Author's Note: (the Author's Note was different but I changed it about when I ended it so that it would go along a bit better)

Ok… now that I think about it… the story will probably end at around 10 or 11 chapters. Because it's getting close to the end and I'm just about ready to wrap it up. Not that I'm bored with it, but my ideas are coming to a close… Yay. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any original Van Helsing characters. All original Van Helsing characters belong to Stephen Sommers and Universal Studios and Universal Pictures.

Dracula's Symphony

Chapter Seven: A Sight To Be Remembered

Almost a day had passed since the werewolf first kidnapped her. He had been jumping through the forest with Adriana still under his arm for the whole time. Adriana had stopped struggling after about an hour of the original capture. It was pointless, since she had accidentally left her belt of weapons in the Inn.

I just wish I knew where this beast was taking me… she thought to herself, rolling her eyes a little too.

Finally the werewolf stopped. They were in front of a large castle. Vines and other dead plants were around and on it. Completely made of stone, it was familiar to Adriana, but she did not know how. As the werewolf climbed the stone wall, Adriana had a calming sense over her. She looked at her surroundings, all familiar, but not.

Finally it reached a broken stain glass window, where it climbed through and threw Adriana to the side. She caught herself and skidded backwards, in a semi-kneeling position.

Unarmed and unguarded, she slowly backed up to on of the other walls. The werewolf quickly turned around though and jumped up, then pinned her to the ground. Snarling, its teeth were bared and its eyes were filled with anger.

The monster's claws had scratched her shoulders, and were puncturing her skin. It mouth was pulled back into a grin-like snarl, and its ears were flat back. Adriana's pulse quickened; frightened by the beast, and so sure that she would die. Her blood was chilled as the werewolf's mouth drew ever closer to her body, ready to bite her. There was thunder in the distance, booming and clashing, making the mood of the evening even more frightening.

Twin doors swung open. Adriana, even the werewolf, turned to see who had done it. It was a somewhat tall man. He wore boots, slacks, a rather nice shirt, all pulled together with a long, extravagant coat which flew back from the breeze from the broken window. All of his clothing was black, with golden embroidery on his coat. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but with what it stayed back with she could not see. Two thin bangs drooped down on either side of his slightly pale face, and his eyes were a dark brown.

How do I know him?... Who is he?... Where did he come from?... Adriana thought; her mind riddled with questions.

The werewolf growled at him, a threat, warning him to stay away, or he would bite Adriana.

"Get away from her you disgusting monster!" The stranger walked with long strides but was rather fast. He kept a serious expression, glaring at the werewolf, as if that would drive it off. The werewolf growled and brought its jaws closer to Adriana; another threat.

"I said get away from her!" He raised his voice and came faster. Already he was about 10 feet away. The room was rather large.

The werewolf grabbed Adriana again and jumped back.

"Leave me alone you wretched werewolf!" She kicked the werewolf in the side. It let out a blood curdling howl as its side started to sizzle and burn.

"Taste silver you jerk!" She kicked it again in the side, then in the mouth. Its teeth scratched her boot, cutting it open, revealing her flesh. The werewolf bit down and tore at her foot and leg. She screamed in agony as a shock of pain surged through her.

This wasn't supposed to happen…

Adriana punched the werewolf in the nose. It growled and yelped in annoyance and pain.

"You know I could really use some help here!" Adriana yelled at the strange man, who was standing still in the doorway with a bewildered look on his face. Finally he snapped out of it and ran forward, pulling a silver sword off the wall.

She wasn't supposed to do anything… Her spirit is strong… But now what am I to do?

He drove the sword into the werewolf as it howled and fell to its knees. He took the sword out, blood splattering onto the floor. The werewolf held its side and tried to crawl away, Adriana, breathing and bleeding heavily, also watched it as it crawled. The stranger stood watching, sword in hand.

Finally the werewolf collapsed and died, a pool of blood circling around it and staining its fur.

The stranger dropped the sword and ran to Adriana. His brown eyes searched her torn leg over, a horrified look of sadness on his face.

Adriana's breathing calmed, as her leg quickly began to heal itself. "You need to get out of here. Get as far away from me as possible! I know this is obviously your castle, but you need to get away," she warned, swatting her arm about wildly, pushing him away.

