Chapter Twelve: Among Wolves
You ride as fast as the horses will go, straight through the afternoon, with barely a stop for something to eat. Then the sun seems to set very quickly, but you realize this is due to the mountains that are looming overhead. Van Helsing has an intense expression on his face, as if he plans to reach the Courts of Andume before the sun can set.
"We do not stop or slow down for the night," he finally says to the company, "That would only put our lives more at stake." No one dares to counteract this, since he seems fairly set upon it.
The sky overhead is darkening much too quickly. Van Helsing is glancing nervously about the woods already, as though he expects an attack as soon as the sun sets.
"Stop," Van Helsing finally says. You give him an inquisitive look (as well as everyone else) and stop. He listens. Then you all hear it: wolves howling in the distance. They are maybe about four miles behind you. Van Helsing looks about the company. "Now go," he says, "And don't look back. Just keep riding." You all kick your horses into mad gallops and fly through the forest.
Van Helsing rides steadily alongside you. "I should have known that Dracula would still pursue us, even though we should be on peaceful terms at the moment," he mutters to you.
"There is never any peace with Dracula," you state, "Dracula knows no peace."
"While this is true, he can negotiate and hold to specific terms. Unfortunately, I don't believe we specified that he should not follow us and just wait until we arrived in the city," Replies Van Helsing. He glances back and then at you.
"I thought you said not to look back," you say, smiling at him.
"I didn't mean so for myself," he replies, looking steadily at you. Now it is dusk. The east sky is beginning to fill with stars, but their warmth is not sufficient enough to melt away the dreadful feeling in the air. The wolves howl again. They are closer. Now they are but three miles or so away. "Ride, Mira," says Van Helsing. You look at him. He smiles quickly and then turns his horse back.
"Gabriel!" You cry. He waves and disappears in the trees behind you. "Go on, Carl and Vladimir. Just follow the path. We will meet you," you say, swerving your horse around and going after Van Helsing. Vladimir shoots you a look but he keeps riding ahead. "Van Helsing?" You ask, slowing up your horse when you see no sign of him. "Van Helsing?" You ask again.
You look around the dark hollow you have ridden into. You dismount to get a closer look at the hoof prints, in order to decipher which way Van Helsing went.
"Mira, don't move," a voice whispers. You hear Van Helsing loading his crossbow. You stay still and lift only your eyes to see a wolf ready to spring about ten yards from you. The wolf growls viciously and takes a step forward. "Mira, listen to me," says Van Helsing from the shadows, "Once I fire, I want you to mount your horse, and ride after Carl and Vladimir."
"I won't leave you," you state.
"Don't be stubborn, Mira. Your life is at stake. Do as I say," he commands firmly. He loads the spring of his crossbow and fires at the beast. You quickly mount your horse and swerve back, going after Carl and Vladimir.
Behind you, a battle rages between Van Helsing and the wolves. But you can only hear the crossbow firing repetitively. You hear something running in the trees beside you and quicken the horse's strides. Suddenly, Dracula's winged form emerges in front of you and the horse rears, throwing you backwards. You land in the snow as your horse runs off wildly and Dracula returns to his vampire-self. His eyes blaze as he approaches you.
"Alone, in the forest," he says, smirking, "Hm…what would be the proper etiquette in this situation…" He narrows his eyes as if in thought and then continues to approach you. You slide up quickly onto your feet and draw your sword. He laughs, looking at the sword. "You don't learn very fast, do you?" He comments, keeping a short distance from you. "So, what are you going to do, Mira? There are wolves behind you, and I am in front of you." He raises a brow and paces the width of the path. You do not answer, because you do not know how to. The Count has made an undeniable point which seems to imply that there is now no escape. You try not to quiver.
Dracula closes his eyes. He claps his hands in rhythm with your heart. "Your pulse is quickening, my love," he states, still pacing and clapping. You force yourself to breathe evenly, but it is really too late to maintain composure. Your sword is shaking uncontrollably in your faltering grip. He opens his eyes and stares at you. "Well, Mira, time is up," he says, his eyes beginning to gleam. You stare back at him, but not at his eyes.
"What do you want from me, Count?" You finally ask, lowering your sword.
"I want Van Helsing," he states, "I want Van Helsing dead."
"You are going to devote your time to destroying Van Helsing?" You ask, "Could you not be doing something with greater benefits such as recruiting new brides, or, plotting world-domination?" You ask sarcastically. Dracula hisses at you angrily. You smile daringly. "I am not afraid of you," you say out-loud, even though you are scared to death. He moves closer to you, trying to look you directly in the eyes. You stand still, looking directly at his brows.
