Disclaimers: Van Helsing doesn't belong to me, this is just a story based on the movie. The plot and OC's are copyright to me. There will be a prequel for this up soon. Please enjoy!

Note: Please don't be worried about the slight, very slight crossover appearing here. I will try to make their part as small as possible.

Note2: It seems to confuse some that there is an Igor in London. He is the son of Igor, who died on the bridge. They're all called Igor, it just makes it easier for the vampires to remember. (He doesn't look like the movie-Igor either.)

[blah, blah] – Romanian

#blah, blah# - thoughts.

Chapter 2:

Day one:

Packing wasn't such a chore as one would have believed. There was always a bag packed and ready, in case something happened and they had to leave in a hurry.

Alexis decided to wear a plain dark blue dress, plain of course only because it wasn't made of silk - she was royalty after all. Digging around in the closet, she found the old trunk she was looking for. As a child, she was trained in the use of many types of weapons so she could defend herself if the locals ever managed to corner her. After her change, she didn't really need them, but they were of sentimental value to her. Many wonderful memories were contained in that trunk, memories of her father playing with her, teaching and training her to take her place at his side.

She strapped a dagger to her right thigh and one to her left forearm, making sure that the sleeve covered it from casual notice. Most of the other weapons ended up in the emergency bag and left on the bed for Igor to collect. Moving around the room, she suddenly noticed how instinctively she walked to avoid the direct sunlight streaming through the window. Slowly stretching her arm out, she shuddered at the image of her arm bathed in light: #This feels so wrong#. Clouds were vampires' best friends in the daylight. Usually sunlight had a 'weight' to it and sometimes it was so heavy, it pushed though the skin to cause pain. That was the only way to describe the sensation of the light bearing down on one. It was just another of the silly restrictions put on them after the Bargain was made, just to make hunting easier for the humans - not that it seemed to have helped them at all. Most of the restrictions were meant as something symbolic, but she never really cared about it, except that it was a nuisance at times.

At last the confrontation with the doctor couldn't be put off any longer. #I need time to think! Everything is happening too fast, I don't even have a plan yet and I'm rushing off into the unknown.# But, of course, this didn't really matter, there was lots of time before they would arrive at the castle...

Slowly walking down the stairs to the main foyer, Alexis marvelled at how different everything looked to what she was used to. There were a lot more shadows and things seemed greyer than normal. It was going to take some getting used to.

Standing outside the drawing room, watching the doctor as he paced, she wondered what he was thinking. It was apparent that he suspected something different about her, what precisely that something was, only he knew. Without the ability to mesmerise him, she had to be very careful with her words: he was much too intelligent to just accept any old story she could make up and her position in society had to be protected. She had a feeling it would come in handy later on...

Watson paced as he waited. That girl really did infuriate him sometimes. Fainting like that, bad nightmares, flushed and unsteady on her feet - those were signs that there was something seriously wrong with her. He hoped that she wouldn't be stubborn about it.

He turned as the door opened and was struck again by how beautiful she was. But as she moved with less grace than he was used to towards the nearest chair, he was reminded of the seriousness of the situation again.

"My Lady, are you all right?"

"I am fine."

"I beg to differ, my dear, you should be resting, not going off on a long journey."

"No rest for the wicked," he heard her whisper.

"There is no time to rest. I have to return home."

"Why the urgency? Surely you could wait a few days."

She narrowed her eyes at this.

"Actually, you mean that I should stay and help you in your investigation. I do not see any reason for me to continue in it. I'm sure you and your friend are well enough on your way to find the culprit - it really isn't that difficult to realise who it is, after all."

He blinked at her.

"That's not what I meant at all!" he cried, "I only wanted to be sure that you are all right. I do care about you, you know."

They stared at each other for a while and then Alexis sighed.

"I received news from home a few days ago, not good news. I decided to stay, but the stress..." Putting her hand over her eyes, she shuddered at the feeling of loss and pain that was still there.

Just then Igor entered the room with a tray of sandwiches and juice.

"Mistress, there is place booked on a ship for us on the morning tide."

"Good, thank you, Igor, we will leave as soon as possible. Prepare the carriage."

She looked at the tray, "What are those?"

"Sandwiches, mistress, to keep your strength up."

Slowly taking one, she took a bite. It tasted disgusting, but it was necessary - and the doctor was watching her with an eagle eye.

"What happened last night made me realise that it was the wrong decision. I have to go, to see that everything is all right. I have very little family left and I could not bear to lose them."

"What happened?" he asked gently.

"I... I cannot tell you," She stood up and walked to the window, "except that ruling is easy compared to staying alive."

She turned to him and said in a pleading tone: "I need to know that they are all right, can you understand that?"

They both heard the sound of hoofs on the cobblestones outside. Looking down into the yard, Watson saw a carriage with black horses pull up and Igor jumping down from the driver's seat.

"We will take you back to your apartment on our way. I must see that everything is ready. Please meet us in the foyer," and with a swish of cloth she left the room.

Watson just shook his head. What strange people these foreign aristocrats are.

A few minutes later he was joined by Alexis wearing a black cloak and Igor, who was almost invisible under all the bags and supplies. Watson saw sleeping rolls and camping gear amongst the clutter, which puzzled him no end, but he decided to keep his peace.

The carriage clattered along the cobblestones of inner city London on its way to Baker Street. It was only mid-morning, but such a fine day that the sidewalks were completely packed with people. He watched as the Lady glared at the pedestrians as they swarmed over the street, blocking it. At last they arrived at their destination.

"Good day, Doctor, and do not worry, you will see me again," she said as Watson got out.

"May God bless your journey."

He watched as the carriage drove away and wondered about the pained expression on her face with his parting words.

#I just hope he didn't jinx the whole thing now.#

It was an uneventful but slow journey to Dover. They arrived just before closing time of an inn close to the wharf. After much haggling, they managed to rent space for the carriage and someone to care for the horses. There was only one room left in the inn, so it was democratically decided that Alexis would get the bed and most of the blankets while Igor got the fireplace and all the wood he could want.

Alexis didn't sleep well that night. There was something about all this that wasn't making much sense. The monster was the key to life for their children and no other could take his place, but she felt such sorrow a few days before from her father, the same she felt a year ago. They had failed again to awaken the children and it hurt. But last night was different: she felt her own children die, as her father died. Why would they keep on trying if they had already failed twice? There was something she was missing, but what?

And another thing: only a werewolf could kill him, but that's why he had a cure - and in any case, no one knew that little titbit of information anyway. Who would be strong enough to fight the will of such a powerful being? However she looked at it, there was only one useful conclusion. Somewhere out there, there was a werewolf loose and in her weakened state, she didn't have any real defence against it.

Day two:

They woke up to a dull and dreary morning. Breakfast was slop, as Alexis referred to it, but Igor seemed to like it. She left him to it - it just made her nauseous.

The ship they were booked on was the 'Freedom' and at least the rooms weren't too bad, albeit a bit cramped. The captain welcomed them on-board - at least her title meant some privileges - and was most helpful.

Fortunately they encountered no storms on the way and they made landfall two days later and found an inn for the night.

Day four:

The best way to travel across Europe was by train. There was no way that she was going to risk a storm sinking their ship if they tried to sail on the Adriatic Sea. It was the season for storms anyway and they were very lucky that they encountered none on the channel crossing. So, by train it was. Igor booked them all the way to Budapest so all that was left for them to do was wait and hope that it wouldn't be too late...

AN: Right, next time more back-story and more travelling! I do apologise for the Doctor - he just didn't seem to want to go away and he probably won't show up again.

Thanks for all the reviews!