Chapter 9-Dracula

The group had spent their free time doing their own thing throughout the day until the sun started to go down.

As they prepared for the trip ahead, Carl told the group that he would like to remain at Anna's castle to do some more investigating on the Valerious' history by looking at the paintings on the walls and the books in the library.

So with freshly loaded weapons and restocked items in hand, Van Helsing and his team (minus Carl) made their way back into the forest and continued on the path towards the castle where the late Dr Frankenstein once lived.

"Wait, you guys…" Mikey suddenly spoke in a timid tone, making everyone stop.

"What's wrong, Mikey?" Donnie asked in concern when he noticed how nervous Mikey looked.

"Erm…W-What do I do if I turned into a werewolf and lose control of myself again…?" Mikey questioned shakily in fear.

The others looked at each other and thought for a moment. They all knew that it wouldn't be long until the full moon appears and Mikey would become a werewolf shortly after, so there was a chance that the youngest turtle might lose control again if he didn't stay mentally strong. However, they had to remind themselves that they must support Mikey in any way they could to make sure that what happened last night doesn't happen again. Besides, they all believed that the youngest turtle was spiritually stronger than they all thought he was which gave him the advantage last night.

"Dat ain't gonna happen, bro; even if ya change again, ya won't lose it cos ya know who we are and ya won't attack us…!" Raph answered first with a lot of confidence.

"B-But-"

"Don't worry, Mikey; we'll be here to bring you back around if you lose yourself again…it will be just like before during your first transformation…" Leo reassured his little brother, cutting his sentence off in the process.

"Correct, and I promise you that I won't use my silver bullets on you…They're for emergencies only, after all…" Van Helsing swore kindly.

"T-Thanks, guys…M'sorry for worrying you all…" Mikey said gratefully.

"No problem, little brother…" Donnie replied whilst wrapping an arm around Mikey's shoulders to give him a sideways hug.

"Now then, shall we keep going?" Anna questioned eagerly with a smile.

The others nodded before they all resumed their walk through the forest and towards the castle.

/

Dr Frankenstein's castle…

The group finally arrived at the old castle where the late Dr Frankenstein and his monstrous creation once lived. They could tell that there had been a confrontation due to the damage on the front door and the wall around it.

"S-Shell, it looks even more creepy up close…!" Mikey said nervously.

"It sure does…Still, it is quite a magnificent building…" Donnie said in awe, despite agreeing with Mikey about how spooky it looked.

"I just cannot believe that it has been over a year since that horrific incident happened here…!" Anna said in thought as she too looked at the damage on the front of the castle.

The others nodded in agreement before they watched as Leo and Van Helsing visually assessed the castle for signs of monsters or traps before turning around to look at them as Leo spoke.

"Alright, everyone…once we enter this castle, there's not going back, and there's a chance that an ambush is waiting for us inside…are you ready?"

The others looked at one another nervously for a moment before they narrowed their eyes and looked at Leo and Van Helsing.

"Yeah!" Yes!" The younger turtle brothers and Anna answered in unison.

"Good, then let's go!" Leo said in relief and confidence before he and the others entered the castle through the front door.

Inside the castle was a dark hallway, with only the hanging torches on the wall giving soft light for visibility. There was also a set of stairs leading up to the next level in front of the group.

"Gosh, this place is quite spacious on the inside…!" Donnie exclaimed in awe when he saw how large the space was in the main hallway.

"Well, Dr Frankenstein must've needed a spacious castle if he were to do his experiments in..." Anna theorised.

"Let's go up to the next level and see what's up there, but keep your senses sharp; we don't know what's lurking in the shadows…" Leo said in a serious tone.

With their weapons in hand and ready, the group walked up the stairs at a steady pace since rushing up them would make them more susceptible to being attacked out of nowhere by the enemy.

During their investigation on the first floor, however, the group realised that they didn't see a single monster inside any of the rooms that they had searched through to find Dracula.

"Strange…I'd have thought that the whole castle would have been heavily guarded from intruders…" Donnie said in confusion.

"Hmm…I've got a bad feeling that Dracula might have already been expecting us…" Leo said uneasily.

"I agree, Leonardo…Everyone, be on your guard while we reach the top…!" Van Helsing said firmly.

