It took a bit of time to check out each one, as she couldn’t be too obvious. She posed as a journalist doing an article on the historical homes of Metro City to have an excuse to talk to the inhabitants of each house. One by one she eliminated them. The seventh house, however, took her longer to check out, as did the two after that. In these cases there was no one at home and she had to resort to quizzing the neighbors to gather enough information. Finally satisfied that none of the three was housing a vampire she moved on. That took her to the tenth house. It was later than she had planned. The sun was going down as she pulled up in front of what was a truly imposing mansion.

The house was a huge three story brick structure built in the Victorian style. It was surrounded by a porch on two sides. Large and ornate columns held up the porch roof and framed the doorway. Turrets gave the house an almost castle-like appearance. "Looks like a good place for a vampire to live," muttered Natassia. She looked at her watch and then at the reddened sky of the setting sun. "Perhaps I should wait until tomorrow," she thought. She got out of the car. "I’m here. I might as well check it out." She strode up the walk.

She had to ring the bell twice before she heard anything from the interior of the house. The door was opened by a most dignified looking elderly man dressed in formal attire. "Good evening, miss. Are you expected?"

"I’m doing a story for Better Homes America on the prestige homes of Metro City. I am interested in discovering the history of this home and possible doing a photo-shoot on it with the owner’s permission. Would it be alright if I asked you a few questions?"

The man bowed. "I think that might be arranged. Please come in."

Natassia entered and followed the man to a small comfortably furnished room just off the main entrance. "Please wait here, Miss…?

"Jones, Carol Jones," Natassia improvised. She sat down in one of the well-cushioned chairs.

The man, left the room. Natassia got up. Should she wait? She could be entering a trap. On the other hand, the likelihood that she had stumbled upon the vampire’s hideout on the first day of her search was remote. She might as well wait and see what developed. She sat down again. A few minutes later a tall man entered the room.

"Miss Jones?" said the man bowing deeply. Welcome to my home. My name is Jan Mitlos, I understand you would like to do a story on it." The man was darkly handsome and his voice had the tinge of a European accent.

"Well," replied Natassia, "it’s just one of many that I am investigating. But if it meets the criteria I would certainly be interested in following it up."

"Would you like a short tour? I will not show you all of the house, just enough to determine whether or not it is worth your time."

"That would be very nice of you," said Natassia. She knew that she was taking a chance. Mitlos fitted the profile of the vampire. He was tall, European, and his eyes were a shade of yellow. She had never seen anyone with eyes like that. But it was now difficult to back out. "May I use your phone? I should call in to the office. I was due back an hour ago." If Mitlos denied her the use of the phone that would give her an excuse to leave.

"By all means, there is one in the library." Natassia stood up and followed the man out of the room. They went down the hall and turned into a room lined with hundreds of books. On a desk in the center of the room was a telephone. "I will leave you here to make your call. You may join me in the main hall when you are finished. Stefan will wait in the hall to escort you."

"Thank you," said Natassia. As soon as Mitlos left the room she phoned the Jade Dragon. "Jade, I’m at 326 Kensington Drive. I thought I better call in. I haven’t found anything today and should be with you in about an hour. This is my last stop."

"Be careful, Nova. It’s after sundown. The vampire will be at full strength."

"Right. I’ll be vigilant. See you in an hour."

She put down the phone and left the room. Stefan, the elderly butler was waiting for her in the hall. He gestured that she should follow him and moved down the hall. He escorted her to a large set of ornately carved double doors, bowed and then turned away. Natassia entered the room. Mitlos was waiting for her, a grim smile on his face.

"Are you ready to begin the tour, Miss Jones? I regret that I cannot show you the entire house, but I have a few rooms that I think you will find interesting."

"Yes. I must say that what I have seen of the house so far is quite impressive. This room is magnificent." Natassia looked about the large room. It was impressive indeed. An enormous stone fireplace dominated the far end of it, and huge windows let in the yellow light of the street lamps. Everywhere, the room was paneled in ornately carved dark wood.

"It is more than magnificent, Miss Jones. It also hides a secret. Mitlos stepped to the fireplace and touched a concealed lever. With a rumbling sound the back of the fireplace swung open, revealing a dark passageway. "Not every room has a secret passage. Would you like to take a look?"

Natassia hesitated. The cover story she had chosen seemed to be pulling her deeper and deeper into the mysterious house.

"Do not worry," Mitlos smiled, "I have checked in myself. It is perfectly safe." He bowed as he spoke and swept his hand toward the passage. Natassia took a breath and stepped into the fireplace.

She found that she was at the top of a flight of stairs. Mitlos flicked a light switch, providing enough illumination for Natassia to see that the stairs spiraled deep into the ground. A feeling of apprehension took hold of her. Mitlos stepped beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don’t be afraid Miss Jones, It is perfectly safe. See, I will go first." And he descended the staircase, soon passing out of sight as the staircase turned. Natassia took a deep breath and followed.

The dark stairway went down at least thirty feet underground. Every step Natassia took filled her with misgiving, but somehow she could not stop herself from following Mitlos. She could hear him descending, just a few feet in front of her.

At the bottom of the stairs she found herself in a large room. It was entirely lined with stone, and there was a distinct chill in the rather dank air. The room was completely empty except for a strange metal wheel in its center. It was about ten feet in diameter and was suspended in mid air by two axles attached to opposite sides of its rim. More than anything else, it resembled a medieval instrument of torture, although it was one that Natassia had never seen before. A cold feeling settled into the middle of her stomach, but Natassia forced herself to walk up to the gigantic wheel. And then she saw the coffin.

It was against the far wall and behind the wheel. It was a simple wooden coffin with a hinged lid. The lid was open, and she could see that the interior of the coffin was filled with earth. She turned to look at Mitlos and saw that he had moved to the bottom of the stairs, cutting off her retreat. "Welcome, Nova," he said menacingly. "I hope you like this room. You are going to spend quite a bit of time here."

Natassia swallowed. She realized that she had found what she had been looking for – the lair of the vampire.