Author's Note: Here is my eighth chapter. Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I just realized that one of you asked how Vela's name was pronounced a few chapters ago and I meant to put it in my other author's note but completely forgot. Anyway, in answer to your question the pronunciation is Vel-uh, or at least that's how I have been pronouncing it. Thanks again! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Van Helsing.
Chapter 8 The Help of a Werewolf
Dracula paced along one of the many wooden walkways in Castle Frankenstein. He watched the Dwergi and Igor working furiously below him, pulling switches and adjusting the controls. His mind was locked on the werewolf's however. The stupid beast had tried to warn the Princess of his plan. But fortunately the Count had intervened before he could reveal the secret. It was because of this, that his mind no longer traced Vela's. Had he been observing her thoughts, Dracula would have been very displeased. Now, though, he sensed her return, along with the werewolf's. Good.
"Igor!" he cried, surveying the servants scurrying around the lab.
"Yes master," Igor turned his attention away from the machines.
"Have you finished?" the vampire questioned, leaning against the railing.
"Yes, all is done! It is difficult without the good doctor, but the Dwergi they are doing well," he answered, pushing one of the said creatures out of the way.
"Good," a smile curled on the Count's lips as a large gust of wind ripped through the room. Vela swooped down through the broken skylight, taking her more presentable form upon landing next to him. "Have you completed your task?" Dracula inquired coolly, his anger towards her still evident.
"Yes master, of course I have," she replied, moving closer to him.
"Well?" he arched a dark eyebrow expectantly.
"The man who killed Marishka is none other than the legendary Van Helsing," the bride responded. "He is the warrior Rome sent." The Count's face hardened visibly and he raised his eyes up towards the skylight. Vela held her tongue, knowing that now would not be a good time to upset him. Suddenly, a loud crash came from above as the werewolf entered, sliding down on the beams until it reached the ground. Howling in agony the beast began to transform, ripping off its fur and skin until finally, Prince Velkan lay in its place.
"Werewolves are such a nuisance during their first full moon, so hard to control," Dracula stated casually as Vela watched the transformation with interest. Her master moved closer to the prince and stepped over him, not minding the mass of hair that lay on the stone floor. "I send you on a simple errand, to find out who our new friend is and you have to stop for a chat with your sister." The bride sighed in relief as she heard this. The girl had taken a chance in talking to Van Helsing, hoping that the master's attention would be fixed on Velkan instead of her.
"Leave her out of this Count," the Prince murmured. "She does not know your secret and I am soon to take it to my grave." The vampire was standing besides an old iron pod, which held a badly burnt corpse in its clutches.
"Don't wish for death so quickly, I intend for you to be quite useful," the master said, his eyes traveling over the corpse as a few Dwergi struggled to free it. Vela leapt down to join her master, wrinkling her nose in disgust as she passed by Velkan. The Prince gave her a curious glance, having never seen the bride before.
"Ah, Velkan, I don't think you have met my bride Vela," Dracula said, noticing his questioning stare.
"Your bride?" he asked. "How many of these things do you have? Vela hissed at him, her canines lengthening dangerously.
"Come now, do not be rude. If you weren't of such use to me, I would kill you now, just for that remark," the Count continued.
'I would rather die than help you," the Prince spat.
"Don't be boring, everyone who says that dies," the vampire replied. "Besides tonight, after the final stroke of midnight, you'll have no choice but to obey me." The Dwergi finally managed to free the body from the pod and threw it to the floor. "Look familiar?" Dracula asked.
"Father," Velkan's voice was filled with pain as he studied the corpse. Vela moved closer, crouching down to observe the body. "You demons of hell!" the Prince suddenly screamed, kicking out at the bride. The girl fell backwards and screeched in rage, preparing to leap forward and kill him. Her master stepped forward however and grabbed him by the throat.
"He proved useless. But I am hoping that with werewolf venom running through your veins that you will be of greater benefit," the vampire hissed throwing him into the pod. The Dwergi surrounded him immediately, strapping him in tightly.
"I may have failed to kill you Count, but my sister will not," he cried, struggling against his bonds. Dracula smiled and held out his arms, tangoing with himself to taunt Velkan. Vela cackled as she stood and joined her master in dancing.
"Come my darling," he led her away, his anger quickly fading. They watched together from the walkway as the Prince continued to fight the Dwergi and laughed at his stupidity.
"Do you think it will work this time master?" the bride questioned hopefully. "Do you think our children will live?"
"Yes Vela," he replied, sounding confident.
"And what of Van Helsing?" she ventured, amazed at her own daring.
"He does not trouble me," her master replied. "I shall let him come to us and then, he will indeed feel my wrath. Now go, join the other brides," he ushered her to the door.
"But master!" the girl cried, casting him a worried glance. "You saw how they treated me this afternoon. They blame me for Marishka's death!"
"Verona and Aleera are in a much better temper now," Dracula said. "I think it would be best if you made amends with them." Vela sighed, knowing that any argument was useless and slowly made her way out the door.
Aleera and Verona were perched upon a large stone statue of a Greek goddess that stood in one of many halls. The statue's head had broken off on the night of the riot and was nowhere to be seen, while the rest of it remained intact. They looked up as she entered and to her surprise, smiled pleasantly.
"Hello Vela," Verona said, her eyes gleaming wickedly. "How was your chat with Van Helsing?"