It is exactly one year after Dracula's death. Or shall we say, impediment of his eternity. He was resurrected by the devil shortly after his duel with Van Helsing. His purpose is the same as it was before, to ensure the continuation of his kind.
Gabriel Van Helsing stepped hesitantly into the courtyard of Castle Dracula. There has been rumors the count still lived, and he had been sent to make sure if it as true. The iron gates were open, and he found himself in the high-ceilinged room that once held the hundreds of thousands of undead vampire children on it's rafters. There was nothing there now, but trailing wires and equipment. A small rustle caused him to jerk his head upwards. And standing on the balcony, about fifty yards above him, was a small girl, of about twelve years. His eyes widened in shock.
"What are you doing here! This place is dangerous. Who are you" he stammered. The girl said nothing. She was pretty, slim, and with long ebony hair cascading down her shoulders and back. He could not discern her facial features. She climbed onto the railing.
"Don't jump!" he cried. Then, from the shadows behind her, came the Count himself. She was just balancing herself, arms out at outrageous angles. And he pushed her.
"No!" Van Helsing shouted, running to get beneath her, in desperate hopes of catching her. The falling girl spun weirdly, then suddenly, spread her arms and legs. He noticed, too late, that she was transforming into the horrible harpy-form of the three brides, and had grabbed his shirtfront. He struggled helplessly, and she dropped him, curving around, and alighting back on the balcony.
"What the-"
"I see you have met my daughter, Gabriel" Came the smug voice of the Count.
"Daughter? All your children are dead"
"So I thought, too. But, when I was resurrected, some of my newly gained energy was transferred to a single child. This is Sera. Sera, meet Gabriel Van Helsing"
"Van Helsing?"
"Yes"
She jumped from the balcony, not transforming, and dropped directly in from of him.
"You killed my mama."
"Eh..." Van Helsing wasn't sure what would happen if he admitted the fact. Instead he spoke with boldness.
"If your damned father is alive, surely your mother is"
"Yes. Yes she is. And I'm sure she's just dying to drain you of every ounce of blood you've got" she snarled, then flew back to Dracula.
"Yes. My darling Verona is rather upset that you robbed her of her existence. I'd like to let her take care of you once and for all, but Sera seems to have her heart set on killing you herself"
"They both can't kill me"
"That was obvious. Now run, Gabriel. We shall meet up later. I promise it"
Van Helsing backed slowly away, reaching into his heavy leather coat. He pulled the crossbow from his belt, and suddenly fired a round at the count. Instead they struck Sera, and she tumbled over the balcony, landing with a sickening thud on the stone floor. Dracula looked down at her, a terrible snarl forming on his thin lips. He growled, and jumped from the balcony, homing in on Van Helsing. Van Helsing shot a few times at him, but the stakes had little effect. He turned and ran. Dracula stopped, and watched him leave, before turning back to his daughter.
The child lay on the floor, blood seeping from her shoulder and stomach. Luckily none had pierced her heart. The count gathered her up in his arms and changed to the hell-beast, flying her away, and up into his castle.
---
Once inside, Verona greeted him, than a look of horror crossed her face she saw the small blood-soaked bundle in Dracula's arms.
"What happened?"
"Van Helsing" He growled. "Will you tend to her?"
"Of course" Verona took Sera in her arms and started up the winding staircase, and out of sight. Dracula retired to his study, where he sat and thought until the morning came, and he was forced to sleep.
---
When the moon rose again, so did the count. He immediately scaled the steps and entered Sera's room. It was odd, but since the devil had granted him the life of one child, he actually had experienced something her hadn't before. He cared for her. He actually wanted to know if she was doing alright. Before, when his brides were injured beyond what their healing abilities allowed, he didn't give a damn, knowing they would heal in time. Also, there was the fact Sera wasn't fully mature. She still had some of the features of the babies when they first hatched. Her face was slightly reptilian; she had nodules of bone on her back where wings once were, her ears were pointed, and her eyes wide and dark. What was quite easy for he and his brides to heal took much longer and much more energy to her. She sat up in her bed.
"Papa-I mean, Master" she said, remembering the respectful title her mother, Verona, had taught her.
"How are you my dear?"
She frowned slightly. She had never heard him say anything like that before. Perhaps to mother, or to Auntie Aleera or Marishka, but never from Dracula.
"They wounds are healing fine, my lord"
He heaved a sigh. He had actually quite preferred Papa to Master, but he had demanded anyone in the Fortress call him that. She was showing the proper respect, but it didn't feel the same. He strode to the bed, his long black cloak fluttering behind him. He sat on the bed.
"Van Helsing will pay for this"
Revenge for the injuring of his minions. This was a new one. He had mourned the deaths of his brides, but they were easily resurrected. Sera was slightly confused. She loved her father, very dearly in fact, but he was cold and unfeeling most of the time. He showed little affection, but, sometimes, when he acted understanding and sweet, it meant he was about to erupt. She was cautious.
