Everyone just stared as giant wings sprouted out and human hands changed into claws. Terrible fangs grew out of a ghastly face, and a horrible beast now stood where a man had once been. We were getting a glimpse at the other side of Dracula, but this was nothing new to Van Helsing.
"Quick, all of you! Get out of here as fast as you can! I'll hold him off, but don't look back!"
By this time, Dracula had flown up and was deciding who to strike first as he flew back and forth below the cracked ceiling.
"Is he mad taking on that thing by himself?!" exclaimed Marlus.
"Run now, questions later," replied Michael.
He yanked my arm before I could do anything and we went left through a pair of side doors that Marlus blocked with a chair, and both men stood on their guard as a ferocious battle waged outside.
Van Helsing tried reloading his pistol while Dracula resumed his human form.
"You're wasting your time, Gabriel. Just give me the girl, and I will consider letting you go alive," he said as he approached.
"Having another bride won't help you much, old friend. Unless you have the Frankenstein monster hidden around here somewhere."
Then Dracula stopped and laughed as Van Helsing became confused; so did Marlus and Michael who were listening in by the doors.
"You think you know everything, don't you? Well, I'm afraid that this time I am the one with all the knowledge." He smiled coyly.
"So there is another way to bring your children to life."
"Correct. But I'm afraid you will not be here to see what I have found."
His beastly side appeared again as he leapt at Van Helsing and struck a blow, even though he was shot repetatively. Van Helsing rolled to the side and whipped out his Tojo blades when he ran out of bullets, and almost managed to slice off part of a wing. Both enemies slashed out at each other ferociously, but Van Helsing wasn't the same man he was years ago. Dracula struck him deeply on his left arm and a good part of his chest; Van Helsing collapsed against a wall and looked like he knew the end was coming.
"No!" Michael shouted to himself. "I have to do something, quick."
He paused in thought and then turned to Marlus. "Here, sprinkle this holy water all across the walls, and take care of Lady Riana," he said as he handed the king a large glass bottle from his pack.
Marlus was about to protest when Michael stopped him. "Just do it!"
Then he went over to the doors, removed the chair, and opened them while Marlus began pouring the clear liquid all over a side wall. He made his way around quickly and then came over to the middle of the floor where I sat in a frustrated heap.
"My lady, don't cry. Everything is going to be all right."
"Just leave me alone!" I screamed as I shunned away his attempt to comfort me.
He was taken back by my response, but was even more shocked when he saw what Michael was doing.
"Now Gabriel, prepare to die once and for all!"
But before Dracula could strike, Michael burst onto the scene.
"Great-uncle, hurry! Why don't you come after me, you oversized, foul excuse for a beast!"
He might as well have set a bomb on himself.
With a rage full of anger and hatred, Dracula now went for Michael, who now realized the full extent of his insult. He pulled out a gun and began fighting for his life as Marlus bravely came out and helped Van Helsing make his way to the door. Michael was trying his best to distract the creature, and I was about to enter the room when Marlus appeared in the doorway supporting Van Helsing, and unknowingly blocked my way as he motioned for me to help. By this time, Michael dashed into the room, shut and blocked the doors with a bang, and sprinkled the last of the holy water on them.
"Now we pray for a miracle," Marlus barely said.
Outside the doors, Dracula changed back into a human as the bullet holes across his body disappeared.
"You can run, Gabriel, but you cannot hide."
Then he prepared to transport himself into the room where the men sat waiting in fear, but an invisible blockade prevented him from coming even within a few feet of the doors.
"Such a useless attempt can only come from the mind of a coward. I will find a way in, and when I do, you all shall die," he scowled.