AN: Well, I think this story is not meant to have a great success. Screw it, I'll write it anyway.
Disclaimer: Same as always.
Two weeks later.
It took two weeks to get from the Vatican, sail across the Adriatic Sea and travel through the Carpathian Mountains to finally reach their destination; Transylvania, the forbidden dark land, ruled by nightmarish demons and monsters. As Van Helsing looked around this land he fully understood why creatures of the night were so well gathered in here. The huge mountains, large forests and foggy clouds created a perfect shield against the sun light. Van Helsing had heard rumours that vampires were so bold here that they might move in daylight. He looked up to the skies. It was almost winter now and the clouds were huge. His hand automatically reached for his bag where his crossbow lay. Beneath his huge black jacket he had crucifixes, silver stake and two revolvers with silver bullets in them. On his side laid his sword.
Van Helsing was currently riding on a horse, next to a carriage that was accompanied by Doctor Heinrich Mortte and his daughter Isabella. Behind Van Helsing there came another rider, a young friar named Carl. Van Helsing groaned. Just how many peoples did he have to take care of? He wouldn't have wanted Carl with him and Carl most certainly didn't want to come. It was a direct order from Cardinal Jinette, that if Van Helsing would go after Dracula then he needed Carl. Despite of his young age, Carl had memorised every known book of creatures of darkness. He was also one of the best weapon designers and expert of chemicals. Or as he himself liked to call them; a viscous materials.
"Are you quite sure that his road is the safest to the village, Van Helsing?" Carl asked, riding next to Van Helsing.
"Well, it is safer than the one through that mountain. There is a risk of avalanche there" he pointed out.
"Well that's just great," young friar commented sarcastically "here our only worry is to be get caught by some unholy monster that wants to suck our blood".
Van Helsing groaned. I must have been some sort of a blasphemer. Why else would I be punished like this? Still, if there are any clues of my past in Transylvania…
Van Helsing decided to repeat everything he had learned of vampires in his head. They're not living, nor are they dead. They are undead, nosferatu. They can live centuries without aging as long as they feed themselves with the living human's blood. They can create other vampires by biting human three times or letting him or her drink their own blood. They can be killed by exposing them to sunlight or impaling their heart or cutting their head off. They have no reflection. They have strength of at least twenty men and they can defy gravity. They can see in dark and hear the smallest sound. They can transform themselves into a mist or exceptionally large wolf or bat. They can control other animals and sometimes hypnotize an exceptionally weak willed human. The most powerful of them can even control weather and werewolves.
Still, they are not invincible. During the day time they must stay out of the sun light and like any other creature of this earth, they also need rest. They can only have rest in graves or coffins in which death has tied them. They can't stand to be near of crosses or icons of our saviour. Physical touch to crucifix or holy water will burn them. They can not cross a running water nor can they enter a household where they have not earlier been if somebody from inside doesn't invite them in.
Van Helsing also remembered that vampires weren't the only thing to worry about in Transylvania. Werewolves are partly human and partly animal. A man will turn into a werewolf if he is cursed or bitten by one. A man will turn into a werewolf during the first full moon since he was bitten or cursed. During the first time they have absolutely no control over themselves. After that they can transform themselves during any time of day or night. Even a good man will have an unstoppable need to kill once infected. Count Dracula is using werewolves as his daylight guardians.
"Er…Van Helsing? I think we are here" Carl said.
Gabriel Van Helsing snapped out of his thoughts and looked of a village in front of him. It wasn't exceptionally large one. Wooden houses had been build very close to each others. In the heart of the village was an old stone fortress that Van Helsing took as Castle Valerious. He, Carl and the carriage rode to the centre of the village. A crowd of people were gathering near them. From the castle came two men who were both dressed in a same way. They had helmet and a shield protecting their torso. They had crosses and crossbow. Behind them came a young woman, who Van Helsing recognised as Princess Anna, the last living human of the house of Valerious. Her curly black hair was wild at her shoulders and her green eyes examined them. She was dressed the most unlady like. She had black boots with heals, man's trousers that seemed to be made to her and a red blouse. She also had a cross in chain going around her neck and a sword on her side.
