Hello, hello! Hope you don't mind my late update! Things are getting hectic as I am soon moving back home to go to university, so I've been quite busy this summer. But, as I browsed through , reading some scrumptious yaoi/slash fanfics, it got me inspired to write right away! I was lying in bed, thinking up my new chapters for Left Hand of God and Red Robin, so here's what my mind cooked up!
Thank you for all your reviews and if you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, feel free to lend me your words of wisdom! Hope you enjoy this new chapter! Now that the movie scenes have ended, it's time for Van Helsing to discover who he truly is, and his past with Dracula.
Yours truly,
MademoiselleSilver
Chapter 7: The New Mission
"What do you mean he's still alive? Van Helsing!"
"I don't know how, but he's still alive!" Van Helsing snapped. He strode through the streets of Budapest, anger giving him speed while Carl tried to keep up as best he could.
"But… But he died! You killed him, I saw it happen! Van Helsing!" Carl halted behind the hunter who had abruptly stopped his furious marching. His head was bowed and Carl was beginning to worry. He had never seen his friend look so down.
"He came back to life." Van Helsing slowly turned around and stared at Carl. His eyes were tired, but he seemed dead set in his conviction. "He… called to me in my sleep. I know he's alive."
"But… But… But!" Carl sputtered, trying to think up more denials, "I saw you kill him! You were a Werewolf and you killed him! It was written in the text left by Valerious the Elder that only a Werewolf could kill him!"
"Carl!" The friar jumped at the sudden loud call. He looked fearfully at Van Helsing and wisely kept his mouth shut.
Van Helsing was becoming frustrated. He needed Carl to believe him now. "Dracula is still alive. I have felt him! He's… coming for me."
Carl still looked suspicious. "Are you sure you weren't just having another nightmare? Alright, alright!" he said hurriedly, seeing Gabriel's look. He ran a hand through his short hair and sighed through puffed up cheeks. "Let's say Dracula is still alive. How is that possible? Perhaps there was some sort of mistake we made when interpreting the texts. And is he after you for revenge then?"
"I don't think so, Carl," Van Helsing said hesitantly, "He spoke to me before I killed him. Well, didn't kill him…"
He looked around him to see that a few people were staring at them. They weren't exactly the most inconspicuous pair on the streets.
"Let's talk about this somewhere else," he muttered. He beckoned Carl to follow him and the poor friar, overloaded with their camping supplies while Van Helsing carried all the weapons, followed him into the first inn that could be found.
It was a cheap inn, Carl thought once they entered. It was rather drab and unclean, with a scruffy and suspicious-looking clientele. Then again, they didn't exactly get a generous allowance from the Order.
Van Helsing sat at a corner table where they wouldn't be overheard, though Carl doubted anyone would be listening anyway. He quickly swiped the chair of dust before settling his little friar bottom on it. The smell of musk and… urine were starting to make him feel slightly ill.
"Well?" Carl looked at his friend intently. "Come on, what did Dracula say to you?"
Van Helsing was beginning to regret this idea. He wasn't sure whether telling Carl was wise. But if there was one person in this world he could put whatever faith he had left into, surely it would be Carl.
"He kept… hinting at my past," he said, rubbing his hands together. His index finger twirled around his dragon ring. "I must have known him for a long time. He called me his… beloved."
Carl toppled out of his chair with a yelp. Van Helsing rolled his eyes while the friar struggled to sit up properly again.
"He said WHAT?" he practically screeched. Half the inn stopped speaking and turned to stare at the pair.
Van Helsing rubbed his hands over his face to hide his amusement and weariness. Carl blushed, his mouth bobbing like a fish until he finally blurted out, "What? You'd be surprised too if your father was about to marry a fishmonger's daughter!"
The other clients stared a bit more before turning back to their conversations, some chuckling and glancing back at Carl.
The friar turned to face Van Helsing who was grinning broadly. "A fishmonger's daughter? You couldn't think of anything better?"
"Well, excuse me! I don't have that much experience when it comes to lying!" Carl huffed indignantly.
"Which you shouldn't be doing by the way," Van Helsing reminded him, "You're a monk."
"Actually, I'm still a –"
"Friar, yes." Van Helsing smiled softly. "So you've told me."
Carl turned his head to make sure that no one was paying attention to them anymore then lowered his voice to a whisper just in case, "He actually call you his beloved? What does that mean? That you and Dracula were –"
"No!" Van Helsing interrupted heatedly, "It can't be! He is merely enjoying toying with me since he knows I have lost my memories."
Carl frowned. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes." Van Helsing's voice held a tone of finality in it that Carl didn't argue with. Although the slight blush on his cheeks told him that the hunter wasn't as certain of his answer as he claimed.
"Well, now what do we do?" Carl asked.
