JeanieBeanie33: Thanx for reviewing again! Yeh the whole vamp/human which is more evil thing is an interesting thing to think about but makes your head hurt after a while.
Sakura626: Ok I agree with just sticking with the masks being stolen lol less icky and raises many less questions about the physical biology involved lol
Knnyphph: lol well I wasn't really focusing much on the technical side of the vomiting :ewww: but yeh your right it is only after the stomachs empty lol might go back and change it but thinking about it makes me nauseous lol glad you liked the last fight took me ages to figure out how to do it. I've been worried about it since I started writing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 78
Anna gazed out of the window at the distant orange glow of the fire still burning at castle Frankenstein. By morning nothing but a black shell would remain, the evil purged and purified by the flames.
She shivered wrapping her arms around herself, chilled despite the roaring of the fire in the hearth.
Quiet footsteps announced Van Helsing's arrival.
He said nothing as he approached her, nor when she leant back to rest against him, her head resting on his chest as she listened to the sound of his breathing and the sweet smell of rosemary on his clothes.
He held her close, she was troubled but he was a patient man, she would tell him why eventually but for now he was content to hold her in silence, his hands tracing small circles on her waist.
Sighing sadly she turned to bury her face in his shirt before looking up to meet his gaze.
"You would think that, now he has been destroyed, I would be content." She whispered.
"The truth is I always expected to die fighting him. I knew for certain that would be my fate." She swallowed hard looking away to the orange glimmer in the distance.
"What do I do now Gabriel?" she asked in a small voice, a lost little girl alone in the world.
"What do I have to live for?"
The hunter clasped her chin gently and tilted her head up capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
Pulling away he brushed a stray tear from her cheek. "If you wish it you could return to Rome with me. You told me once that the world had monsters in it… help me fight them."
She shook her head with regret. "Vaseria is my home, I couldn't leave it."
"You won't have too, you can still stay here, leave only when Rome has need of you."
She smiled "And what of you? Mr Van Helsing." She asked.
He frowned and then captured her lips again with an earnest that shocked them both, Anna responded passionately allowing him to draw her from the window sill.
The kiss became more passionate and he carefully laid her back against the soft covers of her bed.
They broke apart gasping for breath; Van Helsing gazed lovingly into her eyes, concern creasing his brow as he noticed her hesitate nervously.
"I love you Anna," he whispered.
Her eyes filled with tears as she heard those words, and she listened in wonder as he switched to her native Romanian.
"Dar sa stii nu-ti cer nimic." But you should know, that I'm not asking anything of you.
"I know." She whispered capturing his lips once more.
The sun rose slowly above the mountains casting its light fully for the first time in many weeks. Anna stood on the small slopping roof below her bedroom window and watched as the rays fell upon the sleeping Transylvanian landscape. She was witnessing the first sunrise of a new age, one free of fear.
A gentle breeze tugged at her hair making her shiver and pull the woollen blanket tighter around her slim figure, holding off the winter cold more efficiently than the flimsy nightdress beneath it.
Out of habit she had a small knife strapped to her wrist, she fingered the blade lovingly, it had belonged to her mother and had been given to Anna on her deathbed.
Unlike many of the Valerius family her mother's death had been a natural occurrence, the result of a complicated pregnancy and a breach birth, which sadly left both Anna's mother and her infant sister incredibly weak.
They had both died less than a week later.
For the first time in the many years since their deaths, Anna found that she could think about them without feeling that she'd failed them in some way. Dracula was dead and they were free, but more than that. She was free.
Van Helsing shivered as a draught entered the room, groaning he reached out to snuggle against Anna only to feel cold sheets.
Instantly alert he sat up and reached for the knife under his pillow only to come up empty handed, because of course he was in he was in Anna's room not his own.
The thought prompted memories of the night before to resurface in his mind and he couldn't suppress the self-satisfied grin that covered his face.
