I'm back! Sorry it took me so long to update, I've been out of town a lot for the past month. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time. I hope that you like this chapter, things are starting to pick up a little, so yay!
There will be more drama in the next chapter, which should be up soon. Don't forget to review, and if there is anything that you want to see happen later in the story, please tell me and I will see if I can find a spot in the story for it.
I don't own any of the characters from Van Helsing. I do own, Anastasia, Constantine, Anya, and Rose.
Back at Castle Dracula, all the brides had returned to Rose's room. Verona was in the seat that she was in the night before, Marishka was in an arm chair that was next to Rose, and Aleera was quietly sulking in the corner staring at the girl.
"Oh, I wish she would wake up already. I really want to know what she is like," Marishka said after many minutes of sitting.
"You heard what the Master said, she won't wake up at least till tomorrow," Verona replied back. She couldn't wait for her to wake up either. She had dreamed of this day for so long and now it was so close that it was almost within her grasp.
"Just sitting here and watching her sleep is rather boring," Marishka said as she placed her head in her hands. "I wish there were something to do to pass the time."
"Why don't you do something useful like get her something decent to wear rather than those rags she has on." Verona and Marishka almost jumped when they heard Aleera speak. They had almost forgotten that she was in there with them.
"Aleera, you're absolutely right! Marishka, why don't you find something suitable for her to wear?"
Marishka became giddy with excitement and ran over to the wardrobe that was already in the room. She tore through the clothes looking for the perfect outfit. After minutes of searching she found the perfect dress. It was similar to the style of Verona's, but instead of being green, it was violet. It was adorned with gold along the hems and had intricate beading on the sleeves.
"What do you think?" Marishka asked as she turned around towards her sisters. Aleera uncrossed her arms and walked towards her.
"You have very nice taste sister. I think it will look wonderful on her." This was the first time that Aleera was showing any interest in Rose.
"I agree, but something is just not right." Verona then got up from her seat and went to the wardrobe. From there, she pulled out a dark purple corset with a dark pink center and gold trimmings along the side. "I felt it was just missing something." She then took the dress Marishka was holding and put the corset against it. "How about now? It seems more appropriate now. After all, she is still just a child."
"Yes you have a point."
At that moment, Dracula walked into the room. His brides turned and were overjoyed. They all ran to his side, hoping that he would be willing to give some affection to them.
"Tomorrow is the night my dears. Our daughter will wake up, but when she does, she will no longer be a human, and our blood will be running through her veins." They all became giddy with excitement.
"I will return in a few minutes. Have her ready for the transformation upon my return," and with that he left the room so that his brides could attend to their new daughter. The thought was still new to him. Although she would not be directly his daughter, she would be the closest living thing that he could have.
Marishka and Verona were busying themselves with preparing Rose's room while Aleera sat in the chair next to Rose's sleeping figure. She quietly started stroking her hair. A small smile came across her face. Verona noticed this and motioned to Marishka to look. They both watched with curiosity at their younger sister, not sure of what she would do next.
"She looks so peaceful sleeping," Aleera said after a few minutes of silence. Marishka then came up behind Aleera and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
"I knew that it was only a matter of time before you started to like her."
Aleera continued to stroke her hair until Dracula came back. In his hand, he held a small crystal glass that had a black liquid in it.
"It is time my dears." As soon as he walked into the room, the door shut with a loud bang. The brides all moved behind Dracula, for they knew that it was his right to have the first bite. Dracula knelt down next to the sleeping figure of Rose. His brides fanned out around him, watching with anticipation. He looked down at the sleeping girl, back up at his brides, and then back to the girl.
Dracula let his fangs grow out, but right before he plunged them into Rose's neck, Aleera made a quick interjection.
"Master, who will have the first bite, after you of course?"
Dracula was a little irritated because he never liked to be interrupted with such important tasks. "You will all drink at the same time, but be sure not to drink too much, or you will completely drain and kill her."
Aleera silently nodded and watched closely, for she had never seen a turning before, she had only experienced it when she was turned. Dracula then continued, "Now, if there are no more interruptions." He then turned back towards Rose.
