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bookworm-with-coffee · 9 months

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Night Terrors. . .

(Van Helsing Boys x Reader)

(A/N); Ollo and welcome, friends! I give you VAN HALEN— wait. No. VAN HELSING!! Please note, it's my first time writing for the film AND my first time writing lil imagines! As always, enjoy! ❤

Plot; How they comfort you after having a nightmare

Pairings; Gabriel Van Helsing x Reader (Romantic), Carl x Reader (Romantic), Count Vladislaus Dracula x Reader (Romantic)

Warnings; mature themes, blood, death, angst with fluffity fluff

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Gabriel Van Helsing

The night was quiet save for the sound of the gentle evening breeze rustling the trees, the last embers of the campfire now burning away into nothing.

Dark eyes monitored the small encampment from afar, eyeing the two sleeping bodies with care. Peaceful sleep was hard to come by for one Gabriel Van Helsing.

Horrific nightmares often stole his precious sleep from him. Every night, almost. Both yourself and Carl were oblivious to such things, unable to hear his struggles whilst slumbering within your own little worlds. Some part of Gabriel was grateful for that, not wishing to burden you in particular about such things. You, who had already been through so much.

His gaze fell upon you with a tenderness that you never were allowed to see in your waking hours. Softly, a sigh passed through his nostrils in seeing you sleeping so soundly. As envious as he was, Van Helsing was unable to mask his fondness of you even still.

Your breaths were even, the delicate strands of your hair falling perfectly over the curves of your face. He could barely spy the details in the fading firelight, yet it never failed to put him at ease. You were so beautiful.

With great care in his steps, Gabriel strayed closer to your sleeping form. He almost jumped at Carl's sudden loud snore, glaring at the sleeping friar for a moment before continuing on his way.

Kneeling by you, he gently pulled your blankets up and over your shoulders, no longer having to mask his vulnerabilities and affection for you. You would never know how much you meant to the monster hunter.

From the very beginning, you'd been there. You found him on the steps of the Vatican Church, half dead all those years ago. Not a sister of the church, but a volunteer in servitude of God and the Church for their kindness in taking you in after your family was brutally murdered. They were your family. And you invited Gabriel in with open arms.

You tended to his wounds, nursed him to health, never left his side. Your face was burned into his memory from the very start. No longer wishing to stand idle in the Church, you trained alongside him to become a monster hunter yourself. You followed him everywhere. It was in all this time together, that Gabriel realised he loved you. However, he would leave such things unspoken. Everyone Van Helsing loves, always seems to die.

The warmth of his lips pressed a soft kiss to your temple, swiping your hair behind your ear with one of his callouses. Before standing up, he took notice to a sudden shift in your behaviour. Your head had begun to shift softly, a grimace appearing strongly on your expression.

"No", you breathed out, your feet suddenly kicking from your blanket. Your body began to tremor and thrash slightly, Gabriel dropping fully to his knees beside you.

"(Y/n)", he tried gently to wake you, his eyes clouding over in concern. The realisation hit Gabriel that this was him every night and the thought of you going through the same thing made him sick.

"No!", you protested louder, your brows now creasing further. Sweat began to glisten on your skin, your breaths becoming erratic with your movements.

Grasping your shoulder, Van Helsing called to you once more, firmly, "(Y/n)!". You were suddenly pulled from your unconscious state, grappling onto the strong arm of your best friend. The echoes of your unwelcome dream lingered freshly within your mind, the brunette entering your field of view. "Are you alright?".

Feeling as if your breath had caught in your throat, you felt your emotions overwhelm you all at once. Your eyes stung with tears whilst you sat up, only able to whisper his name in your relief, "Gabriel". The dream hadn't been real; Gabriel was alive.

Your arms reached up, engulfing the larger man in a hug. The hunter's arms floated for a moment, not having the most affectionate upbringing. Yet, after a moment, he found peace and comfortability in wrapping them softly around your form.

Trembling from your sobs, you remained in Gabriel's arms, the brunette almost content to hold onto you. He could only imagine the horrors you'd seen, a sense of dread prickling in his mind. "It's alright", he hushed you, hesitantly reaching up to run his fingers through your hair. "It's alright".

The image of Dracula flashed into your mind, covered in Gabriel's blood. It had been so real to you. You'd already lost your biological family, the feeling of losing Van Helsing as well was too much to bare. He was the man who held your heart, after all.

When your cries died into calmer breaths, the brunette didn't pull away. He was allowing you to do so at your own leisure. "Are you alright?", he repeated, amidst his growing concern.

"Yes", you finally answered him, your throat tight and croaky. Finally breaking your embrace with him, you wiped at your reddened eyes, noting the worry within his own. He had such beautifully coloured gaze. Like the comforting smoothness of chocolate. "It was just a dream".

Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a small flask of alcohol. "Have a sip. It might dull your nerves", he whispered, offering the bottle to you. The liquid was smoky sweet and burned your throat, yet it had a comforting warmth to it as it hit your stomach.

"Thanks". He inclined his head with a short smile. "I'm sorry if I woke you".

"Don't be", he placated you with a gentle tug to his shoulders, sipping from the flask as well. "We all get nightmares".

"Even you?".

"Yes, me", he murmured. "All too often, I'd think. But, nevermind that". Wishing to distance himself, he stood. "Get some more rest, I think we'll both need it—".

"Wait!", you almost shouted, clasping your hand around his larger one. You sent a cautious look to the nearby friar who was still somehow asleep before meeting eyes with the brunette's. His brows creased in confusion. "Will you stay with me?".

Marking the look of terror in your orbs, the monster hunter relented easily to your coaxing. Many nights, he too wished that he had company for comfort. With a silent nod, his hat and jacket were quickly removed. You shuffled over in your bedroll, allowing him to fit in beside you.

Despite how intoxicating it was for the both of you to be so close like this, it felt almost right in a sense. Familiar. "Thank you", you breathed out, Gabriel able to spy the gratitude in your gaze despite the dark.

"Get some sleep", he encouraged softly, offering a smile. "I'm here". Shifting closer to him, your head rested by his broad chest as his arms instinctively fell over you. His gaze monitored your expression, ever content to watch you slip into a slumber. After some silence, you quietly called to him,

"Gabriel?". You recieved a hum in return, beckoning you to continue. Hesitation almost had your throat closing, yet you couldn't allow your best friend to face the fate in your dreams without knowing what truly lies in your heart. "I love you".

For the first time in a long time, his heart was unsteady, thrumming faster within its confines. His silence was tormenting to you, insecurities already playing within your mind. Perhaps you shouldn't have said anything at all??

Tilting your head upwards, his lips seized your own with a dizzying gentleness, his hands burning hot against the skin of your face. Or was that the alcohol? You couldn't be sure.

Breaking down every wall of emotional shielding he'd made for himself, Gabriel finally allowed himself to give in to the wants of his heart. "I love you too". It was spoken beneath his breath, yet you could hear the smile and perhaps the affectionate warmth within his words; as if a burden had also been lifted in some way.

