Transylvania
Episode 1: Introduction to Darkness
Part 2 of 2
AN: Thanks for the reviews! And the fanart! And everybody, head to my site and check out a fabulously done poster by Clez! Many thanks go to her for it. Now (since I know you all want me to) I'll shut up and get on with the action, already. ^_^ Oh, and one more thing: Each time you see one of the nifty little dotted lines (except the one immediately following the AN, of course) it means a scene change.
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"This looked like some new scheme of villainy…."
Jonathon Harker's Journal, 31 May, Dracula
Chris followed Van Helsing for quite a bit, but eventually, the older man's pace became too quick for Chris to keep up with. He could see the signs of the man's heavy gait, so he just kept on that path, and sure enough, he found Van Helsing.
Just not at the door of his modest home. Instead, the mysterious, gruff Professor stood behind a bush, holding a crossbow close to his body. "What are you doing," Chris whispered, and Van Helsing clamped a strong hand over his mouth.
"Quiet, boy." Chris's eyes flared and he opened his mouth to bite Van Helsing's hand, but stopped abruptly when he noticed the tall, blonde woman standing at the door to Van Helsing's home. Golden blonde curls hung to her shoulder blades, sliding over a sleeveless, black leather shirt, fishnet arm warmers taking up the position of sleeves. Tight leather pants bled down into large combat boots riddled with buckles. Her skin was pale, so pale that Chris thought she was perhaps a step or two away from being albino. She had heavy black make-up around her eyes, with very light spikes coming down from under the eye, giving it a very melancholy effect, and her ears were riddled with tiny little studs in the shape of skulls. Black nail polish covered short nails, and her hands were clenched into fists that were placed on her narrow hips. "Do you recognize her?"
It took Chris a minute, but he finally did place the girl: This was the same person that he had nearly run over on the highway! "You wouldn't happen to have a spare crossbow, would you?" He paused for barely a moment before spluttering out, "Wait, how did you know to whip…out that…crossbow…!" His eyes narrowed and the boy hissed, "You were there!"
"Yes. Get ready."
"You expect me to do something?!"
"Of course. If you can't pull your own weight, one of these bolts will have your name on it." He pulled out a vial of water and pressed it into Chris's hand. "Back me up. You're not ready to take one of them on." Van Helsing slipped out from behind the bushes, creeping along the shadows. The woman's head shot around, and before Van Helsing knew what was going on, he found himself being gripped by the neck and pressed up against the wall, his feet dangling about six inches off the ground.
"I can see in the dark, you know," the woman stated, sounding more exasperated than angry. Just then there was a loud cry, obviously more bravado than anything, and Chris came flying out of the bushes, swinging his guitar in a horizontal arc reminiscent of a battle-axe. The woman easily dodged, and Chris used the opportunity his feint had provided to toss the vial of water at her chest. It broke open and the water hit her skin, and the pale flesh began to sizzle and redden instantly. The woman hissed and dropped Van Helsing, uttering a curse before dropping back to the shadows. "Damnit! You didn't need to do that!"
Van Helsing looked to Chris to see if he was capable of answering, and saw that the boy was shocked at the reaction the water had caused. He was muttering a word beginning with the letter V over and over again, and Van Helsing couldn't help but smirk. "Of course he did. You were strangling me."
"I was not," the girl returned angrily. "You weren't choking. I just wanted to keep you from shooting me with that." She pointed to Van Helsing's crossbow, which was still gripped tightly in his right hand.
"A vampire shows up at my door and you expect me not to shoot her," Van Helsing returned, chuckling. "I see your kind is not as intelligent as it used to be."
"You're assuming we're all alike."
"Aren't you," Chris chimed in, stepping up and showing her that he still had his guitar. "Vampires, I mean. Aren't you all the same?"
"No," Jane replied, "and kid, you should know that better than anybody."
"What's that supposed to mean," Chris blurted, to Van Helsing's chagrin.
"Drakul. He took your girlfriend, right?"
"Who are you," Van Helsing cut in swiftly, silencing Chris in mid-sentence.
"Call me Jane." Both of the pair waited expectantly. "Fine, Jane Doe."
"You've gotta be kidding me," Chris groaned.
"For once, I agree with the kid," Van Helsing stated. "Give me your real name or I'll dust you right now."
"That's the only name that matters anymore," Jane replied, sighing. "Look, just let me explain myself, okay? If you want me to go away after that, I will."
