(If you have any questions about chapter 1, please view the note at the end of this chapter. Hopefully it will answer all questions)
Kicking off from the ground, the three brides took off from the ground. They avoided Vaseria. Villagers tended to keep stakes and holy water handy there. Instead they discovered a tiny hamlet slightly to the south. They landed on the roof of an abandoned barn about a quarter of a mile into the woods that surrounded it, and Verona gave them instructions.
"Don't be greedy, girls. Pick one and follow through. We don't want to hang around. Marishka, make it quick. We don't have time to play with them. And Aleera, one is enough. I'll hunt for Sera and myself."
The two younger girls nodded.
"Go, now. The village sleeps"
Marishka went first, and then Aleera, and finally Verona leapt into the sky and climbed higher, until she had a good aerial view of the small community. A sleepy shepherd pushed his flocks towards their pen. She swooped down, but found Aleera diving for him instead. She hefted his considerable bulk, and pulled him into the clouds. His anguished screams faded, and then his corpse tumbled to the ground, blood streaked and mangled. Verona clapped a hand to her forehead, and spiraled upwards into the heavy clouds.
"We are trying to be inconspicuous Aleera. If they find punctured corpses everywhere, they'll know it's us!"
Aleera gave a blood-crazed smile.
"It really is hopeless with you, isn't it?"
"Eh..." Aleera did a little loop, and grinned. She always was tipsy after a drink.
Marishka had similar trouble in killing quickly and cleanly. Usually, she preferred to torture her prey, bang it around for a while, until they begged for death. She screwed up her face, and dove, choosing a young girl sitting on a gatepost. She clapped a hand over the girls' mouth and brought her slowly up into the clouds. A few agonized screeches brought Verona's attention.
"Marishka..." She said warningly. The blonde bride silenced the screams with a quick bite. Verona decided on an older man for herself, deciding he would not be missed. Then, the hunt for Sera's meal. A younger, stronger opponent would have blood full of nutrients and would help her to heal. And, much to her delight, a man fitting that description walked from a farm, not ten yards from her hiding spot, in a tall tree. She flapped her powerful wings three times, dizzyingly high, and then dove for him. Her talons dug into his shoulder blades, and he gave a yelp.
"What the-?"
Verona dragged him upwards. He struggled fiercely.
"Let me go, undead scum! I-"
"Be quiet, and your death shall come quickly"
"Never! Help! Help!"
She grabbed a hold of his neck, snapping his spine. He went limp in her grasp, and she flew towards Marishka and Aleera.
"Well, that wasn't exactly FUN, was it?" whined the redhead, curling her scarlet locks around one slim fingers.
"We can't risk letting the villagers know we're about, foolish brats! They'll arm themselves, be ready for attack! We must keep them guessing on the whereabouts of their fellow villagers. Did you dispose of the bodies properly?
"Into the river" Marishka answered promptly.
"Same..." Aleera said darkly, sulking.
"Good. We must return to Castle Dracula"
And they flew off into the night.
---
Van Helsing frowned as he entered Castle Dracula. He had watched the brides departing, and knew he had little time before they returned. Scrambling for the gates, he entered the enormous building. Dracula had invited him to 'talk', giving his word no harm should come to him. But he disliked the idea of what the BRIDES might do to him, if he crossed their paths. He was met at the door by the horrible hairy creatures Dracula employed as servants, the Dwergi. It gave a surprised grunt, and started speaking excitedly to it's fellows.
"Grank summfur Van Helsing! Erk! Erk!" (Or something that sounded like that, anyway)
Then, the Count himself swept through the thickening crowd of Dwergi, uttering sharp orders. They dispersed rapidly.
"Welcome to my humble home" Dracula said, bowing. Van Helsing stepped inside. Experience made him look Dracula over for weaponry, but he really didn't need any.
"I'm not armed, Gabriel" Dracula snickered. "And I gave my word I wouldn't hurt you, anyway. Come, seat yourself. We have much to discuss"
Van Helsing found himself in a large, cold study. There was a large red velvet armchair in the room, and a fireplace, but no fire in it. He sat, tentatively.
