I screamed, or screeched as you may describe it, for a long while

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Van Helsing characters.

New toy

I screamed, or screeched as you may describe it, for a long while. Scared that I'll be consumed by my emotions, but not strong enough yet to fight them. I was on the verge of falling completely, but I didn't have that luxury. There was something inside that kept me sane. The mission that I put upon myself. I had to find Van Helsing and make him pay for everything he had put me and my brothers and sisters through. And Vlad? Anyone who wasn't on my side, was an enemy and if he gets in my way, he'll undergo the same treatment as Van Helsing himself.

When I finally opened my eyes I felt weaker than I ever had before. I was thirsty, but I couldn't smell a human anywhere around me. I slowly got up and started walking. I was in a wood and I couldn't tell whether it was night or day, the good thing about it is that there was no sunlight. Another positive thing was the fact that there were probably a lot of different animals and unless I find a human, the best alternative was animal blood. It didn't take long until I spotted a deer. I always found them beautiful. Graceful and alert to every sound around them, they were among my favourite animals. It as a pity that I had to destroy something that beautiful, but I had to choose between his life and mine. I slowly approached, trying not to make a sound and even though I was weak, it came easy to me. The deer didn't move an inch. He kept eating unaware of his soon approaching death. When I was close enough I jumped at him and with one quick movement broke his neck. I had to be quick now and drink his blood while it was still warm. The moment my lips touched the blood, I was aware of the difference. It was nothing like human blood. His blood gave me strength, but not the way human blood does. I also knew that this strength probably wouldn't last half as long. But this was all I had right now and it was still better than being weak and thirsty until I find an unaware human. When I was done I walked towards the sound of water that I heard nearby. It was a beautiful river, washed in moonlight. Slowly I undressed and glided into the river. The water was cold and yet not as cold as my skin. It felt strangely nice. The river was very deep and that allowed me to swim around freely. I lied down on my back and floated on the water. I could feel my hair floating around me. I wanted to stay there forever, just looking at the stars, but I couldn't even if I really wanted to. I didn't know when the sun would be coming up, so I made my way to the place where I left my clothes. I put my clothes back on and looked at me reflection in the river. It wasn't very clear with moving water, but I could still see that I looked very different from the Vampire I once was. The dark clothes made me look more like the Hunters then one of the Creatures of the Night. With one last glance I spread my wings and flew away. Even in this form I looked different. Darker then I used to.

The woods spread out for miles and miles and all the time I was flying I thought about ways to pick up Van Helsing trail again.

"Gabriel…." I came to halt. It was barely a whisper. I couldn't even make out if it was a woman's voice or a man's. But what was more confusing is why I heard my brother name, for the second time since I started this journey. I looked around trying to figure out which way the sound came from and whether it was a human who whispered it, but no one was there. I started to think I was going crazy, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to it. It was the third night I was flying over the woods. I started to fly again and I was nearing the end of the forest. I was so deep in thoughts that I didn't see the arrow coming until it was to close to dodge. The pain in my arm made me stop and I pulled the arrow out with a high pitched scream. My wound started to heal itself. It didn't take long until a second arrow came my way, but I was ready now. I dived away and looked around. I saw a couple of Hunters not far away. I licked my lips and landed. This should be easy. I unsheathed my sword and slowly approached. The imbeciles were still searching the skies. I couldn't believe they even spotted me in the first place. I was so close that I could smell their blood. I could almost see it. I licked my lips again and jumped out of the trees. In a second I had cut off the head of the man with the crossbow. The other was a woman. Perfectly ripe. Her cheeks were red. I forgot all about the man.

"It's been a while since I had a woman." I said, my head cocked to the side a bit. She had a sword in her hand that looked too big for her. She looked as a dressed up doll. None of the things on her matched her. The sudden gush of wind blew off her hat and revealed her red hair. Her smell became stronger. I took a deep breath. Finally the shock of losing her companion passed and she raised her sword. I smirked. The better the fight, the better the food. There was no harm in playing with her for a while. I dodged her attacks easily.