One thing you were both sure about was; when you both would wake the next morning, things would be different, yet better than they had ever been before...

♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡

Carl

"I beg your pardon?", the young friar sputtered, gazing at his best friend incredulously.

"There's not enough room in the castle for all three of us to stay, so you and (Y/n) have to share a room".

"I can't tell if you've noticed", Carl's voice dropped an octave. "But, there's only one bed in each room!".

"You act as if you haven't been dreaming about this for years", Van Helsing teased with a rare and almost lighthearted grin, the blonde's face heating up. "Come on! Here I was thinking you would be happy about this!".

"She's your sister!", Carl hissed. "I can't believe you're happy about this!!". The hunter's eyes rolled amusedly, falling onto your approaching form with a gentle mirth. Anna strayed not too far behind, the two of you already getting along more than soundly in the few hours since your meeting.

"Ready to settle in, Carl?". With just the sound of your voice alone, the blonde's worries and his ability to form coherent sentences had both faded from him.

"Yes, yes", he fumbled, nodding to himself more than anything. "Let's go". Van Helsing's lips pursed to restrain any laughter that threatened to slip and ruin his composure, watching as the both of you journeyed together to your shared room.

"Did they take the bait?", Anna cocked a brow.

"All too well", the brunette replied, irking a smirk from his female counterpart.

"You come here to help me defeat Dracula and yet you also think it's the perfect time to help your sister end up with your friend".

"Is that a problem?". An amused giggle almost left the Valerious in her keen observation of this stranger.

"Van Helsing, monster hunter and matchmaker", Anna mused to herself, earning an unimpressed raised brow from Gabriel. "A curious title".

"Don't push your luck", he warned.

Settling into your shared quarters with the friar had been easy enough. The room was large and extravagant, easily impressing Carl with the study space and yourself with the various arrays of books upon the many shelves.

"Now", the blonde started to ready his bedroll once the time came to slumber. "I can hardly have you sleeping on the floor, so—".

"Carl", you halted him. "This bed is a palace. Just stick to your side and we won't have a problem". The friar found himself unable to argue with you, enamoured by the carefree and playful smile you'd offered him. However, he couldn't help but feel guilty. If you knew how he felt, would you still be so keen to allow him to sleep beside you?

It was no secret to anybody else that Carl loved you, Van Helsing's younger sister. He'd half expected the hunter to hate him for that, much less support the idea and tease him incessantly over it. But, the way Van Helsing saw it; Carl was a good man of faith and hardly able to stand against him should his sister face heartbreak at the blonde's hands, if at all.

Everyone knew, except for you.

In climbing under the thick covers of the bed with the friar, some part of you prayed that Carl's warm presence would ease the fear and pain you often experienced when falling into the world of sleep. However, you found that not even he could keep the horrific dreams away.

You awoke with a gasp, trembling uncontrollably in the early hours of the morning. The moon was shining brightly through the windows of the balcony doors, illuminating the room in a gentle blue glow. You were in a bed; it wasn't real.

You heaved a sigh of relief and exhaustion, your head falling into your hands to feel the wetness of sweat dripping from your face. Tears joined the mixture whilst you desperately wiped at your now swollen eyes. Not even you could remember the last time you slept pleasantly.

Turning your gaze to your counterpart, you were relieved to find him still sleeping. His restful expression was beyond adorable, a wet chuckle leaving you whilst you reached over to brush your fingertips along his cheek. He had light stubble and a soft snore, snuggling into his pillow. How you envied his peacefulness.

Carl had always been a comfort to you, although you'd never admitted it to him. His rambles, his creativity and ideas had all ensnared you. He had such a sense of innocence in comparison to yourself. You had so much blood on your hands, you wondered if you'd even make it to the gates of Saint Peter. You couldn't allow him to follow you into the dark. Not whilst he shone so brightly in comparison to you. So, silent you would have to remain.

Moving yourself from the covers, you hardly noticed Carl's eyes fluttering open. "(Y/n)?", he mumbled tiredly, his brows furrowing in concern.

"Go back to sleep", you hushed him, attempting to leave as to not burden him further. His warm hand upon your own stilled your movements, your head snapping back to him.

You would have preserved the image you saw before you now forever, the air being pulled from your lungs at how beautiful his blue-teal gaze looked in the shining of the moon. It didn't take long for him to spy your tearful eyes, the friar suddenly moving to sit up in his concern. "You've been crying", he fussed. "What's wrong?".

"Carl, it's nothing—", you tried again to release yourself from his grip only for him to squeeze your hand. "Just leave me be". Despite your assurances, his mind was far too quick, already figuring out what ailed you. Carl knew that Gabriel suffered from terrifying nightmares. As his sister, it must've been only natural that you would have the same thing.

"Please", his voice remained steady, his thumb running over your hand. Your eyes met his own glistening with tears and clouded with shame, completely frozen under his gentle gaze. "It's alright", he consoled you. "I know what ails you and you needn't hide it from me". At his kind words, your head dipped away from his whilst hot tears began to leave your eyes. "Look at me, look at me". He coaxed your face gently with his spare hand, wiping at all the tears that fell without a care.

Your fingers wound around the ones that grasped your own, blinking furiously to dismiss the tears of frustration and embarrassment. "I was hoping that you would never see me like this", you wept, entirely ashamed at your lack of composure.

"(Y/n) Van Helsing has emotions, God help us all", he mused with a playful sarcasm, delighting in the small laugh that left you whilst your crying slowly ceased. He even noted that his usual timidness had also dissipated.

With his nimble fingers, he moved the strands of hair that hid your face behind your ears and smiled whilst removing the last of your tears from your face. His focus, that kindness. If only he knew how beautiful he was.

"That's better", Carl hummed with a sense of accomplishment. "Shall I fetch you some water?".

"No, don't trouble yourself", you insisted. "You've done more than enough, Carl. Thank you".

The blonde's lips parted, a kind smile dawning on his features. "You're most welcome". He thoughtfully noted the exhaustion apparent in your features, tugging on your hand to pull you back under the covers. "I think some rest will do us both some good".

"I don't want to sleep", you refused politely, a shudder passing through you at the very thought of another horrific dream.

"Rest doesn't necessarily imply sleep". Moving his pillows closer to your own, Carl invited you to resume your place now alongside him. "Just close your eyes and relax. I'll stay close".

However, it wasn't your pillows you chose to lie upon. You shifted in beside him, instead resting your head upon his chest. His whole form tensed for a few moments, shocked at your decision. But, a tender warmth seemed to consume him whilst your arms encircled him.

Every part of him felt at peace, wishing to savour the moment which would probably never come to pass again. His larger hands worked caresses and circles over your back and arms, content to listen to your rhythmic breaths.

"Tell anyone that I cried and I'll have you", you threatened jokingly, the friar taking to it with a laugh.