He shivered again as his bare skin came into contact with crisp morning air floating in from the window. He pulled on his trousers and padded barefoot towards the open window, smiling as he caught sight of Anna, stunning in a silken nightgown, a blanket wrapped securely around her bare shoulders.
She turned as she heard him slip out of the window and on to the roof, flashing him a dazzling smile as he walked towards her.
He drew her into his embrace and kissed her passionately, grinning as she pulled the blanket around them both, covering his naked chest from the icy wind.
She sighed happily as they broke apart, "Good morning Mr Van Helsing." She whispered grinning.
He smiled kissing her forehead lovingly, "Good morning Princess." She twisted in his arms so her back rested against his chest, his arms encircling her waist and they both watched the sunrise in silence, just happy to be alive and finally in each others arms.
Fevered dreams clamoured for Sarah's attention, Dracula beckoned her from the shadows of her mind only to transfigure into one of his brides or an animal, and fade away to join the shadows lurking in the darkness around her.
She frowned as a llama stepped into the light; sensing a presence beside her she turned to find a young girl at her side, grinning happily at the creature.
"Jessie?" she whispered recognising the girl from years of internet conversations and webcam chats, though they had never met in person.
Jessie grinned, pushing her long dark blond hair over her shoulder before she turned and ran to hug the creature around the neck; it laid its ears back in warning.
"Jess I don't think you should do that, Llama's are evil." She heard herself say.
Jessie laughed harder, turning her back on the animal to grin at her friend.
"Sarahness, Their not evil just miss-understood, and you know it's your fault this ones dead don't you?" she asked suddenly serious.
Sarah blinked "No … the werewolf…I didn't touch it." She stammered.
Jessie giggled "You're such a nun!" she exclaimed happily.
Sarah was about to respond when the llama reared, slamming its hooves into her friends back.
"Jessie!!" she screamed rushing forward, but before she could reach them both girl and animal exploded into tiny bats. She watched in amazement as they flew away.
Alone in the dark once more her legs gave way and she sat heavily on the cool stone beneath her, placing her head on her knees.
"It's all a dream." She whispered. "Wake up Sarah, for fuck sake wake up…wake up …wake up…wake up." She rocked backwards and forwards muttering to herself. Faintly she heard muffled voices in the darkness.
"It's a fever; we have to wait until it passes." Whispered a familiar voice.
"Carl!" she cried out jumping immediately to her feet and turning to stare into the darkness.
People and monsters shimmered in and out of her sight, Dracula walked by her side.
She ignored them all searching for a way out, away to wake up. "Carl!!! Van Helsing!"
Anna's voice sounded to her left. "Why does she cry out in her sleep? Nightmares, delusions? Is there no way to break her fever?"
Ignoring the man at her side Sarah ran towards the princess's voice.
A light shone in the distance, as she got closer familiar voices urged her on, called her name.
She frowned as she recognised members of her wicca group calling her forward.
Abruptly she was surrounded by light in the middle of sunlit woodland; beneath her feet was a simple wiccan altar.
The pentagram at its centre was Richards, a black disk with a white pentacle at its centre.
Her three wiccan friends were stood around it, hands raised eyes closed within a white circle of light. "Helen, Rich, Adam help me!"
She cried out desperately, stumbling forward. Their chant rose in volume almost working to block out her cries.
"Let them stand in circles of light,
That nothing may cross.
Bring a wayward witch back to us.
Let her be harmed by none,
No harm be done,
As we will so mote it be!"
As one, they opened their eyes; a collective gasp escaped them as they saw the girl standing before them. Helen rushed towards her, reaching out breaking the circle in her shock.
Sarah felt the world go dark once more. Distantly she heard them cry out her name, before she found herself alone with her visions once again.
Finally defeated, she sat sobbing into her knees.
The ground beneath her shifted becoming soft and damp and prickling branches brushed her arms. Slowly she lifted her head and gazed in wonder at the snow covered trees that surrounded her, glittering silver under an impossibly large full moon.
