Some Random: Hey everybody! I've come up with a new story. Yeah, I should probably finish the others, but I have the habit of coming to a standstill in my writing and then starting a new story. I went through an exam block in the last week of school and I went on a school Ski Trip as well. So that's why I haven't been updating lately. Anyway, I don't own Van Helsing or any movies/TV shows/books/quotes from the aforementioned/songs etc. The only thing I do own are my OCs, (don't we all just love them?) Valerie etc. Well, on with the chapter!
Chapter One - One death, one deal and one new life...
Gabriel knew what he had to do, it was God's will after all. He waited at the door, waiting for him to open it. Then it did.
"Gabriel. What a lovely surprise." Said Vladislaus, standing in the doorway, "Would you like to come in?" Gabriel was silent and reached into his coat. Birds roosting on the statues in the front yard scattered at Vladislaus's cry in pain and surprise as the dagger plunged into his chest. Vladislaus fell to his knees, feeling the warmth of blood spread on his chest.
"Why?" he said, his voice hoarse as his life slipped away from him.
"It was God's will," Replied Gabriel, his tone neutral, "that you had to die." Vladislaus's body fell to the ground at Gabriel's feet, cold and still. Turning around, Gabriel crossed himself as he left.
'It was God's will. God's will that you had to die.' he thought and disappeared down the street.
In another house in another street, Count Di Mira received a messenger. He bore a message from Gabriel, an old friend of the Count's. Unfortunately, on its way, the message had been changed.
"State your message." He said to the messenger.
"Count Alexander Di Mira. I wish to inform you that I have carried out the deed which God told me I must do. But I leave you this message. It is God's will that you must kill your wife." Said the messenger, and Alexander's eyes widened.
"No." he leant against the wall.
"You may leave now." He said to the messenger, giving him two coins. The messenger tipped his cap and ran off down the street.
"Why, why her?" Alexander said to himself, closing the door, "Why Valerie?" Grabbing a dagger from above the fireplace, he then headed upstairs. That dagger was then plunged into his wife's heart. It looked wrong, sticking out of her body.
"Why Alex?" she said, blood soaking through, into the fabric of her dress, "Why?"
"It was God's will," he said, his voice cracking, "God's will that you were to die."
Valerie's world drifted into darkness as her life ended.
It was cold and she slowly opened her eyes. In front of her was a path, which forked at the end, one going up into a white light, the other going down into darkness. There was a small checkpoint near where the path forked off. The Final Judgement. She stepped forward, walking along the path up to the checkpoint. There was a short man at the counter, clipping his toenails and taking no notice of her. There was a small silver bell on the counter. Picking it up, she rang it. The man looked up at her and sat up straighter on his stool. He picked up a large book from under the counter and set it onto it. Grabbing a quill and ink pot, he turned back to her.
"Name." he said.
"Countess Valerie Di Mira." She said, politely, and the man flicked through the pages of the book.
"Devon, no too short, Dragulia, no too far, ah here it is! Di Mira, Valerie." He tapped the book with the quill. He scanned down the page.
"Murdered by your husband, am I correct?" he said and she nodded. He wrote something down in the book, under her name.
"I see no unworthy tainting of your soul, so I guess Hea-" the man was cut off by the appearance of a flaming note near him and he grabbed it.
"One moment." He said to her, and read the note.
"It seems we have a change." He said finally.
"Who was the note from?" she asked him and the name he mentioned chilled her to the bone.
"Satan." She then heard footsteps behind her and was grabbed roughly by the arms.
"What is going on?" she said, her voice full of concern.
"You have been requested by the Devil." Said the man, "There's nothing you or I can do."
"But that is preposterous! I have not sinned enough to go to Hell. I belong in Heaven!"
"I'm sorry. Nothing can be done." The two demon men restraining her, dragged her down the path leading to the darkness, kicking and screaming. And when the darkness enveloped them, she screamed.
The heat was unbearable, she felt like she was suffocating. Fires, lava and volcanoes surrounded what looked like a city and her ears were full of the screams of the damned. The two demon men took her to a palace, carved out of volcanic rock, black and twisted in appearance. Her red hair was out and a complete mess, her face red from the heat and black from the ash in the sky falling down on them. Her dress was also covered in ash and torn in several places where it had been caught on the sharp jagged rocks scattered around the place. When they entered the palace throne room, she was thrown in front of a throne carved out of the same black volcanic rock as the palace. Valerie didn't dare look up at the man, if that's what you could call him, sitting on the throne. Half man, half demon. The Devil. Satan.
