Disclaimer: Let's get this over with. I do not own Van Helsing :( I would like to, but sadly I do not. Full credit is given to Stephen Summers who directed and produced this film. Good job Ste!
A/N- Thanks to the people who reviewed my story! I really appreciate it if you take the time to write a review, no matter how long or short it is! I don't really mind negative comments either as long as you explain your opinion about my writing. I don't really know how I intend to take the story, I am writing many different paths that I could take and picking the one I think is best! However if you would like to see a particular event or scene then please get in touch with me (see my profile) and I would be quite happy to write it in a way you suggest! Okay well I think that is all for now.
By the way did you guess who the person was? I hope it was who you expected! I couldn't write this story without him in there!
On with the story:
Chapter Five
Gabriella's POV
I spun round and as I saw the figure which was behind me, I froze in shock. My blood ran cold and my breathing became harsh and every inch of my body seemed ice cold with fear. My heart pounded wildly and it beat so loudly I thought he could hear it.
"It is wise that you do not run from me now, wise but foolish." He mused out loud. I shivered at his voice, hairs stood up on the back of my neck and he smiled slightly. I could not see his figure clearly, he was hidden partly by the trees and of course the cover of darkness that engulfed the forest. My throat became dry and my hand shook in horror as he began to step towards me.
"Strange, strange how your heartbeat races with every step I take. I could almost dance to the rhythm." He said in his Romanian accent as he clapped his hands in time to my heartbeat. I gasped and I began to panic. His stepped forward, closer to me. I began to very slowly inch my way backwards. With each step closer he got I moved back slightly. He laughed in amusement and his laughter caused my blood to chill inside of me. My very breath seemed stole away by his presence. He finally emerged from the trees and stepped into the clearing, where the moon bathed the forest floor with pale light. The shadows of the dominating trees made the whole atmosphere around me tense and horrifying. I gasped when I saw him fully. He was pale skinned with black hair, tied into a ponytail and his garments were of the finest black material. Draped over his shoulders was a midnight black velvet cloak and as I looked at his face he smiled slightly. Then in horror I watched as his teeth lengthened and turned into fangs. I screamed loudly as he showed himself for what he was, a vampire. He glared evilly at me and then rustling was heard in the undergrowth. Voices of hunters and their dogs came from the vast trees. He spun round towards the source of the noise and I took the chance. I sprinted with all my might towards the trees. Darting back and forth swiftly I heard him snarl in anger and then I heard a screech of a bat and the furious flapping of wings. I stumbled through the trees, knowing that the forest ended just a few metres away. Twigs snagged at my clothes and branches scratched my face. Just a few more yards, just a few more. I kept telling myself. I heard the flapping wings getting closer and closer and closer. I chanced looking over my shoulder and saw a dark flying shape crashing through the canopies of the trees. Then…bang…I felt flat on the floor and my head crashed against a huge tree. I'd tripped over an ancient tree root and fell to the ground. I screamed in agony as my head hit the bark but not as loud as I screamed after that, when the creature came upon me.
Van Helsing's POV
We reached the Vatican just after nightfall and all around us was silent. We tied our horses up at the nearby stables and slowly walked towards the cathedral. I pushed the enormous doors open and Carl scuttled in behind me. Not a sound was to be heard except for the footsteps of my boots on the cold stone floor. Columns of golden patterns rose up on either side of us as we walked towards the confessions booth. Carl smiled and I ushered him into one of the booths. I tapped onto the window and it shot up. Cardinal Jinette sat there and as he saw who it was he smiled slightly and without a word opened the metal door to the armoury. I gestured for Carl to go first and I followed him out into the room. Cardinal Jinette came to talk to us, "So? Your mission was successful?" He asked us. I sighed and answered, "Well that depends on your definition of successful, Cardinal." I remarked and he turned to me, choosing to ignore what I had replied, "Well? Is Count Dracula gone? The vampires? Are they destroyed? And what of Velken and Anna Valerious? Are they still alive?" His questions came thick and swift. I sighed heavily and close my eyes at his last question, sorrow growing inside of me again. Carl answered the Cardinal so I guessed that he must have seen my sad expression, "Yes, Count Dracula is gone, yes the vampires are destroyed and no, the Valerious'…they are not alive…" He said delicately and I opened my eyes even though I knew they would be glistening with tears. "Oh." Was all the Cardinal said. I turned on him, "Oh! That is all you can say to the fact that Anna Valerious is gone? Oh?" I stormed off, out of the armoury and towards my room.