As they moved further on, they found themselves in the castle's middle courtyard and stopped when they came towards two pathways; one on the left and one on the right, both of which had stairs spiralling upwards.

"Which way, now?" Raph questioned.

"Looks like we'll have to split into teams again…" Leo proposed with a sigh.

"No, we stick together this time…We choose one path and we all follow through with it…" Van Helsing immediately said, dismissing the idea of separating everyone again after what happened last time.

Then, suddenly…

"Aaarrgghh!"

Everyone froze and their eyes widened in fear when they heard someone screaming out in agony, as if the poor soul was being tortured, and it was coming from above on the right-sided path.

"Velkan!?" Anna said with wide eyes when she recognised the scream before she made a dash towards the stairs.

"No, Anna! Come back!" Van Helsing cried out, but Anna was already long gone.

"It appears we have guests!"

An ominous voice suddenly called out, making the group jump and turn around to look at a tall figure wearing smart clothing and a cape standing halfway in the shadows.

"Dracula!" Van Helsing identified, pointing his crossbow at the man.

"Ah…We meet again, Gabriel…" Dracula said in a pleased manner.

"Gabriel?" Leo questioned in confusion as to why Dracula would call Van Helsing by that name.

"Wait, did he just say 'we meet again' to Van Helsing? Have you seen and fought Dracula before, dude!?" Mikey questioned in confusion.

"…" Van Helsing just shook his head in silence because he didn't know what to say since he had no memory of this so-called last encounter with Dracula.

Suddenly, in a swift move, Van Helsing charged towards Dracula and stabbed him through the chest with a silver stake.

"Aaarrgghh!" The vampire cried out in pain as the stake burned him on the inside.

"Woah, dude…!" Mikey breathed out in shock and amazement, whilst his older brothers just stood in silence with their eyes and mouth wide open.

"A-A silver stake…!?" Dracula cried out in disbelief.

However, just when the others thought that they had defeated him, they watched in horror as the vampire Count pulled the stake out of his body and dropped it on the floor.

"W-Wait, WHAAAAAAAT!?" The turtle brothers cried out in unison with wide eyes and open mouths.

"How the shell is that possible!? Vampires are weak against silver, aren't they!?" Donnie questioned with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"How long has it been? 300, 400 years?" Dracula questioned, ignoring Donnie's words.

"…" Van Helsing just stood in a confused silence.

"You do not remember, do you?" Dracula questioned in surprise as he took off his cape and started walking towards Van Helsing.

"Exactly what is it that I should be remembering?" Van Helsing asked nervously in confusion.

"You are the great Van Helsing! Trained by monks and mullahs from Tibet to Istanbul! Protected by Rome herself…!" Dracula cheered whilst looking at Van Helsing with a firm stare.

"But, like me, hunted by all others…" He then added.

"The knights of the Holy Order already know all about you…it's no surprise that you would know about me…" Van Helsing told Dracula

"Yes, but it's much more than this! Ha, ha, ha, ha…" Dracula suddenly cried out as he quickly walked towards Van Helsing and the turtle brothers, both of whom immediately backed away to avoid being touched or attacked by the vampire Count.

"We have so much history, you and I, Gabriel…" Dracula said eerily before he turned around and walked away as he spoke again.

"Have you ever wondered why you have such horrible nightmares? Horrific scenes of ancient battles past…"

"Ok, does anyone else's brain hurt? Cos I'm gettin' a headache from all of dis…" Raph whispered gruffly to his brothers whilst rubbing his head.

"Yeah…" Mikey whispered back with a nod whilst Leo and Donnie just nodded quietly in agreement.

Van Helsing took no notice of the turtles as he stared at Dracula suspiciously before he asked him a question.

"How do you know me?"

/

Meanwhile…

Anna ran towards the source of the pained scream, and it was then that she saw her brother Velkan strapped on a table and being zapped by a lot of electricity, much to her horror.

"Aaarrrggghh!" Velkan cried out in pain before the power was turned off by Anna.

"Velkan!" Anna cried out as she came to his side.

"A-Anna? No, don't unstrap me! Don't do that!" Velkan said in fear for his sister's safety when he saw her next to him and trying to break him free from his restraints.

"It's ok, brother; you're safe, and I will take you home!" Anna reassured her brother as she continued to try and get him freed.

Just then, the full moon appeared through the overcasting clouds and glowed brightly in the dark sky.

