(A/N: Hi, it's chapter 5! Yeah!!! I'm kinda out of it since I didn't get home from a band trip last night till two in the morning. Anyway, as usual, I don't own Van Helsing.)
Chapter five
Van Helsing, Anna and Carl landed on the front steps of the Order. They had come back and brought Dracula and his brides with them so they wouldn't hurt the girls. However, Dracula wasn't with them, just back in this time. They had found the girls right when Liz was struggling to get up.
"Carl, are we the only ones who came back? The girls didn't come?" Anna asked.
"It looks that way."
"We better get to Transylvania. No telling what Dracula is doing with out you there." Van Helsing said smiling toward Anna. They ran up the front steps to prepare to face Dracula, yet again.
"Van Helsing!" "Carl!" "Anna!" they heard two feminine voices shout. The three turned to see Ali and Bri.
"What are you doing here?!" Van Helsing asked as the girls ran up to him.
"I guess the amulet brought us too." Ali said.
"So it would seem." Carl replied.
"Where are we?" Bri asked.
"Um guys…" Ali started looking around.
"You're in Rome in 1888." Van Helsing said.
"What?!?" Bri said.
"Guys!!!!!" Ali shouted.
"What!!!" they all said turning to her.
"Where's Liz?"
Liz's eyes fluttered open. There was a circle of people looking down on her. She groaned as she painfully pushed herself up to sit. A little girl came forward and handed Liz her hat. Liz smiled and nodded to the girl as she took it. She carefully pushed herself up to stand. She fought the dizziness in her head and things cleared. She was in a small town with wood buildings all around. It looked very familiar.
"No way." Liz whispered looking around. She was in Transylvania.
"Who might you be?"
Liz turned to see the Undertaker.
"I thought you were dead." Liz replied.
"The wolf man didn't kill me, just injured me."
"Well, you know how sad the world would be if we lost you." Liz said with sarcasm flooding her voice. The Undertaker glared at her. She just smiled with the glitter of laughter in her eyes.
"You remind me of that Van Helsing character." he said.
Liz put her hat on and lowered it over her eyes. "You think? Dracula thought so too."
The towns people began to inch closer around her. Liz did her best to ignore them. She had seen something behind her and she didn't need any distractions.
She narrowed her eyes as she searched the sky above her. There they were.
"Move!" Liz shouted pulling the little girl from before against her as Aleera swooped down at the spot where the child had been. With that Liz bolted away to get away from the vampire. People in the square were running around and screaming. Liz ran as if her life depended on it, which it did. Aleera was on her tail and closing the small gap between them fast. Aleera flew low and laughed. Liz jumped up over the vampire's head and landed flat on her butt. She pushed herself up off the ground only to be grabbed by Mike. He held her in his arms as he flew away.
Liz kicked and screamed. She elbowed him in the face and he let go of her. Liz fell through the trees and hit the ground hard. Liz looked up to see a castle before her. She recognized it instantly.
"Valerious Manor." she whispered. She pushed herself up and ran in the front door. She quickly closed it behind her and let out a sigh of relief. She leaned against the closed door and slid down to the floor.
"How the heck did I get here?" Liz asked herself. She thought about it a second while going over of what happened in her mind. Then it came to her.
"It was that stupid amulet!! Now, because of it, I'm stuck in 1888!! To make things even worse, I'm alone in Transylvania with the world's deadliest vampire after me and I don't have any weapons!" Liz ranted as she walked through the manor. She found a bedroom and went in it. Liz sighed and threw off her hat and coat. The bedroom looked like it would be Anna's.
Liz opened the closet. Yep, it was Anna's bedroom alright. Liz pulled out one of Anna's black shirts. She took off her bloody and torn shirt and put on a black one with long sleeves. Surprisingly, the shirt fit her pretty well. Liz picked up her old shirt, coat and hat as she left the room. She made her way up to a tower and found the Valerious library.
She tossed her stuff on a table and pulled out a map of Europe. Liz figured, if she was in 1888, so was everyone else, they were just in a different place. She looked at the map and thought to herself.
"Where would they be?" she asked herself. The light clicked on. "Rome. Now, what was the name of that city? It started with a V. I know that much at least. Vasi…Vatil…Vatican!! Vatican City, Rome!! That's it, that's where the Order is.
Liz rolled up the map and put it in her coat pocket before she threw it on along with her hat. She ran down the halls till she found the kitchen. She threw some bread and fruit in sack she found. She then remembered something.
"The arsenal!" she said excitedly and ran down the halls till she found it. She walked in and was surrounded by weapons. She took a sword off the wall with a beautiful silver hilt that was engraved with swirl patterns.