Carl's POV
As I watched Van Helsing storm angrily out of the room I winced slightly. Cardinal Jinette caught my expression and asked me, "What's his problem?" I sighed deeply and spoke quietly, "He…he grew quite fond of Anna Valerious. I think he admired her in a way…and well he…he…" I couldn't finish off the sentence so I just left it hanging, limp in mid flow. I saw the Cardinal look at me, confused, "He? He grew fond of her? I don't know quite what you mean?" He said and I snorted, "Well begging your pardon Father but I would say it is quite obvious! He liked her….okay grew to love her…" I watched Cardinal Jinette as he realised what I meant and then he turned away from me slightly, "Well, he should not have grew emotional connections to this woman. Her life was always constantly in danger. You should not 'grow fond' of a victim of the mission." He stated simply and a pang of anger flooded up inside me, "I think he has his reasons for being upset. You would not know of what he went through in Transylvania! And I do not intend to reveal those events, maybe some day he will admit them to you but until them I think you should just stop pressing him on matters such as this." I said and then walked over to the door, to the bedrooms. He stopped me, putting his hand on my shoulder, "That is why you do not form attachments to people who are involved in a mission. It always ends in heartbreak." He explained and I nodded respectfully and began to climb the stairs. Anger still swarmed inside me. How could he possibly understand? He didn't know anything about the werewolf, or what happened at Dracula's castle or about the curse. He didn't know Van Helsing had been bitten, I had failed to mention that on contacting during the mission itself. He didn't know anything of Anna at all! How could he judge Van Helsing's position regarding Anna when he was so clueless about what really went on in Transylvania! I reached the top of the stairs and went to my room. I pushed the door open and found that it had been prepared for my return. I smiled. It was quite a surprise that we had returned at all, at least not in pieces! I dumped my sack of belongings on the bed and hung my cloak up on a hook, behind the door. I sighed as I moved over to the window and looked out. The Vatican City was so different from the rugged, mountainous Transylvania. For one thing it wasn't haunted my nightmarish creatures! Like vampires! I shook my head to stop the thoughts coming because I knew that somehow they would progress until they came back to Anna. I didn't want to think about what had happened that night. I didn't want to remember how the flames ate her dead corpse as we stood upon the cliff, overlooking the sea. I don't want to remember what she looked like as Van Helsing cradled her in his arms and howled at the moon. And most of all I don't want to remember how brave and beautiful she was. Sighing, I stepped away from the window and decided to check on Van Helsing. Halfway down the corridor I paused, did he want to talk to me? Well there's only one way to find out my mind told me so I stopped outside Van Helsing's room. I pressed my ear to the door and heard nothing. He must either be sleeping or not there I decided so I gave up and went down the stairs to find something to eat. I pushed the door open to the kitchen and went and grabbed a couple of bread rolls and an orange then I shuffled outside and into the armoury.
