Chapter XII

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Nikita S.-thank you for reviewing! i love your story!

Lady Nessa-hehe, yes weapons for carl to carry...thanks for the review!

Recap: "Hello Gabriel."

"Hello Dracula," said Van Helsing with disgust.

"You haven't introduced me to your new friend, Gabriel. That is impolite," said Dracula in a slightly mocking tone.

"I don't think I will, as impolite as you may think it is."

"Fine. I shall ask her instead. What is your name my darling?" Dracula asked in a falsely sweet tone. Aluka didn't want to tell him. She didn't want him to know who she was. But she didn't have a choice. Her mind was clouded. She was losing control over herself. Dracula was taking over.

Van Helsing noticed this and shook Aluka violently as to break her out of the trance.

"Wake up!" he yelled at her. She blinked and regained control. Dracula glared at Gabriel.

"You are being a disturbance, and I shall have to destroy you."

"You can try," said Van Helsing stubbornly.

"And I can succeed."

"You've failed before. What can help you now? God is on my side."

"The devil is on mine." Dracula turned into his bat-demon form, and Aluka, Carl and Van Helsing ran.

Van Helsing was without much of a plan.

"Carl! Aluka! Run to the horses, ready them! I'll be down there in a few minutes."

"And if you're not?" asked Aluka, slightly worried.

"Run like hell." Van Helsing turned to face the creature, which immediately swooped down on him, putting a large gash on his left forearm. Dracula turned into his normal form, and started walking towards Van Helsing who slowly backed away. He took out a crucifix, which Dracula grabbed and hissed at.

"How many times must we go over this, Gabriel? You can't kill me. I'm already dead."

"Is that so? I've killed you before."

"So you have."

"I've killed you-what is it now?-twice?" Dracula's eyes seemed to spark at this. Clearly those memories were something he wanted to leave behind him. Dracula slapped Van Helsing across the room and out a window.

"Oh," said Dracula, angry that Van Helsing had to fall out the window. He had really wanted to just kill him there.

"Damn," said Van Helsing as he flew out the window. Aluka and Carl, who were below him, with the horses, looked up. Gabriel shot a hook from one of his guns, which latched onto the window and slowed his long descent. He landed softly a few yards from the horses.

Dracula stood at the edge of the broken window, choosing not to fly after them.

"Why isn't he flying after us?" asked Aluka of Van Helsing as they quickly rode their horses away from Castle Frankenstein.

"He probably doesn't want to bring much attention to himself."

"Okay. Let's get back to the manor as fast as possible."

"I agree," said Carl, who clearly had been scared out of his wits at the sight of Dracula again. Carl, for once, took off and led the way back, obviously in a hurry to return to the comfort of his books.

Van Helsing's arm hurt terribly. Whenever he moved it, a jolt of pain was sent throughout his entire body. His face, where Dracula had slapped him also hurt, but the impact of hitting the glass was what caused the most damage. His back was cut in a few places, and his bones and muscles were sore.

And all of this is only going to hurt more tomorrow, thought Van Helsing.

When they got back to the Valerious Manor, everyone was tired and ready to go to sleep. Aluka decided that they should unsaddle their horses for the night.

"Carl, why don't you unsaddle your horse? It could do with a break."

"Okay," said Carl, easily removing the saddle.

"Um, Van Helsing?" asked Aluka. He looked up at her and she continued.

"Yes?"

"Do you think that you can take my horse's saddle off?" asked Aluka, slightly embarrassed, because her shoulder wasn't feeling much better.

"Um, okay," said Van Helsing, not really thinking that he had a slight disability at the moment too. He reached up to grab his horse's saddle, and groaned slightly at the pain that his arm was giving him. Aluka looked over at him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, a tad alarmed.

"Dracula cut my arm-"

"Then you should have said something! Carl, can you please unsaddle Van Helsing's and my horse?" Carl nodded glumly.

"We have to go fix your arm before you loose too much blood," said Aluka to Gabriel as they walked into the large home.

When they were inside the Valerious Manor, Aluka began cleaning the cut. Putting soap in an open wound hurts, but it is necessary to keeping it clean and uninfected. As she cleaned it, Van Helsing was biting his bottom lip, trying not to say anything.

Cleaning it hurts more than getting it, thought Van Helsing, referring to his cut. Aluka wrapped it up and smiled.

"Sorry if I hurt you when I was cleaning it. I should know. I've been treated for more cuts than you know."

"I see. So have I, but that doesn't make it hurt any less."

"True indeed."

"Now you bandaged my arm and made breakfast."

"And?"

"Well, we aren't even. I owe you one."

"I know you do. And how do you plan to repay me?"

"I do not know right now, but I shall think about it and I shall be square with you before the assignment is over."

"You think about that. Goodnight, Gabriel."

"Goodnight Aluka."

"Say goodnight to Carl for me when he comes up."

"Okay." Aluka walked back to her room, Van Helsing's eyes following her to the door. Carl walked in as Aluka walked out, and he saw Van Helsing watching her. He smiled knowingly.

"Oh, Carl," said Van Helsing, once he realized that Carl was there watching him. "Aluka says goodnight."

"Okay, I say goodnight to Aluka. Goodnight Van Helsing."

"Goodnight Carl." Everyone went to their own room, even Carl, looking for a good peaceful night's sleep.

That be all for this chapter! I hope you like! Please review!

-the evil platypus of doom