Chapter 6

Through the hell

I couldn't look at Vlad's body on the ground any more. It was too hard for me. Gabriel did it, he killed his best friend. But I didn't cry… I was so calm and felt how my heart freezing. I came back home to my room. My father was surprised to see me out of my chamber and wanted to say something. But I looked at him and I think he was afraid of this coldness, so he left me alone as I wanted. I threw myself on the bed and lay for the whole day without moving. Although I was starving and thirsty but I didn't care of it. My single thought was Dracula's death. I still saw his unconscious body in the sea of his own blood. Poor Valerie Senior, I thought, he wanted to nurse Vlad's children but now he had to bury his own son. But what would be with Gabriel, I wanted to see him as much as I hoped he wouldn't come after what he did. But soon he came… He looked mad and wild. Maybe his conscience tortured him.

Gabriel showed me the ring with Dracula's blazon on it. Oh, I understood how he got it immediately but why did he show it to me?

"Look, Maria. I killed my friend, no brother, for you. You're just a woman. Weak but dangerous. I hate you, demon with angel face, and love you at the same time." – He said.

What happened with him? I was afraid but answered with coldness:

"You killed him? Congratulations. You wanted it, didn't you?" – My voice was full of sarcasm. Gabriel was shocked. He squeezed my wrist and cried:

"How can you be so insensible! I love you more than any! I killed Vlad because of you! Evil creature!"

My wrist pained but I didn't show it. I didn't want to be weak anymore.

"You blame me in your own crime. I pleaded you not to do it, haven't you forgotten?"

Gabriel released my wrist and closed face with his hands:

"What had I done! Forgive me, Maria … I'm begging you!" – He felt on his knees and embraced my legs. I stood straightly like a statue, caressing his hair. Gabriel kissed my hands crying.

"You shouldn't ask me to forgive you."

"We'll marry and forget this accident!" – He was spoken so bitterly that I had almost believed him. But I knew that everything changed from Vlad's death.

"You think, we'll live happily forever after? You are The Left Hand of God, Gabriel; you serve the Holy Order. Your sin is too heavy. You'll be cursed, and you know it."

Gabriel shook head slowly.

"No, Maria, I …"

He rose from the floor and touched my face. I just looked in his eyes sadly.

"You'll never forgive yourself, Gabriel. It's better for you to forget everything, and me in fact." – I knew that I was right. But it was so hard to let him. So hard! Gabriel left Transylvania as people told. I haven't seen him from that moment but I still believe that he'll return. What am I thinking about! I don't want him to see me in such state! Damn to all it!

Dracula opened eyes and found himself in the black tunnel with light at the end. (A/n: you know where he is. Keep reading!)

He heard calm and soft voice that was calling for him. Vladislaus made a few steps but stopped. He knew that he was dead. He remembered everything. The duel, Gabriel with a sword in his hands, and maybe the reason of the duel. Vlad's heart was full of hate. He wanted to destroy everything that made him to suffer. Dracula turned to the dark side of the tunnel and slowly went there. He wasn't sure what was on the dark side but if Heaven is real, Hell must be somewhere here, too. Voice became louder, almost pleading him to come back to the light, but he didn't listen. Vladislaus was walking for a minute or two and soon the light disappeared. Darkness was everywhere. Dracula looked around but couldn't see anything. He stopped and heard somebody's cold and terrifying voice:

"Come, Vladislaus, I was waiting for you at least for one thousand years."

"Where are you? Are you a…"

"Just go …"

Suddenly he saw the flame on the opposite side and followed it. The flame became brighter and … colder. Vlad was surprised, he touched it and appeared in the enormous hall with torchlights on the walls. At the end of the hall there was a stone throne. Dracula came closer and saw the man with curly raven black hair and deep dark eyes in which he found all his sins. The man was clad in black costume with white cloak. He was very old but looked about forty - forty-five. The man rise from the throne and said:

"Ah, Vladislaus, welcome to my home! Do you know who am I?"

"The devil?"

