Author's note: Well, I finally got this updating again. The next chapter will be a while most likely, because it is all Mina's story. Plus, my grandfather is dying of lung cancer, and next week I shall be visiting him, so I probably won't get a chance to write at all until the weekend. So that will also delay the chapter. But, after that chapter, things should really get moving. Thanks for all the reviews, and please, keep reviewing. That really help. Also, the history with mina/Dracula, etc, is a mixture of LXG, the novel Dracula, and the movie with Gary Oldman, in case you're wondering.

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone except those not in the movie/graphic novels LXG or the novel/Francis Ford Coppola Dracula. Please do not sue me. I mean no copyright infringement. Savvy?

CHAPTER FOUR: PITIFUL MONSTERS

"Stop holding your arms up in defense, parry, block with the sword, Renfield," Dracula instructed firmly, but not quite unkindly. "You must fight back against me now, so that you may learn to defend yourself against skilled hunters, other vampires who would see that they reigned supreme over our family," he continued.

Renfield nodded obediently, though it was very hard for him to even think of lifting the rapier Dracula had given him against his master. Still, he once again got into position, following his master's example. He felt a small swell of pride when the count nodded in approval, but it was fleeting as his master was soon slashing at him once more.

Though he feared he would end up striking his master by accident, he feared not following the instructions to fight back would bring about the greater anger.

The count was quick, though it was obvious he was holding back on Renfield, going a slight bit slower than he would have with a more learned adversary. But he was not going easy on Renfield, he attacked fast and swift, and Renfield just barely blocked the slashes, somewhat sloppily he felt.

"Better, Renfield, but remember, you must have control, the sword is not more powerful than you," Dracula reminded the younger vampire even as they sparred. "It is nothing without a hand holding it."

Renfield would have nodded if he weren't blocking his master's attack. He forced his mind to quickly recall all the previous lessons Dracula had given him, all the instructions. Soon his blocks and parries were not as sloppy and almost precise.

Abruptly, Dracula stood straight, sword upright. "Very good, Renfield," he said, though his voice held no real trace of any sort of emotion. "I might make a fighter out of you yet."

Arthur was leading the League to the spot where Renfield had been killed. Mina was closest to Arthur, though she would have preferred not to be. She was uncomfortable near him, he brought back too many memories of the life she once had. Along with the guilt of causing others to loose the ones they used to have as well.

Mina was pulled out of her thoughts and familiar, unwanted feelings when her eyes landed on the body of Renfield.

He looked peaceful, which was some comfort to Mina. He had always been so kind to her when she was near him. Shy and full of shame.

She almost unconsciously walked over to him and kneeled beside his body. His heart had been run through. Impaled by their sire.

"He was killed with his own sword," Arthur stated, voice neutral. "And the monster took it with him. He has probably already fed on a few victims, we should see if anyone has seen anything," he explained. "Though that is highly unlikely, is it not, Mina?"

Arthur's voice had been scornful, and the others had picked up on it. At least, Sawyer had.

"You shouldn't talk that way to a lady," the American spoke up on her behalf. "This isn't her fault."

Mina rose and turned back to the others, unable to look at Renfield anymore, even though she was loathe to look at the others. She kept her eyes calm and swallowed before speaking, making certain she could speak without her voice betraying her.

"Sadly, Arthur is correct that it is highly unlikely we would find any solid clue that would help us in finding Dracula," she said clearly, though it was difficult for her to utter that name, as always. "Still, we must give it a try, as at the moment, I have no idea where he is."

I'm right here, Mina.

Tom nodded, as did the other members of the League, though Jekyll was glancing at Arthur every so often with what looked to be anger.

He was angered by the noble's hurtful words and tone just as much or more than the boy. He just cannot speak it. So much like your late husband, is that not right, lovely Mina?

Struggling to ignore the voice haunting her, Mina walked past the others. "We should return to Bond, explain what we must do. There I will inform you all of what Dracula is capable of. And what he most likely will do, to the best of my knowledge," she said as she walked briskly.

"He'll be after those you hold close," Arthur replied. "He will strike at those closest to you, those you care about the most. Not at first, but eh will. First he'll kill off a few innocents, and few not so innocents," Arthur said as he neared her. "And then he will contact you. And then it will begin. Like a game of chess, where everyone is whatever pawn he wants them to be. By the time it's over, he will take the queen."

Mina stopped abruptly and looked over at Arthur as he stopped his long stride as well. The others stopped, and Nemo walked forward, expression unreadable, hardly a surprise.

"Perhaps that is indeed what this Dracula is planning, and perhaps that is how he went about his attacks the first time. But things are a lot different now, and Madam Mina has us behind her. We will see to it this evil is defeated for good," the captain avowed to Arthur.

