This is all for a little bit, it's almost over! I just need to… collect my thoughts for a bit before I post the whole thing. I hope you liked it. Now, here it is….
You know what I own/ don't/
Knowing that it would be impossible for her to stay hidden, and keep a close watch on Van Helsing, Verishka decided she would need to acquire some "spies" to tell her of the progress of Van Helsing. After that night she learned that Dracula's plan was to use Frankenstein's monster for electricity in order to bring his children to life. Much as thousands of children flying around that came from those three whores disgusted her, there was always the chance that Dracula would perish in the battle and then the children would as well.
Through spies she learn that Anna and Van Helsing had discovered the Frankenstein monster and were attempting to go to Rome. However, due to the help of a werewolf, they were not only prevented from doing so but Anna was captured and Van Helsing now was a werewolf. It was now clear to Verishka how Van Helsing would kill Dracula. Now that he was a werewolf, he had the means, he only needed to figure it out.
That night was All Hallow's Eve, and it was clear that Dracula was going to lure Van Helsing there with Anna. This was one thing that spies could not inform her on. Therefore, Verishka felt that her best move would be to attend the ball herself. Although he was sure to sense her presence, she was sure that he would have bigger things to think of than her lurking in the shadows.
The dress she chose was black velvet with long, loose sleeves and accents of crimson red. Her mask was simply half black, and half white. Those masks were a custom for the masses to wear on All Hallow's Eve, and so no one would ever expect her to wear one.
Mere moments after the ball began, Verishka crept in, unnoticed, and began dancing with several men, some of whom she knew, others she didn't. Every single one of them seemed eager to learn her identity. However, her mental block was up which only made her more mysterious and appealing. Eventually they began to play a song that Verishka knew well and had danced to many times. The whole rooms attention seemed to be brought to Dracula for a moment as he walked onto the dance floor with Anna Valerious. Verishka felt a slight pang of jealousy before she realized what his intentions were. He might be saying that he wanted a new bride, but searching his mind she found it was entirely because of herself. The only reason he was doing it was to make her jealous, and at that moment it was working. However casting it aside, Verishka hooked arms with the nearest man to her and almost dragged him onto the dance floor. It was obvious to anyone that Dracula had Anna in a heavy trance, for she would never dance with him willingly. As she danced, almost alongside Dracula, Verishka's eyes wandered as he devoured Anna in a passionate kiss. While the kiss was still going on, Verishka used her own power to release Anna's mind. The princess began to squirm in his arms but went along with the dance. However, his dance with her did not last long as Van Helsing grabbed Anna from midair as Dracula let go because Carl had pushed a fire breather into him. The screams of the man could be heard as an enraged Dracula threw him across the room. At first Verishka found that to be another example of where she had control and Dracula did not. However, in reality Verishka realized that she would have done the same thing. As Van Helsing was taunted by Dracula, the whole rooms attention was brought to Igor, who was wheeling in the Frankenstein monster. After some yelling by the monster Dracula spoke again, addressing the entire room, "Now that everything is as it should be, ladies and gentlemen, I give to you... VAN HELSING!"
At the mentioning of his name, everyone in the room took off their masks and began bearing their fangs. The three of them each took off down the hall and Dracula motioning to the crowd. Each and every vampire in the room expect Dracula and Verishka began gliding after the three. Once the room had emptied, Dracula spoke acknowledging the presence that he had been ignoring all night, "Such a shame the celebration was brought to and end so abruptly." He was now facing her.
"I'm not sure. I thought it was rather boring until he showed up," she sighed, removing her mask.
"Ah Verishka, it's you!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, my disguise was most convincing," she said.
"I was entirely fooled, although I must admit, it is not often that anyone as beautiful as you comes to my ball," he said. She slowly began to walk towards him, seeing him smile as she drew closer.
"Surely, you won't be staying long. If I may ask, were do you go next?" she asked warmly.
"Actually our old home my dear, Castle Dracula. As you now know, I have the means to give life to my children," he said.
"Congratulations," she choked out with difficulty.
"Still trying to pick a side in this battle?" he asked, with a saddened expression.
"I'm remaining neutral," she sighed, "unless you think you may need my help in defeating him."
"No, there's no reason to put your life in danger. But I trust you'll be watching, from the shadows," he said.
"You can count on it," she smirked.
Dracula was about to open his mouth to utter some sort of farewell, when a huge burst of sunlight flooded the room in a fiery blast. Although it was equivalent to the intensity of the sun, being nearly indestructible, the two were unharmed. They were however, both knocked to the ground. Dracula had without thinking, thrown his cape over not only himself, but Verishka as well, protecting them both from the full intensity of the blast.
"That invention is rather brilliant you know. Think of all the vampires he just killed at once," Verishka said, as Dracula helped her up.
"Yes, truly brilliant," he grumbled, "but I need to make it to Castle Dracula before sunrise. Are you coming?" he asked.
"Is that an invitation?" she asked.
"Absolutely," he grinned.
"All right," she said simply. Dracula was so pleased with her answer that he lost his composure for a moment and grabbed hold of her wrist. He then began to run across the room to a broken window and jumped with Verishka in tow. The two vampires quickly spread their wings and took off into the night sky. The thought of returning to Castle Dracula this time, filled her with happiness. Despite the forbidding appearance, it was still her home.