The sound of an approaching animal made her back up slightly, to press up against the cold stone of a rock face.
Silently she watched as a white wolf appeared through the trees and began sniffing at the ground a few meters away.
It was a beautiful creature, wide intelligent eyes shone in its skull and its snowy coat was unearthly in the light of the moon.
Sarah stared in awe at the she-wolf, hugging herself she leant against the cool stone for support and sank to the ground, drawing her knees up to her chest and resting her chin upon them, watching as the magnificent beast paced the clearing.
She froze as the wolf's ears pricked up and it turned to look in her direction.
Calmly the wolf sat on its hunches, cocking its head to one side, curious about this strange girl in its den.
Sarah met its gaze without fear, humbled to be in the presence of such beauty.
She wasn't surprised when she sensed his presence, nor when he laid his hands possessively on her shoulders and crouched beside her.
Dracula followed her gaze, a small smile gracing his pale features.
"Magnificent isn't she." He said with something akin to reverence in his voice.
Sarah nodded slowly, her gaze unwavering on the animal.
"As are all the creatures of the night." He continued turning to give her an appraising glance.
Sarah remained silent, her eyes glittering in the moon's silvery glow.
Dracula wasn't used to being ignored, confusion and annoyance flashed across his features as he looked from her to the wolf who still watched them both in silent interest.
He stood and strode towards the beast, who greeted him warmly, thrusting her cold wet nose into his palm, wagging her tail and whining in greeting as he knelt beside her.
Sarah had half stood as he crossed the clearing, fearful that he intended to harm the creature.
The sight of him being so gentle with her gave her pause.
Dracula scratched the she-wolf playfully behind her ears and turned towards his bride, grinning devilishly at her surprised expression, he inclined his head towards the beast.
"Because I was feared by all throughout the world, I felt a certain kinship with those that would walk the night by my side." He explained in amusement.
Sarah stood tall and raised her head proudly. "Just because your human now doesn't mean I've forgotten who you are…what you've done" She said gesturing to the wolf who was still rubbing her head on his knee affectionately. "She doesn't know you; she doesn't know that you'll always be a monster."
In a flash the wolf turned bearing its fangs, its ears flat against its skull and a terrible snarl echoing up from its throat.
Dracula stood quickly as it wrenched itself from his grasp and bounded across the clearing, it launched itself into the air, fangs snapping towards the girl's throat.
Sarah didn't move, watching calmly as the furious beast flew towards her.
She felt its warm breath on her skin, smelt its putrid breath. She didn't even blink as it disappeared, even as her hair whipped back in the blast of air that accompanied it.
Her gaze met Dracula's through the now empty air.
He was studying her closely, his brow furrowed in thought.
She began to walk towards him, feeling the leaf litter crunching beneath her feet and the light night breeze move her hair.
"Why are you here?" she asked quietly.
He frowned at her "I have unfinished business with you." He answered smoothly.
She frowned "Unfinished? What could be unfinished? You seduced me, killed me, turned me into your little concubine, attacked my friends, bollocked up my suicide attempt and tried to make me kill my friends…I think you've done enough!" she spat. "So if you don't mind I'd like to continue my fevered delusions in peace!"
Dracula grinned at her greatly amused. "You never thought to ask why I chose you did you?" he asked.
She shrugged "I was easy prey, away to get back at Anna and Van Helsing. I was your key to another world."
He nodded in agreement "Yes there was all of that… but much more." Tenderly her reached out and lifted the small green pentagram disk resting elegantly at her throat.
"Do you know why I became what I became?" he asked quietly.
Sarah's eyes saddened "You fell in love. The order sentenced her too death."
"Because she was a witch." He said "Just like you."
Sarah shook her head "Not like me…she worshipped the devil."
