Hey all. This week has certainly not been my best ones. I hope it won't show too much in this chapter.
Disclaimer: Stoker and Summers owes them. Not I.
The moment the vision from the dead past disappeared Gabriel Van Helsing had to put his head down to take breath and wait till the spinning in his eyes would end. For a moment he was afraid that this was again Count Dracula's trick to distract him while he could attack the inn. But no, Nosferatu was still standing next to him and Van Helsing sensed no threat coming from him. He was merely expecting Van Helsing to pull himself together.
After a while Van Helsing finally managed to stand straight and face his friend from centuries ago.
"Did that actually happen?" Van Helsing asked.
"Yes, many centuries ago. After that night I offered my soul to darkness so I could avenge the death of my wife, your sister, Gabriel" Dracula said.
"That's when your reign of terror began. You started impale those people, both Turks and your own country men!" Van Helsing said accusingly as more and more of his past started to see light.
"Only criminals and traitors, Gabriel" vampire said calmly.
"And so your father ordered me to come and get you home where he could keep eye on you or…" Van Helsing went silence.
"Kill me" amused Dracula finished.
"And I did kill you. But you had already made a pact with forces of darkness" astonished Van Helsing continued. "And I remember…I remember now…few months after we started heard rumours that you had been seen attacking people by night. You wanted vengeance against your brother, Radu Valerious, the ancestor of Anna! That's what this is all about! That is why you and Valerious have been fighting for centuries" Van Helsing finished in a whisper, his eyes wide.
Dracula clapped his hands. "Bravo, Gabriel, you've finally learned to use those brains of your, haven't you? If I do recall correctly you caused a lot of headache to our captains in military school. You were always so hot headed, jumping right in to the battle. Never stopping to think strategies" vampire smiled, or more smirking.
Van Helsing felt another memory coming, or more feeling of a something that happened. "I remember that you were always fighting against captains. You never were good at taking orders".
"If you take orders you're a slave! I am Dracula, master of my own. I serve nobody!" Dracula said, his face twisting and his voice showing rage. Then he calmed and looked directly to Van Helsing. "But you're always serving, aren't you? First the captains, then my father and now…Him" he said, pointing to the cross around Van Helsing's neck.
"After you found out about my little…transformation you fled to Vatican to pray God for forgiveness. And now, after all these years, this God of yours has sent you back to kill me again" Dracula laughed.
Van Helsing was loss of words. Dracula laughed.
"Oh, you know I'm telling you the truth. Why do you think you were returned here without your memory with only one hint to your past: my ring which you stole from my dead finger after killing me by that lake" Count said. "It's just the part of their big game: Heaven and Hell, good and evil. And we are merely pawns on the chessboard. But I escaped, Gabriel, and so can you! It's not too late yet. Join me. Become one with immortals. We could still be friends, brothers".
For once Dracula's voice didn't sound so cold, it sounded almost pleading. One of the memories, or feelings, told Van Helsing that they had been best of friends. Brothers, as Dracula said. And his offering was tempting. How good it would feel to leave this all behind. To leave Vatican, God and this damn hunting behind him and be able to rest. But Van Helsing knew that this would not be the way.
"You know I can't accept that offer. I am no more that Gabriel you knew as you are the Prince Vlad I once knew. And we can't go back. No matter how much I would want it" Van Helsing said solemnly.
There was a look of disappointment in Dracula's face. It then returned back to cold. "Then we shall have to do this the old way. Bring the girl to the clearing in the forest just outside the west gate at midnight. I'll trade the Princess to the girl" Dracula said.
"You know that I'll do anything to save them both" Van Helsing said.
"You're still so hot-headed" Dracula muttered.
"There is still one thing I don't understand" Van Helsing said. "What do you want from Isabella Mortte?" he asked.
Dracula started to laugh cruelly. "Gabriel, surely you can recognise your own sister when you see her!"
Van Helsing had feared this was the case. Isabella Mortte had curly, brown hair and brown eyes. Sabrina had had blonde hair and green eyes. But other than that they looked identical. Jaw, nose, cheeks etc. was identical. Van Helsing was snapped out of his thoughts by Dracula's voice.
"I saw a picture of her. I have spies all over continent and when a rumour that the Vatican doctor might find a way to cure lycanthropy they send information to me. The only picture they had of Mortte was the one with his daughter in it" Dracula explained.
It all came clear to Van Helsing. "So you arrange that Prince Velkan was to be turned to a werewolf knowing that Anna would contact Mortte and he would come…bringing Isabella to you in a silver plate".
"Bravo, Gabriel" Dracula clapped his hands again.
"Isabella is not Sabrina" Van Helsing said. It was true. What ever had made Isabella looked so much like Van Helsing's long since died sister they were not the same person. Isabella's and Sabrina's were personally too different.
"No more lies or talking, Gabriel. I'm tired" Dracula said with an irritated voice. "Bring the girl to the clearing or I shall end my quest for killing Valerious family members tonight".
Yeah, I know it's shorter than usually but I'm writing this really late and all so…you excuse me this one time won't you?