"Astrid" opened her heart to her "father", her version is credible, is related with the versions of all the witnesses and victims and he can see the pain, anguish and desperation in the shine of her eyes.
----------------"I am tired of being judged by my past. I am not Marishka the bride of Dracula anymore; I am Astrid, the daughter of Irena and Van Helsing. I killed Marishka and all her evil. I love the life I have. I love the sun in the morning, I love you and Irena, you are my parents and the reason of what I am now.
Van Helsing finally reacts and hugs his daughter, Astrid, her porcelain doll. Astrid finally feels complete, thankful because she finally can be sure that she will not lose her father and the life she has now.
--------------"Please forgive me; forgive me for the past and the monster I was.
--------------"Hush, don't cry, the past is the past; you are Astrid, my Astrid, my daughter and my only illusion. From now on, you will never refer to yourself again as Marishka; the former second bride of Dracula, that name is dead, absent of your vocabulary. The name of Marishka will never be pronounced again. Understood?
--------------"Yes. I am Astrid, Astrid Van Helsing Ninkovic.
But her fears return when she thinks about her "mother".
---------------"Who will tell the truth to my mother?
---------------"I will.
---------------"No, I cannot let you alone with this. This is my problem too, besides, we have a plan, a plan you must know. We have a lot to do, but my mother is first. And I am afraid, if she despises me…
---------------"She will not despise you Astrid.
Astrid hugs her father.
---------------"Is time. Bring your mother here, we must tell her the truth.
---------------"The Lord will help us.
---------------"There is something else you must know.
---------------"What?
---------------"Anna is here, the fate gave her a chance too.
Astrid is impressed and happy with the news.
--------------"She deserved that chance, more than I.
--------------"Don't say that. Aleera and you were victims in the past; you never acted on free will. But all that is old story, you are my Astrid, my daughter. And together we will destroy Lillith, once and for all.
In one of the ship's parlors, Anna is in the company of Kayla and Mirka.
---------------"Anna, tell us how is the heaven!
---------------"Leave her alone Mirka. She is not in mood of telling stories. Besides, she is among us again, she is alive and she will survive the mission this time. Right Anna?
Anna is lost in her thoughts but she can understand the curiosity of Mirka.
-------------"The heaven is beautiful, is full of light, happiness, is a place without pain or sorrow. All my family is there and I know they are happy of my return to this earth; finally, the Valerious name has a chance of be continued. With or without love, my lineage will live again.
--------------"With or without love? What do you mean?
--------------"My love for the man of my life was forbidden since the beginning. First, the shadow of Dracula and now his marriage with Irena, a wonderful woman, a woman whose love for him is similar to mine.
---------------"This must be hard for you.
---------------"It is. But I must concentrate in this mission and my future. If we kill Lillith the nightmares will end, I will have a normal life, without fears and far from danger and death.
Anna is very sad, she is alive again but now she is not part of the future of Van Helsing. It was a dream, a dream she carried when she died and now is with her in her return. Anna stands up and she has an idea in her mind.
----------------"I need to make a visit, an old foe that now is a friend must know that I am alive.
In the cabin of Van Helsing, Irena enters and hugs her husband with all her love.
---------------"My Love! You are finally here!
---------------"Yes. I am here with you again.
Astrid stays near the door, she is afraid.
Irena is happy, more than happy, but when she kisses him something wrong happens. She feels him cold with her.
-------------"What happen honey? Something wrong?
Van Helsing does not respond. Astrid decides to enter in the room and closes the door behind her.
-------------"Where is Erika?
Van Helsing does not know how to tell her, Astrid does not know either. This is very difficult for them and Irena is losing her patience.
--------------"Gabriel, where is our daughter? Tell me.
--------------"Irena, you must listen and you must be strong.
---------------"What happened to her! Where is she? Please, tell me! I am her mother; I have the right to know where she is? Is she ill?
---------------"Irena, Erika is not ours.
---------------"Of course she is ours, maybe not by blood, but she is ours by love. Why are you telling me this? She is our daughter, what happen to you?
---------------"Erika… Erika not even exists. Irena, Erika is Lillith.
---------------"What? Are you mad? She is my girl, she is my daughter!
---------------"This is the worst time of my life and sadly it will be the worst for you too.
Irena cannot understand. She looks at Astrid and she sees her weeping.
--------------"Why are you crying Astrid? What is happening here!
--------------"Erika is Lillith and we have evidences. She came back from the death and she took another body, another life and she became a human being. She entered in our lives, she mocked of our love for her, she made her dark plans in our home, beside me. She used me all these years.
