(A/N: new chapter. As for reviews.

Tiger: It's just the way my mind works. Live with it. (You have to read more than the first chapter as well.)

elwin 16: hope it's holding up to your standards.

Artemis 1860: Thanks! The band is doing well. We are called Bloodstained. (leave it up to Vampress to come up with the name)

vampire princess, morwinda: Glad to know you like it.

Kat Hawkins: It's a new chapter. Hope you like it!

Here we go!)

Transylvania…still

Van Helsing, Mara, Anna and Veta rode down the road.

"Where does this go again?" Van Helsing asked.

"Frankenstein's castle." Mara replied.

"I still don't get how you learned all this fighting stuff in less than a year." Veta said. Mara sighed.

"I knew the basics already. You remember, I taught myself since I was nine. I practiced everyday and scared all the boys in town. That automatically cut off a year of my training. The rest of it started to come naturally. Is that enough of an explanation for you?" Mara told her.

"That'll work." Veta replied.

The castle came in sight. It loomed over them in the dark night. The four of them went in through the back door.

"Why couldn't we use the front door?" Veta asked.

"Because we'll just live a little bit longer." Mara replied.

"Good point." Veta replied as they got into the foyer. They heard grumbling and they flung their backs against the wall, Mara having to push Veta to do so.

"Dwerger." Anna said.

"Dwerger." Van Helsing said, slightly confused.

"One of Dracula's servants. If you get the chance to kill one, do it, because they'll do worse to you." Anna explained.

"Right." Van Helsing responded.

They listened to the Dwerger as they went on with their work. Once they passed, the group moved on. They got to a stone room and stared at what was before them. They were slimy green sacks.

"What do you think they are?" Anna asked.

"Offspring." Van Helsing replied.

"Ewww. Gross." Veta said.

"I don't even what to think about that." Mara said feeling like she was going to throw up.

"A man living with three gorgeous women for four hundred years?" Van Helsing said.

"Stop talking about it! It's gross!" Veta retorted. Van Helsing went on to another subject.

"Vampires are the walking dead. It only makes sense that their children are born dead. Dracula and his brides only kill one or two people a month, I was told."

"My gosh, if he brings all these to life…" Mara couldn't finish.

Van Helsing walked over to a sack and removed his glove.

"What are you doing?" Veta asked.

"Seeing what we are up against." Van Helsing replied as he tore through the shell of the sack and began to dig. Green slimly goop poured out over his hand.

Mara groaned at the sight and covered her mouth. Veta turned to the side as her lunch came up. Mara did the same. The girl straightened and whipped her mouth.

"That is so gross." Mara said. There was a flash and a boom. The wires attached to the sacks sparked and roared. Mara pushed her and Veta into the shadows by the wall of the room. They looked up and saw the two brides enter on the balcony accompanied by a man dressed all in black.

"I assume that is Dracula?" Veta asked. Mara nodded and put a finger to her lips, indicating her to be silent. Van Helsing and Anna joined them.

A second flash and boom. The little vampire bats burst out of their sacks and began to fly around.

"They must feed. Show them how!" they heard Dracula shout. "And beg the Devil, that this time they stay alive."

The brides wailed to their children as they flew through the air.

"This is where I come in." Van Helsing said as he readied his shot gun.

"Are you crazy?" Mara asked concerned for him. Van Helsing flew out into the open and began to fire. "Yeah, he's crazy."

"Get out of here." Mara told Anna and Veta. The two ran up the steps toward the laboratory while Dracula was distracted with Van Helsing firing away.

Van Helsing faced the count. "Now that I have your attention…" he said strapping the shotgun back in place. Dracula roared and leapt off the balcony.

"I don't think that was a good idea." Mara mumbled as she tucked her hair up in her hat. Van Helsing stood in the room, silent and still. Mara ran out and grabbed him by the arm. She dragged him with her as she ran.

"You are such an idiot. You shot and then you hide. Otherwise, you shot and die!" Mara said.

"Have you been listening to Carl at all?" he asked. Mara rolled her eyes as they hid.

The count changed into his human form, which was slightly less frightening.

"Usually, I can tell the character of a man by his heartbeat. Usually when I approach, I can almost dance to the beat." The count said clapping his hands wildly. "Strange that yours is so steady." he said slowing his clapping.

Oh CRUD!! Mara thought. This is not good.

She watched as the vampire slowly walked around the room, looking for them. Mara fought to keep her heartbeat steady, but steady it remained. She wasn't about to let this be her last assignment. The teen pushed herself back into her hiding place. Dracula slowed and stopped right across from her. Mara held her breath. The count turned and saw her.

Mara bolted from her hiding place as the count tried to grab her. She backed up into the room. The count turned to look at her. His cold stare pierced through her heart and made her suppress a shiver.

"And who might you be?" the count asked.

"Someone of non-importance." Mara replied.

"Are you sure about that?" Dracula asked. He was playing with her. Mara wasn't going to be played with.

"Yeah, really. I'll just be going now." Mara said sounding braver than she actually was. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Van Helsing's hiding spot and began to move toward it.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, my dear." the vampire said, his fangs growing. Mara dived to the side as Van Helsing fell to the floor and thrust the silver stake into the vampire's heart. Mara quickly picked up her hat (which had fallen off when she dived out of the way) up off the floor.

"Hello Gabriel." Dracula simply said as he glanced at the stake.

Mara's eyes widened. Why wasn't he dead!!! He should dead!!! Van Helsing glanced at Mara.

"Is this your silver stake?" Dracula asked as he pulled it out. Dracula tossed it aside on the floor. The count studied the two for a moment. Both were extremely shocked and confused.

"You don't remember, do you?" the count asked as he let his cloak fall to the ground. He advanced on Van Helsing, who immediately backed up to stand by Mara.

"Exactly what is it I should be remembering?" Van Helsing asked.

"You are the great Van Helsing. Trained by monks and mullahs from Tibet to Istanbul. Protected by Rome herself. But like me," Dracula said still advancing on the two, who still retreated. "hunted by all others."

"The Order knows all about you, so I guess it's no surprise you know all about me." Van Helsing said grabbing Mara by the arm and gently guiding her behind him.

"Oh, but it's much more than that Gabriel. We have such history, you and I. I know why you have such horrible nightmares. The horrific scenes of ancient battles past." Dracula said.

"I see you brought the girl with you, Gabriel." the count said. Mara stiffened. How did he know her? Were she and Van Helsing connected? What in the world was going on?

"How do you know us?" Van Helsing asked. Screams came from above.

"Veta." Mara whispered as she looked up.

The count smiled. "So, would you like me to refresh your memory? Give you a few details from your sordid past?" Dracula asked.

There it was, the thing they both wanted most. But could Dracula really be trusted? They decided 'no'. Van Helsing pulled out a cross. The count grabbed it and roared as his hand began to flame. Van Helsing pulled away.

"Perhaps that is a conversation for another time. Let me reintroduce myself." the vampire gave a low mocking bow. "Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1432. Murdered 1462."

Screams came from the village. This time the count looked. The two monster hunters took the opportunity to run into the dumbwaiter. Van Helsing cut the line and the flew toward the laboratory. Dracula turned just in time to see them fly away from his grasp.