"Anna, get out of here! Aargh!" Velkan begged before he cried out in pain when his body begun to slowly change into a werewolf.

However, Velkan wasn't the only one going through it…

/

Back with the others…

"Would you like me to refresh your memory a little?" Dracula asked as he slowly crept towards Van Helsing.

But before Van Helsing could do or say anything to answer that question…

"Ngh! Aarrgh…!"

The group heard Mikey suddenly cry out in pain and they looked behind them to see that he too was starting to transform into a werewolf again.

"Mikey!" The three older turtle brothers cried out.

"No, stay back!" Van Helsing told the older turtles, blocking their way by raising an arm in front of them.

"Rooaarr!" Both Mikey and Velkan roared in unison as soon as they had transformed into their full werewolf forms.

Unbeknownst to the men, Velkan had broken free from his restraints and stood himself up before going running downstairs with Anna chasing after him. He then stood in a battle pose whilst looking at Van Helsing and his group with a fierce glare, and Mikey growled at him as he too readied himself for battle once he saw him.

"Well, well, well…It seems Velkan was being truthful when he said that he had cursed a human-looking turtle…!" Dracula said in fascination before he raised a hand and pointed at Mikey.

It was then that Mikey froze before he roared and held his head as he felt a wave of intense pain within it.

"Mikey, what's wrong!?" Leo questioned worriedly when he saw his brother's struggle.

"Grrrrr…" Mikey didn't say a word and instead growled as he slowly turned to look angrily at Leo, who noticed that his brother's eyes were now red.

Suddenly, without warning, Mikey pounced at Leo at full speed with a howl and pinned him down hard to the ground!

"Leo!" "Leonardo!" The group cried out in shock and horror when they witnessed Leo getting pinned down to the ground by Mikey.

"Now, my new minion…kill him!" Dracula commanded with an evil grin.

"Mikey, no!" "Don't do it!" The others begged desperately to try and snap Mikey out of Dracula's control before he could follow through with that order.

Leo looked up at his little brother in dismay; he could tell in Mikey's eyes that the wereturtle was not acting like himself and was being possessed by Dracula to do his bidding.

"Mikey, please…you know you don't wanna do this…we're brothers…!" The blue-banded turtle pleaded to try and reach his brother's spirit and break the control spell put upon him.

Just then, Mikey froze and looked at Leo with a confused expression on his face. He had this feeling that he had seen this turtle before.

"I said, KILL HIM!" Dracula commanded harshly, pushing his mind control to an intense level and making Mikey cry out in pain and resume his focus in preparing to harm Leo.

"I love you, little brother…" Leo said with tears falling down his face.

"Rrroooaaarrr!" Mikey let out a loud roar before he moved his clawed hand, making Leo close his eyes and brace himself for the incoming attack.

But, after a moment went by…he didn't feel anything touch or harm him.

Leo slowly opened his eyes to see Mikey on top of Velkan on the ground and punching him hard!

"What!?" Dracula cried out in shock.

"Oh, thank shell…" Donnie breathed out in relief.

"Way ta go, Mikey…!" Raph cheered.

Leo breathed out a huge sigh of relief before he suddenly realised that Mikey was off of his body, meaning that he was free to move.

"Impossible! No-one has ever resisted my control! Ever!" Dracula shouted out in anger and denial.

"Well, dat's what ya get fer messin' with da ninja turtles!" Raph stated with a smirk.

"Owoooo!" Mikey howled with glee in response to Raph's words.

"Why you….! Get rid of them!" Dracula commanded Velkan and the bridal vampire duo, who both came out of nowhere, in a rage.

"Let's go, my brothers!" Leo said with determination as he unsheathed his katanas and charged towards Dracula's minions.

"Right!" Raph, Donnie, and Mikey cried out in response before they too charged towards the enemies with him.

Velkan, Verona, and Aleera quickly spread out just as Leo and his brothers reached them. Then they chased all of Leo's group up towards the top of the castle tower since there was more room to fight up there.

"Everyone, be careful! We don't have a lot of room up here!" Leo shouted out when he noticed how tight the space was.

Soon, the monster trio appeared with Dracula, and they all instantly charged in for the kill.

"Scatter!" Leo commanded before he and the others jumped in different directions to avoid being struck by the enemies.

