Disclaimer: I do not owe them. Well, Isabella and Mortte maybe, but not others.
Transylvania, 1469
The sound of the swordplay echoed through every room of the Castle Valerious. It was a hard for servants trying to carry their daily duties when they also tried to avoid running in to a two young men fighting against each others. They had stripped their heavy coats and capes away and were only wearing shirts above the waist.
"Really, Gabriel, I think you're starting to get tired. We haven't even started yet" said a young noble man with long black hair and steel-blue eyes.
"Don't be too arrogant, Vlad. It will otherwise be your downfall" said another man with green eyes and brown hair.
Gabriel Van Helsing and Vladislaus Valerious had been friends since their childhood. They had met during numerous of occasions when their fathers were having important meetings. Vladislaus was the son of Valerious the Elder, King of Transylvania and Gabriel was the son of Transylvanian General Tiberius Van Helsing. As Gabriel didn't have any brothers and Vladislaus despised all of his they had build a strong friendship and soon became almost inseparables.
Gabriel charged but Vlad merely step out of his way allowing him to pass him and almost feel to the floor.
"How in God's name you think you will continue in your father's place is beyond me" Vlad said, his voice mocking but also humorous.
Fire lit up in Gabriel's eyes and he composed himself and attacked. This time Vlad had to really defend himself if he wished to keep all of his limps. Their battle ended with both of their swords flying from their hands and they kept wrestling on the floor. Finally Gabriel managed to lock Vlad's head in his armpit.
"Well, Vlad? Will you give up?" Gabriel asked laughing.
"Never!" young Valerious shouted and tried to untie himself from Gabriel's grip without succeeding.
"Boys, boys, boys! Leave that to Turks!" shouted powerful voice from the door. Both young men let go of each others and stand respectably straight.
Valerious the Elder had walked in the room. His had grey hair and beard and he had dressed in a fine red robe. He looked down at the boys, for a moment watching them with his full authority before his face warmed into a smile. He walked to his son.
"Vlad, this is a great day. Today you have become a member of the Sacred Order of the Dragon" Valerious said, placing his hands to his son's shoulders and kissing his cheeks.
For a moment Vlad's face seemed to be held bewilderment and shock before he controlled himself. Gabriel understood this. Sacred Order of the Dragon was one of the most powerful societies in Eastern Europe. Its main purpose was to protect the Christendom from Muslim Turks.
Valerious the Elder took a ring from his finger and gave it to Vlad. It was a little black ring with a seal of the dragon in it. "When I became the member I was given the name Dracul which means the dragon. Now you are the dragon's son. From this day forward you shall carry a name that will be respected by your friends and feared by your enemies. You are to known as Vlad Dracula".
Vlad looked at the ring in his hands and then his father. "Thank you, father" he said humbly. Gabriel could saw the fascination Vlad had for the ring and the name and the power they represented.
As the King left the two young men a young woman with brown curls and white skin came in. She looked at Vlad and Gabriel for a while, taking in their messy hair and sweaty foreheads. She sighed.
"Have you two been fighting against each others again?" she asked, putting her hands to her hips.
Both men smiled and Gabriel walked towards the woman. "Now don't start to imitate mother. God knows we had enough of dealing with her" he said laughing. He quickly kissed the girl to the cheek and walked to the door. "We'll end the fight some other time, Vlad" he said before walking out. Just before he closed the door he looked in and smiled as he saw Vlad and the girl having a deep passionate kiss. They broke out unwillingly and whispered to each others.
"I love you, Vlad Valerious" the girl said.
"I love you too, Sabrina Van Helsing".
Gabriel closed the door, leaving his best friend and his only sibling to themselves.
Gabriel Van Helsing felt like the entire world was spinning. He needed to breathe in and out very deeply before he could feel his balance returning. The sudden memory image he had received was totally new; he had never seen it before in his dreams. And yet, it felt so familiar.
Van Helsing realised to his horror that neither Isabella nor Dracula was anymore present in the room. Mortte was still lying on the floor and Carl appeared at the door.
"What in Heaven's name has happened here?" young friar asked.
Van Helsing looked down of the open window and saw a black figure crawling down the wall carrying a young woman. Gabriel rushed to door passing Carl. "No time to explain, take care of Mortte!" he shouted.
He ran the stairs down and outside the castle where he just saw a carriage going away from the castle. Carriage was old and it was pulled by four black horses. In the side of the carriage was a familiar icon. Same he saw every night in his dream.
Symbol of the Dragon. Dragulia.
With a speed Van Helsing had never had to use before he ran to the stables to fetch himself a horse and then whipped the poor animal to catch the black carriage. It took no time for him to see the carriage as they were going to the forest. Van Helsing also noticed that they were passing Anna Valerious who had obviously saline the werewolf attacking the village.
"Anna! It is Dracula! He had Isabella!" Van Helsing shouted as clearly as he could while riding. From the corner of his eye he saw that Anna was starting to ride after them.
Van Helsing didn't know how badly his horse was suffering but it didn't take long for him to reach the carriage. He jumped from his horse to the side of the carriage and jumped to the top. Driver, a hunchback deformed little man, saw him.
"Master!" Igor shouted.
In a blink of an eye Count Dracula materialised from the thin air. A cold smile played on his lips. "Gabriel, back so soon asking for more memories?" he asked.
Van Helsing wasn't going to let him be distracted this time. "Let the girl go!" he demanded.
Dracula's amused expression changed to disappointed one. "Oh Gabriel, you still don't get it. There is no way in this life to stop me. Why bother?" Dracula's cold voice said clearly in the night.
Van Helsing pulled his sword but Dracula was faster. Vampire took hold of hunter's wrist and his grip was so strong Van Helsing thought every bone in his arm would broke. He quickly took a crucifix with his free hand and placed it to Dracula's hand. The hissing sound of burning flesh was heard and Dracula pulled his hand away. Vampire's handsome features were now twisted with rage and his blue eyes were again red.
"You arrogant mortal!" he hissed. "I have given you your memories back! You shall have them all by time and I made it possible! You could show a little gratefulness!" Suddenly Dracula saw something. "What?" he shouted before realising what it was.
Anna Valerious had with acrobatic skills jumped to the top of the carriage from her horse and actually kicked Dracula with her high heeled boot. This insult made Dracula totally forget Van Helsing as he turned to Anna who had her sword. Van Helsing saw that he had only this moment and jumped to the side of the carriage and opening the door get in. Instead of finding seats he found a black coffin with a golden dragon carved to it. Isabella was shaking next to coffin, tears running down her face. Van Helsing pulled a crucifix and gave it to her. It immediately seemed to comfort her and he took hold of her shoulders. He didn't know how much time they would have until Count would notice his absence so he boldly pulled Isabella tightly against him and they jumped out of the carriage. For a moment they rolled on the ground. Isabella luckily had seemed to be still in shock and probably didn't even notice this.
Suddenly Van Helsing heard woman's cry and saw how Anna's body fell from the carriage. He moved quickly by her side and, for reasons unknown to him, sight in relief as he saw she was alive. Yet, she had a nasty bleeding wound. She was lucky.
Van Helsing raised his head and saw how carriage disappeared to the night. For a moment he saw two red eyes watching them. He sensed Dracula wouldn't be coming after them anymore tonight but he also could hear his cold voice whispering to his ear.
This isn't over. Not by a long shot.
AN: Phew, flashback and action in a same chapter. I'm exhausted and I hope you like it and send some of those lovely reviews.