When you wake again, you are back home resting peacefully. You are drowsy at first but everything is clear in a few minutes. The tapestries on the wall have not moved, and everything seems to still be in place from the last moment that you left it. Then you remember the state of things. You quickly get up and exit your room. Van Helsing happens to be passing by with a book when you enter the corridor. He looks up at you from the book and smiles. He is changed back into his leather trench coat and hat, and looking quite dashing as usual.
"How are you feeling, Mira?" He asks, stopping.
"Better," you reply. The hall is dimly lit with the light of the rising sun. It must still be morning.
"Listen, Mira. There's something I meant to tell you," says Van Helsing, shifting kind of nervously.
"Yes?" You ask, looking at him attentively. As he begins to speak, Vladimir comes around the corner.
"Hey, she's up!" Vladimir says smiling. He kisses your hand. "And how are you feeling?"
"Better," you answer again. Van Helsing shifts his eyes between the two of you as if he is trying to draw a connection.
"We should evacuate the city," says Van Helsing, "Get everyone to the Courts of Andume, where they'll be safe."
"And then what?" You ask, looking back at him sternly. Van Helsing sighs.
"You always want the answer now!" Exclaims Van Helsing. He is clearly frustrated with your nature.
"Well…I have to look ahead," you say, "It is the future of my people that will be determined by our actions and inevitably, the whole world." Van Helsing sighs again.
"Look, Mira. If we stay in a safe place, we will be all right. Then we can think about set plans," Van Helsing says.
"Have you given any thought to provisions or accommodations? The potential length of staying time? How about the dangers in getting there and back?" At this point, you are growing angry with him. He assumes too much, and does not seem to understand how many factors must be investigated before one can evacuate a city.
"Calm down, Mira," Vladimir says, "He does not know of the responsibility involved."
"Damn you, Vladimir!" Yells Van Helsing, shoving the book in Vladimir's face. "Look at this, and look bloody well!" Vladimir takes the book and holds it under the torchlight. He reads and his face darkens immensely. After a minute, he slams it shut, handing it to Van Helsing. He grabs your hand.
"We are evacuating, now," he says firmly. Van Helsing follows.
"You see, Vladimir?" Asks Van Helsing. You are practically being dragged down the hall.
"Yes, we will make further plans in the courts," states Vladimir.
"Why?" You demand, "I wish to know why!"
"One must not know the entirety of their destiny," states Van Helsing. You meet up with Carl in the front foyer.
"All of the guards were moved to Dracula's fortress," says Carl. Father Delavego enters the room. He looks at you earnestly.
"Mira, my child…had I known you were in such grave danger, I would have sent you to Rome ages ago," says the priest, looking at you rather morbidly. You look at all of their faces, confused.
"I am afraid I do not understand," you say finally.
"And may you never understand this terribly fate, Mira," says Father Delavego.
"What terrible fate? I cannot stand to be left in the darkness!" You cry, visibly distressed.
"Order an evacuation," says Van Helsing, "Mira and I will ready our horses." He takes your hand and pulls you out to the stables. The air is freezing and you shiver, looking at the gray sky. The rain from a couple of nights ago has iced over the snow in a shiny glaze, but the sun is not shining bright enough to create a glare. Once you reach the stables, you touch Van Helsing's shoulder.
"You must tell me, Gabriel," you persist, looking into his eyes.
"Mira…" He sighs, "I would never wish to conceal knowledge from you…" He taps the book, "But these words were never meant to exist."
"Let me read them," you plead. He lowers the book to your hands but hesitates to give it to you. Then he snatches it away.
"No, Mira. I cannot," he says softly, moving into the barn. He slips the book into his bag and begins to ready his horse. You sigh deeply and then move on to your horse. The stable is dark and dusty. Yet there is a sense of hominess to it; it feels lived in.
"You wanted to tell me something else earlier, Gabriel…what was it?" You ask. He does not look up from his work.
"It is unimportant," he says, loading his saddlebags. You are silent as you tighten the straps.
"Van Helsing…do you love me?" You find yourself asking. He stops, his back to you. He does not answer. "Do you?" You repeat, "Because I swear if you do not, I will surrender myself."
"No, you won't," he says.
"Just watch me, Gabriel. It would do more good than you think. It would relieve my pain to belong to him," you counter, your gaze falling on him steadily. He turns to look at you.
"What compels you to speak this way?" He demands, "Are you guilty, Mira?"
"What could I possibly be guilty about?" You ask, glaring at him.
"Vladimir," he says simply. Your glare fades and you turn back to your horse. You do not know what to say. Vladimir, of course! But it had not occurred to you that Van Helsing would know about the kiss. It meant nothing to you, but would he believe you if you said so?
"Do you trust me, Van Helsing?" You ask, still not looking at him.
"What have I left to trust, Mira? I gave you Dracula's ring: my one memory and my one triumph. I want it back," replies Van Helsing. You can feel his eyes upon you. You take a deep breath.
"I know you think I have been unfaithful, Gabriel, but the facts are not set in the manner you believe them to be. I feel nothing for Vladimir. You do not seem to understand that from the moment I met you, I have thought of no one else in the matters of love," you explain. You turn around to look at him. He regards you intently. "I love you, Gabriel, if that is worth anything to you. If it is not mutual, I do truly believe I would be better off in the hands of a monster. And if you want Dracula's ring back, by all means take it." His eyes soften slightly, but he still frowns. He then sighs, taking off his hat and sitting on a stool. You crouch on the ground in front of him, looking up at him earnestly. He looks into your eyes and then looks away, sighing again.