"Why are you still alive?" Questioned Van Helsing, rather loudly too. Dracula shook his head, as if this was the stupidest question anyone could have asked him.
"You killed me Gabriel. Where did you expect me to go" He spoke like he was addressing a small child.
"You'd go back to hell...of course. I'm such an idiot" Van Helsing groaned.
"It was a valiant effort, my friend. Lucifer was kind enough to give me another life, as well as my brides, and Sera"
"Sera? Oh, the damned girl who threw me halfway across your floor yesterday. Tell me, did I manage to kill her?"
Dracula stood and grabbed Van Helsing by the throat.
"Don't adopt that tone because I have promised I won't hurt you. I can throw you to the Dwergi, you know. They haven't been fed for a while" He hissed angrily. "And no, you did not. She is fine"
He didn't mention the fact she was still recovering. He let go of Van Helsings' throat, and he slid back in the chair.
"She's quite strong now. I was impressed when she grabbed you. First attempt at flight, you see"
"She got me pretty bad" Van Helsing commented, pointing at the gouges scored in his heavy leather jacket. "She's Veronas', then?"
"Yes"
Suddenly the sounds of flapping wings jolted Van Helsing.
"My brides have returned from hunting. I'd expect you like to leave. They aren't too happy with you" Van Helsing rushed from the room, down the steps, and out into the cold.
He wasn't in the mood to confront one of those sadistic banshees. He was furious with himself. Where had he expected Dracula to go? Just disappear into oblivion? The werewolf bite had only been temporary. He sighed, and disappeared into the cold winter night.
Just as his footsteps faded, the brides landed, and entered the castle. The dead mortal had ice crusted on his face. The younger girls rushed to their rooms, to comb the ice out of their hair and complain about not having reflections in which to see themselves. Verona hefted the mortal and placed him on one of the rough wooden tables in the hall. Grabbing a goblet from a cupboard, she waited a few minutes for him to warm, then used a small dagger to slit his wrist open. Thick red blood gushed from the wound, and into the cup. When it was full, she placed his arm on his stomach, to prevent further bleeding. She carried the crystal goblet up the winding staircase, and to Sera's room. The child was asleep, arms crossed loosely over her chest. Verona shook her gently.
"Sera...Sera darling"
Her eyes flickered, the opened. She snarled sleepily. Then her nose twitched.
"What's that" she pointed at the goblet.
"Food"
Sera sat up, and took the goblet, draining it slowly.
"Do you think I could venture from my bed today mama?" She asked thoughtfully.
"Alright. Be careful of your shoulder though"
Sera got up from her bed and changed from her silk nightgown to a day dress and left the room. Staff bowed profusely as she walked by them. She climbed several flights of stairs, until she was in the tallest spire of Castle Dracula. She traveled to the highest room in the castle, which was open and airy. Circular and hewn of stone, it was the least decorated of any place in the castle.
The roof was pointed, as the tower was peaked, and a few rafters criss-crossed across the ceiling. She crossed over to one of the walls, and started to climb nimbly, utilizing the talons on both hand and foot, left over from when she looked more goblin-like than vampire. She scaled the stones easily, and climbed out over the rafters. Once there, she jumped. Ever so slowly did she change from girl to banshee. Only a yard away from the ground did she finally fully transform, pushing upwards with a powerful flap, and soaring through the large room, and up among the rafter-beams, swooping and diving. Suddenely something large and dark came through the open window. She was too engrossed in her flying to notice or scent him. As she came close to the ground, she found herself caught in a strong pair of arms. She screeched and hissed, but no one could hear her. She looked up, and found herself staring into a large pair of dark eyes.
"Sorry about this" he said quietly. It was Van Helsing!
---
Verona burst into Draculas' study, her eyes wild.
"Where is she?"
Dracula looked up, mildly interested.
"Whom, may I ask, do you speak of?"
"Sera!"
His eyes grew slightly larger.
