Van Helsing drove the team of six horses through much of day and well into night, traveling the road for three days now. Adrian had not been exaggerating at all about the stallions; they were not only fast, but possessed tremendous stamina, galloping well into darkness.

In those three days, he'd had little sleep, keeping watch for signs of Dracula's minions, but so far, they'd been lucky. No doubt that luck would not hold for long. But despite the lack of rest, Van Helsing felt as if he'd never been better. He was more alert, more full of strength, and his senses were almost on fire with sensitivity. If he hadn't known better, he could have sworn they were the signs of lupus venom. But the increase in abilities was something he had become accustomed to, ever since he was starting to regain his memories. At least, he hoped they were indeed his memories. If he was to trust the visions which were now becoming clear, then he was no mortal man, having to be at least as old as Dracula.

On the fourth day, he pressed on at full speed, hoping that there was still enough of a breathing space between him and Dracula's reach. Adrian had said that the stallions were faster than even a werewolf, but he'd noted in that creatures who were bound to land. The brides had no such trouble, so it worried Van Helsing that they could outrun the horses.

Frankenstein growled as the coach bounced wildly on the rough road. He looked to Anna, then managed to calm himself. No doubt his anger was frightening this child. "Let me go," he pleaded. "Let me fight, let me die! But don't let me be taken alive by Dracula!"

There was a bump, and Frankenstein was thrown forward at Anna, who barely managed not to scream. At the last instant, the chains caught and he halted, now still. "Let me go," he begged.

She gulped. "Where will you go to?" she asked. "I don't know if you've looked in a mirror lately, but you kind of stick out in a crowd."

A sound caught the attention of his ears. Glancing back, Van Helsing was sure he saw one of the brides giving chase in the air. It was only a matter of time before they had figured out what was going on and caught up. Still, he'd at least hoped for a smoother journey. Now, that easy passage had ended. He'd destroyed one of the brides in Tirgoviste, true, but he held no illusions about that; he had been lucky.

He looped the reigns onto a catch of the seat and picked up his crossbow from where it rested next to him. There was a sharp click as he adjusted the firing setting, and his eyes looked warily about for any more signs of the brides. The eerie silence of the forest was disturbed only by the pounding hooves of the stallions, which was setting Van Helsing even more on edge. They were hunting him, and he knew it.

There was a rush of movement, and as he spun around to take aim, Van Helsing saw Verona only an instant before she grabbed him by the arm and lifted him into the air. The crossbow fell from his hand, crashing to the ground and left behind while the coach drove on.

Fighting with the claws that held him, Van Helsing grabbed hold of Verona's left wing and pulled down, stunting her ability to keep aloft. She fought with him, struggled against his grip, then finally let go of his arm, sending the man falling toward the earth. But, either by extreme luck or divine providence, he landed squarely on the back on the lead horse, almost none-the-worse for wear.

Looking ahead, he saw that things had just gotten much worse.

"Bloody hell."

Just ahead, the path ended at a collapsed bridge. The coach would never make it, even if the horse crossed the jump successfully. With a grunt, Van Helsing turned and leapt back toward the coach, landing on the back of each set until he jumped to gain hold of the driver's seat.

One of the vampires swooped down and struck him. Van Helsing went backwards, flipping in the air and landing in the couplings that connected the stallions to the coach. He held on tightly; if he fell, he was dead. But he knew that the bridge was coming up, and he would not be able to get back up to the coach in time to turn it. It was all in the hands of fate now.

The horses were speeding up. Even they were preparing to make the jump, Van Helsing tightened his grip, then felt the ground leave from under them as the stallions leapt across the bridge and went flying through the air. The jolt gave him enough momentum to fly up out of the couplings, and as the horses began their landing, he went forward through the air, landing on the back of the rear left horse while the coach crashed against the jagged edge of the bridge and broke away from the coupling. Van Helsing looked back just in time to see it fall backwards into the ravine, spiraling downwards.

The brides screamed out as they watched the coach break away from the horses and plummet down into the canyon. Verona took the lead, diving toward the carriage while Aleera was not far behind. "We must not let the creature be destroyed!" she cried, racing to catch up with the coach. They were so close now to realizing the Master's plan, realizing his dream of more than four centuries.

She reached for the coach, claws digging into the wood and allowing her to hold on. Aleera attempted to do the same, but she had caught too much of the wind in her wings, and she hovered just out of reach, spinning about. "Save him!" she cried just before she was swept skywards. "Save the monster!"

