Welcome back! I'm sorry I haven't updated lately, I have just really wanted to make this chapter good because it introduces *drum roll*...ALEERA! She is my favorite character in the entire movie, as I am sure you have noticed from my screen name. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Don't forget to R&R :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Van Helsing
*Constantine is my character, if you would like to use him please ask so, and I will be more than willing to let you, but only if you ask ;)*

August 25, 1637

Things are not as they used to be between me and Prince Constantine .I remember when we were simply acquaintances. The way that he looks at me now makes me feel warm and excited on the inside. His tender touch makes me comforted. I was sure that the two of us were to be together, and he confirmed my suspicion by asking for my hand in marriage today. I gladly accepted and we are to be wed in a month. When I told father the news, he was thrilled. I cannot express the feelings I am feeling right now.

Aleera looked at what she had just written in her diary. She then looked at the ring on her finger. Smiling to herself, she closed the book and walked over to her window. As she stepped into the sun she felt it start to warm her skin.

Aleera was the only child of a wealthy lord in the city of Budapest. Her mother had died in childbirth. She was the only thing that her father had left. She had been spending each summer at the Valerious castle, and had become the closest of friends with the Valerious children, Constantine and Anya. Her infatuation with the prince had started to grow as soon as the two met. She dreamed of one day marrying the one that she fell in love with, and that time had come.

She looked outside her window and saw that the sun was setting. She then readied herself for bed and then went to sleep, dreaming peacefully about her future life. Unbeknownst to her, she was being watched.

Marishka was flying through the town, when she decided to go wreck havoc on the Valerious castle with Verona. When she was flying by one of the windows of the castle she saw what looked like a dim flame in the room. She went back to see what it was, and saw that it was a girl she had seen.

"What is it?" Verona asked her.

"Come quick! I think I just found something!"

Verona flew over to her sister. They both looked in at the girl who was sleeping. Marishka then opened the window.

"What are you doing Marishka?"

"I'm going to go in for a closer look."

Once Marishka was inside, she changed into her human form and walked over to the girl's bed. She noticed her features were not something she had seen recently. Her skin was fair and without a single flaw. Her hair was the color of fire which seemed to dance in the moon light. Marishka walked up next to her and sat on the edge of the bed, without making it shift. She looked down at her and smiled.

I have found you, my sister she said to herself. She then looked out the window at Verona. She smiled at her. Verona had a look of shear terror on her face. Marishka looked behind her and saw that Prince Constantine was standing right behind her with a silver stake. He then ran at her while letting out a tremendous yell that awoke Aleera. Aleera looked up and saw Marishka next to her. Marishka jumped out of the way and flew out of the window to her sister. The two then returned to Castle Dracula.

Aleera was horror struck. She had never known of the vampires' existence. She then looked up at Constantine.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

"Yes, I'm fine. What was that, and, more importantly, what were you doing in my chambers this late at night?"

"I just came to see you, that is all, and it seems that it was perfect timing too."

"True, but you still haven't answered my first question," she said in a rather irritated tone.

"It is a long story."

"Well now that I am awake, I have time to listen."

He sat down next to her. He moved her hair away from her neck and looked for any bite marks. He then sighed with relief to see that there were none. He then embraced her and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"What were you looking for?" she asked him.

"To see if you were bitten."

"What?"

"I will have to explain my family's history for you to understand."

He then told her everything about his family's curse from Dracula. He told her about Dracula's brides and how they plagued the village for centuries. Aleera listened intently and once Constantine had finished his story, she was glad that he had come in to check on her.

"What do you think they were doing in my room?" she asked.

"I am not sure. The one you met tonight was Marishka. She is the youngest of the three vampires."

"Do you think they will come back tonight?"

"I am not sure, but judging by the fact that the sun is about to come up, I doubt it."

Aleera looked outside and saw that he was right. She then yawned and stretched. Constantine smiled at her.

"Rest, you were unfortunately deprived of it last night. I will tell father about this and see to it that precautions are put in place."

Aleera smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. Once he left the room, she laid back and tried to sleep, but all she could think about was the woman standing over her. Eventually she gave into her body's tiredness and fell asleep.

The next few days passed slowly for Aleera. She could not forget what had happened to her that one night. She always kept remembering the way the one called Marishka had looked at her. It was an expression of curiosity, something that Aleera didn't expect to see after hearing about the monstrous things that she had done.

