Disclaimer: Ha ha! Yeah, right, sure these characters are mine. And also, I built the pyramids and haunt the Bermuda Triangle. Don't ask where that came from; I'm not sure. Suffice to say, I still own nothing. End of story.
A/N: Hey everybody! Guess what? I just got my permit today! YAY for me! Elaborate trays of various desserts for all! And in other news, I'm updating! So, yeah, today's a good day. :) Just a couple PR's to get through, and then it's rock and roll time! (I'm a little hyper today I think…)
Countess Alana: Hey there, girl! Yes, Drac rocks, of course. Go right ahead, read chapter 20! I order you to! Lol, missed your review for it though. OMG, that Willy Wonka song is STILL stuck in my head. :) Oh, and I absolutely LOVE your sequel! Update soon! That's an order too, lol.
Manson: Yes, you're a horrible influence; have you no shame! Lol, I blame you for any and all future sleep problems I ever have for the rest of my life. :) Just because I can, haha. Jk, but I'm glad you liked the chappie. Enjoy this one as well!
Lady Kathrin: YES, send me a copy! Lol, no, I'll get my own…eventually. Meanwhile, I'll just suffer in Wonka-withdrawl…sob. Thanks for your review and I hope you like this chapter too!
FastFuriousChick: (cringes) GAH! I'm sorry! Don't HATE me! I promise everything will be better in the end, and it will, you just have to trust me! Sure it looks bad now…but things'll improve…eventually. Jk, but yes, reactions are very important, no? You will see what they all think in this chapter. So, by all means, read on, and relax for Gosh sakes! Jeez! Lol :)
M: Well hello back! I didn't think you were REALLY angry, but you never can tell…you know? This chapter is kinda happy, and kinda not I guess… Well, just read on and see for yourself!
HottDarkPrincess: a.k.a. Lyndsay, lol. Yeah, she does appear rather unsavable, doesn't she? Well, I'm not going to say anything on the matter, you'll just have to wait and see, haha. I have to agree with you though, I probably am a crazy person, but you don't mind…do you?
Alrighty, I think that's all I have to say for now. So, go read the chappie all you wonderful reviewers (and anyone else out there…though YOU should be reviewing too! Jk) and enjoy chapter 21! Ah, my witty chapter titles never cease to amaze me, lol.
Chapter 21
Before I could make a move or say anything, I was tackled by Lydia, Fiona, and Sylvia, each of whom gave me huge hugs. Carl looked very happy to see me as well, though he didn't go so far as to give me a giant hug.
"Oh my God, Andrea, we were so worried about you! Thank God we found you!"
"Oh, I'm so glad you're okay. Nice dress, by the way."
"Jeez, Andrea, you must be freezing out here in that thing! Not that any of us brought coats either..." I was so happy, I couldn't stop smiling, until I saw Van Helsing. All eyes turned to him, as he was the only one who hadn't made a move to greet me or say anything. Instead, he was staring at me with a look of mixed shock and disbelief. I broke away from the others and took a few steps toward him, unsure of what he was thinking or how he would react.
"Uh, Van Helsing? What's wrong?" Lydia asked, a little concerned about his strange behavior.
"Something's not right." he said, "She's different, can't you tell? Are you all blind?" He stepped closer to me, still looking shocked, and drew his sword. I stared at him without moving, but my friends grew even more alarmed. Suddenly, Van Helsing moved, and in one swift motion stabbed me in my exposed stomach. I gasped and looked down at the blade protruding from my body, but it didn't hurt, I was merely taken by surprise.
"Van Helsing, are you crazy! What are you doing?" Lydia asked, looking hysterically from Van Helsing to the others. They all made loud exclamations, but Van Helsing ignored them all. He wrenched the sword back out and the two of us watched as the bloodless wound healed without a scar in a matter of seconds.
Van Helsing looked back at me, and I could tell he didn't want to believe it. Tears started to form in both his eyes and mine, and I began to sob, seeing all the pain I had caused him reflected on his face. He thought he had lost me forever, just as he had lost Anna, except now it was to something worse than death. He backed a step away from me.
"No...NO! Why? Why did you do it? Andrea..." I cried harder upon hearing the pain and suffering in his voice.
"Gabriel," I pleaded softly, "Let me explain. I had to, it was the only way, don't you see? I did it for you, because I love you. Please, you have to believe me, and know that I love you more than anything."
"Explain what?" Lydia asked loudly, tired of being confused. "You had to what? Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Don't you understand?" Carl asked softly, staring at me and looking just as shocked as Van Helsing had. "Andrea's been bitten by Dracula. She...she's a vampire now." The three girls' jaws dropped and no one said a word.
Van Helsing nodded and blinked back tears. "Andrea, I lo–" I put my hand up to stop him, knowing what he was going to say and that it would only make me feel worse about my decision.
"I know. But please, I have to tell you something." I looked up at the cloudy sky and saw that the cloud covering the sun, which was the reason I was able to stand outside for so long, was moving and the sun would soon be uncovered again. "I only have a moment," I continued, speaking rapidly. "The ring. Dracula's ring. It is the key to his power. Destroy it, and you destroy him." And me, I added silently. "He told me all this himself, but it won't be easy to get close enough to it to destroy it, and don't ask me how because I don't know."
I began to feel light, stinging prickles on my skin and stole another glance at the sky. The sun was almost completely exposed; my eyes widened and I gasped from some deep, instinctive fear. I then turned and ran to the massive doors in front of me, leaving Van Helsing and the others behind. When I reached the doors I pushed on them and they swung open with ease. Whether I myself truly opened them, or if it was just Dracula's doing I'll never know. Regardless, once safely inside, I gestured and the other five followed me in. All of them seemed rather numb with shock, and Carl actually stumbled once or twice. The heavy doors slammed firmly shut behind them, and we all stood in the massive entrance hall. I turned away from them, but Van Helsing grabbed my arm.
