Chapter 13

He's making a deal for MY life with a vampire!?

It was sundown by the time Van Helsing, Anna, Carl and Frank made it into the city of Budapest. Worry hovered in their minds at the thought of Ana in Dracula's hands. "Vampires are suppose to be creatures of seduction," Carl softly said being careful to not be heard by the citizens that passed them. "Ana could be seduced by him if she doesn't have a strong will," he added with worry in his tone. "Well she is suppose to pretending to be Anna, so I doubt that she is going to risk her life just because some four-hundred-and-fifty year old man whispers a few sweet words," Van Helsing said when they were starting to come under a bridge.

"And besides, I doubt that Dracula wouldn't waist his breath on her," he added with an angry scowl. "She's not that pretty," he said with a shrug. "What is that suppose to mean?" Anna asked as she glared at him.

Van Helsing stopped and looked at her confused. "Nothing, just that she is not like the other brides is all," he replied. Anna, Carl and Frank glared at him. "What?" Van Helsing asked looking at all three of them. "Clearly you don't know beauty very well," Frank said with a shake of his head. "Clearly," Carl agreed with Frank. "Nor does he understand women either," Anna said with Frank and Carl agreeing with her before they walked ahead of him. "What?" Van Helsing asked as he walked after them.

"What did I say?" he asked them confused by their actions. They all sighed heavily at his question, not believing what they just heard from him. Suddenly as they passed under the bridge Aleera appeared from out of nowhere, landing on a surface of a column that was part of another bridge.

As Van Helsing pulled out his pistol ready to shoot is necessary, Aleera was clicking her tongue at Van Helsing as she wagged her finger at him. "So much trouble to my master," she said as she squatted down where she was. "So much trouble," she added as she looked at him with a predator look on her face. "What do you want?" Van Helsing asked with a little of anger in his tone.

"The master commands a trade," Aleera replied before looking at Frank. "The monster..." Aleera said which Frank growled softly at her with hate in his eyes. "For the princess," she finished with a smirk on her face. Anna and Carl looked at at each other as they heard this. "Somewhere public, lots of people," Van Helsing said which made all three of them look at him shocked. "A place where your master will be less inclined to expose his-his other side," he said knowing the advantage of getting Ana back was a less danger to her safety. Aleera then looked excitedly happy. "Tomorrow night is Allhallows Eve," she said as if this was turning her on.

"Here in Budapest, there is a wonderful Masquerade ball," she said before she jumped up, twirling around cackling like an insane woman. "God, I hate that vile demon," Anna said as she looked at Van Helsing after Aleera was gone. Van Helsing didn't hear her for he was groaning in pain and his body was wobbling.

"Are you all right?" Carl asked as he was about to touch Van Helsing's arm. "No," Van Helsing said as he stopped Carl from touching him. Frank noticed something and yelled as he pushed at Van Helsing's coat showing the now fully healed bite mark on his chest. "He has been bitten," Frank said with a bit of humor in his tone. "Bitten by a werewolf!" he added before he chuckled.

"Now you will become that which you have hunted so passionately," he said with a smirk. Van Helsing settled his pistol back into it's holster before he pulled out the dart shooter that he had used on Frank once before. "I am sorry," Van Helsing said looking at Frank apologetically. Frank nodded his head in understanding. "May others be as passionate in the hunting of you," he said looking at Van Helsing with a sadness, before Van Helsing blew into the blow dart, shooting them to Frank. Anna gasped softly as she gently caught Frank who proved to be a little heavy for his size. Carl went to help her with carrying Frank. Van Helsing felt guilty but he couldn't let Dracula get his hands on Frank, even if it meant risking Anastasia's life, but he hated the fact that she was being used as a pawn in this twisted game.

-Meanwhile in the Castle where the Masquerade was to take place-

Ana softly moaned as she moved a hand to her aching head. 'Oh, my head,' she thought as she slowly sat up. "Next time I see Aleera I am going to set her hair on fire!" she softly hissed as she remembered passing out cause Aleera was holding her upside down. Ana then opened her eyes as she then realized that she must possibly in Dracula's castle. She slowly got up out of the giant bed she was in and looked out the window that was near by, seeing the lights outside.