Mina could not help but smile softly at Nemo's backing and confident manner. She could use some of that confidence now. Because while she did have the League, and Dracula had not encountered them before, they did not know Dracula and his power.

She and Arthur had. And Arthur was indeed right.

Dracula would strike at the League members. After he had sated his bloodlust on inconsequential mortals.

Oh, I will never sate that hunger. You of all people should understand that

He watched as the group walked back to their headquarters. His eyes were focused in her, leading them back, head held a little lower than usual. Her once proud carriage had become more submissive and concerned. The others probably did not even notice, but he did.

Everything about her, he noticed. Even the most imperceptible thing, he could pick up. Mina herself knew that. They both knew that it was not just because of his heightened abilities as well.

It was so much more.

"Go back, Mina. Go back to where you feel safest, and watch as all your walls are torn down and shattered," he whispered as he watched her lead the others away from him and Renfield's corpse. The corpse would be taken care of and any information on the death would be erased. But Dracula would leave, and would leave more corpses to be erased.

As he walked off, cane tapping against the rooftop he was striding across, he felt rain begin to fall, the soft gray clouds being run off by black clouds, promising storms.

Dracula wondered if Mina would feel the cruel chill in the wind that told who controlled the storm that was soon to be raging.

"Watch as the lightening dances across the clouds, Mina," he whispered into her ear, reveling in the feel of how a slight tremor went through her body from his voice and the feel of him so near. "Watch the clouds while they move away from the moon after a moment, exposing it briefly."

Mina glanced back at him, starting slightly at his proximity. "How do you know what the storm will do?" she asked softly after regaining most of her composure.

He leaned in closer, his mouth almost touching hers as he spoke. "Because when you have seen as many storms as I have, you learn how to predict them," he explained. Lifting one hand to gently caress her cheek, Dracula smiled at her.

How odd that it was a genuine smile. How long had it been since one of those had been formed by his lips? Centuries, he was certain.

Strange how this woman, hardly the most beautiful or the most lively or the most vibrant woman he had met, could make him truly happy for a few brief moments.

Yet his only hope of keeping the happiness he had actually achieved in this moment was to lie. He could not risk losing this quiet, reserved, yet independent and strong woman that somehow intrigued him more than any mystery the universe could offer.

And if she found out who, what , he was so soon, he would lose her.

"You must watch storms every time there is one around your native land," Mina finally replied, returning his smile with a lovely, innocent one of her own.

Dracula's smile turned into a grin. "My dear Mina, we have storms almost every day in my native land," he told her, carefully leaving out the fact that he was the cause of them. "So, while I do not watch them every time, I do watch them very often. You would be surprised how much one can discover in a lifetime. If they would just take the time to look."

He took a step closer to Mina, making her unconsciously step back to that they avoided contact. He could hear her heartbeat skip and then speed up slightly, and her chest moved quicker than it should have in the presence of someone other than her fiancé.

It thrilled Dracula, his predator instincts joining with his lust that burned him more than the fiercest thirst he had ever suffered. He desired this woman, yet he did not allow himself to take control of her, take her, make her his own, only to be rejected when he let the control drop.

This one, he wanted of her own free will.

And he would have her. He would have her somehow.

The storm became calmer as he took her hand in his, leading her away from the balcony. "We should keep you away from the rain. We would not want you to catch a cold."

Zaharia hesitantly entered Mariana's chambers, his head slightly bowed. He did not knock on the half open door, nor did he make any sound to announce his approach. He merely stepped into the room and kept silent. He stopped as soon as he was in, not saying a word, only looking at her.

The starlight sparkled gently on her tan skin, moonlight reflecting silver in her hit blacker than the sky it was shining in. Her dress, paled colors unlike her usual gypsy skirts and loose blouse. It was calm and fitted, a deep midnight blue mixing with the color of polished sword, clinging like a sheath to her curves.

She was beautiful, but her features no longer held the gypsy spark they had once possessed, like the other gypsy women, but even more fiery. Now her beauty was tragic, all lovely sorrow and bittersweet hope.

Because of Dracula.

Zaharia nearly growled, but his regret and shame was far more powerful now than any rage his body had the capability to hold. He was afraid to go near her, and dying to stay so far away.

"I forgive you," she whispered inaudibly for any mortal ear, but he was, sadly, no mortal. She turned to look over her shoulder from her place near the open balcony to meet his eyes finally. "I know that is what you."

