But the ground never got to greet him. Murundio was suddenly jerked upwards as Aleera wrapped her strong taloned feet around his shoulders.
"What are you doing?!" Murundio howled in surprise. Aleera didn't say anything. Instead she dumped him on a ledge and turned her attention to Anna, who had pulled herself up onto the ledge, cure in hand.
"Anna! My love! It is your blood-"
"Aleera!" Murundio cut in sharply. Aleera turned to face him and for the first time, Murundio saw the struggle playing out on her face.
"Aleera I…" Murundio couldn't finish his sentence. Aleera had been turned by Dracula, had all the power at her fingertips and was beautiful behind words as a vampire. But all those things didn't matter. Dracula might have owned her, but she still loved Murundio. That was why she had saved him- why he wasn't dead yet. And Murundio had just seen it written all over her face. Perhaps the old Aleera, his Aleera, was still in there somewhere. There was only one way to free her.
"Aleera, you don't have to do this," Murundio said softly. Her face turned sad.
"But don't you get it? A vampire can never belong with a mortal. That's why I had to go with Dracula- my only chance of having a life- a real life, was with Dracula," she said.
"I know, Aleera. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything," he said softly. Her eyes narrowed.
"Sorry for what?"
"I love you, Aleera, and I always will."
"What are you doing?" she was starting to get really suspicious now. That was when Carl appeared behind her and threw the silver stake.
Murundio caught it, and without thinking, aimed for Aleera's heart. Aleera screamed as she felt the stake pierce her heart. Her scream reached new heights as she shrivelled up and exploded.
"Now, you are free," Murundio whispered.
Anna and Carl were looking at him, unsure what to say.
In the end, they didn't have to say a thing.
"C'mon," Murundio said. "Let's go save Van Helsing."
Anna insisted that she run ahead of Murundio and Carl.
"I'm faster than the both of you. Times almost up," she said. Murundio hesitated.
"Are you sure?" Carl asked.
"Yes. Van Helsing has always come for me. But tonight, I will be coming for him!"
"Alright. Be careful," Murundio said. He eyed the Gypsy Princess with admiration as she sped off with the cure.
Van Helsing and Anna will be good for each other, he thought. And hopefully, Van Helsing could defeat Dracula.
Yes, he would love to see the look on the Count's face when Van Helsing transformed into the werewolf.
"Let's go, Carl."
Murundio and Carl entered the laboratory. Machines whirled and sparks rained down upon them. With all the noise and action, it took Murundio and Carl a second to spot the werewolf. When they did, both of them realized something was very, very wrong. The werewolf was standing over a red couch with Anna lying unmoving on it.
In a flash, Murundio realised that the cure hadn't worked. Van Helsing had defeated Dracula but they had failed to get the cure to him in time. There was only one thing to do now. It was time for Murundio to live up to his promise. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out his silver stake. He ran foreword towards the werewolf, the silver stake aimed for Van Helsing's heart. His aim was true- he could not miss. At the last moment, Van Helsing swung around, catching the stake before it could pierce his flesh.
Murundio cursed as Van Helsing roared in anger. Then, quite suddenly, the animal madness left his eyes and was replaced with recognition. He let go of the stake and Murundio stumbled back, confused. As Van Helsing twisted fully around to face him, Murundio saw what he had missed- the empty syringe sticking out of the werewolf's stomach.
Anna had done it!
Oh… Anna…
Shifting his gaze from Van Helsing, Murundio's eyes fell upon the gypsy princess's blank, unmoving eyes.
"She's dead," Carl said mournfully from beside him.
Looking up, he realised Van Helsing had come to the same conclusion. The saddest look Murundio had ever seen came upon the werewolf's features.
Whimpering, he gathered Anna in his arms and howled his sorrow to the moon.
Carl too, was crying.
Although Murundio hadn't known Anna for long, he felt tears streaming down his face. Van Helsing shed his werewolf form one last time and clutched Anna closely.
Murundio, unfortunately could relate to Van Helsing's pain and anguish. He too, had lost his lover, although perhaps for Van Helsing, it was much worse because he had killed her.
Either way, the two of them were both heart-broken.
Van Helsing had lost his Anna and Murundio had lost his Aleera.
Love was a cruel, cruel game.
The sunset tinted everything orange and the light danced off the ocean far below the cliff face. Van Helsing had insisted on building the pyre for Anna himself, saying that it was the least he could do after he had killed her. Even though Murundio and Carl had insisted that it wasn't his fault, Van Helsing would still shake them off and say 'I should have found a way'.
When the pyre was done, he gently lay Anna down on it, tears threatening to stream down his face. He then went to go light a torch.
Murundio stood back, feeling like an outsider. He bowed one last time to the gypsy princess before turning away to face the ocean.
Far off in the distance, Frankenstein's creation paddled away, off to start a new life.
At least he had a purpose. Murundio himself was unsure how to proceed.
Dracula was dead and his revenge was complete. He had given Aleera peace and even helped to save part of the world. He had hoped that once he had completed his revenge, he would find peace within himself.
But all he felt was a deep restlessness. He had seen too much, done too much to go back to a normal life.
Behind him, Van Helsing set fire to Anna and the pyre.
So, what should he do now? Where should he go? Most important of all, what was his place in this world? Aleera was dead, his father had given up on him four years ago and Murundio didn't really know his other family relations.
What happens now?
Murundio had told Anna that there wasn't much holding him together except for his need for revenge and he hadn't been lying. Deep inside him was a restlessness and emptiness where the need for revenge had been.
He needed something to fill that emptiness.
But there was nothing.
Without really thinking, Murundio took a step towards the cliff.
Perhaps he should end it, right here, right now.
Before Murundio could think much about it, there was movement to his left. It was Van Helsing, his eyes seeing something that Murundio could not. His face had changed. Instead of that tortured look of despair and guilt, Van Helsing's face held understanding. Anna was dead but that was not such a bad thing.
All her life, she had thought Dracula and his evil minions, hoping to someday free her family from their curse. Now that the curse was lifted, Anna could finally be at peace with her family.
That was the brighter side of death.
It was her way, the Transylvanian way, and Van Helsing knew it.
In that moment, Murundio realised that jumping was not the answer to his problem. He would need to find his purpose to fill the emptiness.
As if sensing Murundio's emotional conflict, Van Helsing turned to Murundio.
"You fought well, my friend. Perhaps you would want to join Carl and I in our battle to rid the world of Evil?"
"What do you mean?"
"I work for an organisation called the Knights of the Holy Order. They're always looking for new recruits. Would you be interested?"
Murundio was speechless. Van Helsing had just given him a purpose- a will to live. He knew exactly what to say to Van Helsing's question.
"Yes. Yes I think I would be interested."
Van Helsing just nodded. Peace came over them both. They stood in silence for a few moments.
"So, where to now?" Murundio asked.
"Rome," Van Helsing said, before placing his hat on his head.
Murundio, Van Helsing and Carl mounted their horses before riding off into the sunset, their hearts light with purpose.
The End!
Is there a possible sequel in development? Depends on how much attention this fanfic gets...:D