CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bethany rested beneath a tree as Eclipse drank from the near by stream. She was only a little away from Vaseria by now. She should arrive within the hour. Beth looked up at the moon and stars above her. She knew night probably wasn't the best time to travel, but the sooner she got back the better. The girl sighed again as she pulled her birth certificate out of the envelope once again.
Parents:
Mother: Elise Monroe
Father: Gabriel Van Helsing
Beth sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. So her father never died after all. He just lost his memory. Van Helsing was her father! That had come as a blow when she first found out, but now she had come to terms with it. It was good and bad that she knew this. She now knew where she came from and who her parents were, but if Dracula ever found out…she had to repress a shudder.
Beth slid the paper back into the envelope and looked up at the sky once again. Just then, the shapes of three bats silhouetted against the sky few into her field of vision.
"Shit." Beth swore scrambling up and jumped onto Eclipse's back. The vampires were out.
The teen dug her heels into the horses side and the black hose began to gallop away. Beth ducked below the low branches of the trees that threatened to throw her off her horse. Still, she had a tight grip of the reins. The girl kept her head low close to her horse. If she was fortunate, she wouldn't have to deal with the bats tonight…she hoped. All Beth knew for sure was that she had to get back to the manor as soon as humanly possible. She glanced up once to see the three large bats silhouetted against the sky following her. The girl swore again. This was not good.
Valerious Manor came in sight and Beth kicked Eclipse into a dead sprint. The girl didn't let up till they were in the stables. Beth jumped off her horse and took the saddle off. She then sprinted toward the door of the manor. With any luck, she would have just enough of a head start on the vampires to make it.
Beth was then flung off her feet by a swooping Verona and collapsed on the ground with a thud. Nope, not enough of a head start. Beth pulled out her revolver as she scrambled up and dashed for the door. Aleera lunged at the girl from the side. Beth fired at the bride and hit her in the face as she continued to sprint forward. Aleera screamed in pain as she clawed at her face in an attempt to get the bullet out. Verona tried to get revenge for her sister, but all it earned her was a bullet wound in her gut and one in her shoulder.
Beth stumbled up the steps of the manor, the brides on her heels. Beth turned to reach for the door handle, but stopped dead when she saw Dracula standing there already. She froze in spite of herself.
"Hello Bethany. And where have you been?" he asked. "Oh yes, the Vatican. Tell me, what did the cardinal have to tell you?"
Beth backed up and glanced behind her to see the brides. She was trapped. Dang it! The girl lowered her hat over her eyes to hide the slight fear that they held.
"That's none of your business, is it?" Beth growled at the vampire. She was in no mood for this.
"It is if it has to do with Van Helsing." Dracula replied.
Beth's face remain motionless even though she was cursing in her mind. He knew. How could he? Beth had only been back for only a day and she had the only copy of her birth certificate. Oh, she was in deep trouble. The only thing she could do was try not to panic.
"He's your father, isn't he, Bethany?" Dracula asked as he slithered towards the girl. Beth backed away from him, but stopped a safe distance from the brides. Dracula however, kept moving toward her. Things were not looking up for the teenager.
"Of course he is." Dracula continued. "Do you recognize her now Aleera dear?" Dracula asked, his icy gaze never leaving the teenager before him. "She was the stubborn four year old you had to deal with when you drained Elise dry."
Rage flared up inside Bethany. How dare Dracula speak of her mother! He knew nothing about her! Her fear was immediately forgotten and replaced with disgust and resentment. It was time he got what was coming to him.
"My mother died giving birth to me." Beth growled at them.
"Of course, of course." Dracula said smirking. He was enjoying tormenting the girl and he was making it very clear to her. "That's what everyone lead you to believe. Think about it. They didn't find her body after the fire. They couldn't find any records of her at all. The only thing they were able to find was that slip of paper you have under your coat. What else was everyone supposed to believe?"
