Chapter 4: Reunion
Carl was safely back at the castle, having finally gotten Anna's begrudging consent to rifle through the family library. Van Helsing knew he would burrow around there like a rabbit searching for food until he found something of value. If there was one thing Carl could do, it was research without stopping. This was the main reason why Van Helsing brought him along on this trip; he knew Dracula was not like all the other monsters he had battled. The vampire was much more cunning, and a lot more ancient than most evil creatures.
Van Helsing and Anna crept up to the old lair of Dr. Frankenstein. It seemed to be abandoned at first glance; none of the windows were lit up with light from within and it was eerily silent. But Van Helsing knew from experience that evil doers just kept a low profile, some better than other and he did not doubt that Dracula was being quite subtle. The one thing that gave away the fact that the old mansion was inhabited was the strange machine built at the top, on the roof, which seemed to spout small electrical sparks from its metal antennae.
As they snuck into an unlocked side door, Van Helsing felt his heart thud in trepidation… or was it anticipation? He truly did not know, but for some reason, he had a burning desire to encounter Dracula. Perhaps it was because he was a reputed man, something of a challenge for the hunter.
"Hurry up," Anna hissed at him.
Van Helsing snapped out of his musings. Anna was a few feet in front of him, staring at him impatiently with her sharp blue eyes. He had started to lag behind due to his deep thoughts. This was so unlike him. He cleared his throat and muttered, "Sorry. Just thinking."
"Well, help me think on where they are keeping my brother," she said and strode forward. Van Helsing let out a sigh. That woman sure was tough.
They continued for a few more minutes down the dark and slime-covered hallway. Why there was slime was quite strange, and Van Helsing was ready to scoop a bit to let Carl examine it, but Anna gave him no time to pause. They finally stumbled into a vast hall with a large ceiling. Van Helsing's eyes widened and he heard Anna gasp beside him. Everywhere, hanging from the ceiling, ooze slowly dripping down and landing in quiet plops on the floor, large sacks invaded the room. They looked so gruesome, and occasionally let out a small splurging sound coming seemingly from within.
"You ever see these things?" Van Helsing asked.
"No," Anna replied, wrinkling her nose, "What do you think they are?"
"Offspring," Van Helsing replied after a moment, getting closer to one of the pods to examine it better.
Anna blinked. "What?"
"A man with three gorgeous women for four hundred years," Van Helsing muttered as though it were obvious.
"Yes, vampires are the walking dead," Anna caught on. "It only makes sense that their children are born dead."
"He's obviously trying to bring them to life." Van Helsing turned to find Anna staring warily at the dangling pods. "Ladies first," he said, gesturing for her to move forward.
Anna walked around, trying her hardest not to even brush against the disgusting sacks. Van Helsing had dug out a knife and slit open one of them, burying his hand inside.
"Dracula and his brides only kill one or two people a month," he said, "If he brings all these things to life…"
"What are you doing?" Anna demanded.
"I want to see what we're up against." Van Helsing pulled out great globs on unknown grey mass, throwing them aside, ignoring Anna's disgusted looks. He cleared the bits away until a slimy gray head appeared. The small face was ugly and wrinkled, ashen gray.
"So this is what you get when Vampires mate," Van Helsing half-whispered, reaching out to touch it.
Anna screamed behind him and he whipped around to see a tiny creature pouncing on her. He whipped his pistol and shot it. Grabbing Anna as the thing exploded into tiny drops of green, they ran through the hall as the millions of vampire children awoke from death and began to rise, all flying in one great mass.
The two hurried down the corridor, Anna releasing herself from her grip and climbing upwards, off to find her brother. Knowing she could take care of herself, Van Helsing sped off, stopping in an empty chamber. The cold feeling washing over him let him know that someone was there.
"Teach them how to feed!" Dracula instructed his brides, "And beg the Devil that this time they stay alive!"
As his two remaining brides flew off with their offspring, Dracula turned and walked to the balcony, peering down. His grin widened as he flew down, stopping in front of the man he had met centuries ago.
"I can tell the character of a man by the sound of his heartbeat," he said his voice echoing off the walls.
Van Helsing tensed, his weapons in his hands. So this was the famous Dracula. His dark eyes and his swishing black hair were not unfamiliar to him. He had seen this creature before, he was sure of it. He may be the key to finding out about his past; but he was also supposed to be killed.
"Usually when I approach, I can almost dance to the beat," Dracula continued, clapping his hands in a quick rhythm. He slowed it as he said, "Strange that yours is so steady." He stopped, standing close to Van Helsing. "You used to beat hard and fast for me… so fast."
Van Helsing frowned. Dracula was teasing him with information about his past he probably knew he didn't remember.
"Hello, Gabriel."
The lightning struck outside, followed by the rumble of thunder. Van Helsing fired his weapon, striking Dracula in the heart. The Vampire grinned, pulling the stake out of his chest. "Is this your silver stake?" he asked nonchalantly, tossing it aside.
"How long has it been, three, four hundred years?" The Vampire began to circle around Gabriel like a predator. He leaned in close, his cold breath blowing in Van Helsing's ear, his sharp nails digging slightly in his shoulders. "You don't remember, do you?"
