The following is for those who are interested in the outcome of this story that took three years to complete.

Chapter 28

"So how did you end up working for somebody like Nathaniel Abrams?" I said.

"After my services for de la Cruz ended I decided to lay down my sword and mend my ways for God," Mina said. "I personally believed that the more I disobeyed the sixth commandment the further away I was from God. And on February 5th 1990, it happened. Heather Hume, a five year old girl from Glasgow, Scotland was abducted as she lay asleep in her home. For two months her family along with law enforcement searched for her and relatives appeared on television pleading for her release. On March 22nd Heather Hume was found. She was found dead lying near a riverbed partially naked with wounds in her neck. An autopsy revealed that she was raped and the cause of death was due to extreme blood loss. This only meant one thing: Heather was raped and murdered by a vampire.

Many had mourned her death, but there was no one more affected by her murder than I was. I was distraught over the notion that someone would ruthlessly take the life of a girl so young; a girl who never had a chance to really experience life. I blamed myself for the kidnap and ultimate murder of this girl. I felt I was the one who personally drove my fangs into her neck. I spent the following months wandering the streets of London with the murder of Heather heavy on my mind. I hated myself for laying down my sword and allowing such a tragedy to occur. One night in the pouring rain, my eyes spotted another tragedy yet to take place. A figure with flashing eyes and glaring fangs was in the process of murdering a young woman. I stood from a distance knowing I had to make a quick decision. I then rushed toward him, drew my sword and off came his head with the rest of his body disintegrating in the rain. At that moment I came to the conclusion that it was God's will for me to protect the innocent as long as my years endured.

I spent the next seven years vanquishing those who sought to strike fear in the hearts of many until one day I drew attention from an unlikely source."

"Nathaniel Abrams."

"Yes. I was contacted by a member of the leadership council of Neo Elysium who requested my services for Abrams. I eventually met Abrams who offered me $4million for each target on his hit list. I accepted the job, but I denied a payroll. My first target was the state senator for California and the leader of Dark Coven named Grendel Mohr. I descended upon his residence breaking through armed resistance but before I took him out the police soon arrived. On another occasion I tracked him down as he was riding with other associates. This time I was successful only in taking off his ear. However, I was able to have other successes in eliminating 15 leaders of fifteen groups. The fact that no vampire or vampire hunter was able to put me to death enabled me to gain unexpected popularity among many within Neo Elysium; popularity that was unaccepted by Abrams. Those who admired me went so far as to establish me as the new leader of the group. Although I insisted I wanted no part of it Abrams was convinced that I wanted to put an end to his seemingly fragile leadership. One day Abrams sent me on assignment with three members of Neo Elysium's leadership council. As we were driving downtown of Los Angeles the car suddenly exploded. I was able to walk away from the car's burning remains but the other occupants had already perished. I came to the conclusion that someone had made on an attempt on my life. There was only one I held responsible: Nathaniel Abrams. I believed that he set me up to make sure that I was no longer a threat to his leadership. The three members of Neo Elysium were among those who sought to elevate me to leadership of the group. Through their deaths Abrams wanted all within his group to know that disloyalty was unacceptable. The following night I sought revenge but when I descended among his headquarters he was already gone. I soon discovered that he fled the city should I return for him. I would not see him again for six years."

"He told me that you were the one who betrayed him. He said you were the one who started killing off members of his group."

"Lies, nothing but lies. He was the one killing his own associates. He'd burn them in a large furnace he had built near the steel mills of Los Angeles. He intended to strike fear in the hearts of those who opposed him. He was so desperate that he had resorted to brutality and untruths."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I just met him at this club a few weeks ago."

"As of now, Anna, Nathaniel Abrams is the least of your worries. I collected his fucking last night." I was shocked when I heard that. To think I was just talking to him face to face a few weeks before. "I almost forgot," Mina continued. "He along with many others mentioned an alliance between humans and vampires. You haven't answered my question. Is there an alliance or not?"

"It's not true," I said after a slight pause. "I was just investigating recent sighting and killings that involved you. I used different aliases to find out from every single vampire group. They all talked about how you were worshipped like a God by this group called Dragon's Temple and how you drink vampire blood."

"I see," Mina said with a nod. "The Dragon's Temple is a cult that comprises of humans living the vampire lifestyle."