"Nice sword." she said looking it over. She let out a low whistle. It was beautiful, and light in weight. That was good for her. She strapped on the sword and grabbed two pistols with silver bullets. She stuck a dagger in each boot and threw a crossbow in her pack. It wasn't as good as Carl's but it would do just fine. Liz took out her little silver cross that hung on her neck.
"For luck." she whispered and kissed it before she tucked it back under her shirt. She knew that she would need it. Liz ran out to the stables to find a horse. Then she sighed. She had never ridden before in her life. She would have to go on foot.
The crowd from before was still there when she came back into the town square.
"We thought the vampires had already killed you." Liz heard. Stupid Undertaker. she thought to herself. She turned to face him.
"Your confidence in me is enormous, isn't it?" Liz told him, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Why off so soon?" he asked smiling.
"I need to get away from people like you. Plus, I need to get to my friends, who happen to be in Rome." Liz said doing her best to bottle the anger boiling in her.
"Who would they be?"
"That's none of your business, now is it?" Liz said pulling a dagger out of her boot. No one noticed the little gesture.
"I think it is."
"No it's not."
"I'm surprised the vampires haven't killed you yet. It should be fairly easy to kill a wench like you." he said smiling.
That's it! Now he's gone and done it! Liz thought as her anger exploded. She threw the dagger. It flew passed the Undertaker's head and went through his hat. The hat was flung off his head and pinned against a wall, held there by the dagger. Liz walked over and pulled the dagger out. She handed the Undertaker his hat.
"That was a warning. Next time, it will be two inches lower." Liz whispered dangerously with her eyes flaring. And it will hit him right between the eyes. Liz smiled at that thought. She flung her pack over her shoulder and left the town.
Dracula looked out his window at the town square. He saw Van Helsing, no, it was the girl. He smiled. She was alone. Dracula changed into his bat form and flew away into the early evening.
Liz walked on as the stars came out and the moon rose. Something wasn't right, she could just sense it. She shook off the feeling as she remembered a conversation she and her friends had when they were seven.
The girls were playing jump rope. Liz was in the center with Bri and Ali at each end. Ali and Bri were singing their favorite rhyme.
"Monsters, monsters in the night. Which one will give you a fright? Vampires, werewolves, or other beast. Which one will make you his feast? Uh-oh, uh-oh, here it comes. Now it's time for you to run!"
The rope flew faster and Liz kept jumping as she sang.
"Vampires won't get me in a rut. I already whooped their butt. Werewolves, werewolves in the night. I already won that fight. Monsters, monsters, oh what fun. All those fights, I have won!"
Then the three all began to sing.
"Dracula with teeth so sharp. We will stake him in the heart. That will be so much fun. After him, we'll be done!" they sang and the rope stopped.
"That is if we live." Bri added.
"That goodness we never have to worry about him." Ali said smiling.
"The irony of it all." Liz mumbled to herself. Liz smiled at the memory still. It was easier back then when you didn't have to worry about much, except having fun and food. She still loved life after….
Liz sighed at the thought. When she was five, her real parents died in a fire and Liz was the only person in her family to escape, but not without a price. She still to this day couldn't remember anything from before she was five. Well, she was adopted by her mother's best friend, who was her guardian, and lived with them. But even her step-parents had become distant. Things had been bad ever since her step-mom miscarried. Her step parents have been in workaholic mode ever since.
Remembering this, Liz stopped dead. When she searched her family, she searched her step family. What was my original last name? What was it? Liz thought. It had been years since she even thought about her real last name. Then it came to her.
"Oh my gosh!" Liz blurted out. Now it all made sense. Dracula, Van Helsing, it all made sense. It only gave Liz more reason to get away from Transylvania. Then something else came to her.
"That's why I'm having those dreams!! I'm related to him!" she said to herself. Then it sunk in. "I'm related to the Left hand of God." she said shocked. Her last name, her original last name, was Van Helsing. Elizabeth Gabrielle Van Helsing was her full name.
Liz took off her hat and looked at it. The family heirloom, the only one that survived the fire. It was the very same hat that Van Helsing had. She should have seen it sooner. It was so obvious. Why hadn't she seen it? Or did she just not want to see it?
Liz shook her head as she let this new information sink in. She was in complete shock. Then, she had that feeling again. She would have to ignore her family history for a moment.
She dropped her pack and listened intently. All she heard was the rustling of leaves in the slight breeze. The breeze picked up quickly to a roaring wind and it blew the leaves around Liz. Liz held up her arm to shield her eyes. When the leaves cleared, Liz lowered her arms to see Dracula before her.
"Aww, crap." Liz moaned quietly, barely above a whisper. He smiled.
"Hello Miss Van Helsing."
"Double crap." Liz swore quietly again. "I take it you heard that."
"It is so useful when you talk to yourself." he said smiling.
"Most people would say it's annoying and a sign of insanity." Liz said backing away slowly.
