Dilectio's Primoris Erratum
Disclaimer: We do not own anything from the marvelous movie, Van Helsing. The only things we do own are Luminita and Lovette:)
Summary: Lovette and Luminita were just normal girls living in the 19th Century, but it all changed when they find a injured man in a river. They decide they will shelter and nurse him back to health, but because of it, Dracula kidnaps one of them. Both girls are stuck with men they don't really care for. Now things become dangerous when Dracula discovers a dark secrete of the past. How will they survive?
Chapter Ten: Their Hidden Past
"Oh god... Oh my god..."
Luminita was lost for words as she sobbed, tears falling from her eyes and raining down on Van Helsing. Her fingers grasped the Hunter's clothes tightly, slowly soaking up Van Helsing's blood. Fear was clear in her eyes as she looked around her surroundings, trying to figure out what to do. She thought about crying for help... but something stopped her. There may be more of those things, Luminita, a voice spoke in her mind and even though she was trembling pretty violently, she nodded to herself.
Trying to push away the horror still building in her heart, she attempted to heave Van Helsing's arm over her shoulder, so she could pull the hunter onto his feet. Van Helsing groaned painfully and winced. Luminita would have stopped what she was doing right there and then, seeing as she may have been hurting Van Helsing instead. But she knew if they didn't get out of there, it would be a much more horrible outcome for the two.
"Mr. Van Helsing..." Luminita began, breathing in and out so her body would relax more. Van Helsing's eyes opened and he smiled weakly at her, even after all that had happened. This brought more tears in Luminita's eyes as she tried to smile back as well, "...can you get up? If I am correct, this werewolf may have had a pack behind it which will soon come after us if we don't hurry. We will have to find a village and fast."
Van Helsing nodded in agreement and tried to get up on his feet. He succeeded with Luminita's help as he leaned down on Luminita's shoulders. A distant howl was heard alerting them immediately. Both of them exchanged wide eyed looks as Van Helsing limped faster, and Luminita ran harder.
"It was a cry for arms." Van Helsing told her, "The werewolves are upset over their brother. We may not be able... to get there... in time," He spoke in a raspy voice as another howl was heard, "Werewolves move faster than you think, especially when a fellow member of the pack is... in trouble."
Luminita looked horrified at hearing these words coming from Van Helsing, especially this hunter. But determination filled her, and something that she did not feel strongly sparked like fire in her heart. It was courage. She wrapped her other arm around him firmly and tried to help him move faster.
"Be that as it may, we will have to try!" Luminita shouted, and she now realized her tears had finally died down, drying on her cheeks. She was not going to let Van Helsing die out here and she was not going to let herself give up! Van Helsing needed her! Lovette needed her! Van Helsing managed to smile back again at this response as they ran for their lives.
"You know," He said, with a half smile, looking down at the wound on his shoulder, "I wasn't kidding when I said this has happened before."
Luminita looked at him with disbelief, her eyes widening as she spoke, "Are you kidding me? You're telling me you've been bit by a werewolf before?"
Van Helsing grinned and rolled his eyes, "Yep... long story..."
Luminita shook her head with a smile, "You are either the bravest hunter I have ever met, or you are insane and have no rational side of your brain."
Van Helsing gave a weak laugh, "My friend Carl would agree with you on the 'no rational side' part."
Luminita rolled her eyes, "How can you be laughing at a time like this! We have werewolves after us, we are both weak and tired, we have close to no weapons, we are half starved to death, my best friend is about to be killed by a vampire, you have just been bitten by a-"
She suddenly found herself quiet as she felt Van Helsing's warm lips pressed softly upon her cheek. She felt nothing else as her mind began to blur.
X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X
"Oh, Mr. Van Helsing, must you go so soon?" Liora asked sadly as she and her sister watched the handsome man tack his horse, getting ready to ride. Kayla held the reigns of his beautiful stallion as Gabriel placed the saddle on his horse's back.
"Can you not stay one more night?" Kayla asked gently, "You can stay with us again, and I will prepare you something warm to eat."
Van Helsing smiled and looked at the two girls, their gaze longing and sad, "Sadly, my ladies, I am meeting a dear friend of mine and I cannot be late. Forgive me, but I must leave."