"What?"

"Its members are made of those who believe that the human race is seriously flawed and the vampires would make the world a better place. They engage in rituals that involve drinking each other's blood and human sacrifices. The reason they worship me is because they believe I am a modern incarnation of Count Dracula. They attempt to contact me through their rituals because they want me to become the leader of this world and they believe that I would rid it of crime, sickness, poverty and death. I just choose to ignore them.

February 1st, 1902, while I was still walking in this eternal frigid temple I met Phillip Mason, Richard Blair and Anthony Wright, members of The Opened Pits. They assumed that I was an ordinary vampire and sought to make me their member. I thought I had no one else to turn to so I gladly accepted their offer. I spent the next two years with The Opened Pits living my new life as a vampire preying upon the humans I emerged from. From my perspective there was no hope for me and I was doomed to being a murderer. One night we descended upon a peaceful neighborhood in Liverpool where we broke into homes and killed innocents. At this one home I shocked to discover that we had invaded the life of woman who was seven months pregnant. I pleaded with them to spare her life which resulted in a debate that lasted for five minutes. It only ended when Mason drove his fangs into her neck killing her. We all left the house with me in a state of shock. I couldn't believe what had transpired. I should've stopped them but at the same time I wanted to prove my loyalty. That woman would die in thirty minutes but mostly I thought of her baby. Even though the young would-be mother would soon live among the vampire race there was no hope for her unborn child. Her child died as soon as she died. I've realized something from this experience: I had a conscience and pity for a human, two things I never thought I would have as a vampire.

The deaths of the young mother and her child had affected since then. I started to have second thoughts of The Opened Pits. I never joined to kill children. The same children I taught in my days as assistant head mistress. One night in the summer of 1905, I joined with Mason, Blair and Wright for another kill. This time it was Charles Ford, a member of the British Parliament. We were to ambush him as he was being chauffeured in his carriage in downtown London at exactly 12:15 a.m. The specific reasons for targeting this man reminded me too much of the aspirations of Count Dracula. We waited at the specific route Ford would take to his residence. As his carriage approached us Blair killed the coachman and Mason, Wright and I stormed the carriage. To our astonishment, particularly mine, the carriage contained a woman and two children, presumably the family of Charles Ford. Wright charged them but I halted his advance and pulled his body out of the coach and in turn helped make an escape for the lady and her children. When they escaped I was berated by Mason, Wright and Blair for my obvious disloyalty to The Opened Pits. I insisted that as long as I was with them there would be no killing of women and children. They, in turn, rebutted saying that I was not the leader and therefore do not make the rules. Mason was the leader of The Opened Pits and his rules were simple: show no mercy; just kill. Mason then moved on to teach me the price for disloyalty. I was well aware of his disapproval for disloyalty. One time he killed one member of the group who was suspected of being a look out for a rival group by having his body chopped to pieces and set on fire. In the blink of an eye he grabbed my throat and proceeded to choke me. I was close to the last of my breaths when I suddenly made the decision to defend myself. I grabbed hold unto Mason's choking hand and broke his arm and then I did the unthinkable. I drove my fangs into his teeth and started to drink his blood. At the same time his body started to wrinkle greatly. As I drank his blood I felt every inch of his life leave his body. I didn't stop until he stopped struggling and I allowed him to drop limp on the ground. Wright and Blair were horrified at what I did. I myself could not believe what I had just done. No vampire had ever done what I did. This didn't stop Blair from charging at me. I grabbed him and sucked his body dry of his cold blood. Wright attempted to escape but I jumped on him and drank his blood, thus killing him. At that moment I discovered my first power: I could easily take the life of a vampire the same way I take the life of a human. This is the one true power against the vampire race. In fact, I can recall Dracula having the same power when he used it on a disloyal follower. To discover that I have adopted this power from him made me resent myself even more. At that moment I had decided to break away from the Open Pits, but it would not be long before I had met Todo Hotsumi. I hate drinking vampire blood as much as I hate drinking human blood, but it could be a convenient killing method against the vampire. No other has that ability."

"Todo Hotumi gave me flash drive with a memo on your whereabouts. That's how I met father Arnold. Why do you think he would do that?"

