Disclaimer: Van Helsing is the property and idea of Steven Summers and Universal studios.

Chapter 7

Jory tossed and turned slamming his head into the overly soft pillow trying to beat it into a more comfortable position. He glanced at his watch bending it towards the window so the moons silvery glow reflected on its surface.

"2:30" he muttered to himself.

Barely an hour had passed since they all went to bed.

A creak sounded in the corner of the room. Jory froze. He really didn't like being here on his own especially after the conversation they'd just had. "What kind of sick person tells you vampire's exist and then make you sleep in a huge room by yourself?" he said to himself glancing around.

Ten minutes later Jory crept out of his room and into the corridor. He was relieved to find it eliminated with candlelight. Removing one candle on his right he began to walk towards Tony's room three doors down from his own. He didn't exactly know what he was going to say when he got there, he couldn't just walk in and say "I'm scared of the dark dude can I stay here?" No his street credibility would just not allow it.

He stood outside of the door and was about to knock when he heard whispering from across the corridor. Marston's door was partly ajar and Jory could see candlelight beyond.

Marston, Sarah, Tony, and Chris froze as the door creaked open. They expected to see Anna or Van Helsing and were relieved when Jory's head appeared in the gap. He grinned and walked towards them shutting the door behind him.

"Couldn't sleep?" asked Chris.

"Nope not a flicker, kept hearing things and thinking a vampire was in with me!"

Marston nodded "Same here, was about to go over to Chris's room when he came here, then Tony turned up. Then Sarah and now you."

"Can you blame us?" asked Sarah "I was convinced Dracula was watching me through the window!"

"You too? Thank god I thought I was going crazy," Jory said sitting on the bed next to her.

"Hate to break it to you Jo, but you were not all there to begin with" Tony said grinning at him from a chair by the window. Sarah smirked at him "oh and you're the perfect example of mental health?"

He glared at her "silence woman!"

"So vampire's are real…that's interesting." Chris muttered. Jory raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting as in, the interesting way their going to rip us apart? You ever seen Blade?"

"Blade kicks ass." Marston said grinning.

Tony frowned seriously "Just to point out no one here is Blade, bluntly we're screwed."

"Not screwed. Just facing immanent brutal death." Sarah put in.

They all turned to stare at her. "I'm not helping the 'getting to sleep' thing am I?" she muttered sheepishly.

Marston laughed "Fairly sure killing them won't be too hard, I can handle it." He said smoothly. Tony raised an eyebrow "And suddenly your Bruce Lee?" he asked sarcastically. Sarah and Jory giggled.

"So how exactly were you gonna pull it off if it's so easy?" asked Chris grinning.

Marston stood on the bed and began acting out his fantasy. "Ok there's a vampire coming right at me!" he jumped dramatically off the end of the bed rolling impressively when he hit the floor, standing to brandish an imaginary sword.

"I flip in the air and sever the vampires head clean from his body, then do keepy-uppys with it when I land.

Which gains applause from everyone, until the disemboweled vampire, wanting to reclaim his lost appendage sneaks up behind me."

"And then?" prompted Sarah giggling.

Marston grinned. "I take his arm off and dance around him playing air guitar triumphantly with it, in full view of his severed head." Everyone erupted with laughter.

"Sounds like a plan." agreed Jory.

It was some three hours later when they all fell asleep. Tony slept in the chair by the window; Jory was on the floor at the foot of the bed and Marston, Chris and Sarah were curled up on the bed.

Sarah stirred in her sleep gasping for breath, in her dream she was drowning. Panicking she looked for her friends. They were looking down at her through the surface of the water, frantically she reacted out to them her hand momentarily breaking the surface…she was dry now, clad in a white gown that blew around her in a breeze.

She stood in a desert the sun beating down around her, everywhere glowed in a golden light, but she was in shadow. Confused she took a step into the sunlight, the moment it touched her skin white-hot agony swept through her, spreading to her entire body. She fell to the floor writhing in agony under the suns hateful glare. The pain was so intense that she could only whimper, her scream for help never making it past her throat.

Suddenly something dark descended from the sky to land before her, she registered a barrier coming between her and the sun and strong arms lifting her into a cooling embrace. Sarah clutched her saviour her arms encircling his shoulders as he cradled her against his chest. After a moment something struck her as odd, carefully she moved her head so that it rested over his heart.

There was nothing there, no heat beat sounded beneath her touch. At that moment she realized how cold she was. Slowly she raised her head to look at the face of her saviour.

