Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing or Dracula, even though the little voices in my head tell me I do. K bye.
Transylvania 1888
April walked through the town's square, pulling her cloak around her, and trying to shield her face with her hood. It was winter in Transylvania, and the freezing wind was not merciful. She walked into the small grocery market and gratefully shut the door, glad to be away from the wind.
It had been about three years since her accident at the cliff. Ever since she had been living under the name "Prudence Leolius," because if the villagers found out who she really was, they wouldn't hesitate to kill her. She had dyed her brown hair flaming red and always wore spectacles that she didn't really need. Seldom did she go out, but when she did, she wore lots of makeup. April despised makeup, but everyone would recognize her without it.
Surprisingly, the villagers had completely believed her story about being a distant cousin of April, and moving into April's house only until she could sell it. Part of her story was true, April knew she couldn't stay in Transylvania much longer, so she was planning on leaving as soon as someone would buy her old house.
She walked slowly toward the shelves with food for sale. She was in no hurry today, and all she needed was some apples for the pie she was hoping to bake when she went home. As she walked, she heard many snatches of gossip. This was where all the bored women went to talk about each other. April of course had never taken any part in it, but as she walked by a man speaking to a woman with urgency in his voice, she heard something very interesting and stealthily listened.
"Yes, yes, gone! Dead! And for real this time!" The man exclaimed.
"You don't say!" said the woman.
"Yes, it was that Van Helsing fellow who caused quite a commotion here about a month ago when he killed one of the vampire's brides!" That was the sentence that made April whirl around, but then busy herself with checking out some produce very near to the man so she could listen. At the mention of vampires, she felt she must listen to the rest of what they had to say.
"That man killed Dracula?!" The woman exclaimed.
"Shh! Not many people know yet, so keep it quiet!" the man said.
"And how do you know?" asked the woman.
"I'm friends with the new gravedigger, and he seems to know all about those sort of uncomfortable things." Said the man, looking around suspiciously as though the gravedigger could be watching him.
"You're friends with him?" asked the woman. "He's a bit mad looking if you ask me, always skulking about in dark allies, or digging graves on sunny days."
"You forget that he's the one who killed that witch some years ago. They say he pushed her off a cliff when she tried to enchant him." April rolled her eyes when he said this. "He's proven his worth as a citizen, and he always has valuable information about the vampires."
"But aren't all the vampires gone now?" asked the woman.
"Only the ones created by Count Dracula," he said, and April stiffened when she heard the name. "There are still others about--"
April didn't waste anymore time. She bustled past the man and the woman, pulling on her cloak without buying her apples, and left the store.
As she walked briskly down the street, trying to digest the information she had just received, that is if it was to be believed. She felt a strange sort of loss for the Count, if he was truly dead. Something in her told her that she needed to find out the truth, no matter what. And there was only one person that she could think of that would know--the gravedigger.
She immediately changed her course toward the town's graveyard and walked quickly, heart pounding for some reason she didn't know. She needed to know the truth about Count Dracula.