Van Helsing's POV
I lay on my bed, having already disposed of my black hat and coat. I sighed and stared at the ceiling. I didn't realise it but my mind began to wander to events of the past and I began reminiscing on good times before Anna's death. I remembered when Carl and I had first entered the village in Transylvania…
I dismounted and Carl followed. "So how much do you remember?" he'd asked as we tied up our horses in the stables. I sighed before answering, "Not now Carl." "You must remember something?" he pressed and I turned to him, "I remember fighting the Romans at Vesada." Carl frowned. "but that was in 73 Ad." I sighed and snapped at him, "You asked." Then people began following us and I could see it made Carl uncomfortable because he said, "Why is it important to kill this Dracula anyway?" To which I replied, "Because he's the son of the devil." I said pulling my hat down lower, to cover my eyes. "I mean besides that?" Carl asked fretfully as the crowd began to grow. I noticed that many of them carried pitchforks and spades as they crowded around us, "Because if we do anything bitten by him or created by him will also die." I explained but Carl piped up, "I mean besides that." I was about to answer when I was cut off, "Welcome to Transylvania." Said a voice from behind me. I sighed heavily and flung my crossbow down as I turned to face the speaker. A large crowd of people had gathered behind us as we were walking. Many of them carried weapons of sorts and I surveyed them closely. A female voice came harshly from behind me, "You. Turn around." She said in a thick Romanian accent. I did as she asked and urged Carl to turn aswell. "Let me see your faces." She ordered looking at us curiously. "Why?" I asked simply to which she replied, "Because we don't trust strangers." She explained and I heard another voice from behind us, "Strangers don't last long here." Said the man who had spoken before as he measured Carl, "Five foot six…and…" The woman smiled and said, "Gentlemen you will now be disarmed." And the crowd of people began shuffling forward. I stared at them harshly, "You can try." I said clutching the handle of my gun which was fastened to my belt. The woman was shocked and she said, "You refuse to obey our laws!" "The laws of men mean little to me." I told her firmly and she shrugged her shoulders. "Fine. Kill them." She told the people and I stepped forward hastily, "I'm here to help you." She laughed slightly and looked down at me, "I don't need any help." Then out of the corner of my eye I spotted something behind her and I said quickly, "Oh really." And picked my crossbow up quickly and aimed it in her direction. She ducked in shock and behind her flew three bat like figures. Vampires…That was the first time I had met Anna Valerious and as I looked back on it now I almost laughed but then I remembered what had become of her. I gulped as another memory came into view.
Anna pulled open the heavy, wooden doors to the entrance hall of Valerious Manor. "How did you get here?" She asked Carl and I but Carl replied as he could see I wasn't really interested. "We came by sea." He told her as we followed her into the house. "The Sea? Really?" She asked, genuinely curious. "Yes." Carl nodded to her. She thought and then asked, "The Adriatic Sea?" I cut her words off, "Where do I find Dracula?" I said more urgently. She didn't slow her walking but simply answered us, "He used to live in this very house, four centuries ago. No one knows where he lives now. My father would stare at that painting for hours, looking for Dracula's lair." She explained clearly as we passed a huge, ancient map of Romania, mounted upon the wall. "So that's why you've come?" She asked us, walking towards a table filled with various articles of weaponry. "I can help you." I assured her but she snorted slightly, not bothering to look at me, but instead chose a sword carefully. "No one can help me." She picked another sword up and ran her fingers down the blade, examining it. "I can try." I said smartly but she just laughed slightly, "You could die trying all my family has. OI can handle this myself." She put the other sword down and chose a different one instead. "So I noticed." I said, sarcastically, smirking. She spun round and walked swiftly towards me, "The vampires attacked in daylight, they never do that. I was unprepared," She explained, tapping me on the shoulder with her blade, "It won't happen again." She guaranteed me. But I said to her, puzzled, "So why did they attack in daylight?" She straight away replied, "Clearly they wanted to catch me off guard. They seem