In these three days since the attack, young Annora had been in an out of consciousness. She was supposedly feeling better, so Velkan and Gracianna went to see her on this the third day.
Little Avica led them into Annora's room. "Shhhh, you must be quiet, Nora's sleeping." she said in a loud whisper.
Gracie walked on over to her bed and knelt down as Avica walked out shutting the door.
Velkan went pale when he saw her lying there. " Oh my God. Nora." he said as he sat down and scooped her into his arms.
She started to stir. "Velkan." she mumbled. Then her eyes shot open. "Velkan, you must stop Dracula! He's going to come again. In the night. He comes here, he watches me! You must tell your father to stop him!"
She fell asleep again, leaving Velkan, terrified and pale nearly in tears.
Gracie looked at the two and left. Knowing Velkan would want to be alone with her.
After Gracie left Velkan lied down with Annora still in his arms and wept for her.
That night Velkan decided he would go to protect Annora. He waited until everyone was asleep and with his crossbow and stake, he crept away.
Someone moved in the shadows as Velkan walked through the foyer to the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" It was Gracie. She knew he was going to go and protect Annora.
"Nothing, Grace, go back to sleep. It is none of your concern." He replied in a whisper.
"Oh yes it is. If you wanna go get yourself turned by a bride you go right ahead. However, I'm going to go get mother and father to make sure you don't get killed."
He rolled his eyes at her. "I am not going to get turned or killed and don't tell them. I'm going to protect her. She needs me."
Gracie crossed her arms. "Who's going to save you if not the great Gabriel and Anna Van Helsing? It for sure will not be me." She looked like her mother most when she took attitude along with her Romanian accent.
Velkan started walking to the door. "Gracianna, do not tell them that I need help. I have the Van Helsing blood in my veins as do they. I have the skills of our parents and more patience than Carl. I have grown up learning everything they could've taught me." he got quieter when he heard a noise coming from up stairs. "I also have to protect the woman I love. If father hadn't have nearly died protecting our mother we wouldn't be here today." With that he walked out into the cool night.
Inside, Gracie stood there looking at the door. "Why does this not surprise me?" she asked herself before going back to bed.
Back at the Castle Dracula:
Aleera sat up at the window as she always did in the first hours of night. She tried again, to remember what she had lost. She tried so hard she nearly got a headache and then she decided to try another method, she would go back to the house where that girl was. The one that made her remember.
With that thought she quickly told Marishka that she would be back soon and flew into the foggy night.
She flew to Annora's window and carefully slid in. She walked lightly as not to wake her.
Aleera sniffed the scent, the incredible aroma coming from Annora. The scent was only one that would come from Dracula's Tainted. The Tainted were the girls he'd hypnotized and thought to save for later, so to speak.
She watched as the moonlight poured onto the girl so softly and took a step closer.
/FLASHBACK\\
The moon. And there he was again. Dracula had come to her before, this time his intent was to take her when he left. Aleera screamed.
"No! I will not be taken! You can not take me!" She screamed at the Count.
"Aleera, you will learn to love me." He said walking toward her extending his hand.
She picked up a small music box off of her table and threw it at him in vain. He was nearing her, closing in on her as she put her back against the wall and slid down onto the floor.
"Stop this." she pleaded breathlessly just before she let out a bloodcurdling scream that signaled to her guard, Byron Valarious, that she was in danger. He beat on the door.
"Aleera! Are you alright? Answer me!" Byron yelled as he pounded on the heavy door.
She opened her mouth to scream again for him but no sound came out. She clasped at her throat and tried to cough but nothing worked. Her eyes welled with tears as she sat there and closed her eyes. Then as suddenly as it had left her voice was back and the scream finally escaped. With a burst of will and energy she opened her eyes and they showed anger welling along with her tears. She stood, facing Dracula, fighting his evil wishes and ran to the door, she unlocked it and opened it. The only reason she had gotten it open was because Dracula had let her. The door would only open enough for her to see the face of her love, her Byron. She tilted her head as she put her hand through the space between the door and frame and touched his face.
"Byron," She said through tears. "I cannot fight him for long. He will kill you, if you do not run."
He protested and kissed her palm. "No, I will not let him take you. I have to-"
"I will love you forever, Byron." she smiled at Byron, though Dracula's trance of lust started to engulf her again. "You, cannot save me now, but you can save yourself."