Verona held tightly, moving to the door and gripping it. In moments, she would recover Frankenstein's monster, to preserve Dracula's dream, his vision of the world. With a gleam in her eyes, Verona tore the door from its hinges and looked inside; the coach was empty.

"What!"

Wait, something was there with her. She looked about, then gasped as Adrian moved into her vison, his eyes steeled with anger. "Good-bye, Aunt Verona," he hissed, then transformed into a cloud of mist and allowed himself to be caught in the air currents.

She gasped, releasing the coach and trying to fly up. But something was wrong. There was pain, and though she tried to heal it, nothing happened. Verona looked down and saw the oak stake that was driven deep into her chest, through her heart. Her body even now was failing her, rotting away, and the carriage crashed upon the ground to explode just as she hit.

Van Helsing saw the red-headed bride rise back up from the ravine, and it was obvious that the other, Verona, was still down there. When he saw the cloud of mist rise up and transform into a large white bat, Van Helsing smiled. The resulting explosion sealed all doubts of the death of Verona. The boom was incredible; Carl was definitely onto something with that glycerine.

That's two, he thought. Maybe now they would have an advantage.

A minute later, he saw the identical coach tear out of the forest from another path. Perched in the driver's seat was Carl, who was gesturing nervously for Van Helsing to hurry. He steered his own mounts toward the other carriage, keeping pace, then leapt to the buckboard and climbed into the driver's seat alongside Carl. The expression on his face told all about his pleasure in the trap they had laid.

A heavy breathing told him of danger. Van Helsing was quick to realize that his original suspicions about the flight speed of the brides had been right as his eyes caught sight of the werewolf coming down the road toward them. "Shit!" he hissed. He and Carl both swung about the side of the coach while eight hundred pounds of enraged fur went flying over the team of stallions and crashed into the buckboard, knocking over the front lanterns onto the roof and igniting it on fire from the kerosine.

Carl was hanging from the side of the coach, a precarious enough position to be in, but Van Helsing was in an even more dangerous spot. He'd missed the side of the buckboard and barely managed to grip the stair-piece, now dragged against the road at top speed.

He could hear Carl cry for aid from Anna. No doubt, the man didn't realize just how bad Van Helsing's situation was. Suddenly, his hand slipped from the steps, and he grabbed the front axle just in time. However, now he had the rear wheel spinning madly between his parted legs. If he lost his hold this time, he was finished.

"Anna!" Van Helsing cried, banging on the door.

The girl could hear Van Helsing's cy for help even as she held tightly to Carl, who was clinging still to the side of the coach. There was something else wrong; it was getting warmer.

"I can help!" Frankenstein exclaimed, a look of desire to aid in his eyes.

Again, she gulped. "You...you won't kill me?"

His expression was almost offended, but the man could not blame Anna for her fear. "No," he said. "But if you don't hurry, then you will have killed Van Helsing!"

Van Helsing winced in pain. Suddenly, he felt a jolt as the axle piece began to break away from the underbelly of the coach. It couldn't hold his weight, not for much longer.

Another rivet broke lose, the axle bending. Another, and then, it snapped, sending him skidding at the wheel.

It never hit.

Van Helsing could feel a strong hand gripping him, and only one person in the coach had that powerful a hand. He looked up and saw the smiling face of Frankenstein, then was lifted from the ground and tossed back into the driver's seat while Anna helped Carl swing back around.

Anna breathed with relief sat back down, looking to the creature - to Frankenstein - and smiling to him. He truly was human after all, despite his form and how he had come into the world. But then, her eyes spied something large moving across the rear window, something that roared.

"Velkan," she whispered in horror.

The roof split open, unleashing the flame above into the coach. Frankenstein was now pushing himself as low against the seat as possible to escape the flame, screaming in fear, a fear that was beyond just normal reaction.

Looking back as the coach re-entered the forest, Van Helsing could see the inferno consuming the coach, and the werewolf rose up from the flames as if it were emerging from the fires of Hell itself. Without a second thought, he turned to Carl. "Jump!" he ordered.

The man didn't argue, and Van Helsing saw the coach doors open to release Anna and Frankenstein as they too made their escape. Now, it was just him and the werewolf.

