Disclaimer: I still don't own Van Helsing or Dracula or Transylvania (I wish), but I do own the story, and April. Live long and prosper. -Linwe 

Count Dracula flew through the cold night air. He had just fed and was en route to his castle. His wives had gone to feed earlier in the week, so he hadn't bothered inviting them.

"Although I probably should have," he thought. "My wives are probably fighting or angry because they think I favor one over the others." He shook his bat-like head. "Women and their jealousy."

As he swooped lower, he saw an angry crowd of villagers standing on the edge of a cliff near the forest where the road ended. No one had seen him, they were too distracted by something else. He swooped even lower and changed into his human form to blend into the crowd. Still, he was not noticed. Quick as a flash, he was in front of the crowd.

"What is the meaning of this riot?" he asked the man who seemed to be leading the mob.

"The crazy witch has just jumped off the cliff!"

"Crazy witch?" asked Dracula. The man nodded. "Deliberately?" The man nodded once again. Dracula narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, she was had some satanic healing powers---" The leader looked quickly around, but Dracula had gone. "I wonder who that was?" He asked the gravedigger.

"I don't think you want to know." Said the gravedigger cryptically, putting the tapemeasure into his coat pocket.

"Excuse me?"

"Let's just say, my friend, that one of my predecessors built his coffin about 400 years ago."

"What?!" The man was utterly confused.

"Good thing he wasn't still hungry." Said the gravedigger, smirking and disappearing into the crowd.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Aprilo screamed as her voice became lost in the wind as she fell. She clutched the amulet tighter against her chest. She was about 100 feet from the deadly rocks… 75 feet… 50 feet… 25 feet. "HELPMESOMEONEANYONE!!!" she screamed. 10 feet…5 feet… 2 feet, she could smell the salty water… then she stopped. Just stopped. Her face was about six inches from a rock. She thought she was somehow flying. Then she realized she was being held by two strong, black sleeved arms. She fainted…….

To Be Continued