Dracula laughed "The friar told you that? She worshipped no more than you do. The goddess of the moon, Pan of the forest, she'd sing and she'd dance by the moonlight. She healed sick children with herbs and she communed with animals…and they called it heresy, evil practice. She was tortured and burned while I was away…and when I returned they told me how she'd screamed and begged, and how she would forever rot in hell as a damned soul."
Sarah regarded him with pity; she knew all too well the prejudice against those who practised her beliefs, even in the modern world.
"That's why." She whispered. "I reminded you of her…that's why you wanted me, even when I deserted you."
He nodded meeting her gaze. "My death was well deserved, Anna saw to it personally. With one stroke I paid for my crimes against her family as they, for centuries, paid for their crimes against me."
"None of this is real." Sarah whispered "I'm dreaming all of this…the llama, Jessie, Helen Richard Adam…"
"No, what you saw of that circle was real." He said sharply. "Your friends search for you, in your own world and in Van Helsing's."
She frowned in confusion "And this? You…is this real?"
Dracula grinned "It's as real as you want it to be…but in the end your there." He said pointing to an orange glow between the trees, curious Sarah stepped forward and found herself looking into the candlelit bedroom of Valerius manor, her own pale form still in the large bed.
"So this is all a dream." She whispered.
Dracula stood silently behind her; she turned and met his sad gaze. "Is this the way out?" she asked hopefully.
He nodded slowly. "Here's where you make a choice Sarah."
Sarah frowned as the world around her changed once again, her own screams echoed back at her from the ether and she saw herself burning once more in the sun.
Then it shifted again and she was once again outside Valerius manor with Tony as dawn fast approached:
Tony once again stood before his expression troubled. "Do you want to die alone?" he asked quietly.
"I did die alone" she whispered.
The scene faded and she was with Amie by the side of the lake still clothed in the heavy ball gown, a deep burn healing slowly on her breast.
"I deserved this." She was whispering.
. "The vampire in me is getting stronger; I can't hold it back any more."
Amie lent over and hugged her tightly as she began to cry. "Anna said to me the other night that, she has never known anyone able to hold off the transformation as long as you have. Your stronger than you think you are and you'll beat it, I know you will." She pulled back.
Like a twisted slide show the worst moments of the last few weeks were played out before her, and she remembered the crushing grief and pain that had driven her to take her own life. Dracula held her against him as they watched, offering her strength and comfort whilst harbouring a deep loathing for the creature he had been.
They watched silently as she stood in the rain, as Tony comforted and protected her as she drowned in her tears.
Sarah stiffened as the next scene rolled over and a dark ballroom materialized around her. Two figures danced in the centre, one willing one captive. Tears began to fall as she saw herself dragged into Dracula's control, saw him spin her away from him and pull her back.
Coldly she pushed her Dracula's comforting arms away and stepped closer to the couple, raising her hand to hover inches above her own terrified features…and then…as she knew he would Dracula uttered those terrible words:
"I am in need of a new bride Sarah," he whispered.
With a shudder she turned her back on the couple, her hands over her ears, trying to bloke out the sounds of her own death. Wrenching sobs shook her body and she dropped to her knees, trembling as she heard him plunge his fangs into her throat.
Unconsciously her hand sort out the two puncture wounds on her throat and she rubbed them frantically, willing them to vanish, to disappear.
Dracula watched her long after the final image faded and they were once again in front of the portal that would return her to her body, her cries tugged at his human emotions tormenting his distorted soul. This was all part of his punishment, his hell had already begun and part of him welcomed the punishment.
When Sarah's cries lessoned he knelt in front of her and gently pulled her frantic hands from her throat, tilting her chin up to face him.
"Why did you make me relive that?" she asked in a broken whisper.
He sighed turning to look at the pale figure lying just beyond the portal. "I had to make you see, that everything you've experienced here…everything you lived through…it won't go away. You'll have to live with it, live with the memories for the rest of your life."
Sarah swallowed hard a small shudder running through her body. Dracula looked at her with pity.