"We brought her as you requested sir." Said one of the demons behind her.
"Dismissed." Said Satan. His voice was deep, hoarse, and cruel sounding.
'How on Earth did I end up in this place?' Valerie thought, 'I do not deserve to be here.'
"Countess Di Mira." Satan said and she felt a taloned hand lift her head up so she was looking into his empty, coal black eyes. Her whole body was shaking, she could feel his talons scraping her skin.
"What ever possessed your husband to kill someone like you?" He tilted her head from side to side, admiring her face. Valerie felt like she was going to be sick.
"He...he received a message, from an old friend." She said, her voice shaking.
"And did he say why he had to kill you?"
"He said..." she swallowed, trying to get the words out, "He said it was God's will that I had to die."
"It seems God has willed two deaths." Said a voice behind her.
"Vladislaus." She heard Satan say and breathed a sigh of relief when she felt Satan's hand disappear from underneath her chin. The name Vladislaus sounded familiar, like she'd heard it before.
"Who was this old friend you spoke of?" said Vladislaus to Valerie. She kept silent.
"She's in denial over her presence." Said Satan and Valerie felt him hold the side of her face. She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me demon." She snarled. The Devil laughed.
"Fiery attitude. Good, good."
"What?" she said rather bluntly.
"Nothing to concern yourself over."
"If it involves me, I have a right to be concerned thankyou."
"What would you say if I told you that I could give you life again?"
"I'd say you were mad. I would take into consideration that you're the Devil, but I'd still say you were mad." Satan smiled, showing rows of pointed teeth.
"But would you take the word of a madman? Considering how tempting his offer sounds." She looked at him, surprised and confused at the same time.
"Yes. I know what you're thinking. I can hear your thoughts as clear as a bell." Said Satan.
"God, how is that possible?"
"Don't say His name. You are in Hell now."
"Where I don't belong."
"Where you think you don't belong."
"No. Where I know I don't belong." Satan laughed again.
"Oh my dear. You have so much to learn, especially on the topic of Him and His will."
"Well, He is a bright side better then you demon." She turned her head away from him, still on her knees in front of his throne.
"Yes. But He doesn't seem to have taken notice of you."
"What?" She turned back.
"Did He prevent your murder? Or wasn't it His will that you were to die in the first place?" Valerie was silent, her hands curled into fists at her sides.
"Why ask for salvation from the one being that ordered your demise?"
"You do have a point there." Satan smiled again.
"Well, she's warming up to me after all." Valerie's expression was neutral.
"Only I can defy God, my dear." Said Satan, "Only I can give you the power to show him what he deserves." Valerie looked into those coal black, empty eyes, feeling the temptation of what he was offering her. And her hadn't of been talking about showing God what he deserved, but Alexander. Her murderer for a husband. It was his fault she was here. And Gabriel. One message from him and her husband turned around and ended her life. The life of self blame, hidden harshness and emotional abuse.
"What do I have to do?" she said, hardly believing her own words.
"What?"
"What do I have to do for this power? This new life?"
"Once you make this deal with me, there's no going back, understand?" A nod was her only reply.
"You see that chalice?" A long taloned finger pointed towards a table where a black chalice adorned with rubies say, light gleaming off its polished surface.
"Yes."
"Drink the contents of that and that new life is yours. A life of power and invincibility." Walking over to the table, Valerie picked up the chalice and held it in her hands.
'Once I do this, there's no turning back, not ever. I make him pay, for the pain and suffering he caused me. Then I can be free.' She glanced over at Satan before her focus was back to the chalice.
"Drink Countess." Said the Devil, his voice low and almost hypnotic, "Drink and be free." She lifted the chalice to her lips, taking a cautionary sip. The dark red liquid slid down her throat, tasting almost organic. Her green eyes went wide. It was like nothing she's ever tasted before. She drained the chalice and then dropped it to the floor with a clatter. A single finger then touched her lips gently, and when she withdrew it, she could see it was stained with red. Her tongue reached out, licking the finger clean before running itself over her lips, also stained crimson, to clean them of the liquid from the chalice.
"What was that?" she said, her voice almost a whisper. There was a strange feeling of ecstasy lingering, which she had felt when drinking that liquid.