"No," he replied in a hushed whisper barely any louder than hers. He had bowed his head more, his eyes downcast with the look of child afraid his parents would not love him anymore. "It actually is not. I want for you to look at me without seeing the monster in me. To know that you do not see blood staining my hands, soaking my hair. To look in your eyes and not see the fear of my victims in them. That," he said as he glanced up with his eyes and not his head, "is what I want."

Mariana slowly walked toward him, stopping directly in front of him, looking up at his face. Her eyes were filled with longing, longing for everything to be as it was before they had been trapped by invisible chains in Castle Dracula.

"It kills me to know what you did to those people. What kills me more is that you know you did it, and that you cannot escape your duty, nor the lingering guilt," she told him, her voice filled with tears that made her eyes sparkle in the dim candlelight.

Zaharia cupped his love's face, leaning his forehead against hers. He closed his own glistening eyes. "I will see us live and be free once more, Mariana. I promise you, I will see it happen. I will reclaim your happiness and mine."

She moved her face up and at a backwards angle, her lips brushing against his lightly, then were pressed tightly to his when he pulled her head closer, desperate to lose himself in her. She moaned so softly as his tongue brushed against hers and he felt something in him try to break free, try to ravage her like an animal.

"I cannot do this," Zaharia said as he forced himself to let her go and step away. His eyes were full of resigned pain, rabid fear, and wolf's leer.

Mariana stepped toward him stubbornly and took hold of his hands on hers, leading him back over to the bed. She moved until the back of her legs hit the edge of it, and then she dropped his hands, reaching up and pushing the shoulders of the dress off those of her body.

"I trust you," she told him softly as the dress fell to her feet with the most beautiful whisper he had heard. She stepped out of the pool of cloth at her feet and got on the bed, and he watched with worried awe. "I trust you."

Zaharia moved over to her as she kneeled on the bed, kissed her even fiercer than before, pleading lips and tongue begging for forgiveness, while her cool fingertips removed his clothing to expose skin covered in unseen blood. He pulled her flush against him and she held him to her. Washing him clean.

"We need should go to the Nautilus and see if there's anything of use there," Mina stated as she, Arthur, and the League sat once more at the familiar table and discussed their options. Normally she would have let another of the League take the lead, but she knew she had to.

Arthur arched an eyebrow. "I doubt a ship would have the necessary tools for vampire hunting. Especially for this vampire."

Mina nodded. "I know it does seem unlikely, but we also need to make sure everyone s properly equipped with not only weapons but knowledge. And, I would prefer telling them there," she said, and when she looked over at Arthur, there was the slightest plea in her eyes.

She saw the desire to force her to expose her ugliest sins, but he mercifully let it pass and nodded.

"Very well, you and your friends can take me with you. I have all my travel belongings with me, so I will stick with the group. It is safest that way," he said, and the others nodded after seeing Mina do so.

"Then we should be heading back," she stated and got up. She walked out of the room, ignoring Bond and not pausing to make sure the others were with her until she was at the steps in front of the museum building.

Nemo was closest, and she saw the faintest hint of concern in them, but she forced a half smile before looking to see if the others had caught up as well. Arthur had, and then the others were there, and they were all heading back to the Nautilus.

With a voice that spoke of love yet was dripping with hate still residing in Mina's mind.

He watched as the sun set over London, the city streets lit up by the tall lamps that provided no shelter, no safety, no warmth. He stood on the roof of the museum, watching until his lovely Mina and her precious company had finally disappeared from his sight.

Soon she would have to tell all of them the whole story. Bare her soul, and speak of him in detail. And he would hear her thoughts through the whole thing, reveling in what she left out, too ashamed to admit.

He was delighted she was already so bothered. She needed a rock, and all she had was him.

But it had not reached that point yet. And he felt puckish.

Soon a flock of bats was flying far from the museum and toward the seedier sections of the city, all landing down, legs reforming, then torso, then shoulders, and then head, human and one body once more. He walked down an alley, toward a man raping one of the dirty whores of the street and grinned a devil's grin.

"That is hardly the proper way to treat a lady," he said loudly to get the ruffian's attention. His fangs were exposed as his grin widened at the sight of the startled man quickly removing himself from the crying woman on the ground. He began to softly laugh as the disgusting mortal tried to get his pants back in place and covering all they were meant to cover.

"You don't look like no constable!" he cried with embarrassed anger. "She was exposing the goods, she's no lady!"

Before the man could blink or draw breath to shout anymore, Dracula was there, fangs deep in his vein, blood flowing from the rapist to the vampire, while the harlot tried to cover herself vainly, her cries unheard by the feeding male.

And soon he was down, all blood drained and filling him. He closed his eyes and turned his head up at the sigh, letting out a sigh at the coppery liquid rushing down his throat still. His bloody canines were exposed in the moonlight, and the sight made the woman scream yet again.