"You have a choice now Sarah…you chose to take your own life not three days ago…you wanted to die and no one blames you for that. So God, the powers that be…the Goddess whatever you believe controls our destiny, will respect your wishes if you still wish to die…if after everything you've been through, you can't stand to live."
Sarah gaped at him in disbelief. He gaze fell on her own body, lying in the bed at Valerius manor.
She looked dead already, dark circles framed her eyes and her skin was like marble. Would it be so bad not to wake up? Not to have to face her friends?
She'd been through so much, could she ever go back to the way things had been, could she ever face her friends?
Dracula helped her to stand and she slowly approached the portal, as she watched the door of the room slowly opened and her friends entered one by one. Amie placed a small bowl of water on the nightstand and began to mop her brow with the chilly water, trying to bring down her raging temperature.
The guys talked quietly amongst themselves. Bob made his way uneasily to the fire place and began to kindle anew fire, stoking the blaze until it danced merrily in the hearth. Sarah watched them all fondly a small smile tugging at her mouth when Tony pulled out a familiar green disk from his pocket.
Sarah's hand fluttered to the disk at her throat feeling the ghostly imitation that rested there.
Through the portal Marston held out a length of leather and the two boys delicately threaded it through the small hole on the disk replacing the one that had been lost.
Amie helped them pull Sarah's limp body into a sitting position resting her on Jory's chest while they carefully tied the necklace around her throat, lowering her gently back on to the sheets and smiling to see the familiar necklace back where it belonged.
Fresh tears flowed freely down Sarah's cheeks as she watched them leave her again, closing the door quietly behind them.
Dracula smiled as they left. "Your lucky to have people who care about you." He whispered.
Sarah didn't answer. She stared off into the ether recalling the images she'd just witnessed the memories of her time in Vaseria. She saw herself crying in the rain once again…and Tony was there to give her comfort.
She remembered sitting by the lake, hating herself…and Amie was there to make her feel better. Ever memory that passed before her at least one of them was there for her…they'd never left her not even when they knew she could hurt them. They'd accepted her as a vampire when she had returned from castle Dracula, no questions asked, it didn't matter to them what she was.
Dracula met her gaze again his eyes searching. "Have you made your choice?" he asked quietly.
To his surprise she smiled at him and nodded. "I've been through some bad stuff…and I have to live with the memories of that…but…some of my best memories are there too."
Dracula frowned in confusion but then she continued.
"My friend's were always with me, they never faltered in all this time…their the reason I fought you for so long…the reason I suffered so much…and I gladly do it all again."
She smiled at the surprise on the counts handsome face. Casually she shrugged "I think I can live with those memories."
Dracula smiled back at her fondly. "You are such a strange girl." He said shaking his head.
Sarah grinned. "I think unique is a better term for it." She whispered, they shared a small smile remembering those same words passing between them in a small dark room at castle Frankenstein.
Sarah turned towards the portal again frowning at its shimmering surface. "So er…how do I get back?" she asked.
Dracula stepped beside her and she turned to face him, frowning at the sadness that shimmered in his brown eyes. "You need just step through." He whispered.
She nodded and then her eyes widened in alarm as he stepped closer to her so that their faces were inches apart.
He hesitated slightly before pulling her close and kissing her gently.
For the first time she didn't pull away, the kiss was so different from his previously forceful displays of affection, it was soft and chaste.
When they broke away she stepped back and saw a cocky grin cross the counts pale face. "I told you, you were mine." He whispered huskily before pushing her through the window and into her own body.
Dracula watched her disappear and then turned to the ghostly visage of his father standing stern and imposing behind him. Without a word Dracula followed him to his final and eternal fate.
Note: phew ok very long chapie lol couldn't stop writing it once I got going. So this chapter had some randomness in it, the llama thing was for my friend Jessie who loves em and who yelled at me for having one lying dead in the square from the werewolf attack so just for her he came back : ) still more to come but the endings getting closer.
Keep reading and reviewing folks!!