Hey everyone! Sorry it has taken me so long to update, just a lot of stuff has gone on lately: School finals, the chaos of summer, tornadoes, etc., but all is well. When I was about to update this story, my computer decided to get three of the worst possible virusses out there, but I finally got that fixed! O.K., back on subject, I would like to thank Snips95, xPOTCXloverx, aleerarox, and Wolfy1515 for their reviews on the last chapter! So I'm really excited about this chapter, and I hope that all of you enjoy it! Don't forget to review.
I don't own Van Helsing or any of its characters; I only own my OC.
When they were right outside the village, they landed and changed back into their normal forms. They looked around to see if anyone had spotted them yet. There was no one to be seen in sight, until someone shouted "Vampires! Vampires!" Verona turned and saw him. She flew at him and lifted him up in the air. She then bit his neck just as the villagers started to come out of their houses with torches and pitchforks.
Unbeknownst to the brides, Constantine was out in the village with his sister, Anya, when they heard the cries of the man who Verona had attacked. They both headed over towards where they heard the screams from the villagers. When they got there they saw the man that Verona already killed on the ground. They saw Verona and Marishka flying around, chasing the villagers. Constantine then saw a girl standing in the middle of the street not moving. He then heard his sister scream and he turned to see what it was that was making her do this. Marishka was flying straight at her, ready to kill, but Anya pulled out her gun and shot Marishka in the stomach. Marishka howled in pain, and flew in the opposite direction and landed on the ground. Aleera saw this and flew at Anya, furry filling her up. She took Anya by the hand and twisted it around her back, causing her to scream out in pain.
"You will pay for that dearly girl!"
She was about to bite her, when she felt extreme pain on her back. It caused her so much pain that not only did she let out a scream, but she let go of the princess and turned back into her human form. She fell on the ground next to her.
Constantine removed the crucifix from her back.
"Oh my God," he said as he dropped it on the ground next to him.
Aleera was still on the ground, screaming in pain. The shape of the crucifix was burned onto her back. Marishka and Verona both saw this and landed behind the building next to their injured sister. Marishka became furious. She looked for Constantine, who was helping his sister up. Constantine looked back at Aleera and noticed who she was.
"Constantine what is it?" his sister asked him.
He merely pointed on the ground at Aleera. Anya gasped in horror to see that it was her friend on the ground. Aleera started to get up. When she turned at Constantine, her eyes had changed to a deep pink. As soon as she saw who her attacker was, they changed back to the brown that they usually were. She got up slowly.
Marishka saw them from behind her hiding place. She was about to go after the prince and princess, but Verona held her back.
"She needs to face this on her own. There are some lose ends that need to be tied." Marishka merely nodded. She knew that she was right. She anxiously watched as Aleera slowly approached the humans.
"Aleera….why?" was all that Constantine could spit out.
She walked up in front of him, and slightly tilted her head. She knew that she had seen him before, but she could not remember. Then all of her memories from her former life came back to her in a flash. The memories of her with the prince were then dancing in her head. She was then trying to see what she could have ever found in him that made her love him. She then took a step closer, but he stepped back, shielding his sister from her.
"You are foolish to think that you can protect her from me."
"Your friends are not here to help you."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that."
Right as she said this, Verona and Marishka appeared next to her. Verona and Marishka let their fangs grow out, menacingly. Aleera then smiled wickedly at her former friends.
"Time to die my prince," she let her fangs grow out and started to step towards him, when Anya pulled out her crucifix. Aleera and the other two cowered from it.
"It seems Aleera that you are incapable to face the power of God like you used to."
Aleera hissed at her. Aleera was starting to feel the growing need inside of her for blood. She debated on lunging at them and taking the risk of being hurt even more than she was already. She and the others then heard a loud flapping noise behind them. When Aleera and the other brides turned, they saw that it was Dracula behind them. Aleera became over joyed and kissed her master. The sight of this sickened Constantine.
"Anya, run back home to father and tell him what has happened."
"But…."
"Just do it!"
Anya looked back at Aleera.
"You better obey your brother if you want to live girl," Dracula said to her.
"Don't you dare talk to my sister!"
"I see they forgot to teach you manners back at the palace."
Constantine then pulled out the vile that the monks had given him. Dracula looked at it and knew exactly what it was. Within a blink of an eye, Dracula and his brides had surrounded him. There was no way out.
"Hand me the vile, boy." Dracula said.