Drawing one of his guns, Van Helsing aimed at the couplings and fired, causing them to break and let the horses ride away freely. His delay in attacking, however, gave the werewolf the chance to prepare, and just as he swung about to fire, it swat his hand viciously, sending the revolver crashing to the ground. Van Helsing inwardly cursed himself for not having targeted wisely, then suddenly was struck by either inspiration or madness. He leapt forward, feeling a powerful force in his legs that sent him crashing into the werewolf. The creature went flying from the coach, hitting the ground and rolling away. Van Helsing waited a moment, then leapt from the coach, hitting the ground and feeling a hard thud.

The coach finally began rolling, tumbling over a precipice and sailing down into the ravine.

Shaking her head, Anna staggered to her feet. She had expected Van Helsing to jump from the carriage with Carl, but she had seen him stay on just a bit longer to let the horses get away. After that, she wasn't sure what had happened, but there was fear growing in her heart. What if the beast had killed him, or worse, managed to bite him?

She stepped out into a clearing, looking for any sign of Van Helsing or the others. Surely, Carl and Frankenstein had to be around here somewhere.

"Van Helsing!" she cried, eyes looking around fearfully. If the werewolf was still alive, it was a foolish thing to do, but she didn't think much before she had called out for her companions. "Carl! Adrian!"

"Anna!"

Van Helsing. She turned around at the sound of his voice. She saw him running for her, and though he appeared to have several bruises, there was no sign of bites on him. Anna began running toward him, then halted when, almost from thin air, Aleera appeared.

"Hello, Anastasia," the red-headed bride of Dracula hissed just before she backhanded Anna. The girl hit her head on a nearby rock, and was out cold when Aleera transformed and picked her up.

Van Helsing raced to save the girl, but was too late. Aleera was already carrying Anna away through the air, flying over the edge and away from the forest. He skidded to a halt, breathing heavily while inwardly berating himself for losing Anna. He had failed his mission to protect her. And now, Dracula had half of what he wanted.

There was a low growl, one that Van Helsing recognized. He was not in the mood for this, but there was no way to avoid this fight with the wolfman. Turning to face his lupus foe, Van Helsing pulled off and threw down his coat. No doubt, he was going to die, but at least he was going to give the beast one hell of a fight. "Alright," he spat while the werewolf stepped toward him. "I've had enough of this!"

The beast leapt forward, and Van Helsing dove aside, suddenly surprised by his own inhuman speed. He'd never been this fast before, it was on par with the creature he faced even now. Already, his body was feeling stronger, much stronger, and as he moved again to avoid being struck by the lupus, his mind realized when it all had started; his memories.

Something told him that it was still, even now, possible to save the man trapped in the beast, to save Velkan Valerious. But deciphering that would have to wait. The creature turned about, flashing its claws menacingly at Van Helsing, while he was weaponless, armed only with his hands and his newly emerged speed.

And the strength he could feel growing.

It ran at him, but with a sharp grunt, Van Helsing ducked under the massive paw that was swung at him and landed a solid blow into the werewolf's ribs. There was a resound meaty smack, and the creature roared in pain. Another blow produced a similar sound, and Van Helsing finally realized the truth about himself, or at least, his standing in the world, in the realm of nature and the supernatural.

He was not human.

Even as he ducked and weaved about to avoid his enemy, Van Helsing was visited by visions, memories that told him the truth, revealed to him what he was. He could see himself standing at Masada, fighting the Romans. The horrible battlegrounds of the Crusades, standing in Jerusalem in the battle against the Moors. The Ottoman invasion of Walachia, bloodstained fields as people were hanging from pikes and spears.

And he saw now why Dracula knew him, why he had recognized that face, why he was so familiar with this place despite no memory until know of his life.

He had been the one who killed Dracula.

His eyes began to burn, glowing with power as the werewolf swat him back. Van Helsing crashed against the ground, vaulted back just as the creature made another attack, and pulling off his gloves, finally accepted that he was no mortal man, possibly not even human. He was a part of the supernatural order, something that had the power to fight evil in all forms, be it man or monster. And with this poor soul, he had a chance to save one who was in the horrible grip of darkness.

"Velkan!" he cried, hoping to reach the man in the beast. "Velkan, listen to me! You have to fight it, fight the monster you're becoming!" It was probably futile, but something in him said that it was possible for Velkan to be returned. That voice, the voice of his lost life, told Van Helsing that he had the power to save Velkan Valerious. And so, as the creature lunged for him, maw open wide to bite, Van Helsing moved like a blur and caught the werewolf by his jaws. Incredibly, he had avoided being bitten, and there was a sizzling sound as smoke began to rise from where his bare hands met the flesh of the werewolf. It bellowed out, pulling away while he let go, and the fur where his hands had been was singed.

