Hi! In this chapter I've written a short content of Dracula/Van Helsing friendship story. It's quite popular variant, but, please, be gentle!
Chapter 16
A Saint and a Sinner
Dracula was waiting. After his argument with Seline he was in a bad mood and desired to kill. The vampire flew to the other peak of the tower and stared at his aim – Gabriel Van Helsing. The hunter with a troop of Holy Order soldiers were sent to clear the way to the North Gates of Lucifer's fortress. They fought well, but count wanted them to finish with demons first. It was his business, his and Van Helsing's.
"Too early, my son." Lucifer appeared nearby; his cloaked figure was enveloped in flames.
"You wrong, father. I'm going to kill him and you won't stop me." Vlad growled back. The devil grinned, he knew his son would say that.
"I'm tired of your faults. If you die, I won't resurrect you once again."
"No matter."
"Really? What about your bride? The Left Hand of … God likes her."
"I know."
"Ah! So she is a price! She'll stay with a winner."
Vladislaus looked down. Gabriel and his men were losing as there was too much enemies.
"Retreat!" he yelled and soldiers followed him, shooting into demons. The vampire glanced at Lucifer with weariness, his hands were crossed on his chest.
"Happy now? What's about my reward then?"
The devil smirked:
"Reward? What reward?"
Dracula tensed, anger filled his dark eyes. Lucifer laughed at him, he just played.
"Relax, you'll get it when I return back my Diana. Very soon. For now you'll have this." he clicked fingers, but nothing has happened. Vlad smirked. "What? Lost your skills?"
"Someone blocks me. Hmm, this someone is surely going to die. I should leave. I have to say few words to your old friend before finding that 'someone'." with these words Lucifer disappeared in flames. As Vladislaus actually. Again that feeling of being thrown into the other reality …
"Greeting to you, my dear count. Glad to see me?" sang the sweetest voice.
"Hello, Marinette."
Van Helsing was wiping his arbalest from demons' blood. It seemed to spoil his weapon. "Carl's gift. Better it to work," he thought, searching the arbalest for breakages. At this moment he was disturbed by a man in a red cloak. His appearing made Gabriel to flinch and direct his arbalest on him. Lucifer threw it aside with one wave.
"I came to talk not to fight."
"You're the devil?" the hunter asked, frowning.
"The devil, Satan, el Diablo, Lucifer, carrying the light. Yes, it's me. The question is … who you are."
"I'm Gabriel Van Helsing …" answered Van Helsing calmly, keeping the distance between him and the devil.
"Indeed … But it's time for you to learn a bit about your past … Your and my son's … So let me take you back into the year … 1462 of Transylvania …"
Colors around turned into one black-and-white gamma. Soon the vortex around covered the hunter and Lucifer like a huge dome. "Another trick?" Gabriel thought, but when the screen cleared, he saw himself in armor of a middle-aged knight.
'It's you … Perhaps you'll recognize anyone else?' Devil's voice sounded like an echo. Van Helsing stared at himself, riding a horse. Soon another knight in black armor on the black horse came to him. The new knight took off the helmet and smiled to knight-Gabriel:
'Hey, got tired?'
'Aha! Dream more! So when you're going to show me your bride?'
The hunter, surrounded with a dome, could see Dracula and him joking with each other like good friends.
"It can't be me." he shook head, but Lucifer squeezed his shoulder to pain, making Gabriel to flinch, the knight-Gabriel did the same.
'Look. It's very interesting story. I'll be your guide …'
Long ago two knights, two fighters for faith became very close friends.
Lucifer spoke like a father, telling his child a tale. While listening, Van Helsing could watch these knights fighting shoulder to shoulder, traveling with an army of Romanians, visiting balls, etc.
But a black cat ran between our brave knights. It was a woman … Creature of Satan, as all of this sex called. Continued the devil in monotone; a picture of a beautiful woman, who reminded Seline, appeared. Gabriel felt a prick inside of his heart.
'Familiar?' his guide grinned. Memories refreshed in hunter's head.
Beautiful Lady Sophia …She knew how to drove men mad. You both fell in love like stupid boys, but Vladislaus was more impudent and obtained her favor. You were jealous … You shouldn't as the soldier of the Holy Order. Remember? You've swore not to break the commandments.
Van Helsing knew what's next, his memory awoke and his eyes filled with tears.
'The truth is always so painful, really? But still less painful than the cold metal in your heart … He was unarmed when you killed him.'
The horrible scene of a murder, which changed all his life was on. Two knights met and only one survived. Gabriel saw himself cutting old friend's finger with a ring he gave to him as a present, sign of their friendship. It meant the end of their command …
When all was done he felt guilt … He didn't kill Dracula, but himself, doomed himself on eternal torments.
"Why did you show me this!" Van Helsing screamed, trying to stop tears, but useless. Lucifer smirked, enjoying his triumph.
"You called my son evil, but perhaps you're not better?"
"He's not your son! His father was venerable Valeriy the Elder."
"He is! There is no more Vladislaus you know, just an empty shell without a heart. We created him together!"
The devil returned them back, but to the dungeons of his fortress.
"As a werewolf you're my slave as Dracula. Bow to me!" he ordered.
Gabriel roared and prepared to fight, but he felt something strange. Unbearable pain was tearing his body, transforming him into a werewolf without his will and then back to a human. The hunter fell on the stone floor, breathing heavily.
"See? I can control your body so easily. Give up!"
"Never!" he groaned, trying to get up, but Lucifer threw him to the wall and made shackles to pin the werewolf to the wall. Gabriel pulled, but he was too weak to fight. The devil watched his tries to release with a smile across his face. "Be my guest, Left Hand of God. Leave you here to think a bit. But you'll feel lonely … Ah, I know! I'll send one person to keep an eye on you. By the way, don't even try to escape … You're in my power!"
Captured Van Helsing didn't know that his old friend is in the same situation. Dracula was riveted to the wall in the same way, still not in wet and dark dungeon, but luxuriously furnished room of Marionette's castle. Hard to say who was luckier.
Marinette, dressed in … 'leather threads', well, a kind of a dress where narrow black stripes of leather were covering her breasts and snaking down to the belt of a skirt, which was long, but with cuts here and there, showing her legs almost completely. (Even Maya could envy her.)
Her long red curls were streaming down her bare back and shoulders. With a sweet smile the demoness walked to her prisoner, who tried to release as hard as Gabriel.
"Relax, my darling, this shackles were made in hell, so you won't escape from me …" she then unbuttoned his shirt and started caressing his well-toned chest.
"Why are you doing this, woman? I've told you, I won't play in your games!" he said angrily, trying to push her aside.
"You think I need this? My army is as big as Lucifer's. I'm enough powerful."
"So why I'm here?"
"You're my guest … Hmm, you're cold and proud, my wild horse, but I'll ride you up!" Marinette snaked hands around his neck, using his defenselessness. Vlad upped his head, at least he was taller … But what minds were in this pretty head?
"I like you, count. Still you refuse … Perhaps I'm not beautiful enough for you?" the woman took away her hair, demonstrating her half naked figure. Vladislaus couldn't say he didn't enjoy the view, but his brides weren't worse and his lovely Seline …
"Sorry, I'm occupied by some other woman. Find another plaything."
"Oh, that turned fool! She's weak and … too simple for such man as you! Be mine, count, give in!"
"You called me a wild horse? Maybe I am. But Seline has one thing which you'll never have."
"Really? What?"
"Stubbornness."