Chapter 5: Realizing What is Within

Selene heard someone… a man. She heard him call out, "Anna!" For some reason something inside her urged her to look in the direction of the voice. She absent mindedly obeyed the inner voice and turned her head.

Van Helsing was so relieved when he saw the woman respond to his call. She was Anna. He was sure of it. He quickened his pace and stopped in front of 'Anna'.

"Who are you?" Selene asked. This broke his heart. She didn't know him. She couldn't be Anna. But he didn't give up.

"Don't you remember me?" Van Helsing asked desperately. Selene shook her head, but she had a feeling something inside her knew this mysterious man. The same voice that convinced her to look at him convinced her to find out more about this stranger.

"You do look familiar, though." She said. By hearing these words, Van Helsing's hopes rose. Maybe she wasn't Anna, but Anna's spirit was somehow sleeping within this woman. "Let's explain to each other who we are." Selene suggested. Van Helsing nodded in agreement and followed her towards another bench.

"I don't know why I'm being so open to you, but something's telling me to trust you. Can I?" she asked. Van Helsing nodded and smiled.

'She seems more innocent than she looks.' He thought to himself. But something about the look in her eyes made him rethink that.

"I'm Selene. I wonder if you want to know what I really am, though…" Selene smirked. If he freaked out, she would just have to kill him. There's no harm in that, right? But something inside her protested…

Selene's statement made Van Helsing suspicious. Something was wicked about her. He could begin to sense it. But she wasn't entirely evil. Somewhere inside, there was good. And maybe that was what he was looking for.

"I think I already know, but tell me anyway." He finally said after a long pause.

She beckoned for him to follow her and he instantly knew what she was. A vampire. He knew her plan, but he wouldn't let her evil take her over. He needed to somehow release Anna's soul from Selene. She took him to a clearing in a forest.

"First, I want to know who you are." She said upon their arrival.

"Van Helsing… but call me Gabriel." The monster slayer simply replied. He noticed Selene wince and quickly touch her head before recovering and looking back at him. She just stared at him puzzled and he smirked.

"I already know who you are. Inside, there is my love's soul, but on the outside, you're a vampire." He accused. Selene was taken aback by his knowledge of vampires… that he knew she, of all people, was a vampire.

"H-How do you know?" she asked shakily from the shock. That's when she realized what else he said. His love was within her? She decided to ask later. He might be the one that would free her of the pains and depression that has currently taken over her.

"Oh, believe me. I know a lot about otherworldly creatures." He replied with another smirk.

'Trust him. Don't make him hurt you… he's our only hope.' The inner voice convinced. Selene noticed that the voice had a thick Romanian accent. For some reason, her conscious made her obey that voice… was this what this Van Helsing man was talking about?

'Who is he? You're his love, aren't you?' Selene silently asked that voice. She felt crazy trying to talk with her mind, but she honestly thought that it would work. She felt approve and agreement within and knew she was correct. She had to help this soul escape. How she knew this and how she knew it was the soul, she did not know.

"I would kill you, but someone important to me is with you. I could sense some evil within you, but I know you probably mean me no harm…" Van Helsing stated. Selene simply nodded and those "memories" reentered her mind.

"Damn these visions!" Selene cried out loud in pain. Van Helsing couldn't let this vampire – no matter how much evil he sensed – to die. He needed Anna's soul and he knew that her soul would disappear elsewhere if this vampire somehow died. It had occurred to him that vampires were immortal, but he wasn't sure if this would harm her.

Out of the love for what's within Selene, he carefully chose his words to offer help and interrogate her.

"What's happening… what do you see?" He asked. Selene broke down in pain. Her knees buckled and she fell to her knees holding her head. The pain was far more worse than ever before. She squeezed her eyes shut and tears streamed down her pale cheeks.

"NO! I can't let you be harmed! Stay strong and answer my questions." Van Helsing cried in desperation and worry. "What do you see? Please tell me what you see!"

"Blood-thirsty… vampires… woman… death…" Selene replied in broken words. Suddenly her eyes opened and she cried out, "GABRIEL!" She gagged a bit and almost vomited, but held herself from doing so. She breathed heavily and opened her eyes. Her once dark brown orbs were now pools of icy blue.

"How are you feeling?" Gabriel asked, though he already knew the answer to this question.

"How… do… you… think I… feel?" Selene asked between heavy pants of exhaustion. Before Van Helsing could do or say anything else, Selene broke down, again.

This time, it was different, though. She didn't see any haunting memories of another's past. Instead, she felt like something was ripping apart from her inner self. The pain was too much for her to bear, and she collapsed unconscious.

"NO! You cannot die!" Gabriel cried out. He fell to his knees and shook Selene's unconscious form.

"Van Helsing." A familiar voice spoke. He instantly knew who it was and he turned around with high hopes. And this time, his hopes were completely fulfilled… or so he came to think.

And yes, Anna was there smiling, too. Gabriel Van Helsing could see the tears of pure happiness rolling down her cheeks and he cried, too.

"Anna, you're back!" he cried and he stood. He wished to touch her face, and was relieved to know that his hand actually made contact with a solid figure. He then grabbed her in a warm embrace. Anna's face saddened even at this joyous moment.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay long." She whispered into his ear. Gabriel quickly let go of her and looked at her face.

"What do you mean?" he asked worriedly.

"This is only temporary, so we must be quick. I don't know how you'll bring me out of this vampire's body. God didn't tell me how I would be released because he was doubtful." Anna explained, "Just try all you can. I'll be with you. I love you." And with that, she gave Gabriel a lingering kiss and returned to Selene's body… as if fading to oblivion.

Gabriel once again sunk to his knees in a mix of emotions; none of them which were anything happy. He was struck in the heart by Anna's body simply touching him and her lips upon his. But when she left, the pain and grief had returned. And always return they shall, until she will be released from the body of the immortal.

Moments later, Selene stirred. Gabriel's face was tear-stained, but he no longer cried. He was staring up at the star-glistened sky. When he noticed the noises of rustling leaves beside him, he turned his head. Everytime he looked at the vampire, he'd see Anna's face.

"Just try all you can. I'll be with you. I love you."

Anna's words echoed through his head. She still loved him even after the centuries of waiting. Was their love so strong that it could last for eternity?

And what could he try. Her appearance only brought up more questions. She gave him no clue as to how to help themselves. He didn't know how to release the woman he loved from a complete stranger's body.

"What happened?" Selene groaned. The pain was even worse than the last hunt. She rolled over onto her stomach and used her arms to push herself up. After a very short struggle, she sat up and faced Van Helsing. After a silence that was somehow depressing, he finally responded.

"I saw Anna." He had said. Selene gave him a questioning look which made him realize that he never told her his love's name. Therefore, he answered to her inquisitive face and she instantly understood.

"Believe me. I know what it feels like to lose the one you love." Selene choked out as the painful memory of Michael's corpse reentered her mind. Even though she had appeared too calm after the death, inside, she bled. Not of actual blood, but she bled of sorrow and emotion. The pain within her killed her, but she hid her emotions well. She appeared strong, but deeper inside she was weak.

'Maybe Michael's death somehow made Anna's soul awake. That and the arrival to Romania.' Selene thought to herself. She repeated her thoughts to Gabriel. Although it didn't help so much, he put thought to it. Maybe her theory was correct and something else could fully awake Anna's soul.

He had gained Selene's trust easily, but just as she had warned it would be much harder to gain the trust of the vampires. She hadn't even received their full trust and if Van Helsing wanted to do so, then it would be one of the most difficult tasks ever. Besides, he was a monster hunter. With a title like that, it couldn't be a smooth road up ahead.