Beth closed her eyes a moment and let this sink in. As much as she hated to admit it, Dracula was right. Beth had known her mother, even if it was for a brief time. Otherwise she wouldn't have recognized her voice in her dream. That also meant something else…Aleera had murdered her and tried to do the same to Bethany. The teen knew there was a reason she hated her most of all.
"Still being stubborn, dear?" Dracula asked with a smirk on his face. Beth's eyes snapped open with fire raging in them.
"How's this for stubborn?" Beth asked with venom dripping from every syllable she said. She then pulled out her revolver and sent three shots into his chest before her revolver clicked empty. Her fist then collided roughly with his jaw, sending him to the ground. Beth quickly jumped over the enraged vampire and into the manor. The girl quickly slammed the door shut just as Dracula got to standing position. She locked the door and then strolled calmly down the hallway, pleased with herself for what she had done. Not only had it caused him pain, but she felt better. Beth rounded the corner and stopped when she saw Mori leaning against the wall. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she had a small smirk on her face. Jen was standing behind her, also smirking at Bethany.
"Welcome back, sunshine." Mori told her.
"Good to be back." Beth replied as she reached into her coat and pulled out the envelope. "Where is everyone else?"
"In the hidden library." Jen replied.
"Good." Beth said and began heading that way.
"What has happened?" Mori asked as she and Jen followed the green eyed girl. She could tell something was up by the look in Beth's eyes.
"We have something to discuss."
Beth found everyone in the hidden library just as Jen had said. Anna, Van Helsing, and Carl all looked up when the girls entered. Beth was leading them and they could all tell something was going on by the way she was walking. She had a purpose in her stride that said she had something to do.
"Van Helsing," Beth started as she walked up to him.
"Yes?" he responded.
Beth took off her hat and sighed. How was she going to say this? The teen really hadn't planed that out. She just knew she had to get back…that was about as far as she had gotten. Well, better have him see it first.
"You need to look at this." Beth said handing him the envelope.
"Your birth certificate?" Van Helsing asked reading the back.
"Just look at it." Beth said running her fingers though her hair nervously. What was he going to think? What was he going to say? Would he be glad? Would he think she was kidding? Would he refuse to believe it all together? All the teen could do was hold her breath in anticipation.
The monster hunter looked at Beth and then the envelope in his hands. He opened it and pulled out the piece of paper inside and then quickly read it over.
"Elise…" he mumbled. The name had sparked something in his memory. Elise, he knew an Elise, but from where? Then it hit him. Elise…Eli! His Eli! Elise had been his wife before he lost his memory!
"Aleera killed an Elise about…" Mori began but was cut off by Beth.
"Twelve years ago."
Van Helsing looked further down of the page and saw it. Bethany was his daughter! Memories flooded back into his mind. The day he married Elise, the day Bethany was born, playing with Beth when she was little and many other things that had long been forgotten. The monster hunter looked down at Bethany. Those eyes, they belonged to Elise. That's why he recognized them!
"What?" Carl asked, wondering what was going on and why the face of his friend had gotten a shocked look on it. Van Helsing simply handed the friar the piece of paper. His jaw dropped from astonishment. "Bethany is your daughter!"
"What!" Jen, Mori and Anna exclaimed in unison. The three females then gathered around the friar to see if it was really true. There it was in black and white. Gabriel was her father.
"Oh, Beth." Van Helsing said and then swept the girl up into a hug. "I'm so sorry Beth. I'm so sorry I left you." he whispered into her ear.
Beth relaxed and had to fight not to cry. He was glad! She had found what she was looking for all these long twelve years. She found her father. She found her family, and it was right under her nose this entire time.
"There's one more thing." Beth said after the two pulled out of the hug. Her face fell from happiness to a look of worry and concern.
"What?" Mori asked, almost fearing the answer.
"Dracula knows."
"How!" Van Helsing asked.
"I don't know. He knew I left to go see the cardinal. He knew also when I got back. He must have a spy in the Vatican." Beth said.
