Reincarnation

If Dracula cheated death once, he can do it again! This time there are a few catches, but Dracula uses them to his advantage in order to rekindle his long lost relationship with Van Helsing. VH/D

Van Helsing followed after Carl, as he darted past rows of gadgets, talking quickly.

"You have to go to London. There is a man called Dorian Gray there. Here, read this." He quickly shoved a book into Van Helsing's hands.

"He has his own book?"

"No, it's just what we know on him…" Van Helsing opened the book and started reading. Dracula, who had (to Van Helsing's displeasure) followed them to the Order, started reading over Van Helsing's shoulder. The hunter shivered as Dracula's spirit form passed though his back and left him feeling cold.

'As Basil Hallward artfully put the finishing touches on his full-length portrait of an extraordinarily beautiful young man, Lord Henry Wotton paid him a call. Lord Henry much admired the painting and desired to meet the subject. The artist objected, knowing the poisonous influence of which Lord Henry was capable; young Dorian Gray was his ideal of purity and had inspired Basil to the most expressive art of his life.

Just then, in walked Dorian Gray. Against Hallward's wishes, the two met, and Dorian was immediately taken by Lord Henry's fascinating words, presence and wittiness. Henry flattered Dorian with his comments on the virtues of beauty, the charms of youth, and expressed his sadness at the thought that such youth should fade into the ugliness of age. This caused Dorian to plummet into melancholy.

Seeing his portrait for the first time, Dorian gasped at his own beauty. He lamented that the picture would mock him his entire life; age would indeed steal his color and grace: "I know, now, that when one loses one's good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything ... Lord Henry Wotton is perfectly right. Youth is the only thing worth having. When I find that I am growing old, I shall kill myself." Then he wished instead that the picture might grow old while he remained forever young: "I would give everything. I would give my soul for that!" Alarmed by these passions in the young man, Hallward attempted to destroy the painting, but Dorian stopped him and had it taken home that very evening…'

Van Helsing sighed, getting bored. He closed the book.
"Carl, I'm not interested. Just tell me why Gray is such a threat." Carl looked affronted.
"Just keep reading! It very interesting."
"Open the book I'm reading!" Dracula hissed. Van Helsing sighed, and began reading again.

'Dorian met and fell madly in love with Sibyl Vane, a beautiful and talented actress who was portraying Juliet in a cheap theatrical troupe. But the night Dorian invited Lord Henry and Basil Hallward to meet his new love, her performance was lifeless. She was hissed and booed by even the uneducated audience. Afterward, she joyfully explained to the disappointed Dorian that her love for her "Prince Charming," - as she knew him - had transformed her from a mere actress into a real woman. Dorian coldly shunned her, admitting that his love for her had been killed, and vowed that he would see her no more.

On returning home, he was surprised to notice that the face in his painting had changed. A touch of cruelty now lined the mouth. His wish that the painting might be seared with suffering and guilt while his own face was left untarnished, had been granted!'

Van Helsing skipped on a bit, earning him an annoyed curse from Dracula.

'Now Dorian forgot his good resolutions. If fate would deal unjustly with him, he, in turn, determined to give himself up to a life of pleasure and let the portrait bear the burden of his corrupting soul. Eternal youth, wild joys, infinite passion would be his.'

"Ok, so he's an immortal that's full of himself. Nothing I haven't come across before…in Transylvania." He added in a whisper that only Dracula could hear.
"I am going to hit you for that when I become human."
"No no no, this is different. You see unlike Dracula and his brides, Gray can only be killed by his painting being destroyed. You can't kill him with your bare hands, and his painting is kept under lock and key. He won't just hand it over to you."
"So how do I get it?" Carl opened his mouth, shut it again, and blinked.
"I don't know." Van Helsing sighed, looking tired.

"Ah well. I have been missing London. Haven't been there since my first run in with Mr Hyde."

"You'll be ok. You always are." Carl said, trying to be reassuring. "You leave first thing tomorrow. Until then, I suggest you get as much rest as possible."

0o0o0

The rooms that Order had for their workers were far more decorative than those in the hotel Van Helsing had been staying at. Right reds and golds adorned the walls, and there was a large four poster bed in one corner. The room, of course, had a lot of bibles, crucifix's, and holy water in it.

"It's times like this I am glad not to be a vampire." Dracula said disdainfully.

"You're welcome to go at any time. Please." Van Helsing added. Dracula turned back towards him, one brow raised.

"Do you not want to know your past?"

"Not this again." Van Helsing groaned. He lay down on the bed and turned away from Dracula. Dracula smirked.

"Would it interest you to know…" he said, in a deadly whisper, "That we were lovers in the past?"

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