"I would die for you, Mira," he finally says. He puts his hat back on and smiles softly at you, "And I love thee beyond words." You smile as he pulls you into his lap, taking your lips in his gently before converging them in a sacred but fiery passion. Then you both sigh, just sitting there for a moment. "An idea has been forming in my head, Mira…" Van Helsing says finally.
"What?" You ask, looking at him.
"It is probably a silly idea…but what would happen if we coated our swords with werewolf venom?" He asks suggestively. You raise a brow and ponder this.
"It seems almost…"
"Too simple, I know…but maybe it would work," Van Helsing says, "Maybe that's the way we need to be thinking."
"We might as well try it," you say, "It could be our best course of action."
"We better go then," Van Helsing says. You get off of him and he gets up too, leaning in for a lingering kiss again. Then you lead your horses out.
You meet Vladimir and Carl in the street.
"Where is Father Delavego?" You ask.
"Praying," Carl says.
"Some of the townspeople have offered to organize provisions," says Vladimir, "And some of the soldiers are organizing the route. We will be out of here by noon at the latest."
"Good, that's just enough time to get there before dusk," says Van Helsing. Looking at Gabriel makes you think things you never would think. He acts like a King at times, and lives as a sort of rugged vagabond. It is fascinating, and just makes you wonder. Father Delavego exits the church, his leather bag at hand, interrupting your thoughts.
"All is ready?" The priest inquires. You all nod in accord. "Good then. Let us assemble at the gate." You lead your horses to the gate. A few soldiers ride in from their travels.
"The way is clear, Father," states one of them. Father Delavego nods, looking around the town.
"What sorrows…" He mutters. People are slowly gathering at the gate wearily. They seem shocked to see you, and give you incredulous glances.
"You're alive!" Someone exclaims, nearly dropping her things.
"Of course," you say, looking slightly confused, "I cannot abandon my people without leaving them in safety somehow."
"God bless you, my Lady!" She bows and goes to speak with her fellow townspeople. You sigh and look at Van Helsing.
"I think we are due for another storm," you predict, looking at the rolling gray clouds on the western horizon. They loom upon the mountains, menacing. It is simply bad luck that you are riding towards the storm. Van Helsing fixes his eyes on the sky, watching as if mystified.
"None of our plans have worked very well," he comments, smiling wryly.
"Something has to go right soon," you respond, "God must have a way of winning."
"One can hope," he replies, "One can hope…"
Before noon, all of the townspeople are assembled and ready to evacuate the city. They are even becoming slightly restless standing around.
"You should say a few words," suggests Van Helsing, looking at you. With a sigh, you ride up to the gate, slipping into some kind of 'leader mode.'
"Good afternoon," you greet. A repeated murmur rolls through the crowd and then dies rather pitifully. They all look slightly frightened. "I am sorry that it has come to this, my friends, but I ask that you do not be afraid. The Courts of Andume may seem a mysterious place to you, but I assure you, it is a holy place that will shelter you from the Count's evil. Now, let us depart from this city and pray that we will soon return to live in peace." You start off ahead, accompanied by Van Helsing, Vladimir, Carl, and Father Delavego.
"Hopefully we will be there before dusk," says Van Helsing. Then he lowers his voice to you. "We have some werewolves to hunt this evening," he says.
"The full moon has passed, hasn't it?" You ask, looking at him.
"These werewolves do not only appear on the full moon. They appear whenever prey can be found," says Van Helsing gravely. His expression is dark. You cross yourself and say a silent prayer.
"The storm will hit in an hour," calculates Vladimir, "I hope that it does not impede our progress."
The Courts of Andume look to be about a thousand miles away, but for once in these past days, your plan seems to work. The snowstorm does not hit full blast until everyone is safe within the Courts of Andume. You and your four companions set up your quarters in the main hall. You use tents because there may be roof or wall problems (gusts, water, snow…) at any time. You and Van Helsing end up sharing a tent, Carl gets his own (he's a bit picky), and Vladimir and Father Delavego room together. Father Delavego seems a bit reluctant, but he does not express it verbally.
"I suggest you get some sleep," suggests Van Helsing, as he continues to set up things in your temporary home. You snuggle up in your cot, looking at him.
"What about you?" You ask.
"Oh I sleep on occasion," he states, continuing his work. You chuckle. "I'll wake you up when we need to leave, don't worry," he says.
"Gabriel?" You ask. He turns and looks at you. You smile as he comes to your side and takes your hand, kissing it.
"Mira…you're a beautiful woman…" He says softly, looking deeply into your eyes. You smile still, touching his chin affectionately. He seems entranced by your eyes.
"What do you see, Gabriel?" You ask, not moving.
"I see…" He pauses and seems to get lost again.
"Gabriel?"
He leans forth slowly and kisses you deeply, eventually drawing you up close to him, searching your soul, delving into your depths. He stops then, placing you back soundly in your cot. You stare at him, moved and intrigued. "I saw God. I sense God in you," he finally says, without a single tone of doubtfulness. "Now get some rest, Mira. You will need it."
You find yourself eventually drifting off into a restless sleep. You have werewolves to find, a vampire to kill, and a storm to battle. But any sleep is good in this instance, right?