"Yes...m-my lord"
Spontaneously, he enveloped her in his arms, the black cloak covering most of her small form. She relaxed in his arms, and in the warmth of the fabric. Then he got up and left the room, without so much as a backward glance. Her met Verona on the stairs, and barely looked at her. Verona watched him go down the stairs, then went into Sera's room.
"Mama? What's wrong with papa? He's acting...different"
"How so?"
"He...hugged me"
Verona raised an elegant eyebrow. That was not definitely the count she knew.
---
Dracula sat in his study again, thinking again. The feelings he had for his daughter would be an impediment on the Evil Genius title he had strived for. There was a knock at the study door.
"Come in" he said. Verona wafted into the room, her frothy green skirts trailing behind her.
"My lord, just to tell you. Sera is healing well. The wounds were deep, and some too close to her heart for my liking. You might say that Van Helsing's aim has improved since our last encounter"
"Good. She flew quite nicely today. Managed to grab Gabriel by his shirt front before she dropped him"
"She's still small though"
"I understand that Verona" he barked
"I know" Verona was the only bride that did not cringe away when spoken sharply to.
"Then why did you say it" he was just looking for an excuse to argue. He felt tense.
"Vladislaus," she was the only bride that called him Vladislaus as well. "Stop trying to get me to fight with you. I refuse to. You know as well as I do why I said it. She's only ONE. One child. And I wouldn't be able to stand it if I lost her. And from the way you've been acting, neither would you. So stop with your dreams of sending her as a spy because she's a child. A child, Vladislaus. So I'm not sure you DO understand. Being subtle won't get you what you want," Verona paused for breath.
"I'm sure she wants more than anything to fight for you, but she's too young. I'm sure she would be happy to give her life for you. But I would rather have stayed in hell than to see her die because of the STUPIDITY of her father" She had treaded lightly where she shouldn't have. Dracula whipped around and grasped her by the throat and lifted her easily. His nails pierced the skin.
"Insult me again, my dear, and I'll kill you myself"
"Fine. Leave Sera motherless again, and this time only because of your TEMPER. And Lucifer might not be as willing to let me come back once you decided your decision was rash and idiotic"
Dracula let her go, and she slid to the floor, gasping for breath, red blood welling from her neck and spilling in red rivulets down her chest. They healed quickly, but the blood stayed, reminding him of the pain he had recently inflicted upon his bride. She stared darkly at him, slender hands massaging her windpipe. Tears welled in her eyes, though her face did not crumple. She sat still, like a statue, as the salty sorrow spilled down her cheeks and wet her collar and dark hair. Dracula reached down and pulled her up, their eyes locked, waiting for the other to blink. He noted Verona's eyes were not green, as they were when she was angered or exited, but dark and glassy. Verona also saw the ice blue fade from Dracula's eyes, becoming replaced by dark brown. Neither was angered anymore. Verona finally broke down, hiding her face behind her hands as she sobbed quietly.
"I-I-I...hate it when we f-f-fight..." Her voice shook painfully. A brown head poked from around the doorway.
"Is everything alright?" Came a slightly concerned voice.
"Marishka. Leave us" Dracula commanded, and she skittered away, followed closely by Aleera. They tittered like children. It didn't exactly help the situation. Verona sunk to the floor, her body heaving lightly with sobs. Dracula knelt beside her, and took her hands away from her tearstained face, holding them gently.
"Shh" he hushed soothingly, wrapping his arms around her. She relaxed at once. He still wore his cloak, so she was warmed. The black leather he preferred was cold and hard. He kissed the top of her head. She gave a small sigh and lifted her face.
"I hate it too" He whispered in her ear. This actually surprised Verona. Normally Dracula became angry when any of the brides cried. He said only mortals cried, and it was foolish and weak. But he comforted her instead.
"When she's older, I promise" he said.
"Thank you. I wouldn't be able to lose her. Not again..."
"It's okay. It won't happen. Anyone who so much as touches her will deal with me"
"Alright" she spoke softly. Dracula and she rose.
"I must hunt. I have to bring back something for Sera" She kissed him softly, then left the room.
"Marishka! Aleera! We're hunting" she called, snapping into her position of second-in-command. Guiltily, the pair crept from behind the door. Verona's eyes widened and started to pale to green.
"Explain" she said, in a deadly whisper.
"We...eavesdropped" Aleera said awkwardly. Verona opened her mouth and shrieked at them.
"You WHAT" Her fangs lengthened.
"We heard everything" Dracula stepped from the room.
"What is this?"
"These two were...eavesdropping on us" said Verona. Clenching her hands in anger.
"Marishka. Aleera. Is what Verona is saying true" he said. His voice was light, but his eyes had gone the color of ice. They dropped their heads shamefully, pulling back as to not get the full force of his rage.
"Yes" Marishka said meekly. The rage built up behind those eyes, until he exploded, roaring at the younger pair.
"Unladylike and despicable!" were his only words. He then strode away, shaking his head.
"Oh dear. I think he's mad at us" Marishka spoke sarcastically, as if she hadn't been shouted at the moment before. Aleera's lip trembled, and Verona glared at the two of them.