Author's Note: thanks to Aku Maru for her help on this chapter from hell. I owe her a lot, including Irvan and Kuso who's about to make my crossover fic "Monster" even funner. (Yes, that was a shameless plug to read my Harry Potter/Van Helsing fic- go on, read it!) Leave a review, pardon the mistakes and thanks for reading!

Chapter Four: Secret Places

"Close the door, Gabriel."

Gabriel nodded and began to shut it behind him, "Yes milady…"

"Don't leave." Intessar called to him. She was watching him from behind her thin veil with those wide brown eyes of hers. "Come in for a while. Please, don't go."

"Why not?"

"I'm lonely." She whispered as she turned away from him to walk to the small wardrobe. Her room was simple with pale walls bare of any decoration. There was a small bed, and trunk at the end of it that had blankets folded over it to keep her warm during the cold winters. The only window was facing west, and Gabriel knew it faced towards Mecca by the small prayer rug that was before it. She had a small closet, and beside it a desk filled with papers and books. It paled in comparison to his rooms, which were also humble, and was downright meager when set aside Vladislaus, Anne or any other of the family's rooms.

Not that Intessar minded. She only slept here once or twice a week.

"…I don't think it's proper." He began uneasily.

Intessar laughed, "I am but a servant here, and you a lord. None of the servants would question you."

"I didn't mean to everyone else." He whispered. "I meant to Vlad."

Intessar laughed again, this time bitterly as she turned away from him and undid her veil. Gabriel blinked in surprise, although he knew very little about Islam, he was quite certain what she was doing was strictly against her religion. But still the vision before him was captivating.

Her back was still turn to him as she dropped the veil to her feet and began to undo the thick outer robes till only a thin linen negligee over her body. He swallowed deeply now, but found he could not tear his eyes away from this. Her body was beautiful and full, with wide hips and strong legs. Her waist led up to a strong back and arms that went dutifully about pulling out a rust colored dress. Gabriel could see now that she was dark skinned but not black like an African. Instead her color was a light brown, like a Moroccan or Arab with just the slightest touch of olive to her skin. Her hair was thick, curly and chocolate and cut to her shoulders. As if she sensed him watching her, she turned and smiled at him with those full lips that were painted, and her brown eyes danced with mirth.

She's enjoying this, he realized and swallowed down the idea.

"Do you think I am beautiful, Christian?" She asked as she slid the red dress over her frame.

Gabriel was glad that at least some of the diversion was hidden now. He inhaled carefully and looked up. "I think you're a very fine woman, Tessa."

"But you are not attracted to me?" She pressed, walking towards him. Her hands reached over and patted his cheek, sliding down over his shoulders and observing him intently. "You know I have watched these years we were together and your eyes rarely leave me."

"I…I didn't realize…" Gabriel began weakly. "I…I'm sorry."

"I don't think you are." Intessar said simply as she went to her trunk and pushed the blankets unto her bed. "I think you enjoy watching me and Vlad together." She looked over at him, smiling a coy smile. "Especially Vlad." She picked out a dark brown veil and began to walk towards him. "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor, Gabriel...or his possessions. Isn't that what your God says?"

"I don't know what you're implying, Tessa." He said shortly. He felt his temper rising and tried unsuccessfully to quell it. "I love Vlad and would never…"

"I know." She countered. "In fact, I think you love Vladislaus more then you're comfortable with."

"Why do you say such things?"

"To warn you that I will not tolerate another competitor. I have Anne to deal with, I will not fight you as well."

"I am not your enemy, Tessa. I never was. Don't make me into someone you or Vlad have to fight against."

"I can't tell if you're ignoring the truth or just naïve." She replied. "Don't you see that Vlad and I already have to fight against everything that you stand for? In his heart, Vladislaus is pagan, I am Muslim; we are lovers out of wedlock and for the most part…are content with this. You are Christian, and pious. These Crusades…your wars that have waged on my people for centuries, you believe with your whole heart in them. We see only the waste. Don't you understand? You are a noble, decent man in your right, but your very being is in direct war with what we- what Vladislaus is. Your friendship cannot and will not last…"

Gabriel tore away from her. "You're wrong." He said mainly to prove it to himself then to her. He wanted to hear the words, to feel them on his tongue and see if he could believe them. He didn't like his answer. "You're wrong. I won't fail Vlad."

"It's not about failing him, Gabriel." She tried again, in a softer tone. She reached for him and shrunk back as he jerked away violently. "It's not about what you want or don't want…it's just how things are, how they're suppose to be. You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. I'm trying to warn you…if you care for your Vlad, do not try and be his hero. Just be his friend. That's what he needs from you."

"I have to go," Gabriel said, quietly. "The Church is holding a Mass in honor of our return. I better go find him and get ready."

"Gabriel…please…"

"Goodbye milady." Gabriel said firmly as he turned and walked out of her room slowly. She watched him as he disappeared down the hall and had never seen such sorrow in a man.

