13
You Came Back
Verona sat for days in the dark, cold tower. She could no longer tell day from night. With every passing hour, she became more convinced that Gabriel was not going to come back for her. She would forever be locked up with evil. She tried not to cry because every tear that ran down her face would freeze to her. She still had not completely dried off because of the intense cold. She wished for death more now than ever. She began to cry, she could not take it anymore.
"Oh poor baby is it cold up here?" said a cold voice. Verona turned and saw Aleera. Aleera had never been so happy in her life. She had the 'powerful' bride right where she wanted her, alone and helpless. "Go away and let me die in peace." Aleera got a smirk on her face and said, "Die…who said anything about you dying? You're mine now, and I want to see you suffer for everything you ever did to me." "What did I ever do to you Aleera?" said Verona with disgust in her voice. "You took him from me. I was supposed to be the favorite bride of Dracula. He only took you as a bride to get back at Gabriel for murdering him."
Verona's face turned to shock. "That's right Verona I know all about you're past. Master and I had a little talk last night…well among other things. Master told me all about how Gabriel murdered him because he had a little crush on you. He also told me how he then made his deal with the devil to come back, and this time you would be his. Master came back and transformed you into the creature you are today right in front of Gabriel just to see the look on his face. Then you of course lost your memory and became a slave to the master. So you see Verona the only reason you are here is because you were used for revenge. Oh, and did I mention Gabriel is dead? He took a little swim in the icy river yesterday." Aleera laughed as Verona fell to the floor shattered. That was it he was dead. "I'll leave you here to think about that. I will be back to visit later." Aleera laughed as she left the cold tower. Verona knew that Aleera would never leave her be. She was now a puppet on Aleera's strings.
Gabriel, Anna, and Carl stood at Dracula's door. "I can't believe my father was so close. It was here all along", said Anna. Gabriel looked at the door and said, "Dracula here we come." Gabriel began to walk through the door but he was pulled back by Carl. "Umm…I don't mean to be Mr. Negativity here, but do either of you know how to kill Dracula." Gabriel looked at Carl and said, "Well, no." "Well don't you think that would be a useful bit of information to have?" Gabriel hesitated and then said, "I was hoping Verona could help us out with that." He turned and walked through the door. Anna followed leaving Carl alone in the room. "What is it with them and trying to get themselves killed. Well they'll need me to get them out of trouble." Carl grabbed a nearby torch and slowly walked through the door.
Once he got on the other side of the door, he was in a blizzard. "So this is Dracula's icy fortress. I must admit I thought it would be a bit bigger." Anna and Gabriel turned and looked at Carl. "What?" They shook their heads and walked towards the castle. They reached the base of the castle and were met by two gigantic doors. "I don't know about you but I left my ladder back at the abbey." Gabriel turned and said, "Thanks Carl." Anna had actually come to like the friar's little comments. She just laughed it off. Gabriel then said, "There has got to be another smaller door on the side of the castle." The three started looking around the base of the castle. "Here it is", said Anna. Gabriel walked over and tried to open it but it was locked. "Damn" he said to himself. "Ah ha, I have just the thing. Step aside please." Anna and Gabriel stepped away from the door. Carl took out a vial and flicked a small amount of liquid at the door. The door instantly blew open. "Thank you, thank you very much", said Carl. The other two just laughed as they entered the Castle.
The castle was dark and quiet. "Where now?" asked Anna. "We need to find Verona." They walked deeper in the castle and Gabriel saw a familiar figure, Igor. Gabriel waited for Igor to get closer and then grabbed him. "Where is Verona?" he said as he pinned Igor against the wall. "I'm not going to tell you." Gabriel pulled his gun and pointed it at Igor's head. "Ok ok I'll tell you. She is up in the tower." "Which one?" "The tallest one of course. Well that is if Aleera hasn't torn her to pieces." "Aleera?" "Yes the count has left Aleera in charge of her." Gabriel slammed the gun into Igor's head knocking him out. "Take care of him I'm going to get Verona." Carl and Anna drug Igor into a closet and tied him up while Gabriel went to get Verona.
Up in the tower Verona was lying in a pool of her own blood. Aleera had taken an iron rod to Verona. "Recognize it? It is the same rod you took to my face a few days ago. It left a rather nasty mark that still hasn't healed yet." Verona could barely move. Her blood was freezing to her body making her even more uncomfortable. Aleera smacked her on the back of the head knocking her on her stomach. Verona laid on the tower floor crying and bleeding when she saw him through the door. "Gabriel", she said weakly. Aleera turned and said, "Oh goodie someone else to kill!" She screeched and flew at Gabriel. He pulled out a vial and threw it on her. She crashed to the floor wheezing. "A little holy water never hurt anyone", he said as he walked over Aleera. He then ran to Verona's side. "You came back." "Of course I did." "I thought you were dead. Aleera said you were dead." "No I'm here now and everything is going to be ok." Verona smiled and looked into Gabriel's eyes. He saw that smile and instantly knew that Verona had been what was missing. Only she could make his life whole again.
He gently picked up Verona and said, "This time you're going with me." He kissed her forehead and then stepped back over Aleera and headed back down stairs to the others. Once he reached them Anna said, "What are you doing?" "Come on lets go; we need to get out of here." Carl and Anna just shrugged and followed him. They ran out of the castle straight to the door. Verona felt comfort in Gabriel's arms; she felt his warmth and somehow knew that everything would be ok.
Sorry it took so long to update. Hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think.