"That would be a reasonable explanation…" Mori said and then glanced at the monster hunter. "but he is your father?"
Beth gave her a look that said 'it's a lot better than having your father.' Mori held up her hands to say 'point taken.'
"I didn't know the left hand of God could have children." Carl mumbled.
"What?" Mori asked sharply turning to the friar. If he said what she thought he said…
"What did you say Carl?" Beth asked in a much calmer fashion so as not to startle the little friar.
"I just said that I didn't know the left hand of God could have children." Carl shrugged.
"You're the what!" Beth asked as she turned to her father, confusion written all over her face.
"I was just about to tell you that part." Van Helsing replied before he shot an angry look at Carl. Just then, the light bulb went on in Mori's head.
"Bethany!" the girl said and ran to her side. "It all makes sense!"
"What makes sense?" Beth asked her.
"How you survived! The prophecy! The little light incident!"
Beth was a little on edge. She hadn't seen Mori this excited since…never. It was almost frightening.
"Mori, what?"
"You are half angel."
"Mori that's…" Beth started disbelievingly. She couldn't be! But if she was…
"Listen to me Bethany." Mori interrupted the girl. "The left hand of God is an angel. I know it's hard to picture Van Helsing as an angel, but it's true. He killed Dracula back in the fourteen hundreds. The happenings that have been going on are a result of your angel and human blood combination. Your nightmares, you glowing, stuff flying around your room at night…"
"Stuff flies around my room at night?" Beth asked.
"I'm an insomniac, Bethany, remember?"
"Point. Continue."
"Thank you." Mori replied. "You are a half blood. That's means you have a hand in destroying Dracula."
"Now all we have to do is find the other half blood." Anna said.
"Like that will be easy." Carl mumbled. Beth and Mori then glanced at each other. If only he knew.
- - -
Beth sat in her room early the next morning. It was about three in the morning and most everyone in the manor had gone to bed. At least, that's what she thought till she heard movement in the hall. Beth's curiosity drove her to get up and open the door to see Mori about four feet away from her door.
"Where are you going?" Beth asked in whisper. She didn't want to wake anyone else up.
"Nowhere." Mori said as she whirled around.
"Yeah, sure. You going nowhere right now is like you being innocent." Beth told her. Mori looked at Beth a moment to say 'go away', but Beth stayed firmly planted to the ground. Mori contemplated not explaining to her, but decided against it.
"We need the Immortalis Chronicles." Mori replied.
"You were going to go get it!" Beth exclaimed as quietly as possible. "It's in Castle Dracula! It's suicide!"
"You went in for me." Mori said.
"You are a person. This is a book." Beth pointed out. "I'm not willing to die for a book."
"Listen, I know the layout of the castle and I know where the library is. All I have to do is sneak in, get the book, and get out before anyone notices." Mori explained calmly.
"Anyone being Dracula, Verona and Aleera." Beth said.
"Yes, well, that's why I have to do it silently. That way, with any luck, they won't notice." Mori said and turned to leave.
"I'm coming with you." Beth said quickly catching up to Mori.
"Oh no." Mori said and stopped in the middle of the hallway so she could face the young huntress. "You are not coming. You almost died once."
"And I can stand to do it again." Beth replied matter-of-factly.
"No." Mori told her firmly.
"Yes." Beth answered. She wasn't about to let Mori go on a suicide mission alone.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"You are the most stubborn person I have ever met." Mori told Beth.
"Thank you. I pride myself on that fact." the teenager told her friend as she smirked.
Mori sighed in aggravation. She was not getting rid of this girl. She couldn't take her with her. It only ran a greater risk of being discovered. Then again…this was Bethany. She would never forgive her if she went alone…This was going against all her better judgment.
"Just do whatever I say quickly and without question. Got it?" Mori said pointing and ungloved finger at Beth's face. The brown haired girl smiled and nodded.
