This breaks my heart, and reminds me of the song Even In Death by Evanescence! Sorry, I love that song!

Verishka awoke early the next morning. She was alone, Vladislaus had left, and at that moment she would have given anything to know where he was. Quickly she pulled on a white dress and left the room. The castle was big and if she guessed wrong as to his location, he would probably leave. Her best guess was the armory.

Quietly, she entered the room, and walked up behind him. He didn't here her enter. She picked up his sword and placed it in his hand as he was reaching for it.

"I had thought you would try to stop me one last time," he said smiling at her.

"I just don't want you to die, is that so much to ask?" she said.

"You started this my love, and now I have to finish it. Think of it as my duty to you as a loving husband to save you from desperate men," he said. (if you don't remember, she said that to him on their wedding night)

"It is not your duty to die and leave me alone in this world," she said.

"You have so little faith in my skills with a sword?" he asked.

"I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you Vladislaus," she said.

"You have my forgiveness, I never meant to hurt you either. I'm sorry, for all of the pain that I've ever caused you," he said.

"You never caused me pain, only love," she said.

"Should I die today, you should know, death cannot stop my love for you. Remember?" he asked. Verishka nodded, tears running down her face. He pulled her close and they both shared a fiery kiss before he left the room.

As Verishka was left alone in the room, to do nothing but pray, she thought of something. Surely Lord Valerious and her father could stop them. Quickly she found them in the dinning hall, eating breakfast. As fast as she could, she spilled out the entire story to them. Just as she had hoped, they both acted quickly and told her to stay inside while they ran for the stables.

Now, all Verishka could do was pray. For at least fifteen minutes, she paced back and forth in the dining hall. Before long, she realized she could not take it anymore. She had to know what was happening.

She tore down the halls into the stables, saddled the nearest horse, and began to follow the newest hove prints. They led to the nearby forrest. As she drew near she saw three people gathered around one body lying on the ground. Verishka immediately felt her stomach twist and turn. The two of them had been to late. Again she kicked her horse to see who was the winner. When she was within thirty feet of them she immediately saw who the body was. Not waiting for the horse to slow down, she leaped off of it and began to run towards the lifeless body of Vladislaus. Lord Valerious moved in front of her to stop her, but she nimbly dodged him and collapsed to her knees at his side.

"Vladislaus no, please! Don't do this!" she sobbed violently, caressing his face.

"Verishka I...hmm... "he said as his last breath left him. Laying her head down on his chest she began to sob violently. So hard, that her breaths became gasps, and her eyes burned with every tear. Her entire world was burning. Her reason to live, breathe, had just died.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Van Helsing.

"You! You killed him!" she screamed through tears, getting up to face him.

"Verishka, I am so sorry. I had no choice, he was going to ... I... I love you," Van Helsing said.

"Yes, well I loved him. And now he's DEAD!" she screamed. She then lunged at him, arms out in front of her. But her father held her back. Realizing she couldn't act out against Van Helsing, she sank back down to Vladislaus's side and continued to sob. Each time louder, stronger, and more painful. Picking up a bloody dagger that lay at the side of Vladislaus, she asked without turning around, "Is this the dagger you used to kill him?"

"What?" Van Helsing asked.

"IS THIS THE DAGGER!" she yelled.

"Yes," he said, quietly.

Verishka cradled the dagger close to her heart for several moments before Van Helsing turned her over. Her back rested across Vladislaus's chest and Van Helsing gasped as he saw a long cut across her throat. Blood ran down her neck and began to cover her white dress.

"Verishka, NO!" her father screamed in horror. As Van Helsing began to cry as well, he got closer to her and asked, "Why?" he was surprised to hear her say something on her last breath.

"În moarte de el decât viatâ de tu." and then all signs of life left her and her father sank down to her as Van Helsing rose.

"What did she say? What did that mean?" Van Helsing asked Lord Valerious, tears rolling down his face.

"In death with him, than life with you," Lord Valerious said softly.

"What does she mean?" Van Helsing asked.

"She would rather die and be with him, than live and be with you!" Lord Valerious snapped, at the man who had just murdered his son.

Van Helsing backed away from them all. Verishka and Vladislaus both lay there dead because of him. Out of shame, he mounted his horse and rod off into the distance. Lord Valerious and Lord Gabor could only stay there and weep. They each lost a child that day. In fact a grandchild, although not even Verishka knew it. They had both died for love.

Don't hate me, it's not like they stay dead! Review first, then move on!