Disclaimer: Do not own or profit from Van Helsing as it is the property of Universal and Steven Summers

Chapter 22

Verona and Aleera held Sarah painfully between them, their clawed feet digging into the flesh of her arms. She gritted her teeth against the pain and allowed herself to be carried towards a cliff face.

Here the forest abruptly ended and there was a small expanse of grass before the land vanished and a deep drop into the freezing river below became apparent.

The brides exchanged a gleeful glance before diving towards the ground, Sarah cried out as she felt them release her and she entered a free fall. She landed hard on her ankle and her momentum carried her dangerously close to the cliffs edge. Instinctively her hand shot out and grasped a large clump of grass stopping her decent with a jolt. Her legs dangled precariously off the edge.

A cackle told her that the brides had landed and were greatly amused by her predicament.

"Be-atch" she muttered scrambling to her feet.

She dusted herself down and surveyed the damage. Miraculously the flowing garments she wore were unharmed and not even dirty. She had been less lucky, deep bloody furrows ran down her arms from the brides claws, and her legs were covered in small cuts and bruises.

Aleera sauntered over a look of mock concern on her face "Oh I'm sorry" she said her voice sickeningly sweet "did we hurt you?"

Sarah was about to respond when Dracula pushed Aleera aside and surveyed the damage himself.

She cringed under his scrutiny and crossed her arms over her exposed midriff.

He smirked "Forgive my brides you will soon learn appreciate their humour," he said watching the wounds on her arms begin to close.

Sarah snorted, "I doubt it," she muttered.

Dracula frowned "again I may remind you that you have little choice in the matter" he stated, and then a smile once again lit his handsome face.

He turned to Verona and Aleera who obediently pressed against him nuzzling him as a dog would its owner. He bent his head and passionately kissed each of them, making them moan with pleasure at his attentions.

Sarah watched all this and began to feel a knot of disgust in her stomach, true Dracula was a handsome man and she found the thought of kissing him was not altogether terrible. But to imagine herself writhing around him as the brides were, like a lovesick animal…. she shuddered. It was degrading.

She stepped back slightly as they turned their attention to her and the brides untangled themselves from their master to stand at her sides.

They began to stroke her hair and face, gently stroking the scars on her arms from their own brutal claws.

Sarah went rigid, 'this is fairly disturbing' she thought.

Dracula watched amused at the discomfort on his newest brides face, walking forward he stroked her cheek lovingly.

"Families shouldn't fight," he whispered huskily.

Sarah blinked as she felt a rush of desire for the man before her; furiously she turned her head away.

"No" she whispered denying the feeling stirring in her breast.

She would not be his slave; she promised herself years ago that she would be a slave to no man.

On either side of her the brides were still, their arms encircled her shoulders and waist holding her in place.

Dracula lovingly clasped her chin and turned her to face him "You will love me" he whispered before lowering his mouth over hers.

His lips were cold and rough, startled Sarah tried to pull away but he held her head in place.

He pulled away and looked her in the eyes, using his influence he found the desire she was trying desperately to suppress and he brought it to the surface.

Again he kissed her and this time she responded, kissing him back in earnest. The brides let her go and stepped back, scowling.

Dracula deepened the kiss and took her fully into his arms.

'She tastes of the sun' he thought smiling against her mouth.

They broke apart and Sarah hurriedly backed away from him, a look of horror her face and one hand covering her mouth in shock.

Dracula laughed, "It seems my dear that you are full of surprises."

Sarah felt sick. Again he had influenced her. Was she so weak, so easy to control?

She turned away from him and found herself at the very edge of the cliff.

Looking down she saw the river far blow, a glistening silver snake in the light of the moon. Beyond it the land of Transylvania spread out before her, with her vampire eyes she saw the distant mountains and forests. Had she been here under different circumstances she would have found it beautiful. As it was the image haunted her. All she saw was a dark land of death.

"And it will always be dark" Sarah jumped startled by Dracula's voice so close to her ear. She hadn't even heard him approach.

