Gabriel's feet carried him lightly down the stairs, his long hair billowing out behind him, down to the large hall, where his sister was standing at the open front door, looking simply radiant. Her long golden brown hair was piled up on top of her head, a few curls loose around her face. A warm sparkle danced in her soft brown eyes, and a smile curved her soft lips. A simple, elegant purple velvet dress which perfectly accented her tiny frame.
"Alex!" Gabriel called, and she turned to him, her smile widening.
"You look fantastic," she complimented, as he caught her in a tight embrace.
"As do you," he replied. "Shall we step inside? I'll introduce you to a few of my fellow knights."
She nodded, and he took her arm, leading her into the ballroom, which was packed with people, a beautiful swirling mass of colour dancing to the slow music.
"It's good to have you home," she said.
He took her over to the first knight he saw, a tall, slim man dressed entirely in black velvet. He had twinkling black eyes and beautifully shiny ebony hair clipped neatly back. There was a silver hoop in one of his ears. He smiled at Gabriel and Alexandria.
"Good evening, Gabriel," he twinkled. "And your charming friend."
"Alex, this is my best friend, my brother if you will, Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Vlad, this is my sister, Lady Alexandria Van Helsing."
"Charmed, I'm sure, Lady Van Helsing," Vladislaus purred, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it lightly and seductively.
Gabriel saw the brightness flare up in Alex's eyes, the spark in Vlad's appear as their eyes met.
"Alex, if you please, Count," she replied in a low rush.
"Alex it is. But in return you must call me Vlad."
Gabriel watched her smile happily. And he glared at his best friend.
Gabriel woke up with a shock. He was lying in his bed in his dark bedroom, drenched in cold sweat. He was panting.
He had never had a dream about his past lives like that before, so rich and vivid where he could remember every single detail, and he had certainly never had one where he was doing anything other than fighting. But this dream proved several things to him. For one, Alex certainly was his sister, and secondly, she and Dracula had perhaps been a couple in their past life.
He climbed out of bed and dressed quickly, washing himself in the basin of water beside his bed and heading off to Carl's lab, chewing his lip and hoping Alex could find it in her heart to forgive him.
He knocked on the door gingerly.
"Come in!" Carl's voice came.
Gabriel opened the door, and looked in. Alex was the first thing he noticed. She was dressed in a tight black shirt and a long, floaty peasanty skirt of the same colour. She was curled up on the sofa, a large book in her lap. Carl was standing behind the sofa, his arms hanging over her shoulders as he pointed at the book, apparently reading it to her. They both looked up at him, her expression one of confusion, his one of happiness.
Gabriel cleared his throat. "I... had a bad dream," he said softly.
Alex's face softened considerably, and she closed the book and stood up. She crossed to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He was surprised but very comforted by the warm hug he found himself in.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
She drew away. "Don't be," she replied. "What did you dream?"
"I saw you... with Dracula, and me, in our past life," he confessed. "I've never dreamt anything like that before."
"What did you see before in your vision?" Carl asked suddenly.
"I saw me killing Dracula, and Alex screaming," Gabriel replied, in a low voice.
"I dream that all the time," Alex told him.
Gabriel pulled her back into a hug. "Good night, sister."
"Good night, Gabriel."
More coming soon.