The two made it to the armory without waking anyone in the house and slipped through the mirror. Castle Dracula loomed before them in the darkness.
"The library is in that tower." Mori said as she nodded to the south tower of the terrifying castle. "C'mon."
Beth followed Mori to the base of the tower. Mori saw Beth look up to see the top of the tower. The look on her face showed her discouragement in the situation at hand.
"It's about thirty or so stories." Mori said. "The library is on the twenty seventh."
"Naturally." Beth said not sounding exactly thrilled at this news. "Everything you need to get is always high up."
"Well, you come to expect it." Mori sighed.
"How do you suggest we get up there?" Beth asked. Mori turned to her friend to see the questioning look on her face.
"You aren't afraid of heights, are you?" Mori asked.
"No."
"Good. We are going up."
"How?"
Mori rolled her eyes and then rested them on Bethany. "Would you rather take the front door?"
"How do we get up there?"
"Hang on."
Before Beth knew what was happening, Mori had grabbed onto her coat collar and jumped onto the ice-covered wall of the tower. With two more mighty jumps, they had flew through the open window and landed softly in the library.
Forgot about that. Beth thought to herself.
Most people do Bethany.
Beth jumped when she heard the girl's voice inside her head and turned to see Mori looking at her. The dark teenager had a smirk on her face. Apparently she was amused by the confused look on her face. Beth finally understood. Mori had mind-linked her. The young Van Helsing then rolled her eyes at her friend.
Don't do that. It's just creepy. Beth formed in her mind.
Only when I have to dear Bethany. Mori answered. Now find that book.
The girls began to go through book after book, shelf after shelf. They found nothing. They couldn't find the book at all. The process was slow and tedious however, and Beth wished that there was a way to make it go faster. The last thing she wanted was to get caught. She was on full alert because of this worry.
Mori suddenly froze in place. Beth saw this and did the same. Did she hear someone coming? The girl strained her ears for any noise. Sure enough, footsteps were heading toward them. Beth looked over to Mori with a look that asked 'what do we do?'.
Mori quickly looked around the room and found no place for the girls to hide. She walked as quietly and as quickly as possible over to Beth and put and arm around her shoulders. Beth felt herself fall up and flip over. When she finally understood all this, she realized that Mori was standing on the ceiling of the library and was holding Beth up there as well.
Those powers come in handy. Beth thought.
One of the very few perks of being half vampire. Mori replied. You are a wonderful spy.
Beth then looked down to see Dracula enter the room. He was carrying something under his arm. It was a book. Beth suspected that the book he carried was the same book that she and Mori had been looking for.
Dracula set the book down on a table and then left the room. The girls held their breath till long after the click of his boots had died away. Mori then let go of Bethany. The girl fought not to scream at the sudden sensation of falling. She landed softly on one of the many sofas in the room. Beth glared at Mori, who had just appeared before her. Her friend just gave her a playful smirk. Beth got up and moved over to where Dracula had laid down the book.
The book was bound in brown leather with crisp yellow pages on the inside. On the front cover, embedded in gold into the worn leather were the words The Immortalis Chronicles. They had found it! Almost the instant Beth had picked up the book, the girls heard someone approaching again. The young huntress looked at Mori, who motioned to the window. Beth nodded and the two moved toward the window. The half vampire wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders and the two jumped out the window.
The air rushed past them, stinging their exposed skin because of how cold it was. Beth saw the ground fly towards them. She closed her eyes in anticipation. A few moments later, she had landed softly on her feet. Beth looked over at Mori, who was just smirking.
"Well, that was handy." Beth said looking at the book in her hands.
Mori was about to reply when an angry voice from above caught their attention.
"Morianalynn!"
Mori smiled slightly at hearing how infuriated her father was. Knowing that she had caused this made her feeling all the more enjoyable.
"Alright, let's go." Mori said cheery enough. Beth laughed slightly before following her friend back to the manor.