A/N: Well...you wanted it...and I know it took me all week to update...but here it is, chapter eleven! Thanks to Kairi's-twin, Aviarianna O Lorien, musiclover209, and, my faithful revewer from the beginning Dr. Lust for their lovely reviews!
Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own Van Helsing...wish I did, though...
Chapter Eleven: A Heart Closed to Her
Gabriel found himself unable to speak for several minutes. Finally, he managed to at least choke out a few words. "You…I…I beg your pardon..?"
Alexis's face flushed bright pink again. "I…I love you, Van Helsing…I can't help it…ever since that day outside of Budapest, when I met you for the second time…I've loved you…"
Unable to think of anything to say, Gabriel just stared at Alexis in a dumbfounded manner. Nearby, Anna called out again, but strangely, he couldn't make out what she was saying. It was as if the world had shrunk to just his and Alexis, and everything else just…existed.
"Van Helsing? Are you all right?" Alexis asked, waving her hand in front of his face. "Van Helsing..?"
He shook his head to snap out of his trance. "Oh, right…I apologize about that…um…I think we need to talk…"
Alexis began to look a tiny bit worried. Gabriel sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. "Alexis…you're a remarkable woman…" he said. "You're determined and clever…and you can still love…even though you've lost everything and have every reason to hate the world…"
"But?" Alexis asked, picking up on his hesitation.
No sense in trying to avoid this…Gabriel told himself as he prepared to tell her what he had to tell her. That'll only make it even worse. Best if I just go ahead and tell her…God, I hope I don't hurt her…
"But…" he said slowly. "I…just don't love you…at least, not the same way you love me…"
Alexis felt as though someone had taken a knife and plunged it into her heart. All her breath seemed to leave her for a moment at the sound of Gabriel's heartbreaking words.
"W-What?" she managed to gasp.
Gabriel sighed sadly. "I'm truly sorry, Alexis…I just don't love you in that way…"
She dropped her gaze, staring at the cobblestones below her feet as tears filled her eyes. "But…but I thought…there was something special…between us…"
"There is…" Gabriel softly assured her. "I've come to think of you like a sister…and as a friend…but…my heart belongs…to another…"
For a long moment, Alexis didn't say anything. She only continued to stare at the ground. Then, she lifted her head to meet Gabriel's eyes. To his surprise, her eyes were filled with tears…and rage.
"So I willingly gave my heart to you, only to find you don't love me back?" she asked in a low voice that trembled with rage. "You tell me you don't love me; you rip my heart to pieces! I thought you loved me…but…you've only betrayed me!"
"Alexis, no…it's not like that…" Gabriel tried to explain. However, Alexis was past the point of listening to reason and explanations. Tears continued to trickle down her face, and her eyes still glittered with rage.
"It's Anna, isn't it? You're in love with her, aren't you?" she seethed, her voice rising slightly. "Fine, then! I see how it is! You know what, Van Helsing? I don't need your help! I can find my family on my own! You and that Gypsy whore can go have a pleasant time defeating Dracula without me!!!"
She furiously pushed past a very surprised Gabriel and ran off into the streets, tears streaming down her face. Several startled villagers moved aside when they saw her running towards them; the rest got blindsided by a distraught woman.
"Alexis! Wait!" Gabriel called to her retreating back. "I…I am sorry…"
---
Alexis ran and kept running, until she was in the forest outside of Vaseria. Finally, when she could run no more, she collapsed to her knees at the base of a tree, sobbing violently. Her broken heart thumped in her chest, each thump continuing her sobs.
Rejection…she thought as she wrapped her arms around herself and kept sobbing. A heart closed to mine…as always…Is this how it is to be? I…was always…by your side…so why don't you love me..?
"W-Why?" she whispered to herself, to the trees, to whoever would listen. "W-Why, V-Van Helsing..? You w-were my g-guardian a-angel…I-I thought w-we could b-be…"
She swiped at a few tears with the sleeve of her jacket. More tears replaced them; suddenly, Alexis opened her mouth and began to sing a soft tune…
Sparkling angel, I believed
You were my savior in my time of need
Blinded by faith, I couldn't hear
All of the whispers, the warnings so clear
I see the angels, I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now, no mercy, no more
No remorse 'cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart
You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I'd wish they'd turn into real
You broke your promise and made me realize
It was all just a lie
Sparkling angel, I couldn't see
Your dark intentions, your feelings for me
Fallen angel, tell me why?