"Even if you looked beautiful all the same?". Carl's words had your head lifting from his chest in some form of disbelief. The affection radiating from his halflidded stare was enough to affirm the honesty of his words and speak many more to you.

His callouses brushed over the curve of your cheek, igniting goosebumps across your skin before the warmth of his lips reached your own in a firm, yet gentle touch.

Sharing a smile with the young fri, your head returned to rest upon his beating chest. Accidentally falling asleep in each other's arms some time during the night, you awoke surprised the following morning. For the first time ever, you didn't have any nightmares...

♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡ °•° ♡

Count Vladislaus Dracula

The usually quiet castle of Vladislaus Dracula was now encompassed with a thunderous, rhythmic beating. It instilled a sense of terror that usually went unfelt by the Vampire as the deafening sounds reached the unparalleled senses of his hearing. Something, everything was wrong.

For this sound wasn't any drum or song. It was your human heartbeat.

These cold halls were a safe haven for Dracula, always well guarded both in the day and night. And that fact was no exception to you, his cherished human bride.

Never had he heard your heart in such a fearful state, not since that night over three hundred years ago. The night you'd lost your life defending him against Gabriel Van Helsing.

The raven haired male almost shuddered at the thought of it, still remembering the sharp and hurtful details of your death all those hundreds of years ago.

Alike to this current evening, there was a storm baring a cold rain. The thunder cracked open the skies with a deafening ferocity whilst the battle between Dracula and his age-old enemy had ensued.

You had screamed, begged for Dracula's life to be spared, along with your heart which undoubtedly belonged to him.

Gabriel was in love with you at the time, just as much as the Count had been. Always sworn to his sense of duty above all else, Van Helsing had sympathised with your pleas, but refused. He'd insisted that the man you'd fallen for, who had a gentleness, a need to be loved, accepted and wanted, was 'evil'.

So, you took the final blow for him, leaping in between Gabriel's blade and Dracula. In doing so, you had given him the chance to strike down the hunter. However, he was far too late to save the one who truly mattered to him. You.

Whenever you had stood beside him, smiled, held his hand or looked into his gaze, there was never any fear in your eyes or heart. Only the warmth of unconditional love. And perhaps that was what stoked the fire in his soul all those years ago?

Dracula had spent the next few centuries after your untimely demise feeling lost and alone, trying to replace the hollowness within his soul to no avail. Until the fateful night you returned to him many months ago.

Following a whim and the prophetic and vivid dreams you'd had since you were a teen, you'd travelled from your home in London to Romania. It had taken many days and nights, following the whispers of your dreams, but you had found Frankenstein Castle.

It had been a task for Dracula not to crumble to his knees before you, to take you into his arms and immortalise you forever. No, he'd decided to wait out of respect and love for you to give him the words. It had surprised many, but Dracula refused to lose you a second time. The fates had given him a second chance that he would not take lightly.

Despite his confidence in his home, Dracula's sharp eyes travelled the halls for unseen threats that could pose a danger to you, but found nothing in his quick journey to your shared room.

Moving faster than the shadows, he had wasted no time in rushing in, still scanning the darkness of the room. His steps were silent as he strayed closer to where you slept, his usually hardened eyes now soft as they landed on you.

Releasing the human equivalent of a breath through his nostrils, Dracula was relieved to find you weren't harmed. However, the new-found concern he had was completely different from before.

You were gripping the covers with a grimace, your head swaying side to side every so often. Whimpers and quick breaths heaved through your throat as if you were running. It was the one other disadvantage of being human. Nightmares.

With a featherlight precision, the raven haired male sat on the bed beside you. The back of his stone cold hand pressed against your forehead, the skin hot and glistening with sweat. "Oh, My Dear", he murmured, his dark eyes reflecting the worry now blossoming within his very soul. He hadn't realised he had one in the first place, until he met you.

Bringing his hand to cup your cheek, he felt your pulse raging beneath your skin. "(Y/n)", he cooed, attempting to gently lull you from your unconsciousness. His soft touches brought you suddenly from your dreams, a gasp shooting from your throat when your eyes fluttered open. "You are safe, My Love", he hushed you. "I'm here, it's alright".

"Vlad", you huffed in your breathlessness, noting the soothing of his cool touch on your blistering skin. Sitting up, your hands wrapped around your lover's, his hands lifting yours to his lips. Slowly, he pressed cool and sensual touches to your delicate fingers, his brows drawing together when he spied your tearful gaze.

"What ails you, My Beloved?". His voice was calm and gentle like the seas of a nighttime, his larger hands clasping around your own to caress them consistently. One quirk that you discovered early on in your relationship was the fact that your husband loves to play with your fingers and hands, even to self-soothe his own worries. To make sure you were still here.

The crevice of your throat grew tight, your chest fluttering and stomach almost nauseous with the building up of your anxiety. Flashes of your dreams remained fresh within your mind.

You'd seen the Vatican Church in Rome. You'd seen the Priests conspiring with a dark and faceless stranger to kill your husband. Anna Valerious was also prominent in your dreams. It hadn't made sense to you. Not at first.

When you'd seen horrifying flashes of the night you'd perished 300 years ago, it had all come together. The stranger's face was revealed to you. Gabriel Van Helsing. Like yourself, back from the dead. You saw his boat, you saw his array of weapons. He was coming to Transylvania.

"We're in danger", your voice tremored, furthering the confusion and concern Dracula felt. "He's coming for us, Vlad".

"Who is, My Sweet?", his voice remained steady and soft, shifting closer to offer you more comfort from his presence.

"Van Helsing", you whispered, almost too fearful to even speak his name. The shock instantly hit Dracula's dark gaze, his whole form stiffening in a sense of alarm and fury.

"Gabriel is long dead", he attempted to console you with a smile, his callouses tracing over the smoothness of your cheekbone. "It was just a dream, nothing more".

"It wasn't, My Love", you mumbled, offering him a wistful glance with the shaking of your head. "My dreams spoke true".

Sadness clouded the eyes of your husband, knowing already that your dreams were never wrong. He'd only hoped they had been.

"Why can they not just leave us alone?!", he ground out from between his teeth with a sudden white fury. "Why must they scorn my very existence?! Can they not see that I am happy, leaving the world to its endless existence in peace??".

"Vlad, My Love", your voice instantly softened the rage boiling up within him, your hands reaching to cradle his face. His eyes were as tearful as your own, even now, managing the strength to offer you warmth in his smile as he looked upon you. "We speculated that this day may come, when we would be hunted again".

"I will not lose you", he spoke with absolute surity. "Not again. I will not allow him to take everything from me".

"And neither will I". His brows furrowed, silently asking for elaboration. "It's time, Vlad". At your words, his undead heart may have leapt into his throat in both excitement and delight.

"My Love, are you sure?? I am content to—".

"I will not let him rob me of a lifetime with you for a second time. Nor will I allow him to erase everything we have done. It will destroy you all over again".

Dracula only managed a few soft nods. For the first time in his existence, he would not be fighting alone, an unspoken promise lingering between you both. If he would be hellbound, then so shall you be.