"Fine," Chris stated, shoving Van Helsing when he tried to say otherwise. "But make it quick. We don't have all night."
"Neither do I," Jane replied, smirking.
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"It all started when I was younger. I was into the occult, dabbled in a little Wicca, never got deep enough to figure out that I was too much of a dumbass to be messing with that stuff. I got to be pretty good at it, especially considering I was only dabbling in the whole thing. Some people told me I had this natural talent, but I didn't believe 'em. Maybe I should have, because that's what first led Vladimir Drakul to me. I was…fifteen, I think; he was…hell, who knows? He started wining and dining me, and eventually I was all set to do whatever he wanted. He gave me this book; he said it was a spellbook of some kind. I asked him where it came from and he just smiled this mysterious smile and told me that it didn't matter. He said he needed me to decipher some stuff in it. It took me a year, but I managed to get it all figured out. It was some really heavy stuff, and I told him that. He asked me if I could do any of it…I guess I was too blinded by my love for him to be suspicious. I told him I could do it if he gave me the time to get the required materials together. He asked me how long it would take, and I told him probably a couple months. I got all the stuff together about a month early, thanks to a few lucky Ebay bids, and I went over to his castle to tell him. He ended up thinking that I'd overhead something that he didn't want me to hear, and punished me." Jane sighed and opened her mouth to continue, but Chris held up a hand to stop her.
"He punished you by making you like him," Chris finished for her. "A vampire."
"Yeah," Jane replied. "I left town for a while after that. I didn't plan on coming back at all, but then I happened to notice a few familiar Ebay bids, and…well, I knew I had to come back and make him pay."
"You can't expect us to believe," Van Helsing began, but was cut off by Chris.
"Van Helsing, shut up," Chris growled.
"What," Van Helsing asked sharply.
"This is important," Chris stated, and then looked to Jane. "You said you were a Wiccan?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"…So is Rose."
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Rose awoke in a dark, dank chamber. She was shackled to the ground, cold stone stinging her naked body. She could smell repugnant incense in the air, and hear chanting in the distance. Candles lit up around the room as if of their own volition, and the door opened. She tried to cower back in fear, but couldn't, and regal red robes washed into the room just as the man's face turned to look at her…
…and she awoke again, this time in a comfy, lavish bed, with fluffy pillows under her head. Scented candles burned throughout the spacious, cozy room, and Vladimir Drakul sat on the edge of the large bed, leaning against the post, smashing a piece of the canopy against it. He wore a benign smile, and he leaned forward slightly. "Are you alright?"
"What…what am I doing here?"
"You don't remember? You were coming here to try and set up a meeting for your boyfriend, Chris, and you slipped and hit your head on one of the stones. It's lucky I got home when I did, or you would've just been left outside, and you know how bad the wolves can get some nights." There were traces of an old world accent in his voice, and Rose thought it sounded like something she'd heard in an old Dracula movie, once.
"Oh, well…where's Chris?"
"I called him and told him what happened. He said he was bogged down with things and asked if you could stay the night. I told him that I'd leave it up to you."
"Chris said that?" Drakul laughed.
"You don't need to worry, Ms. Dawson. I know what he thinks of me."
"Oh. Well…he doesn't really think that. He's just…paranoid, that's all."
"Not to worry," Drakul replied, smiling, "I won't hold it against you. Now, you need to get some sleep." He got up and turned out the lights. "Sleep well, Ms. Dawson. Pay no heed to any nightmares you have while in my care." With that, he turned and strode from the room, leaving Rose to question just what in the blazes was going on.
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"She's not coming into my house," Van Helsing stated, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. "Since vampires have to be invited in-"
"Shut up," Jane sighed, and shoved him backwards. She walked inside then, to Van Helsing's shock.
"Get over yourself, Van Helsing," Chris snapped, following Jane inside. "My girlfriend's life could be at stake – no pun intended – here. If I have to work with a vampire to get her back, so be it. If you don't like it, just hit yourself over the head until unconsciousness sets in and don't report the missing weapons and books from your house in the morning." Chris felt his shirt grabbed from the back of the collar and then he was hoisted into the air.
"You don't give the orders here," Van Helsing snarled.
"Yeah, I do," Chris snarled right back. "And if you don't let me go, I'm going to El Kabong you with Lucifer." After a few tense moments of staring each other down, Van Helsing let Chris drop. "Better. Now, let's see what you've got at your disposal." Van Helsing glared at him, while Jane took a seat on a table.