Van Helsing folded his arms. "Well," he said, "We came to Budapest to fix my weapons since I doubt the Transylvanian weapons makers are up to par and to restock on our food supplies."
"Food supplies?" Carl repeated, puzzled, "But we're sailing back to Rome, aren't we? There will be food on the ship!"
"We're not going back to Rome, Carl." Van Helsing uncrossed his arms and he placed his hands down on the table. The dragon ring glinted from the sunlight flitting through the window. "At least, I'm not going back to Rome. If we do, we'll have to file a report and then the Order will surely send someone else to take care of Dracula. No, I will stay and I will find him wherever he may be."
This was not going in the direction Carl was hoping for. He looked at his friend worriedly. "Van Helsing, even if you're so convinced he's alive, what good will it do to go looking for him? We thought we knew how to kill him and that didn't work!"
"I never said I was going to kill him."
"What?" Carl protested, "You can't be serious!"
"Oh yes, I damn well am, Carl!" Van Helsing abruptly stood up and slammed his hands on the table. His eyes were wild-looking in their anger and Carl wondered whether there wasn't still a trace of the Werewolf in him.
"Ever since I arrived in Romania, he has been teasing me with knowledge about my own past, my own life! He may be the only one on this earth who knows who I am and I will find out! I can no longer take these nightmares that plague me, Carl! I dream of battles long past, of pain and misery and worst of all, I dream of a peaceful balcony where I feel happy and I cannot remember where that is!"
Carl shrunk from his suddenly imposing friend, but he didn't have to, for Van Helsing had finished his tirade and slumped back in his chair, hanging his head with a sigh.
"I need to know," he said in a low voice, "This is where I can find answers. The Order may send someone else but that will not stop me."
Carl looked down at his fists on the table, his mouth forming into a thoughtful pout. He tapped the dirty wood for a few seconds then finally looked up. "Well," he said slowly, "If you intend to find answers about your past, then I think you're going to need some help. After all, you brought me to help you on this mission and the mission isn't over."
Van Helsing smiled weakly and Carl smiled back. The hunter reached over and placed a hand on Carl's shoulder.
"Thank you, my friend," he said gratefully.
It didn't take long for the adventurous duo to finish replenishing their food supply and getting Van Helsing's weapons fixed before they were traveling once again through the Romanian countryside.
After five days of galloping into the Transylvanian woods, Carl suggested they slow their pace so as not to tire out the horses. Van Helsing was impatient to get to the Valerious mansion fast, but he knew he shouldn't wear out their mounts. The villagers may or may not welcome them back, but he was willing to take that chance. They would either search through the archives again or they would head to Castle Dracula.
Nighttime fell over the woods. It was dark during the day because the thick trees blocked most sunlight, but now it was almost pitch black.
Carl shivered and pulled his blanket tighter around himself, scooting closer to the fire Van Helsing had built.
"Do you think Dracula will still be in his castle?" he asked.
Van Helsing was staring into the fire and appeared not to have heard him, but he quietly responded with, "There's only one way to find out."
"What if he's not there?"
He would rather not think about that, if he was honest. Van Helsing bit his knuckles unconsciously. "He'll be there," he said, "Even if he's not he will let himself be found. I get the feeling he wants to find me as much as I want to find him."
"Suppose, theoretically speaking, you two were lovers," Carl began. Gabriel gave him the evil eye again and he hastily added, "I said theoretically speaking! Let's say that you two were lovers." He ignored Gabriel's derisive snort. "If the Order ever got wind of this, how will they react? Love between men is a sin for the church!"
"Just another to add to my long list of sinning," Gabriel replied grimly, "And I still say Dracula is just toying with me."
"I suppose I'm not exactly the best holy man to preach to you," Carl responded good-naturedly, "I never really thought it was a sin myself. The Lord teaches that love for others comes above all."
"I just want to know who I was," Gabriel muttered to the now dying fire, "So I can figure out who I am."
Carl gave a loud yawn and stood up. "I think we should get some sleep, Van Helsing. We'll arrive in Transylvania in a few more days."
"Mmh… You're right." Van Helsing stood up as well and put out the fire properly before following Carl into the tent. The mats were already rolled out and he pulled off his boots, coat and shirt before lying down. He wasn't a very deep sleeper and had trouble usually nodding off, but he felt oddly tired that night. Carl's snores were already filling the tent, and would probably frighten away any pesky animals coming by. Gabriel gave a silent prayer that God may watch over his dreams for this night so that he may sleep peacefully before closing his eyes.
He was flying again. The sky was opening up to him and letting a refreshing wind blow through his body. His boots slowly clicked onto marble floors.
He was standing on the balcony overlooking a valley with a stream running through it. The mountains on either side were jagged and surrounded the castle like a protective fortress.