It shook its head, glared at Van Helsing, and charged again. With a twist, Van Helsing leapt up and landed upon the monster's back, now grabbing it by the face and holding on while it howled painfully. But no matter how much it thrashed, he would no let go, determine to somehow save Velkan's mind, his soul.

The howls became distinct, and finally, Van Helsing could swear they were becoming words. He let go, tumbling off the werewolf's back and hitting the ground. It was holding its head, trying to ward away the pain, then finally calmed down and looked at Van Helsing. There was something different in the werewolf's eyes now. Serenity, calm, and then, realization.

"Oh God," the creature gasped, now able to speak and be aware of what it had been doing. "Oh God, what have I done!"

He got to his feet, cautious still, but he knew he had done it. The creature was able to talk, able to reason. It had a human mind now, and he had been able to save that mind. "Velkan?" he asked, slowly walking toward the werewolf.

It shied away, ashamed of itself for the things it had done in Dracula's control. "No!" it cried. "I'm a monster, you must stay away from me!"

"Velkan, listen to me!" Van Helsing yelled. He held his hand out, and while there were imprints from where he had held the jaws, there were no breaks. Velkan had not transformed back into human form, but his body was changing, looking more noble than monstrous. The truth dawned on Van Helsing. "You're not a monster," he continued, walking toward Velkan. "You're not cursed, you're a true werewolf, mothered by the moon...you're a lycan!"

The wolf stepped away, but there was confusion in his eyes. "A...lycan?" he repeated. His voice bore a heavy sound to it, not human, but still, a true voice that could speak human language. "But...I can't be. I was transformed by the venom of a lupus, lycans are born werewolves."

Yes, that was true. But perhaps there was still an answer, and Van Helsing was sure he knew it. "Think about it," he said. "You have to have lycan blood in your veins, it's the only reason you are now what you are. Maybe it was latent in your blood, maybe you weren't meant to become a werewolf, but the lupus curse brought it to life."

They heard Carl's voice cry out, calling Van Helsing's name. Moments later, Carl, Frankenstein, and Adrian emerged from the trees, and all three came to a halt as they saw Velkan's lycan form. Carl's reaction was almost immediate, drawing out his revolver, but Van Helsing stood in his way, holding up his hand.

"No, wait!" he cried. He could feel Velkan moving away in fear, but he had to explain what had happened. "Carl, it's Velkan, he's in control of himself!"

The three stood there in shock, looking from Van Helsing to the werewolf. Adrian was the first to step forward, looking into the beast's eyes and seeing it was true; Velkan Valerious had been returned. "My God," he whispered, unable to believe it, but it was plainly true. "You're a lycan."

After hesitating a moment, Carl slowly put away his weapon, stepping over to Velkan and gazing at him in amazement. "A werewolf able to think and reason as a man," he said, still unsure if this was really happening. "But how? Van Helsing, how did you do it?"

"I touched him," the man replied. He wasn't quite sure what exactly the power he held was, but it had at the least retarded the lupus curse, allowed Velkan's lycan heritage to emerge. But something warned him that it wouldn't last forever. A more permanent cure had to be found by a certain time, the voice told him that much. He had until the New Moon.

His attention was brought to more serious and concerning matters; Anna. "We have to get down to Buda-Pesht," he said. Sure enough, the city was in the distance, where Aleera had flown to. "Dracula has Anna now, we have to save her."

"Anna!" Velkan roared. "That filthy beast of Hell! I'll-"

Van Helsing held up his hand. "You can't do anything until you learn to control your shape." He sighed, then held his hands up to Velkan's head again. "This may hurt, but I think it might help."

The werewolf held still while Van Helsing placed his hands on the sides of his head. There was a burning sensation, like poison being painfully purged from his blood. Slowly, but surely, his body shrank, not shedding fur, but retracting it, pulling the hair into his body. The bones of his legs reshaped, his muzzle pulling in and taking human appearance.

And finally, Velkan Valerious stood before them once more. Van Helsing stepped away, allowing Velkan to recover, then noticed that the man had no clothes to wear save the tattered remained of his trousers. "Get him something to wear," he said. Adrian nodded and flew up in the form of a bat. Now, they could go look for Anna.