AN: Van Helsing isn't really OC in this chapter, he's just a little dazed okay?
It was a dream, he was sure of that. It was the only logical explanation for where he was standing right now: Dracula's Lair.
"Don't be late."
Van Helsing turned to face himself pulling Anna towards him, watching himself kiss her. Van Helsing's throat constricted and his heartbeat roared in his ears—but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Anna. Suddenly the scene changed, the background was melting away and a new one rushed up to meet it. Van Helsing watched Anna with the syringe in her hand run past him and at the monster in front of him.
"No!" he shouted, praying this time would be different—this time she'd hear him. But Anna ran at the werewolf which pounced on her. Carl came forward with the stake, ready to kill him—wished Carl had killed him—and stopped seeing the syringe. He watched the werewolf pick up Anna and howled, the howl becoming a scream and Van Helsing screamed with him in pure anguish.
"Van Helsing!" Dodger was very alarmed right now and shook him again—harder. "Gabriel!"
That got his attention and Van Helsing's eyes snapped open and Dodger was thrown against the wall, a forearm pressed to his throat.
"How do you know that name?!" Van Helsing snarled, "answer me!"
Dodger couldn't get a word out, he could scarcely breath. Then he saw Van Helsing's eyes—his yellow eyes. Dodger reached forward and grabbed a piece of his coat. The coat was a gentleman's coat he'd stolen and was graced with silver buttons. He slammed one into Van Helsing's arm. The silver made a hissing sound and Van Helsing dropped the thief who stumbled back rubbing his throat. Van Helsing fell down onto all fours coughing.
"It's okay," Carl said darting forward and crouching by him, "it's a full moon and it's still in your system."
"This didn't happen anytime else," Van Helsing said not looking up.
"You weren't under these conditions," Carl countered.
In the next room Raphael sighed and closed his eyes, bowing his head. Finally he opened them and studied the lock on the door. Getting an idea he pulled out a piece of metal and stuck it in the lock, carefully working it until the tumblers fell into place and the door opened.
"Ha!" Raphael walked outside. Raphael had tan skin and black hair that was pulled back by a black headscarf that matched his black outfit very well. He could have passed for a pirate with ease if it wasn't for the curved sword he wore, his accent and his pure onyx eyes. That gave his Gypsy blood away.
"Nice work," Jim said nodding approvingly and studying the lock. It didn't look like it had been picked and a key inserted into it still locked and unlocked the door with ease.
"I heard screams," Raphael said, "who's there?"
Jim wordlessly led him to the next cabin and pushed in the door. Raphael's eyes went from Dodger to Carl and landed on Van Helsing who heard footsteps and looked up. Raphael saw his eyes and threw himself backwards with a yell.
"What the hell is that thing?!" he cried.
"That is Van Helsing, a Knight of the Holy Order," Jim said.
"The Van Helsing?" Raphael asked looking up at Jim who nodded. Raphael pulled out his sword and pointed it at Van Helsing, "I'll have your head for what you did you monster!"
"Now isn't that being a little hasty?" Carl asked stepping in front of Van Helsing, "shouldn't we hear all sides of the—"
His plea was wasted. Van Helsing had already grabbed the first weapon that came to his hand which happened to be the mace. Raphael pulled his sword out and lunged forward. Van Helsing snapped the ball out and wrapped the chain around the blade, pulling it free of his hand. Raphael turned and backed up, Van Helsing let the mace drop and the young man slammed into him, meaning to kill Van Helsing with his bare fists. Van Helsing caught them both easily and pressed them against the wall.
"You're a monster," Raphael snarled, "if my death would result in yours I'd die gladly," he spat.
"You're right," Van Helsing said finally letting him go and stepping back. The mace sailed through the air and slammed into the wall, creating a line between them.
"Can we all calm down!" Dodger snarled, one hand holding the handle of the mace.
"You call yourself a thief and yet you defend him?" Raphael demanded incredulously.
"I've heard both sides of the tale," Dodger countered, "now can we all be reasonable?"
"He's a werewolf!" Raphael objected.
"Was," Dodger corrected. Raphael's eyes widened and he looked at Van Helsing. Van Helsing's mind flashed back to the boy from the projector room and the boy from the streets.
"You're the boy from the streets," Van Helsing said, "and the Knights headquarters."
Raphael stared and him then slowly nodded.
"So you work for whom?" Carl asked.
"Cardinal Jinette," Raphael said promptly, "but I have friends who I help out when I'm in town."
"You're not a Knight," Van Helsing confirmed. Raphael shook his head.
"Knight in training," he said, "Squire if you like."
"And you wanted to kill him why?" Carl asked pointing at Van Helsing.
"Before I was sent to the Knights of the Holy Cross, I was a loyal warrior for King Valerious and I remain loyal to him," Raphael spoke angrily, "I was sent to the Knights to try and help them kill Dracula."
"He did that! You two are on the same side," Carl cried.
"I do not put myself in the same category with monsters and murderers," Raphael snapped.
"Yet you seem willing enough to ally with pirates and thieves."
"The Prince and Princess Valerious are dead and their blood is on your hands—"
"The Prince became a werewolf, it was necessary to kill him—unless you wanted your Prince Valerious to be Dracula's slave. The Princess—" Van Helsing stopped, stood up and turned, walking out of the room.
"You fool," Carl said and stood up, "did you hear nothing? Princess Anna died to save him—she sacrificed herself because she loved him and he loved her! He was a lycan and if you've studied as you should have you would know they can't think clearly! Your Prince tried to kill his sister when he was in that form! Van Helsing's stronger than that and he has spent every minuet living with the guilt that he killed the woman he loved! Does that mean nothing to you?!"
Raphael had the grace to avert his eyes and look at the ground before standing up and walking out of the room. He found Van Helsing standing and looking out at the sea.
"Did you scratch her?"
Van Helsing turned to look at him.
"What?"
"Did you scratch her? Did you bite her—anything like that?" Dodger clarified.
"It wouldn't matter—I burned her body."
"Burned it? Did you see the ashes or was it too painful?" Raphael asked, his voice taking on a slightly mocking sound. Van Helsing didn't say anything, his silence was enough.
"What he's trying to say," Carl said coming forward, "is that siring a werewolf is a simple as nicking the skin—your claws or teeth would just have to draw a drop of blood in order to sire her—thus making her a werewolf as well—of course female werewolf's are exceedingly rare but I don't doubt Anna's ability to become one."
"Anna might be alive," Dodger broke in, "and the antidote to that—condition is still flowing through your veins."