Irena slaps her husband with the strength of her pain, rage and confusion.
-------------"That is a lie! What are you trying to do?
-------------"I am not lying. The witnesses and her victims are here to support my words. You will listen to them and you will believe.
Astrid is scared and she is suffering for the pain of her parents.
Irena refuses to believe in her husband's words. She loves her "daughters", they are her life and her happiness, she is a mother because of them.
---------------"This should be the best moment of my life. You are here again and I had a lot plans for us. But you are shortening my patience with all these lies about our daughter!
---------------"She is not ours, she belongs in the hell.
----------------"Shut up! Don't say that! I love you Van Helsing but I love my daughters too and I will not allow that kind of behavior from your part! How can you say that she belongs in the hell!
----------------"I understand your pain because is mine too. The evidences will speak for themselves, and you will believe Irena.
Irena is full of anger and confusion. She can see the same pain in the eyes of Astrid, but she needs to know, she needs to understand.
In the village, Kiara is in the office of his father, she is attended by his assistant.
----------"Hello Gustav
----------"Hello Miss Angelov
----------"Is my father here?
----------"Not in this moment. But you can wait for him in his laboratory if you want.
----------"I will do that. Thank you Gustav.
----------"Oh, is nice to have you here. If you need anything, just let me know.
----------"I will.
Kiara walks towards her father's laboratory.
Meanwhile, in the company of his now only bride Ilka, Ivan weeps for the loss of Ciara in the dark room of his old shelter. The sun is hot outside but the tower remains cold and away of the light. The singing of the ravens increases the ambience of solitude, sorrow and neglect that the children of the night experience when they lose one of theirs.
-------------"I will see her die with pleasure.
-------------"My place was with her, I left her alone with that witch and now she is dead.
-------------"It was not your fault Ilka; Lillith is more advanced than us. She won this part of the battle but the war almost begins, and she will suffer my anger and the rage of all her enemies and victims.
Ilka notices something different in the voice and in the eyes of her master. He is in pain for Ciara, but something else is tormenting his soul.
-------------"Something more is tormenting your soul, master, I can see it.
-------------"I can't lie to you Ilka, you are wise. I made the only mistake that a vampire is forbidden to commit.
Ilka now understands, and the revelation troubles her heart.
------------"Did you fall in love?
------------"Yes, with a mortal girl.
------------"What you saw in her? I was your first bride, and when Ciara entered in our lives you said that you were complete.
------------"The feelings between us are: passion, friendship, company, complicity and lust.
------------"Dracula loved his brides!
------------"He loved only one of them! He loved Marishka, and that is why they are together now, again. I love you Ilka, but my love for you is different, you are a necessary evil in my life. But she, she is the love, my true love.
------------"She will age and die, whereas you will keep on being eternal. You will have to transform her into vampire if you want to love her, because as mortal, she will not serve you.
-------------"Maybe not.
-------------"What do you mean?
-------------"I know a scientist that can transform a vampire into a human being. He did it with his wife; he can do it with me if I want.
-------------"That is impossible! You want to leave me?
-------------"I am tired Ilka, I am tired of this eternity, of this darkness. I was condemned without wishing it, I deserve an opportunity.
Ilka feels sad. Without her master she is nothing. Ivan can see the sorrow in her eyes.
-------------"You are not tired of the darkness Ilka?
-------------"Sometimes.
-------------"Aleera and Marishka have wonderful lives. We can have the same chance too.
-------------"If we change, if we become human beings again, you will go with her and you will leave me.
-------------"I love her, but that does not mean that I will leave you behind.
-------------"You can put me in another place, in a palace or in a simple little house. But I will always feel alone, abandoned, empty.
Ivan touches her face with tenderness. Ilka is almost of the same age of Kiara, only her eyes express the story of her real age.
----------------"You will find your way. You were my victim that night.
----------------"I wanted to be with you. I chose my destiny that night and I don't regret it.
----------------"I regret it. Our love is gone, just like Ciara. We can have a better life, a new life. Think about it.
----------------"I would move the mountains if that make you happy. And if she is your happiness, I will fight beside you to reach the mortality, to set you free and to begin to learn to initiate a new life without you.
----------------"Ilka…
----------------"Hush, Don't extend this conversation. We have lived together for more than 500 years, it was logical that the love was dying for one of the two. But I want that you know, that in this life and in the future one, I will always be your allied, your friend. Mortal or immortal, my heart will always be yours. Now please, I need to be alone, I will spend the rest of the day in the old vault of arms of this tower; call me when you need me. I love you, I will always love you.