Dipping his head, Vlad's lips took your own with a breathtaking softness, firm and sure of the strong tether between you both. Some part of him savoured the warmth of your blood lingering beneath the surface, knowing it would be the last he would feel of it.

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By the coming of the morning, you would be a creature of the night...

Hey readers!! ❤❤ I hope you all enjoyed this set of imagines!! As always, any and all feedback is welcome! So, please - let me know how I went in writing these characters and how to improve, if I can! If you wished to be added to my tagslist, check out my masterlist and let me know what you'd like to be tagged in!

Thank you all for your support!! ❤❤

____________________________________________

TAGLIST; @6lostgirl6

#van helsing 2004 #van helsing #van helsing fanfiction #gabriel van helsing #carl #count vladislaus dracula #count vladislaus dracula x reader #count dracula x reader #gabriel van helsing x reader #gabriel van helsing fanfiction #carl x reader #van helsing carl x reader #van helsing imagines

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1-800fandomqueen · 5 months

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And I Will Live Forever

Vladislaus Dragulia x fem!reader

Part One

WC : 16.2K

SW : No usage of "Y/N," physical appearance and details are left completely ambiguous and are up to interpretation. Mentions of violence, canon-typical, this fic follows the chronological events of Van Helsing (2004). Everybody lives AU! because I am first and foremost fruity, and want to slum it with Dracula and his wives.

If there are any more warnings to be added let me know!

Story Notes :

For reader's bride dress, I imagine the "Melora White Maxi Dress And Collar" but with a very light blue gradient.

All sentences in this formatting are flashbacks from part one.

This is a re-post, all of my old accounts were deleted.

‘He was truly my dearest friend, albeit a little strange, I owed everything to him.’

You wait on the steps of the Monastery, seeing the horse approach from across the courtyard, your dearest friend, Gabriel - The Great Van Helsing - was returning from France today. He had been sent on a mission to capture and bring back Dr. Jekyll, alive. But word sent the day before his return showed that he would be returning empty handed. You walk down the stairs to greet him as he slows the horse and dismounts, “Gabriel!” arms tossed around his stiff body squeezing until he moves to return the sentiment. After you deem the hug long enough you let go, quirking an eyebrow at him, a slight frown overtakes your features, “You know how much trouble you’re in right?” You’re immediately met with a sigh and an eyeroll, Gabriel beginning to walk away.

“I don’t understand how you managed to mess this up, the Cardinal is extremely angry.” furiously pacing yourself to keep up with his long strides, the brim of his hat pulled low to hide any sort of expression upon his face. “Van Helsing are you even listening to me? The Cardinal is going to throw a-”

''I don’t give a damn what Jinette thinks, I got the job done didn’t I?” his tone unwavering and final, holding the door to the monastery open for you, following after. You decide not to answer as you walk through the glittering hall, making your way down to the confessional, standing in front of it as he enters.

You waited outside the door, the conversation between Gabriel and Cardinal Jinette fading in and out with the fluctuation of their volume, the Cardinal remaining the loudest. You hated the way that Jinette spoke to him sometimes, Gabriel never failed to provide results, and had done everything in his power to fulfil every deed given to him by the church. He was good at what he did, that was undeniable, but he was truly a good man at heart.

He was the only reason you were allowed to stay within Vatican City, having shown up on the Ministry doorsteps only a few years after he did, you however were significantly younger when you did arrive. You’d been abandoned, living in the streets, when a rowdy group of men chased you all the way to the doors of the church. He had immediately come to your aid and ever since then he had somewhat taken on the role of the older sibling you never had, convincing his superiors to allow you to stay within the ancient building. He always had this air of guilt surrounding him whenever interacting with you, claiming that you reminded him of someone he once knew, but never explaining further than that.

He taught you how to fight, how to defend yourself if the situation ever arose, he made you carry a small vial of holy water and a collapsible stake on your person at all times, telling you that you never know when you may need it. He was your only companion besides a friar named Carl, who was somewhat closer to your age, a madman when it came to inventing.

Hearing the scrape of the sconce as the Cardinal opens the secret door, you slide into the booth next to Gabriel right before the metal gate slams into place, quietly taking your spot behind your friend as you begin the descent down into the order. You listen as the Cardinal gives the same spiel about being the last defence against evil, zoning out as you watch the monks move about the place. You snap back into focus at the sound of the projector whirring alive, Jinette giving Gabriel his newest assignment. “We need you to go to the east, to the far side of Romania. An accursed land, terrorised by all sorts of nightmarish creatures.” You watch Van Helsing's face go slightly pale as the image changes, an even more grim look taking over the one that usually resides upon his features, “Lorded over by a certain Count Dracula.”

You slightly zone out once more as you study the painting, you can hear Gabriel speaking but are unaware of what it is he’s saying. You can’t help but feel a strange mixture of happiness and sadness take over your body as you look upon the man - The Count - in the image, you could swear to all that was holy that he looked familiar. Like you’d met him before.

You’ve decided by what little of him you could see, that he was still undoubtedly handsome. Slightly taller than you, possibly 6-foot, dark hair, and shockingly blue eyes.

You don’t notice the looks Gabriel throws your way, the realisation hitting him that you're lost at the sight of the photo.

When the Cardinal changes the image projected, you rejoin the conversation, looking up to lock eyes with your friend, giving him a wary smile as you fight off the sudden emotional pit forming in your stomach. Listening as Jinette lists off members of this royal family, watching as Gabriel becomes starstruck at the sight of Princess Anna, giving him a smirk and a hard elbow to the ribs, him responding with a slight stomp onto your foot.

You stop listening again when the insignia of his ring is mentioned, the pit returning to your stomach as you walk away to find Carl. You find the aforementioned man yelling at someone in a pedalling machine, gasping slightly as the person on said machine is electrocuted. “Carl what are you doing?” you’re met with a few mumbles of “Almost had it,” and “Maybe next time,” as Carl shuffles towards you, giving you a small pat on the arm and a crooked smile. He turns his attention to Gabriel as he approaches, automatically beginning his line of chastising and questioning. You follow as Carl begins putting things into a bag for him, Garlic, Holy Water, amongst some weapons. After he causes a viscous fluid to erupt into sparks upon the ground, you giggle as he turns with his inventors' goggles down, magnifying his eyes to a ridiculous level. He gives you a sour look, “the air is thick with envy” he says, rolling his eyes and walking away as you continue to giggle.

He shuffles around to grab more weapons, going on about some substances that can emit light equivalent to the sun, telling Gabriel to use his imagination with it. “No Carl, I’m gonna use yours that’s why you’re coming with me.” “Oh hell be damned I am!” letting out a dramatic gasp as you clutch your chest, “Carl! You Cursed! Monks aren’t supposed to curse.” You watch as a smug grin takes over his face, leaning in close to you as if to tell a secret, “Well actually I’m still a friar, I can curse all I want. Damn it!” giving you a wink as he shuffles back to his original spot.

