Author's Note: Hah! I've finally posted the chapter. Oh, happy day. I'am soooo sory for the delay! School has been a pain in the ass and I have been recently grounded and.. well, High School hasn't exactly been a walk on the park. So, here, finally, the next chapter of 'Hidden Demons'. So, here we are my dearies and forgive my tardiness and I leave you to read the rest! ^^
Chapter 19: Life
Moments Ago..
Sleep would not come, nor would it ever. She sat there; lifeless and lost. She shedded no tears, for they had all been drained from her. Her face face crimson from the bloody tears. It wasn't meant to be, my love, she thought dreadfully, her face boring no emotion. I, a demon, was never meant to be saved or loved by and you, and angel. She scoffed, noticing how ironic it sounded. "It was never meant to be." she kept muttering to herself, looking pained and misrable.
The silence was broken by a hellish screech. He had awakened. And then, ti was accompanied by Frankenstein's anguished howl, which echoed through the empty dungeoins. Rats scurried away and human bones rattled to dust by the intensity of the untied screams. Nathalia simply ignored them regrettably, feeling vulnerable and weak.
Then, she heard confident, happy strides coming down. She dared not look as a dark shadow loomed over her when her cell gate was opened.
"Are you here to kill me?" she asked, her tone dead. He chuckled and her eyes looked up at him. "Are you?" she asked again, more harsher this time. Pleas do, she pleaded. Please.
Dracula only smiled; a smile where anyone can see its rotting, corrupting evil. She shivered, but not from the cold. For once in her life, she actually feared him. And his nefarious plan.
"Before I do, my dear," he said, taking slow, deliberate steps towards her, "you must finish what you have started."
Before she could utter a word, he striked for her neck, like a snake its prey. She gasped as his fangs punctured her skin. She moaned, both in pleasure and pain. His venom consuming and corupting her mind with perverse thoughts.
Kill him. Kill Gabriel. Kill him!
The hissing would not stop, the words engraving into her mind. They repeated over and over again, over and over again. Until finally,
"Kill him." she echoed back, her tone hypnotized, her jaded eyes glazing.
Godd girl, he crooned, still taking in her blood, tainting her. Claiming her..
oo
Dracula pushed the large oak doors effortlessly. He felt triumphant and, surprisingly, alive. The laboratorywas filled with bustling Dwergi, large equipment, and sparks and electrical crackling. He smiled, proud of what he was soon to accomplish. Soon, he thought.
"Get off me, you vermin from hell!"
Dracula had been too preoccupied looking around his accomplishment that he did not see Frankenstein's monster struggling to be set free. Many Dwergi tried to strap him down, but it seemed impossible for such small creatures to outman the beast. Dracula fumed, his oblivious mood forgotten. In just three angry stride, he was beside the monster, hissing in his face, "What are you complaining about?"
The monster stood still and firm, the Dwergi stepped away from their master's wrath. "This is why you were made- to prove that God is not the only one who can create life." he said, glaring at the monster. "and now, you must give that life to my children." he said, stepping away and yelling, "Up!" as he raised his hands dramatically yo emphasize his emotions.
The Dwergi rushed to last minute preparations as their source of power was anchored up. "Soon," Dracula muttered, smiling evily
oo
Van Helsing could not do it. He could not kill Nathalia buy his own hands. Yes, she was that which he hunted, but he just couldn't. No matter what her wishes were.
Nathalia, sensing his hesitation, swung at him first. He blocked her sword with his own and stepped back when she struck again. She was graceful and agile, like a cat. And quick as well.
He was more clumsy and foolish, his hesitation preventing him from concentrating on his years of training. He did not want to inflict any kind of damage to her. He did not wish to hurt. And even though she struggled for control, she knew that she would not be able to control herself. Yet, it almost seemd as if she was not putting up a fight. She wanted to prove him that she was as dangerous as any other monster he slayed and killed.
"Fight!" she hissed, her emerald eyes glowing fiercely. "Defend yourself!"
Her blows were pushing him near the edge of the stairs, down below. He stepped over and landed clumsily on his feet, looking up to see no Nathlia. His face showed confusion when out of nowhere, he was hit hard from behind. He turned only to be grabbed by his neck and slammed against a stone wall, hard. She flashed her fangs, hissing angrily at him. He struggled with her, her fangs trying to penetrate his ksin.
"Nathalia!" he growled at her. Her wild eyes suddenly went blank, her mouth wide. Se blinked a couple of times, staring at him, confused. Her eyes were only slightly glazed; Dracula still had control over her, but for now she seemed to have come to her senses.
The sword she held clattered to the ground, her hands suddenly limp. He took the sword and touched her cold, pale cheek, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Nathlia," he whispered to her almost soothingly.
"Gabriel," she answered back. "Why didn't you kill me?" she asked, confused. It was what she was hoping for. She could no longer live. She had lived for so long and she was not willing to live with her regrets and sorrows that had happened to her for so long. She was through. And yet, this hunter had hesistated to slay that which he hunted. Why?
"I can't." he simply replied. She held his hand closer to her cheek, enjoying his warmth if only for the moment. "I.. can't bear the fact that.. you'll be dead. It chills me to the bone. "You can't be all evil. You just can't." he muttered. He was unsure himself why he did not wish to kill her. Only, he knew he couldn't kill her. And he wouldn't.
"I'am already dead." she answered. "You will not be punished for killing me. I'am a creation of the Devil, I am tainted. Kill me." she almost begged him. "Please, free me from this empty shell."
"There has to be a way, Nathalia." he said. "There has to be!"
She shook her head. "You will never remember me, Gabriel. I will only remain a forgotten memory of your past life." she said. "Therefore, I'am already dead." she said. And then, she kissed him. Hesitant at first, he sensed, but then she grew more confident and she did so longingly. It was as if he'd kissed these lips before, these cold lips that were once filled with life and love. It ended when she collapsed.
He held her fragile body before she hit the ground. He stared at her, seeing she was paler than ever. Is she dying?, he thought dreadfully.
"Go," she whispered. "I will no longer be burden to you. Go. Now." she said.
He nodded and layed her down gently. "You'll be okay." he whispered to her, kissing her forehead gently. He would make sure Dracula paid for his misdeed, for Nathalia' suffering. For everything..