"I don't know why you look so familiar to me, but whoever you are, you need to get away," there was a growl in her voice, the full moon drawing sooner, only a day away.

There was fear in both of them. Fear of each other and fear of themselves. Adriana slowly got up, leaning a little to the right, limping slightly on her leg. The man remained where he was, sword in hand.

"I told you…" she said angrily, "get, out, of, here. When the full moon rises, you will be dead if you don't go," her voice was deepening, becoming more aggressive.

"I cannot let you leave. I am sorry; and besides, I am in no danger. I have," he stopped himself. Thinking again, he continued, "I have a power of my own. Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am, Count Vladislaus Dracula," he bowed, sword going back as he dipped.

Adriana perked up. The name was familiar, but again, she did not know why.

Why did he say "re-introduce" himself? Arg! This is too damn confusing!

"Dracula huh? I'm Adriana," she limped towards him, "Adriana Samdioes. I was a monster slayer, but now I have become what I once slay," she chuckled, "how ironic."

Finally dropping the sword, Dracula walked over to Adriana and helped her walk.

"I have plenty of extra space in my castle, it would be fine if you stayed," he was walking alongside her, helping keep her up.

"I can't. The full moon is too soon."

"It's fine. In any case, I have to tell you something later. And get rid of something…" his voice remained low and mysterious, somewhat dark.

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Later that day, after Adriana had cleaned up, she went down, looking for Dracula. It seemed like he was no where, but she stayed persistent.

Maybe he's upstairs, cleaning where I first came in.

She walked up the stairwell, dust lifting with every step. The gloomy castle was somewhat frightening, but she was used to it.

Walking down the long hall, opening the doors as they came, Adriana's curiosity grew. Each room had a story, a painting, a mirror, something that made it different from the previous.

Just as she was about to look into another door, another room with twin doors, like the one she was discovered in, a noise turned her around, leading her to the last door. It was a spine chilling noise, one of gouging.

Although the noise was a disgusting sound, it had already dragged her too far in for her to turn around now.

"Dracula? Are… Are you in there?" she slowly opened the door. Surprisingly its hinges did not squeak, and the door moved nicely. Effortlessly the rest of the door opened slowly, before a gust of wind, coming from inside the room, slammed it open.

Inside was the monster that had killed Leon. It was tearing at yet another innocent's flesh. Blood dripped from its face and hands, pools of it on the ground.

Adriana stood horrified. Too scared to believe her guardian's murderer was right there, killing more people. His facial expression was not what she had expected, more surprised then violent. But either way, she was too nervous to notice that small detail.

Turning around quickly, she started running away, the door slamming behind her and bouncing off the wall, shaking as it went back. The monster jumped after her, a clawed hand reaching to pull her back. He missed; fortunate for her, or so she thought, and unfortunate for him.

Looking down the hall, his blood-spattered face was sad as she raced down the hall, away from him, yelling for Dracula, "DRACULA! DRACULA! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

I'm right here…Come back…

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Author's Ending Note: Ok, this chapter ABSOLUTELY STUNK! I HATE THE WAY THIS CAME OUT! BLARG! And Dracula was kind of out of character, mostly because I didn't know where to go, I was kind of in a rush to submit it before I left, and I couldn't think of anything! Not to mention that he is supposed to be realizing that he actually has feelings, so it is going to be off. Maybe I'll re-write it. Anyway, I won't be back for a month :sad: :cry: Boo-hoo. And even after that, it'll take a while for me to get into my fan-ficcy mode. But alas, and again, I HATE THE WAY THIS CHAPTER CAME OUT! If you liked it, please tell me. Because my self-confidence/ego has just been dropped like crazy. Yeah… and the worst of it all, I won't be back to see how much everyone liked/disliked the chapter. =(

This was the beginning of the romance. I guess… Guess you'll all just have to wait till I get back. But don't worry; I'm bringing a notebook to camp so that I can write how it continues so that I can just type it up lickety-split.

P.S. I was thinking about naming this "Chapter Seven: The Crap Chapter" because that's what it is!!!
Surprisingly though, I like the end. JUST as I got out of my writer's block I HAVE TO LEAVE! ARG! Oh well, maybe some fresh camp air will do me good. Get those thinking/imagination cells pumping - hopefully in overdrive.