“The Cardinal has ordered you to keep me alive as long as possible.” he continues, about to walk away before you grab his sleeve, “Wait, what about me? I want to come along as well.” You’re met with a stern look, the both of you completely ignoring Carl's mumbles about not being a field man as you follow Gabriel out of the Laboratory, “No, that’s entirely out of the question.” “Why not? I want to come to Transylvania, I’m always left behind when you go on missions. You know I get bored easily!” “You’re always left behind because you don’t have the training to go on missions, it’s highly dangerous-” You stop him once more, “You trained me Gabriel, remember?” cutting him off as he goes to respond, “You’d rather let a friar, who has no fighting experience what-so-ever join you versus someone who can actually hold their own?” Giving him the best pout you can, “Please Van Helsing, let me come with you.” applying a slight shake to the arm still in your grip.

He doesn’t know what comes over him, whether it be the determined look in your eye or the idea that maybe he could use you as help if all went south, but with a strong reluctance coating his words, he agrees to let you come along.

‘It was the longest trip of my life, a battle through storms and cold only to be put right in the face of death.’

You were tired, aching, surrounded by an angry mob when the first one swooped in from the sky.

The woman, Princess Anna, yelled for everyone to run inside, to find shelter, as Van Helsing shot at the circling Vampires, while Carl was leaning against the wells’ edge, whimpering. You follow the woman as she takes off running - right after landing rather promiscuously on top of Gabriel - eventually shoving her down a cart as two out of the three vampires reach for you.

You pant for breath as the sun comes out, everyone in the town coming out with it. You walk towards your friends, reaching for the stake sheathed at your side as a noise emits from the well. You scream as the sun goes back behind the clouds and the orange haired vampire bursts up, grabbing Anna by the shoulders. The black haired one not far behind her, not even looking at you as she grabs you and tosses you through the roof of one of the houses.

You lay there for a moment, paralysed with pain and fear that overtakes your whole body. You snap to attention as the door in front of you bolts shut, muscle memory leads your hand down to your stake sheath, only to find your weapon missing, cursing as you realise you must have dropped it somewhere along being thrown into a building. You let out a sigh of relief when you see Anna, the woman dropping to your side to check on you. You’re about to let her know you’re okay when all of a sudden the orange-haired vampire lowers herself from the rafters of the house.

You point up weakly, eyes going wide and letting out a yelp as Anna immediately stands and turns to come face to face with her. “Hello Anna” she hisses out, completely dropping and transforming into her regular facade. You do have to admit, she is rather pretty. “Nice to see you too Aleera,” words doused with Venom. You make a move to help her, but when a sharp pain shoots throughout your whole body as you lean forward, you have no choice but to flop back down to the ground. “Did I do something to you in a past life?” Anna backs up slowly, the Vampire, Aleera, following her every move. “Don’t play coy with me, princess,” somehow teleporting to be in front of Anna, “I know what lurks in your lusting heart.” “I hope you have a heart Aleera, because someday I’m going to drive a stake through it.” You watch with bated breath as Aleera literally smacks Anna out of the window, then turns to gaze down upon you.

She tilts her head at you, studying for a moment. A look that almost resembles recognition passes her features before she dives out the window after Anna. “Fuck.” you murmur, beginning to wiggle your limbs as you try to fight off the searing pain travelling through your body. When you’re able to move once more, you make your way out of the house, down the stairs and through the door, like a perfectly sane person, grabbing a large shard of glass from outside, watching as Anna bursts into another home.

You weakly run, limping every step, attempting to follow her in case she needed what little assistance you could provide in your current state. Bursting into the house to see the two Vampires over her, mouths gaping open, fangs sharp and extended, their faces taking on slightly demonic forms. You watch as they suddenly scream, twisting and writhing as they turn back into their winged counterparts, flying out of the house.

You offer her a hand, no words passed between the two of you, only pained smiles and grateful expressions, lifting her up as the adrenaline leaves your body, limping out into the street with her. Walking towards the church where your friends sit on its steps, you pass by Gabriels’ hat, turning and grabbing it for him, gently brushing some of the dirt and snow off of it. Bringing it to him and sitting down, you’re met with concerning remarks from both him and Carl, hell, you’d be concerned too if you also saw your friend be thrown into a roof from 40 feet in the air, but you were just too tired to form any words. Letting your head thump back against one of the top steps as an angry crowd of Translyvanians forms around you.

You’re thankful when Anna jumps to your defence, the revealing of Van Helsings’ identity forces the crowd to back off. You raise your head at the mention of a drink and somewhere to stay, muttering a ‘yes please’ before you slump back against the stairs. Feeling arms come around both your sides, both Carl and Gabriel help hoist you up, supporting your weight as you begin your trek to where Anna was staying, at the old Governors’ house.

You can’t help the strange sense that washes over you at the sight of the building.

“But soon, the final battle will begin, I must go and find out who our new visitor is.”

‘It was a restless night, full of aches. Visions of you and a man dancing through your head, along with visions of great pain and sorrow.’

‘Don’t do this Gabriel… Please let go of my wife.’

You could hear screaming, a woman falling through a window. Great agonising pain filling your senses ; grief, sadness, anger, all equally coursing through your veins.

‘I’m sorry… But you broke the oath.’

Flashes of a happy couple pass through your mind, ending as you turn to be stabbed through the heart by Gabriel-

Shooting up with a gasp, feeling every bone in your body protest at such movement. You take heaving, gulping breaths, the fear seizing your muscles making it hard to intake oxygen. You can feel sweat running off you in rivulets as you try to equal out your heartbeat. What did you just see? This hadn’t been the first dream you’d had of this scenario, with Gabriel killing you, you’d had a dream eerily similar to this one when you first met him all those years ago, except in that one you were the woman falling through the window.

Bringing up a hand to wipe absentmindedly at your forehead, trying to cease what you assume is a river of sweat. It’s only when your hand comes back covered in a fluid that’s smelling and stringing to your skin, it’s within that moment when you’re able to register the low growling do you look up, and come eye to eye with a werewolf.

It pounces the second you look at it, giving you only a moment to roll out of the bed and scream as loud as you can. Dodging as best you can as the creature lays havoc to the room you’re in, ducking for cover as leaps for you, watching it crash through the window. You turn as your room door is opened, Gabriel looking in with features clouded by fear. He calls your name, coming around to rest his hands upon your shoulders, “What happened?” “Werewolf,” a shaky hand coming to point towards the shattered window, “Went that way.” Grabbing you by the shoulders he directs you to a ripped up armchair sitting in the corner of the room, sitting you down and handing you your stake, huh, where did he find that? “Stay here, I’ll be back soon.”

You don’t stay, waiting a few moments after he’s left to get up. It’s only when yelling and crashing resonates from downstairs do you hurry your pace. You arrive at the sight of Gabriel running out of the estate and Anna standing in a catatonic state, staring off in his direction. Disregarding the broken window, you already have a feeling of what broke it to begin with, you turn to Anna, gently grasping her elbows and directing her attention to you.

