Author's Note : Alright! Finally! Gack! The new semester has begun again, and I can't stand it! I hate homework! Anyway, I am back to finish the cliffhanger I left you guys at the last time I posted. So without further ado, goodbye and happy reading.

Disclaimer : I own nothing.

Chapter Eight - Introductions

It seemed like everything was in slow motion. The jump, the falling. All teh while their hands were clasped together in a death grip. Each held onto the other as the hoped it would always be even in the after life. Anna saw her life pass her by, from the day she went out into the woods with her father at age five to today. Van Helsing also closed his eyes and felt a memory surface, but it was not him, it was more like him in a past life.

Flashback

He was wearing silver armor, with a royal purple scarf and cape. He was carrying a long silver sword and was riding on a beige steed. His armor held the crest of a famous house. It was of an eagle. It was white on a blood red background. He reigned his his steed, brandishing his sword, and turned to the men behind him. He was leading an army. He shouted over the din of battle,

"Show them no mercy, for you yourselves shall receive none"

Next to him was a man with long black hair that fell to his shoulders, dressed in gold armor, bearing a crest of an emerald green dragon on purple background. He was addressing the men he had just spoken to, in a different language. No he was translating what he said to them in their language. He stared until the gold clad stranger turned his head, revealing his face...

End Flashback

Van Helsing's eyes shot open and saw the rockes rushing up to meet him. He shut them again and waited for the end...

Dracula landed on the cliff's edge and glanced down the deep ravine. No way they could've survived, not even Gabriel Van Helsing. Satisfied, he took the skies again, to return to the town to fetch his Brides.

Teresa swallowed hard as the vampire fangs pricked the sensitive skin on her neck. She waited for the end...when there was the most earpiercing shriek filling the air. The vampire leapt off of her. It was then she saw Carl standing a few feet away from her, a bowl in his hands. It only took her a second to put it all together.

"You found the Holy Water"

He nodded. The shrieking stopped and both turned to see Marishka, now in her human form, seething at both of them, approaching them with deliberate slowness. Carl handed Teresa the silver stake she'd lost and then equipped himself with one. Marishka was almost to them when there was a blood curdling roar in the air. she looked at the window and said

"Well my darlings, I must save tihs for another time, the Master calls." And with another word, she transformed and flew out the nearby window. Carl looked over at Teresa and said

"Are you alright"

Teresa glared at him for a second then her expression softened.

"Ja, I am fine. Just a few bumps and bruises. You"

Carl looked himself over and said

"Oh just fine, I'm not really a field man, more of a inventor, so to speak."

Teresa nodded and said

"Look I want to apologize how I behaved earlier to you and your friends today."

Carl nodded and said,

"Oh perfectly understandable-Ahh! Van Helsing and Anna, we forgot all about them."

"Van Helsing and Anna. Was Anna the name of the girl" she asked.

"Yes, yes, Anna Valerious, well actually Van Helsing, but the point being is, I don't know where they are! I lost all sight of them when the fight began" Carl was onw rushing back and forth through the chruch crying,

"Anna! Van Helsing! Are you in here"

while Teresa murmured

"It was her, how could I not recognize her, papa has told me about her everyday of my life."

After a few moments of watching Carl dash here and there, she shook her head and said

"If they were in here, I think they would've helped us, don't you think"

That caused Carl to pause and think about her words.

"Oh yes, yes you're quite right. Oh dear, but where could they be"

He put his head in his hands. She walked over to him then and said

"Listen to me, did I hear right when you said that woman's name was Anna Valerious"

Carl looked at her then nodded.

"Yes why"

"Well if what you say is true, then I am her cousin."

Carl said nothing, but his mouth hung open in shock.

While Carl and Teresa were talking in the church, Ranger had just wriggled out of Aleera's grasp. He had pulled a secret knife from inside his boot and slashed her leg. He then pulled his knees to his chest and sumersaulted to the ground. Once there he looked up to see Verona fly next to Aleera, who's wound had healed, and dive at him. He pulled out his gun, ready to go down fighting like his father had when...

The roar filled the air followed by an inhuman shriek. He turned to see the other two vampires flying off in the direction away from the town. He turned to see Verona take off in that direction, crying back to her sister

"Aleera, come on, we do not want to keep the Master waiting" Who in turned responded

"Just a moment Verona."

She landed in front of him, in her human visage and approached him. He cocked his gun, but she knocked it out of his hands. She wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear

"I like you. I am giving you an offer to live. Forget your family duties and come be mine at my Master's castle."

With that she pulled him into a passionate kiss.

"I shall be waiting your most favorable reply." And with that she took to the skies.

Carl and Teresa raced towards not long afterwards. Teresa grasped his arm and cried

"Brother, are you alright"

He hesitated and said

"Of course I am alright Teresa! What, you think I can't take care of myself"

Teresa burst out laughing but Carl said

"I'd hate to interrupt this family reunion, but we must find Van Helsing and Anna." Teresa stopped and said

"He is right. Come Ranger."

Ranger nodded, but when the other two went off, he hesititated. He touched his lips where the vampire had kissed them...then spat on the ground, and wiped them clean. That being done, he raced off after the others, the red-head's voice still ringing in his ears.

The first thing Van Helsing became aware of, was the fishing net beneath him. He sat up abruptly and found Anna unconsicous beside him. He gently shook her awake. When he did he put a finger to his lips and said,

"Obviously, someone or something saved us. I say we go meet them."

She nodded and they both made their way towards a light at the end of a long stone tunnel. When they reached the end, they entered a small circular room, where an old man was sitting, reading a large, old leather bound book. He wore a worn brown overcoat, over a starched white shirt, with brown pants and boots. His hair was the color of the outside snow and was stringy. His had a beard that went down to his collarbone that almost as equally scraggily. He lifted his eyes, which were the most brilliant blue they'd ever seen, to the two who entered his room and said

"S'bout time you folks woke up. I was just about ready to dump some smelling salts on your heads."

Van Helsing moved forward, gun cocked and said

"Who are you"

The old man glanced at the gun and said

"Easy now sonny, you might hurt someone with that."

Anna moved forward and said

"Wait, let's hear him out first."

Van Helsing nodded and slowly lowered the gun. Then Anna turned to him and said

"So tell us, who are you again."

The old man nodded and said

"See now that's what I like to see, manners."

He rose from his seat, snapped his book shut and said

"Name's Oram. I'm a sorcerer."

End Chapter Eight.

Author's Note : Oooh! New character, is he friend or foe of Van Helsing and Anna? Well I'll start writing the next chapter so you can find out. And now for the moment you've all been waiting for, the moment I thank my reviewers!

Fish : I'm glad you like my stories, and I'll take your advice, and try to correct that. Thank you!

island-surfer : My dearest friend, who I now have e-mail contact with, I always appreciate your positive reviews.

M : Educational? In what way? I updated! Thank you for your support!

Lord Harven : Who I have also become in contact with e-mail as of late! Well now you know how everyone turns out! I didn't think that line was very original, I got the idea for it from another fanfic by kydasam called

"Hide and Seek" Chapter Two.

Please inform me when that site is up and get lots of pictures of the Count and the Brides!

Well as always, good things must come to an end. So without further ado, goodbye and happy reading!

Signed,

Fortune Zyne.