"I must be in Budapest," she said softly as she backed away from the window before she sat back on the bed. "how in the hell am I going to get out of this?" she asked herself as she leaned against the Egyptian cotton and brocade draperies of the canopy bed. Ana felt a bit scared for the first time that didn't have to involve fire.

She then took a breath to calm herself down. 'Think, what would Anna do is she were in your place?' she thought to herself. Ana then patted her legs and butt, sighing in relief as she pulled out her crossbow. "Thank God and thank you Carl!" she said with a smile as she hit it under her pillow of the bed. She felt a chill suddenly go up her spine as something came to her before she ran back to the window seeing that the sun was going down. "Oh, crap," she softly whispered before she heard a voice come from outside. Ana held her breath as the door to the room opened and three maids, judging by the uniforms, came in and walked up to her. "If you please milady," one of them said to her with a gentle face.

"We were asked to prepare you for the ball tonight," she added. Ana looked confused by their words. One of the other two nodded her head. "Yes, tonight is Allhallows Eve," she explained. "There is always a masquerade ball here as part of the tradition here in Budapest," the other said.

Ana nodded her head in understanding. "I see," she said in Anna's voice, knowing that these maids were possibly human and didn't know of vampires. The one maid that spoke before took her hand leading her through the door they came in and lead her into a room that was across the hall.

"We have prepared a hot bath to freshen you up miss," she said as they entered the bathroom and saw a giant Greek like bath tub that was built into the floor that was like an indoor pool to Ana. The maid help Ana out of her clothes, which Ana felt shy about since she didn't like anyone seeing her naked. "I will return to wash your hair miss," the maid said before she left the bathroom and Ana alone. Not wanting to risk a maid throwing her into the tub Ana went into the tub and couldn't help but sigh in pleasure to the feel of the delicious hot water go over her body. "Oh, God this is good," she sighed as she settled into one of the built in seats that were in, after having gone under to wet her hair. 'So fair being held captive isn't so bad,' she thought before she shook her head. 'No! Bad Ana!' she thought to herself as she smacked her cheeks.

'Anna wouldn't behave like this!' she added to her thoughts before she heard the maid come in. She leaned back as the maid massaged and soaped her hair. Ana remained calm as she the maid rinsed her hair of the soap and then stood up as the maid held up a giant towel for Ana to wrap herself in. The maid lead her back into the room Ana was in and sat in a chair before a mirror which Ana noticed this one had a reflection in the mirror, so she relaxed somewhat as the maid started to brush and comb her hair. Ana then saw one of the other maids come in with a red dress and gold jewelry that she settled on the bed neatly as the maid working on her hair braided her hair into a tight bun. "This way miss, so to put you undergarments on," the third one said as she moved a stool for Ana to stand on.

Ana felt comfortable as she now was used to wearing these corsets, but with the other garments, she was glad that she didn't have to wear these in her time. Soon the red dress was slipped onto her and Ana looked at the mirror table and saw there was a mask there with a note she could see hidden underneath it. The third maid helped Ana down fully dressed up in her costume.

"Sit milady and I will put your costume jewelry on," she said as Ana sat down on the chair she was on before, keeping her eyes on the mask eager to see the note. "There, you're done," the maid said as the other two maids had left the room. "Someone will escort you to the ballroom in a few minutes milady, so I suggest that you should be ready," the maid said with a bow before she left Ana alone in the room. Ana then looked at the mirror and she almost fainted in shock as she reached to the mirror to touch her reflection to see if this was real. "I look beautiful," she softly whispered as she saw herself. "Maybe Dracula..." she started to say before she shook her head gently. 'No way!' she thought. 'He wouldn't dare to,' she softly whispered to herself as the image of flirting with her before in Castle Frankenstein. She shook the image out of her head as she picked up the mask and opened the note.

'Princess- Everything is going as planned. You have played your part perfectly. Van Helsing and the others are on their way, so you have nothing to fear. They know me and will be looking out for me at the ball tonight; as per the arrangement Dracula agreed with Van Helsing for the trade of the Frankenstein monster for you. I will be dressed as a raven, encased by wings of gold. Find me, my little phoenix, and I will tell you all that you must know as I take you safely away.

signed, Alucard, member of the Knights of the Holy order,' the note said. Ana couldn't believe it! Van Helsing was trading Frank for her?

