Disclaimer: I do not own Van Hesling, and I am in no way affiliated with Brahm Stoker, but I do own the story and April. -Linwe

April tugged on the immense, frozen, metal gate that blocked her way into Castle Dracula. It just wouldn't budge. Why was she having such a problem with doors today?

She sat down at the foot of the gate, pulling her now-drenched and heavy cloak closer to herself. It blocked the still-falling snow, but the wetness didn't exactly warm her up. It just had to be the wet kind of snow, too. Everything seemed to be trying to delay her entrance, but for what reason, she knew not.

So she continued to sit and think of some solution, cursing herself for not coming prepared with some sort of supplies other than a torch. While sitting, she noticed a large, wooden beam on the ground and an idea suddenly hit her.

She picked up the beam, and was pleased at its heaviness. With it in her hands, she made her way through the snow to the gate and swung with all her might at one of the bars of the gate. It was somewhat dented, but she hadn't broken it; all she had gained was an aching arm.

"Damn it all…" she whispered under her breath. She had figured that the old, rusty, iron poles would break easily because they were frozen. Well, she wasn't about to give up just yet. Although, she thought, if it didn't work, she could always try to scale the gate-probably breaking a few bones or her spine on the way down, but she could always use her amulet… no she wasn't that desperate yet. She set her jaw resolutely and picked up the wooden beam once more, despite the throbbing in her right arm. She approached the gate again, hardly able to hold the beam, but still, she continued forward.

How was she ever going to do this? April closed her eyes and remembered Dracula's kiss once again, and the strange love for him that burned within her. She swung. A shattering could be heard as the beam collided with the gate, and the frozen poles broke apart to form a gap large enough for her to craw through. She fell to the ground, cradling her throbbing worse-than-ever arm to her body. Nevertheless, even in her pain, she cried out in joy at her victory against the gate that had tried to block her way.

Sitting up, she remembered her amulet and pulled it from her blouse. For a moment she studied it- its intricate silver designs on the perimeter surrounding a blue jewel that seemed to change to a greenish colour ever so often. Remembering her pain, she pressed it to her injured arm, and concentrated. After not even a minute, she was enveloped in its warmth and all her pain vanished. She even felt a bit warmer and dryer, despite the frigid, snowy winds now whipping around her.

April then pulled herself up from the ground and walked up to the great door to Castle Dracula. With a deep, composing breath, she walked forward and pushed with all her might. The door gave way. She was in.