Chapter XVIV

I am sooooo sorry I took forever to update! School started and I got a ton of homework the first week, and my mom was all, don't go on the computer until your homework is done! Ok, I will never ever take that long to update again! Thank you for the reviews!

Recap: "We are not going to lose Dracula that easily."

Aluka ran hard to the horses, easily jumping onto the back of hers. Van Helsing did the same, but Carl had some trouble. 'I need Aluka to give me those horseback riding lessons!' thought Carl.

Carl kicked his horse hard, following Aluka and Gabriel at a gallop. Aluka was leading them, in a jockey's position, her jacket and long hair flying in the wind. Van Helsing was sitting on the back of his horse, his jacket also flying, one hand on the reins, the other on his trademark hat, so it wouldn't fall off. Carl was bouncing around on his mount, who was riding at a pace clearly a tad faster than he was used to.

Then, as they thought they might be far enough away from Dracula, they heard it. An unholy screech filled the air. It wasn't Dracula. It was his brides. And they were livid.

"Oh shit," said Van Helsing, turning as he heard the screech.

Carl squeaked in fear.

'We are having really bad luck with the undead today,' thought Aluka.

They continued to ride, though they did so in fear.

"Not good, not good..." Carl was muttering while almost falling off his horse.

Van Helsing had caught up with Aluka.

"Do you have a plan? Because riding like this, no matter how fast we're going, there's no way we're going to get to the manor?" asked Aluka.

"I don't have a particular plan in mind, but give me second!" There was a moment in which both Aluka and Van Helsing racked their brains in search of an answer.

"Way ahead of you!"

"You've already got a plan?!" asked Van Helsing, surprised that she had something figured out so quickly.

"Yeah, just follow me!" Aluka yelled at Van Helsing. Gabriel raised an eyebrow, but did not have time to question her.

"Tell Carl to follow me too!" Van Helsing nodded, and yelled to Carl to follow Aluka and him. Aluka went off the trail to the town and cut into the woods. They rode into branches, with near misses of tree trunks.

Aluka had a long cut on her left cheek no doubt given to her by a stubborn twig, or something like it. Van Helsing had received many cuts and bruises in the same way that Aluka had, but one didn't stand out particularly. Carl was missing most of the taller trees, but was still in danger of falling off.

Van Helsing had never ridden off the trail, at least not in this area of the world, and didn't have any idea where he was going. Aluka, however seemed to have some sense of direction in these woods, and even with the brides of Dracula attempting to swoop down on them through the thick foliage.

There seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel, when Aluka went back to the trail, and Van Helsing and Carl followed. They were surprised when they ended up near the graveyard in the town. They didn't question Aluka as she went into the alleys of the little village.

The two remaining brides were closely following the group.

"Get them!" they heard Aleera scream to Marishka. The horses seemed to hear this and sped up. They turned left then right then went left again, and then right and left once more. They were in sight of the small town, only a short distance away from the courtyard.

Aluka continued riding her horse until the last moment as she literally jumped off her mount and up the stairs of the church. Van Helsing and Carl did the same. Aluka was holding the door open much as Van Helsing had done previously, ushering Gabriel and Carl in.

"Hurry!!" said Aluka in a strained voice, looking over their shoulders. Marishka was swooping down on them. They were barely going to make it. Then...Aluka slammed the door on her face. They had made it! They were in the church, where Dracula's brides certainly could not venture.

Carl was panting on the floor, and Van Helsing was standing, chest heaving. Aluka was standing with her back against the door, breathing heavily, but looking extremely pleased with herself.

"Don't look so damn pleased with yourself," said Van Helsing, although he was smiling slightly.

"Oh, I'm living this moment up to its full potential," she replied.

"Uh, Carl? Are you okay?" asked Aluka in concern, for Carl was now sprawled on the floor. He looked very shaken.

"Oh yes. You know, running from Dracula and his brides is just like the morning ride to work for me," said Carl shakily.

"Are you hurt then?" He just groaned a little in response. Van Helsing rolled his eyes and bent over him. He checked for cuts and bruises, with Carl squeaking every once in a while.

"Just some cuts and bruises, but nothing fatal."

Carl muttered something incoherent.

"What was that Carl?" asked Gabriel.

"I just said it feels fatal." Aluka and Gabriel smiled. He wasn't quite as used to pain as they were.

"Your arm didn't give in then?" asked Aluka of Gabriel.

"Nope. Carl's fine, but those twigs were pretty nasty. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just like Carl, a few cuts and bruises. And you?"

"Oh yeah, I'll live."

"Well, should we stay here for the night, or should we go back to the Valerious Manor?" asked Aluka.

"Uh, just to be safe, we should stay here. Aleera and Marishka probably hiding at the moment, waiting for us to try and leave," replied Van Helsing.

"Okay." Aluka walked over to one of the few pews of the down trodden old church. Only one was long enough for a human to sleep on, so two were going to have to sleep on the floor.

"Aluka, you can take the floor, me and Carl will sleep on the floor," said Van Helsing.

"No, I'll sleep on the floor, Carl needs rest more than me."

"Thank you," said Carl, quickly scurrying over to the pew and laying down. In minutes he was asleep.

"That leaves the floor to me and you," said Aluka matter-of-factly to Van Helsing, as she took a seat.

"Don't worry, I won't try anything," said Van Helsing as he sat on the floor next to Aluka.

"You better not," she said, looking dead serious.

"I won't, I said that and trust me, it takes a lot for me to break my word," said Van Helsing, reminiscing on Frankenstein's monster, and the promise he made to him.

"Well then, goodnight," said Aluka, laying down and putting her back to Van Helsing.

"Goodnight," he whispered back.

Yey for you! No cliffie! Sorry I did so before...-smiles- I'm just like that-well, please review and I swear I won't take as long to update again!!

-the evil platypus of doom