"Blood, my dear." Said Satan, "My blood."
"It is exquisite." Now she knew what it was she suddenly craved. Blood. Human blood or just blood in itself.
Then her body felt like it was on fire, her bones melting and shifting. She fell to the floor, writhing around in pain. When most of the pain had subsided, she shakily got to her feet, using the table for support. There was a cracking sound at her jaw and she felt something dig sharply into her bottom lip, followed by the warm feeling of blood. Slowly regaining her composure, a hand reached up to her mouth and she fingered the new sharp long incisors. She could feel her cut bottom lip heal itself and she looked over at the Devil.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" he said and she didn't answer.
"Firstly, there's something I must tell you, my daughter." He said and she raised an eyebrow, staying silent.
"I am your Master, your creator. In a strange way, I'm your father."
"You were going to tell me something." She said.
"Impatient, aren't we?" Satan chuckled, "All in good time my dear. We have all the time in the world." He paused for a second, "Wouldn't you like to have a look at yourself first?" He pointed at a mirror on a far wall. Valerie felt puzzled. Had her deal changed her in a way obvious to others? Walking over to the mirror, her eyes widened. Her reflection stared back at her, the pale skin, luscious locks of long red hair and almost sparkling green eyes. Gone were the dirt and the ash that had once covered her body and clothes. Her dress seemed to have repaired itself but how it had, she did not know. It was no longer torn and ragged, but instead looked like it was brand new. The tight fitting black dress hugged her curves, ending in long flowing skirts and a tight bodice and corset. And she couldn't forget the black high heels that she wore. She looked beautiful, almost like the way a dressed up corpse was beautiful. Then she smiled, those long incisors evident, but slowly shrinking back to a shorter length. However, her reflection seemed almost smudged around the edges, like it was slowly fading away. Her hand touched the cool glass, her reflection mirroring the action.
"A small price to pay." She heard Vladislaus say, walking up to stand behind her. She could see his reflection, but his more faded them hers, with some parts of his body missing.
"Our reflection?" She said, still looking in the mirror, "It fades away until there's nothing left?"
"Yes." He purred in her ear, "No reflection." He wound a strand of her hair around his finger. It was strange. She could see her hair lift itself up and twirl around, but she couldn't see his hand.
"We are vampires. We are invincible." He said softly, enjoying playing with her hair.
"But I thought..."
"...that vampires had weaknesses?" said Satan, his voice echoing behind them, "Yes, but not you. Holy water, silver stakes, crucifixes, churches, garlic, none applies. Silver, considered the holiest of metals, does not kill, but only weakens you."
"Then what does kill us?" she said, turning around to face him.
"Wolfsbane." Valerie just blinked, eyelids fringed with long black lashes hiding her eyes for a split second.
"You must feed off the blood of humans, not animals." Said Satan, "I knew at least one of you would try it, so I'm telling you now that you can't."
"Why trade the blood of an intelligent sentient creature for a beast of burden?" said Valerie, a strange desire for human blood welling up inside of her. Satan laughed.
"And the will of mortals be yours to command, only the truly strong can break the strength of your will." He watched both Vladislaus and Valerie smirk as they thought that over.
"Now my children." He said, his voice almost a whisper, "Be free." All that Valerie could hear as her world faded into darkness once more was his laughter.
When she next opened her eyes, everything was still dark. All she knew was that she was lying in a rather tight space. There was the smell of wood and damp earth around her.
'A coffin.' She thought, 'How appropriate. How can I be free if I'm several feet underground?' Satan's words on her power echoed in her mind. Her hand curled into a fist.
'Maybe, just maybe I can get out of here after all...' Her fist then connected with the coffin lid. It broke through, and earth rained down on her. Brushing it away, she started digging away at the earth with her hands, headed upwards.
Luke Walden was the town undertaker. He was just doing his rounds of the graveyard when he heard a strange sound. The sound of someone clawing at the earth in an upwards motion. And that sound was coming from one of the newer graves. The grave of Countess Di Mira. Walking over to the grave, he leant on his shovel, looking down at it.
