Well, hallo again and…let us just get down to the point.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Gabriel Van Helsing, the former general of a Transylvanian army and a current monster hunter of Vatican, watched the Carpathian Mountains passing by as he stood in the little vessel Anna had managed to arrange for them. According to her getting to the Borgos pass is easier through river. Carl was there also, no matter how much Van Helsing had tried to protest.
"Carl, I seriously don't think it's a good idea. You've seen so far how dangerous things could get. Not to mention how strong Dracula is in his castle" Van Helsing tried to reason the young friar.
"That maybe so but Cardinal Jinette gave me the direct order not to let you out of my sight. Beside who is the one who made those fancy guns to you? Who know great amount of spells in case Dracula has summoned phantoms and demons to guard his castle?" Carl asked. Van Helsing went quiet. Quietly Carl added "And tell you the truth, after spending so many years in monasteries and Brotherhood's quarters, this monster hunting has actually been quite refreshing".
Van Helsing stared Carl for a moment in wonder and then smiled.
Much more difficult had been facing Heinrich Mortte.
Mortte had been injured that he was forced to stay in local monastery where he was being taken care of.
"Am I to understand that you are going to try to save my daughter, Van Helsing?" Mortte asked, lying in his bed, while Van Helsing was waiting for Anna to come back from arranging the vessel.
"Yes, sir, I promise I'll do my best" Van Helsing said, knowing how pathetic it sounded.
Mortte sighed. "As you did your best when you were supposed to protect us in Castle Valerious? Or when you said we were safe waiting in inn? Pegging your pardon but I have lost all confidence in your capability" elder man stated angrily, wincing when he tried to move and fell back to the bed.
Van Helsing felt like knife was twisting inside of him. He had failed, terribly. But he couldn't…he wouldn't fail again. He had lost Sabrina to the treachery and Vlad to the darkness. He was not going to loose anyone anymore.
"I swear to you, Dr. Mortte that I will bring you back your daughter alive and human even if it is the last thing I do. That is a sacred promise" Van Helsing said seriously.
Mortte didn't say anything but if there still was any hope in him Van Helsing was going to do everything not to let it die.
"How long does it take until we reach Borgos pass?" Van Helsing asked from Anna.
"With this speed I'd say we'll be there during the sunset" Princess Anna, the last of the house of Valerious, said.
Sunset, Van Helsing thought, how convenient. It was bad enough that they were heading to the unknown destination, to the place where Count Dracula had been hiding and ruling for the past 400 years. Van Helsing could imagine that Dracula's powers were at the highest there. Situation was bad enough without that sun would also set, allowing Dracula to move freely.
Van Helsing looked over to Anna. The woman had certainly earned his respect. Hardly 24 hours ago then she had been kidnapped by two of Dracula's brides, she had been held prisoner and kept weak by loosing blood, and she had fought in a weak state and finally released her own brother from his curse by killing him. And now she had just eaten a little and was resting, gathering her strength.
If later on asked, Van Helsing couldn't tell what exactly it was that made him walk to her.
"Anna?" he asked softly, in case she was already asleep.
"Hmm?" was heard.
"You alright?"
"Considering the circumstances I'm surprisingly well" she said.
Van Helsing felt suddenly very awkward. Why did I come here in the first place? "Do you want to be left alone?" he asked.
For a moment Anna just laid motionlessly in the small bed of the vessel before sighing. "No, I wouldn't mind company" she said.
Van Helsing sat down. "So…how are you truly feeling?" he asked. I'm not good when it comes to comforting people but she can't have taken this all as well as she looks like.
A deep hollow sigh came out of Anna's mouth. "How am I feeling? I invited them here. Dr. Mortte and Isabella I mean. I invited them both here, thinking I could protect them while Mortte would cure Velkan. I failed. I failed them. Mortte had to stay in bed, worried sick of Isabella. God only knows if Isabella is anymore alive…or worse, human. I was captured by the creatures that house of Valerious has been trying to destroy for centuries. I was weak in front of them. They laughed to me. They laughed while they drank my blood and I was too weak to do anything. And now the nightmare I had feared has come true. I've killed my own brother and Dracula might have won us for good" she said, her voice braking little in the end.
"Dracula hasn't won yet, Anna" Van Helsing said, surprised of what was coming out of his mouth. "And don't call yourself a failure before all has come to an end. We can still save Isabella, even if the chances are minimize. And I am as guilty of failing as you are. I've been hunting creatures of the night for almost 17 years now. I guess I thought too much of myself. I thought I could protect Isabella and look what happened. But we haven't failed yet, Anna. We can't loose our faith now. Otherwise he will certainly win".
The silence fell between them and Van Helsing saw Anna smiling a little, even when her eyes were shinning with moistness.
"Also…" Van Helsing continued, his cheeks reddening, "I want to apologize for all the things I've said and done that have hurt you".
Anna watched Van Helsing for a moment with a curious and amused look. "Why, Mr. Van Helsing, are you blushing?" she finally asked, giving a beautiful smile.
To Van Helsing's eternal surprise he felt himself smiling also. "Yes, ma'am" he laughed.
"Try to rest. We've been having a busy night" Anna said and the muttered "My God, it might truly end tonight".
Van Helsing decided to let her rest. It was then that something seemed to fall in to a right place. Like same great truth had suddenly been revealed to him. I don't want anything bad to happen to her anymore.
They reached the Borgos pass few hours later. Anna and Van Helsing were looking keenly to the mountains, trying to find the long forbidden place. Huge mountains rose to the skies around them and the last bits of daylight were disappearing behind them.
"Dear Christ and all the angels" Carl suddenly muttered.
Anna and Van Helsing turned to look where he was looking and just before light disappeared completely they saw it. It was hidden in the mountains that you had to come very close to actually see it. Huge stony towers pointed to the sky from the gothic style black building that seemed to come from some diabolical nightmare. Anna looked in wonder of the place her family had tried to find for centuries. The lair of that monster.
Castle Dracula.
As you can probably guess this story is coming to its end. Probably 3-5 chapters anymore can't say for sure. I hope you're still with me.