The birth of a new day is the promise of new events. For Kiara this is the most beautiful morning of her life, she is in love and last night, she knew the sweetness of the love in the kiss of Ivan. For "Astrid" and "Goran", this morning is the promise of a future, they make plans, they enjoy the sunlight, the breeze of the morning and all their love. For Allan this morning is painful, because it represents another morning without his beloved "Astrid". Is early in the morning, and Allan is alone in an abandon alley drinking. This morning has a meaning for every person in the village and will mean the beginning of a new hope for those who believe that all is lost.
The light of the sun illuminates the coast of Romania; The Port of Vant is clearly visible for the captain and his officer.
---------------"Captain?
---------------"All the civilians must leave the ship as soon as we arrive to the port. The other personalities will stay aboard, until they decide to leave. I need absolute discretion, Understood?
---------------"Aye, Captain.
In his Cabin, Van Helsing is trying to understand his painful reality. This could be the worst phase of his life, but the fact is that his conscience is fighting for a positive reaction. Carl is asleep in the sofa.
------------"Carl? Carl, wake up.
------------"Ah? What happen? Are you all right?
------------"I need to see her; I want to experiment the evil inside her. I need to see if she deserves a fight to save her dammed soul or if I must kill her. Go and see if you can find her aboard.
------------"You need a reason to hate her, right?
------------"You have read my mind.
------------"Remember, she is Lillith, her powers are alive, just like her. Be careful.
------------"I will.
------------"Well, if you succeed, we will need to find a way… a gentle way to tell the truth to your wife.
------------"Go, Carl.
------------"Fine.
Carl leaves, and Van Helsing feels a chill in all his body.
"Astrid" arrives to her home and her mother receives her with a big smile in her face.
--------------"Astrid
--------------"Why you are so happy this morning?
--------------"I received a telegram. Your father will be here soon, maybe today if the ship doesn't delay.
"Astrid" does not know what to say, she is happy because she is going to see her "father" again, but her sinister "sister" will be there with them again. Irena is impressed with the cold enthusiasm of her daughter.
---------------"You are not happy with the news?
---------------"Of course I am happy, I am just… surprised is, sooner that we thought
---------------"Maybe, but is good. I need your father here, I need to rebuild our marriage, and our family will be complete again. I can't wait to see my Erika again! She must be beautiful; I will embrace her with all my strengths.
---------------"You love her very much, right?
---------------"I love her with the same love that I love you Astrid. Without the both of you I am nothing.
Astrid loves those words; the young girl hugs her mother with all her love.
In the ship, Carl returns with bad news.
---------------"She is not in the ship.
---------------"She ran away. That means that she has something to be afraid.
---------------"That means that she is what they said she is. The truth must be enough for you, but if you need a reason to hate her, you will need to find her first, by yourself, I will help you, but you must face this challenge.
Suddenly, Cardinal Minnelli and Father Callahan enter in the room.
------------"Good morning gentlemen
Van Helsing does not want to face them; he remains in his place, looking through the window.
-------------"The pain of knowing a truth like this is indescribable, I know. Even for me is something difficult. This is a situation makes us do things that are out of what we think is real, prudent, honorable and fair in the Eyes of the Lord.
------------"We are breaking sacred rules to save the world.
------------"The Lord, in all His mercy is opening the doors of the spiritual world. This war requires the help of real warriors. Some of them left this world before their time.
------------"But the darkness made a deal with the light; the light showed the path and finally one of those brave warriors is here, with a second chance and with the task of help you in this hard mission.
Van Helsing has a familiar sensation, and he can't understand why.
The noise of footsteps breaks the silence. Someone approaches slowly towards the room. The footsteps are light, feminine and with the security of a fighter at the same time. The Cardinal and the Priest move away and finally the visitor arrives. Carl cannot believe it,
Van Helsing begins to turn around, and finally, he sees her.
----------------"Anna!
Yes, Anna Valerious returned from the death. She looks beautiful, like the first day he saw her in the square, but now she has a different shine on her face.
---------------"This cannot be! You died, you died. I…
---------------"I am here, Mr. Van Helsing.
Carl wants to speak but he cannot. Finally he finds the words.
----------------"This is incredible! My God!
----------------"The fate is giving me another chance.
The Cardinal and Father Callahan are impressed but the event was predicted and they trust in the Divine Process.
-------------"Friar Carl, come with us, they need to be alone.
-------------"But she died! I saw her! We burned her body!
-------------"We will explain to you. Gentlemen, you are not in the presence of a ghost. The fate is in the side of the world this time, our faith is helping, the doors are open and we must use this chance to save this earth and the people we love from the evil of the queen of all darkness.
Carl approaches Anna with fear and curiosity. Anna smiles, she can understand his fear.
----------------"Don't be afraid Carl, I am here, I am real.
Anna takes his hand in hers.
--------------"You see? I am of flesh and blood, like before. Like before the terrible night in Castle Dracula.