Dracula smirked down at her "hello my love" he whispered bending his head towards her neck…

With a startled cry Sarah awoke to find herself tangled in the bedclothes Marston's heavy body lying over her legs. It took her a moment to realize where she was; she caught sight of the others in the room with her and sighed with relief sagging against the pillows at her back.

She gently shifted Marston's weight off her now numb legs and slid off the bed to land painfully on her backside. She bit her lip against the pain hoping she hadn't woken the guys. A glance told her that they still slept soundly. She carefully got to her feet, wincing as they began to prickle with pins and needles, and made her way over to the window smirking as she saw a sliver of drool on Tony's chin.

Outside the sun was just beginning to rise and everything was cast in a kind of eerie twilight. Sarah took a deep breath; the coming dawn meant safety for her and her friends. Stepping carefully over Jory she made her way towards the door stepping into the dark corridor beyond it.

She smiled as she wandered past Bobs room catching a glimpse of him sleeping with Amie in his arms through the slightly open door. "That solves the mystery of why they didn't come to us last night," she muttered to herself.

I took her a while to find her way to the kitchen. The manor was huge, like a maze to those unfamiliar with its many corridors and rooms. Through the large kitchen windows Sarah watched the distant mountains grow golden as the first rays of sun hit them. She was content to lose herself in the view, chewing slowly on her small breakfast of bread and butter. Lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice Anna leaning against the doorframe watching her.

Sarah was lost in memories, she was with her mother and sister they were on holiday in the welsh countryside. The scenery around them was similar to that of the distant Transylvanian mountains. Thoughts of her family made her chest clench painfully and tears rose unbidden to her eyes.

Anna watched Sarah's tears trace a line down her pale cheeks. Her own chest tightening in sympathy, she was no stranger to grief. "Hi" she said softly. Sarah jumped slightly and turned to smile at her hurriedly wiping the moisture from her eyes. "Morning" she said, "I didn't think anyone else would be up this early." Anna drew up a chair and settled to watch the sun rise beside her "I'm an early riser, mainly because I don't really sleep much anymore" Anna confessed grinning. Sarah smiled at her "I don't blame you around here" she said "We all kinda ended up staying in the same room in the end" she laughed "even then I still had nightmares." She gestured towards the sunrise "Seeing this though, it makes everything seem safer. Like no matter what happens in the night you can get through it with the certainty of seeing the sun again."

They sat in silence for a moment simply watching the sun's steady process. Anna looked sadly at the girl beside her. "Your tears, were they for your family?" she asked carefully. Sarah nodded. "Would you tell me about them?" Anna asked.

Sarah didn't know what to say to such an odd request, she was about to ask 'why' the princess would ask it when she remembered that Anna had watched her family die around her, that she alone held the responsibility of avenging them. Family must mean everything to someone who has none she thought. Slowly she began to describe her mother. Anna listened intently imagining each person as Sarah described him or her. It sounded perfect.

"I'm sorry you were taken from all that" she said sincerely when Sarah had finished. Sarah nodded sadly but then allowed a small smile to light up he face, "We'll figure out how to get back, and it's not all bad my friends are as much my family as anyone else. The important thing is no one will have to go through this alone." Anna smiled wistfully remembering happier times with her brother Velkan.

Sarah watched her expression carefully, "you miss him don't you?" she asked. Anna looked at her surprise and suspicion in her eyes, "Can you read minds?" she asked becoming defensive. Sarah blinked "No, sorry I didn't mean to offend you or anything I just know what happened to your brother." She stammered.

Anna's expression softened "sorry I find it slightly disturbing that you know so much about all this." She said apologetically "Yes I miss him, we were close for brother and sister. In my family you had to be. He was the one who taught me to use my sword. We would train together everyday." She smiled "He was the only one who could beat me with a sword, even my father couldn't win against us. Velkan and I were inseparable he even married my best friend from the village." Sarah frowned "Prince Velkan had a wife?" she asked. Anna looked at her sadly.

"Ah so that wasn't included in the…movie?" she asked stumbling over the unfamiliar word. Sarah shook her head. Anna's face clouded over "Velkan's wife and I…we were born together. She was the daughter of one of the servant's wives, this house was grander then, the servants ran it, they re still here but they fear me and the curse of my family now. From the moment we could walk she was my closest companion, Velkan thought of her as a sister until they both became adolescence." Anna grinned "That was when they realised they loved each other. I was so happy the day they got married, my mother had passed away the year before and happiness was scarce in this house. For three wonderful months we were happy here. Father even began to smile again." Her expression once again became dark as she continued "She was taken by Dracula himself at the end of the third month." Sarah closed her eyes in sorrow, her heart going out to the princess before her.

"Her name was Aleera" Anna whispered.