"Is that the best you can do." I teased her.

"Bitch." she growled and launched at me again, but I had enough by then. Before her sword came down, mine was already going through her stomach. She fell on her knees and tried to pull it out, but I couldn't let her do that. She would lose too much blood like that and that was what I needed. I kneeled down and pushed her head aside to reveal her neck. My teeth sank easily into her skin and soon I tasted her sweet blood. Her scream came as a surprise. I didn't expect her to have enough strength. I could taste the adrenaline that was in her blood and I loved it. I could feel it when she died and after a short while her blood, or what was left of it went cold. Pity. It was the best I tasted in a while. I spotted the crossbow. It was a beautifully decorated one. It looked like it would be more at it's place on a wall. I liked it. I cleaned my sword at the mans clothes and picked up his crossbow and the arrows.

"Thanks for my new toy." I said and kissed his forehead. It must've looked funny kissing a forehead of a head that was nowhere near the body. The sun would be up soon, so I decided to stay in the woods. I had no desire to be spotted again. I walked for a while.

"Hey. You shouldn't walk around alone. There's a Vamp somewhere near." I heard a man's voice. I turned around and saw a handsome young man.

"You're Hunter?" he said surprised after seeing my sword and new crossbow. I slowly nodded. There was no need for him to know I was a 'Vamp' too. He smiled. He was surprisingly handsome for a human.

" Are you the one they sent?" he asked. I looked at him confused.

"They?" I asked.

"The Vampire Hunters. We asked them to send one or two. Like I said there's a Vampire somewhere around here. She's been here for while. After her first attack we asked for a Hunter." he told me. He was strangely open and honest, talking to someone he saw for the first time. I couldn't believe how open he was with a stranger, but then again, he thought I was one of them.

"So, what's your name?" he asked. It was then that I identified the look he was giving me. He was attracted to me. I smirked.

"Valensia." I said and he smiled.

"That's a beautiful name. Mine is Alexander." he said. I nodded.

" Would you like a place to stay?" he asked.

"No, thanks. I think I'll better look for the Vampire that's been bothering your village." I said.

"Do you want help then?" he asked. He really didn't know when to stop. I was kind enough to let him go and live a little while longer, but he insisted on dying sooner.

"I'm sorry, but I prefer working alone." I said and with a wave I left him. I went deeper into the woods, cause that's where I expected her to be. I kept wondering why she's here alone at a time like this. At a time when it's dangerous for a Vampire to travel alone. At a time when we are the ones hiding, when once the humans ran only at the sight of us from afar. Suddenly I felt someone land behind me.

"I'm flattered. They sent three of you to hunt me." A silky voice said. I slowly turned around and hissed at her, showing her my teeth that grew longer to show her who I really was. Her blue eyes widened in pleasure and she giggled. She was a very beautiful Vampire, dressed in white and silver. Her dress was made of a lot of layers of light and transparent fabric. That made me miss my old clothes.

" You're dressed like one of them." she stated. I nodded.

"Why?" she asked.

"I have my reasons." I said. There was no need to get her involved.

"My name is Affellia." she said and smiled. A sign that she trusted me.

"Valensia." I said with a quick nod. She waved her hand in a sign to follow her and I did. It didn't take long for us to get to the cave she called her home. I had to admit she made it quite pretty, but it was a cave nonetheless and I felt pain that we had to live like animals. My hatred for Van Helsing and for all the other Hunters rose by the second. Affellia giggled again and laid down on bed.

"I stole that from a house in the village. They didn't even notice. Try it out. You'll be surprised how comfortable it is." she said, answering my confused look. I sat down on the bed and looked around. Apparently the bed wasn't the only thing she stole. The cave was filled with huge, richly decorated mirrors.

"Pretty aren't they?" she asked me. I nodded in honesty. It became more clear to me that Affellia was a very carefree Vampire. A one of a kind. I guess that's why she was alone. Another thing that was becoming more apparent was her craving for company. Someone to talk to. She didn't seem like the cruel creature I imagined when I saw Alexander's face when he was describing her.