Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing nor anything associated with it, it is the property of Universal and the brain child of Steven Summers

Chapter 27

Tony was exhausted and weak from lack of oxygen, he watched as Sarah fell beside him writhing in apparent agony as the body crumbled to dust.

Only when the dust was being carried by the wind did the pain seem to subside. Gasping with breath that was no longer needed the girl lay next to him.

Their eyes met and he was moved by the concern in her blue depths.

"You ok?" she gasped sounding as weary as he felt.

He forced himself to sit up and pull her to him holding her tightly reassuring him self that she was indeed real.

He pulled away and let her forehead rest against his own.

"Two hugs in less than an hour?" she asked shakily "Didn't think you were into this mushy stuff?"

Tony smiled "I'm making an exception due to near death experiences" he explained.

A primal roar made them jump.

Too exhausted to stand they both turned and saw Dracula flying over the roof tops towards them.

Sarah heard Tony's heart race with fear as she herself began to tremble. 'I won't go back! I'll die before I let him touch me!' She thought defiantly reaching for the sword.

She got to her feet adrenaline giving her the strength she needed to stand. Placing herself in front of Tony she waited for her "Family" to land. She noted that he flew crookedly he too had been weakened by Verona's death.

As he closed in he moved Aleera so that he was free to snatch his newest bride and take her back into captivity.

Sarah's knees became weak as he stretched out his arm, she froze unable to lift the sword to strike despite Tony's desperate cries for her to attack and save herself.

"You are mine…you have no choice," the memory of his words taunted her as she recognised his will holding her in place.

She closed her eyes wishing Tony would not be there to witness her weakness. Suddenly she heard four additional heartbeats, approaching fast and the sound of a crossbow being used.

Van Helsing entered the square and spotted Dracula swooping down on Sarah. Without hesitating he aimed and fired, six silver stakes flew directly into the creatures back. Screaming it missed the girl and flew straight up abandoning his target and retreating to the safety of the distant castle.

Sighing with relief Van Helsing watched as Sarah's knees buckled and she slumped to the floor even at this distance he could see her shaking. He watched as Tony stood and walked over to her placing his hands comfortingly on her shoulders.

Anna was stood beside him now and she regarded the couple with sadness. Sharing a glance with her, Van Helsing began to make his way towards them.

Sarah was aware of them approaching and a little surprised when Tony stood defensively in front of her. She made to stand and became aware of a sharp pain in her side. Looking down she saw a silver stake buried deep below her rib cage, the very end visible above the skin and tissue that had healed around it. A fleeting memory of a sharp stab of pain flashed across her mind.

She began to pull it out grunting with the pain remembering how it had saved her and the child who was now still cowering under the water trough.

With a final tug she pulled it free, gasping as blood flowed freely for a moment before the wound sealed itself.

Van Helsing and Anna were now stood a few meters away, both awkwardly regarding Tony.

"I'm not going to let you kill her!" he said breathlessly.

He spun as Sarah stood and touched his arm "its ok Tony" she whispered stepping past him.

She stood directly in front of Van Helsing who pushed the rim of his hat higher so she could see the regret in his eyes.

Smiling she held out the bloodied silver stake. "You missed," she said.

He looked at the blood on her skin "No I didn't." he said smirking.

She frowned as he took the stake fitting it into the crossbow. "You knew that he was controlling me?" she asked.

He shrugged "Anna had faith in you, and I went with my instincts." He said, "I did not believe you would willingly have harmed the boy, and I had to give you a chance to prove me right."

Sarah's eyes shone with grateful tears and she smiled at him and the princess "Thank you" she whispered.

Anna embraced her suddenly, Tony started at the unexpected movement.

Van Helsing grinned at the boy "Don't worry we won't take her from you tonight." He said reassuringly. Tony nodded and visibly relaxed.

Anna let Sarah go smiling her relief at her young friends safe return, she opened her mouth to say something but was stopped as two blurs shot past her tackling the girl to the ground with cries of joy and laughter.

Jory was the first to hit her. The force of his hug sudden enough to throw them both off their feet and Marston unable to stop his momentum was carried down with them.

Laughing all three got to their feet and Sarah found that the need to breath would have been a burden in this situation. She was lost in bone crushing hugs, both boys overjoyed to see her alive and apparently well.

Sarah hugged Jory again and then frowned, stepping back to look at him she lifted his hand and sniffed it.

"Did you just sniff me?" he asked amused. Sarah laughed.

"Kinda, what is that?" she asked frowning. Jory looked mildly pleased with himself.

"Garlic!" he announced. "Amie had us all rub some on before we left as extra protection."

Sarah saw Marston nod in agreement and burst out laughing.

"What?" asked Marston confused.

"That's such a stereotype!" she said still giggling, "Garlic never has and never will bother a vampire. Trust me on this."

"So why do all the legends and books swear by it?" he asked sceptically.

"It was used by the villagers so they would smell the Garlic rather than the smell of the rotting corpses when they dug up graves to behead suspected vampires. It got a little bit messed up in the legends."