They arrived at Castle Dracula an hour before the sunrise. Dracula made it obvious that he wished for her company in bed for what he said could be the "last time." However, she insisted that she spend the time re-exploring her old home. But what she really did was go to see his "children." It was a familiar site for Verishka.
"I've spend hours in here, staring at them, as if I could will them to live," he sighed.
"When did you first find out they are born dead?" she asked with a warm and understanding voice.
"Sometime in 1700, when Verona first gave birth," he said, "and you?"
"1600," she mumbled.
"Who told you?" he asked.
"Oh, no one," she said. Wanting to avoid the question she knew he was bound to ask, she began to walk away and down another hall.
"Wait Verishka, please tell me," he pleaded, running after her.
"The sun's due to rise any minute Dracula, I should get some sleep," she said.
"The other day at Castle Frankenstein, you knew they were born dead. I thought someone must have told you, but if you found out in 1600, well, know one knew then," he then grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to face him, "the only way for you to know is if you've had them. Have you?" he demanded.
Tears seemed to form in her eyes as she whispered, "I'm sorry Vlad, I should go."
He released her arm and she briskly walked down the hall to a room. Dracula was unbelievable shocked. The thought that he even might have children by Verishka filled him with excitement. However, he then realized, perhaps that was why she was lurking around. Now that he had discovered a way to bring the children to life, perhaps that was all she wanted. His chain of thought was interrupted when Igor arrived with the Frankenstein monster, and he decided to go to bed.
They both awoke the moment the sun set. Although Verishka was slightly surprised, Dracula seemed unusually nonchalant about the fact that Van Helsing was already there. Verishka slipped on her usual black, harem-styled dress and began to watch Van Helsing from the shadows. As she did she clutched an injection of she and Dracula's werewolf antidote. The vile that she was holding was her own, that she had taken with her when she left. With Van Helsing as a werewolf, she carried it incase he discovered her.
Quickly she learned of his plan. He was going to go and kill Dracula while Carl and Anna went to get the cure. Verishka followed Van Helsing as he went to the room where the laboratory had been reassembled. When he did not find Dracula, he began to climb to the roof to free the Frankenstein. For a moment, Verishka actually thought that he would prevent those horrid children from being brought to life. However, Van Helsing could not unscrew the monster fast enough and electricity surged through the wires as the screeches of thousands of vampire children could be heard. Verishka shuddered and cringed at the thought of all these abominations flying around. As she thought of those disgusting fledglings, the battle between Van Helsing and Dracula began.
Despite the rain Verishka watched from outside through a window as the two fought. As the rain came down, covering her silver wings she worked within herself to harden her heart. It was surprising at first to her, for she was under the impression that her heart was already stone cold. However, she learned that she had work to do if she was to remain neutral when she winced as Dracula received a hard blow from Van Helsing's claws. The battle dragged on as Verishka began thinking of what life would be like without Dracula. She would never need to think about when his next "visit" would be, whether she wanted one or not. The only thing she would have left was the memory of his touch, for she would never feel it again. There would also be know one left for her. No one that she could speak to, or ever care for again. He was the last shred of anything that made her somewhat human.
As her mind was slowly being consumed by those thoughts, she realized that the battle was nearing its end, and Dracula was loosing. He was walking towards Van Helsing, they were both in human form.
"Don't be afraid Gabriel, don't be afraid. I shall give you back your life, you memories," he said.
"Some things are better left forgotten," Gabriel said. In that moment, the clouds began to clear from the moon and Van Helsing started to change back to a wolf. It was also in that moment that Verishka realized that she wasn't capable of standing by and watching the only man she ever loved die. Crashing through a window in hell beast form, she pushed Van Helsing off of Dracula and threw another window. All the while she also injected him with the antidote. She moved so fast that even Dracula didn't see her, but when she and Van Helsing crashed onto the ground, they were both surprised to see Carl, Anna, and the Frankenstein monster. Van Helsing scrambled to his feet to be met by his three friends.
"I... I failed. She stopped me," he choked out. Anna lunged at Verishka with a silver stake but the vampire stood up and grabbed the princess's wrist.
"Don't waste your stakes princess. Your only way of killing me had just been... cured," she said holding up and empty syringe of the antidote.
"Then why don't you just kill us now?" the monster asked.
"The monk has something I want," she said.
"Actually I'm just a friar," he said. Eyes glowing red, Verishka let out an ear-piercing shriek that made them all step back.
"All right, all right, what do you want?" he cowered.
"The compressed magma from Mt. Vesuvius," she said. Carl looked up at his friends questioningly and they all shook their heads yes. As he handed her the machine Van Helsing asked, "Why are you letting us go?"
"I'm feeling generous today," she lied. She herself was not sure why she let them live. But she did not see a point in killing them. She killed for survival, but it was a rare occasion that she enjoyed it.
Quickly she made her way to the entrance hall where she was met by a swarm of Dracula's offspring. Without giving a second thought to all of the lives she was ending, she threw the weapon down, and took off. Although she heard the blast behind her, she didn't look back. She had broken her promise to herself, and interfered with fate by saving Dracula. And she had no regrets.