Both girls' faces seem to fall at this. They didn't want him to go. Not after everything they had experienced together. Van Helsing smiled and moved towards them.
"I promise you I shall be back soon, my dear ones. You have my word of honor." He approached Kayla and gently pressed his warm lips to her cheek.
"For you, my pure one. A kiss for your kind heart and mind. For you, I shall return."
Kayla felt her cheeks blush to a deep, deep red and she had to hide her face in shyness.
Van Helsing then moved to Liora and gently pressed his lips to her cheek.
"For you, my light. For your kindness and your beautiful voice. For you, I shall return."
Liora felt her cheeks grow just as warm and bright as her sisters. They felt tears come to their eyes as they watched Van Helsing mount his horse and gently take the reigns from Kayla.
"I shall come back soon. I promise." He gave his horse a gentle kick and he sped off into the sunset. Liora and Kayla both waved to him, knowing that the man they both loved will keep his promise.
X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X
"Miss Luminita?" Van Helsing's voice brought her back from her trance, "Are you alright?"
Luminita's eyes went back to Van Helsing and she felt herself grow lightheaded. She used one of her hands to rub her temples, unable to believe what she had just seen... or what she had just heard.
"Yes... I... I saw you..."
Van Helsing's eyes narrowed. "You what?"
"I saw you... kissing me... and Lovette..." Luminita almost felt crazy saying this to him, "In the past."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lovette felt as though she had been hit in the head and woken up in a strange dream. What in the world was Dracula talking about? Had he gone completely out his mind? She gulped as she saw him crush her glasses in his hand in her between her blurred vision. She could barely see without them.
"Have you lost your mind?" She hissed softly at him, backing away from him.
Dracula only laughed, shaking his head in the most sincere manner that gave chills running through her. She felt her heart beginning to race and she wished he would just leave her be.
"No, my dear, I'm not mistaken."
"Mistaken? I asked if you were out of your mind, not mistaken!" Lovette spoke, opening her eyes and trying to see the Count before her. Dracula clicked his tongue irritably.
"Have you forgotten so easily?" He asked in a voice felt like ice. "You are the one. My lost love. Even in another life, you have come back to me."
Lovette opened her mouth to answer but stopped. The one? A lost love? Another life? she thought in confusion. What did Dracula mean by that? I am not his lost love!
"After tonight, my dear Lovette, you will be mine. After so long... so much pain and resistance... you will be mine. My beautiful Kayla, sweet love..." Dracula spoke, as he stretched his hand to touch her face. Her skin felt warm and tender to his touch. The same way it felt when he first touched her cheek.
"Kayla..." Vladislaus whispered as she took his black stallion back to her family's stables, "Such a beautiful name."
Kayla simply nodded, "Yes... it was my grandmother's name." She said gently and led his horse to the stables. Suddenly, she felt a hand brush up against her cheek and saw that it was the Count's hand.
"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl."
Lovette winced as the Count's icy touch reached her cheek and she felt a shiver running down her spine.
"What are you talking about? I am not Kayla, I am Lovette!" Lovette whispered, but her heart thumped uncontrollably. She blinked her eyes, hoping to see the expression on Dracula's face to find out, but the only thing she did see was fuzziness. A faint dark form was the only thing she saw of Dracula. She looked back and tried to make out the doorway in hopes she could escape... but she was too late. The Count's body pined her to the wall and she could feel his cold hands gripping her face.
"Do not resist me, my love!" He hissed in such a voice that it frightened her, "I have waited far too long for this moment!"
And with this, his cold lips touched the maiden's in a passionate kiss. Lovette tried to scream, but no sound came from her.
X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X
"Liora, how can I be so heartless?" Kayla spoke and sobbed, tears falling from her eyes as her sister put her arms around her in a comforting hug. She felt weak, weeping like this, but this afternoon had prompted far more than just tears.
The night has started to fall, and they had just come back from the party held at the palace in the center of town. Everyday they had met with the gentleman by the name of Gabriel Van Helsing, a gorgeous man with dark, shoulder-length hair that made his eyes shine with his olive green pools. But that night, even with Gabriel's presence, enduring the company of the mighty Count Dracula was just horrifying. Liora became horrified when her sister wept the news.
'"He asked mother and father for my hand!" She had wept that afternoon. Liora grabbed her sister and held her close.
