Chapter 24

Meeting the Dead

"O.K., Gabriel, I'll holdup him and you go, find the way to get out of here." Dracula whispered, his eyes were watching for the demon, who was preparing for a new attack.

"That's not the time or place to play in hero."

"It's not a game. But if the demon kills you, you'll stay here forever. As for me, well, only you can kill me, remember?"

"Vlad, I'm proud that we were friends in past."

"Why in past? I've forgiven you and all, we went through means that we're not enemies anymore. Go now."

Van Helsing put hand on his shoulder and smiled, then ran through the hole in the wall, broken by demon. Vladislaus stayed face to face with the demon.

"Just you and me then."

Meantime Gabriel was walking fast, looking around with fear, but mixed with interest. All was in dark colors, still no signs of poor sinners, burning on the righteous fire. 'Seems the hell is not as it said in the Bible,' he thought while going down the stone road, which lead to the low lands of Hell. It became hotter, so he could take off Dracula's cloak. The scenery changed into one big black mess of the craters of numerous volcanoes here. He threw his head up and saw that the sky above was strangely blue. Still there was no sun. "What's the hell is going on?" Van Helsing thought, noticing the light, going from somewhere behind the high rock. He hurried there as it was white, for him it meant good, reminding about the real world. There were the marble gates of a vault made in the rock, decorated with statues of angels, which were holding sculls and whose wings looked like vampires.

The hunter pushed the gates and came in. The light was so much brighter. The large hall was in transparent silhouettes of people of all ages. Just silhouettes or shadows, no lines to recognize anyone. But one shadow moved to him and he could hear its voice, the voice of an old man – so strong and powerful.

'Hunter Van Helsing? What brought you to this mysterious place?'

"Victor Diamond!" Gabriel exclaimed. "How!"

'My sole has come here when I drank the count's blood by his request. When you get the cursed blood, you die and your sole belongs to him.'

"Is this vault for vampires only?" the hunter asked, his eyes were looking through Victor, seeking for Seline.

'Yes … But not for all of us … The count's sole is kept in a secret place, where, I don't know …'

"What about Seline then?"

'Her body is still walking and her sole is sleeping now. I hope she's alright. At least I met my wife and my son …'

'Hey, hunter! You spoke about Seline Cale?' said the other shadow of Mirek. Gabriel nodded, "what you want me to tell her?"

'Tell her that I'm with Karen and … that I really glad she visited my ash in the Castle. By the way, if you're looking for the way out – return to the beginning … I mean the place where the Hell was born. What to the Gift, you should remind at the Savior. That's all I found out …'

"Thank you!"

'I did it because Selin wanted to help Diana, not for you, murderer. I hope she'll kill the Red general! He has to pay for our deaths!' Mirek's aura touched the other one of a woman. It was Karen.

'Please, tell Selin that I miss her and wish her good luck,' Karen asked softly. Van Helsing gave his promise, after that he ran back to his friend.

It was such a strange feeling to see all of his enemies, captured and tired of eternity. Still where Dracula's sole was?

"Vlad!" Gabriel called, going through the hole. The vampire was there, standing back to him on the giant corpse of the demon. The lake of blood was around and the demon looked like an isle.

"You killed him, well done! I saw the vault of vampires' soles! I spoke to Victor Diamond and some of Seline's friends." the hunter shared, smiling. But something was wrong …

"Vlad?"

"I killed him, but … I think I depend on Lucifer more than I expected…"

"What are you talking about?"

Van Helsing came closer, his bare feet sunk in the black liquid.

"When Lucifer gave me my new wings, he changed me … a bit." Werewolves can't hurt me, it's true, but …"

Vladislaus faced to him. There were long scratches on his throat, which were bleeding badly.

"Wow, but this isn't …"

"It is! It means any demon can easily kill me …"

"Oh, come on! If you are not going to die, you won't! Just," he tore the cloak on two long stripes and gave to Dracula, "bandage this round your neck, okay? One guy told me that the way out of here is in the place where Hell has been born."

"Ah, yes, the Center of the First Sin. I know where it is! Follow me! But keep your eyes open … I think Lucifer is not among those, who give up soon …"

"Damn!" Seline kicked the wall, but then rubbed her chest, covered with bandages beneath her top. "How could they leave me with lack of information! I'm tired of being useless!"

She lent to the wall, breathing heavily. Every breath caused pain in her lungs. The woman felt so lonely, so weak …

'No, enough! I'm returning to my troop or what left from it … Nothing else matters now!'