"He has great admiration and respect for The Van Helsing Clan. He believes with all his heart that contacting you was a great alternative to all his failed attempts against me. You must be weary of the tricks of the enemy. I have a confession to make. Do you recall an incident three weeks ago involving a girl was being raped by four vampires?"

"Oh, God. Please don't tell me it's all over the news already."

"No it isn't. The girl kept her promise and didn't tell anyone."

"Wait a minute, how did you know?"

"The truth is I set up the whole scenario. When I first heard of a young lady searching for me I wanted to see if she was a vampire hunter worthy to an eventful confrontation. I tracked you down based on the descriptions given to me from other vampires. I then contacted four members of this vampire group that operated on the streets. I knew specifically what victim to choose. The girl, fourteen years old, would spend countless hours at night going to parties and acting very recklessly. She'd often take this route to her home in downtown Los Angeles around 12:15 midnight. That was also the time the four handpicked by me would be most active. If you didn't noticed that she was being raped I would've have to save her myself. I must say you are the most disciplined vampire hunter I've ever known. The others I've met in the past were just reckless and had no sense of dignity and honor. I must confess that I had a deep sense of guilt over what I've done. I had to receive twenty Hail Marys from Father Arnold."

"You were testing me?"

"Yes. I had hoped to contact you somehow so we may eventually work together the same way I have done with your relatives."

"Why do you wanna work with me?"

"Because I believe that you along with a committed few can eradicate the memory of Dracula completely. It will not be over by tomorrow but you and the other generation must carry the fight for centuries to come. The vampire will grow in his numbers but you must also grow in your skills and your intelligence. I will do my best but you make up the bulk of those who will eventually destroy Dracula's long lasting legacy. Do not do it for me. Do it for the sake of your kind's existence for it is on the brink of extinction."

I was impressed. I got the impression that she really wanted me and the others to do what we did best and she had no objections. I did, however, thought she was in denial that she was a vampire herself. I thought she didn't get the fact that there was no way she break away from her condition and that it was possible that she would always remain a vampire. Despite all this I saw Mina Harker as a formidable ally in the fight against vampires. "I'm honored," I said. "How do you think you could help?"

"First of all, no one, not one vampire hunter or vampire is to know that we've met," Mina said.

"Okay," I said.

"Secondly, I will lay low and do what I can while you extend your hunt beyond Los Angeles."

"What do mean "beyond Los Angeles"".

"You must not and should not confine you tasks in this city. As we speak Cassius Reid is planning an all out assault on San Francisco in the same manner as Demitri Mann. His base of operations is in San Diego but his group operates in splintered cells in the United States. He is not only one. I can tell you who the others are but I am afraid that we must end this meeting."

"You're gonna let me go? But aren't you gonna tell about the others."

"Don't fret; you will gain your information sooner than you think. The most important requirement in your task is to call upon God for assistance. Trust me; it will be convenient in the most troubling times." In Mina's left hand was a dart gun which meant one thing: she was going to knock me out unconscious. "You'll feel a sharp sting," Harker said walking towards me with the gun. "But the pain will be gone when you awake."

"Wait!" I said. "Will I ever see you again?"

"That must be the least of your worries. I exist now only in your memories. But you must take you fight against the vampire to every state and every nation. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Anna Van Helsing." With those words Mina pointed the dart gun to my neck and pulled the trigger. I felt a sharp sting that went to my brain and in ten seconds everything turned into a blur and suddenly there was darkness.

I suddenly feel a cold chill on my back. I try to open my eyes but all I see is a blur. My ears pick up the sound of car horns blaring a couple feet away. I have such a hangover. My head was spinning and I can barely open my eyes. I try one more time and I discover my location. I look up to see the bridge connecting from East to West L.A. I then looked at my right and found a long river. I was back in the streets. I then realized that I was in back in the trench coat I wore earlier. The next thing I discovered that Mina Harker was no where to be found. I started to get up and walk towards the road. Cars were passing at my left and then this one car was driving right next to me. I recognized this car. It was a black 1966 Dodge Charger. It was a car driven by Danny. The car pulled up in front of me and Danny jumped out and ran towards me. "Annie," Danny said. "Thank God. C'mon." He led me to the passenger seat in front and we all drove off to Downtown Los Angeles.

"What the fuck are you doing out this hour?" Danny said. I looked at my watch and realized it was 3:15 in the morning. I couldn't let him know about my encounter with Mina Harker or let him know that I was looking for her for almost three months. "What? I couldn't sleep. Big deal," I said.

