A/N Let it just be said, that my reviewers are the BEST! Thanks you guys – you really keep me writing. I do have some terrible news though, but I'll leave that until the end – so no scrolling ahead! This is just a small chapter to fill a gap in time – hope you enjoy it anyway!

Chapter 16: Joy and Agony

Carl came back to find both Anna and Gabriel visibly glowing. Something was different about them from when he left. They now looked like mischievous schoolchildren: schoolchildren with a secret. He stopped, staring suspiciously at them.

"Okay. What did you two do to make you look so happy?" he looked at Gabriel, "You didn't put another dead rat in my things did you?" Gabriel laughed as he began poking at the cushions on his chair, mumbling as he did.

"Carl."

"Not now." Carl hurled two smaller cushions over his shoulder.

"Carl."

"Stop trying to distract me – I know you too well to fall for that!" Carl kept rummaging.

Gabriel looked down at Anna, still smiling at his friend's mistrustful behaviour. He frowned. Anna's eyes were closed.

"Anna?" He said softly.

"Mmm?" Anna opened her eyes and realised what she was doing. "Sorry, I'm just feeling so tired."

Gabriel leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "It's okay, love. Carl's lavender must be working faster than we thought!"

Anna returned his smile and they both looked to Carl who had given up and now sat defeated on a pile of discarded cushions.

"I give up! What did you do?" he asked, exasperated.

Anna said nothing, looking up at Gabriel then holding out her hand so Carl could see her ring.

"That's beautiful!" Carl said, missing the point. He frowned, "But on the wrong finger, princess. That's the finger you use for engagement ri-" Carl stopped, realising at last.

He looked from Gabriel to Anna, then back to Gabriel.

"You're engaged?"

Gabriel and Anna grinned and nodded.

"That's wonderful!" Carl yelled. "I've never conducted a wedding ceremony before!"

Gabriel's eyes grew big. "Now Carl, I thought you were just a friar?"

"So?" Carl looked indignant. "After all you two have put me through, the least you can grant me is the honour of marrying you."

Gabriel shrugged, considering Carl's argument. Carl had done a lot for them, and he was a deeply cherished friend. On the other hand, he was only a friar and he tended to be eccentric at the worst of times…

"I don't know," Gabriel said. "What do you think, love?" He looked down at Anna.

"Anna?"

Anna's eyes were once again closed, her lips slightly parted as they did when she slept. Gabriel's expression turned to one of tenderness as he searched her sleeping form.

Carl spoke out, "Perhaps I used a little much lavender."

Gabriel sighed and groaned. "Carl."

Carl shrugged. "She could use the rest. Besides, I need to speak with you."

Gabriel frowned, "What about?"

Carl took a deep breath, "The Order is aware of the situation with you and the princess."

Gabriel was instantly more alert. He had long been worrying about what would happen when he had to return to Rome. He could feel his heart began to pound in his chest. Strange, he thought, I'm more nervous to hear than this that I was when I faced Dracula.

"And? What did they say?"

"Well," Carl sighed, "they do not approve of you leaving the Order." Gabriel's whole world came crashing down around him. "But," Carl continued, "The Cardinal believes it would be wise of the Order to have someone stationed here as there are so many threats in this area." Carl looked up at Gabriel, waiting for his response as a small smile lingered on his lips.

Gabriel frowned, processing what his friend had said. His eyebrows rose with his realisation. Joy flooded onto his face. "Carl! Do you realise what this means?" Careful not to wake Anna, he threw his arms into the air in celebration. But it wasn't enough. He carefully moved Anna from his lap and jumped up, rushing to hug Carl, who simply stood smiling. It was the happiest he had ever seen his friend, and the joy floating in the room was infectious.

"Thank you Carl! Thank you so much!" Gabriel pulled away, grinning at his friend as his eyes shone with gratitude.

Soon, he calmed down and took up his seat with Anna once more. He had hoped she might wake up to share in his joy, but the lavender seemed to have knocked her firmly unconscious. Carl, too, had settled into his seat. Van Helsing looked at him and sorrow filled his eyes.

"Carl? What's to become of you?" he asked.

Carl smiled and shrugged, "Well, if the princess will grant me a spare room, my lab will be moved here. I shall be Carl the Friar of Vaseria."

Gabriel smiled at his friend, happy that he would remain with him. He hadn't realised how much he valued Carl until recently. He looked across at him.

"You've been a true friend to me Carl and I am grateful. I don't think I would have gotten through some things if you weren't there. I'm glad to have you as my weapons technician," he grinned – Carl liked to sound important, "and my friend."

Carl's eyes grew watery. "I'm grateful to you too. Despite my mind screaming at me to say otherwise, I must admit that I've quite enjoyed our adventures-"

"Then you'll come with me on all my missions?" Gabriel interrupted, grinning.

"Well, I haven't enjoyed it quite that much – don't push your luck." Carl looked slightly ruffled by the idea, but smiled back nonetheless. "I too am grateful for your friendship. You challenge me and you keep my life from ever getting dull. Heaven knows that!" he smiled mischievously, " Besides, who else would I use to test my inventions?"