"What did they say?" She asked, hoping she knew her parents as well as she hoped she did.
Kayla wiped her eyes, "They told him no, because I said I would never marry him... but the look in his eyes..."
Liora held her beloved sister, "Hush now," She whispered gently, "You heard mother and father, you won't marry him. Come now, there is a grand party tonight at that palace in town, and we have been invited. Gabriel will be there as well. Dry your eyes and let us find our dresses."
Kayla smiled and nodded... but the party had been nothing like they had expected.
The party turned out to be a ball, thrown by the Count himself in an attempt to impress Kayla. She felt horrified when he pulled her onto the dance floor and attempted to dance with her.
"Come, my true love." He whispered in her ear, "Let us show the world the beauty of our love."
In fury, Liora interrupted the dance and pulled her sister away. She left her sister clinging to Gabriel's arms before she went back to the Count.
"I will say this once!" She snapped at him in front of his guests, "Stay away from my sister!"
Liora expected him to be furious and cast her out, but instead he smiled at her. A smile that made her shiver.
"You cannot control true love." He whispered, "One way or another, your sister is my true love. One day you will both see it... and thank me for it."
Liora spent the whole night pulling her sister away from the dark-haired man, trying to protect her from his advances. Kayla left the party in tears, feeling so guilty.
Kayla's love was for Mr. Van Helsing, not for Dracula.
"Hush, Kayla, you have done nothing wrong. It is not your fault you had to push the man away," Liora spoke, feeling hot tears soak onto her shoulder. "That man should leave you alone. You told him you did not love him!" Kayla nodded slowly as she glanced at her sister.
"I am so scared, Liora. I fear that he will do something crazy until he finally captures my heart for himself . . . I fear..."
Liora patted her sister's shoulder, looking a bit uncertain. "Well, he is madly in love with you. I've never seen a man so..." She stopped herself from finishing the sentence, "But surely he wouldn't do something as stupid as that?"
Kayla shook her head. "I can never be certain with him, Liora."
X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X x X
The Count's lips were as cold as death itself as he pressed his lips to Lovette's. She tried with all her might to break free, but the Count seemed desperate to have her to himself. Finally, she pushed him away and spat his kiss upon the floor. The Count gave an open laugh.
"Even after all these years." He said, moving back towards her as she turned away in fear, his cold hands fingered her golden locks, "You haven't changed a bit, Kayla."
"My name... IS NOT KAYLA!" Lovette screamed, "My name is Lovette and I am NOT your true love! I am a bookworm who has no love life whatsoever!" She fell to her hands and knees and began to weep. The Count made no move to comfort her.
"Oh, but you are, my dear. You are my Kayla, you always will be. You simply do not remember..." He smiled, "Those days were the most wonderful of my life. The first time I laid eyes on you-"
"STOP!" Lovette threw her hands over her ears, "You're lying to me! This isn't true!" She got up and tried to run from the room, but the door slammed shut on her and as she turned around, she could make out the Count's face only inches from hers.
The Count's smile grew even wider as he came near her and pulled her close into his vice-like grasp. He clasped both her wrists in one hand and moved his other hand close to her face.
"But, you see, sweet Lovette, it is all true. Perhaps I need to refresh your memory a little... tell you the story of your past." He moved his hand close to her eyes, "The story of you... your sister... and your sweet Gabriel..." He placed his hand over her eyes and almost instantly, Lovette fell into a deep black sleep. The Count held her in her arms and placed tiny kisses over her neck.
"Now sleep, my eternal love." He whispered as he stroked her warm neck, "as I tell you the story of your past." He picked her up into his arms and sat on the divan, her body lay calm in his grasp.
"Now..." he whispered, "Where to begin?" He ran his fingers though her long hair and touched her forehead as he spoke, projecting images into her mind.
The first one Lovette saw was of a beautiful home, surrounded by flowers and gardens. Outside the house were two girls. Two beautiful girls. The eldest had long brown hair and was wearing a beautiful blue dress with a white shall. The younger had long blonde hair and was wearing a lovely white dress with a pink shall. The two girls laughed and talked as they pulled weeds and picked flowers in the garden. While they did so, the eldest began to sing in an angelic voice.
"Ah," Dracula whispered, surveying the scene, "You and your lovely sister Liora... or shall I say Luminita?"