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Chapter 26

Before the Storm

"Angelica! We brought the Gift!" Van Helsing entered Diana's room. There was a huge mess; walls and floor were in blood. Red blood of a mortal …

"Angelica!"

The witch was lying in the corner, her face was 'in ruins' as her body, the black dress was torn on pieces; it seemed demons had a feast of her flesh. Yet she was still alive, feeling awful pain and dying slowly. Dracula touched his bandaged neck, staring at her body without any emotions showed; Gabriel kneeled at her, his hand moved in her direction, but she hissed on him.

"No, please, every breath hurts …"

"What happened? Who did this?"

"Demons were here … They got my daughter, my poor Diana …" she whispered, bloody tears left her eyes. "Save her, I'm begging you …"

"Of course. She woke up?"

"No … You have the Gift?"

"Yes. We'll awake Diana, just hold on, alright?"

"Useless. I'm a mortal, still you can help Di. If she's okay, I'll die in peace."

Angelica closed her eyes, breathing so seldom that it looked like she's died. The count set near her, baring fangs.

"Hey, what are you doing!" the hunter grabbed him by shoulder. Vlad hid the fangs, but his eyes stayed icy-blue.

"She's already dead! So much food left!"

"I won't let you! We'll find Lucien and she'll heal Angelic!"

"I'll call her then," the vampire went into the corridor, where lent to the wall and took off the wet bandages. The wounds were bleeding so bad; he unbuttoned his dirty shirt and saw the streams of blood across the chest. 'Da - a - mn,' thought Vladislaus, pressing his shirt to the wounds. He needed blood and right now.

Lucien has just come with a new portion of medicine and was surprised to see an empty house. Demons scared the soldiers and brave Angelica was alone, face to face with awful enemies, protecting her child.

"Count Dracula! What happened here?" the witch asked nervously. She was old, but he was so hungry that just hadn't time to care about the victim's age and other details; Lucien could see his white fangs sparkled in the dark …

"Seline!" Lora called happily; she thought that her friend died in the battle. Seline smiled back, giving Lora to embrace her. The girl was dirty, in torn clothes, with scratches on her cheeks, but as cheerful as usual.

"I'm fine. Where's Alex?"

"He … well, you have to see this with your own eyes," Lora pronounced sadly, then took Sel by hand and led into the tent.

"Oh, damn …"

Alexander was lying on a large bed, by his face it was clear, he wishes to die. He lost his legs …

"Seline, I'm so glad, you're with us," he exclaimed, hiding the stumps under a blanket.

"How do you feel?" she set on the chair nearby, staring at him without pity or empathy, as she knew, he's broken and feels useless.

"How can I feel! I'm a cripple! I can't fight anymore …"

"Stop complaining, you're a man! You should thank the God or devil, no matter actually, that you stayed alive!"

"Life finished for me, captain, just leave me alone …"

Seline wanted to say something, but Lora didn't let her to.

"Lucifer wants to see you."

"And I don't want to see him. O.K., I'm staying here to fight. I have enough strength …"

"Sure?"

"Of course. I want Victor to be proud of me!" she had such a royal and magnificent look at that moment, even Alex awoke from depression.

"So you'll need this".

Oh, that cold, smooth and dark pistol, so gentle to hold. 'Max' …

"Hello, old friend. Really, the best man in my life," Selin kissed her pistol, remembering all those terrifying stories they had gone through … together.

"Lora, call all turned, who left. I change the plans …"

"How? What's on your mind, ah?"

"You'll see. I'm preparing a great surprise!"

Lucien entered the room, but too late. Angelica died soon after Dracula left, on Gabriel's hands.

"My poor girl …" the old witch whispered, her hand rubbed her throat. The man near Angelic looked so broken that she wanted to caress him like a child as she grew four and her heart squeezed, feeling the loss.

"We've got to tell her husband, but I don't think, he cares … Help me to put her on the table in the dining room."

Van Helsing has even forgotten about Vladislaus, trying to do everything for a person, whom he called a friend. While they were preparing her body for a burial ceremony, Dracula drank the bottle of blood, given by Lucien, and stayed alone in the darkness of the sitting room, still pressing his shirt to the wounds on his neck. It was like a geyser, blood was gushing out so fast, making him weaker.

'He grabbed me tightly. Waits me to do what he wants. No way!' he thought, imagining Seline was here. 'She's the first woman after all those years of 'being hollow', who could rekindle his heartbeat. Why was she so unique? Beautiful, yes, maybe too cruel in times, so strong and independent. She could protect herself, never asked for a help, but always cared about people around. Seline Cale had something special, which drove him mad, maybe her flippant smile or the way her amber eyes turned into golden, catching the moonlight. He didn't know, how she caught him and it scared him. He could do everything for her, wanted to give her the whole world. If only she forgave him …

"Vlad," Gabriel shook him from his sweetest minds. "Lucien thinks we should concentrate on Diana. It was Angelica's last wish. Can you bring me into the devil's fortress?"

"Hmm, it would be hard. By the way, is Seline here?"

"She left and I'm afraid …"

"She's already in the battle …"