"I will deal with Dracula! The rest of you, take out the brides and werewolf!" Van Helsing told the others before he charged towards Dracula.

Leo and the others didn't protest against Van Helsing's orders and they all chose their opponents before they begun the battle; Leo, Raph, and Donnie fought against the vampire brides Aleera and Verona, whilst Mikey and Anna fought against the werewolf Velkan.

"Velkan, please don't fight! Don't you recognise me!?" Anna cried out desperately to try and snap her brother out of his feral mind.

Unfortunately, Velkan didn't register his sister's plea and instead just roared at her and pounced towards her for the attack.

Anna was shocked at this, but she was able to move out of the way for Mikey to take her spot and attack Velkan. The two werewolves wrestled each other and tried to take a bite out of one another for a few minutes before Mikey managed to break away from Velkan and punch him in the gut, and he then allowed a reluctant Anna to run on his shell-covered back and kick her brother in the face, knocking him out and making him fall to the ground.

"Not bad teamwork, for a human and a wereturtle…" Anna breathed out with a smile towards Mikey, who grinned a teethy grin back at her.

Meanwhile, Leo, Raph, and Donnie were finding it difficult to land many hits on Aleera and Verona; the vampire duo's ability to fly was making it challenging for the three turtle brothers to strike them with their weapons without the risk of falling off the edge of the tower. Also, even when they did wound them, the injuries would suddenly heal themselves shortly after they were made.

Just then, Verona decided to change tactics and she swiftly flew around the turtles to get behind Donnie and she zoomed down towards him.

"Donnie, watch out!" Leo called out a warning to his brother when he saw Verona coming towards him at full speed.

But it was too late; by the time Donnie heard the warning, Verona had already tackled him hard and sent him flying off the tower.

"Aaarrgh!" Donnie cried out as he fell down the tower.

"Noooooo!" Leo and Raph cried out in horror as they watched Donnie fall and land into a fast-flowing ravine.

Seeing this, Mikey dodged a now awake Velkan's attack and immediately ran towards the edge before jumping off after his brother.

"Mikey, no!" Leo called out to try and stop him, but Mikey had already hit the water's surface and started searching for Donnie.

After a tense moment went by, Leo and Raph gasped when they witnessed Mikey resurfacing from the water whilst holding a soaking wet and unconscious Donnie in one arm. They then watched as Mikey climbed the cliff wall and reached the top before he gingerly laid Donnie down and started nudging and licking him to try and get him to wake up.

Then, after an intense moment went by…

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

The turtles released their held-in breaths when they heard and saw Donnie coming around and coughing out water that had entered his lungs.

"T-Thanks, Mikey…" Donnie rasped out in gratitude when he saw Mikey before he giggled as he was affectionately nuzzled by his little brother's face.

"Donnie! Mikey!" Leo called out to get his brothers' attention, which had worked because they immediately looked over at him when they heard their names.

"Cough, cough! W-We're alright!" Donnie shouted back whilst coughing up any leftover water that might still be in his lungs.

"Don't move from there! We're heading your way!" Leo shouted before he and Raph looked everywhere to find a way over to their brothers.

"Leo, over there!" Raph suddenly shouted as he pointed at a rope that had one end connected to the tower and the other end connected to a pole on the other side of the ravine.

Seeing this, Leo immediately ran over to the rope with Raph and slid down it using their weapons to reach the other side.

Shortly after that, Van Helsing and Anna had managed to shake off Dracula, Aleera, and Verona and head over to the rope before using Van Helsing's crossbow to glide himself and Anna towards the other side.

Velkan saw this, and he ran over to the duo to try and stop them from escaping, but he was too slow to reach them and ended up falling down the tower and into the ravine.

"Come on, hurry!" "Let's get out of here!" The older turtle brothers cried out as soon as they saw Van Helsing and Anna landing by their side. Once they were fully on their feet, the human duo ran with the turtle brothers into the darkness of the forest.

As they made their get-away, Dracula watched them go with anguish and frustration showing on his face, whilst Velkan got himself back up on the edge of the tower wall and shook off the excess water from his body.

"Go…Hunt them down, and kill them!" Dracula commanded his werewolf minion in anger.

Velkan howled in response before he jumped off of the castle ledge and ran into the forest to hunt for Van Helsing and his group.