Chapter 19

Thank you for reading and Enjoy.

Victor and Elizabeth opened the door and walked out of the dark home. Victor kept his hand tightly grasping Elizabeth's as they silently walked through the back yard. They kept their eyes peeled, searching for any Hunter that might be lurking around the corner.

They paused at the edge of the house. Victor held her back with his hand as his grey eyes glanced around the corner.

"There's too many, we can't fight through." He whispered to her, "We need to get out of here, Kenric's place is too far."

"Then where do we go? Staying here is about as useful as an inch of yarn" she whispered back.

He turned to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "How close is Tori's place?"

"What?"

"How close is her house to here?"

"About three blocks, but we can't go there." She begged.

He searched her eyes. "Why?"

"Because if we go there, we will have to tell her about Vampires and Vampire Hunters. She hate's Vampires, even though to her they are just folk lore."

"Why would she hate them?"

"When she was younger, she had an incident at the zoo she grew up near. One of the bats got out and bit her. She was terrified at vampires until she grew to hate them." She glanced down to the side, shame overcoming her.

"Elizabeth," he rubbed her arms in comfort, "She's your best friend, and I don't think she would hate you because of what you are. She should see you as her friend, not a monster that will kill her."

Elizabeth thought for a moment, taking in every word he said. Seconds later, she nodded her head. Victor smiled slightly and grabbed her hand once again. He turned back to look around the corner, waiting.

"Okay," he finally said, "It's clear, for now. We have to go. Which way?"

"West."

He nodded and they took off running. The speed of their feet surprised Elizabeth, she never tried all her new abilities yet. She glanced back to Victor, who was focused on getting them out safely, then glanced to their joined hands. Pinching her lips together, her hand naturally tightened its grip on his.

Suddenly, she was pulled to the side and held against a wall. Her breaths came out in quick pants as she watched Victor, glare at the rode they were just on. His body covered hers against the brick, and he held her there so she couldn't move.

"You're too loud." He whispered.

Elizabeth became confused, but found her voice quietly. "More Hunters?"

"No," he stated. "Vampires this time, I wondered how long it would take before the war ended up on the streets. You're breathing too loud."

She couldn't silent her breaths, the adrenalin gave her too much energy from the run. In addition, the horror of the looming fact that either of them could die in a second make it hard to not breathe hard.

"Damn it." She heard her husband say.

A soft sensation firmly planted itself on her lips. Her eyes widened when she realized it was Victor kissing her. Her hands rested on his chest and her eyes drifted shut.

Why does it feel so…Right? She thought in confusion.

After a few moments, Victor parted from her, gaining a confused look from Elizabeth. She watched as he glanced back to the road and gave a curt nod.

"Alright, their gone. Let's go."

He grabbed her hand again and they took off running to Victoria's home.

"I'm coming," Tori's voice filtered through the door after Elizabeth knocked on the oak door.

The block of wood opened and Tori's figure filled the door frame. The blond only took a glance before hugging her friend.

"Where have you been?" she sobbed. "I find out you quit working at the clinic and you disappear? I tried so hard to find you or talk to you and it felt like you were avoiding me."

Elizabeth hugged her back. "Complications happened," she pulled away, "Tori, Victor and I need to ask a favor."

"You aren't getting a divorce, are you?" Victoria stood in shock.

"What? No."

"Oh good, because if you were, I was going to have to steal him from you."

"You're married."

"Oh right, there's that." Victoria joked with a pinkie nail on her smile, "What do you need?"

Elizabeth glanced to Victor, who nodded for her to continue. "We need to have a place to stay for a few hours. Situations prevent our home from being…safe."

"Oh of course, come in. Mì casa es su casa."

Tori opened the door further, and allowed them in. Elizabeth entered first, cautiously, fearing the truth that would soon unfold. They took a seat in the living room and Tori waited so desperately to hear any words her friend had to say.

"So tell me, Lizzy. I know you refuse to be a stay at home wife/mother, and you loved your job. What are you going to do? I asked why you quit, and our boss said that you were only available during the evening hours, when the clinic was closed."

"I was sort of thinking of opening my own clinic for people who can only work it out in the evening."

"That's a great idea, I would come work there."

"But you're needed where you're at. You can't just leave them when I make mine."

"Oh, fine. Would you like any coffee or tea?" She asked Elizabeth and Victor.

"No, I'm fine." Elizabeth held up her hand.

"Well, I'm going to get something. Anything for you Victor?"

Victor shook his head as he settled next to Elizabeth. Tori walked into the closed off kitchen, leaving Elizabeth and Victor alone for a moment. The young Vampiress took deep breaths to calm the anxiety.

If I had a heartbeat, it would be pounding out of my chest. Elizabeth observed while placing a hand on her chest. If it wasn't for the odd feeling of feeling scared with no intense beating in her chest, she wouldn't have noticed her heart's lack of life.

Something slid across her back and rested on her shoulders. Elizabeth took a quick glance to see that Victor was comforting her in what way he could.

"You're going to have to tell her sooner or later. And from experience, it's better to hear it first from you than a different source," he said while rubbing her arm.

She nodded in agreement, "I know, but I'm just afraid to tell her."

"Tell me what?" Tori had entered from the kitchen holding a glass of freshly brewed tea. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, Tori."

Elizabeth's friend moaned with disappointment, "Why? What's taking so long?"

"I'm afraid that Victor is unable to have children of his own."

Tori looked to Victor in condolence, but Victor kept his eyes trained on Elizabeth. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and Elizabeth had difficulty breathing.

"I'm sorry, Lizzy." Tori pulled her out of the dark tension with her simple words.

"Actually," Elizabeth continued. "I am unable to have children as well."

Victoria froze, "What? So your dreams of being a mother are shot?"

"Yes, but that's not what we came here to talk to you about."

"So, the thing you wanted to tell me wasn't that you were in capable of having children? The real thing must be big then."

"It is."

Silence filled the room as Elizabeth gained the courage to tell everything. She took a few more deep breaths before opening her mouth.

"Tori," she started, "This will be hard to believe, but Victor and I are not alive."

"What do you mean you're not alive? Your right in front of me." Tori extended a hand to her.

Elizabeth held up her hands. "Yes, but… Tori, Vampires are real."

Tori's eyes scanned both of them for a few minutes, "If this is some sick joke, I'm not laughing."

"I'm not joking."

"Then look me right in the eyes and tell me the truth."

Elizabeth sat silently for a moment. Eventually she stood up and walked over to her friend. She stood in front of her looking down with a confident gaze. Elizabeth bent down so she could match eye level to Tori.

"My name, is Elizabeth Van Helsing, not Elizabeth Van Harker. Victor's real name is Victor Dracula, Alucard was his last name spelled backwards. Vampires have existed since Grecian times, and the Vampire Hunter Council was established by my ancestor Abraham Van Helsing. Due to circumstances, Victor had to turn me into a Vampire to save my life. I am being serious when I tell you this. If it wasn't dire, you still would think we were a myth."

Tori stared at her friend for a moment. She opened her mouth for a moment, but then it closed quickly, making her lips a thin line. She glared at Elizabeth then to Victor. She stood up and cast her eyes down.

"I want you two out of my house now."

"Tori, please understand -"

"No! I never want to see you freaks again." Tori pointed to the door.

Elizabeth glanced to Victor, who had already stood, and knew it was time to leave. Without saying another word, the Elizabeth left her friend alone in the house. She had a feeling that if they ever met again, nothing would prevent the fight.