Disclaimer: I do not own Van Helsing or any of the characters there in and am not making any money from this fanfiction or any other for that matter, which is a shame 'cause I need a car. However, I will pay a handsome reward of three shiny pennies to whomsoever can bring me prince Valken alive and wrapped in a pretty bow. … = telepathic speech. I hope you enjoy.

Valken trudged through the pitch black woods, the underbrush cracking beneath his feet and the branches of trees tearing his clothing. He swore as another branch ripped through his battered sleeve and scratched the skin beneath. Glancing down at the scrape his eyes grew wide as it closed and healed before his eyes. He had known he was infected but had not really made the connection until this moment.

Well thank God for small mercies at least. He thought. Last night was the last night of the full moon, so I have another twenty eight days until…. He really did not want Anna to have to kill him. It would destroy her.

He sighed deeply, and leaned back against the gnarled trunk of a tree, relishing the feel of bark and knots pressing into his still human skin. The pull in the back of his mind tried to draw him onward. It was not as strong as it had been when he first crawled onto the bank but it was still there. I could follow it but I have a sinking feeling I know where it leads, still…. He thought, staring up through the thick cover of leaves up at the stars. It will be the closest anyone in has gotten to the monster in centuries. If I am doomed already I might as well try and take him with me.

His chest started heaving and it took him a minute to realize he was laughing. A deep sound welling from the depth of his belly and doubling him over with the force of it. Yes, that's right. Do what no other werewolf in the last five hundred years has been able to do and turn on The Beast. He owns me now. The laughter stopped as the thought sobered him up. I might as well just give in to this pull and let it take me back to him.

He spun around and hit the tree hard with his fist, glaring at the shards of wood that went flying off from the force of the blow.

"NEVER!" He screamed into the darkness, not caring who heard him. Or what. If he wants me then he will get me but not until he drags me there with his own two hands! Turning angrily around Valken ran off into the woods, as far in the opposite direction from the pull as he could get. From the shadows, two wary pairs of eyes watched him leave. One set golden and one set green, both with the slit pupils characteristic of cats.

He has spirit. The owner of the golden eyes growled, following the young man's movements with a predatory stare.

Yes he does. But it won't be enough. Came the reply from the green eyes.

Are you sure you want to interfere, Mara? The green eyes closed as their owner nodded.

Never more certain, Kai

A darker shadow detached from the trees and moved like liquid through the forest after the young prince.

Velkan ran, knowing that no matter how fast and far he went, if he didn't concentrate, he would end up at the very place he was trying to avoid. The pull was insidious. Run with no direction and his feet would betray him, taking him before Dracula. Looking up he saw a thin trail of light piercing the trees and went toward it. Castle Frankenstein is in this area. He realized. And it's been abandoned for the last year. There he could get his bearings.

He got three steps before he felt something large and powerful slam into him from the side. Desperately he sucked in air as it was knocked from his lungs and he fell to the ground.

"What the…." He gasped, looking up to see the shadowy form of the girl by the bank on the back of a mount he could not make out. It was too low to the ground to be a horse and with thicker, more powerful legs. The girl shadow shook her head and pointed through the trees. There he saw what he had missed in his hurry to be out of the forest.

Castle Frankenstein. Castle Frankenstein which the demonic form of Dracula was landing on and the windows were lit with signs of habitation. He shuddered. Despite his best efforts he had almost walked right into Dracula's hands. The girl offered him her hand and he took it, still dazed by the close call. She was strong. He felt it as she pulled him up behind her onto the back of whatever the hell it was she was riding. Silently she guided the beast around and took them back into the trees.