Ageless
Disclaimer…Oh come on ppls, we do this every single chapter you should already be identified with what is and not the writers.
Chapter 2 Masquerade
Anna looked out her window. Her hands clenched together as the maid pulled the corset tighter. Her costume was simple; the light fabric was silver and black, her mask that would fit over her eyes, the long silver gloves, earrings and necklace to match. When the maid left Anna slipped her dress over her head. Its low v line neck was as long as Her father, Dracula, would allow it to be. She pulled her mask on and waited till dark when all the guests had finished arriving.
--
Anna made her descent with Genesis. Her sister was dressed in all black besides the sea blue gloves and mask, Lyda was holding onto Marishka. The vampiress looked at her and smiled. Dracula nodded to the band, they struck up and eerie cord. In the corner Van Helsing and Carl stood watching the vampire's every move. Vash was talking and having the time of his life. Genesis was whisked away by her boyfriend. A whole group of males surrounded Anna and began a conversation.
She became uncomfortable, looking at the door her eyes lit up. Van looked that way; a young male vampire around Anna's age but a couple years older strode into the room and tilted his head to Dracula. The Elder smiled and pointed to the group around Anna. He silently walked over.
"Do you mind Gentile Men, Princess would you like a dance." He held out his hand and Anna took it. Vash fallowed Van Helsing stare.
"Ah, I see young Atristophe has eyes for out little maiden." He said. Van shook his head. "Don't do anything rash." Carl studied the two.
"They have certain chemistry, those two." The Friar replied.
"Oh sure enough they do." A thick accented voice came form behind them. Van turned and stared straight at Dracula. "He is a good young man, I would trust her with no one else. Atristophe is a good person, if you knew him like I do then you would say so yourself." When Van Helsing turned back to look at the dance floor, Atristophe and Anna where no were in sight.
--
Atristophe led Anna outside; leading her down the steps of the palace he then led her to the vast garden. There he stopped and held her close.
"Atristophe…I never thought you would have come." She whispered.
"And miss your sixteenth birthday, I wouldn't do that for the world." He stated, "I may be a vampire, Anna, but I know who I love and who I don't." she stared at him. Atristophe leaned forward and in one brisk movement his lips smothered hers. He cupped her face with his hands and deepened the kiss. Anna pulled back when air became and issue. "I love you Anna." He said softly. She pulled away from him.
"We had better get back. We'll be missed." He nodded and took her hand, kissing her lips briefly Atristophe led her up the stairs.
On the rooftop, Vash looked down upon the scene with liking. Atristophe was a good Vampire, and young at that. He turned and reported to Van Helsing.
"I think we should tell her." Gabriel stated to Dracula.
"Why?" The Vampire asked sitting back in his chair comfortably.
"Because, I was instructed to take her back to Rome with me." Vash stood in the corner.
"I don't think it wise, Gabriel." Dracula said.
"You can't think, she is my daughter, not yours I am the one who will decide." Dracula stood in rage and hate.
"Who raised her? Who brought her from a wreaked ship? It was not you Van Helsing I am sure of that." Gabriel shifted. "I saw her mother die, She is plagued with dreams of the fire, If you rip her away from me I will be lost."
"You can look to the comfort of your wives."
"They do not understand me like Anna dose, like Akida did, and neither do her sisters. I would rather not tell her now." Dracula returned to his seat. "Let her get used to your presence, and then we shall see." Gabriel stood and walked out of the study back to his room. Vash sat in the chair Van once occupied.
"He will tell her no matter what, we are leaving for Rome in a fortnight, I would insist you make your decision by then." The Prince got up and stopped at the door he looked back at Dracula. "There are some things that we loose in life, Dracula, weather we want them or not. You will loose Anna one of these days, for that I am sure. But keep in mind that she will not always be the innocent child or teenager she now is. Anna will change, and it won't be to your liking." With that he left, leaving Dracula in the dark.