One day Aleera decided to go for a ride through the country side. As she was leaving she noticed that it was starting to get overcast. She rode off towards the woods. She didn't know that she was being closely followed by Marishka, who was hiding in the trees from her view. Marishka followed her until she was deep in the woods. When they got there, Marishka dropped down from the tree tops, but was still out of Aleera's view. She hid herself and watched her. Aleera then got off her horse and started to look around when she heard a voice.

"Hello my dear."

Aleera wheeled around and saw a dark shadow.

"Who are you?"

"I'm surprised you don't remember." Marishka then made herself visible. Aleera became terrified and took a step back. She turned to get on her horse, but Marishka was in front of her.

"It is rude to walk away from someone when they are talking to you."

Aleera started to back away slowly.

"What do you want with me? If you are going to kill me, get it over with, I'm not much of one for slow deaths."

"Oh, don't worry. I am not going to harm you. I just would like to know a little bit about you."

"Do you always do this?"

"No usually I don't talk to humans unless I plan on tormenting them before I kill them."

"How could you do that? Have you no sense of compassion?"

"It is just like you humans with animals. You kill so you can survive, as do we."

Aleera was still backing away. Marishka was right in front of her in the blink of an eye.

"Why do you keep trying to escape?"

"I personally don't plan on being killed today." With that Aleera sprinted and mounted her horse. She then left at a full gallop, but found that Marishka kept up with her with ease.

"I'll make you a deal human," Marishka said to her.

"What?"

"I will leave you if you answer one question for me."

Aleera then slowed her horse down to a stop.

"What is your question?"

"I simply ask what your name is. I would very much like to know."

Aleera thought about if she should tell her, and decided that this was the only to get out alive.

"My name is Aleera."

"Aleera, such a beautiful name," Marishka replied back. She was about to turn to leave when Aleera said something.

"Wait!"

Marishka turned around, "Yes?"

"Tell me, why are you so interested in me?"

Marishka contemplated this. She did not want to give away her plan to have her be her new sister.

"It has just been a long time since I have talked to anyone but my Master and sister. I just wanted to hear a new voice." With that, she left, vanishing into the trees from which she came.

Aleera stared after her. She then noticed that it was starting to get late. She then headed back to the Valerious castle.

When she got back, she told Constantine everything that had happened to her. He grew worried and it showed on his face.

"I don't want you leaving here alone again. It is too dangerous. Nothing good ever comes from their type."

"She said she only wanted to know my name."

"This is not like them. Are you sure that Marishka was the only one there?"

"If any of the others were there, they did not make their presence known."

"This worries me. I am going to go tell father."

"You shouldn't bother him with this. He is busy enough as it is."

"This is more important than anything else he could have."

Aleera watched him leave the room. She then sat on the bench next to the window and looked out at the moon.

When Marishka got back to the castle, Verona was in her room.

"Where were you?"

"I was out."

"If the master knew that you were gone…"

"Don't worry, I didn't get hurt."

"Then tell me, what were you doing?"

Over the years they had been together, Verona started to have a motherly affection towards Marishka. She was always wondering where she was or what she was doing, when she wasn't in her sight. Marishka then told her about her encounter with the girl she had seen the night before. Verona grew worried and interested all at the same time. While Marishka was telling her story, Dracula walked in.

"Did you enjoy your little conversation with that human?" he asked in an angered tone.

"I... I was just…."

"She found someone who she thinks could possibly become our sister," Verona said as she noticed Marishka's confidence fade.

"Well," said Dracula in a calmer voice, "what is she like."

Marishka then described Aleera to her master. As she was talking, Dracula was starting to visualize what this girl looked like.

"I want you to bring her here tomorrow."

"There is only one problem with that, my lord."

"And what is that?" he asked in an irritated voice. He did not like to be told that there were complications to his plans.

"She is engaged to the prince. He won't let go of her easily."

Dracula then became enraged. He had not expected anything like this to happen. His eyes turned their icy blue, as they always did when he was angered. He then turned towards his brides, who had backed away, for fear of what his anger might cause him to do to them.

"Come, I will not harm you. I simply am surprised at this, but it may play in our favor."

"How?" Marishka asked.

"You will see when the time comes."

He then motioned for the two of them to come to him. They all then spent the rest of the night in Dracula's room and none of them left that room until the next night.

I'm sure you have noticed after this chapter that I have wanted Aleera to have a much deeper past than the other two brides. With her I felt that I had a little more room to play around with because in the movie she had a sort of hidden motivation, and I wanted to bring that out in this story. It will be revealed in a later chapter, but for now it will remain hidden. Until next time, auf wiedersein!