Jory blinked. "It scares me that you know this stuff."

Sarah shrugged. "I read."

Van Helsing and Anna walked around the teens grinning at each other. An emotional Tony was sat on the edge of the well smirking as he watched his friends.

Anna stepped up to him "She killed Verona?" she asked happily. Tony nodded.

"How?" asked Van Helsing, Tony gave them a detailed account of the battle.

Breaking free of her two friends, after being reassured that everybody was ok. Sarah had gone in search of the little boy.

Kneeling in front of the trough so he could see her she coaxed him out.

"Its ok sweetheart you're safe, come here" with a dry sob the boy crawled out and ran to her.

She hugged him picking him up and taking him over to the Princess, Jory and Marston following closely unwilling to let her out of their sight at the moment. Now she found it comforting and with amusement realised how much it would annoy her later.

She heard the boy's heart rate slow to normal rhythm and was relieved that he had calmed down "what's your name?" she asked.

"Nathan" he replied his face still incredibly pale.

Anna met them before they reached the well "Is he ok?" she asked.

Sarah nodded passing Nathan carefully over to the Princess whom he recognised.

"Come on lets get you back to your parents." She turned and walked towards one of the houses lining the square. Sarah smiled as the little boy waved to her.

Jory walked up to her "Broody?" he asked cheekily.

Sarah smirked at him "Little bit," she admitted with a grin.

Van Helsing placed a hand on her shoulder turning her to face him. She regarded him with a worried expression.

"So you met Dracula?" she asked carefully. Van Helsing nodded.

"Did he tell you your name's Gabriel?"

"As a matter of fact he did, shall I take it that you know what else was discussed?" he asked looking at her under the rim of his hat.

Grimacing she nodded, the hunter took a deep breath.

"I think we need to talk."

"Later" she promised.

Turning she found Tony grinning at her, she frowned "What's wrong with you?"

"I was right," he said simply.

"About what?" Sarah asked confused.

"I always said you'd either marry the devil or you were the devil." He said cockily.

"Oh come on!!!" She exclaimed laughing "And your wrong he's not the devil he's…just his son, so your wrong!" she smiled triumphantly.

Tony rolled his eyes "Close enough." Sarah was about to respond when she caught sight of Marston and Jory staring at her. "Ok what?" she asked shifting nervously.

"You're really not wearing much." Marston answered slowly.

Jory nodded "Also we can tell you're a bit cold." He said sniggering.

Tony burst out laughing and Sarah looked down at herself blushing furiously. Van Helsing cleared his throat and handed her his large coat, which she hurriedly wrapped around herself.

When Anna returned they began to walk back to the Manor. Marston and Jory gleefully recounting their training over the last four days while Sarah laughed.

Anna and Van Helsing watched them bringing up the rear of the group.

"She's fighting it; the vampire holds no control over her yet." said Anna.

Van Helsing nodded in agreement. "How long before she starts to lose that battle?" he asked worriedly.

Anna shook her head "I don't know, it could be days, maybe months. But she's strong she has everything to live for." The princess met the hunters gaze "When the time comes I think she will be the one to warn us." She said meaningfully.

Ahead of them the small quartet of friends laughed together and Sarah was once again in a crushing hug from Marston.

Anna and Van Helsing both grinned at each other "Whatever's to come it's been too long since I heard them laugh." Van Helsing said happily.

Aleera cowered as her master raged in his demon form, his smarter servants had scattered when he had returned sensing his rage.

Igor had gone to torment the werewolf and the Dwergi that had managed to escape were nowhere to be found. The bodies of the unlucky few who hadn't been fast enough were scattered around the empty ballroom in various bits and pieces.

Dracula threw a small chair at the window, which broke with the satisfying sound of shattering glass.

Aleera cried out in fear as he turned his gaze upon her, dreading his wraith.

The creature stared at his remaining bride and his rage softened, slowly his wings became a cape and his body reverted to his human visage. Arms out, he beckoned his bride to him. She came sobbing and buried herself in his embrace.

"Hush my dear; I am not angry at you." He sighed, "They take so much from me is it so wrong that we live? That we hunt? That we kill?"

Aleera clutched at him and he missed the touch of his other brides.

"First Marishka, and now Verona. To lose one to Gabriel was bad enough, but to lose the other to Sarah!" his anger grew again and Aleera tensed ready for another outburst but to her surprise he laughed, she met his gaze confused "That girl is proving to be a most amusing challenge" he said gleefully.

Aleera froze against him "We are so easily cased aside." She said bitterly.

Dracula frowned down at her "You are here for my amusement and nothing more, I feel the loss of your sisters but it is a momentary thing, you are all easily replaced." He said coldly.

"Come" he said finally leading his still injured bride towards his coffin. He settled in, Aleera clutched at his side.

"Sarah will not be able to deny her nature for long. Soon she will give into it and then she will take our revenge for us. Preying on our enemies. Do not fret my dear this will all work to our advantage." He whispered to his slumbering bride as the coffin shut slowly and he himself succumbed to healing sleep.