Bahaha! XD I have no excuses for my lack of updates except... college acceptance letters and after-school activities. Mwehehe. But I want to thank everyone who has still reviewed, even during my procrastination. Your continuous encouragements has motivated me to up my butt and write a new chapter of my Van Helsing for you guys! Thank you all and hope you enjoy!
This chapter concludes the end of the movie and has but a tiny passage of what happens after. I'm trying to update all my stories, but I might write the next chapter to this sooner.
MademoiselleSilver
Chapter 6: Unresolved History
Van Helsing was again teetering on the edge of impatience. They were here, in the lair of Dracula; perhaps the one place he would be able to find answers. And, not counting the small distraction of Igor who turned out to be useful, he was glad they had managed to sneak in unnoticed.
If he was honest with himself, Van Helsing was not so certain he wanted to kill Dracula. What if he was the only one who could answer all of his questions? He may be lying, and yet… Van Helsing was desperate enough to take that chance. As to how he would get the answers and get rid of the Vampire, he had no idea yet, but he'd make it up as he went along. That was often how he finished most missions.
"Van Helsing!" Anna ran to him, looking at him worriedly. He was going to take on Dracula alone. He was going to turn into a Werewolf and kill him. Whether he was killed in the process, she did not know, and did not dare to think of. Behind them, Carl waited with a tied up Igor, who was to lead them to the Werewolf antidote.
He gripped her forearms, looking her straight in the arms. He wanted her to understand his plan clearly. He needed time to speak to Dracula before he turned into a Werewolf, but he did not say that. Instead, he said, "If I'm not cured by the twelfth stroke of midnight…"
He pulled out his crossbow armed with a silver stake. He handed it to her, but Anna looked at it apprehensively.
"I don't think I could," she said, shaking her head quickly.
"You must!" Van Helsing urged, "Come on." He pressed the crossbow into her hand, and she frantically gripped it, her eyes wide with desperation.
"I don't like this plan!" she cried.
"We don't have a choice," Van Helsing whispered hurriedly. He wanted her to leave as soon as possible. Dracula was waiting for him, waiting with answers. "Just don't get killed."
"You still don't understand! It doesn't matter what happens to me! We must save my family!" She turned on her heel to run, but Van Helsing grabbed her back.
"If you're late, run like hell," he whispered to her.
She nodded, and made to turn, but he grasped her again. "Don't be late."
Anna looked at him unblinkingly, then lunged herself at him, kissing him with fierce passion. Van Helsing let himself go and kissed back as he had wanted to do for a while, holding her in his arms. The short moment of bliss was unfortunately ended as both panted, staring shakily at each other.
"Now go. Go," he whispered, and let her flee before he decided to catch her and kiss her again.
Reluctantly, he turned and ran. With each step, his loss of Anna's lips lessened as his desire to find Dracula heightened. As he climbed up a set of stairs, he started. The Frankenstein monster was chained outside as a storm began. Lightning struck dangerously close to the contraption the creature was in.
Van Helsing scrambled out onto the roof and began to cut at the leather bindings.
"You're almost out, my friend!" He shouted through the torrent of rain.
"What are you doing here? You must find the antidote!" The monster yelled, crying out as Van Helsing pried the bindings apart, scraping his skin.
"My friends are doing it for me!" the bounty hunter yelled back, finally freeing him, but a sudden force knocked him off and he swiftly fell with a thud on hard ground and rolled over, groaning.
He opened his bleary eyes and waited for his head to stop spinning. A pair of perfectly polished black boots stood in front of him. Looking upwards, he saw Dracula grinning bitterly at him. Van Helsing struggled up, staring at the Vampire. His anger was overwhelming his curiosity, and right now, killing him instantly seemed like a good idea.
"Gabriel," he said in that low, smooth voice that made Van Helsing shiver with unknown feeling, "Have you come to congratulate me? My children live."
"Then the only way to kill them is to kill you," Van Helsing snarled.
Dracula smiled, and moved with superhuman speed, pinning the bounty hunter against the wall. His breath was hot against Van Helsing's neck, almost touching his pulsing vein, making him feel uncomfortable.
"We are both part of the same grand game, Gabriel," he whispered, "But we not need find ourselves at opposite sides of the board."
Van Helsing pushed him off, having quite enough of his going round in circles, never giving straightforward answers.
"I have no intention of killing you, my Gabriel," Dracula said, "Not after finally having you again after four hundred years. I will make you remember what you had been made to forget."
Van Helsing made no reply as his mouth emitted nothing but growls. He felt his body stir with fury, his muscles bulging, and his skin ripping to show black fur underneath.
Dracula stared at the transformation with wide eyes. "No, this cannot be!" he cried.
He barely had time to change into his stronger bat-like form before an enormous werewolf slammed him to the ground. Both monsters battled, rolling and crashing into the steaming machines in the room, tearing, clawing and biting at any area of their enemy they could reach.
After receiving an angry swipe of claws on his left shoulder, the shrieking bat threw the werewolf off and turned back into his human form, panting.
The clouds shifted over the moon, and Van Helsing was a man once again, his ripped pants the only things hanging off his sweating body.