Carl hugs Anna. She responds with the same love of friendship and gratitude, but her eyes cannot stop looking at Van Helsing, he have not change, he is like the first day she saw him in the square. Her love for him is alive, but she knows that he is a married man. All the spirits come to the earth during the first days of the Solstice of Winter to visit the people they loved and left behind, and she came every year to see Van Helsing. She knows the truth of his life and the truth of his pain. She was a good adviser for Marishka too.
Finally, Carl, Cardinal Minnelli and Father Callahan abandon the room. Anna and Van Helsing are alone now. He walks towards her; he wants to touch her but he is afraid, Anna understands and gets closer to him.
----------------"You are real.
----------------"Yes, I am here again, with you, to help you.
Van Helsing now knows that his love is for her. Irena is like an obstacle in his life in this moment. Of course, he has a life with her, but the time and the circumstances change everything. His love for Irena changed, his love for her became routine, in eternal friendship and vivid passion. Anna is the center of his heart.
Anna can feel the tension between them and she is afraid.
----------------"Your death was my fault.
----------------"No. It was not your fault. You were not yourself. With my life I saved you and I don't regret it. You started a wonderful life with a wonderful woman.
----------------"My life with her was wonderful at the beginning. Then, the girls came into our lives, and now, I have nothing and she shares my pain and she doesn't know.
----------------"You must tell her the truth as soon as possible. And you are not empty like you think; you have a charming daughter in Astrid.
----------------"Astrid is…
---------------"Is your daughter Van Helsing. I opened her eyes and her heart to the right horizon. She was lost but she heard me and she found her way in life, her purpose. She denied the force of Lillith over her and she became human, she learned to love, to live, she is your daughter. Trust me, she is. I know this will be hard for you, you raised Erika, you thought she was a normal girl; she made you see what she wanted you to see.
--------------"This is the first time that I hate my task in this world. I must destroy my child, the baby I rocked in my arms, the little girl that was always behind me, and the girl that warmed my days with her smile.
--------------"Erika does not exist. Lillith was manipulating you all the time. She is cruel, sadistic, she considered necessary your protection until she was strong enough to leave and start with her dark plans.
--------------"Anna.
He needs her company, her nearness, he hugs her with all his love and she responds with the same tenderness. They are in love but in this time, their love is forbidden; he is a married man and she is like a newborn girl. She returned from the death, she is alive again in all the senses, but everything has changed.
--------------"Our old enemies are now our friends. Aleera is a normal woman, respected by the people, loved by an honest husband, and she is the mother of two kids. Marishka became your daughter and you must know that… Dracula is also here, in a new life.
--------------"What?
--------------"I will explain you. There are many things that you don't know.
--------------"I want to know something now.
--------------"What?
--------------"I want to know what you feel for me.
Anna cannot lie to him. But he is a married man.
-----------------"I love you Van Helsing, but is too late for us. You are a married man, and if we succeed this time, I will take my place in the village, and I will try to start a new life, without you. I can't hurt a wonderful woman like Irena, she loves you. I will live with this love, in silence. I see the shine I saw in your eyes when we kissed in the castle; make it dim, please.
-----------------"I can't Anna. You were destined to be mine.
-----------------"But fate decided against us. And I don't want to hear more about this. We are at war Van Helsing, if we fail, we will not have life to remember our love and go on with our reality.
Anna begins to walk away but Van Helsing stops her.
-----------------"You are my reality Anna. You are in my mind, in my dreams; you haunted me all these years,
Anna does not know how to respond, she needs time alone, she evades Van Helsing and walks away.
Anna is back, and "Erika" seems to know it. Something is weird in the sky, in the air and in all her senses.
"My enemies are growing in number, my time is short but I have the advantage".
"Erika" has a sharp silver dagger in her hand and a wicked smile in her face.
"Poor Ciara, you will be the sacrifice that I need to achieve my goal, to become the vampire I was, the queen I was. All I need is your blood, nothing more; your fangs will never touch my new and delicate neck. When you awake, you will be in the Chamber of Hades, in the center of the hell. Your death will make the world feel my presence and my enemies will count their days on this earth".
Ciara is asleep inside the cave, in a dark corner. "Erika" is walking towards her, slowly, with the dagger in her hand, ready to kill her. "Erika" kneels down beside her, she contemplates her.
"With your blood I will kill this humanity and I will be eternal and powerful again, like in the old days".
"Erika" cuts the throat of Ciara in a fast movement of the dagger in her hand, she died in an instant and her blood is flowing like the water in a fountain. "Erika" begins to drink her blood in a desperate way. She drinks and bathes in her blood, all at the same time.
The death of Ciara touches the heart of Ivan; he feels a deep pain in his heart. He does not feel her anymore. Near him, in a little cave, Ilka awakes with the same pain and the same sorrow.
The beauty of the sky changes in a minute; the nice color that belongs to the night invades the hours of the day as the announcement of a new era of fear and anguish.
