Evil from the Past

Footprints in the Snow

Castle Dracula, Transylvania, 19th century

Anna heard the clock chime again as she raced up the stairs towards the laboratory. "Eleven," she murmured to herself. One more before Van Helsing went beyond salvation.

Sparks flew about her as she stepped into the laboratory and witnessed the werewolf crouched by the window as lightning crashed down from the sky outside. The syringe was ready in her hand, and she clutched it tightly, muttering a prayer to God. Then she ran towards the man she had come to free.

But the werewolf was aware of her presence. Even before she had neared him, he spun around with a snarl and took one giant leap towards her. Anna screamed and backed away, even as she knew she could not run from the monster Van Helsing had become. Yet the hand holding the syringe before her was strangely steady.

The werewolf was coming down upon her, a huge enraged mass of black fur descending upon her. She shut her eyes. Let him take her, if only she could release the man trapped inside the curse.

Then something hit her. Hard. She was crushed to the ground and the air forced out of her lungs in a painful gasp. She opened her eyes; Van Helsing...she needed to make sure...

And found that it was not the werewolf that had felled her, but Captain Jack Sparrow.

"Jack?" she exclaimed in amazement. "What on earth d'you think..."

Jack rolled off her and offered her a hand to help her up. "Can't do anything without me, can you," he said, amused. "I run all the way up here, and find nought but you in danger of being squashed. So naturally I had to knock you out of the way. And a little thanks'd be in place, lass."

"Thanks," put in Anna hurriedly. "But – Van Helsing..."

They both turned to look at the werewolf. He was still, standing frozen before them, the only movement the glimmer of his black eyes. Then Anna's eyes were riveted to the syringe sticking out of the black fur – empty.

A rush of hope welled up inside her. She had done it – she hadn't failed him. Tentatively she took a step towards the motionless werewolf, and then another.

"Anna..." warned Jack, but she paid him no heed. Step after step, until the girl and the beast were almost nose-to-nose. Anna gazed into those tiny, feral black eyes and watched in wonder as they slowly lost their fires of hate and filled with memory, with realisation, with relief. The clock chimed its last stroke, even as Van Helsing stood before her, the Van Helsing she knew – and loved.

They were free. Free from the burden of her family's curse, free from the need of vengeance, free from the fear of his corrupted soul. And there was to be a future, for both of them...

"Anna," he spoke softly, and she felt a thrill run through her, breaking down the hardened self she had become in the years of the hunt for Dracula.

Tears of happiness and relief filled Anna's eyes as she stepped into Van Helsing's embrace, marvelling at the lightness of her own heart. Warmth engulfed her along with his arms as she felt peace for the first time in a long while, that her family was free to enter Heaven, that Van Helsing had been saved, that she could rest, at least for a little while. Evil had been vanquished, and hate along with it. Leaving behind only love.

The group of unlikely allies stood in front of the wreck of Castle Dracula. Foaly at the door of his Time Shuttle; Rick supporting Evelyn slightly; Captain Jack Sparrow with his crew; Van Helsing holding Anna's hand.

"I guess it's goodbye," said Holly eventually.

Anna nodded reluctantly. "Thank you for all that you gave for our mission, in destroying Dracula – and especially Jack. You saved my life."

Jack shrugged. "It be nothing, lass. And I dread what your lad would have done to be if I hadn't."

Van Helsing laughed.

"We're going back to our time in the Shuttle," announced Foaly. "You lot are coming, aren't you?"

"Of course," replied Aragorn. "My kingdom needs me."

"Snape would kill us if we didn't make it back to pass up the Potions essay," remarked Ron darkly.

"And Evy needs to rest," added Rick, "until the next time Imhotep gets resurrected."

"Let us hope that shall not come to pass," said Ardeth softly.

"Nah," declared Mr. Gibbs. "We're going to find our way back through this blasted forest to our ship, and," here he cast a deprecating glance in Jack's direction, "finish our holiday."

"Us too," spoke up Anna. "We'll go back to the village."

"I won't be going back to the Order," added Van Helsing. "After all, I don't belong to them, and I'm no longer interested in discovering my past. Not after what I found for the future." He nudged Anna gently, and she beamed at him.

"...and perhaps we might stay for awhile," Holly was saying to Éowyn. "I really like your place, you know. Lovely scenery you've got there."

"Indeed? Oh, thank you," answered the shieldmaiden awkwardly. "Actually, I never really noticed...but you're welcome to, anyway."

Hermione approached Foaly and Artemis somewhat timidly. "Erm, after all we've been through together... well, I'd like to thank you for...being there...and I was hoping we could be friends."

Artemis stared. "Well," he said at last. "It can be done."

"Oh stuff it, Mud Boy," laughed Holly, and slapped him in the shoulder. Artemis winced unhappily.

Foaly grinned at Hermione. "Well, are you people getting in?"

They began to file inside the Shuttle. Foaly went last of all. He turned and waved to the group outside. Jack waved back. Then the doors shut with a pneumatic hiss, and the Time Shuttle disappeared without a trace, leaving not a hint they had been there...

...except the footprints in the snow...

End of Chapter

End of Everything

Now, here comes the Author's Afterword!

Just to say, it's been a truly grand experience, writing this first fanfic, and I loved it. It makes me triumphant, relieved and sad that it's ended. I hope you loved it, readers. I do hope so.

I've had some loyal fans and supporters to aid me along the way. Here I shall acknowledge you, if I think you've been truly supportive of my fanfiction.

manveri[reachforthesky]estel (lately manveri[daughterofmirkwood)

who has been a real darling all this while, what with pestering, nagging and squishing, and who has been my main classroom confidante in the matters of fanfiction and the only one to state that it was actually Verona who was my favourite Bride of Dracula.

Asha Ice

who has been fairly helpful over the romance bits (although she does have more reviews than me, but I'll get my own back later) and who has led to major massacres in certain places.

Sine-noir

who, although only reviewing twice, was very supportive and comforting during the flame attack, and who is the only one beside the Brides that really thinks Dracula is hot.

Kismet Truths

who made the all-time record of 11 reviews in one go, and who also has given me many tips over the romance bits.

My Angel

who has sacrificed a lot of homework and study time to be distracted by my fanfiction, and has been encouraging me in her letters.

Codefun

who, despite my lectures, passed up several continuously grammatically incorrect reviews, but who is still greatly loved nevertheless.

mad sam

who was my first-ever reviewer, and continued to review to the last.

Cerse

who battled the storms of skepticism, to remain a faithful (though still skeptic) reviewer to the very end.

I AM EOWYN

who has faithfully reviewed since Chapter 4 and been enthusiastically cheering Éowyn on from the review box.

And lastly, but so definitely not least:

My parents and my little sister

who never gave a single review, but who have always been there for me, at the beginning and the end of this fic, and for the rest of my life as well.

And after acknowledging all these wonderful people, my work is done. I know many of you shall express so at the end of my beloved fanfiction, but I'm not done yet. Don't expect a sequel to this (unless I go slightly more high) but I have more stuff in the works. Perhaps I shall write a really huge crossover. This is nothing (wait till you see me hyper. Not recommended for skeptics like Cerse). Or I might just go ahead with that weird idea of Artemis Fowl: The Musical. Anyway, I won't rest long. I can't rest long.

Look for me upon my return. And that, I assure you, will be soon.