Disclaimer/AN: Do I even have to say it?! Of course I don't own VH! Why must you make me relive this painful fact over and over?!! Lol. Hey everyone, thanks so much for your reviews and I'm sorry I haven't updated in a little while. You see, on Wednesday my school found out that one of our Seniors, Justin Mirabile, was killed in a car crash. Two other students were seriously injured. I didn't know them, but it was still really sad so I've been kind of preoccupied. Depending upon whether you live nearby, you might have seen it on the news.
On a lighter note, your reviews made me feel much better! I feel so appreciated! Here are my lovely personal responses…
Megan h: My faithful reviewer! Sorry about Drac. I seem to have issues with characters being OOC, lol. I haven't changed any of Drac's lines from my original story so hopefully he's not too bad anymore, and I'm glad you like the story so far!
Audrey: Your review was so simple, but great just the same. It made me smile. Thanks again!
Rhea: New reader, YAY! Yeah, it is kind of tiring when everybody is afraid of Drac, so I'm glad you like my story. Keep r&r'ing please and thank you!
Luthien Anwamane: Another new reader, YAY! Vlad is one of my fav. Characters and I like writing his lines and stuff. I'm happy that you like him too. grins Hey, is your name Elvish? What's it mean?
Nala456: Yet another new reader, YAY! I feel so special! Muchas thanks for your review!
Christina Marquez: Yipee, Van Helsing's back! Good, I was worried. An OOC character can ruin the whole fic, which is why I want to you be absolutely honest about it, k? Yeah, I guess Andrea did kind of overreact there, but hey, that's probably what I would do. Don't worry, it won't end up being a Drac/Andrea romance. I was thinking about it, but then decided against it. Glad you like the story so far!
Thanks again to all you wonderful reviewers out there! This chappie is for you, which makes sense cuz without you, I would have no need for a chappie at all. Anywho, Chapter 5!
1Meanwhile, miles away, Carl and Van Helsing were trying to plan their next move. "We have to go after her, we've got to save her!" Van Helsing shouted.
"And then what?" Carl returned, "face Dracula without any idea of how to destroy him? As much as I hate to say it, we can't rescue Andrea until we figure out what we need to do to kill Dracula. Trust me, Van Helsing, you know we can't just walk into Dracula's lair unprepared! We'll go to the Vatican Archives, find what we need, and then we'll rescue Andrea, alright?"
Van Helsing grimaced. "I don't like it. I don't like abandoning her to that monster!"
"We're not abandoning her! You think I like it that we can't rescue her now?" In a calmer voice, Carl continued. "Besides, I think Andrea can take care of herself for a little while. She is Anna's reincarnation. She's strong. She'll be alright."
"Fine," Van Helsing replied, "I can't argue your point. Dammit Carl! Why do you always have to be so logical?!"
"It's a gift," Carl said smugly, then cowered at Van Helsing's look.
The next day, Carl and Van Helsing arrived at the Vatican Archives. "Carl, this place is gigantic! How will we ever find what we're looking for?!" Van Helsing asked, staring around at the rows upon rows of bookshelves filled with dust-covered tomes.
"Yes, well, that might take some time," Carl said hesitantly. He walked off down the aisles, reading the spines as he passed. He was mumbling, "I keep telling them to get a card catalog, but do they listen? Nooooo. No one listens to Carl, he's only a friar! Hmph!" Van Helsing smiled to himself and followed Carl.
While Van Helsing and Carl were fruitlessly searching, I was standing at the window, looking out at the rapidly setting sun. I had changed into some new clothes similar to my old ones, but the point was, they were clean. I had even managed to sleep for a while, but now, I was bored and restless. I knew I should probably have been afraid of Dracula, but I just wasn't. I was actually looking forward to his arrival. Anything would be better than this cold, empty castle. I didn't have to wait long. By now the sun had set, and a few minutes later, when all trace of light was gone from the sky, I felt a chill breeze upon me. I turned in time to see a gigantic bat land and instantly change into the graceful man I immediately recognized as my captor/host.
"Vladislaus!" I cried, "I've been expecting you."
"Andrea," he replied, stepping towards me, "did I keep you waiting long? I apologize, and I hope you have been comfortable."
"Oh very, thank you. The food was delicious! All my favorite things." He smiled.
"Wonderful! I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself. Now, if you don't mind, we really must be going." Dracula turned, waved his arm, and everything vanished.
"Mind? Oh, no; anything's better than this empty place.........Are we going to fly again?" I asked, as this new thought occurred to me. "It was wonderful, but a bit unceremonious, don't you think? Then again, I'm not sure you'd understand, you've never been snatched right off the ground before, have you?"