“Anna? What happened?” lifting one hand up to her neck, gently tilting her head from side to side, looking for any signs of pain or damage. “Are you alright? Did it hurt you?” That seems to do the trick as her glossy eyes fill with more tears, finally spilling over as she looks at you, “My brother. It’s my brother.” You say nothing, cooing slightly as her tears fall faster, pulling her into a hug. “He’s going to kill him.” Words murmured into your shoulder. “Who’s going to kill who, Anna?” “Van Helsings’ going to try and kill my brother.'' And with those words she takes off out the door.

You grab a pile of fabric off the back of a nearby chair, knowing that the cold would be too severe for what Anna, and yourself, were currently wearing. You saddle up the horse you came into town on, going off in the direction of several sets of footprints. When you approach where Anna and Van Helsing stand in the graveyard you catch the remnants of what was undoubtedly a heated conversation. “He has taken everything from me. Leaving me alone in this world.” You quietly dismount, grabbing the blanket you brought and throwing part of it over Annas’ shoulders, slightly startling her with your sudden presence. You say nothing as you resume your previous embrace with her, watching as Anna all but crumbles into the affection.

“To have the memories of those you have loved and lost is perhaps harder than to have no memories at all.” his words spoken with a guilty glance towards you, an unexplainable rage filling you at the idea of whatever he could possibly be implying. “Alright, we’ll look for your brother.”

“It was obvious that Van Helsing was wary of this man, but when he turned to me I felt no fear. He looked at me in what could only be sheer reverence, and I felt my mind settle.’

The Castle was looming, with electricity zapping to and fro from the top tower. Hanging behind as to give Anna and Gabriel some time to talk. If the fate of Anna's family wasn’t at stake you would take the time to poke at his lovesick behaviour, but until everything was over you held your remarks at bay.

Entering the dusty manor, pushing cobwebs out of your way, the three of you make your way into a room filled to the brim with sacks hanging from the ceiling, reminding you of very slimy chrysalides. “Have you ever seen these things before?” you aim your question towards either of your company. “No. What do you think they are?” Both of you turn to Gabriel, “Offspring.” “What?” spoken at the same time. “A man with three gorgeous women for 400 years-” “Yes, vampires are the walking dead, it only makes sense their children are born dead.”

Pushing your way through to reveal a grand hall filled with even more of the pods, electricity crackling down the hall and into the room you are in. Watching as the pods begin to pulse and wiggle. “Van Helsing don’t-” exclaiming in exaggerated disgust as he sticks his hand into the sack, throwing the slime substance out of his way.

“So this is what you get when Vampires mate-” not given the time to finish his sentence as it comes to life, both you and Anna screaming out in disgust. Another blast of electricity barrels through the room, bringing with it a shiver up your spin and the jolt of a static shock. The three of you run as they begin to drop from the ceiling, faintly aware of voices coming from somewhere above you.

Despite Annas’ pleas, you watch as Gabriel exits out of your covered spot, entering the desolate hall once again to begin shooting at the vampiric offspring still flying around the room. He looks up somewhere in the room, a slightly smug look upon his face, “Now that I have your attention.” A giant winged creature falls from the sky and begins to pursue your friend. The gust of air it brings knocks over decorations, items falling all around you. You don’t even register Anna rushing up the stairs behind you, nor the beam and chandelier falling after her, blocking anyone from following. You do, however, register the doors at the end of the hall slamming closed, locking you in here with Van Helsing and the creature.

Crouching down next to some crates, watching as the creature swoops down, turning into a man. Turning into the Count from the Cardinals’ slideshow. “I can tell the character of a man by the sound of his heartbeat.” A deep accented voice lilting, “Usually when I approach,” clapping his hands together in a slightly off-rhythm staccato, “I can almost dance to the beat. Strange that yours is so steady.” Hands ending their sporadic clap as he continues to walk forward, all noise ceasing except for crackling of electricity.

When Gabriel drops down and stabs the man you can’t help the sadness that fills you. A strange sense taking over you, making you want to walk over and kill your best friend where he stands. “Requistat in pace” words uttered with an arrogance. You stand up, beginning to make your way towards them, “Hello Gabriel,” freezing in your steps. Did he know this man?

“Is this your silver stake?” pulling it out of his chest and tossing it over his shoulder. “How long has it been, 3- 400 years? You don’t remember, do you?” “What exactly is it I should be remembering?” The two of them begin to slowly circle around one another, “You are the Great Van Helsing! Trained by monks and mullahs from Tibet to Istanbul, protected by Rome herself! But like me, hunted by all others.”

“The Knights of the Holy Order know all about you, It’s no surprise you would know about me.” “Yes but it’s much more than this” the man laughs as he takes a step towards Van Helsing, the two coming full circle. “We have such history, You and I, Gabriel. Have you ever wondered why you have such horrible nightmares, horrific scenes of ancient battles past. Horrific scenes of betrayal? Would you like for me to refresh your memory a little, a few details from your sordid past?” You shuffle slightly, the heel of your boot scraping across a loose tile in the floor, drawing the attention of both Gabriel and the Count.

He gazes in disbelief. Freezing for a few moments before taking delicate, hesitant, steps towards you. You knew that you should probably flee, run for cover or to your friend, but instead you stayed put, Standing your ground as he approached you. He walks until the two of you almost stand toe-to-toe. An ungloved hand reaches out towards you and you can’t help the flinch that runs through your body, heart rate picking up in fear. He looks pained at your cower, hand still moving to brush lightly against your jaw, freezing cold fingers solidify his true nature to you.

“Do not fear me.”

‘I hope you’ve learned by now that I mean you no harm.’

Words spoken in such a hushed whisper that only you could hear with your proximity. And for some strange reason, you find yourself calming at his words, the fear leaving your still shellshocked system, heart rate slowing. You pay no attention to your friend who’s currently sneaking up behind the man, completely enraptured by the Count.

He mutters something that you can't quite catch, his hand beginning to drift down your neck, brushing against the necklace round your neck. He picks up the chain and lets it run through his fingers, getting steadily closer to the ring that resides on the end of it. A small silver wedding band that never seemed to tarnish rested along the chain, you had no idea where you had gotten it, it had been in your possession for what seemed forever. It was obviously valuable and you could never seem to part with it, in fear of it one day sliding off your finger during your work you ran it onto a bare chain, deciding to wear it as a necklace.

Before he can reach the ring at the end of the chain the sound of something clicking into place takes the attention of both of you, him whipping around to grab the silver crucifix Gabriel thrusts into his face, screaming in pain as he makes contact with the holy item. Jumping away as the crucifix bursts into flames within his hand, beginning to melt. He tosses the remains of it away, regaining his composure at a lightning rate.

“Perhaps that is a conversation for another time.” He takes a few steps back, walking a few feet past you. “Allow me to reintroduce myself, I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1422, Murdered 1462.”