It was like a man who had lost all hope…

xxxxx

The forests surrounding Vaseria were thick and dark, and willing to totally envelope any visitor. There had been stories in the olden days that if one traveled too far into them, they'd reach the end of the world and hell itself. Desperate to escape the cares and worries of this life, Vladislaus was tempted to test this theory. Leaning closer the head, Vlad whipped the side of his horse, beating it to run faster. He could feel the horse's muscles under him under the thin coat of fine black hair, tensing and flexing as they propelled the horse and rider to their destined end. The horse was panting from exertion, and sweat began to drip from the coat, mixing with Vlad's own sweat and only added to his sense of urgency, of escape. And still Vladislaus pushed him deeper into the forest. The pounding of the hoofs underneath echoed in his ears, and the wind made Vlad narrow his eyes in defense but still he pushed the horse. The pale sunlight was beginning to fade as the canopy grew thicker, and the forest became darker. The animals so natural in the forest began to grow silent as well, as if they knew Vladislaus was like a man outrunning the Devil and knew it wise to stay out of his way.

And he rode till the sun had been almost completely blocked by the trees and the trails had become overgrown and thorny which forced the horse to slow it's speed until it came to an uncertain trot, stepping over exposed roots and ducking under swooping branches until Vladislaus had arrived at the end of the world.

The Romany altar.

Slowly, reverently, Dracula dismounted and began his serious descent towards the altar.

Made really out of nothing more then round, semi-flat gray stones stacked on top of the other, it resembled a table with sunken basin in the middle. Sprigs and smudges of sage, rosemary and thyme hung drying over the mantle, their dead aroma reaching Vlad even at a distance. Trails of dark red, resembling rust, dripped from the basin downward, towards the grown where the blood of the animal sacrifices had pooled with the earth below. Within the basin were the soft gray remains of wood, and bone, remaining perfectly in form until the tip of Vlad's fingers touched them and they shattered, spreading the ash towards the heavens.

Vlad rubbed his eyes against tears, and sweat and turned back to the horse. The black stallion snorted at him, and turned its head towards the path it had just come as if to assure him he'd stand guard while Vlad visited with the only things that could give him comfort now. He smiled gratefully at the horse, and pulled off his gloves, tucking them into his coat and falling to his knees before the altar.

"Great Goddess," He prayed. "My mother, and advisor. I come to you now when I need your guidance most. Anne is scared and Intessar in danger. I come home from war to find demons in my own lands. Haven't I waged war enough, Mother? Is this how you repay your son? After all I have done to keep your laws and lands safe from the Christians? After I have protected your ways in my heart, you would released such dreams on our people?"

He turned his head from the altar as if ashamed to be chastising her but he pressed on. He was tired, and the campaigns in Jerusalem had been hard. The Muslims had attacked their encampment with added vigor and had taken Gabriel. For the two days, Vladislaus had been without Gabriel had been hell for him. He had taken no drink, no food, and no comfort. He had forbidden Intessar to come near him. He would have no comfort as long as Gabriel was gone. His actions had surprised even himself. Dracula had never been a man to let circumstances dictate his actions but facing the thought of losing Gabriel had haunted him more then defeat on the battlefield or even lost of life. He had been his one, true advisor and friend since Vlad had returned from Spain. Vlad was lost without him.

"Goddess," He began again. "Our ways are passing, but still the demons remain. Perhaps this will always be so. It is a mystery simple men like me are not meant to know and I accept that. Your wisdom is whole and your mercy enough for me. But I must ask you this one thing. Watch my feet as I go into this. I am not prepared. Be with my counsel and me as we face this…please, Mother. Watch over and love Gabriel as you would a faithful son." Dracula smiled a soft, teasing smile. "He doesn't know any better."

Standing, Vladislaus regarded the decrepit altar one last time and made a mental note the come Samhain; he would come back to the shrine and rebuild it. He would show the Goddess that his devotion to her had not passed even though he took Christian vows.

Christian vows…

Vlad felt his heart sink in his chest as he remembered. The Church was holding a special Mass for his return. His father, a pious Christian, would be very upset if his already frowned upon son was late again. Not to mentioned he'd never hear the end of it from Gabriel, Anne, Catherine or the youngest of the brood, mini-Valerious. Inwardly, Dracula winced again.

"Mary, forgive me." He muttered to the altar again as he spun on his heels and ran back to his horse. "Because your Son will kill me."

He was about to kick off when he heard a twig snap from across the clearing, turning on his heels he cursed under his breath as he saw Gabriel on his own horse watching him with a haunted look. Vlad felt his heart sinking. "Gadjo…I can explain"

"It's late." Gabriel whispered in a dark, depressed tone. "Too late for explaining." He turned his mare and clicked his tongue. "Come on, the Priest will kill us if sneak in when the service starts."

Vladislaus followed suit with his horse, as he hurried to Gabriel's side. He wanted desperately to say something to his friend but found the words would not come. So he merely bowed his head and rode in silence beside his friend.