Van Helsing grabbed a large book off the shelf and slammed it down on a table next to Chris. "Our best weapon."
"…A copy of Dracula is our best weapon?"
"Yeah," Jane stated, coming to stand on the opposite side of the table from Van Helsing. "Names were changed, but more or less, that's how it really happened. Why do you think Bram Stoker couldn't write a hit before or after it?"
"And who would believe a guy if he told the story as nonfiction after this," Van Helsing added.
"Good point," Chris replied, nodding. "Alright, so what can we use against him weaponry wise?"
"These," Van Helsing stated, gesturing around his walls to the various weapons lining them. Various types of swords, battle-axes, crossbows, spears, staves, and even a pair of sai could be seen in this room alone. "These." He opened up a chest to show that it was full of vials of Holy Water.
"I have an idea," Chris stated suddenly. "Jane, did you bring your car?"
"Yeah, why?"
"We need to go shopping. Van Helsing-"
"Get the rest of the stuff ready, I know." Chris smirked briefly before gesturing for Jane to lead the way.
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"Shouldn't we be heading towards the real guns," Jane asked, trying to keep up with Chris as he strode swiftly towards a display at the front of an aisle near the back of the store.
"Not really," Chris stated. "Besides, real guns don't do anything to vampires."
"Whisper when you're talking about that shit," Jane hissed at him, speeding up so they could whisper discretely. "And they slow us down," she continued, her voice hushed.
"I've got a better idea," Chris replied, holding up a paintball gun and grinning.
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"You see," Chris stated, grabbing a vial out of Van Helsing's chest, "you just pour this into the paintball capsule-"
"That's a damn good idea," Jane interrupted. "Paintball guns full of Holy Water."
"That is a good idea," Van Helsing stated. "Tell you what: Jane and I will get the rest of the stuff packed into my van, and you finish filling up the capsules with the Holy Water."
"…Deal." Chris grabbed a rapier off the wall. "This one's mine, though."
"Good choice," Van Helsing replied, grinning.
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"Do you think we should bring the kid," Jane asked, shoving a battle-axe into the back of Van Helsing's van.
"He's the only reason I didn't dust you right away," Van Helsing replied, stashing a stake up his sleeve.
"So if we left him behind, would you dust me?"
"Probably."
"Oh."
"I'm gonna go check on the kid."
"Go ahead," Jane replied, uncaring.
Van Helsing sighed and turned, heading back inside. He tried to push open the door to the room Chris had been in, but it was locked. He pushed harder, and still it wouldn't budge. He tried shoving it open, but that didn't work either. "Allow me," Jane stated, an amused grin on her face. She kicked the door in and the two entered the room, to find several things missing: A few daggers, a bag full of stakes, all of the paintball capsules, the paintball gun, Chris's rapier…and Chris. A cold breeze blew in from an open window. "Shit," they both said in unison.
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A cold breeze blew in through an open window of the tattoo parlor, and Chris shivered in spite of himself. "Quit movin' unless you want me to fuck this up," the bald headed tattoo artist stated. He was covered so completely in tattoos, it was almost like he was a walking tattoo. "Alright, I'm done. That'll be fifty each." Chris handed over the money, got up silently, and headed back out into the night, headed for Drakul's castle.
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"Do you see him," Van Helsing asked from the driver's seat of his van.
"That's the third time you've asked me that in a minute and a half," Jane sighed, "and my answer is still no." She turned to face Van Helsing. "Look, I know you feel responsible for dragging him into this, but we don't have time. He's a big boy, he'll either live or die by his own stupidity."
"Yeah," Van Helsing replied, "and that's what I'm worried about."
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Chris threw the grappling hook as best he could, hoping to attach it to the wall of Drakul's castle and climb up. He was successful in setting the hook and managed to climb up without too much damage. He drew his rapier once his feet had been firmly placed on the cold stone of the castle wall, preparing to set the hook on the opposite side and climb back down the wall into the courtyard. "I believe the front door would have been easier," Drakul's voice stated from below, and Chris spun to see the man he'd come to kill smirking at him. "But, if you insist on being dramatic, I will humor you." Drakul leapt up and stuck to the wall. Chris gasped in shock, and Drakul laughed as he climbed the wall with ease. "I see you've brought a sword." Drakul held a cane out at arm's length, over the courtyard. He pressed a button on the head and the bottom dropped away, falling to the courtyard below and revealing a sword. "So have I."