He took one deep breath and then sank his teeth into her soft pale neck. Rose's eyes suddenly opened, revealing that they were a light brown. A scream of pain and terror was then heard throughout the castle.
Dracula quickly withdrew, and wiped a small stream of blood that was trailing from his mouth. Rose's breathing had become fast and shaky. Dracula turned towards his brides, and with a single nod of his head, the brides descended upon the girl. Rose continued to scream and writhe in pain, but was unable to escape the grasp of the brides.
Verona was the first to bite, followed by Aleera and Marishka. Verona had taken her position just a little lower on Rose's neck than Vlad had been. Aleera bit into her right arm, taking the warm blood in as if she had not eaten in days. Marishka was the last to bite into the girl. She had taken her position on her left side and bit into Rose's left shoulder. They all drank quickly, until Rose's breathing had almost stopped.
All three stepped back and looked over at Dracula to see what was to be done next. He then took the glass that he had brought in earlier that had the black liquid. He placed it on the end table that was close to where Rose was laying. He then bit into his own wrist and poured some of his blood into the glass. As soon as it made contact with the black liquid that was already in the glass, it turned a deep burgundy. He then picked up the cup and turned towards his brides.
"Now, you will do the same."
Verona used her nail to pierce her skin and squeezed her wrist to let the blood come out of her body. Marishka was next, followed by Aleera. The younger two both bit their own wrists at the same time. As soon as the last drop of blood was added by Aleera, the mixture in the glass had turned to a rich red. Dracula then gently swirled the glass's contents. He then walked over to Rose. As soon as he reached her side, she looked up at him. Terror had completely taken over her features as her breathing started to grow very faint. As soon as Dracula kneeled down next to her, she quietly fainted, hoping that she would just die to escape the intense pain and the fate that was waiting for her.
"The pain will go away, and all of this will just be a distant memory very soon my child." He then poured the liquid from the glass into her mouth. He didn't let a single drop get wasted. As soon as she had completely consumed the concoction of the vampires' blood and the black substance, Rose's breathing had started to slow and within a few minutes, had come very close to completely stopping.
"Master," asked Marishka after a few minutes of waiting, "is she…..dead?"
"Not quite. Her body is starting to change."
"What was that black liquid that you added our blood to?" Verona was the one to ask the question this time.
"It was a potion that would erase her memories. She may still have them, locked deep away in her mind, but she will not be able to remember what is happening in them, or who she formerly knew."
They all watched patiently for a few minutes at their new daughter. Dracula quickly grew tired of waiting, for he was not a very patient man. He quietly left the room, and it took his brides a few minutes to find out that he had left.
"How long do you think it will take her to wake up?" Aleera asked.
"Honestly, I am not sure. This is the first time to my knowledge of someone ever consuming the blood of more than one vampire during their transformation."
"Oh, look!" Aleera squealed with excitement. Rose's skin had started to grow pasty white. Also her teeth started to become more pointed. As the visible changes started to occur, so did the internal changes. After Aleera pointed out what was happening, Rose had let out a groan of pain. She grabbed at her heart as her breath started to quicken.
"Is there nothing we can do? I can't bear to watch her writhe in pain." Marishka had been watching very closely to her new daughter.
"All we can do right now is wait. We should let her finish her transformation in peace, come." Verona turned towards Marishka and Aleera; both had not let their eyes off of Rose for one minute. They were both very hesitant to leave, but finally left after Verona gave them both a stern look.
As they all left the room, the brides started walking in the direction of their rooms. Once they reached Verona's room, Verona left them and said goodnight. As they got closer to Aleera's room, Marishka and Aleera stopped just outside the door.
"Aleera, I want to go back and see her."
"As do I, but you heard what Verona said, and Master is more likely to side with her than us."
"If we don't tell them, then what will it harm?"
Aleera liked the idea, so the two of them quietly walked back to Rose's room. Once they got to her room, Marishka quietly opened the door. She poked her head through the door way to look around. Aleera, not liking to be last on anything, squeezed her head through the door next to Marishka's and looked around as well.
They were both startled when they heard a voice coming from behind them.
"You mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude. "
"Master, you startled us."
