That holy dream- that holy dream,
While all the world were chiding,
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding.
-Edgar Allan Poe
/Catherine/
The moon was high in the sky. Stars sparkled overhead, thousands of tiny diamonds against the black canvas that was night. I drew an arrow from the quiver over my shoulder and loaded it onto my bow. A night like this was the perfect night for creatures to be on the prowl...and the perfect night for me to hunt.
A pity I don't have Gabriel by my side to hunt with anymore, I thought to myself. He loved to hunt on nights like this
I heard a loud yell from up the road. "Come on, Alyssa! Come and get me!" a woman cried. Then, a dark shape flew overhead.
I clutched my bow tightly and hurried in the direction of the yells. Something was happening...and I had to see what.
/Alyssa/
I saw a small figure on the ground and thought it was Lucien. The traitor! I screeched and went after it. I landed in front of a woman. i was disappointed. I thought it was Lucien.
"Who are you?" I roared.
/Catherine/
With no warning, a woman landed in front of me, yelling, demanding to know who I was. She was a beautiful woman, but...it was her eyes. There was something about them...they were cold, devoid of all emotion. She had to be a vampire.
"Who I am is of no importance to you," I snapped coldly. I wasn't afraid of some vampire. Not a chance. "But...if you insist...my name is Catherine Van Helsing."
I waited patiently for her reaction. Knowing vampires-as well as how, ah...popular my family was amongst the vampires-she would either scream in fear, or she would attempt to tear me to shreds.
You never know what vampires are going to do.
/Alyssa/
I circled her with evil intentions. She was a Van Helsing, no doubt.
"How are you related to the Great Van Helsing who my Master despises? His daughter?" I snickered, letting a screech here and there.
/Alex/
I returned to my normal looks and approached from above, watching them closely.
"Hmm..Catherine Van Helsing...oh yes, the fallen angel. Van Helsing's sister." I whispered oh so quietly.
/Catherine/
I nearly laughed out loud when the vampiress accused me of being Gabriel's daughter. Not in an eternity... I thought to myself. I loved Gabriel dearly...but it's disturbing to be thought of as his daughter.
"No, you unholy witch," I spat. "I'm his sister. And-" I raised my bow, so the arrow was pointing to her heart. "-I'm a hunter, just like him."
The vampiress stared at the arrow, then placed her finger on the tip and pushed it down. Her sheer preternatural strength forced my arrow down, away from her heart. She smiled, flashing her fangs. Then, she turned her head, looking around as though she heard something. Her eyes narrowed as she looked around. While she was distracted, I raised my bow again, placing the tip of the arrow right to her chest, over her heart.
"You know, you know my name...but I never heard yours," I pointed out. "So...what is it? And who's this Master you speak of?"
/Alex/
I materialized the arrow from Catherine into my hands and proceeded down.
"Her name is Alyssa...Countess Alyssa...Dracula." I answered her question.
/Alyssa/
I turned around to see a beautiful familar face holding a arrow. I watched her return Catherine her arrow.
"Dear Alexyna, what are you doing in these parts? You never leave your property..."
Alex pointed to a house nearby. Her house. I nodded.
/Alex/
"What are you doing here? If you're looking for Lucien, he can't be here, because you know I'm looking for him too." I crossed my arms. "Why do you get on your way now. I'll deal with her." I said. Alyssa nodded and flew away. She stopped and stared at Catherine with hatred.
"Now, what does Gabriel want now?" I asked kind of rudely.
/Catherine/
At first, I swore I was going insane. My arrow disappeared from my bow, a woman descended from a tree and gave me back my arrow, then the other woman-Countess Alyssa Dracula, I heard her addressed as-disappeared-though not without giving me a look of the utmost loathing.
As I said, I thought I was going insane. But...this was Transylvania. Insanity is the norm in these lands.
The other woman-Alexyna, I had heard-demanded to know what Gabriel wanted. But...how was I to know. I hadn't seen Gabriel in...going on seven or eight years now.
"I wish I knew what Gabriel wanted," I told her, shrugging. "But I haven't seen him in nearly eight years...and did you say that woman was related to Dracula? He's supposed to
be dead!"
/Alex/
"Very well, Catherine. Know that I am neither good nor evil. I am merely a ghost who has aquired a few powers." I stated aruptly. "Alyssa is Dracula's newest Bride as well as my decendant. i keep track of her know that she is stil my blood. Dracula never died. Just hidden away to resurrect his army and his followers." I added.