"I will not kill you Gabriel," the Vampire panted, "I could never kill you without feeling my own death."
His bitter laugh echoed around the walls. Van Helsing said nothing, trying to stand up. Dracula's laughing subsided into a twisted grin. "Did I mention that it was you who murdered me?"
He slowly approached Van Helsing, gripping his face in his hands. Van Helsing gasped at the cold flesh and clasped the hands in his, trying to pry them off, but Dracula's grip was unnaturally strong. "You killed me," he whispered unsteadily, "Against your own will, as you do now. Fight it, Gabriel. Do not do what you are told to do."
Van Helsing struggled, but froze as he looked at Dracula's face. His expression held a deep-rooted sadness in them, a sadness that he could identify in himself, and he was suddenly frightened.
"It must be such a burden. Such a curse… to be the Left Hand of God." Dracula slowly stroked his cheek, and Van Helsing became truly agitated at the Vampire's suddenly gentle demeanor.
"All I want is a life with you, Gabriel. Just like before… I can give you back your memory and your heart. Mine was given to you so long ago, and you still hold it, though you have forgotten to hold it. Gabriel, my love…"
Van Helsing gasped and stumbled back, staring at Dracula with wide eyes. His words made no sense to him. He was becoming more confused than he wanted to be. His mind sped with images, a faceless form with long black hair, whispering those same words…
'Gabriel, my love…'
That laughter, so full of happiness, so familiar… Van Helsing screamed as the vision faded, seeing the truth out of the corner of his mind's eye only to blink and turn and see nothing. His screams intensified as his body wracked with spasms again. The moon was once again in full view and his body grew and ripped off his mortal skin once more.
Dracula immediately transformed into his bat form and was met with sharp teeth in his jugular. He screeched as black blood oozed down his throat, staining the Werewolf's teeth like ink. He turned into a pile of ash on the ground instantly.
Anna and Carl ran in to the room just as the Werewolf turned to them, teeth bared and dripping with blood and saliva. The princess, antidote in hand, ran to hit him, but was punched forcefully back, and she fell limply onto a lounge chair.
Carl fearfully threw a silver spear at the raging wolf, only to have it deflected. As he began to pray for his last moments, the wolf stopped, staring down at his furry abs. The syringe was stuck in his navel, draining into him. Its shaggy black head turned to look at Anna's unmoving form, her eyes glassy and empty.
"She's dead," Carl whispered shakily.
The Werewolf panted, taking her into its muscular arms and pressing her against its neck, letting out a mournful howl that turned into a pained man's wail as Van Helsing slowly turned back into a human. He cried into her soft hair as guilt pangs sliced at his chest and stomach. Another innocent had gotten killed because of him, and one he had truly cared for. He buried his face in her neck, letting his sobs escape him.
Van Helsing stared at the burning pyre where Anna's body lay engulfed in flames, Carl reciting the last rites in front of it. He felt devoid of any emotion as his friend turned to leave, beckoning him to follow.
A gentle breeze tickled him, and curiously, he looked up. To his shock, he thought he could see Anna's face amongst the clouds, smiling as she hugged various people around her; her family. Her clear eyes gazed down at him from the heavens, and she gave him a grateful smile and a tear before disappearing into the clouds.
Van Helsing did not know whether he had imagined it, but he felt the tight knot in his stomach lessen as he thought of her family finally being free. Putting on his hat, he gave one last nod and mounted his horse with Carl, riding away on the long journey back to Rome.
Nighttime came swiftly upon the plains of Transylvania. Van Helsing had pitched up their tent for the night, and set up the campfire as Carl was useless for handiwork. They pair sat by the fire, not speaking a word. Van Helsing knew Carl kept glancing at him worriedly, but he had no energy to bring it up. At length, however, the friar's incessant meaningful stares were getting on his nerves.
"Carl, I'm fine," he sighed, "Anna and her family are free. Dracula is gone. It is as it should be."
"Are you sure?" Carl asked.
"Yes," Van Helsing smiled sincerely, "I am. Goodnight, Carl."
He went into the tent and prepared himself to sleep for the night. A few minutes after he had tucked himself under his old blanket, he heard Carl join him in the tent and lie down next to him. They were soon both fast asleep.
Van Helsing was deeply relaxed. His dreamless state was slowly being invaded by a foreign feeling. He was being surrounded by a thousand sensations, making him tremble. He did not know what was happening to him, but the sensations assaulting him made him feel… not in pain, but in peace and pleasure.
Gabriel… I'm still here… And I'm coming for you. I will not let you slip away again, my beloved.
The voice, the familiar voice…
This time, Gabriel… There is no one who can stand between us.
Sitting bolt upright with a gasp, Van Helsing awoke in the darkness of the tent, Carl's snores next to him showing he had not been disturbed.
His heart beat frantically, and his hands were clammy. He pushed the horrifying thought at the back of his mind, but it scrabbled to the forefront of his senses again.
"He's alive. Dracula is still alive…"
So, that was it! Hope it was to your liking! Thanks again for reading! There isn't enough Dracula/Gabriel fics out there, dudes!