The ocean becomes wild; Van Helsing, Carl, Anna, The Cardinal, Father Callahan, Kayla, Mirka and all the crew of the ship are impressed with the change of the weather. There is no rain but the sky and the ocean are in the same mood, in the same sorrow. The instincts of Van Helsing are in alert. Suddenly, Carl can see that a couple are approaching; two women, and if his eyes still healthy, the couple is composed by Irena and Astrid.
---------------"Van Helsing, look, I think that your wife and your daughter come here to give you a nice welcome.
Anna sees them and she decides to walk away. Kayla and Mirka follow her.
Van Helsing is not ready to face them; he needs a moment to organize his ideas.
---------------"Receive them for me Carl, I need a minute.
---------------"All right.
Van Helsing walks away.
Irena and "Astrid" are near the ship.
---------------"This weather is weird.
---------------"There was sun just a moment ago.
"Astrid" has a bad feeling, she still have some of her powers and she can feel the presence of her "sister" but in a different way, something is not normal, "Erika" is there, but no in the same way.
-----------------"We are almost there. I need to see your father, and your sister, my darling "Erika"
-----------------"Sure. I want to see them too.
They finally reach the end of the dock. They are received by the captain and Carl.
---------------"Carl, welcome!
---------------"Thank you Irena, is nice to see you again.
Carl hugs Irena, then, he walks towards "Astrid" and hugs her with an embrace of hope.
---------------"Welcome home Carl!
Carl whispers to her ear.
-----------------"Thank you, for picking the right path.
-----------------"You know?
-----------------"Yes, and he knows too. You are the hope and the console of his life now. We will need you.
----------------"I will do everything for the people I love.
----------------"Come, we have much to do.
In the cave, Lillith is complete again; she is beside the corpse of Ciara, she has blood in all her body and she can feel her powers in all their glory.
"Erika has died, I am the vampire I was again, no more human feelings, no more guilt or memories. I am lying to myself, I was human for almost 20 years, I am a vampire again and I can still feel the guilt and the sorrow of my old life. I killed one of my daughters and I can feel the sorrow. The feelings never die, they follow you forever. I must be superior; I must recuperate my legacy in the underworld. I give you my mortality Ciara, I give you my feelings and my guilt, take them with you to the Chamber of Hades, to the center of hell.
In the dock, the captain speaks with the ladies.
--------------"Mrs. Van Helsing, something happened during the journey.
--------------"Something wrong? Where is my husband? Where is my daughter?
--------------"Mother, please calm down, let him finish.
--------------"Your husband will explain everything to you madam. Wait here, you will see him soon.
--------------"Only him?
--------------"Where is my sister captain?
--------------"Please, wait here.
The captain leaves, Irena and "Astrid" are worried. But they will wait.
Inside his cabin, Carl is waiting for his friend's answer.
------------------"I don't know how to face my…"Astrid"
------------------"You can call her daughter.
------------------"My heart tells me that I can trust in her love and loyalty. But is difficult. She was my enemy, she tried to kill me.
-------------------"Marishka is dead, she killed herself. She became a new person, a charming and noble girl that loves you very much.
-------------------"Then, that means that she will suffer with all this.
-------------------"She is already suffering. She is afraid of your reaction, of the reaction of Irena. She has not committed sins in her new life, don't reject her.
Van Helsing cannot deny his love for "Astrid", besides, she doesn't look like the Marishka of the past, her face is different, and she has a shine of innocence in her face. He must give her a chance, she is his daughter and he will know if she is sincere in her love with the help of the time and her actions.
----------------"I will receive "Astrid" first.
----------------"What about Irena?
----------------"I need to see Astrid first. Tell Irena that I am fine, tell her that I need a time with my daughter first. Help me!
-----------------"Fine.
Carl leaves and Van Helsing is now ready to face his "daughter"
In the cave, Lillith is looking at the blood in her hands and body, she can feel her fangs again, and the sunlight is mortal for her again.
---------------"No more daylight for me. I hate it anyway. Tonight I will choose my first victim. Poor "aunt Aleera", my first victim is someone she loves with all her heart. I need her fear, her hate, I need her vulnerability. This is my time; I will finally get my revenge and my kingdom.
In the ship, "Astrid" enters in her "father's" cabin.
---------------"I am here, father.
Van Helsing turns around to see her. He doesn't feel different about her; she seems so natural, innocent and sincere. But he needs to be sure.
--------------"I know who you are and what you did to be the person you are now.
--------------"I know.
--------------"Before I say something. I want to hear your version and I want the truth. Everybody said that you are a charming young girl, that you changed and that you love me and Irena with all your heart. I need to know how you buried your past, how you killed the evil in you. I need to know why you left Lillith behind and decided to start a new life.
--------------"I will tell you everything. I will open my heart to you as always. But first, I want you to know that I love you and Irena, you are my parents, the reason of my life. I am your daughter and you are my father by fate and love.
Will Continue…