Alison pulled back suddenly and looked up to where the window had shattered. She saw a man on the floor in a long black coat, black boots, and a hat. She recognized him immediately as Van Helsing, her rescuer the day before. He now had a crossbow in his hands and was aiming it straight at Dracula's heart. Dracula took Alison and put her behind him and stood in front of her, as if to protect her. Van Helsing just laughed.
"You think I would hurt her? You know why I'm here, now hand her over. She doesn't belong to you." Van Helsing said with a smirk, but kept the weapon aimed the entire time. Dracula now returned the laughter and turned to Alison.
"Go behind that column and protect yourself. You never know what he'll do, but I'll protect you." He gave her a kiss on her forehead and she obeyed. She watched with interest the confrontation going on between the two men. "Gabriel, you know that I would never hurt her. And she has agreed to marry me already, so I'm afraid you're too late. You also know that a crossbow can't even hurt me! I cannot die!" He laughed heartily.
Alison came out of the shadows and said, "I haven't agreed yet. I DON'T belong to you!" She stepped out in her gorgeous dress and looked into Van Helsing's eyes. They were so kind, and protective. She trusted him. Dracula turned to look at her with a hurt expression.
"My love, you WILL be mine. And all Van Helsing wants to do is have you for himself. You deserve so much better. You deserve me." he said taking her hands and holding them while rubbing the smooth white backs of them. She was disgusted by him, but she couldn't help falling for him. His eyes were so deep. She was under his spell. She looked up into his handsome face and melted. He bent down and kissed her. On the lips, but he was a gentleman. Van Helsing snorted and she looked at him. She broke out of the spell and broke free of his grasp. Van Helsing took this oppurtunity to pull her away and shoot Dracula with an arrow dipped in holy water. It didn't kill him, but it burned and stung bad enough to temporarily cripple him. Van Helsing scooped Alison up in his arms and ran with all his might out of the castle. He threw her on the back on horse and hopped on sitting in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his muscular body and held on for dear life. He kicked the horse and looked back every once and awhile. Sure enough, a winged creature emerged above the tree line and headed straight for them. Van Helsing shot his crossbow constantly and watched as Dracula didn't even slow his pace. He kicked the horse prodding it to go faster, but it wasn't fast enough. Dracula started to pick Alison up in his talons, but she grabbed onto Van Helsing and held on. Gabriel turned and pulled her back down. He took the horse and stuck it in the ribs with a stick. That gave it the lurch it needed, and they speeded away from Dracula at superhuman speed. Dracula eventually gave up and returned to his castle.
Gabriel took Alison back to the Inn and sat her down on the bed. He looked deep into her eyes for a moment, and stayed quiet. He got up, paced around the room and looked out the window. Alison looked down. She knew that Van Helsing was upset that she even kissed Dracula, but she honestly didn't know what came over her. She got up and walked over to Van Helsing and put her hands on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I honestly didn't want to kiss him, it just..... just...happened." she looked down, almost ashamed. He turned to her and cupped her beautiful head in his strong hands. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Don't apologize. I know. He has a strong influence over women. They can't help it. I still count you as a victim. No matter how strong willed you are, when you're around him, he'll have complete control over you. That's we just need to keep him away from you." He dropped his hands and put them on the windowsill. He looked out the wondow and said softly, "Do you know of any reasons he would want to have you as a bride?"
"No. I've never met him before in my life. Who is he?"
"Oh my... He's Count Vladislaus Draculia. Have you not heard of him?"
At this she gasped. "What? Of course I've heard of him. That's Dracula? Why would he want me? He seemed like he knew a lot about me, as if he's been watching me." she said slowly.
"I wouldn't put it past him. He may have just saw you and fallen in love. I've never seen him act this way around a mortal." he said seriously.
She laughed at first and then realized he meant it. "What? Are you saying some love at first sight kind of thing? I'm not that great." she laughed.
Va Helsing didn't laugh. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but looking into her eyes, hearing her talk, everything! She was irresistable. He looked deep into her eyes and moved closer.
Alison stood where she was and looked back into his eyes. Gabriel had said that Dracula put a spell over women, but she thought he did pretty good himself on that aspect. He bent his head down and kissed her. Politely at first, then mroe hungrily. She kissed him back and their tongues touched. Their tongues slowly started to massage each other and she put her arms wround his neck. She removed his hat and continued to kiss him. Their kisses were becoming more and more passionate.
He picked her up in his arms and their l;ips broke free for a bit. She smiled at him as he lay her down on the bed...
