Chapter 23

Anna had felt the darkness wrap around her. It seemed as if she was falling but soon caught by invisible arms. That was the moment when she awoke. She found herself on a comfortable bed. Silk sheets were under her and felt cool to her skin.

By then she realized that she couldn´t see a thing! Holding her hand in front of her eyes she tried to see it, but to no avail. This could either be a dark room or a spell.

She knew Dracula enough to know that he had obviously done something to make her blind. A warm breath on her neck made her jump. The vampire was there. Anna could feel his presence close to her. Cold hands, coming like out of nothing, caressed her bare shoulders and face.

What if this was only a lusting servant again? But that wouldn´t feel so good, would it? Anna felt the same warm shivers crawl across her back like the ones only Dracula could let her feel. Leaning into the hands´ owner she sighed in comfort. It felt so right. The hands now also travelled up and down her back and sides.

"I see you finally gave yourself to me", came his charming voice.

Anna smiled a devilish smile. "Right. I see the spell you put on me worked quite well. You know I would never do so while being aware of it."

Dracula chuckled against her soft brown curls, running a hand through them. "I highly doubt it. Don´t you think I would be the first to know when I put spells on my favorite pet?", he said and his smile grew even wider at Anna´s expression.

"You mean there´s no spell?", she asked a bit too hastily. Slowly she let herself slip out of Dracula´s embrace.

But faster than she could stop him he had put her to sleep once again. "Sweet dreams, my dear. Somebody wants to tell you something there."

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Anna felt like she was floating. The place she wa in looked like heaven. At least she had alsways imagined heaven to be like that. Everything was bright and shining like sun itself. Only a small black door didn´t illuminate the huge place. And in front of the door stood Van Helsing.

Immediately tears appeared in her eyes as she ran forward, ready to embrace him but he held up his hand to stop her.

"Is this a trick again?", she asked quietly and carefully as if a loud noise would make him disappear once more. Gabriel shook his head slowly. A small tear slid down his cheek. "I don´t have much time. There´s so much I finally remember and the time isn´t enough for even the half of it."

The princess stiffled a sob and covered her mouth with one hand. Why couldn´t she just feel him in her arms? "Why did you leave me?"

Van Helsing replied carefully: "I know it seems unfair to you but it was my destiny to leave you right after you knew how love feels. You will understand in time. You need to know that two men loving the same woman can´t be without at least one broken heart. Now that I´m gone-"

"NO! This beast doesn´t love me! He can´t love me nor anyone else!", she protested. It just couldn´t be true.

"Anna, stop denying it! Deep in your heart you already made a decision, it just didn´t go to your mind yet. He needs you. He can protect you."

Anna shook her head heavily. "I can take care of myself!" Gabriel just smiled softly. That was just the Anna he knew and loved.

"Listen: It was Vladislaus who told me to go to you before there´s no return. Once we were like brothers and I know him too well to say that he doesn´t love you. I don´t want you to forget me but I want you to give your heart a chance. Just trust me in that", he explained.

She understood at least a little what he meant. She had to be strong now.

"I love you, Anna", he whispered and saw that she opened her mouth to tell him the same but he quickly added, "Don´t do that. It would be a lie."

Anna stretched out her arm and he did the same. "Goodbye, Gabriel", she said softly as their fingers touched and reality reached for her. Never she would forget this conversation and her Van Helsing.