Disclaimer: I do not own or make any profit from the use of characters from the movie Van Helsing, this is all for fun! Alchemy on the other hand is mine.

Chapter 4

Alchemy rode hard, her horse moving swiftly through the forest. She would make her destination by nightfall, she was sure of it. She could have saved much time by simply flying but she didn't want to attract any unwanted attention.

Besides, a vampire flying in the daylight was bound to reach the ears of her quarry, Gabriel Van Helsing.

As she rode she was calmed by the rhythmic galloping of her horse. As its hoofs beat against the ground she let her mind wander. She found herself back in the Castle Dracula, bidding farewell to her beloved.

"Are you sure you can kill him?" Dracula asked her. "His will is strong."

Alchemy turned to him and raised a perfect eyebrow, "You doubt I can kill Gabriel?"

"Any man who can bring my demise is not one to trifle with my dear."

"You're forgetting who brought you back to life. Maybe it is Gabriel who should not trifle with me."

Dracula smiled, "How long will you be gone?"

"However long it takes, I cannot be sure." Alchemy said as she ran a finger down his sculpted chest. She sighed as she remembered the ivory planes of his body, how he seemed to be carved out of granite.

She shook her head to remove the image, "Don't worry about me my love, the only thing need cross your mind is the monster."

Dracula pulled her into his arms, "Of course I worry Alchemy. You are my only bride, all I have left. What would I do if I lost you?"

Alchemy chuckled, "Find new brides, no doubt."

His grip on her hardened, "Never, never again."

Alchemy looked up into his deep blue eyes, "I believe you and I will return and when I do our children will live. But first you must find the monster."

"I shall." Dracula said and Alchemy had no doubt he would achieve this task.

"He was last seen in the forests of Fangor. The forest is treacherous."

"For an ordinary man perhaps, but not for me." Dracula smirked. "I will go to Fangor and I will find the monster. Then I will come here and wait for you to come back to me."

Alchemy grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. His mouth crashed to hers in a passionate kiss. Somehow Alchemy found the strength to pull away, it was not easy.

"I must go." She whispered.

Dracula nodded, his forehead resting against her own, "Do not let him kill you."

Alchemy smiled sadly and turned away from him to walk to the balcony. She took one last look at her lover. Dracula stood immobile, his gaze never leaving hers.

Her goodbye was barely audible but she knew he heard her. Alchemy turned back to the balcony, the moonlight illuminating the forest below. Without another thought, she jumped.

Alchemy strode through the streets of Rome with purpose. She had abandoned her horse at the edge of the woods. Her clothes had been torn by branches on her journey but she made no move to mend them. Her face and arms also bore small cuts from her trek. She paid them no mind. They would only help her with her quest.

Entering The Vatican unseen during the daylight was much easier then she had anticipated it would be. She only encountered one man, a monk, on her way and his nose was buried in a book so he didn't notice her.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes as she stood at the grand steps. Here she was, a vampire, and she had managed to infiltrate the most holy of places. They really had no idea what they were up against.

Eyes raised up to the bright sky Alchemy took a deep breath and then began to scream.

Priests, monks, and friars poured out of the doors of the church. They stopped and stared when they saw the beautiful young woman strewn on the steps. They were unable to discern her words as she screamed. She crawled up the steps her eyes passing over them but not seeing.

A tall man dressed in dark clothes pushed past them. He took in the startling sight of the woman and immediately sprung into action. He rushed down the steps, "Is no one going to help her?" he yelled. "Karl, get down here."

A man dressed in a long brown robe ran down to assist him.

"What's happened to her?" he asked.

Suddenly the woman locked her eyes onto the tall man. She grabbed his hand and clutched it desperately. Her fingers found the circular ring on his hand and recognition came over her face.

"Gabriel." She whispered in awe.

The man studied the vision before him. Some how she knew who he was but he had no recollection of her.

"I found you." She said peacefully and her eyes fluttered closed and she went limp in his arms.

It was then as he gazed upon her still form that a name came to him. It jumped through decades past to reach him and when he heard it in his head a face was conjured to match it.

There she stood a slight smile on her face as she met his gaze. The grand gown she wore did nothing to disguise her. She hadn't changed in five hundred years and Gabriel wondered how he ever could have forgotten her.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, the woman he had killed to protect. He said her name into the air like a prayer, "Alchemy."