What is the reason, the thorn in your eye?
I see the angels, I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now, no mercy, no more
No remorse 'cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart
You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I'd wish they'd turn into real
You broke your promise and made me realize
It was all just a lie
Could have been forever
Now we have reached the end…
A slow, steady clapping interrupted Alexis. It sounded familiar…oh, so familiar…but why?
She looked around and found a man, dressed in black from his cape to his boots, approaching her slowly, steadily clapping. His raven hair was pulled away from his pale face, gathered into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Alexis recognized him immediately and began to shuffle away, attempting to get to her feet and run. "Y-You're Count D-Dracula…"
"Indeed, I am, dear girl," he said as he stopped before her. To her surprise, he actually got down on one knee, so he was at her eye level. His surprisingly strong hand on her shoulder stilled her movements. "I overheard what sounded like an angel's voice as I walked through these woods. I couldn't help but investigate to locate the source. But imagine my surprise that such a sad girl had produced such a beautiful melody…Tell me, why do you cry?"
"It's nothing…" Alexis hiccupped. "Just…heartbreak…rejection…"
Dracula's face was sympathetic, something she wouldn't have expected from a ruthless killer such as him. "Oh, I'm so terribly sorry," he said, lightly tracing her jaw line with his finger in a comforting gesture. "But I wonder…who would reject someone as lovely as you?"
"V-Van H-Helsing…" Even just saying his name hurt. "I-I thought he l-loved me…but i-it turns o-out h-he loves A-Anna V-Valerious…"
Dracula's eyebrows briefly rose in interest, then, his face was sympathetic once again. "That's horrible…and I assume you loved him…"
Alexis gave a shaky nod. "H-He's the s-second man to h-hurt me s-so bad…W-Why do t-they h-hurt me? W-What d-did I e-ever do w-wrong?"
The count's hand stopped stroking her jaw, and rested on her cheek. The iciness of his fingertips made her shiver slightly.
"You have done nothing wrong. Your blood is innocent, pure…it is them who have wronged you," he said. "Rest now, dear Alexis…rest now. I promise you, I shall find a way to make sure you can never be hurt again…"
How does he know my name? She wondered. A warm, dark heaviness began to descend upon her mind. She gave a small yawn, then, her eyes closed and she surrendered to the peace that was sleep.
---
Dracula watched as the girl surrendered to his will and fell asleep. He almost laughed aloud; like all other weak-minded mortals, she had bent to his will so easily it was almost unfair. All he had to do was flatter her a little, then apply his will a little, and she was simply another obedient servant.
He cared not about her pathetic troubles. They were merely the trials and tribulations of a lovesick mortal girl in his opinion. However…it could not be denied that she had provided him with some intriguing information.
So…Gabriel is in love with the princess, is he? Dracula pondered as he gathered the sleeping girl in his arms. What an…interesting development…how fortunate I am to have stumbled across this girl…she could be of use…
"Just you wait, Gabriel," he whispered to the woods around him as he started walking in the direction he had come from. "I'll be watching you…you took something very important from me a long time ago, Gabriel…it only holds fair now I return the favor and take something very important from you…"
A/N: Time for my crazy ramblings! Woot!
About the chapter: Yes...Gabriel doesn't love Alexis. I'm very sorry to have made him the bad guy in this chapter...and I'm also sorry about insulting Anna and calling her, a, ah "Gypsy whore"...I actually like Anna, and so does Alexis...but it's essential to the plot (trust me, it is!). And now Dracula's involved...what will happen next?
Well, keep reading and you'll find out, aduh!
Oh, yeah, two things: 1) The following lines: "Rejection...a heart closed to mine...as always...Is this how it is to be? I was always by your side...So why don't you love me?" are not mine. They're actually a slight re-wording of something said by Yuki Cross in volume one of Vampire Knight (my favorite vampire drama manga)...I only reworded them slightly so they'd fit the plot...
2) I also don't own the song Alexis was singing! In fact...as my next contest, I'd like you to tell me who does Tell me the song and the band who sings it and I shall dedicate a chapter to you! There...I finally got a decent prize...PS: A little hint...the band is listed on my bio page under my favorite bands!