Author's Note: Here is my sixth chapter. Thank you all so much for the great reviews! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Van Helsing.
Chapter 6 Another Bride
Vela bit her lip, a look of slight anxiety coursing on her face. Perhaps she should not return home just yet. The master sounded enraged and his cry reverberated off her hollow being. But no, he was expecting her and she did not want to anger him further. The bride took her time and transformed back into a human looking creature as she glided down slowly her booted feet touching upon the cold, stone floor of the foyer. Aleera and Verona were nowhere in sight, meaning that they had probably already gone to see Dracula. The girl stood for moment, trying to collect her thoughts and then moved off to find the others. She must not appear to happy or upset regarding Marishka's end, she would remain indifferent. She found them in one of the master's chambers, where his coffin was kept. The two brides were cowering on the ceiling while the Count paced up a large ice covered pillar.
"Why can't they just leave us alone!?" he proclaimed furiously. "We never kill more than our share or less then our fill! Can they say the same?" He reached the ceiling, his dark eyes fixed on Aleera and Verona. For once, Vela was glad that she did not have his attention. She stood by the flaming candelabra, watching the hot wax spill onto the floor, running in between the cracks and crevices of the stone. "Did I not stress how important it was to be finished with Anna Valerious?!" he spat at them, "now that we are so close to fulfilling our dream!" They shook and sobbed in each other's arms. The girl couldn't help but let a little smile creep upon her face. You speak truth master, she thought amusedly.
"We… lost… Marishka," Verona wept.
"Master…" Aleera whimpered.
"There, there my darlings," Dracula extended his arms but they still stayed a good distance away from him. "Do not worry, I shall find another bride."
"What?" Verona said in a breathless tone.
"Do we mean so little to you?" Aleera whined.
"Have you no heart?" Verona continued sounding shocked. Vela felt her stomach drop. Another bride? This was exactly what she had feared. The girl would have said something, had the Count not continued his tirade.
"No! I have no heart! I feel no love!" he cried jumping from the ceiling to the floor. "Nor fear, nor joy, nor sorrow!" the master stood in front of her, his back turned. "I am hollow," his voice was barely above a whisper, "and I will live forever."
"Oh my lord," Aleera replied.
"It is not so bad," Verona finished for her. Dracula laughed, tilting his head back a little.
"I am at war with the world and every living soul in it!" he cried. "But soon, very soon the final battle will begin. I must find out who our new visitor is." Vela knew he was referring to the man who had killed Marishka. Yes, she thought, I wouldn't mind finding that out myself, he could be useful. Suddenly, a roar issued from behind a large curtain. A huge beast, somewhat resembling a wolf, paced back and forth. "We shall have to make a special aperitif out of him," the master said thoughtfully, licking his lips. "We are much too close to success to be interrupted now." The two other brides leapt to the floor, and approached him cautiously.
"No my lord, please say that you won't try again!" begged Aleera.
"My heart could not bear the sorrow if we fail again," Verona implored. Dracula could no longer contain his rage. The Count screamed in fury, making them cower and sob in fear. Vela took a step backwards herself, startled by his sudden outburst. The master seemed to regret his actions instantly.
"No, no you must not fear me," he opened his arms and they rushed forward into his embrace. "Everyone else fears me, not my brides." The girl's jealousy grew as she watched them nuzzling into his neck.
"Master!" she cried flinging herself in his direction.
"Ah Vela, there you are," he said, sounding distracted. Aleera moved away from the Count however and glared at the young bride.
"It was her fault my lord!" she screeched, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "She could have helped Marishka but she didn't!"
"But…but," Vela stuttered. "I followed your orders master. I stayed away from Vaseria."
"Yet, you could have saved Marishka?" his cold eyes bore into her.
"No," she answered truthfully. "I was too far away to aid her." Dracula thought this over for a minute or two and then pushed the others away.
"I wish to speak to Vela privately," he murmured. "To Castle Frankenstein!" Just then, a howling noise reached their ears as the werewolf was poked with a large cow prod. "Igor!" he called. "Why do you torment that thing so?" Igor stepped out from behind the curtain, slightly annoyed that his master had interrupted his fun.
"It's what I do," he replied as bright blue sparks fell from the device.
"Remember Igor, do unto others…" But the servant finished for the Count.
"Before they do unto me!" he replied defensively. Dracula nodded and waved his hand dismissively.
"Now go, all of you! To Castle Frankenstein!" The Dwergi scuttled away, leaving their posts along the balconies of the castle. Igor frowned and threw a look back at the werewolf before following them. Aleera and Verona each kissed the master once before moving out of the cavernous chamber. After a few minutes, the hall was completely empty save for Vela and Dracula. The vampire sighed as he moved closer to her, while she instinctively took a step backward. "Why is it that I must have this conversation with you once more?" he asked, his voice dangerous. The bride did not answer, knowing that she could not risk invoking his wrath even further. "Why?!" he snapped now an inch away from her face.
"I did as you asked master," she stared at her feet trembling. "I stayed away from the village so that they would not see me. I have always kept out of the sight of the living as you requested."
"That is not what I speak of," his face was hard as he stood in front of her. "You argue constantly with the other brides. Have I not told you to cease this behavior?"
"Yes master," Vela replied. She hated being scolded by him and felt tears gather in her eyes. The girl also did not want him to find out that she was truly pleased with Marishka's demise, though he probably already sensed it. "Oh master!" she sobbed. "It pains me to see that Aleera and Verona believe that I caused Marishka's death! They have always treated me cruelly as well. Why is it that you blame me, the youngest of your brides? Do you favor them over me? Do you wish me to be gone?"
"No, no Vela," he soothed her. "I do not wish you to leave. I treasure you greatly."
"Then why do want another bride?" she said, weeping bitterly, hoping to gain the master's sympathy, if he had any. Dracula did not answer; he simply stood in his place, his anger at her still evidently clear. Vela realized that she was shedding tears in vain and finally, her sobs subsided.
"Are you quite finished?" the Count asked. She nodded, wiping her eyes upon her sleeve. "Good, you shall attend to the village and see who our visitor is," he said, putting an arm around her thin shoulders.
"But master, the villagers are surely in a most violent mood, if they were to discover me I am sure they would kill me too," she said, looking into his eyes, begging him for empathy.
"Fine, I shall send the werewolf too," he responded. "Return to Castle Frankenstein after you have completed your mission. I will meet you there."
"Yes master," Vela said, standing on tip toe for a kiss. He obliged and then watched as she transformed and took to flight.