most desperate to finish off my family." She slid the long, curved sword into the scabbard which hung loosely at her waist. "Why is that? Why now?" I inquired, interested. She just replied with, "You ask a lot of questions." I turned to her, "Usually I ask just two: what are we dealing with and how do I kill it?" She walked over to yet another table full of daggers and swords and axes, "My father spent most his life looking for answers. Tearing through the tower, combing through the family archives…" I interrupted her by turning to Carl, "Carl, the tower. Start there." He scurried off with a, "Right-oh." I turned back to Anna who had chosen a dagger, "The only way to save your family is to stay alive until Dracula is killed." She put her leg on the table and slotted the dagger into her boots before spinning round to face me, hands on her hips, "And who will kill him if not me? Who will show courage if not me?" She questioned and moved over to pick a stake up. I stopped her, "If you got out there you'll be outmanned, outpositioned and you can't see in the dark." She twirled round but I stopped her with my hand, holding the stake firmly, "In the morning we will hunt him…but we'll do it together." She let go off the stake and stepped back slightly, "Some say you are a murderer, Mr Van Helsing, others say you are holy man. Which is it?" She inquired. I sighed, thinking, "It's a bit of both I think." She raised an eyebrow slightly then stepped up close to my body, "I promised you a drink." She remember. I smiled, "Yes, yes you did." She teased the stake out of my hand slowly, "The bar is down the hall. Help yourself." She took the stake from my hand and began to walk away, "As for me I am going to finish this once and for all." She walked towards the door. I turned around with a sigh and followed her down the corridor, "I'm sorry you have to bear this burden alone." She answered, carrying on walking fast, "On the contrary, I would wish for it no other way." I said, "And I'm sorry about your father and brother…" She picked up the pace a little as she replied, "I will see them again. We Transylvanians always look on the brighter side of death." She informed me, I was confused. "There's a brighter side of death!" She turned to face me, a smile on her face. "Yes, it's just harder to see." She turned back round to go through the open doorway but I put my hand on her shoulder to turn her round and she looked at me. Then I took out the sleeping powder and sprayed it in her face. She crumpled, unconscious and slid down the door frame. I caught her in my arms just in time before she hit the cold, hard marble floor. "And I'm sorry about that too…" I whispered quietly.
I rolled over on my bed, trying to stop the tears, which suddenly gushed out of my dark eyes and onto the pillow. I was not usually a man to show his feelings so clearly but all the emotions had just come rushing inside of me. At least I was alone and could be in peace here. I sighed again as more tears came and then I closed my eyes, tight shut to stop more memories coming. Before I knew what was happening I was drifting off into an uneasy sleep…
A voice called to me. "Van Helsing?" Then more urgently, "Gabriel?" I opened my eyes slowly and found myself staring at the beautiful face of Anna Valerious. She smiled with joy and kissed me softly. "I can't believe I am really back! We can be together now, Van Helsing…together…" Her words echoed in my thoughts as I glanced at my surroundings. Transylvania. Why were we here? Anna smiled and wept with joy, burying her face in my shoulder. I gulped as her silky, chestnut brown hair fell over my face and I patted her back softly. We were in Valerious Manor. Why? Was all I could think. "Anna?" I whispered softly and she lifted her head, she opened her mouth to reply but…
The scene changed suddenly. I was standing in the courtyard of a grand castle. Thunder rumbled in the distance and lightening flashed through the midnight sky. The full moon waxed high overhead and a swarm of bats crashed through the window and settled themselves upon the rafters of the barn. A harsh, cold laugh came from behind me. I froze on the spot. "Good evening…Gabriel…we meet again…" A sly voice said. I turned round slowly as I bit my lip. I knew who it was standing behind me and I wished that it wasn't who I thought. No such luck. "Oh Gabriel?" Came the cold cruel voice again. I spun round to face the speaker. There was no one there. Shocked I looked around my surroundings for him…he wasn't there…"Gabriel?" Came the voice again, more impatient this time. "How are you doing this!" I yelled.