"Well you're clear for the next two days. We gotta get ready to take down another bloodsucker's ass on Thursday." I laid my head against the window and closed my eyes. Then I had a thought. "How did you find me?" I asked Danny.

"Did you notice a little pain in your right arm last Sunday?" Danny said. "You were starting to piss me off when you didn't show up for five hunts. When you slept on that stake out I gave you a V16." The V16 was a microscopic tracing device that had to be injected in the bloodstream. It burns the following day and passes the day after. I did notice some incomprehensible burning in my right arm the following Monday. "You mean to tell me that you were tracking me down all this time?" I said.

"Hey, I can't let anything happen to my baby sister," Danny said. That Danny; He was a real prick sometimes but I loved him to death. I laid back head against the window and tried to take a nap. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my trench coat. Suddenly my fingers came into contact with a small object in my right pocket. I pulled it out and discovered that it was a flash drive. I was confused. I was certain that I didn't carry the flash drive from Todo Hotusumi with me. I asked Danny for his HP Compaq TC 1100 tablet PC that he always carried with him. He pointed to the back seat and I reached for the bag that he kept it in. Once I had it I turned it on and placed the flash drive in the USB. I opened it and discovered that it contained 20,000 files containing on many vampire groups probably more than what Emma gave me. I spotted this one particular file that contained info on Cassius Reid. This was the same Cassius Reid Mina was talking about. At that moment I came to the conclusion that I acquired the info that Mina had promised me. "What's that?" Danny said.

"Oh, just little investigation I did," I said. "Danny, I think we need to expand our fight."

"What're you talking about?"

"I think we need to hunt these motherfuckers outside California. We can't keep confining our operations in this city while those suck heads gain the upper hand elsewhere." Danny took his eyes off the road and gave me this stunned look. "Are you shitting me?" He said. "You mean you want to go all across America and around the world? We don't have enough resources and finances for that."

"C'mon, Danny," I said. "Our ancestors didn't kill vampires in just one place. Why do you think we have distant cousins in places like England and Holland? We're standing on the brink of extinction here. We gotta at least try." Danny breathed a heavy sigh and gave it a little thought. "God, I swear you're going crazy," Danny said.

"Whaddya say?" I said.

"Well, Abe Van Helsing didn't just look for ghosts in the attic, so what the hell?" I was certain that meant that he would give it a try. As we drove down that road I looked out the window hoping that somehow I would catch one last glimpse of Mina Harker. She was no where to be found; not on the road or the rooftops. I was certain that she vanished without a trace. I then thought about the past journey that I had embarked. I had a fair share of hardships and heartache along the way. I placed myself in the greatest dangers no one would ever put themselves in. The main question for me at that moment was "was it all worth it?" I could say beyond a reasonable doubt: yes. I saw another face of my enemy. Something that was convenient in my fight against him. I saw how the enemy thinks and moves. Those interviews in of themselves showed me the kind of personality that the enemy possessed. It was very clear to me that a vampire has only one thing on his twisted mind: ruling the Earth. This world was created for the humans; not for shit heads like the bloodsuckers. I did, however saw a rather softer side of my enemy. I realized that the enemy could be emotionally vulnerable and under great anxiety. I also discovered that he could love; something I never thought possible for a vampire. I realized that the vampire still have traits of humanity. It was long and hard road I had ahead of me in this fight. It was certainly not over. I then thought what a friend somebody would have in someone like Mina Harker; probably the only girl who knows about vampire hunting and vampires at best. Despite the fact that she was a vampire more than a hundred years of age trapped in the body of a seventeen year old girl she had the maturity of a full grown woman. She had such wisdom, wisdom I wish I had and I was able to relate to her on some levels. I too lost both of my parents and I was trapped in the life of vampire hunter. Above all, I saw her as a formidable ally in this fight. Perhaps we would meet again. Maybe that time the world would be at peace and the human race would be able to define the word hero when they look at Mina Harker.

The End

For all those who were offended by the level of profanity in this story, I'm very sorry. I wanted to give a sense of realism in my story. Please read and review. Tell me what you think of this story. And stay tuned. In one week I'll start to write another story that features The Bride of Dracula herself!