Author's Note: Ah, it feels good to write again. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this. Any creative criticism is welcome as well as insight on anything. I'm trying to be as accurate as possible when I write about the geography and technology of those times, but it's amazing on how hard it is to pin down information for a particular time in the 19th century. Anyways, Enjoy!

All characters that are recognized from Van Helsing are not mine.


Chapter 6

Hate and Forgiveness

"Master, master!" a high soprano voice called. A dark haired man with piercing blue eyes glared coldly at the door as a woman barged into his private study, her long red hair streaming behind her.

"I thought I told you that I did not wish to be –"

"Disturbed, but master I have-"

"SILENCE!" He barked, annoyed that she had the gall to interrupt him. She was lucky that he only yelled at her, for if had been anyone other than one of his brides, he would have ripped the dead heart from their chest before they could even beg for forgiveness. It gave him a cold pleasure to watch as his second bride cowered beneath his harsh tone. She kneeled at his feet as she mewled for his forgiveness. It soothed his temper as she rubbed her head up and down his leg like a cat and stoked his lust for the red head. He tapped her head, allowing her to look up at him.

"Master… I'm sorry I disturbed you." He put his finger to her cold lips to silence her. She moaned at his slight touch, her body rubbing sensuously down his. He smirked inwardly to watch her instant reaction to him, no doubt the work of the bond he created when he took her as his bride. Her eyes fluttered closed and her lips parted in ecstasy.

"I would kill any other vampire for less my dear…" He said, gliding his long fingers down her breast, pausing slightly where her nipple peaked through the light gauzy fabric. She inhaled sharply as her body shuddered under his touch, "… But what shall I do to my bride when she disrespects her lord and master?" he said huskily in her ear. The vampire bride licked her lips, trying to focus her thoughts.

"Master… please…" she whimpered, "I have very important news that could not wait!" He rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking that most likely her news would be about some trivial matter that she and his first bride occupied themselves with. He looked lustily down her body, his annoyance at her for interrupting his work momentarily forgotten.

"And what pray tell…" He moved behind her and pushed her hair away to reveal the twin fang marks on her neck that had bound her to him as his bride, "… could be so important that you could not wait?" He said before nuzzling her neck. A white hot flare of pleasure ripped through her as he nibbled and licked at the sensitive marks. Her body writhed with pleasure in his arms, her moans echoing through his wing of the great fortress that was their home.

"They found it master…" she breathed out, struggling to keep her thoughts together with the onslaught of pleasure coursing through her body.

"What did they find?" He grazed his fangs across her neck. She momentarily lost her will as she whimpered and mewled her pleasure.

"The creature!" she half shouted, "The half breed creature from sixteen years ago. It is alive master!" She managed to get out before suddenly she was ripped around to face her master. His eyes glowed with a fierce intensity.

"How has this happened?" He demanded. Aleera was left bewildered, her mind still reeling from his attention. She stared dumbly at him for a moment.

"SPEAK!" he roared, startling her out of her stupor.

"I…" she tried to swallow down the fear in her voice,"… one of the vampires that tracks and kills members of the Holy Order. She returned to her coven in Italy, spinning a wild tale about a mortal girl that transformed into one of us before killing her mate by draining him dry!" The man turned away from her, laughing manically.

"Where is the vampire? I wish to hear from her myself." He demanded. His eyes glowed with such an intensity to match his enthusiasm. Aleera swallowed, and bowed before him.

"Yes master, I will bring her to you." She said, straightening herself.

"Aleera…" He purred, causing her to pause at the door. Just his voice sent shivers down her spine. He used his superior speed to come up behind her "I reward my brides when they please me…" He crooned seductively in her ear, "and you have pleased me greatly." He raked his hands down her body, making her shiver in anticipation. "But first, we must find out where our little Dhampir is." The man said before turning his piercing gaze in my direction.

"Come out come out where ever you are my little Dhampir…"


I woke with a start, delirious and confused from the strange dream I had.

"Come out come out where ever you are…." The words whispered in my head like a chant. I shook my head, instantly realizing that it was a huge mistake. My head throbbed, the pain centered at the base of my neck. I winced as I gently probed the swollen lump that had formed there. I yelped as the platform beneath me jolted and bounced, throwing me into the wall of my small cell. As my eyes adjusted, I could see sunlight peeking through the wooden boards that made my cell. I could hear the sound of wooden wheels crunching gravel, and smell the unmistakable scent of horses and sweat stained leather. The rhythmic pounding of hooves and boots disturbing the gravel made my head pound ferociously.

'One would think that I would be getting used to being hit in the head all the time…" I mused to myself. I laid my head down on the floor, wishing fervently for the cool stone of the old cell to ease the pain instead of the hot, splintering wood that dug into my cheek. I tried to sink back into sleep, if only to rid myself from the constant pounding of my head, but the wagon seemed to hit a pothole every time I was on the verge of drifting off.

It wasn't until the sun began its descent that the wagon came to a jolting halt. I weakly lifted my head, although the constant thrumming pain made my vision swim and wave a nausea played havoc on my already aching stomach. It grumbled and churned, making me painfully aware that I haven't had anything to eat or drink for at least a day, although I had had no idea how long I was unconscious before I awoke. I attempted to sit up, but the wagon started rolling again. This time though, it bumped violently over uneven ground until it came to another jarring halt. I could hear horses nickering and tack jingling. Suddenly, I heard the clanking of keys as I watched a shadow come around the wagon. Nervously I backed into the corner farthest away from the door as my jailor undid the lock on the door. I tried to compose myself, but as soon as the door opened I was blinded by the sun. I brought my shackled hands up to shield my face, but my jailor quickly snatched the chain in between my hands and dragged me out of the wagon. My feet gave out from underneath me as I cleared the wagon and I fell into a crumpled heap at my jailor's feet. His only reaction was a cold glare before he picked me up by the chain and began marching me towards a villa. Behind the villa the Apennine Mountains were gilded in spectacular reds and gold. The surrounding valleys between the hills were already slipping into the dusky indigo of twilight, even though the sun had yet to kiss the horizon.