Van Helsing couldn't help but being intrigued by this woman.
The carriage door opened and Dr Heinrich Mortte stepped outside. He was dressed in a brown suit. He looked Anna through his glasses and helped his daughter out of the carriage. Isabella walked out of the carriage and with her father came closer to the waiting princess.
"Doctor Mortte, welcome to Transylvania. I am Anna Valerious, and please do not call me by any titles. You are my guests and I do not wish for you to be uncomfortable" Anna said.
"Thank you for inviting us, Princess Anna. I'm grateful for this opportunity you are presenting to me. This is my daughter Isabella" Mortte said.
Isabella seemed to be shy near Princess. Her brown eyes carefully examined their hostess. "Your-"she started but was interrupted by sweetly smiling Anna.
"I said there is no need to use titles" she said. Then she turned her head to Van Helsing and Carl who had both landed down from the horses. "And you are?" she asked.
Van Helsing removed his hat a little showing his eyes. "Gabriel-"…
"VAN HELSING!" Carl shouted suddenly pointing to the cloudy sky.
Three exceptionally huge bats were flying fast towards them. Van Helsing didn't even have to blink to realise that this wasn't anything normal in Transylvania. Before any one could properly move the bats had in a blink of an eye transformed themselves to three gorgeous young women who attacked the two guards and Princess Anna. Guards died immediately but Anna was able to get rid of the vampire by using her cross.
"The Brides!" she screamed, recognising the attackers. Mortte pushed himself and Isabella to the carriage. Van Helsing pulled his crossbow. He shot two arrows to the Brides, but they saw them coming and turned to the mist, letting arrows go harmlessly through them. The Bride with ebony black hair turned to the one with golden hair.
"Marishka, kill our quest!" she hissed through her teeth.
The golden haired bride, Marishka, took inhuman, panther- like jump towards Van Helsing. Van Helsing managed to take hold of woman's arm and throw her off him. This shocked the vampire, but not enough for her to be paralyzed. With another animalistic movement she was again on Van Helsing and throw him to the air. He landed really hard to the ground.
Van Helsing saw that the ebony haired vampire was giving hard time to Anna and guards that had appeared from the fortress. Still she didn't seem to be interested of fighting and it was then when it hit him. She was distracting Anna. The third vampire, a redheaded one, was moving to the carriage. She would have probably got in already if Carl wouldn't have been splashing holy water to the doors.
Van Helsing saw Marishka again coming towards him so he pulled a crucifix and his sword. When Marishka saw crucifix her face was twisted with rage and she kept circling Van Helsing, trying to decide what to do. Van Helsing tried to strike her with his sword but woman prove to be too fast. She easily ducked them.
"Nice playing with you, stranger. We can go on until you're tired or you can give up now and throw your crucifix away" Marishka said, evil smile playing on her lips.
"Very well" Van Helsing said and launched to strike her with his sword. She again avoided it but now Van Helsing throw the crucifix from his hand and it landed to her face. The hissing sound of burning flesh was heard and vampire bride screamed. Van Helsing raised his sword and decapitated the vampire. Marishka's screamed stopped as her head fell to the ground. Hardly had her body followed when it already started to transform and beautiful woman disappeared leaving only ashes to the ground.
The two other vampires must have either heard or sensed this for they turned to Van Helsing's direction and let out a cry of anguish. The headed to the sky and disappeared, turning again to two huge bats.
For a moment every one seems to be too stunned to even make a sound. Van Helsing saw that neither Anna nor Carl seemed to be badly hurt and thanks to the holy water Mortte and his daughter were safe in the carriage.
Finally Anna found her voice. "Nobody has been able to kill one of the brides in centuries. And we have been tried. How did you manage to do it?"
Van Helsing shrugged his shoulders. "I play dirty".
AN: Okay, I'm not happy for this chapter, action scenes are totally knew to me. But I hope you liked it.
Next: more of Anna and Isabella, brides and finally…Count Dracula!