She looked at him "You can read my mind?" she questioned appalled at the very thought of this new invasion.

He shook his head "I read emotions" he said wistfully "your emotions told me what you were thinking, not four days ago you were a child of the sun. Now you are of the night. What else would such a one think when faced with this?" he gestured towards the landscape.

Sarah looked out once again and a flicker of many lights caught her attention. "A village?"

She wondered and then she realised what she was looking at.

"Anna's village?" she questioned Dracula nodded his ascent.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked staring at the place where her friends were.

In all that had happened she had almost forgotten them, dread filled her now as she awaited Dracula's reply.

He backed away from her to stand next to his beloved brides "tonight my dear we will teach you to hunt" he announced. The brides looked positively ecstatic at the suggestion and ran eagerly to stand at the edge of the cliff either side of her.

Sarah's blood ran cold.

They wanted her to murder someone, to brutally kill an innocent and drink their blood. Bile rose to the back of her throat at the thought even as she felt the joy from her vampire side.

'Oh its fun having a split personality' she thought sarcastically.

Suddenly a movement to her left caught her eye; Aleera had begun to circle her, a sadistic look of pleasure on her deceptively beautiful face. A glance to her right told Sarah that Verona was also circling her like a demented shark.

Dracula watched gleefully as his brides caught on to the idea of the lesson, yes they would enjoy this he thought.

Sarah had unconsciously gone into a defensive position he noted, her vampiric nature was beginning to show its self in her stress.

Her eyes he noticed shone purple and her skin had a slight grey tinge to it.

For a second her eyes met his and he said "I'm afraid that Verona and Aleera can not carry you and hunt at the same time Sarah" he said easily "so I'm afraid it's time we taught you to fly."

Warily Sarah watched the brides circling her, their bodies had begun to shift, their flowing gowns replaced with leathery skin and huge reptilian wings.

Their teeth extended and they grinned at her showing impossibly large fangs. Their faces looked as though they were stretched to tightly over their skulls, only their hair remained the same flowing around them in the wind. This was what she was now, she realised her human visage was only a mask to hide the monster that lurked within.

They were getting closer now forcing her towards the edge of the cliff.

Aleera grinned at her. "Do you know how sparrows teach their young to fly?" She asked sweetly.

Sarah's eyes widened in comprehension but it was too late.

Simultaneously Aleera and Verona threw her with inhuman strength over the edge. Dracula roared as he transformed following her down, his brides a few feet behind him.

They would not interfere; if she did not manage to make the transformation, hitting the sharp rocks below would serve as her encouragement the next time.

Sarah felt the wind whipping past her catching her gown as she fell, her hair streamed behind her flashing silver in the moonlight.

The river was rushing up to meet her.

For one joyful second she thought she was about to die, this nightmare would end and she would be free from Dracula's control. Then she realised the fall could not kill her, few things could now.

She screamed as she felt herself transform, her wings caught the wind, instinct took over. She spread her wings and pulled herself out of her decent.

She opened her eyes and saw the river less than 5 feet beneath her. It had been very close.

Sarah flexed her wings and felt the wind sail beneath them her hair flowed behind her. The feeling was incredible she was flying!!

Since childhood she had dreamt of this, the freedom and the feeling were exhilarating. She soared above the river following its winding path a cry of joy and laughter escaping her mouth.

Suddenly she was aware of other shapes above and to either side of her, Dracula and his brides roared their approval at her achievement their bat like forms mimicking hers.

Sarah's heart sank she wasn't free she realised. She was a slave, and she was a monster.

Looking down she watched the rippling waters of the river and saw nothing. She had no reflection. The river didn't know her.

Dracula swooped above his brides; pride filled him as he saw the creature along side Verona and Aleera.

He had chosen well Sarah was a beautiful creature her blonde hair flew behind her like a banner.

She cried out her joy and he answered with a roar of his own, she was his, it seemed that finally she had given up the battle and was accepting her new life.

He veered left away from the river his brides followed and he began to lead them towards the distant village of his enemies. He would show them his prize and he would rejoice in their despair.