"Right! I'm Satan, devil, king of darkness. But my real name – Lucifer. You are as smart as brave, if you left the light by your own wish, my friend!"

"You said you have been waiting for me for one thousand years, what do you mean?"

"Yes, how long ago was it, Vladislaus or … Jude Iscariot." – Devil laughed.

"Who!"

"You forgot everything, don't you? I'll explain. One thousand four hundred years ago you betrayed Jesus, when you made a suicide your soul wasn't belonging to me or the God. So in 1422 you were born again. Now you are not Jude in fact but Count of Transylvania. And you came here to ask for help."

Vlad was shocked but soon regain consciousness.

"Can you send me back?"

"Of course! But you won't be same as before death."

"You'll take my soul?"

"Right…"

Vladislaus thought for a while but his anger on Gabriel made him resolute.

"Agree …"

Lucifer laughed again and snapped fingers. When he did it two demons looked like snakes appeared with the long silver dagger. Satan prepared a goblet and cut his wrist. Smoking red blood filled the goblet. After that Lucifer gave the goblet to Vlad, he looked at the liquid and drank it. Taste was too sweet and hot. Dracula felt strange pain in heart but soon it disappeared as anger and hate. It seemed that there was nothing, just cold calmness. Satan put hand on his shoulder and said with an evil grin:

"No pain, really? Now, my son, you'll return back to your home. Enjoy your immortal life. I created the new specie! You'll drink blood of mortals without pity! But beware of the sunlight; it can destroy you and those whom you'll turn to your specie. Go now, my son!"

Suddenly everything disappeared. Vladislaus found himself in the forest. Sky was clear and the moon was bright. He could sense every alive creature, hear every noise and his vision was perfect. He didn't feel changes in weather anymore but he still could enjoy the wind. Dracula decided to visit his old father, one of the reasons of his death.

Valerie Senior was praying for his son's soul. When he knew about Vlad's death, his previous energy and vigor disappeared. His eyes were red of tears. Dracula teleported into his father's room and looked at the old knight. He didn't feel sorry for his father and stopped his pray crudely:

"Hello, father. Praying? How touching."

Valerie Senior rose from knees and looked at Dracula with fear.

"Son …?"

"Returned from hell an hour ago."

"Hell! You are …"

"You right, dear father?"

"Go away, monster!" – The old knight took out the sword and directed it on his son.

"I respected for better meeting." – Dracula felt how his canines became longer and he knew what to do with them. Valerie Senior didn't want to hurt Vladislaus but his son solved this problem. He threw his body on the sword and growled. His father prayed on Latin and cried:

"Not alive! Nospheraty!"

"Nospheraty? So let it be."

Vlad heard his father's heart pulsing in his head and saw the blood streaming by veins. Valerie Senior murmured something and pulled his son into the map on the wall. Dracula flew through the map and got up immediately on the other side. He knew what it was. The Dragon Order together with the Holy Order made enters to the places separated from the world with circles of mountains, desert or sea. That was made to keep evil away. Vlad couldn't return. Cold was everywhere and snowflakes were falling down from the sky. Dark and lonely place but the most evil looking was the icy fortress. Vlad had heard about it from his father but never thought that he could get there. Dracula felt on knees in despair but suddenly he heard familiar voice:

"Give up so soon? You have my blood in your veins, remember? Blood of the fallen angel! Fly, child of the night! Fly, my son!"

Nospheraty opened two big leather wings; he turned into bat-looking hell beast and flew into the night sky. He flew to the Sigishoare, his home village. Vlad was choking he needed blood instantly. Blood in his veins destroyed all oxygen in his chest. That's why he needs to drink humans' blood, to breathe. Dracula chose his victim. He flew to my family's castle. (A/n: It is still Marishka writings)

I was sitting at the mirror and brushing my hair. I wasn't thinking or dreaming; I knew that my life without Gabriel isn't life. I didn't notice Dracula's arriving. He felt my heartbeat and smell of my blood. He could even read my mind. He focused on my neck and said grinning evilly:

"Hello, my love, longed for me?"