Ilka begins to lower the stairs, taking precautions not to touch the rays of solar light that enter through the holes and windows of the tower. Ivan sees her walking away with a lot of sorrow, but at the same time relieved, because Ilka has understood his feelings towards her and towards the woman who now occupies his heart.
In the ship, the cabin of Van Helsing is full, the Cardinal, the Priest, Carl, Kayla and Mirka. All of them have spoken; have revealed the truth to Irena. Irena feels dead. Tears of pain and anger sprout of her eyes. The life is too cruel with her; first, it denies her the privilege of being a mother by the natural ways. Now the life takes her daughters from her. She feels that she is guilty of everything, because she raised Lillith under her roof; the woman that she more has hated, ended up by turning into her daughter, into the light of her life. And Astrid, her sweet Astrid is Marishka, the ancestor who condemned the lineage of her family per years, is now her daughter, her best friend and company.
They all wait for the reaction of Irena, Astrid more than any person. But Irena remains in silence, lost in her sorrow and thoughts. Van Helsing decides to approach her.
-----------"Irena…
-----------"The destination takes delight with my unhappiness, I wanted to be a mother, and the fate delivered to me two demons as daughters, the two beings that I hate with all my heart.
Astrid feels devastated with these comments and decides to go out running of the room. Mirka, her natural mother continues her. Van Helsing is disappointed; he thought that she would understand the situation of Astrid.
-------------"You must say one demon, because Astrid is not one anymore.
-------------"She has been a thorn in the side of my family per years, and refuses to leave me.
--------------"Perhaps you did not listen. She changed. She has been with you all these years, she has given you her love, and she has suffered in silence all this time. She loves us, we are her parents.
-------------"The same can be happening with Erika, she also could have changed.
-------------"Please!
-------------"If you ask me, I prefer believing more in Lillith than in Marishka
-------------"She is not Marishka!
-------------"Yes, she is Marishka! The vampire that killed my mother and my brother!
-------------"You can't be serious!
-------------"I am. I can't describe the magnitude of the pain I feel; my maternal instinct loves them, but my heart hates them. And if you ask me to choose between the two, I swear to you that I prefer Erika instead of Astrid.
--------------"You don't know what you are saying!
--------------"Yes I know exactly what I am saying!
--------------"Enough!
The Cardinal is very angry. He needs the union of the group, especially of Van Helsing and his wife.
--------------"Irena, you are guiding yourself in the wrong direction. Erika is Lillith, a demon, Astrid is a new person, a spirit that died in sin and returned to life in pureness.
--------------"You know something? I don't deserve this. I am an honest woman, I have fought for the peace of my people, and I have sacrificed myself for removing the darkness of my life. I do not deserve what it is happening to me and I will not be part of this again.
---------------"Irena…
---------------"Kill them! I don't care! From this moment I bury my daughters, Astrid and Erika. I am going to kill this pain, and am going to go forward with my life. I deserve to be happy; I deserve all your love Van Helsing. So, when you finish with your hunt, you can return to the house with me.
Irena is ready to leave, but Van Helsing will not let her go without letting her know something first.
--------------"I will not go back!
Irena turns around to confront him.
-------------"What did you say?
-------------"I am not going to deny that I have missed you, but the things have changed and for the attitude that you have taken I realize that it would not be correct to be together.
------------"Are you leaving me?
------------"You are against me and of what is correct and necessary; this does not allow me to be your husband.
-------------"Now I realize that you have never loved me. And if we are going to speak about culprits, you are more than I. You raised Erika, Lillith. You have protected her; at least I am less guilty than you. And more, know that if this world is destroyed by Lillith does not matter to me; I already do not have anything.
Irena abandons the room, and everyone is impressed with her negative attitude.
Finally, Mirka finds Astrid in the cliffs.
------------"Astrid!
Astrid turns around to see her natural mother.
-----------"You come here to insult me?
-----------"No, what you did was a crime, a crime that marked me forever. But you changed, you saw the light and you chose the right path. You repented and that is enough for me. I learned to forgive you.
-----------"Thank you.
-----------"I consider you my daughter. I carried you inside me.
-----------"But I am not the daughter that you expected.
-----------"You are the only daughter I know. But I also understand that Irena is the only mother you know. Irena is in the worst moment of her life, she is confused and angry, she can't choose between her daughters.
------------"She hates me, she hates her too. I am nothing for her, just the old demon that cursed her family for years.
