Chapter 13: Dreaming

Gabriel sighed in frustration as he walked out of the kitchen carrying two apples. He and Carl had found nothing – no possible explanation for Dracula's return. It had been frustrating and their inevitable hunger had only made the situation seem worse. In a desperate attempt to escape the bleak pages and rigid lines of words, Gabriel had offered to get them something to eat.

Now, as he walked past Anna's room he couldn't resist checking on her. Easing the door open, he peered inside. Van Helsing gasped.

'She looks so beautiful' he thought as his eyes scanned her porcelain skin and deep crimson lips. How he longed to take her in his arms and shield her from the world, from Dracula and the monsters he knew walked the earth. But he knew she would never allow it. She was too independent, too forthright to withdraw from the battle. No, his only hope of protecting her would be to eliminate the threat before she could challenge it. Dracula had already risen and hurt her considerably, but that would be all. 'I'll stop you Dracula, you shall not harm her again' Gabriel swore to himself.

These thoughts in mind, Gabriel closed the door and continued to the library, a new will to find an explanation burning in him.

Anna opened her eyes and gasped. She was back in Dracula's fortress, lying in the same room she had been in before. It was dark, illuminated only by the faint moonlight shining through the curtainless window. Anna tried to sit up, but sharp pain attacked her torso and she slumped back to the mattress. The room began to grow cold and she became aware of a tapping in the corridor outside the room. Footsteps. Her breathing began to grow quick as her panic rose. She knew who it was, recognised his tormenting gait. She focused her eyes on the door, waiting for it to open.

"What are you watching so intensely?" a voice spoke from beside her. Anna jumped and twisted to look.

"How did I get here again Count?" she demanded, struggling to sit up, pushing the question of how he got into the room out of her mind... Dracula made a tutting sound and put his hand on her shoulder, pushing her back down with a force she could not fight.

"I brought you here." He said simply.

"How dare yo-" Anna sat up but Dracula shoved her down hard. Anna let out a shriek of pain as her ribs hit the bed hard.

"You will need your strength, I suggest you preserve it while you can."

Anna glared at Dracula but stayed down. "What do you want with me?"

"I want something other than what those that give me life want," Dracula said cryptically.

"And what is that?" Anna asked with venom in her voice.

"A new bride..." Anna shuddered.

"And revenge for my murders." Dracula finished, rolling his tongue.

"You more than deserved to die," Anna spat.

Dracula raised his eyebrows at her and began pacing around the bed, like a lion, circling its victim. "And my brides? What of them?" he questioned.

Anna glared up at him. "Those whores? They were nothing but pure evil – exactly like you!"

Fierce rage tore through Dracula. How dare she! He took a sharp breath, trying to calm himself.

"I wouldn't be so harsh, Anna. You are after all to become one of them." Malevolence glowed in Dracula's eyes.

"I would never stoop that low!" Anna snapped.

"I'm sorry, I do not hear correctly," Dracula said, he paused to flash her a questioning look. "Who said you would have a choice?"

Anna's horror showed in her eyes and Dracula smiled smugly at her. Anna's mind raced -he couldn't- wouldn't do that. But here she was once again, alone and helpless in his castle. Where was Van Helsing? What had happened to him? Something in Anna told her that Gabriel wouldn't save her this time.

Just when Gabriel was ready to give up for the night, Carl cried out, waving a large black volume above his head.

"Van Helsing! I've got it!" he yelled.

"What Carl? Show me!" Gabriel hurried over to his friend.

Carl put the book back down on the table and read aloud:

"Vampires are immortals but there are ways to kill vampires – see pages 25-28 for means to kill vampires. However, certain, stronger vampires can be resurrected by means of the Gisleaya Ritual. Leonardo Gisleaya first discovered this ritual in 1645 when his wife was turned into a vampire and killed. The ritual is complex and requires a pure virgin sacrifice. This individual, usually a woman, is used to supply a life force and serve as a vessel into which the vampire's sins are transferred- a sort of exchange of purity for taintedness. If the ritual is performed properly, the said vampire would be fully resurrected to full power and therefore, once again immortal."

"It's not so bad you know," Dracula continued, walking back toward her. He sat down beside her on the bed. "A moment of pain and you could live forever…at my side." Dracula reached out a hand and brushed Anna's hair away from her neck.

Anna recoiled, but with her injured ribs, it was difficult to move. Anna put up her hands to block him, but Dracula gripped her wrists, pushing them into the bed on either side of her head. He forced his gaze deep into hers.

Suddenly, she felt her mind begin to cloud. A thick fog of confusion descended on her mind and she felt numb, confused and fascinated by the strange feelings overtaking her. Give in to the darkness. Let go, a voice coaxed her. Anna felt ready to let go. Just you and I forever. The voice continued. The next thing Anna felt was a pair of cold lips on her neck. Suddenly she was jolted back to reality as Dracula unleashed his fangs, biting deep into her. The pain was unbearable. She was being turned by her family's mortal enemy. Everything had failed, she was powerless! Hot agony rushed from her neck and Anna began to scream…

"Carl! You're brilliant! That's how they brought Dracula back!" Van Helsing cried.

"Now our only problem is killing him again." Carl said with a dejected look, "And if he's fully immortal-"

A blood-curdling scream interrupted Carl. Gabriel's head immediately snapped towards the door.

"Anna!"

The first thing Jacob heard as he approached the Valerious Manor was screaming. It was a woman – Princess Anna! Jacob landed on her windowsill. The curtains were drawn so he pushed the window. It refused to move.

"Damn it!" he swore. Dismissing that idea, Jacob eagerly pressed his ear to the window and listened. The sound of the princess screaming was the finest music he had ever heard. Jacob drank deep of the sound, savouring every moment. I was right to turn to the Count, Jacob thought, his power is unquestionable.

Van Helsing threw the door to Anna's room open, allowing it to slam against the wall.

"Anna!"

He wasn't expecting to find Anna lying in her bed. She had stopped screaming and Gabriel took a moment to scan the room for the cause of her distress, but there was nothing. Van Helsing turned his attention back to Anna and hurried to her bedside.

Van Helsing gasped at the sight of her.

Anna was lying on her back, her chest pounding up and down as she drew short erratic breaths. Her delicate wrists were on either side of her head, pressed deep into the pillow as she squirmed, appearing to be trying to escape something. Anna's eyes were shut tight, but Gabriel could see tear marks down her cheeks. Her face contorted as if she was in excruciating pain and she was mumbling incoherently, jerking her head from side to side.

"God! Anna!" Gabriel sat down beside her and put a hand on her forehead. She was boiling hot.

"Anna! Anna wake up!" he called desperately. Anna frowned, but continued mumbling.

"Anna please!" Gabriel felt totally helpless.

Suddenly, Anna screamed again. "NO!" She sat up quickly, her eyes snapping open as she gasped for breath. Wincing and putting a hand to her ribs, Anna's other hand raced to her neck. She paused for a moment as her hand moved over her neck then sighed with relief and her eyes fell on Van Helsing.

"Oh God," she cried, collapsing in his arms. Gabriel instantly put his arms protectively around her, offering as much comfort as he could. Her shoulders shook as she burst into tears.

"Shh. It's okay Anna. I'm here. You're safe." He comforted.

Slowly, Anna's breathing began to steady and her sobbing slowed. Van Helsing lay down, and Anna rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling into him.

Gabriel's mind raced. What the hell had happened to her?

A/N Yes, it was odd, but there's a lot more to come soon! If there's anyone reading this, I hope you enjoyed! So please, please review – the more reviews I get, the sooner I update :)