Hey guys! I know it's been a while since I've updated, but my computer broke and the friggin' repairman was busy! I'm back now with a new chapter for The Left Hand of God and I will update Lupus et Niger soon! Thank you so much to all who reviewed, it really inspires me to write! Enjoy! D

Mademoiselle Silver 3

Chapter 3: Of Wolves and Nightmares

Van Helsing felt himself floating, his surroundings merely a swirl of colors. He closed his eyes gently, letting a sudden cool wind blow on his face. It was strange to feel so soothed. It wasn't something he was permitted to feel very often.

His feet hit cold marble, and his lids lifted to reveal the sight before him. He smiled at the great stone balcony he was standing on. The sun was setting westward, lighting the sky with the most burning colors of red and yellow. Leaning on the railing, with their back turned, was a person who made Van Helsing's smile grow wider. He slowly walked towards the figure, his footsteps sounding loud and slow to his ears. His hand reached out to touch the stranger's shoulder, but before he could, the person turned. A man with brilliant blue eyes smiled widely at him. Van Helsing wanted to know who he was, and opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly, the scene was plunged into darkness, and Van Helsing spiraled with it, letting out a scream that never reached his ears. The scenery before him changed from a warm balcony to a misty blood-soaked battlefield. He had to regain his composure while all around him, soldiers fought brutally, mutilating one another, bashing, stabbing and bludgeoning.

Cursing, Van Helsing made to grab a weapon, only to realize he had a sword and shield in hand. He swung it about, making to hit any enemy he could reach. He didn't know how he knew who the enemy was; he just knew that he had to defeat them. The men around him became a blur. All he saw was crimson liquid spurting onto his face, and a pair of hands grabbing at his neck, choking him. He clawed at the fingers with all his strength, attempting to injure the man. He was losing air; he was starting to feel dizzy. He couldn't die now, though, he couldn't… Someone was waiting for him… Who?... So dizzy… And then… pain… Indescribable pain…

Van Helsing yelled out, bolting upright in bed. He panted, twisting his head around. He was in the guestroom Anna had grudgingly let him use. The sheets above him were drenched in sweat. Van Helsing groaned, rubbing his face in his hands. It had been another nightmare. He placed his forehead on his knee, cursing himself. He had had enough sleepless nights to last him a lifetime. He had to find out the significance of these strange, violent dreams. And who was the one he kept seeing on the balcony? The person who filled him with peace and strange emotions before he was ploughed back into various bloody war scenes?

The door opened and Carl's head peeked in. He looked concerned.

"I heard you yell, Van Helsing. Are you alright?" he asked.

Van Helsing sighed and nodded. He felt more exhausted than he had been before going to sleep. "Yes, I'm fine. Just another nightmare."

"You seem to be having them more than usual since we've arrived in Transylvania."

"You think it's Dracula's doing?" Van Helsing asked. He had a nagging habit to link every strange thing that happened to him here to the vampire.

"I don't know, I haven't had the time to do some research," Carl said huffily, "That Princess Anna won't let me go through her family archives. She keeps saying that her father has been through them many times and has found nothing. She seemed offended when I told her perhaps he had overlooked something that I may notice."

Van Helsing couldn't help a smirk. "You are a real talker with women, Carl."

"I was simply being honest!" the friar insisted, holding his hands up in defense, "It could have happened, you know, in his old age."

Van Helsing was about to reply when his hunting senses took over. Something was not right in the castle. He could feel a darkness roaming between the stone walls.

"What is it?" Carl asked fearfully, recognizing that look that Van Helsing got.

"We must go look for Anna." Van Helsing jumped out of bed and quickly dressed himself, grabbing his weapons. "Come."

Carl followed half-heartedly as the monster hunter led them down the humid corridors. He wasn't sure he wanted to find out what had entered the castle.

Van Helsing stopped and sniffed the air. He frowned at the odor and sprinted towards the double doors at the end of the corridor.

"Why does it smell like wet dog?" Carl wrinkled his nose in repulsion. He hurried as fast as he could on his short legs after his friend.

Van Helsing flung the doors open and ran into the room just as the large shaggy werewolf jumped out the window, Anna looking desperately at it.

"Damn," he muttered. He ran outside, inserting a silver bullet in his pistol. His eyes narrowed, trying to locate the werewolf. A loud growl erupted behind him and he turned around, shooting at the creature.

"NO!" He felt himself being pushed down onto the snow, Anna toppling above him. The werewolf roared at them and fled, heading towards the snowcapped mountains.

Van Helsing had to use all his control not to strangle the princess. Unfortunately, he did not have much of it. He grabbed Anna by the neck, furious. "Why did you do that?!"

"You're choking me!" she gasped, grabbing at his hands.

"Just tell me why," he growled as he released her.

She knelt to the ground, panting for air. "I can't," she said breathlessly, "If people knew…"

Van Helsing kicked a stone in his anger. He looked out towards the mountains where the werewolf had run off to. "He's not your brother anymore, Anna!" he shouted, his voice echoing.

She stared at him disbelievingly, getting steadily to her feet. "You knew?" she whispered.

Van Helsing sighed, knowing this wouldn't be pleasant. "Yes."

"Before or after I stopped you from shooting him?" she asked suspiciously.

"Before."

"And still you tried to kill him!" she pushed him roughly, her anger and hurt getting the better of her.

"He's a werewolf, he will kill innocent people!" he countered.

"He can't help it!"

"No, but he'll do it anyway!" he yelled.

Anna glared at him, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. "You don't understand… He's the only family I have left. If there is a cure for him, I will find it."

Van Helsing looked at her, unsure of what else to say.

"I despise Dracula more than you can imagine," she said in low anger, "He has taken everything from me!"

Van Helsing lowered his head. Tiny snowflakes had started their slow descent to the ground. They floated down onto his black coat, silent and still.

"Perhaps to have memories of the ones you loved and lost is… harder than having no memories at all."

Anna looked at him quizzically. He didn't elaborate for her, though, but merely swiveled his hat about and lifted his head. "Alright. Let's go find your brother. And Dracula too."

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Dracula paced around his grand, cobwebbed hall. His two brides sat on stone benches, looking sulky. A loud howl alerted him to the return of his servant. He approached the balcony just as the werewolf leaped onto it.

"Did you kill her?" he asked.

The werewolf shook its head, fur flapping wildly.

"What about Gabriel? Did you hurt him?"

The werewolf shook its head again.

"Good. Now that we have provoked them, they will most certainly come here."

"Master, why are you so fascinated with the stranger?" Aleera asked.

"That is none of your concern!" Dracula snapped, "He will come to this castle and I expect you not to harm him."

The two Vampiresses narrowed their eyes. It was unusual for their master to be so fascinated by one mortal. Was he someone from his past?

"Now that Velkan is back," Dracula stroked the werewolf's fur, "We may begin the experiment." He turned towards the canine monster. "Are you ready to bring life?"

The dwergei arrived, attempting to sedate the now thrashing creature. The two brides shrieked their delight and glided towards the laboratory. "I hope it works!"

Dracula looked out the window. The tiny lights from the Valerious home were still lit. He grinned widely, his pointed fangs glinting. "He will come back to me. This time, it shall be forever…"

That was chapter 3! Review or send a message if you have anything to say! I know there was a lot of movie dialogue in this one, but it was to get the plot moving. And Dracula and Van Helsing will officially meet next chapter!