"No, it's really quite useful." he said walking toward her. Liz felt him in her mind. She pushed against him. With a lot of effort, she pushed him out. What was even more amazing was she kept him out.
"Stay out of my head. I've had enough of you as it is." Liz told him.
"Really?" he said smiling and vanished.
"Okay, not good." Liz said looking around. A pair of hands whirled her around and she was inches from Dracula's face. Liz tired to pull away. She had to do something. Her bag was a fair distance away from her, out of arm's reach. Liz pulled something out of her boot. Liz shoved the silver dagger in his chest. Dracula screamed in pain as he let go of her. Liz sprinted away as fast as she could. As she passed her bag, she grabbed it and threw it on her back without slowing.
Liz knew she couldn't make it anywhere, but she wasn't going to give up without a fight of some kind. She dodged the trees as she ran on. Her breathing came faster and faster but she wasn't going to stop. She could feel Dracula behind her even though she couldn't see him. Liz reached in the bag and pulled out the two pistols. She put them in the holster at her hips. She pulled out the crossbow with an arrow. She loaded it and ran on.
Liz was knocked forward and turned to see Aleera flying over her. Liz scrambled up and grabbed the crossbow that had flown out of her hands. She ran on. She could take on Aleera easily, but Aleera and Dracula was another story, so she sprinted onward. Liz felt the wind behind her pick up. She turned to see Dracula diving for her. Liz fell flat to the ground to avoid him. She jumped back up and ran on. She was beginning to become exhausted, but still she ran on.
Liz was knocked forward and slid about ten feet across the ground. The crossbow flew out of her hands and lay about twenty feet from her. Liz turned and pulled out one of her pistols. She had never shot a gun in her life but now would be a good time to learn how. She held it with both hands to keep the gun steady as Aleera flew down over her. Liz pulled the trigger and the sound echoed over the entire forest. Aleera screamed. The bullet hit her in the wing. Liz sprinted for the crossbow but was knocked back by Mike in his human form.
Liz tumbled to the ground as her gun was flung from her.
"You just can't get a break today, can you?" Mike teased her as he held her head back by her hair. Her hat had flown out of her hand when he knocked her away. Mike leaned down to bite her. Liz did the only thing she could, she kicked him where the sun don't shine. Mike quickly drew away and Liz bolted up. She grabbed her hat along with her gun and crossbow. She didn't have time to go back and get her pack. Liz ran on.
She listened to her heart beat and her heavy breathing. She had delayed the vampires long enough and she knew it would all be over soon. Liz felt Aleera behind her. She turned and fired the crossbow. The arrow went in about an inch away from her heart.
"Damn it!" Liz said dropping the crossbow and turning to run. That was her one shot, and she barely missed. Aleera dived for her and flung her against a tree. Liz felt unconsciousness creep up on her, but she fought it. Before she knew what was happening, arrows were flying over her head and Aleera screamed in agony. Dracula and Mike screamed and flew away. Aleera was dead.
Liz shook out her head as she pushed herself up hanging on the tree for support. Her legs were shaking but soon gathered some strength.
"Liz!" she heard before she was knocked back to the ground.
"Ow." Liz moaned. Her friends had just knocked her to the ground by a huge hug.
"Sorry, I kinda tripped." Ali said sitting up.
"Why should that surprise me?" Liz said smiling sitting up along with Bri. Liz sighed and put on her hat. "You guys won't believe what happened. I remembered my original last name."
"Well, what is it?" Bri asked.
"Van Helsing."
Ali burst out laughing. "No really, what is it?"
Liz gave her a look that said 'I'm going to hurt you'.
"Oh," Ali said after she stopped laughing.
"Oh who's good?!! I told you that you two were related. I know you were related to Van Helsing, I knew it!!" Bri said triumphantly. Liz looked down and hid her face under her hat.
"He's behind me isn't he?"
"Yeah." Liz whispered.
Ali and Bri turned to see Van Helsing looking down at them. Ali and Bri quickly and quietly ran over to Anna and Carl, leaving Liz and Van Helsing alone.
"Are you alright?" he asked her offering her a hand.
"Yeah," Liz said taking it. Van Helsing helped her up. "except now Dracula knows we're related."
"To quote Ali, well that's not good." Van Helsing said.
"Where did you guys land?" Liz asked.
"Rome and you?"
"Transylvania. If we have to go back, remind me to kill the Undertaker. He enjoys his work a little to much."
"I thought I was the only one who thought so." Van Helsing said smiling.
Liz yawned and stretched. She was exhausted. The small group set up camp where they were for that night and Van Helsing stood first watch. Liz laid down and immediately fell asleep.
