A/N: Two chapters in one day? What's next? The sky falling? The Apocalypse? Pigs tap-dancing on the moon in orange tutus?
No...anyways, enjoy the chapter! Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews!
Disclaimer: If I don't own Van Helsing last time I updated, what makes you think I own it now?
Chapter Twenty-One: Death of Another
Dracula began to retreat as the Wolf landed on the bridge in front of him, growling in a low, thundering tone, his yellow eyes flashing with bloodlust.
"Don't you understand?" Dracula asked as he backed up, clutching his limp, injured arm at his side. "We…we could be friends! Partners!" He reached forward and swiped-but missed-at the werewolf's muzzle, angering him more. "Brothers-in-arms!"
His voice deepened drastically with the last statement, and he metamorphosed again. He tried to take flight, but the Wolf caught him by the throat and lifted him high, roaring triumphantly…
Something wasn't right…the Wolf could feel his strength fading. He was losing fur, losing strength, and shrinking…until he was no longer the Wolf, but Gabriel Van Helsing instead, naked save for a pair of shredded trousers that still hung around his waist. He took his hands off Dracula's throat, then, he did what his instincts were screaming at him to do: Get the hell away from Dracula as fast as he could. He leaped over the side of the bridge and backed away across the ruined laboratory.
Above, Dracula regressed into his human form, too. He was aware of some wet and sticky on his face and neck…blood. His blood.
He glanced out the large window. The full moon was gone behind the storm clouds for a moment, which explained Gabriel's sudden regression. Then, he smiled down at the hunter.
"Did I mention…that it was you who murdered me?" Dracula asked, savoring Gabriel's confused expression. "It must be such a burden…such a curse…to be the Left Hand of God…"
Gabriel looked stunned, but that was nothing compared to how he felt. Me? He asked. The Left Hand of God? The Archangel Gabriel? It cannot be…Gabriel is a pure and divine creature, one of God's helpers, strongly in His favor…I am nothing more than a murderer…
He suddenly stopped his musings and turned around to find Dracula behind him, leering at him. "All I want is life, Gabriel," he said. "The continuation of my kind. And perhaps-" He held up his right hand, revealing that his ring finger was gone, probably severed centuries ago. "-The return of my ring…"
Gabriel glanced down at the dragon-insignia ring on his right hand. Had it once truly belonged to Dracula? And, if so, how did he end up with it?
"Don't be afraid, Gabriel, don't be afraid…" Dracula assured him. "I shall give you back your life…your memory…"
Gabriel stopped and shook his head. "Some things are better left forgotten!"
The clouds that had drifted across the moon drifted away, bathing Gabriel in the celestial light. His eyes glowed yellow with feral rage again, and he leapt forward, shedding his skin to become the Wolf again. Dracula had metamorphosed along with him, but the Wolf was quicker: He met Dracula head-on, slammed him up against a piece of machinery, and sank his canines into Dracula's throat. The sharp teeth tore through Dracula's skin and muscle, finally meeting his blood. He pulled away after a moment, listening to Dracula's agonized shrieks. Black blood poured from the wound, and began to drip from his mouth, too. His skin began to burn and shrivel, burning away until there was nothing left but Dracula's charred skeleton.
The Wolf gave a roar of triumph. He had succeeded where everyone else had failed: He had killed Dracula.
The victory was his.
---
Anna charged into the laboratory just before the clock chimed twelve times. There was no Dracula…only Gabriel, now a large, black werewolf, roaring triumphantly in the middle of the destroyed laboratory.
Time seemed to slow down…the world shrunk, so it was only her, the Wolf, and the cure in her hand. His back was to her…he was distracted…she could get the cure into him while he was distracted…
"For God..!" she whispered as she charged forward, towards the Wolf. At the last moment, the Wolf whirled, spotted her coming, and roared loudly. Then, he leaped at her, throwing her backwards. Agony exploded up and down her spine as she was slammed into hard, with the Wolf atop her.
He didn't move in for the kill, though. Anna could see the syringe sticking out of his chest, slowly emptying the cure into his system. She tried to smile, to move, to speak, to do anything…but her muscles refused to obey any commands.
The searing agony began to fade, replaced by a comforting numbness. A warm darkness began to envelope her mind, starting at the very corners and working inward. She could hear things and people nearby, could see colors swirling before her eyes…but she couldn't focus on anything…except the thought that Gabriel had finally defeated Dracula…her family was saved from Purgatory.