Standing with his back to him was the figure, dressed in a white blouse with black boots and pants to match. His hair was also completely black and fell down to his waist.
Van Helsing reached out to touch him, his fingers trembling. The man turned around and he was again met with bright blue eyes and a smile of recognition. Before he could ask who the man was, the image blurred and darkened and a cold sensation trickled down his stomach.
Van Helsing awoke with a start. He hadn't had a nightmare, but he had awoken with a freezing feeling around his body. He looked over to Carl to make sure he was still asleep then pulled himself off his mat and out of the tent.
He wasn't sure what was happening, but the cold feeling had now spread to his arms and legs and he almost fell to his knees. And then he heard the voice.
Gabriel…
"Oh God," he whispered in anguish. His body shuddered as the feeling swept to his lower belly and the pleasure it evoked.
Yes… Can you feel me, my Gabriel? Can you feel me touch you?
"You're… you're supposed to be dead!" Van Helsing stumbled over to a tree and leaned against it for balance. Physical pain he had experience with, but pleasure like this was foreign to him and it made him weak. He had never been interested sex and even if he had, his infamous reputation would have scared even the most desperate prostitute away from him. Was that why he was so easily aroused by ghostly hands?
I am not dead, Gabriel. You couldn't kill me.
"What… what are you doing to me?" he gasped. He clutched at pieces of bark, trying to regain control of his senses.
I cannot fly to you yet, Gabriel, but my powers can extend to you. I can touch you without really being there. These are just ghostly imitations of my hands running over your body.
Van Helsing bit his lip to stifle a moan as the cold sensation swept up his neck. He hated himself for giving in so easily.
"St-stop! Damn you!" he hissed venomously. He swiped at air in front of him in a vain attempt to defeat these invisible hands.
Do you know how I have longed to touch you again, Gabriel? When we meet face to face once more, I will be able to touch you for real. But I enjoy seeing you squirm right now...
"You are a vile creature of lust!" Van Helsing spit out, still battling with his body's aroused state.
The gentle sensation suddenly turned hard and he felt as if a tight vice was twisting around his waist. He gasped in pain, all arousal fleeing from his body.
You think I do this to just anyone! Dracula's voice had turned harsh. My love for you has never withered after so many centuries and you dare call me a vile creature of lust! I have only ever given myself to your hands! My love and my lust for you are no fickle thing!
"You… had… three wives!" Van Helsing gasped, trying to struggle against the pressure holding him against the tree.
And they were beautiful and served their purpose! But I would have thrown them into the sunlight the instant you came back to me! Even three of them could never fill the emptiness that you alone could! My Gabriel, I could snap your arm in half if you ever insult me again!
Van Helsing felt the invisible grip tighten on his waist and struggled harder, sweat rolling down his face with the strain. Damn, but this was uncomfortable!
You never used to say such cruel things to me!
Van Helsing ceased his struggling for a moment as Dracula's words seeped in. His voice had become laced with a desperate pain that made his insides squirm more than his angry voice had.
You used to be so gentle with me. Ah yes, how you used to be gentle…What this cruel world has done to us, Gabriel…
"How do I know you're not lying?" Van Helsing asked. The grip on his waist tightened dangerously and he yelled, "Alright, alright!"
Dracula's voice didn't speak up, so he began first, "You say I used to love you, but how could I commit such a sin?"
Ah, Gabriel… Dracula's voice was still filled with melancholy, but had lowered in volume, which was a relief for Van Helsing's head. We are both so steeped in sin. But when I was with you, I felt as pure as a newborn. What love is a sin? God's word and Man's word have been so intermingled throughout the centuries that they have become a grotesque set of beliefs, so twisted and unrecognizable that so many fools now follow them.
Van Helsing felt the grip on his waist release him and he collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. The cool sensation returned, this time brushing his cheek.
Come find me, Gabriel. I will help you remember, and we can be together once more, deep in this country where no one will dare come.
"Tell me who I am!" Van Helsing yelled into the trees. "Tell me now! DRACULA!"
But the voice was silent and he felt no more ghostly hands. Cursing, he sat up, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Dracula held the answers, yet he was becoming more and more apprehensive to meet him. What if the Vampire prevented him from escaping once he got to his castle?
"Van Helsing?" Carl's head popped out of the tent. "Are you talking to yourself in your sleep or something?"
Van Helsing was still panting and hurriedly wiped the sweat from his brow. Carl looked at him worriedly.
"We need to get to the Valerious mansion," he said urgently, "As soon as possible."
Don't worry, you will find out soon how Dracula survived his Werewolf mauling and Van Helsing will find out about his past... gradually.
I'll update Red Robin next, and perhaps LeN since I have left that untouched in forever! Bad Silver!