Chapter xxvi

I am sooooo sorry I took a very long time to get this one out. I do have plausible reasons why it took so long, but I shall not bore you with those, so instead let's move along to the next chappie!

Aluka was in Dracula's chambers. It was dark, and hard to make out the body shapes. She was laying in a corner, seemingly unconscious, a pained expression on her face, her head lolling to one side. She could barely remember where she was or why she was there. And then so realizing, jerked awake nervously.

Everything came rushing back to her and she stood up. As she did, she felt a searing pain in her head.

Note to self, do not do anything Dracula can do in a stronger and more painful manner, she thought, remembering previous events.

She groaned, and took in her surroundings. Aluka looked over at the beautifully adorned bed and noticed a lovely dress sitting on it. It was crimson and black, with a beads running from the bottom to about midway. It had flowing sleeves that hung off the shoulders. In short, it was beautiful, and must have cost a lot of money for whoever had bought it.

And with that, Aluka remembered why she was given the dress and her initial excitement that this dress was there for her was lost. She frowned, and was thinking of an escape when someone rudely burst into her door.

"How lucky am I, that the person I least want appears at a time of trial and confusion in my life," she stated glumly as Dracula waked through the door.

He clicked his tongue in an annoying manner.

"So rude, my love, I think that it is in your best interest to stop these things."

"You think or you know?" asked Aluka in a smart aleck way.

"You do not pick up on things quickly, do you?" said Dracula coldly as his eyes both quickly flared an unholy blue. Aluka was going to say something but then decided not too.

"I take that back. You do learn quickly," said Dracula with a coy smile. In her absence of words, Aluka glared daggers at him. Dracula's smile left.

"I expect you to wear this to dinner. I shall be there to accompany you in one half of an hour. Do not be late." Aluka was about to respond when he swiftly left and slammed the door behind him. She rolled her eyes in frustration.

Van Helsing's pov

Van Helsing slept an hour or so before being awakened by the harsh rain. It was still the night, the night that seemed to have lasted an eternity. Carl had never gone to sleep, and had instead found comfort in the library.

He left his room and went up to the library, distraught and confused.

"Carl, I can't sleep," said Gabriel monotonously when he reached the library, because he knew that Carl would choose the library over sleep.

"Really? I couldn't tell," he replied.

"Thanks for that bit of sarcasm, because, you know, I really needed it right now."

"Sorry…" mumbled Carl under his breath, intent on the book he was reading.

All of the sudden, screams were heard from below them. Not really of pain, but more of surprise and fear. Van Helsing raised an eyebrow at Carl.

"Something's awry," he said.

"Indeed," replied Carl.

On the streets of the small village below the Valerious Manor, pandemonium ran rampant. People were screaming, and children were crying.

"What the hell is going on down there?" asked Van Helsing, rising in irritation.

"I do not know," replied Carl, also getting up and looking out the library window, "Should we check it out?"

"Probably," replied Van Helsing glumly. They exited the manor and went to the village on horseback, ever wary of their surroundings as not to have a repeat of earlier in the night.

As they reached the village, the constant yells of fear could still be heard. Van Helsing walked up to a villager, whose eyes were wide with fear.

"What's going on?"

"The hill, my lord, look upon it!" he yelped in fear. He did. On it was a dark castle with lights coming from the few windows there were.

"Yes, I see, and how is this terribly astounding?"

"Do you not know who once lingered there, my lord?" said the villager in shock. Van Helsing gave him a look that clearly stated he did not know.

"Dracula and his brides," he said in scarcely a whisper.

"Yes but why is it so frightening now?"

"Because something moves in it, he has returned." Van Helsing was not expecting this.

"Come now, some lights on in a castle does not mean that Dracula has indeed returned," said Van Helsing, trying to push the thought of Dracula away from the villager's mind.

"That is not all, my lord. A woman, aged twenty-seven was found murdered tonight, with nothing to show for it but two bites in her neck. He has returned."

Reviews fuel my imagination, hence making chapters come out faster! Thanks to all my reviewers from last time! You guys are what keep me going!

the evil platypus of doom