Chapter 23

Inside the Hell

"Better to say 'Goodnight', gentlemen," Marionette's eyes ran from Gabriel's face to Dracula's, her lips paled and eyes were throwing lightnings.

"What're you doing here?" the count asked with uncovered suspicion; he didn't trust to her and it was clear for three of them.

"I'm a free woman, I walk whenever I want. Is it all?"

"No, please, tell what you know about the Gift," Van Helsing asked politely, wrapping in Dracula's cloak. Marinette gave him the sweetest smile and said, "My information costs a lot."

"Really? If it's so important …"

"Relax, my prince, the price is suitable for such information as I have. One night with you is enough, I think," she smirked enjoying the effect. Vladislaus stayed calm as usual, but his friend was worried.

"Sorry, dear, the count of Transylvania costs more than your information. Come on, Gabriel," the vampire cut and started walking away when Van Helsing caught him by shoulder.

"Wait, what if she jokes?"

"Ah, she hasn't a sense of humor, believe me. By a some reason she's sure that I'm her new plaything. It's her private revenge to Lucifer."

"But you could …"

"Listen, I can have any woman I want, still she's not in my taste."

"Remembering your brides …"

"My brides had a bit of a brain, but Marinette … She has only her madness. Let's close this topic."

Men walked further without talking. They could hear awful screams of demons above and see the flames of numerous fires.

"What next? Your friend wasn't so talkative." Gabriel asked suddenly, turning head back at the Lucifer's fortress.

"I thought you have any ideas. Can you read the whole puzzle?"

"'The Great Gift was given to the weak and seeking for a shelter. If you're not you'll find your own very close. So small, yet so powerful that he cannot touch it. In this times of war, seek for 'tiny', which carries the love, carries its burden, carries protection …' Yes that what it says."

"Great memory. Well, it's something tiny and situates close … He cannot touch it? Hmm, maybe it's about Lucifer?"

"So what can't the devil touch?"

"Let's ask him then."

"What do you mean?"

They stopped, looking at each other and haven't noticed how the land cracked.

"The earthquake?" Vlad asked before they both fell down into the black hole. The vampire jumped on the rock and grabbed the hunter's arm, and then pulled him up. They both looked down and saw the fire far below.

"Thanks …"

"At your service …"

But it wasn't over. The round piece of red sky closed, so only one way left.

"I can't fly here, too narrow."

"Let's jump?"

Dracula crouched, his eyes were exploring stones and rocks around. Van Helsing then took his arbalest and shoot into the ceiling with his arrow with a rope.

"I hope it will work."

"Always worked."

The hunter went first, Vlad followed. Strange, but the fire hasn't touched the Left Hand of God. Still the count got all the flames. He looked scary with burnt skin, like a mummy without bandages. Gabriel even flinched.

"What?"

"If you could see yourself …"

The vampire looked at his hands, burnt and thin like skeleton's, and hurried to heal up. They looked around. It was a wide hall, illuminated with candles, all in black marble, with columns and red mysterious signs everywhere.

"We're in his palace, in hell," Dracula whispered, unpleasant memories awakened in his brain.

"I imagined it would be hotter, with suffering sinners around."

"You'll see them, but not here. Better for us to find the way out and quickly or we'll stay here for eternity."

Lucifer laughed at the mirror, which reflected his son and the Left Hand of God in his palace. His whores filled his goblet with new blood and gave him to drink, then set on his lap, caressing him.

"What fools they are! But my son had done well, bringing the hunter to my kingdom. I guess we should show them their fears!"

"Anne!" Van Helsing couldn't believe his eyes, what if it was true? His love in black dress was dancing with Vladislaus under some strange melody. It seemed the dancers haven't noticed him, the more lust was in their dance. He kissed her chest, his hands were unbuttoning her dress and she was moaning sweetly, enjoying his kisses. Devilish music filled Gabriel's head, he screamed; even haven't felt Vlad, trying to shake him. Black jealous captured the hunter, he could see only these lovers, having sex during the dance.

"Awake, Gabriel!" Dracula gave him a slap, but it didn't work. He knew all the tricks of Lucifer and knew that the most awful torture was your own imagination, warmed with some new details by the devil.

Van Helsing was broken, falling on his knees with tears of anger, escaping his eyes.

Vladislaus tried to discover his minds to see what scared his friend so, but was thrown back by the invisible wave. He rubbed his temple and threw head up in time to see a huge demon upon him.

'Let him suffer, it's not your business!' said the voice in his head. The demon grabbed the count and pinned to the wall. Vlad felt his bones cracked in demon's grasp and bared his fangs, scratching its face. The demon roared, but released the vampire, who hurried to Gabriel and couldn't think of anything better – kicked him in stomach. Well, it worked.

"What are you doing!" Van Helsing breathed out heavily, directing his arbalest on him.

"Relax, I've just tried to help. Now, see this big red guy?"

The demon was running to them, claws sparkled like daggers. Dracula jumped on his neck and grabbed by horns. The demon ran into the wall to hit the rider, but stuck. The wall broke, its stones made a burial mount on the demon. Vladislaus was standing on it with triumph on his face. Still … The demon raised his head, releasing from stones; luck for the count that he jumped on the ceiling in time. The demon was mad and very, very angry. Gabriel shot few arrows of silver, but they irritated him even more. Men were in trap with a monster, who had a bad sense of humor.