"Exactly what is it I should be remembering?" Van Helsing pulled out of the Vampire's touch, not liking his ease at their proximity.
Dracula smiled, restarting his walk. "You are the great Van Helsing!" he proclaimed, "Trained by monks and mullahs from Tibet to Istanbul! Protected by Rome herself..." He spoke that last part with venom, practically cursing it. "But, like me, hunted by all others."
"The Knights of the Holy Order know about you. It's no surprise you would know about me," Van Helsing said.
"Yes, but it's much more than this." Dracula moved with lightning speed, catching Van Helsing in his arms. "We have such," he leaned his face so close to the hunter's, "History, you and I, Gabriel."
Van Helsing was, for the first time in his life (what he remembers of it), speechless. Dracula was not at all what he had expected. What kind of Vampire would be groping him after he tried to kill him? Because Van Helsing could feel the other's hand slide lower on his back as he spoke. He shivered, pulling away again. This was another evil spell being cast on him.
"Have you ever wondered why you have such horrible nightmares?" Dracula asked, "Horrific scenes of ancient battles past."
This was becoming increasingly frustrating for the bounty hunter. Dracula was giving him very little, and on top of that, seemed to be trying to seduce him. Vampires were known for seducing their prey, but he never thought Dracula would do it on him, a man.
"How do you know me?" he demanded.
Dracula smiled, holding out his hand. "So, would you like me to refresh your memory a little? A few details from your past..."
When Van Helsing didn't take the offered and, which didn't surprise the Vampire in the least, Dracula stood upright like a gentleman. "Allow me to reintroduce myself." He gave a low bow. "I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1422…" His face took on a somber look. "…Murdered 1462."
Just then a piercing shriek echoed from outside. Dracula looked up, alarmed, and then flew up towards the balcony again. Van Helsing stared at him for a moment before running to the lab, where Anna was crying over a newly transformed Velkan, who began to chase after them.
"Come on!" He grabbed her and the both of them ran out, chased by the werewolf and a few dwergei. They hurried to the top of the lab's tower, bursting outside where the grey sky pounded with thunder. Van Helsing heard their pursuers coming closer. Wasting no more time, he aimed his grapple gun and shot. The hook flew and stabbed itself firmly into the cliff separated from them by the river below. He grabbed Anna by the waist, his other hand gripping the line and slid off towards the cliff to safety. The werewolf bounded after them, but Van Helsing cut the line, sending him tumbling into the river. Anna looked at her brother fall in shock before Van Helsing dragged her away.
Dracula watched the two run with his keen eyes. His offspring had died, too weak to exist for more than a few minutes.
His brides wailed despairingly behind him, but he ignored them.
The bounty hunter was as good as before, he noted.
"I am sorry, Master." Igor shuffled and limped towards him, just as Velkan jumped on to the balcony railing, shaking his shaggy wet fur. It took more than a fall in the river to kill a werewolf. "We try and we try… but I fear we are not so smart as Dr. Frankenstein."
"Truly," Dracula answered, his unblinking gaze still following the two who believed to be safe as they ran through the trees. "It would appear the good doctor took the key to life to his grave."
He motioned to his werewolf slave to come forward. "Hunt them down," he ordered, "Kill her. Bring him to me alive."
Velkan bared his fangs and leaped off to do his master's command.
The rain was pouring hard now. Van Helsin's mood was not being lifted by the fact that Anna was yelling at him as they marched through the mud to find shelter under the burned remains of what used to be a windmill.
"A silver stake? A crucifix? What, did you think we haven't tried everything before? We've shot him, stabbed him, clubbed him... sprayed him with holy water, staked him through the heart... and still he lives!"
Under the shelter, she grabbed his shirt and pushed him roughly, clearly furious. "Do you understand? No one knows how to kill Dracula!"
"Well, I could have used that information a little earlier," Van Helsing muttered dryly, checking to see if his weapons needed fixing.
"Don't give me that look," Anna sighed.
They were silent for a moment, listening to the rain pour. Tiny drops fell on them through the leaks of the roof above them.
"You were right," Anna said, "I'm sorry. He's not my brother anymore."
He looked at her for a moment, and then went back to polishing his gun without replying. He merely took off his hat and put it on her head to keep her from getting more wet.
"Do you have any family, Mr. Van Helsing?" she asked.
The hunter shrugged. "Not sure. I hope to find out someday. That's what keeps me going."
He thought of all Dracula had said and done to him, shivering unwillingly when he remembered how intimately he had been touched. Could Dracula have left lingering effects of his power on him?
"Here's to what keeps you going," Anna said, pulling out a bottle from somewhere in the shelter and taking a drink.
"Absinth," Van Helsing remarked, impressed, "Strong stuff."
She handed the bottle to him and he took a swig in turn.
"Don't let it touch your tongue," she warned him, grinning, "It'll knock you on your –"
The floor gave way underneath them and the two warriors fell through, yelling in a cloud of dust and debris, falling into a dark cavern.
Ooooh! A cliffhanger:O Well, actually it's not a cliffhanger if you've seen the movie. I just thought this was a good place to stop to give the impression of a cliffhanger. It's not effective, but meh. Thank you all for reading!