"And what do you mean?"
"I want to know where she is! She's not in the castle any more! Where is she? You must know...!"
Dracula jumped to his feet.
"Gone?"
"Yes!" Cried Verona. "Where is she? Please tell me!"
"I don't know, my dear" He took the shaking Verona in his arms. She struggled halfheartedly to get away.
"Where is she...where is she...she's gone!"
"Have you ordered the castle searched?"
"YES!"
"I'll look for her myself. Stay here, in case she turns up"
He strode from the room, leaving Verona trembling in the middle of the room.
---
Once outside, Dracula transformed effortlessly into his Hellbeast form, and took off, scouting the ground for signs of his daughter. There! An open window. He glided over, and found a scrap of cloth on a loose nail. She had jumped from the window. Flew. He caught a whiff of her scent, but it was too vague. He flew in the direction of Vaseria, hoping to get a stronger scent. Finally he picked up on her smell, strong enough to track her by. It led him straight into Vaseria. Cold fear gripped him for a moment. He had never been scared before...ever. And now he feared for the life of his daughter. Vaserians' knew how to deal with vampires, and she was vulnerable at such a young age. He caught a second scent. Van Helsing. He returned to his vampire form. He walked freely among the villagers, because they had never seen him before. His brides yes, heard of him, yes, but not seen him. With grim determination in his eyes, he found the scent and set to tracking his daughter.
---
Van Helsing brought the now unconscious Sera into his room. He had been forced to hit her over the head when she began to screech loudly kick, scratch, and bite. He stared at the small bundle of cloth and felt terribly sad. He hadn't wanted to kidnap the child. The Order had decided to use the vampire child as bait for Dracula, so they might find a way to finally kill for once and for all. He left for a moment, to get himself a drink of water. When he returned, she was gone. He swore, rather violently, and looked wildly around the room. She suddenly swung, upside down, from the rafters, smiling wickedly.
"Surprise" She hissed. He looked up, and gave a startled yelp.
"You-"
"Yes. Me!" She giggled and dropped to the ground. Van Helsing searched for some form of weapon, finding a small dagger that couldn't inflict much damage. She was advancing on him, fangs bared. Small though she was, she was scary.
"Stay back!" he warned her. "I'll hurt you, I swear it!"
"Papa wouldn't be to pleased" and she sprang for him. She managed some good cuts with her ling talons, and drew her head back to bite his neck, when he brought the dagger across her face. She shrieked, bringing her hands to her eyes. Blood and tears rolled down her face as she screamed a high-pitched keening noise. He stared at his knife, horrified.
"Are you ok-"
Suddenly the door swung open, and Dracula stood there. Sera had collapsed into a corner, sobbing.
"What have you done to her? I never though you would have sunk this low Gabriel" he roared, striding over, and grabbing Van Helsing by the neck. At the sound of another horrible sob, he turned around, spying Sra. He loosened his grip slightly, and Van Helsing ran for it, out of the door and disappearing among the villagers. As her father came towards her, Sera slumped forwards in a faint. He gathered her in his arms, and brought her to the gates of Vaseria, where he took off towards his castle.
---
Note On Sera:
Q: If it's only a year after Dracula's death, why does Sera appear to be 12 years old?
A: Because, if you remember, the children are very vulnerable in their goblin-like state (Van Helsing blows a few up with his shotgun). Therefore they grow very quickly in their first year of life. As they grow, it takes shorter and shorter periods of time for wounds to heal. Once she is an adult (Which will take only a few more years), she will stop growing altogether, leaving her young forever.
Q: Does Dracula now have feelings?
A: Yes...yes he does. A little something extra he gained with his resurrection. He didn't know it though.
Q: Why doesn't Sera look like those weird little gargoyle-thingies?
A: She did, at the very beginning of her life. During the next year she became gradually more and more human-looking, but she still has some reptilian features, but they will eventually fade. Pointed ears, sharp fingernails and toenails, sharp teeth, weird, dark eyes and nubs of bone on her shoulders where she used to have wings.