"Such a loss." He said. A slow wind blew his hat off his head and onto the grave. Crouching down, he reached for it. He'd almost reached it when suddenly a hand burst through the earth and grabbed his arm. Screaming, he abandoned the hat and wrenched his arm out of the hand's grip. Dropping his shovel, he took several steps back from the grave. The hand withdrew into the ground and the earth moved down, like someone was coming out of the grave. A woman then emerged, climbing out of the grave. Brushing the dirt off of her, she then turned to Luke.
"What in the name of God..." he said, lost for words due to his shock. Here he was, standing beside the grave of the Countess Di Mira and in front of him now stood the Countess herself. Alive.
Valerie didn't really know how to describe how she felt, at that moment, having risen from the grave. All she knew was the hunger, gnawing away at her stomach. Hunger for the crimson liquid that presently ran through the veins of the man before her, the undertaker. She took one step forwards and he took one backwards.
'Interesting.' Two steps forward and two steps back. It continued on like this until Luke felt his back collide with a wall. His fear escalated as he saw her smile and those incisors lengthen.
That action had been almost automatic, as if her body had sensed her hunger. She could hear his heart beat, pumping more blood around his body, but how she could, she did not know, or overly care for that matter. But the blood, yes blood. The crimson liquid she craved.
Luke felt his arms get pinned against the wall and he tried to break free but it was impossible. Her grip was like iron, something that was out of place for the Countess, a woman not known for physical strength. No, something had changed her. The undead was what she was now. He knew he was doomed, there was no escape. And seeing the mad, hungry look in her eyes, he knew that he would join the corpses buried in the earth around him. All he could do was scream as he felt her fangs dig deeply into his neck.
Warm blood filled her mouth and she drank, only subconsciously aware that she was draining him completely of his lifeblood. Her conscience would be screaming in anger at her, but she doubted that she still had one. Soon, there was nothing left. Withdrawing her fangs, she let the corpse fall to the ground. She blinked several times, feeling that sense of hunger be quenched. However, it would return and another life would have to be taken, but she didn't care. She knew she had to save herself, for Alexander. But at that moment, it had been too much to control. There was the sound of quiet footsteps as someone came and stood beside her. Vladislaus turned to look at her, noticing her lips stained with crimson.
"I doubt very much that there's any left for me." He said, kicking the corpse at her feet. Valerie just blinked.
"No matter. I shall find another." He looked at her again. She blinked once more, running her tongue over her lips, cleaning them.
"Woman of few words, hey?"
"I just choose when I wish to speak." She said finally, "Is that a problem?"
"No."
"Good." A cool wind whistled past them, lifting strands of her hair up around whipping it into the air. Then he noticed the black cloak she was wearing, having see it move about in the wind. He watched her pull the hood up, hiding her hair and shadowing her face. Her gaze was still focused straight ahead.
"What are you going to do now?" he said, still looking at her. Her head turned to look at him.
"Get my revenge." He smirked at the three words she spoke and she found herself smiling at him.
"What a wonderful plan. I think I shall do the same." She nodded. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched him transform.
Soon, the man she'd knew became a hellish bat creature. Roaring, Vladislaus stretched out his wings and flapping them, he flew off into the sky. Valerie was knocked off balance by the wind that had come rushing at her when he'd flapped his wings. Sitting on the ground, her arms behind her for support, there was the sound of her heart thumping against her chest...no, wait, there was nothing. No fast beating heart, no sound of blood pumping in her ears, no rapidly rising and falling chest, from quick and uneven breathing. Nothing, nothing at all. Getting to her feet, she watched the black shape that was Vladislaus fly off in the sky. Then one thing occurred to her. If she was like him, having made the same deal, shouldn't everything that applied to him, apply to her? Like for instance, his ability to transform into that winged beast? A smirk slowly made its way to her lips. It came easily. Her cloak whipped about and became wings, her fangs lengthened, black talons replaced her nails as she changed form. Soon enough, a black winged beast stood where she had stood once before. Flapping its wings, it took to the sky, headed for one place. The Di Mira house and Alexander.
Some Random: Well, I hope you like the first chappie. Yeah, Valerie is a pretty screwed up woman...but you know, she was murdered, she knows Vladislaus aka. Dracula, made deal with Devil etc. etc. And no, she's not that insane...but she'll probably need anger management counselling...as shall been seen in later chapters...and maybe she does go a tinsy winsy bit insane...or over insane...but she does get saner later...I think...anyway, please review. Reviews are always greatly appreciated...it helps me feel loved...err...anyway, Some Random Out.