You know…if this is death…her sluggish mind whispered. It's…not so bad…it's kind of…comforting…
Anna could feel the darkness closing in on her. It was calling to her, beckoning for her to come…
She didn't fight it.
---
Alexis raced into the laboratory just as Carl entered from the other side. The Wolf didn't seem to notice either of them; he was too preoccupied with Anna. In the distance, the clock rang out for the twelfth time.
Alexis let a gasp escape her lips. She knew that Dracula was dead…she could feel it. But while he had succeeded in killing Dracula, he had not received the cure in time.
We've failed…she thought. Van Helsing was counting on us…and we failed him.
Carl pulled the stake from within his robes and opened it. "God, forgive me!"
He began to charge towards the Wolf; Alexis stepped out from behind the column she had been behind, prepared to have to stake Gabriel in the heart if Carl failed or was killed…
Just as Carl was about to bring the stake down and plunge it into the Wolf's heart, the Wolf turned and caught his wrist. Carl screamed, but he stopped after a moment; everyone noticed the empty syringe sticking out of his chest. The Wolf tugged it out, letting it drop to the floor, and turned to take a look at Anna. A gasp escaped Alexis's lips at what she saw.
Anna, Princess of the Gypsies, the last of the Valerious, lay on the chaise behind the Wolf. Her eyes were opened wide; she looked as though she'd been surprised by something.
She was dead.
Alexis could feel tears coming to her eyes at the sight of the fallen princess. The Wolf turned back to Carl, whimpering slightly, his ears pressed flat against his head. Carl dropped the stake and stumbled back.
"She's dead…" he said in disbelief.
A profound sadness filled the Wolf's eyes. He reached down, picked up the princess, then, once he was cradling her in his massive arms, he threw back his head and howled mournfully to the heavens.
Carl began to cry, and Alexis could feel tears trickling down her face. She wiped at them with her hand-leaving red smears across her skin, as her tears were tears of blood- but more only came to replace them.
The Wolf began to shrink; his dark fur fell away as the cure took effect. A moment later, there was no Wolf…there was only a very distraught Gabriel screaming his heartbroken cries to the heavens. He brought Anna head up so it was resting against his, and he began to sob violently into her dark, curly hair.
"No…no…" he sobbed.
Tears continued to stain Alexis's face as she mourned the death of Anna-whom she had thought of as a friend, despite the fact that Gabriel loved her- and as Gabriel's heartbroken cries broke her own heart.
"Gabriel…what have you done?" she whispered, so softly that no one heard her but her.
A/N: (cries) This part of the movie always makes me want to cry! (sobs and grabs tissue)
Yes, I did a part from Anna's perspective as she was dying...they did that in the novelization, and not only is it a good idea, but it's incredibly touching. It almost made me cry at lunch one day when I was reading it. Not to mention, I always feel sooo bad for Gabriel because he's beyond heartbroken...
And-did you guys notice-Dracula's dead, but Alexis is still alive! How did that happen? You'll find out soon enough!
Okay...this time, I have a contest and a song! First off, the contest: Another thing some of you may've noticed-when Alexis cried, she was crying blood. No, that doesn't mean something's wrong with her...it's a vampire thing! But tell me...where'd I get THAT idea from? First person to tell me the correct answer will get a chapter dedication!
And as for the song...the song is Breathe No More by (in my opinion) the best band in the world, Evanescence. It truly fits the situation and therefore, I dedicate it to the late, great Anna Valerious...
I've been looking in the mirror for so long
That I've come to believe my soul's on the other side
All the little pieces falling, shatter
Shards of me, too sharp to put back together
Too small to matter
But big enough to cut me into so many little pieces
If I try to touch her
And I bleed
I bleed
And I breathe
I breathe no more
Take a breath and I try to draw from my spirit's well
Yet again, you refuse to drink like a stubborn child
Oh, lie to me
Convince me that I've been sick forever
And all of this will make sense when I get better
But I know the difference
Between myself and my reflection
I just can't help but to wonder
Which of us do you love?
So I bleed
I bleed
And I breathe
I breathe no-
Bleed
I bleed
And I breathe
I breathe
I breathe
I breathe no more
As always, you don't have to agree with me, but in this instance, you probably will. Thank you for reading (even though it was sad) and please review!