Dracula chuckled. "To be perfectly honest, no. No one capable of it has ever gotten close enough. And very few are capable." he said with a wry smile and a glint in his eye.
"I'm sure you can imagine that it isn't the most comfortable thing, being carried by one's shoulders very high off the ground." I said. "Might there be some other way to get to where we're going?"
"Of course there is, but I'm afraid you'd miss out on the flight." Dracula responded, holding out his hand.
I sighed. "Well, it is a shame, but I'll get over it." I said, taking his hand. It was icy and fiery at the same time. He pulled me close to his chest, and in a flashing whirl of color, we left Castle Frankenstien, and arrived somewhere new, all in less than a heartbeat.
"Welcome!" cried Dracula, "to my humble abode. My castle, in all of its splendor." I looked around.
"I love it!" I responded, "but, it's so cold." Dracula lifted his arm, and the room became alive with dancing, glittering candles and torches, which warmed and brightened the room considerably.
"There, my dear. Is that more to your liking?"
"Yes, that's much better. Thank you." I turned. "You know, yesterday, I thought about you a lot, from a purely scientific view of course, and I came to some interesting realizations."
"Oh? And what were your interesting realizations?" Dracula asked inquiringly.
"Well," I started, "As you may or may not know, I am one of the youngest leading scientists in biology and chemistry, in my time anyway, so you can imagine that I know a great deal about those two fields of science." I began slowly circling Dracula while I talked, studying him intently. He watched and followed me with his eyes, an amused smile on his face. It almost seemed as if he wasn't really listening, as if he had other thoughts on his mind. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it, you need to drink the blood of others to survive. That, in and of itself, isn't the most pleasant thought, but it is the perfect example of a parasitic relationship." I stated, proud that I had noticed this. Dracula, just looked at me quizzically.
"A parasitic relationship? Please, elaborate." he said. He seemed to take pleasure in just watching and humoring me.
I sighed. "I'll try to explain. You see, there are different ways that organisms, living things, interact. One way is called a parasitic relationship. That's where one living thing, in this case, you, but I don't know if we can call you living, interacts with another living thing, a. k. a. the average human, but only you benefit from the interaction, as in, you get their blood but they end up dying. Now that I think about it, this is a perfect example." I studied him some more. "Actually, you're quite the scientific anomaly, an enigma even. A parasite that can change its shape at will, but is photosensitive, wholly against Catholicism, and has unparalleled control of matter and the elements! And you don't even have–" I stopped, walked quickly up to Dracula, and put my ear on his chest. He stiffened slightly in surprise. I stood there for a moment, listening with all my might. Then I straightened and looked at him. "You really don't have a heart!" I said, amazed. Dracula quickly recovered from my sudden movements and just smiled at me. "That's so.....so unnerving!" I continued. "Wow." I stepped back. "Do you miss it?" I asked, a sudden seriousness entering my voice.
Dracula paused, thinking, and then he looked up at me, seeming suddenly depressed, and not quite so charming. "Yes, on occasion, I do miss it. But, after all, I have been a long time without it, and......it's not all bad." His voice and eyes changed slightly as he quickly regained his composure and stepped forward, circling until he was behind my right shoulder. I didn't, couldn't move as he picked up a ringlet of my hair, and curled it around his finger, his other hand running lightly down my spine. As he moved around to my other shoulder, I looked into his eyes, growing increasingly dizzy under his spell. I slowly fell back, leaning against him.
I blinked my heavy eyelids as I settled comfortably against him, and managed to whisper with my last ounce of free will, "Was it worth it?" Dracula froze, then broke the spell, steadied me, and walked a few steps away, turning his back on me.
"My dear, you don't look well at all." he said, turning back to me, but ignoring my question. "Come, Andrea, you should lie down." Still dizzy and clouded by the spell, I let Dracula lead me up a staircase to a spacious room with a high ceiling. There was a bed, an armoire, a dresser, a large armchair, and windows with heavy crimson curtains drawn. A chandelier lit with dozens of candles illuminated the room. "This will be your room. I furnished it myself." He led me to the bed. I was so tired; my body felt like a lead weight. He laid me down, tenderly brushed the loose curls from my forehead, and left the room, locking the door behind him. I fell instantly asleep; the last thing I remember is the sound of the lock clicking into place.
Sorry about my little bio lesson there. I noticed that the other day and couldn't resist sticking it in. If I lost any of you because of confusion and/or boredom, again I apologize. Upon reflection, I think I've had better chapters, but oh well. R and R anyways…you know you want to, lol!
GEM