Van Helsing wandered the halls of the large stately home. "I was here once."
Rachael came down the hall. "Yes. With Ana."
Van Helsing whirled. "How do you know about Ana?"
"Ana and I where best friends. And at one time, her brother was in love with me. Long ago, when we where young." Rachael turned. "But I do not wish to speak of it." She entered a large cheery room with a huge fire blazing in it.
She sat down in a comfortable chair.
Van Helsing sat down as well. "Let me get all this straightened out."
"Go ahead," said Rachael. She stared into the fire as she listened. The firelight caused her eyes to turn a strange silver color.
"You and your family used to…almost be the rulers of Translyvania?"
"Yes," said Rachael.
"How did that come out?"
"My Father was the governor."
"Okay. Ana and her family used to live here. Explain."
"Her father and my father where cousins."
"You where related."
"Very distantly. But our fathers where best friends." She looked at Van Helsing with a twinkle in her eye. "I was also related to someone else you know."
Van Helsing looked at her. "Who?"
"Your brother's third wife."
Van Helsing's eyes got big. "Mirishka?"
"Yes."
"How!"
"Once again, very distantly," said Rachael with a smile. "And we will ignore that fact forever."
Van Helsing sighed. "I thought…you where like sisters or something."
Rachael laughed. "I have lived a very complicated life, Van Helsing. But never, have I been a sister to a vampire. I once almost married one, unknowingly. But that is a story for another day."
Van Helsing looked at her curiously. "You're a very complicated girl."
Rachael winked at him. "You have no ideal."
The two of them walked slowly up the path.
The dark castle rose high above them, glistening in the sunlight.
"Are they watching us?" asked Van Helsing.
"Yes," Rachael said calmly. "But you needn't worry."
"Why?"
"Because I'm here."
"Oh." Van Helsing sighed. "I'm being protected by a beautiful woman that looks like I could snap her in half."
"Just you try."
"Why should I?"
Rachael looked at him. "Think about this. Would it kill you to try?"
Van Helsing looked over and looked her up down slowly. "Yep. And I'm too young to die."
Rachael's laughter rang out through the trees. Suddenly she hit the path and rolled, pulling out her large gun at the same time.
Van Helsing whirled.
Two women stood on the path behind him. They where beautiful and from their beauty, Van Helsing could tell they where vampires. One was a blond with bright blue eyes. And the other had black hair and bright green eyes.
They both bowed to Rachael.
"Your highness."
"Welcome home."
Their voices where soft and musical.
"I said I didn't want anyone with me."
"Drake sent us with a message," said the blond.
"Who are you?" asked Rachael.
"I am Anda," said the blond.
"And I am Andrea," said the black haired.
"What is the message?" asked Rachael.
"That he loves you," said Anda.
"And will do all in his power to help you with your mission."
"My mission?" Rachael asked cautiously.
"Against Vlaldan."
At his name, both girls crouched down and hissed.
Van Helsing started.
"Why do you act so?" asked Rachael.
"Ever since Vlaldan came…"
"No Anda!" snapped Andrea. She turned to Rachael and bowed. "We have delivered our message, Princess."
They both took to the sky.
"There's something wrong here," said Rachael as she lowered her gun slowly.
"Yeah," said Van Helsing. "We are in Translyvania, heading into a Castle full of vampires. Almost good ones and very bad ones."
"Good point," said Rachael. "Let's go."