"Did you..." he asked quietly, his unspoken question clear to me.
"No." I said firmly, and he seemed slightly more relieved. "I would never, willingly...Gabriel." I whispered, not wanting to leave and regretting what I had done, even though I knew it had been my only option. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I have to go." He clung to my arm tighter, but I pulled away.
"Please! Don't make this harder than it already is." I began to cry again, and from some deep inner part of the castle, an inhuman shriek sounded and echoed throughout the hall. I swallowed hard. "My Master calls," I whispered softly, my eyes growing unfocused. "I must go." Then I glanced at Van Helsing again, and my whispers became desperate. "Remember what I told you! Remember, the ring is the key!"
Then I stepped further away, and with a whirl and an inhuman cry of my own, I changed for the first time into my newly acquired hell-bat form. I launched myself from the ground and beat my wings, soaring upward and away from my friends. Letting out another screech to answer Dracula's call, I flew off, following this inner tug I felt leading me straight to my Master.
After I had gone, the others shook themselves slowly from their shock and glanced at each other. Van Helsing seemed upset beyond comforting, but also determined about something. "I just can't believe it." Lydia said quietly. "I never thought anything like this would actually...and here we are, in Dracula's..." Her voice trailed off and she looked around, as did Sylvia and Fiona. Carl went up to Van Helsing's side.
"Will you be alright?" Carl asked worriedly. Van Helsing nodded his head slowly and grimly. "What did she tell you? I saw her talking to you about something important, but I was too...well..." Van Helsing looked for the first time at Carl.
"The ring. You know, Dracula's ring. She said it was the key to destroying him."
"Of course!" Carl exclaimed, and the girls looked at him. Sylvia walked over.
"Of course what?" she asked in her soft-spoken way.
"The secret to killing Dracula is to destroy his ring! Now it makes sense, why he wanted it so much and everything." Sylvia nodded in agreement.
"You mean like a Lord of the Rings kinda deal?" Lydia asked, still struggling to make sense of everything. Van Helsing and Carl just stared at her.
"I have no idea what you mean–" Carl began, but Sylvia cut him off.
"Yes, Lydia," she said reassuringly, "like the Lord of the Rings."
"Oh, I get it now!" Lydia said happily, and Sylvia smiled knowingly at Carl. Lydia turned to explain things to Fiona, who it seemed was always one step behind. Sylvia returned her attention to Carl and Van Helsing.
"Alright," she began, her eyes lighting up, "we need a plan." And the three of them set to work, soon joined by Lydia and Fiona.
I left my friends far behind, both physically and mentally, as I flew away and thought about nothing but reaching Dracula. Finally, after many twisting hallways and passages, I found the source of the tug I'd felt and alighted on the ground on a large chamber. Dracula stood before me, watching me with fiery eyes. I changed back to my human form and the dress floated down around me.
Something inside me was different; with each passing moment I felt my transition from mere mortal to undead vampire becoming more complete. It was like I was losing myself slowly, becoming less like myself. I didn't have time to think about this revelation then, however. My cheeks were still wet with the tears I had just cried, and I fear my eyes were red and swollen.
Dracula smiled at me. "And how was your first flight, dearest?" he asked mildly. In that instant I was still more myself, and despite my tears, I smiled broadly.
"Amazing. Exhilarating. Everything I thought and hoped flying would be, and more." Just talking about it made me want to experience it again. I shrieked and transformed, circling the room once or twice. I rolled and twisted in the air, laughing with the sheer joy of it. I landed breathless again and looked to Dracula. He smiled wider and looked back at me knowingly and almost condescendingly.
But then I remembered what had made me so upset earlier, and before I could stop myself the tears began to fall again, and a slight frown creased Dracula's brow. "My dear, you are upset. Why? Where were you? What's happened?" He sounded so loving and truly concerned.
"Nothing, nowhere. Just around...I'm fine. Really." I sniffed quietly and tried to wipe my tears away. Dracula stepped closer to me and opened his arms invitingly. "Oh, Vladislaus!" I breathed, yearning for the feel of his strong arms around me. The ever-growing undead bride part of me kicked in and I ran to his embrace. His arms folded protectively and soothingly around me, and he spoke sweet nothings of comfort in my ear.
I could feel us drifting and floating backward and raised my head up from his chest, only then realizing that we were in Dracula's chambers and moving closer to his open, stone coffin. The human side of me said that this was a bad sign, I should stop this from happening. But I felt so safe snuggled there next to him, a perfect fit, and I didn't want to move or be anywhere else. So, I hardly noticed or cared when we were suddenly lying down; Dracula ran his hands through my curls and gently kissed my forehead. With a sigh I closed my eyes and relaxed into blissful sleep, my head resting on Dracula's chest.
Awww, poor Van Helsing and Andrea. Life sucks, except that at least Andrea has a hot vampire to keep her occupied. Van Helsing, on the other hand, has three crazy girls from the future and a comic relief friar. I am so mean, aren't I? (No yelling FastFuriousChick! I know you have some choice words for me now, but too bad! Jk) Can't wait to read all of your reviews…later much wonderful peoples of ff. net. Your aforementioned elaborate dessert trays will be arriving in the mail in 5-7 business days, lol. You might have to cough up some shipping & handling though, cuz I'm not exactly rolling in cash over here. :) Byes for now!
Gem