--
"I still think we should tell her." Gabriel said, when Vash entered the room, the party had long since been over and the night was quiet.
"Dracula is right, let her get used to you, telling her now you could loose her. She barely even knows you." Vash said. He stood by Van looking out over the forest.
"Dracula!" Vash looked away. "Dracula! Right! Are you crazy, letting her get used to me would be my downfall. He will use her, don't you see it?"
"All I can see Gabriel Van Helsing is a man who knows nothing of Immortals, weather he likes people to think or not. I see no one, not even the great Van Helsing. You take advice from me and I do not let you down, I have taken advice from Dracula and not once has he betrayed me." Gabriel glared. Vash walked out of the room slamming the door behind him.
For the next week and a half, Gabriel spent as much time as he could with Anna, bringing the subject up with Vash and preparing for their journey back to Rome. Dracula scheduled rides and hunting's into the forest with Van and Anna whenever he couldn't. Gabriel found her company charming, she would bombard him with questions about his adventures and he would ask her about her mother. She relayed everything she knew. The Day came when Dracula finally decided to tell Anna about her true father, and that day was picked out of them all.
It was raining, the wind making the summer palace creak without effort. Anna spent most of her time in her room, writing or fixing her sword. The door opened as she sat at her desk, Anna turned and looked At Dracula smiling. He sat beside her and looked at her sketches, a picture of Vash and Van Helsing in hand to hand combat, one was of Carl making a "secret" formula and one especially was of Atristophe leaning on the roses. In fact there were several of Atristophe. Dracula smiled. So she is in love. Anna waved her hand in his face.
"You didn't hear me did you?" She asked.
"No dear, what did you say?"
"I asked what you wanted." He took a deep breath and started his tale.
"It is hard to say Anna, You remember you mother?" She nodded. "Well, I am not your actual father."
"I know."
"And I bet you are wanting to know who is?" She nodded. "You see that's what I wanted to talk to you about." He pulled up a chair and looked into her eyes. "Gabriel Van Helsing is your father." She started for a moment. "When he was in Paris sixteen years ago he met up with you mother again, there you were conceived. You mother came back here after a large argument, nine months later you were born. After six years She went in search of Van Helsing, the ship was ambushed and burned, Gabriel never knew of your birth." Anna sat back in her chair messing with her skirt.
"And now what?" She asked.
"You are leaving tomorrow." She jumped up.
"No!" She looked around wildly like a trapped animal. "I will not leave, with him." She stated coldly.
"Anna, calm down please!" She threw something at the wall.
"I am Calm!" She yelled. Dracula hissed.
"CALM DOWN THIS INSTANT!" He commanded. Anna dropped back instantly, her large expressive eyes showing fear. Dracula calmed. "Come, do not be afraid of me, everyone is afraid of me." He embraced Anna. "I do not want you to go, but I want you to know the real Van Helsing outside of the books."
"I don't want to Papa, I am afraid that if I leave, everything will be…Destroyed, all that we had here…the lives we shared." She stopped as her words began to choke. "Don't make me go. Please, don't"
"I am not making you go, Anna, I am asking you to." He said quietly looking into her eyes. With that he was gone. Anna sat on her bed and contemplated over the fact that she was leaving. Vash entered her room and sat beside her.
"I am guessing he told you." She looked at him.
"Vash, I don't want to go." He put an arm around her and let her weep into his chest. "What about Atristophe?" She asked suddenly. "I need to tell him."
"It's better you don't." She gave him a questioning look. "He could come and kill one of us for letting you go." Anna knew it was a lie but complied none the same. "You had better get your rest, we are leaving at dawn." He kissed her head and left the room. The storm raged on, Anna looked out the window in her traveling clothes. No one would be able to catch her if she left. Opening the balcony she picked up the pack she held and jumped out into the rain, pulling her coat tighter she made her way to the forest unaware that someone was fallowing her.