‘Vlad’ rings through your head, the memory of glass shattering and screaming echoing through your mind. You don’t realise that the screaming has become real, Van Helsing grabs your hand and pulls you away with him, still in a dissociative state you don’t realise what’s happened until you both make your escape through a dumbwaiter.

The two of you make your way to the roof, running into a frantic Anna. “I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.” Words rushed to you and her, Gabriel grabbing one arm each and launching off a line, extending all the way over the rushing river below, to the nearby mountain. The three of you speed off, almost making it halfway across before the line suddenly shakes. The werewolf from the house, Anna’s brother, suddenly hitches a ride on the back, sliding a bit before one of its claws slices the line in half, taking you and the half closest to the Castle, down.

You can’t help the deja vu that washes over you as you fall, the freezing cold river below you. The sound of Van Helsing and Anna screaming for you is drowned out by your own.

You can faintly see the outline of someone looking over the edge of the castle railing, a yell of ‘no’ reaching your ears. The person disappears from the edge, only for a winged beast to take their place and jump from the roof. ‘It’s the Count’ you realise somewhere in your mind, closing your eyes in what could only be described as… relief? Even though your heart was beating out of your chest, deep down you knew you’d be alright. The wind is bitterly cold, nipping at your back, whistling in your ears.

Until suddenly it’s not.

Your body smacks into the water, cold overtaking all your senses as your body freezes. You can faintly feel yourself moving, arms weakly flailing to break the surface of the water to no avail. The current of the roaring river continuously pulls you under, giving you no chance to save yourself.

Right before you pass out from either shock or adrenaline you’re faintly aware of being pulled from the water and into the air. You’re held against something much larger than you are. One minute you’re plummeting, falling down and then sinking to your untimely demise and then the next you’re going up, soaring through the air.

And with that, you pass out.

~~~

You drift in and out of consciousness. You can remember being placed in front of a hearth, someone’s lap laid under your head, rough fingers running through your hair. Then three sets of hands and whispering voices, belonging to whom you believe were women, placing and pulling different layers of clothes upon you. You heard conversations about a creature and tracking it down, followed by being picked up by something much larger than you, a hood being pulled over your head, and the flap of great wings.

When you fully wake, it’s to the feeling of flying. Slowly blinking your eyes you try to adjust to the darkness. You realise you’re being carried by a large creature. Pointed ears, flat-bridged nose, and a maw that contained razor sharp teeth. Its wingspan had to spread to at least 15 feet or greater, and had to be at least 12 feet tall. And you realise that it oddly resembles a bat.

You hadn’t realised it was looking at you. Too busy in your observative reverie to notice the slitted dark grey eyes that had snapped your way. The large bat lets out a strange rumble when you make eye contact with it, beginning its descent. You’re laid down on what you assume is grass, watching as the creature soars back into the sky, transforming midair. That’s when you remember the last few hours of your life; officially meeting The Count, and all the strange emotions that came with the introduction, all of the rage, anguish, and nostalgia. And the fact that he had saved you, throwing himself off the top of the castle to rescue you from the river.

He drops back down to the ground with a certain grace and elegance to his actions, slightly bowing with a hand outstretched for theatrics. If you didn’t know any better you’d say he was doing it to lighten the air, immediately throwing you a smile and small chuckle as he does it. You can’t help the smile that overtakes your face as well, accepting the hand he offers you, pulling you off the ground. Finally taking in your surroundings, you realise you’re standing in front of a semi-dilapidated building. It looks to be a small fortress of sorts, surrounded by mountains on either side, along with the faint sound of a rushing river a great distance below you.

“Where are we?” words muttered, turning to gaze at him.

“Poenari.”

‘He can lie and claim to be a hollow man all he wants. But when I finally realised who he was and what he meant to me, I could see the pure emotion overtake his face, and for once I swore I could hear a heartbeat that wasn’t my own.’

The two of you walked silently through the building.

The dank remnants of the castle smelled foul; stagnant. The place reeked of death and sorrow, everything was covered in thick layers of dust. The Count walked quietly behind you, offering no explanation as to why you were here. Walking aimlessly through the corridors, footsteps echoing all around as you turn a corner, a loud gasp ripping its way out of the back of your throat.

The hallway leading to a set of winding stairs was the embodiment of death. Dried blood and half decomposed skeletons line the path, the stale smell of decomposition lingering in the air. You hadn’t realised you’d stopped until a hand placed itself upon the small of your back, gently pushing you forward. You observe the destruction around you, noticing baskets of mouldy, moth-eaten linens, and cleaning supplies next to some of the skeletons. “Servants.” rings out Dracula’s voice behind you, his hand still upon your back. Coming towards the end of the hall, right before the stairwell, you notice a bare spot. There was dried blood in an outline that shows it obviously pooled from someone’s body, but there was a lack of a skeleton, or any sign that one had been there, at least. “What happened to that one?” pointing down at the spot on the floor. “Agnes was buried.” is all he offers.

You kept Agnes with you, after all she’d been one of your closest confidants since your mother had died.

He nudges you up the stairs, guiding you through the dark. At the very top of the stairs was a thick wooden door in the middle of a small hallway. At the end of a hallway was a painting. Unlike everything else in this place the painting was spotless. It looked brand new, not a speck of dust on it, like it had been visited often.

That’s not what captured your attention though. What captured it was that the painting was a portrait of a man and woman. Happy, smiling, loving,

And they looked just like the two of you.

You step forward, shoes lining up in the dust-free imprint of feet much larger than yours; a well-worn spot. Reaching a hand out, fingers gliding across the woman in the painting, your other hand coming up to brush against your own features. Same hair colour, texture, same eyes, same birthmarks and scars. Her hands crossed gently across her lap, upon her ring finger lay the ring you wear around your neck.

Gasping, taking a stumbling step back, you whip around to face him. You can feel your heartbeat pick up, confusion and fear starting to take over. “Why-” breath uneven, “Why did you bring me here? What is this place?”

He brings a hand up to the door, pushing it open and stepping back, a slight sweeping gesture to show you go in first.

“Our home.”

Entering the room, you’re met with what you assume was once a very luxurious room. A dilapidated four-poster bed sits in the middle of the wall that the door is on. The room is stagnant like the rest of the place, but like the painting, free of dust. There’s a dresser, a writing desk, and a gap, from floor to ceiling, jagged shards of glass still remaining around the frame of what was once a window. Torn, mouldy, moth-ridden curtains billow in the light breeze, the stone floor is covered in moss and mould, years of rain pouring in through the opening had made it so.

In the middle of the room is a dark stain on the floor, a trail trickling from the window to it. You don’t want to believe it’s blood, the colour of it is black, too dark to resemble that which was under the skeletons in the hall, but you know. You know that it’s blood and whatever left the puddle wasn’t human. At the thought you cast a glance over your shoulder to the man who brought you here to begin with, he stands in the doorway, and goes no further than that. You take a step towards the gaping hole in the wall, mindful of any shards of glass on the floor.

You can hear the churning of fast moving water, you can hear the wind whipping in the wind, and as you bend slightly to look out, you can hear screaming.

“Who are you?”

“Who I am is of no importance at the moment,”

“Well everything was lined up perfectly, but now, the Voivode has added a new term to the treaty. Your hand in marriage.”

“I hope you’ve learned by now that I mean you no harm.”

‘He always treated you with a gentle hand, was never harsh, never cruel, and he never-ever raised his voice. You were his wife, and you should never need to fear him’

You failed to notice the dark figure in the corner of your room.

“Don’t do this Gabriel,” “Please let go of my wife.”

And with that, he pushes you out the window.

And then everything went dark.

You stumble violently away from the window, knees collapsing under your own weight. A firm presence makes itself known behind you, an arm wrapping around your waist, holding you up. Your vision is spotty, head pounding with this newfound knowledge of a past life and your eyes well with tears. You tilt your head up, making immediate eye contact with the man holding you. Your voice comes out scratchy and choked, “Vlad?” as the tears begin to spill out of your eyes. Vlad gives a pained smile as he turns you around and pulls your body towards his.

The embrace is emotional as you reduce down to nothing but shaky limbs and heart-wrenching sobs. He holds you strongly, there’s not an inch of his body that doesn’t touch yours, and you could swear that in that moment, you could feel another heartbeat alongside yours.

The sound of sizzling breaks you away from the hug, looking up in time to see a singular tear make its trek down his cheek, burning the skin it slides down. You quickly bring up your hand, sleeve pulled around your fist to dry it before it causes anymore damage. As you make a move to bring your hand back down he moves quick as lightning to hold it to his face, head tilting to place a delicate kiss upon the skin of your palm. “I missed you,” the words are soft, your throat still scratchy. “Not as much as I missed you, my darling” and with that, he kisses you.

The kiss is soft, yet powerful. With the force of almost 200 years worth of lost time fueling it. Vlad pulls you even closer, if it were possible. You can still hear the light sizzling where tears are undoubtedly still falling from his eyes. His lips are as soft as you remember, his movements still the same as well. The only difference was his temperature, a constant reminder that you were no longer the same.

A reminder of the reason you were in Transylvania to begin with.

Before you can say anything, Vlad pulls away from you. His left hand continues to hold you firm at the waist while his right moves from your cheek to smooth over the top of your hair, coming to a stop at the nape of your neck, cradling your head. There’s a furrow in his brows as his eyes flit across your face, “What is wrong my darling? Why does your heart panic so?” you close your eyes and gently shake your head.

“What about Gabriel, Vlad?”

“What about him?”

“The only reason we’ve come to Transylvania is so he can kill you, Vlad. He’s vindictive and will not stop until he sees you turn to ash before his feet. Oh this is all my fault,-”

“Do not say these things.” His right hand tilting your head to look at him, “How is any of it your fault, my darling? Fate is not your fault. You were meant to come back to me one day, and now you have.” A delicate kiss placed upon your forehead, “And as for Gabriel. I will handle him myself. Now come, we have somewhere to be.” Taking your hand and gently pulling you back the way you came.

When you make it outside, there's three women dressed in lavish silks, gossamer, and fine jewellery. You find yourself subconsciously clutching his hand harder when the three women outstretch their arms and move towards you. There’s almost an ethereal echoing coming from somewhere as the women surround you, cooing their praises. Delicate hands with thin, claw-like fingers move across you. One hand pats your hair, another down your arm, with a ghosting touch on your back. The women skit around, their movements are graceful, like a dance of sorts, and you find yourself in a trance like state.

“Oh Master,” says the red-headed one, who you recognize as the one Anna called Aleera, “She’s just as perfect as you said.” You find yourself blushing at the statement and the attention that’s being showered upon you. Two cold hands scoop up your face to bring you directly in front of the long black haired one, “You are absolutely stunning, my dear.” “Thank you” whispered quietly, your face practically engulfed in flames.

Casting a glance towards Vlad only to find he’s already looking at you, a gentle smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. The women stop their parade of affection with a singular lift of Vlad’s hand. “Have you taken care of what you needed to?” His voice echoing out with a seriousness to it as he reaches his hand out towards you. “They tricked us with the carriages, master, and escaped with the monster.” You can see the second that the anger forms in his eyes so you pull yourself away from the women to walk towards him, taking his hand and rubbing your thumb upon the back of his knuckles in hopes to sooth him. Your efforts work as he tilts to look down at you, a soft smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

“No matter. Van Helsing is heading straight for Budapest anyways. Aleera I want you to go and follow them, Verona you go with her.” and with a gesture of his hand the two turn into their other forms and fly off into the night, leaving just Vlad, yourself, and the black-haired woman. “Marishka, take my darling and get her ready for tomorrow evening.” You hear a quiet ‘yes master’ as Vlad places a small kiss in the middle of your forehead, before releasing you to a now winged Marishka. “Don’t worry my darling, Marishka is a gentle flyer.” And with that you’re lifted into the air.