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"Damnit Helsing, we need to head for Drakul's castle," Jane exploded. "We haven't found Chris by now, he's probably there already."
"So says the girl set on payback," Helsing returned.
"I'm set on stopping him," Jane replied. "If that's payback, so be it."
"Right."
"You know what," Jane snapped. "Fuck you." She grabbed him and extended ebon talons from her fingertips. "One way or another, this van is going to Drakul's castle. Either with you as the driver, or with you as the dead body in the back." A few tense moments passed before Van Helsing finally smirked.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you," he stated sarcastically, before taking the turn-off leading to Drakul's castle.
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"You took my girlfriend," Chris stated. "I want her back."
"Were I not so rich, I would tell you that I wanted a million dollars, but you don't see that happening," Drakul stated.
"I'll spare you if you let her go."
"I doubt you'll even prove to be a challenge."
"You'd be surprised."
"Show me." Chris lunged forward, but it was sloppy, predictable, and easily blocked. Drakul returned with a thrust of his own that nearly found its mark, were it not for a quick sidestep by Chris. He used the moment of imbalance on Drakul's part to try and land a downward slash, but Drakul caught the blade expertly in his free hand and shoved it backwards. The vampire hopped backwards and thrust out, aiming for Chris's stomach. Chris managed to deflect the blade, returning with a punch to Drakul's face that landed successfully. The punch opened up an opportunity for Drakul to lunge towards Chris's chest, but Chris blocked the sloppy stab. Drakul grinned and swung his blade out horizontally, knocking Chris's blade out of his hand and down into the courtyard. A kick to Chris's stomach sent him down to his knees, and Drakul pressed the tip of his blade against the front of Chris's neck. "Pathetic."
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"There he is," Jane exclaimed, hopping onto the roof of the van as Helsing swung it around so the back faced Drakul's front door. Van Helsing clambered out and gazed up at Chris as he fought Drakul.
"Not bad, kid," Helsing observed.
"Not bad at all," Jane agreed. She winced as the blade was knocked from his hand and he dropped to his knees.
"Wait…what's he doing," Van Helsing questioned, squinting to get a better look.
"He's…smiling."
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"Are you really that eager to die," Drakul asked, a bit amazed that Chris could smile when the Reaper was breathing down his neck.
"Who says I'm going to be the one dying?" Drakul started to utter some sarcastic answer, but Chris leapt forward suddenly, lunging out with his hands. They found their mark, each grabbing the corresponding side of Drakul's head. Instead of the normal odd look Chris would've normally gotten, a sizzling sound immediately began to assail Chris's ears, and Drakul jerked free to reveal burning skin in the shapes of crosses where Chris's hands had been. Chris grinned and held up his hands, palms out, fingers curved inward slightly…to reveal a cross tattooed on each hand.
"Nice trick, huh," Chris asked, stalking forward. "Bet you didn't see that one coming." Drakul growled and kicked out, his foot slamming into Chris's chest and sending him flying backwards, smashing into a parapet and breaking his left leg. He fell to his knees again. Drakul stalked forward now, intent on killing the annoying pest that had managed to get the jump on him. He placed his sword against Chris's neck again. Chris gazed up at him with hopeless, ragged eyes, the pain of the last night showing through at last. He spread his arms and glared up at Drakul. "Just do it," he groaned, his voice haggard. "Do it and get it over with." The two glared at each other for a moment before Drakul removed his sword and turned away.
"No."
"No?"
"Leaving you alive with the knowledge that I have her and you will never get her back is far, far worse than death." He swept his arm out and knocked Chris off the castle wall, not caring now what happened to him. Laughing heartily, he retreated inside his castle, now without a care in the world.
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Chris landed roughly on the ground, yelping in pain as his broken leg bashed against a rock. Jane hopped off the roof of the van and rushed over to him, Van Helsing a step behind. Chris wrestled free of both of them and hobbled into the driver's seat of the van, starting it and spinning it around. He put his functioning foot all the way down on the gas pedal and squealed out into the main town. He pulled the car over and began hobbling down streets, going from door to door, trying to get people to "take up arms against the vampire menace!"
It didn't take long for the men in white coats to wrestle him to the ground and sedate him. There was nothing Van Helsing could do as he was carted away to the asylum. The elder man just turned to look back at the castle he'd just come from, to glare at it more like it. "You've won this battle, Drakul," Helsing said, "but you'll pay for it with the war."
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Meanwhile, in a field just outside of town, something was occurring….