Anna watched Sarah's reaction. The girl looked horrified at the thought. "Dracula's bride?" she whispered. Anna nodded, Sarah looked at her.

"I wondered about her, in the movie you seemed to know each other personally" Anna nodded

"For my part, I remember how close we were"

"And for hers?" Sarah asked.

"She remembers nothing of her life before Dracula. That's what becoming a vampire does to you. At first your normal you may have the speed and body of the vampire but the spirit is not there, that happens gradually.

The vampire side starts to block out your physical senses first. Pain, cold, and warmth it's all numbed. Soon after emotions begin to fade away, all that makes you feel anything is fulfilling Dracula's will.

After a while your memories fade away and you are the vampire through and through. When Aleera fights me she may feel a sense of recognition but it will fade as quickly as it comes. My Aleera died in that monster's arms the moment he tasted her blood."

Sarah shuddered resting her chin on her hand. "I can't imagine how it feels to see someone you love become a puppet." She whispered.

Anna looked at her "would you like to learn how to defend those you love?" she asked. Sarah's eyes shone "Of course!" Anna laughed.

"Follow Me," she said walking out of the kitchen and into the main hallway.

She walked purposefully into the armoury and towards a glass case at the back. Lifting the lid she pulled out a long Japanese Katana with a blood red ornate handle. Sarah gasped as the princess handed the sword to her. Carefully she slid the sheath up to reveal the tiger print on the base of the blade and then further revealing the dazzling blade itself. The silver sang in her hands, she'd dreamt about owning a sword like this. Tony, Jory and Chris were to be blamed for that obsession.

Anna smiled at her "It's beautiful isn't it?" she said. Sarah could only nod her assent, reluctantly she sheathed the blade and handed it back to the princess, who placed it carefully back into the glass case. "I'm going to teach you how to use a sword like that one in combat." She said "And if you do well the tigers sword will belong to you"

Sarah could hardly contain her gratitude and the Princess laughed as she stuttered to find the right words. "You would really give it to me?" Anna nodded. Sarah shook her head "I couldn't take it, it's too much" she said studying the blade through the glass.

Anna shook her head "It is but one of many" she said gesturing to the walls around them and the many weapons they contained. "It is wasted here on this wall. I won't use it, my Father made me my own when I was thirteen." She drew her own sword, which was always within easy reach at her belt.

The entire thing was crafted out of the strongest silver, the hilt was of such that it encaged the hand holding it within a web of the protective metal, ensuring that no enemy blow could reach and weaken the hand that held it. What was unique about the sword was that it curved much like a Katana did towards its tip, and the Valerius crest shone at the very base of the blade.

Sarah studied the crest and compared it to the one on a large Tapestry to her left, which showed the complete Valerius family tree. The only difference was the Celtic symbol for the dragon that surrounded the family crest was replaced by the symbol of the Raven on the sword.

"What does the Raven stand for?" she asked carefully. Anna looked at the crest on the sword for a moment. "It was traditional in my family that everyone be assigned an animal that fit their personality." She said tracing the silver lines with her fingertips. "It comes from some of our Celtic ancestors, hence the pattern of the designs. Our Families insignia is the Dragon." Sarah thought for a moment.

"Dracula, means dragon?" she asked carefully. The Princess nodded almost sadly "Dracula was the first son of the Valerius family and he was named for the Dragon in honour of it."

Sarah nodded quickly changing the subject "So the Raven represents you?" Anna nodded her assent. Sarah grinned, "The Raven represented the Celtic war goddess Morrigan, who brought swift death to her enemies. Suits you." Anna laughed "Aha so you know your Celtic law. I'm impressed." Sarah shrugged.

"Its kind of a hobby of mine to study mythology, the Celts were my ancestors and I find them fascinating. It's partly why I enjoy Wicca so much."

Anna raised an eyebrow "their similar?" she asked interested.

Sarah grinned "Most of the surviving Wicca rituals come from the Celtic worships and traditions. Actually we believe in personal animal spirits too."

"Do you know yours?" asked the Princess picking up her small switchblade from a near by table and placing it firmly into the straps of her right boot within easy reach. "I once did a meditation, its purpose was to show me who my guide for my path in Wicca was. A deer came to me." Sarah said.

Anna looked thoughtful "A deer" she smiled warmly "Perfect." She said simply. Sarah grinned.

"You know when I told Jory that he just laughed at me," she said. Anna laughed and tossed her one of two wooden swords she had just found in a cabinet against the wall. "Come on lets make a fighter out of you." She said leading the way into the large foyer in front of the kitchen.

Note: Ok is it me or do these chapters keep getting longer? Lol