"Look into my eyes, Mira," says Dracula in a deep voice. You focus on his eyebrows. "My eyes," he hisses, grabbing your chin and forcing your eyes to lock on his. He smirks, drawing you in closer by the waist. "For your information, I need only one bride," he says quietly in your ear, "Having more than that requires much more maintenance." He jerks you in against him and you gasp, falling under his spell. He pushes you back, exposing your neck. You look at him drowsily. His fangs expose themselves and his eyes glow like rings of fire. "One brief moment of pain…" he whispers, reaching down towards your neck.
Suddenly there is a large thud and Dracula goes flying backward. Van Helsing sweeps your drowsy form into his arms and charges past the disoriented vampire. There is a horrible cry and behind you, Dracula rises into his flying form and takes up the chase. There is also a multitude of wolves howling. Van Helsing curses loudly, though trying to keep it under his breath. You reawaken and look at Van Helsing.
"What happened?" You ask.
"No time to explain. Here, take the reins," he says, seating you in front of him. He turns his upper body and starts firing at those in pursuit. The large sweeping sound of Dracula's wings echoes throughout the forest and the wolves howl angrily, charging mercilessly. Van Helsing kicks the horse to go faster. You direct expertly along the path, taking the turns with ease. The whole world is just flying by in a whir, and it's making you dizzy. Finally, you see your horse running alongside you.
"Have we lost them yet?" You ask.
"For the time," states Van Helsing, turning back around.
"Good, well, that would be my horse," you say, handing him the reins and performing a daring leap onto your horse. You take up the reins and gallop beside Van Helsing, "What are we going to do, Gabriel?" You ask.
"We're going to pray to God that Dracula gives up the chase. I think he knows where we're going," answers Van Helsing. He keeps glancing back. "You shouldn't have followed me, Mira," He says.
"I wasn't letting you go alone," you reply.
"I appreciate the fact that you care, but I told you to ride on ahead. You should have listened," says Van Helsing.
"Why should I be taking orders from you, Mr. Van Helsing?" You reply, grinning at him, "It is, after all, my country, and not yours." He glances over at you, his eyes sparkling.
"And I do believe I am the better equipped as far as dealing with these situations," states Van Helsing dryly. You both hear the sweeping sound of Dracula's wings and look back just in time to duck, avoiding his deadly claws. The horses whinny in fear and dig their hooves into the ground, stopping. They almost throw you and Van Helsing over their heads, but you hold on tight. Dracula sweeps down to the ground and becomes his vampire form once more.
"I was not finished, Gabriel," he hisses, glaring at Van Helsing.
"No, but you are now," states Van Helsing, moving his horse in front of you. Dracula laughs.
"You are too weak, Gabriel," he says.
"I told you we would be in the city in five days time. Could you not at least grant us safe passage?" Demands Van Helsing. The wolves have gathered about a hundred yards away and stare out of the shadowy trees hungrily. You glance nervously at them and then return your eyes to the Count. He smiles at you and you look away again.
"I've changed my mind, Gabriel," says Dracula, still staring at you, "I don't want you dead. I just want you out of my way," he says, "What I want, is the girl." Your eyes grow wide and you stare at him now. He is smiling evilly.
"Fine, take the girl. Take her once we have reached the city. And grant us safe passage for the rest of the way," states Van Helsing.
"Van Helsing…!" You protest, but he isn't looking at you.
"The first wish I can grant you. The second, I cannot," states Dracula, his eyes gleaming.
"It will be both, or none, Count," says Van Helsing boldly. Dracula frowns. He pauses a moment, thinking.
"Fine. You shall have both conditions," he says. He snaps his fingers and the wolf pack disperses. You look desperately between Van Helsing and Dracula, outraged that he would organize such a trade. You would rather die. Dracula looks at you, smiling evilly. "I'll be seeing you, Mira…" He says. You shudder at the sound of his voice. Then he grows back his wings and disappears over the treetops.
"How could you!" You cry at Van Helsing, enraged. "You give me to your enemy! How could you!" You try to throw a punch at him but he grabs your fists and then meets your eyes calmly. He shakes his head.
"Do you honestly think I would give the woman I love to the devil?" He asks. Your eyes fill with tears and you weep, surrendering to his arms. "Shh…" he whispers, stroking your hair, "He is still lying, anyway. He wants me dead, regardless. So it matters not what I say, because I am not inclined to keep my word." Once you partially recover, you start riding again. Although this time, everything seems hopeless to you, no matter what anyone says anymore. You have even lost your trust in Van Helsing, despite his assurance.