Mirka takes the hand of Astrid in hers.
--------------"You have to fight against your past, you can shelter neither in the solitude nor in the sorrow, You have to show her that Marishka does not exist and that you are Astrid, her daughter, the daughter that loves her very much.
--------------"You treat me like a daughter.
--------------"You are, I carried you inside me.
Astrid feels happy; the woman she harmed many years ago has forgiven her.
---------------"Thank you.
---------------"Come, your father needs you. And we have plans to make.
---------------"I need to see Anna; I need to talk to her.
---------------"You will see her soon. Come.
In the village, Aleera arrives to her home, the home that was the former resting place of Dracula, of her and her sisters. Aleera is inside and suddenly she hears a familiar voice.
----------------"You made a beautiful work with this place.
Aleera cannot believe it. She is hearing the voice of Anna Valerious. Finally, Anna appears before her. Aleera is impressed and scared.
--------------"Anna!
--------------"Is nice to see you too Aleera.
--------------"This is impossible! How?
--------------"The fate gave me another chance. I am here again, to fight against Lillith, to support you, your family, Van Helsing, Astrid, Irena and all the people of this village, the village that was ruled by my family for centuries.
--------------"My God! I don't know what to say. We finished our differences in a very bitter way.
--------------"I know.
Aleera feels bad and guilty in front of her.
----------" Do you keep on hating me?
----------" No Aleera. We were mortal enemies in the past, we fought to death and ... you went out defeated in the end. Now you are an honest woman, you are a mother, wife; you are good and clean of sins. I already do not consider you an enemy. You went to the cliff once; you went to apologize for all the evil that you caused to me. I forgave you sincerely.
Aleera is happy. Finally she has been pardoned by the person whom she more hurt in the past. Without saying a word and with tears in the eyes she walks towards Anna and embraces her strongly. Her hug is corresponded.
-------------"Thank you Anna. It makes me happy that you are alive. Now with your presence I am sure that we will get rid of Lillith definitively.
--------------"Of course we will.
--------------"Dracula is here too, did you know that?
--------------"Yes, I know who is he now and I am pleased. I don't consider him an enemy either.
Suddenly, the door opens and Irena enters in the room. She sees Anna, her worst nightmare and she cannot believe it. Irena is more than afraid, she is burning inside, the rage, the anger and the pain are consuming her soul. Now the ghost that haunted her marriage for years, it's alive.
----------"This cannot be! The dead ones return to the life. Or this is another game of the destination to torment me.
Aleera decides to control the situation.
--------------"Irena, please…
--------------"Don't speak Aleera! I need to confirm this.
Irena walks towards Anna. Anna remains in her place, she is nervous but she controls her feelings.
Irena touches Anna's hair, then she touches her cheek and finally Irena takes her left hand. Anna is alive.
------------"I suppose that your return is related to the truth about my beautiful and diabolical daughters: truth?
------------"Irena...
------------"Or perhaps is related with my husband, Van Helsing. Maybe your love for him is so big that you returned from the death to recover it.
-------------"My return is a Divine act Irena. I am here because the fate gave me a chance. It was not my time to die and yes, I am here because of your daughters and Van Helsing, but not in the way you think.
The heart of Irena is too tormented to believe in Anna. Anna Valerious has been a nightmare in her life, Irena knows that she is the real love of her dear Van Helsing, and now that she has returned, Irena understands that she is going to lose him, and this fact fills her of anger, of powerlessness, of desire to ruin everything so that nobody can be happy in the end.
----------------"I have lived damned all this time. I have lived fighting for the love of Van Helsing, I have sacrificed everything for him, but clearly I have done it bad, because he keeps on loving you and now you are here, alive, in your entire splendor. Neither the destination nor the life are fair, Anna, the fate and the life has denied me everything. I am tired of being rejected by the man I love because of the ghost of a woman.
The words of Irena worry Aleera. Something wrong is happening to her best friend; her reaction although it is understandable, is too negative and dangerous.
--------------"Irena listen to me, Anna is here to help us, she is not going to hurt you.
--------------"She has hurt me for years, and I will never forgive her. I realize that like in the past, Anna Valerious, you are the center of attention, the most venerated, respected and admired. You have returned to recover what was yours. Well, we will see if you achieve it.
--------------"Is that a threat?
--------------"Probably. Perhaps I want to save this world alone so that Van Helsing finally loves me without thinking about you. Or perhaps my anger is so big that I want that this village and the entire world are destroyed so that you and Van Helsing can never be together. Analyze it.
Will Continue….