'Wait a second, he thinks I'm Anna,' she thought to herself. 'So he is going to give up all these people for her?!' she added as she was starting to get pissed off. "That son of a-!" she started to curse but she took a breath to calm down. "He isn't doing this just to get the girl and get laid," she said as she got her mask on. "But if he is doing this for that reason then I am so going to piss him off by enjoying this party, besides not everyday that I get to go to something like this," she added as she went to get her cross bow weapon and slip it into her pantyhose stocking but she didn't have enough time as she heard someone outside. 'Damn it!' she swore in her head as she hid the bow back under her pillow. "Milady, if you will please come with me," the man that was dressed as a grim reaper offered her his hand. Ana pretending to calm and lady like, she took the man's cold hand, following him down the grand stairs to the ballroom.

-Outside in the graveyard area of the castle-

Van Helsing, Carl and Anna were laying Frank in a giant tomb to keep him hidden and safe till they got Ana back. "I'm sure this is some sort of sin," Carl said in a shaky voice as he was dressed up in a jester costume. "Don't worry," Anna said as she came out dressed as a highway man. "God will forgive us," Van Helsing said as he came out dressed up in a highway man costume too, lifting the stone cross that was outside. "We need to save Ana," Anna said as she shut the tomb doors.

"You don't think the hat is a bit much, do you?" Carl asked as he jingled his hat, being annoyed with the bell that was hanging in front of his face. "Carl, help me!" Van Helsing shouted as he tried to move the stone cross against the doors. "Oh, right," Carl said as he went to help him.

"How many Commandments can we break in one day?" Carl asked aloud as he helped settle the cross against the doors. "Anyway, according to the books, you won't turn into a werewolf until the rising of your first full moon," Carl said as they started to leave the graveyard. "That's two nights from now," Anna said with a knowing nod. "Even then, you'll still be able to fight Dracula's hold over you until the final stroke of midnight," Carl said in agreement. "Sounds like I have nothing to worry about," Van Helsing said in a happy tone.

"Oh, my God," Carl said in a shock. "You should be terrified," he added. "Thank you," Van Helsing said in a 'not helping' sort of tone. "Sorry," Carl apologized.

"Well, we still have forty-eight hours to find a solution," he said as they walked. Carl turned to look back at the tomb. "You sure he can't get out of there?" Carl asked Van Helsing. "Not without some help from the dead," Van Helsing replied as he fixed his mask and hat on. "Right," Carl said as she started to put his mask on. As the trio left the graveyard, an ugly human hand came out of a stone grave that was nearby. The sound of an evil laughter was softly echoed as the hooded figure of a hunchback along with a few other figures following him. "At last!" the hooded hunchback said as they moved the stone cross away from the door and opened the doors to reveal the now awakening Frankenstein.

Author's note:

Here is my thirteenth chapter of my fan fiction inspired by the Van Helsing movie and also a little written piece by a friend on Seduction of time!

(Oh, we are getting close to valentine's day! And what an ironic thing that the next chapter is going to be the same date number as the holiday!)

This chapter I had a bit of a struggle to write since this is where 's written piece Ana and Anna happens. I had to redo a few of the things she written done. I still hope that she will like this chapter and hopefully the next one! ^^

Hope you all like this chapter!

Here is the sound track for this chapter to help you with some of the bits in here:

29.) Let's make a deal from the van helsing sound track (starts when the gang are passing under the bridge and Aleera shows up, ending right when Van Helsing shoots the dart at him.) [link]

30.) Lucy's party from the Bram Stoker's Dracula movie sound track (starts when Ana wakes up and ends when she is leaving for the party.) [link]

31.) Some help from the dead from the Van Helsing movie soundtrack. (starts with Carl asking if Frank can get out of there and ends when Frank gets captured.) [link]

Anastasia Ircus belongs to

Van Helsing belongs to Stephen Sommers and universal pictures/Studios

And all of the songs I place here for the sound track all belong to their movies, bands and composers that composed them.