"Never! I know this is your weakness."
Dracula then looked over to Verona who was behind him. She nodded and then grabbed his arm and pulled it behind him, almost tearing it off. He screamed in pain. Marishka grabbed his shoulder and pushed him onto his knees. Aleera then walked up to him and got eye level with him. She then smiled at him and tauntingly caressed his face, as he did to her when she was alive. She then took the vile from his hand and gave it to Dracula. He then looked at the vile and then at Constantine.
"You were very clever at finding my weakness, but alas, here is something you didn't know about this vile. Whoever pours the contents of this bottle into the drinker's mouth is the one in control of them and all who come after them."
With that, he nodded to Marishka. She then took his head and opened his jaw. Dracula then took out the stopper and walked in front of the prince and looked at him.
"Tomorrow is a full moon. Once it touches your skin, you will come looking for us."
He then poured the liquid into his mouth, and right as the last drop hit his tongue, Marishka closed his mouth, forcing him to swallow. Constantine then felt a fire start to grow in his stomach. He then started writhing in pain as it started to flow through his veins. Verona and Marishka then glided over to Dracula.
"Until we meet again, Prince."
They all then disappeared, leaving Constantine in the street writhing in pain. Once they were out of sight, Aleera went limp in Dracula's arms. She let out a cry of pain and Dracula looked nervously down at her.
"What happened to her? I heard her screams of pain, but I do not know what it is."
"She was touched by a crucifix," Verona told him.
"Did she feed at all?"
"I am not sure, my lord. Marishka and I both did though."
Dracula then lifted her up so that he could see her injury. It was still red and still hot to the touch. Aleera let out another scream when he touched it. Dracula then carefully laid her on the ground, while placing her head on his knee.
"Quickly, my dears go find something for her to drink."
Verona and Marishka quickly headed off to find a human and were back within a minute. They then lowered him so that his neck was in biting distance for Aleera.
"Aleera, drink, it's the only way for you to regain your strength."
Aleera weakly lifted her head and sat up. The smell of the blood that was sitting right before her was driving her ravenous. She let her fangs elongate and her mouth became wider as she neared the man's neck. He was shaking with fear, knowing that the end was near for him. Aleera then plunged her fangs into his neck. Once she tasted the blood from the man on her tongue, she went into a feeding frenzy. She started draining the man faster and faster. It was over soon after it had started. Aleera then pushed the lifeless corpse away from her. She wiped the blood off her mouth with her finger and finished what was left of it.
Aleera started to feel better automatically. She then touched her back. Extreme pain racked her body as she tried to move her arms. She then placed her arm back at her side and looked up at her sisters, who were watching anxiously. Marishka then kneeled next to her and wrapped her arms around her neck and hugged her. Verona simply placed her hand on her shoulder, caressing it with her thumb.
"I was afraid that we were going to lose you, and just after we got you," Marishka said to her. Aleera was starting to feel safe with her new found family.
"Come my dears, we have had a very busy night." He then helped Marishka and Aleera up. He then noticed that the blood had helped heal part of Aleera's wound, but the burn was still deep into her skin.
Dracula then picked up Aleera in his arms and flew into the air. The other two followed after him. Aleera loved the feel of the air rushing through her hair as they were flying. She nuzzled up closer to Dracula's chest, making herself feel safer. She slowly started to fall asleep in his gentle embrace.
By the time they were back at the castle, Aleera had fallen asleep in her master's arms. Marishka and Verona came to his sides and looked at their younger sister. Verona moved her hair behind her ear so it was not hiding any of her sleeping features. Marishka simply smiled. She was happy with herself for finding her.
"She looks so peaceful sleeping."
Dracula looked down at his youngest bride and smiled.
"Yes, she does. Sleep will be the best thing for her."
He then placed her in her coffin, making sure that he did not cause her anymore pain than she was already in. As soon as he put her in, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. Dracula leaned down to lightly kiss her forehead, but as he was leaning forward, Aleera grabbed his jacket and pulled him down so that he would kiss her on the lips instead. Once she let go, which was after about a minute or two, Dracula stood up.
"Sleep well my dear. You need your rest; it will help you heal faster."
With that he slowly closed the lid of her coffin and walked over to his other brides. He kissed each of them on the top of their heads, and placed an arm around each of their wastes, pulling them closer to him.