Liz ran into a castle which she recognized as Castle Dracula. The doors were open, which was odd because Liz knew Dracula always tried to do things the hard way. She slowly crept in and listened to everything going on around her. She looked to see Dracula at the end of the hall with a very pale Van Helsing in his clutches. He flung Van Helsing at her and vanished.
Liz ran to Van Helsing and knelt down beside him. He was ice cold. She shook him but nothing happened. His head fell to the side to reveal two bite marks.
"No." Liz said shocked. Van Helsing was gone. She felt tears well up in her eyes. Her tears fell to her cheeks and off her face. The tears landed on his bite marks. They hissed and slowly closed. His color returned and he slowly woke. Liz was happy, but it didn't last. The floor below her vanished and Liz plunged down leaving Van Helsing behind.
She hit the ground and pushed herself up slowly. She looked herself over. She was in a tight fitting white strapless dress. She could see her silver cross around her neck. Her hair was up and had a small silver tiara in it. But there was something else, she had…wings. Not like Dracula's brides, but like an angel's.
"Wow." Liz said as the blackness around her changed to clouds. She was flying.
Liz yawned as she woke up. She put a hand down to push herself up but found no ground. She turned to see herself floating five feet above the ground. She let out a small scream as she fell to the ground.
"That was weird." she said putting a hand to her head. She looked around to see it was early morning, that or late at night.
"Since when can you do that?" Van Helsing asked her. He was the only person awake besides Liz.
"I have no idea." Liz said.
"Same thing happened to me before…." he trailed off. "But that's nearly impossible. You'd have to have the same kind of blood I do."
"Well, if I did have the same blood as you, what's the reason?" Liz said wanting to hear this. She thought it would be interesting.
"It's a combination of the human blood and angel blood."
"But how come you can't float or do any of that stuff?" Liz asked.
"I could for a time, but chose not to. I knew the Order would kick me out for sure."
"On the other hand, it would have made the Cardinal very upset." Liz said smiling with laughter glittering in her hazel eyes.
"True." Van Helsing said smiling. "That would have been a bonus."
"But how come you can't do it anymore?"
"Once, I got bitten by a werewolf. I was cured, thankfully, but some of the venom is still in my blood. The werewolf venom separated my blood and now I don't have the powers anymore."
"But you have incredible senses." Liz finished for him without realizing it. "I mean, you must if you still have werewolf venom in you." Liz, Ali and Bri neglected to tell Van Helsing, Anna and Carl about the whole movie thing.
"I do. In fact, that's how I found you last night. I heard your pistol go off."
The wind suddenly picked up blowing leaves all over, blinding them.
"Liz, run!" Van Helsing told her already knowing who it was. Liz didn't argue. Liz bolted off down the hill. Van Helsing grabbed his crossbow as the leaves cleared. A boy stood there smiling. Van Helsing looked confused.
"Surprise." the boy said.
Liz turned back to see what was happening on the top of the hill. She stumbled backward into something…or someone. Liz whirled around and screamed. A hand flew to her mouth to muffle it. Dracula grabbed her by the waist. Liz punched him and kicked and did all she could to get away. Dracula put his fingers on the pressure point on the back of her neck and pressed down. Liz was instantly unconscious.
Van Helsing heard a scream that seemed like it was cut short. He ran over the top of the hill to see Liz's limb body in the arms of Dracula.
"Let her go Dracula!" Van Helsing shouted, rage building up inside him. "Your fight is with me, not her."
"We shall see." Dracula said smiling.
Ali woke up to see Mike. She gently shook Bri awake.
"What?" Bri asked sleepily. Ali pointed to the young vampire standing over Anna. The girls crawled on their stomachs to Van Helsing's pack to borrow a few things. Bri took out a stake and slowly crept up on Mike. She raised the stake to his back and finally forced it down. Mike turned and grabbed her by the wrist. A wooden stake flew past Bri into Mike's chest. He screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.
Bri turned to Ali.
"If you had to pick a time to be a good shot, that was a good time." Bri said.
"Well, I tripped and it flew out of my hand." Ali said.
"It also works to extremely lucky." Bri said. They heard a roar and a large bat-like creature the girls recognized as Dracula flew over their heads. It was holding something. Moments later, they saw Van Helsing and he was madder than heck (and that's putting it lightly).
"Is something wrong?" Ali asked.
"What do you think Ali?" Bri said turning to her.
"Let me try again. What's wrong?"
"Dracula took Liz!" Van Helsing roared. He looked down at Liz's hat, which he held in his hand.
The girl's eyes widened in shock. Their best friend was in the clutches of the deadliest vampire ever to live. Ali and Bri only had one thing to say.
"That's not good."
(A/N: Another cliff hanger. I love writing these. It's how I know my readers will come back and plus they make good stopping points. This was a long one at twelve pages. It took me all day. Anyway, no flames please. Thank you.)