Van Helsing's vision was blurred and a stream of blood dripped from a cut on his cheek. He tried to focus, but everything was a blur around him. He tried to remember what had happened last... his child! He needed to help Arene. He could sense his daughter was with Dracula's bride as his vision began to focus again. Dracula was coming near him, his teeth bared. He could see the two women in the background and he was almost certain Nicola had released Arene. He could hear her voice and then Dracula turned to his bride.
Dracula turned to see his bride approaching him and he moved towards her, trying to read any hint of betrayal in her mind, but he could not. There was only love for him in her. She was so strong and beautiful... and she wanted none but him. She came to his side and wrapped her arms around him.
"Why did you call me, my bride?" he asked as she fingered his ponytail.
"Perhaps we shall not kill them right away," Nicola said. "Perhaps we should let them suffer together and watch the other one die. You said so yourself, they have not known each other since Arene was born. If they were to watch each other suffer and die, would that not be a worse death for them both?"
Dracula smiled evilly at his bride. "You do have a wild nature, perhaps that is a better way of death for them. The more they suffer the better."
Arene, who had taken this chance to back away and walk quietly to Van Helsing, cringed at these words. She was not about to let Dracula hurt the only member of her family who was still alive, nor was she about to let him hurt her best friend. She quickly and quietly made her way over to Van Helsing and helped him to his feet.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, letting him lean on her. He nodded.
"Yes, we have to get out of here," he said and tried to stand on his own, but the sound of his soft groan caused Dracula to turn around and see them. He grinned evilly.
"A good try, my friend," he said as Gabriel stepped forward and stood in front of Arene, "but not nearly good enough!"
He and Nicola leapt into the air and transformed into their bat forms. Van Helsing picked his crossbow off the ground and tried to aim at the huge creatures, but they were too fast. Arene had to dodge as their huge wings knocked pieces of stone from the ceiling. Nicola was much faster and was able to knock Van Helsing off his feet without causing him great harm, but Dracula was much more powerful. Van Helsing jumped to his feet and aimed his crossbow again. After a few times of missing, he nailed the count in the chest with an arrow. The Count screeched in pain but pulled the arrow out and flew straight at Van Helsing, dogging all the arrows. Arene could see that Van Helsing was in danger and ran; throwing herself at him and knocking him out of harms way.... only she was in the line of fire! Dracula grabbed her neck and slammed her against the wall.
"Arene!" Van Helsing cried as the creature tackled his child. The hunter took no time in whipping out another weapon and tried to fire, but Nicola flew right at him, knocking the weapon from his hand and flying into the air. Once she was high enough, she threw him into the ground. Van Helsing took the full blow of the impact, but stood again; he had felt worse. Nicola landed in front of him, claws and fangs bared, ready to attack if he went after her master. Both started deeply into each other's eyes...
A cry of pain released them from their thoughts as they turned to Arene and Dracula.
Dracula had returned to his human form and had Arene pressed against the wall, his hands wrapped around her throat. She tried as hard as she could get away, but nothing worked. Dracula moved in closer an evil smile on his face. His fangs descended as he spoke.
"Do not be afraid, my dear, don't be afraid. Now you will see your family again," he whispered as he sank his fangs into her neck, drinking deeply from her throat. Arene looked up at Van Helsing, whispering weakly.
"Help me..." The world was beginning to blacken around her. "Please...father..."