I allowed Vladislaus to lead me through the castle, extremely thankful that no one met us along the way. We finally reached his chamber, and I heard him slam the door behind us.

I turned to look at him, tears still streaming down my face. He seemed calm, but I knew that it was only on the surface. Underneath that was a storm of rage, I could see it in his eyes.

He stepped toward me, until he stood close enough to kiss me. "Why, Katrina? I want to know why," he whispered.

I shook my head, crying. "I don't know…I don't know why."

For what seemed like an eternity he stood there looking into my eyes. In spite of all the shame and regret I felt, I did not look away from him. As I looked into his eyes they seemed to grow cold, and something else was there that hadn't been before.

Finally, as if he had grown tired of looking at me, Vladislaus moved away and began pacing around the room. The silence between us was maddening. Finally he stopped pacing and looked at me.

"Since the day that we met and your father promised you to me, I have sworn that I would make you happy. I would give you everything, and all of my love until the ending of the world. I would deny you nothing, and all I asked for in return was your happiness; to be with you and be loved by you."

Listening to his words I began to cry silently again, unable to look at his face as he continued.

"And I thought that I had your love. But now I know the truth. You never really loved me, did you Katrina?"

I looked up at him with tears in my eyes, shaking my head. "I love you, more than life itself. What you saw tonight was never meant to happen, it just did.…"

"But you love him, don't you?" he hissed, stepping toward me.

I continued to shake my head. "I don't know."

It was silent again for several minutes as Vladislaus looked at me.

"Well, my dear. You can have the love of two men, but you can only love one."

He then opened the door that led from his chamber into mine. "You will be staying in your own chamber tonight, I need my rest for in the morning."

I remembered his challenge to Van Helsing, and fear filled me. "No, don't do this. He is your friend, and this is not worth one of you dying. Please, Vladislaus."

He gave me a cold smile. "In case you didn't notice, my dear, our friendship has come to an end. And this has to end as well. Besides, this is my duty as a husband."

I shook my head, becoming angry at his pride and stubbornness. "Don't be a fool. This isn't worth dying for, and neither am I!"

Thinking that this would enrage him, I was surprised when he simply smiled. His smile, however, did not reach his eyes. "You are worth dying for. But this is not about who gets you, I've already won that battle."

"Then what is it about?" I asked coldly, stepping in front of him.

He looked down at me, no longer smiling. "Who gets your heart."

I looked up at him in disbelief. "And you think that one of you has to die to settle that? It's already been decided, Vladislaus. I gave my heart to you."

For a moment he stared into my eyes. "Did you?"

It seemed like forever that we stood looking at each other in the doorway to my chamber. I was no longer crying, but looking into his eyes as intensely as he was looking into mine.

"Goodnight, Katrina," Vladislaus said finally, and as I stepped inside my chamber he shut the door behind me.

I did not sleep well that night, if sleep is what you would call it. For the longest time I lay staring at the ceiling, playing over and over in my mind the events of the evening. Also, I could not stop thinking about what the next morning would bring. Whatever the outcome, it would not be good. Somewhere lost in all my fearful thoughts I drifted to sleep at last.

I awoke from my light sleep very early the next morning, which I had intended to do. I knew that the count and Van Helsing's duel would probably take place at dawn, and I wished to speak to Vladislaus one last time before he went. I hoped somehow to change his mind, but I knew that it was hopeless.

Entering his chamber I found it empty, and I knew where he must be. I dressed quickly and made my way quietly to the armory on the other side of the castle.

A little while later I entered the armory silently, and heard a few sounds of movement near the back of the room. I could tell that it was only one person, for there was nothing being said. Stepping around the corner I saw Vladislaus, already beginning to put on his armor.

Even though I moved quietly, he turned to look at me. "I thought that you would try one last time to stop me," he said, continuing to strap on armor.

"There is no need for this. Things will never be the same, I know, but there is no need for death," I pleaded.

Vladislaus stopped what he was doing and looked at me. "You're too late my dear. You started this, and now I must end it."

I shook my head and looked away, the tears beginning to return. I knew that it was hopeless, and I gave up on trying to convince him of this. Deciding to myself that all I could do was to show him that I did love him, I took a piece of his armor and began to strap it on.

