Author's Note: Here is my ninth chapter. Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Van Helsing.
Chapter 9 Threats on a Stormy Night
"I don't know what you are talking about," Vela snapped back at them, her guard immediately raised. Inside, however, she felt a twinge of worry tugging at her. How could they know? What would she do if they told Dracula?
"We overheard you speaking to the master," Aleera replied, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Do not lie. We know that Van Helsing is the warrior Rome sent."
"That is true," Vela allowed, her face giving away not a single emotion.
"He is the one who murdered Marishka," Verona hissed, baring her canines. "We shall see to it that he pays. Did you not stop to speak with the man?"
"Maybe," the younger bride raised her chin defiantly.
"Why are you being so secretive?" Aleera leapt down from the arm of the statue on which she was perched. "We know that you spoke with him. Why wouldn't you? After all the master did send you to find out his identity." Relief flooded Vela, they had no real information regarding her chat with Van Helsing, they had merely supposed that she had conversed with him.
"Yes, I did speak with him, but only for a brief minute," she admitted.
"What did he say?" Verona asked as she too jumped to the ground.
"I only know that he is staying with the Princess," the girl answered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I don't like your tone," Verona hissed as she drew closer. "You are hiding something from us. I can smell it."
"I hide nothing," Vela responded, stalking off to the window. The sky had clouded over and the wind had picked up. She could feel the master's excitement and shared it. The mere thought of finally bringing their children to life harkened memories of her own undead years. I never did find out what happened to Falcon, she thought, seeing a fleeting glimpse of her black stallion for a moment.
"Vela!" Aleera cried her voice annoyingly shrill and childlike. The young bride whipped around, shooting them a loathsome glare.
"It is such a shame," Verona muttered to Aleera. "If only she made an attempt to be civil towards us. We could all get along very well."
"Spare me your lecture," Vela growled. "It is futile."
"I have tried being kind to you," Verona was now inches from her. "But I am afraid my patience has worn out now."
"Already?" the bride arched an eyebrow. "You know patience is a virtue." Verona responded with a harsh slap across the younger girl's face. "And what exactly will that achieve?" Vela spat, not even flinching from the sudden strike. "You shall just invoke the master's fury all the more."
"Perhaps you have misunderstood me," the other said, her voice dripping with venom. She moved closer, backing Vela up against the wall. Aleera stood by, enjoying the argument that had unfolded before her. Lightening flashed and the castle shook, indicating that the conductors had been hit. "What exactly did you discuss with Van Helsing," Verona spoke slowly, giving time for every word to sink in. But before she could reply, another bolt of lightening struck and this time a deafening chittering filled the air. All three of the brides cried out in joy, forgetting their hostility just a moment before. The doors blew open and in rushed the Count, his eyes glistening with triumph. They rushed to his side and he kissed them.
"Success my darlings!" he cried. "Come, let us see our children." They followed him out to a balcony, where the small pygmy bats darted by, hissing. Dracula smiled a rare thing as the babies flew up from the foyer to join them. One landed in Verona's outstretched palm, still dripping with slime from its cocoon. The creatures soared off, hovering in the air around the balcony, in wait for their parents. The master extended his arms to the brides and they rushed into them.
"They must feed!" he boomed suddenly pushing them away. "Teach them how! To the village!" Aleera and Verona leapt off the balcony, screaming in happiness as they plunged to the ground, taking to their bat forms just in time to swoop upward. Vela herself was about to bound off the ledge when she felt a strong hand pulling her back.
"No, no my lovely you must stay," the Count murmured. "If the villagers saw you, they would know I have another bride."
"But does that even matter now master?" she asked. "Our children live! May I not rejoice with them?"
"I am sorry my darling," Dracula said, enveloping her with his cloak and kissing the top of her hair. "Not yet, you must not be seen." Vela felt a great disappointment as she watched her children fly away with the other brides, but still she was happy to be alone with the master. They were just about to move back inside, when a loud crack shattered the night. The vampires turned around and to their fury saw Van Helsing on the floor of the foyer. He took aim with his shotgun and fired, hitting one of their babies.
"Now that I have your attention," he said arrogantly. Dracula snarled as he beheld this, while Vela drew back into the shadows, not wanting the man to see and recognize her.
"Stay here," the Count hissed back at her before jumping off the balcony with a scream of pure rage. The bride watched as he transformed into a bat creature and swept down upon the man. Van Helsing, wisely, turned and ran, with the Princess ahead of him. Anna made it to a doorway first and then a large piece of machinery fell behind her, blocking Van Helsing's path and trapping him with the master. Dracula landed, taking his customary form once more. The man had disappeared and Vela strained her eyes, searching for him. The Count, however, stalked around the foyer, his black cloak trailing behind him. "I can tell the character of a man by the sound of his heartbeat," he said, clapping his hands, imitating the sound of a heart. "Usually when I approach, I can almost dance to the beat," his clapping increased and heightened in fervor as did his voice. "Strange that yours is so steady," Dracula finished, his voice returning to normal as he ceased that most twisted form of applause.