/Catherine/
Resurrect his army? And his followers? This couldn't be good. I shook my head and gave a disgusted laugh. "Why can't these buggers just die and stay dead?"
/Alex/
I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"Because they're already DEAD!!" I laughed. "What brings you here, Catherine?"
"I'm looking...well, actually, I'm not really looking for him. I'm waiting...waiting for the right time to reunite with him...with Gabriel," I said.
/Alex/
I nodded. "Hmm and do you know where he is or..?" I asked out of curiousity.
"I know where he is," I said. "But...I don't know if the time is right. See, I left him there eight years ago, and I told him I'd come back. But...how do you know when the time is right to go back to the brother you left in the care of strangers? I thought I could go back after he defeated Dracula but...one small problem...you said Dracula's back! I'm not...confusing you, am I?"
"I know where he is," I said. "But...I don't know if the time is right. See, I left him there eight years ago, and I told him I'd come back. But...how do you know when the time is right to go back to the brother you left in the care of strangers? I thought I could go back after he defeated Dracula but...one small problem...you said Dracula's back! I'm not...confusing you, am I?"
/Alex/
"You're not confusing me. I know DRacula is still alive. I spoke with him on neutral matters. As for as your brother, I have enough reasons to know that we may need him." I said with an unusual happy face and I paused a minute and said, 'You'll know when the time's right. Siblings share an unique, almost unexplained bond. you'll know when the time's right." I said with a welcoming smile.
Somehow, the woman is changing me. I have this wondrous feeling inside me...almost like joy and pleasure. It has been ages since I felt this way.
/Catherine/
I returned her smile with one of my own. "Thanks. You have no idea how relieved I feel. So...you've spoken to Dracula? And he was civil? That's something I never thought I'd hear!" I gave a small laugh before continuing. "By the way...you mentioned someone named Lucien earlier...that name sounds familiar. Would I know him?"
/Alex/
I chuckled.
"Yes, he was. He was kind gentleman before he became a vampire, but now, he's evil, he has a heart for old friends like me." I said plainly. "Lucien was Dracula's follower from the start and after Dracula became a vampire, Lucien continued to follow him as a vampire. But now...Lucien changed and wants my help to take down Dracula. He had come to my house to seek my forgiveness and ask for my help when Alyssa had come searching for him. That's when you came into the picture."
/Charlotte/
-My normally capable brain had gone haywire listening to all this supernatural jargon, and I was beyond confused.-
"Wait," -I said breathlessly, my hair windswept as I kept one hand on my hat absently.- "Would someone be so kind as to explain what is going ON here?" -I hated not being in the know.-
/Alex/
"Come, Catherine. We must go find Lucien and Charlotte. The way Alyssa was acting, I'd say Dracula is getting ready to attack. I hate to help, but Lucien dragged me in too deep for me to get out. Can you fly, Catherine?" I started flying slowly upward, my gown floating in the wind and my hair swaying in tune with the hummingbirds.
/Catherine/
"Can you fly, Catherine?" Alex had asked before ascending into the sky. I almost burst out laughing when she asked.
Can I fly? I thought to myself.Oh, more than you know, Alex...
I could feel the familar, prickling pain on my shoulderblades. I closed my eyes, and, moments later, with a loud rip!, two ash-grey wings, spanning thirteen feet tip-to-tip, burst from my shoulders. I took a moment to admire them-they really were handy to have sometimes-then, I crouched low, spread my wings, and rocketed up into the sky, enjoying the cool rush of night air that stung my face and whipped my hair around.
/Alex/
I nodded and pointed towards deeper into the woods.
"I sent them this way. Follow me!" I started fly in the direction I pointed to.
I didn't exactly know where Lucien and Charlotte are, but I know it was north of my house.
/Catherine/
She pointed vaguely into the deep woods. According to her, that was where we'd find Lucien...and this Charlotte girl. I swooped into a dive-I couldn't resist goofing around; I hadn't flown a decent flight in weeks-then soared back up and followed Alex towards the north.
/Alex/
I rolled my eyes at her childness. She was young and needed to learn. I surveyed the area.
"Catherine. What are you doing? Goofing 'round like that." I scolded her.
/Catherine/
I caught Alex rolling her eyes at me, and I blushed, particularly when she scolded me.
Smart one, Kitty. Now she probably thinks you're an immature child . I had to learn to control myself, sometimes. "I'm sorry," I apologized. "It's just...I haven't flown in forever. And I love flying...the feel of the wind in my hair...the intoxicating smell of night..it's so wonderful. But...you're right...this isn't an appropriate time to goof around. Let's find Lucien and Charlotte..."