"Marishka, I am most disappointed in you. I could understand Aleera being curious about the change, but you have seen it before, and you know that she will need to rest while it occurs."
"I know Master, but I just couldn't bear to stay away any longer."
A smirk came across his face. He knew that his brides were very anxious about their new daughter.
"Alright, you may sit with her, but let her rest, she will need it."
All three entered the room quietly and gathered around the sleeping figure of Rose. They were all watching her when Verona entered the room.
"I had a feeling that you two would return within an hour." Marishka turned around and rolled her eyes at Verona, who had now walked over to join them.
As soon as she walked over, Rose started to stir. All their eyes were focused on her. She started to stretch, and they all took a few steps back. Rose's eyes slowly opened. As she sat up, she took her head in her hands, and releasing a small groan. She then sensed that she was being watched, and turned her head slightly. She spotted Dracula and his brides and whirled around quickly.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
Dracula was the first to answer. "Do not worry, you are safe now. You took a rather nasty fall and hit your head."
The brides knew that this wasn't true, and were confused at first. They all remained quiet for a moment, but Verona knew what Dracula was doing and started to play along.
"Yes, we found you outside near the edge of the castle my dear."
Rose grabbed her head as it started to throb again. Verona sat next to her on the couch where she had been asleep for the past few days.
"I suppose that would explain why my head hurts and why I can't remember a thing."
"Not even us?" asked Dracula in a concerned tone.
"Very vaguely. It seems like I met you in a dream, a very distant dream."
"It seems interesting to me that you do not even remember your own family." He then walked next to her and laid his hand on her shoulder.
Aleera was then next to speak, "You have had us worried ever so much." Rose looked up at her, confusion still in her eyes. She then looked at the other vampires in the room, although she did not know that was what they were, or what she had become.
"Come, lets get you changed into something more suitable for you to wear," but right as Aleera was extending her hand to lead her over to where the outfit that the brides had picked out for her was laid, Dracula snapped his fingers and the tattered dress that was on Rose at the time was replaced with the elegant one that was picked out for her earlier.
Rose could not believe her eyes. She then looked down at herself and her new dress. She smiled and let out a small laugh of delight. It was music to all of their ears, especially Verona and Dracula's. Verona then smiled and looked up at her husband and then back at their daughter.
Marishka, who had not said anything because of all the sheer excitement that she was experiencing, started to tear up. Aleera noticed this and turned towards her sister.
"Marishka, why are you crying? How could you possibly be sad at a time like this?"
"I'm not sad, I'm just very happy, that's all."
"Don't be such a weakling," she said under her breath.
Rose then looked over at Marishka, who was wiping away her tears. She still was not quite sure where she was or who these people were, but she at least knew that they had no intentions to harm her.
"I feel silly asking this, but who are you exactly?"
"Like I said before, we are you family." Dracula was hoping that this would soon start to make some progress. He then looked over at the window and started to see the sun rising.
"Come my dears, let us retire and leave her to rest."
"How can I possibly sleep at a time like this, when there are some many things that I don't understand?" Rose was starting to get impatient, but she then noticed how her eye lids started to become heavy. "I guess you're right; sleep can't hurt."
"Good night Rose," Verona said as she kissed her on the forehead. Dracula then waved his hand and Rose fell asleep. At the same time he clapped his hands and a pair of servants came in carrying a coffin. Dracula then motioned for them to place it close to where Rose was already sleeping. Once they left, Dracula and his brides watched as their daughter slept peacefully.
"Oh Master, I don't think anything could make me happier right now." Marishka was on the verge of tears again. Aleera rolled her eyes at her sister's inability to control her emotions. Aleera then walked next to Verona and watched Rose.
"We haven't known her long, but I already feel like she is a part of our family." She then placed her hand on Verona's shoulder, who then gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
"I know you want to spend more time with her, but we really must rest, for the sun is almost upon us." Dracula's comment caught the attention of his brides. They all looked up at him, and then reluctantly back at Rose. Dracula opened the lid of the coffin. He carefully picked Rose up and gently placed her in.
"Good night my child," he said as he closed the coffin lid and with that, they all left their daughter's room and headed to their own.
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