"No. I may not live without you." He started.
"You must live for me. Live and I will live through you. Whatever happens, I will love you forever."
The door started to close and her arm pulled back.
"I will love you forever." He said as the door shut and he fell to his knees. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye is not forever my love!" She sobbed through the door just before Dracula took her out the window and flew to his castle with her.
/END FLASHBACK\
Aleera, wide-eyed and clearly shaken,started to tear up and she cried a low soft cry so low her master couldn't hear her pain. When she recovered from the latest memory, she gently touched the girls hair. She studied her features. Red curly hair down to her waist. Aleera picked up a lock of her own hair from her shoulder and took note that it was the same color. In fact this girl looked much like she remembered her own reflection. She ran her fingers over her own features as she studied the girl more.
The more she wondered the more she wanted to wake the girl up. The Tainted can only be tainted for three weeks. Then their coma like sleep ends and they forget the traumatic events that took place. Should she wake her, she would risk the wrath of her Master's anger.
This girl gave her what she wanted. In her presence she felt a familiarity. She felt she needed to protect her.
She knelt down beside the girl and smiled brushing the hair out of her face. Then she heard something with her extreme hearing that was surely coming her way. It was a human, an awake human. She smelled his blood.
"A Van Helsing." She said to herself. "Curses."
Though they went on regular feeds, the Vampires hadn't seen the Van Helsing children in years. She was curious as to what he would look like. Her evil defense mode kicked in. She hissed and stood there her eyes a glistening purple. He slowly climbed into the window unaware of Aleera's presence.
"Nora." He said as he walked over to the bed.
Aleera came out of the shadow hissing at Velkan. She looked at his face and her arms fell to her sides, her eyes changed back to brown.
She looked at him with softened eyes and smiled with tears in her eyes.
/FLASHBACK\
Byron looked down at Aleera and kissed her as they sat in a large field. No one could see them so they lied down in the tall grass. After the kiss was over they lie side by side watching the sun set.
"Aleera?" Byron asked softly.
"Yes?" She closed her eyes and smiled.
"A year from now, you will have turned seventeen." He commented in a thinking voice.
"Yes." She said rolling onto her side.
"Would you want by chance to be married in that year?" He questioned.
Her face lit up and she threw her arms around him. "Only if it is to you Byron Valarious."
She kissed him again passionately.
/END FLASHBACK
Aleera starred in amazement as Velkan drew his arrows, though she didn't seem to notice them.
"Byron?" She choked out finally.
Velkan lowered the weapon and looked at her a bit frightened.
"What?" Was the only word he could get out.
"Byron, Is it really you? I cannot believe I ever could've forgotten you. Do you remember me?"
Velkan stood puzzled. Was this some trick? What and who was she talking about?
"My name is Velkan, Velkan Van Helsing." He stuttered.
She shook her head, "No." she said. "You must be Valarious."
"Yes. My mother is Anna Valarious Van Helsing. You remember, you tried to kill her."
"Yes well. I am not here to kill anyone. And that was many years ago, I hope she holds no grudge." Aleera said still amazed as she sat down on a small loveseat at the foot of the bed. "Come sit with me. I will not harm you."
"Right. But you're a vampire. You could be lying." He stated as he walked slowly over and sat down there beside her with his crossbow at his side.
"I mean you no harm." She reached out and touched his face. Cupped his cheeks in her hands.
"So you aren't here to kill anyone, what are you here for?" He asked clearly taken aback by her pull on him. This pull she unknowingly had on all men.
"To remember." She said not taking her eyes off of his features.
"Remember what?" He asked.
Just then they heard the sound of hooves against the dirt street. Van Helsing was coming.
Aleera did not pay attention to it. Velkan heard it loud and clear.
"You must go." He said rushing her away to the window. "My father wouldn't stop to listen." What was he saying? He was setting loose a vampire.
She left still watching him until she was in the sky.
Gabriel had clearly not seen her slip away. He rode up to the window and yelled low. "Velkan. Your mother has went into labor. Hurry!"
Velkan quickly kissed Annora's head and jumped out onto the horse with his father. They rode hastily back to their home.
A/N: Well, well, well, it seems I have finished chapter 5. I NEED REVIEWS! Please tell me what you think. I will try my best to keep it updated its just lately I have been terribly busy with softball…..