Van
Helsing got up and brushed himself down, wincing as he touched his
injured arm. He then moved over to the two girls. As he did so many
wails were heard from below them as the Count's daughters felt his
death.
Nicola looked up and her sobbing ceased.
"Our
daughters," she said as she looked up at the Knight, "what
will become of them. I guess you will kill us all now?! I don't
understand why we did not perish with our lord."
"I
don't understand it completely. I can only guess that it was because
he did not give any of you a full taste of his blood. You he changed
as quickly as possible from what I've been able to gather and the
others only had a small amount of blood pumped through them."
As
he said this Gabriel held out his hand and helped Arene up.
"It
is time to end this," he said as he turned towards Nicola, who
stood waiting for her death.
"No you must not,"
declared Arene as she moved to her surprised friend and hugged her,
shielding the other woman for Van Helsing.
"Dracula
is dead now," she stated, cringing at Nicola's sudden wail, "
and there must be some other way...surely we don't have to kill
them!"
"There is one chance that I know of,"
replied the Hunter slowly, "but it will require something from
you my daughter."
"I will do anything," replied
Arene proudly.
Gabriel smiled. "You have courage...very
well. This is what we need to do..."
Arene
looked round as Nicola made sure her daughters were ready. The wires
were connected and they were all in place, most of them still crying
at their father's death. Arene couldn't help but feel for them, she
knew what it was like to lose her family. Nicola flew back up to the
platform where Arene and Gabriel were standing.
"Everything
is ready and they are all in place," she said to Gabriel. "I
still don't understand what you intend to do."
Gabriel
pulled out a dagger and a small bottle of holy water that Carl had
given to him. He looked at Arene,
"It's hard to explain,
but from what your master told me a long time ago, I am the
archangel, making Arene part angel as well. Now, when used properly,
the blood of an angel can be used for healing. Because she is your
friend and stayed beside you and other others, I would think that
mixing her blood with holy water would change you back to human,"
Gabriel explained.
Nicola nodded in understanding, but turned
in Arene's direction.
"But...
won't it hurt her?"
"That's what concerns me,"
Van Helsing said. "If she loses too much blood, she might get
sick... or worse."
Arene turned to them.
"I
already said would do it no matter what the risk. I won't leave them
like this... I would rather die than leave them like this."
Gabriel
smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You do have courage." He turned to Nicola.
"Are
you ready?"
Nicola nodded and Van Helsing picked up the
dagger.
"Alright
then, hand me your wrist."
Arene did as she was told and
Van Helsing quickly pulled the dagger across her skin. Arene cringed
in pain as she placed her arm over the vat, letting the blood run.
Van Helsing quickly added the holy water and watched it mix. As the
blood flowed through each of the girls, the colour in their faces
came back; they lost all trace of having wings and their teeth
returned to normal. They then lay down on the floor to rest. Arene
could feel herself grow very light-headed, but she didn't care. Once
the last girl had fallen asleep on the floor Arene turned back to
Nicola.
"Here," she said in a breathless voice as
Nicola came over and Van Helsing placed the holy water on her wrist.
"Hurry
before it's too late."
Nicola nodded and began to drink
the blood. As she did, she could feel human life sweep through her
again. She too gained the colour in her face and skin, her eyes
became their normal hue and her fangs disappeared. She opened her
eyes and looked at her friend.
"Thank you," she
whispered.
"No prob-" Arene tried to speak, but lost
her footing and fell in Van Helsing's arms.
"Well done,
my daughter," he said kindly.
Arene smiled.
"No
one has called me that in years... Thank you."
He smiled
and turned to Nicola.
"Get some sleep and we will figure out what to do in the morning."