My attention was immediately shifted to the villa as a small but well-built man came storming out of the main entrance.

"This is an outrage! I demand that you leave at once! I will not have some damned heretic in my home!" The man yelled. My jailor simply handed the raging man a rolled piece of parchment and a small bag that clinked heavily into the man's hand.

"Whether you desire so or not, sir, these orders are directly from His Holiness, the Pope. Now, if you wish to abandon your duty as a catholic and member of the Knights of the Holy Order, you can travel to Roma yourself and complain to His Holiness." The man instantly went pale upon hearing this news, before turning a brilliant scarlet. My jailor raised an eyebrow, challenging the man. Finally the man gave a defeated sigh and gestured towards the villa.

"There is room for your men in the back by the kitchens. As for that…" He spat in my direction, "… you can take it to the attic. There are strong beams up there to chain it to." He glared once more at me before turning back to the villa and rushing inside. My jailor looked back behind us at the setting sun before turning towards me, his eyes were hostile and cold.

"So I don't have to repeat myself later on, you best heed my words now, demon…" He said, "It is only by Cardinal Jinette's and His Holiness' orders that you are kept alive. However Ulama Mahdi promised extra compensation to make you wish you had been put to death. If you try anything at all, remember that it will be a great pleasure to make what's left of your existence as miserable as possible. Am I understood?" I nodded at him with silent fear. "Do you fear me, demon?" He smiled a sadistic smile as he gazed intensely at me with his cold brown eyes. I looked at the ground, forcing myself not to tremble. Either my submission pleased him, or it was because the sun was halfway behind the horizon, my jailor turned and marched me into the villa.

I could hear feet scrapping the stone floor downstairs as my jailor locked my chains to a sturdy column that held a variety of baskets and bushels of herbs and vegetables. He pulled against the chains, then dropped them with a heavy clink, satisfied that I wasn't going to escape anytime soon. I licked my parched lips,

"May I ask where you are taking me..." I head snapped to the side as my jailor backhanded me. I could taste blood in my mouth.

"Don't you dare think you have the privilege of speaking to me," He spat, his eyes venomous. I choked back a whimper as I brought my hand to my smarting cheek. He stood up and straightened his uniform before looking at me with those dead eyes. "However, I see nothing wrong with telling you what awaits you. His Holiness the Pope has ordered us to take you to the Holy Land. We will take a ship from Pescara to Jerusalem, where the Knights of the Holy Order will then take you to live out the rest of your existence repenting your sins." He said before heading down the stairs to the kitchen below.

I sat huddled at the foot of the column, waiting for any sign that my jailor would return. It wasn't long before he came back, holding a plate with a meager slice of bread and an earthen jug that sloshed with each step. One of his retinue followed behind, carrying a wooden bucket. They set the items down on the floor. I eyed the food hungrily, and tried to reach for it but my chains kept my fingers from barely touching the plate. They laughed at my attempt before heading back down the stairs and bolting the door below.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I tried again, in vain, to reach the little food that was given to me. My stomach cramped angrily as I collapsed with a sob.

"O Lord, Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Savior forgive my sins just as You forgave Peter's denial and those who crucified You. Count not my transgressions, but rather my tears of repentance. Remember not my iniquities, but, more especially my sorrow for the offenses I have committed against You." I quietly sobbed my desperate plea for forgiveness, even though I had no idea what I might have done to incur the wrath of God. I cried for loss of my family, about the horror that I had become, and about my personal hell that I was living in. Eventually my sobs quieted down to sniffles as my body began to make it know that it had demands as well. I wiped away my tears while my stomach growled its discontent. I looked at the plate and jug before turning around and stretched my arms out. It gave me the extra length I needed to allow me to scoot around the plate. I carefully nudged the plate closer to the post before doing the same with the jug and bucket. Finally, I put my back to the column again and grabbed the small slice. I tried to savor it, but in my hunger I wolfed it down quickly. I sniffed the jug suspiciously, before drinking half of it in one breath. The cool water helped soothe my dry throat and eased my headache slightly. However, it wasn't long before the water reminded me that I had other needs.

After I was done, I quickly pushed the bucket away from me into the growing shadows that filled the attic. I watched through the small window as the last of the colors faded from the sky. True black bled through the purple twilight and the stars began to wink at me before my thoughts finally turned to Lorenzo. I began to sob again because my brother was now alone, if he was even still alive after our arrival to the Vatican. It wasn't long until I laid my head down and closed my eyes.

Mist swirled around me in ethereal wisps as whispers swam around me.

"Where are you…?"

"Come to us..."

"We miss you"

They all clamored at once, but only one voice swam above them all. I saw a figure in the mist, his glacial blue eyes glowed in the darkness as he reached his ghostly hand towards me.

"Come to me… Come to me…" the voice repeated in a hypnotic baritone voice. I found myself drawn to him, like the sailors of old hearing the sirens' song beckoning them so sweetly to their doom. As I drew closer, silhouette began to solidify. I reached out to him, but my hands stopped my advance and I pulled taunt against something. The mists were holding me back from the hypnotic voice. I struggled, crying desperately as I pulled against the mists. Pulled with all my strength against my bonds, then finally they snapped and I reached out for him.


Aaaaaaand cliffhanger. Stay tuned for the next installment!