"Test? You didn't know that they really worked when you gave them to me!" Gabriel's jaw dropped.

"Well, most worked. There were just a few whose functioning was… unconfirmed." Carl shrugged sheepishly. "And they worked, didn't they?"

Gabriel scowled and grumbled something. He wasn't really angry, but felt as though he should act as if he was.

But Van Helsing's 'irritation' was short lived. He felt something move in his lap and noticed Anna curling into a ball. Carl saw it too.

"She must be getting cold. The fire's died down quite a lot. Shall I stoke it up a little?"

Gabriel shook his head. "I think I'll just take her to bed. It's getting pretty late anyway."

"Okay," Carl nodded, getting up and collecting their empty mugs.

Gabriel, mindful of her healing ribs, carefully wrapped the blanket around Anna and picked her up. "Goodnight old friend," he called to Carl.

Carl looked up and smiled, "Goodnight!" He looked down at Anna. "I'm sure the lavender will wear off eventually." He winked. Gabriel rolled his eyes before turning to leave.

Dracula lay in his coffin. It had not yet iced over, so he stared at the ceiling. Though he appeared calm, he was livid. His whole beig, though still, radiated burning rage and resentment. His back had painful puncture wounds all over it, raw – and unhealed.

He didn't understand it. How was it possible? How could a vampire not heal? Suddenly, it hit him. Dracula looked down at the small scabs on his hand. He had not healed when he smashed the glass! How could he have been so blind – that he did not realise?

It was Jacob's fault, he decided. Jacob, Marie and Alexander had to have done something wrong when they resurrected him! How else could this have happened? Beelzebub would never have condoned it. No, decided Dracula, it was Jacob's fault. And he would pay.

He quickly rose from the coffin, leaving flakes of dry blood where had lain.

"JACOB!" he bellowed. His voice sounded like it did when he was in his demon form. That was exactly as he wanted it.

Footsteps were heard along the corridor. The door creaked open and Jacob slipped in. He hurried to bow before Dracula. When Dracula snorted, he knew something was wrong. Then he sensed it; bitter, burning rage.

"My Lord?"

"Jacob." Dracula said sternly. "I want you to tell me exactly how you brought me back to life." His voice was controlled and emotionless.

Jacob gulped. Something was horribly wrong. He took a deep breath and began explaining. About the manuscript; about the Gislaeya Ritual; about the cave. He even recited the chant they had used. When he was done, he looked up at Dracula tentatively.

An iron arm slammed down into the side of his skull, sending him barrelling across the room into the opposite wall. Jacob slid to the ground with a low groan. But Dracula proved relentless, continually tossing Jacob around the room until he lay, rendered helpless by the agony racing through his entire body. In a second, Dracula stood over him once more, eying Jacob's neck. He leaned, his fangs elongating. Jacob closed his eyes. If he was to die, he would do it honourably.

Dracula's rage had taken him over. He still didn't know what Jacob had done wrong, but he didn't care to find out. It had given Van Helsing a chance to actually kill him – for good. Dracula paused. Van Helsing. If he killed Jacob, he would be left with nothing but Dwergi to defend him. Slowly, his fangs shrunk and he backed away from Jacob.

Jacob sensed the Count move away from him and opened his eyes tentatively.

"I forgive you Jacob," Dracula said, making a sweeping motion with his arms, "I should be grateful to you for giving me this opportunity. Despite your obvious inability to perform the ritual correctly, you have granted me life. And for that I shall reward you richly. Remain loyal to me, Jacob."

Jacob remained on the floor, baffled. The ritual had been flawed? No wonder Dracula was so angry. He was lucky to be alive. As quickly as his aching body would allow, Jacob got up and kneeled in front of Dracula.

"I pledge my loyalty to you, my Lord. I will do your will, to atone for the wrong I have done you by performing the ritual incorrectly."

"Good, Jacob, good." Dracula tried to keep his anger in check. He didn't succeed. "Now," he snarled, "Get out of my sight!"

Jacob didn't hesitate to put himself on the other side of the heavy wooden door that sealed Dracula's chambers.

A/N well, I hope you enjoyed that. I do apologise for how short it was, I'm just under quite a lot of pressure at the moment. And the bad news: I'm beginning exams and I really haven't studied at all, so I'm going to have to dedicate my time to that for a while :sob:

Just a few explanations:

Beelzebub is the devil – perhaps now my English teacher will acknowledge that I do listen in class.

Dracula is mortal, but that only means that he can be killed like one. He still has all his vampiric power and can still change into the giant bat thing ;)

And..

Please don't stop reading and reviewing – my muse couldn't bear it if you did. Besides, your wonderful reviews usually prompt me to write – who knows what might happen on my days off :wink wink:

To: what are you looking at: smart girl! In the book, his name is Abraham. But in the movie, it's Gabriel. I don't know why they changed it, but I must confess that I prefer Gabriel.