"Let us let your sister rest." They then walked out of the room and quietly closed the door behind them. They then went into Dracula's chambers. Once they got there, Dracula lost his composure. He hit his fists against the walls, and started clenching his teeth.
"Master, what is ailing you?" Marishka asked softly. She then placed her hands on his shoulders and started rubbing them to try to help him calm down. Verona walked up next to him and took one of his hands and placed it on her heart.
"Your sadness does not help us feel comforted. It makes us worried for you. Tell me what to do to make it better," Verona said.
"I knew that this would eventually happen, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."
"What master?"
"Those who knew her in her past life have seen her now. This will be hard for her to get through, but this phase will pass."
"We all knew she would have trouble, due to the fact she had loved ones still living. It wasn't as hard for me and Marishka, for we didn't have any family or friends left to hold our human emotions to."
Dracula then looked up at her.
"You are right my dear. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without your insight." He then placed his hand on her face. Marishka saw that he was starting to want to be alone with Verona. She then walked up to him and kissed his cheek. He turned to and looked down at her.
"Turning in early?"
"I was going to go keep Aleera company, and I think the two of you needed to be alone."
"You always seem to know the right time for everything. Good night my dear, I will see you tomorrow." He then kissed her on the head and sent her off. As soon as she left, Vlad turned to Verona. He then wrapped her in his arms and he started kissing her neck. He slowly went up to her mouth. Verona put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Dracula then lifted the two of them to the ceiling. He removed her collar and let it drop to the floor. He then put his hand where he had given her that fatal kiss that made her his forever all those years ago. She then removed his jacket and let that drop to the ground as well.
"Wait Vladislaus, are you sure this is the right idea? Right after what happened to Aleera? You saw how she acted when she saw me and Marishka."
"Yes, but if she puts up a fuss about it, she will have to consult with me. Besides, she won't be able to do much with her injury as it is."
He then slowly started to move the two of them over to his bed. He then slowly started to remove her dress. As he did this he kissed her neck again and worked his way down to her collar bone, over to the other side of her neck. She was not thinking about her sisters at all. She was thinking that this used to be like when it was only the two of them, before Aleera and before Marishka. Verona removed Vlad's shirt and placed her hands on his cold, hard chest and started to kiss his face. Vlad then smiled at her and pulled her closer to him.
When Marishka got to Aleera's room, she slowly opened the door and peaked inside. The lid to Aleera's coffin was still closed. As soon as she stepped in something dropped in front of her, causing her to shriek. Aleera giggled at her sister's reaction.
"Did I scare you?" she asked playfully.
"Aleera, I thought you were sleeping."
"I couldn't stay still long enough. I'm still hungry. That one human didn't satisfy my thirst. I want more."
"Your body is still changing. I was that way too, but it is only a phase. It will pass."
Aleera then looked down at the ground.
"Were you really worried about me earlier?"
"Of course, if I didn't find something in you that I liked, would I have brought you here, or even let you live that one time we met in the forest?"
"I suppose not. It does feel a little better already. Does it always take this long for us to heal?"
"No, it just will for that type of wound. Here watch."
She then took her nail and punctured her wrist and made a slit along it. As soon as she removed it, she showed Aleera who was looking at it curiously. To her amazement, it went away as quickly as it had appeared. Aleera took Marishka's wrist and touched where the cut had been.
"See, no need to worry. Your scar, on the other hand, is different. You were touched with something holy. That is why it is still on you. It will heal, but it will take more time than any other wound you may get, like that bullet that hit me that you thought injured me."
She then showed her that her skin had already grown back in the spot where it had hit her. Marishka then spent the rest of the night teaching Aleera about what could cause them harm. Aleera soaked in everything like a sponge. They talked throughout the night until the first rays of the sun started to come up over the horizon.
"It is time to sleep now Aleera. I will see you tonight." She then wrapped her arms around her.
"I do care about you, very much."
"I know, and I am sure the longer I know you, the more I will start to care about you." She returned the gesture. This surprised Marishka; for this was the first time Aleera had shown that she liked anyone other than Dracula. Marishka then sat up and smiled at her sister. As she left the room, she turned to make sure that Aleera got in her coffin and the lid was closed. She then quickly hurried to her room and got inside her own coffin as the sun was starting to rise.
Dun dun dun! So what happens to Constantine? Will Aleera be able to see the others as family? Review and you will find out! Can't wait till next time!
~aleera-mistressofallevil