Hey there! Sorry that it takes so long to update but beside my school and personal life, or what little I have, I'm writing two other fics beside this and re-posting one!
Okay to actual thing. Disclaimers same as always.
Considering that he didn't remember everything from his past this might be too early to say, but Gabriel Van Helsing was quite sure he was having the worst day of his life. Not only had his 400 years old former friend-current nemesis played fool out of him, he had also betrayed the trust of a young woman and her father, and was desperately trying to help a weak princess. Oh yeah, and there is also this gigantic werewolf who was looking at Van Helsing with hunger in its eyes.
The creature was taking slow steps, constantly looking Van Helsing, Carl and Anna who were pushed together. Carl was doing his best not letting his silver stake holding hand shake, Anna was trying to stay alert and Van Helsing was trying to come up with some plan. Werewolf, who had been Prince Velkan in his former life, was preparing to attack.
Wait, Van Helsing thought, that's right, he is still Prince Velkan. Velkan is a warrior of Valerious line. He will attack the strongest first!
With a sudden movement Van Helsing pushed both Carl and Anna aside. Anna, still weak, fell to the ground and Carl followed her. Van Helsing aimed his crossbow and fired but the wolfish beast ducked the silver headed arrow with easiness. Hunter had no time to reload the crossbow so he threw it aside and pulled I silver sword from the depths of his coat. The creature jumped towards him and Van Helsing wounded it with his sword. Unfortunately the wound was not fatal. Werewolf took a look of its arm and then turned its eyes back to Van Helsing. Hunter was steadily holding his blade. Werewolf now knew that it was dangerous weapon. Wolf took a few slow steps and then launch it self towards Van Helsing. Van Helsing held his blade ready to strike but just when he did creature suddenly turned around and used it tail to send sword out of Van Helsing's hands. Wolf's tail was wounded but Van Helsing was unarmed now.
Creature turned again and threw Van Helsing to the ground. Van Helsing tried to think of something but he wasn't carrying any gun or knife with silver in it. Nothing else harmed those bastards. Werewolf came closer and raised its hand with sharp claws. Van Helsing had only one thing in his mind.
This is it. The end. I'm so sorry…
The werewolf made a strange sound from the back of its throat and fell to the ground, right in front of Van Helsing. Gabriel blinked before understanding dawned to him. An arrow was pointing out of the creatures back. Van Helsing raised his head and saw Anna Valerious standing there with his crossbow in her hands. For a moment it seemed time itself had stopped.
Then Anna fell to the ground. Van Helsing jumped up and rushed to her side.
"Anna! Princess Anna! Are you alright?!" he asked hurriedly.
Anna muttered something.
"What? What did you say?" Van Helsing asked.
"I said", the tiny voice spoke, "stop calling me princess".
Van Helsing smiled.
He put her arm around his shoulder and helped her to her feet. She was weak and tired. "They bit me", she explained, "to keep me weak. So I couldn't fight. But the Count said I wasn't to be killed or changed. He said no Valerious would ever receive his kiss of immortality. But they drank from me…those whores drank from me!" she spitted angrily.
She went suddenly quiet and Van Helsing followed her stare. The werewolf was still lying on the ground but it had changed back to its human form: Prince Velkan Valerious.
"Velkan…" Anna whispered.
Van Helsing helped her to the naked body of her brother. To their both surprise he was still alive.
"Hey, sis…" Velkan muttered, managing a small smile.
Anna dropped to her knees and spoke softly. "You're back as yourself. We can go home now and take care of you…"
Velkan smiled. "If I'm back myself it means I'm already dying. At least I don't hear his voice in my head again…" He coughed blood to the ground. Anna held his head gently in her hands.
"Borgos pass…" Velkan whispered, "his castle…in Borgos pass…"
Then he spoke no more.
Anna bend her head down and kissed her brothers forehead. "I'll see you one day again, on the other side" she whispered. Anna was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "Great, now it's raining" she said.
Van Helsing looked up to the sky but saw no clouds. "No, it's not" he said, rather confused.
"Yes, it is" Anna sniffed and Van Helsing saw tears coming down her cheeks.
Van Helsing chose to be silent. Comforting was something he had never truly learned. Instead he went to check that Carl wasn't seriously injured. He also looked to the sky and wondered how long it would take to get to Borgos pass. No matter how fast Dracula travelled he could not get in there before sun rise. Borgos pass must be closer to village where they left than this. And since Dracula hadn't harmed Isabella here or the time he first managed to kidnap her that meant whatever he was planning to do would happen in the castle. Till next sunset Isabella would be safe.
Van Helsing felt a wave of shame when he thought he should now face Dr. Mortte and explain why vampire lord has managed to kidnap his daughter again.
Elsewhere:
As sun was raising a small vessel left its harbour and started to steadily move in the river. A wind, which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, gave it speed. A disgusting deformed hunchback moved across the deck and then made his way down to the darkness inside the vessel. Igor went to a dark room where he found three wooden boxes where Dracula, Verona and Aleera laid. Isabella was sitting silently in the corner.
"The captain and sailors have been braid, master. We'll be in Borgos pass around midday" Igor said.
Dracula seemed to be a sleep in the coffin but he spoke still. "Good, arrange our coffins to their right places when we get there. And make sure Sabrina feels herself comfortable. She is our quest of honour".
"Yes, Master" Igor said and left.
Isabella didn't know why Dracula was referring her as Sabrina and she was close to not caring anymore. She only prayed that God would be merciful for her soul.
She suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at her. She looked to one of the coffins and saw the ebony haired woman looking at her. There was something in woman's eyes that made her pull back against the wall. Something dangerous.
Dracula suddenly laughed. "Well, well, Verona. I didn't think you'd be jealous type. You're wondering why this girl. What is so special in her? Why am I not paying mind to you anymore and constantly thinking of her? Well, Verona, I can forgive jealous thoughts but not rebellion ones".
"Master, I…" Verona started and Isabella could recognise fear in her voice.
"SILENCE! I have my reason to have this girl and I will not have you tempering with my plans. Don't think that I didn't hear your thoughts. You planned killing her! You planned taking her from me! Let me remind you that there is only one punishment for those who go against me!" Dracula roared.
Suddenly Verona jumped from her coffin. She was moving funnily, as if not by her choice but by someone else's command.
"Master! Master, please no! I promise! I promise it won't happen again! Master!" ebony haired bride screamed her face twisted with terror and agony.
But her prayers were not answered. Dracula's will force her to walk towards the door, to the deck, to the sunlight!
Isabella didn't see what happened but she heard a terrible, agonising scream of a dying woman. She put her hands to her ears trying not to hear. The sound stopped in a couple of seconds but it felt like years.
"Let this be lesson to you, Aleera" Dracula said, without opening his eyes.
Isabella noticed that Aleera's eyes were also closed, but there was a lonely tear landing her face.