She got up and turned away from Dracula, but he was in front of her when she did, his teeth bared and his eyes filled with the same color as the liquid dripping down from the corners of his mouth.

"I am afraid, I cannot let you leave here alive," he told her, reaching out to brush back her hair. "But do not fear. The kiss death will give you it sweet and swift. You have gone through enough agony tonight," he told her with a comforting and gentle voice.

Her eyes went blank, her body limp, and she was in his arms. And he proved his word true, removing the pain from his bite and the ache from his thirst quenching. He gently laid her body down and covered her damaged body before walking off, his cane tapping on the rain soaked streets.

"I wonder how Carfax Abbey is doing," Dracula pondered aloud between licking his teeth and lips clean of crimson. He took a turn that would lead him back to his brief home in England, decided to relive memories that were not yet old enough to be called old.

Once they reached the Nautilus, it would be the day Mina had hoped to avoid until she somehow finally died one way or another. She would have to tell them so many things she had wanted to forget and pretend had never happened.

Even though she herself was a walking reminder.

Mina let out an almost inaudible sigh, swallowing down her pride and vain hope. She had to accept that this was just how the things were. That life was not perfect, nor what you wanted, and mistakes would be exposed more often than not.

"I think I might know what you're going through," came a soft, almost timid voice from her left side, slightly behind.

Mina paused, turning slightly to face Dr. Jekyll who had approached her. She almost blinked in confusion, wondering if she had said any of her mingled thoughts aloud, but then realized he probably could simply understand without hearing her say what was wrong. Both of them had pasts they would never like to think about, let alone speak of.

"Hyde has done things, atrocities I would not wish any soul in the world to know of," he continued, as they picked up their stride again. "I know it is not quite the same for you, but, from what you and Mr. Holmwood have said, this Count takes delight in hurting those you care for or causing pain to innocents simply to get to you. And Hyde, he always enjoyed doing such to me," Jekyll said, his voice lowering with shame.

Mina nodded, looking ahead. She could not truly understand how awful it must be to have your tormentor be you, to do things through your body, but she could begin to understand the shame of knowing that the only reason certain people were killed was merely because you cared for them.

"I had once felt pity for Dracula," she admitted. "When we thought we had killed him. He seemed to look almost peaceful. As if he was no longer the beast that had destroyed my life and the lives of those around me," she confided to the doctor.

"Yet, now that he has returned, and I have seen Arthur yet again, I feel almost shameful for ever feeling such compassion for him. But, we at least have a chance of ridding the world of his evil. I do not know how I would ever be able to go on if he was constantly a part of me, constantly in some state of existing, she added, glancing at Jekyll. "So, I admire your strength for living with Hyde. I do not think I could live like that."

Jekyll, looked at her sharply, surprised by her words, and then a faint blush could be seen on his cheeks. "I, tried very often to rid myself of this existence," he admitted himself. "But I fear that the reason I did not, is because I am a coward who does not wish to pay for the sins I allowed Hyde to commit."

Mina glanced at him, and she felt compassion for the doctor. "None of us wish to face damnation," she told him kindly. "Vampires are not often welcomed into heaven's gates either."

"You're a monster," she gasped, her eyes wide with fear and shock, a slender, elegant hand lifting up to cover her mouth. "You're the monster that killed Lucy, made her that creature Arthur and Van Helsing had to kill!"

Accusations. Accusing, accusing, always accusing. They never stopped to think, never stopped to consider, did they?

Not even she. Lovely, elegant, precious Mina, proper lady with an untamed heart and will, even she could not get past the word "monster", even after all the time spent with him, even after their passion tried to make them lose their minds together.

"Mina, please," he begged her. He begged. Count Dracula, first of the vampires, the strongest, the most powerful, the wisest of the vampire race was begging for a mortal woman's acceptance, understanding. "I am sorry about your friend Lucy. I, I did not plan to turn her, not like that. But then I found you, and I lost you," he tried to explain, but she shook her head.

She would have none of it. She would believe the muddled truth and half lies the professor had told her and the others. The pretty, white lies. She would believe lies over love. Immortal love, she would turn it away for beautiful, safe lies.

She tried to run for the door, but he grabbed her, roughly. She screamed, in pain, in fear, in heartache, in despair. She struggled against him, and he let her go, a cold, dark heart screaming that same cry as she ran to the door, beating on it.

"Let me go! Please, let me go!" she pleaded, beating on the door. He saw her eyes shining with tears, clear, watery tears he could not shed, and his vision turned red and blurry.

He walked over, opening the door, letting her free. She ran, ran from him, never looking back. Never seeing the red fall from his eyes.