Confused, he stopped and looked at me. "What are you doing?"

"Helping the man I love prepare for battle," I answered, continuing what I was doing.

For a moment he did not answer me. "You seem to know what you're doing," he said finally.

I looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "Of course I know what I'm doing. I grew up around all of this; I know as much as any man about war and preparing for it." Only I had never known of a war between two best friends over a woman's love.

We were both silent until all too quickly the count was in full armor and ready to leave. Then at last he turned to me.

"Forgive me, Katrina, for everything I have ever done that hurt you. Never has that been my intention."

I was completely startled at this, and did not know what to say. "My lord, you have never hurt me in any way. It is I who should be begging your forgiveness."

He shook his head. "You no longer have need to ask for forgiveness from me. You have that already." He looked into my eyes and took my hands in his. "No matter what happens today, know that I will love you always. Not even death can stop my love for you."

Then he kissed me -- one long, fiery kiss -- and left the room with his sword and shield. For several minutes I stood there where he had left me, wondering what I could do now. There was nothing to do but wait and pray, I realized.

Suddenly I wondered if anyone else knew about all of this, and if even Lord Valerious knew. Surely he or my father could stop them.

Racing through the castle I at last found my father and Lord Valerious together, on their way down to the dining hall to eat. They had heard nothing of the previous night's events, and quickly I told them everything, my heart aching with regret as I did so.

Although I wanted badly to go with them, they asked me to remain in the castle while they went to find and stop Vladislaus and Van Helsing before it was too late.

I regretted not asking where the battle would take place. It certainly would have saved valuable time for my father and Lord Valerious.

For what seemed like a very long time I sat staring at the castle wall and waiting. Finally I could stand it no more, and realized that I would go insane if I did not know what was happening. Quickly I ran to the stables and took one of the fastest horses, and leaving through the castle gates I followed the tracks around the nearby forest.

I had been riding for several minutes when I heard voices nearby. Turning my horse in that direction, it did not take me long to find them.

As they came into my view, I saw Lord Valerious and my father standing on the ground, and Van Helsing mounting his horse quickly. Looking back at the two men standing, I saw one kneel down next to something on the ground.

I did not want to accept what I was seeing. It could not have happened, my father and Lord Valerious had to have stopped them. But riding closer I began to fully realize what had taken place.

Looking up, Van Helsing saw me riding towards them. Turning his horse in the opposite direction he kicked it hard, and rode away at full speed.

I kicked my own horse hard into a gallop, and dismounted when I reached them, not bothering to wait for my horse to stop. My father caught me and tried to hold me back as I made my way to the figure lying on the ground.

Pushing him aside and ignoring his protests, I stopped dead when I looked down. There, as I had known in the back of my mind, lay Vladislaus….dead. He had a few bloody cuts here and there on his arms, but the one wound that had killed him was in his chest, just below his heart.

I fell to my knees beside him and took his hand in mine. It was still warm; he had not long been dead. I began to cry, uncontrollable sobs and finally I screamed out in pain and rage.

All of this had happened because of me, and now my husband and the man I loved lay before me dead. It was almost too much for me to bear.

My father knelt beside me, and putting his arm around me he tried to comfort me. All I wanted then was to be alone, and I pushed him away. For an eternity I sat there next to my fallen knight, still holding his hand and looking into his handsome face, praying that he would open his eyes.

Finally I was pulled to my feet against my will, but I did not have the energy to fight. My father took me in his arms and slowly led me away.

I have little memory of what occurred just after this. I felt numb, unable to think or feel anything but pain and sadness. At just nineteen years I was already a widow, and it was all my fault.

Then for some reason my mind went to Van Helsing. To my surprise, I did not hate him for this. I found out later that he had grieved as I had, and was seen riding far into the mountains of Transylvania afterwards. That day would be the last that I would see him for many, many years.

A/N: Don't worry, the story's not over yet. :) I would like to thank all of the reviewers and readers, you guys are the ones that make me keep writing. I'm kind of writing this as the prequel to Van Helsing…just thought you'd like to know that. Ahh…wouldn't it be wonderful if they made this into a movie prequel? :)