"Oh so you are aware of my powers. You see Gabriel, minds are easy to control during a period of sleep…they are weak and therefore easy to break into…if you have the power of course." He laughed. I gulped. "How?" He chuckled again, "How what Gabriel? How am I doing this? How can you hear me? How can I be alive? How can I have broke into your dreams of Anna Valerious? Hmm?" He asked, mockingly. I grunted angrily, "You know what I mean" I heard him sigh, "Not so smart are we Gabriel? Yes I am back…and I am here to stay this time. Immortal once more…" I interrupted him, "Why are you doing this? Why can't you leave me alone you bastard!" I yelled furiously and at that moment I drifted away, his cackling still ringing in my ears…
I sat up in bed panting heavily. I gulped and shook my head furiously to get rid of the vision. "It was just a dream, no a nightmare…just a nightmare…" Then I stopped. Was it? Was it true what I had just seen or was it him? Was it Dracula back, seeking revenge? I rubbed my forehead, it burned and ached. I slowly and uneasily got to my feet and had to grasp the wall to keep myself steady. I shuffled across the room unsteadily and then made my way to the door. Closing it quietly behind me I walked swiftly down the corridor. I could use some air.
Anna's POV
Can I let him do it? Was all I could think all the time. Could I possibly let my brother sacrifice himself just so I could be with a man whom I was fond of? No I thought. That would be way too selfish of me! But only if there was another way then! If only there was someway I could be return to earth. If only…
A knock banged on my door. "Come in." I said quickly and stood up to greet whoever the visitor was. It was Velkan. He smiled sweetly at me and then shut the door behind him. I sat down on the bed again and he sank down beside me. He didn't say anything but he didn't need to because I realised what he was going to say. I raised my hand to silence him as he opened his mouth. "I just want to say Velkan that I know that you want to make me happy and that if sacrificing yourself for my benefit was possible then you would do so…but you do not need to. The fact is that Van Helsing and I may be together, it may not be now, may not be in 10 years but one day we will be together and that day will be the happiest for me. But you sacrificing yourself to see this happen is something I cannot let you do. You mean too much to me to let me sacrifice yourself…you mean too much." I trailed off, looking up at my older brother. He smiled slightly and I embraced him warmly, placing my head on his shoulder as he stroked my hair fondly.
Carl's POV
As I worked on improving one of my inventions I heard Van Helsing come down the stairs, "Are you all right, Van Helsing? The Cardinal, I told him why he'd upset you…I don't think you'd like his reply though!" I tried to joke and he sent me a fake smile. "He doesn't know anything about Anna Valerious so tell him to shut his mouth!" Van Helsing whispered quietly and I smiled, "I don't think he'd appreciate that either!" He laughed and I said slyly, "Ah at least I got you smiling again…" He looked at me then and replied very softly, "I don't see much that's worth smiling about. All my life I've fought vampires and gargoyles and warlocks and werewolves and I should be terrified of them! But I'm not…what I am terrified of is when I kill them and what happens to me when I do. See my life doesn't get easier and all the missions I've been on and the creatures I've faced have taught me one thing, sometimes there's nothing worth living for. I just wish that I knew what my past was and I wish I knew what the bloody hell Dracula has a grudge against me for…why can't he just leave me…" He asked and I looked at him confused, "Van Helsing, Dracula is gone… and of course he had a grudge on you, you killed him in the past! You can't expect a man to face his killer and then just walk away, calm! But it doesn't matter because now he's gone…for good…" I said with a nod and he sighed heavily and without another word left the room, through the double doors. "Where you going!" I shouted and I got a distant reply, "For a walk…I need some air…" I understood, he just wanted to be alone. So I went back to my invention which required some serious brainwork.
A/N: Sorry it's not much of a cliff-hanger but I kinda felt that maybe the Gabriella storyline would be the one which needed suspense…for now. Also I am thinking on sending Van Helsing on another mission but I need ideas for a 'monster' for him to vanquish. Any ideas? If you have and you have MSN then contact me my email is on my profile. Oh yeah I almost forgot so what do you think on these directions for the plot: Anna is sent back to earth? Gabriella used to be in love with Velkan and he loved her back? Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter and more will come soon…