~~~

You’re at a glorious castle in Budapest, a summer home, you remember Verona briefly telling you when her and Aleera finally catch back up. She works quietly and carefully to do your hair while you sit in front of the vanity, slightly nerved by the fact that you wouldn’t even be able to tell she was there if it wasn’t for her brushing and pinning your hair, the lack of a reflection startling. She makes small and polite conversation with you, including an apology for throwing you earlier in the town, as she admitted to not looking to see whom she had grabbed before she picked you up.

“We are truly very excited to have you within our presence, for many years we have all heard stories of you, the heartbreak Dracula felt at the loss of you and your child never truly went away, no matter how we tried to quell it.” Her accented voice lulls quietly through the dim candle-lit room, and you're briefly hit with a burst of guilt and sadness at the idea of them trying to do everything they could to make Vlad feel better, only for him to rebuff their attempts. You can’t help but offer her an apology.

“What for, my dear? You are here now and that’s all that matters, everything is as it should be.” and with that she finishes your hair, which has been gently pinned to your head, curls looking defined. Before you could say anything else she walks away as the two other brides enter the room. Aleera is the first to reach you, lithe fingers gliding down both sides of your neck as her cold hands come to lay delicately upon your shoulders. “You look magnificent,” words cooed to you, “truly stunning.” Finishes off Marishka, taking a seat next to you on the bench as she leans forward to reach for the jewellery.

You hear the shuffling of feet, what you assume to be Verona returning from wherever she had gone. When Marishka is finished clipping in earrings for you, you turn your head to find Verona holding a light blue dress in a style much like that of her and the others dresses. It’s complete with gossamer sleeving that opens up around your wrist and trails all the way down to the floor, a form-fitting partially transparent torso and a loose skirt made of a layered sheer chiffon material. “And now for the final touch.”

~~~

You look and feel like a true goddess as the girls lead you down a hall, you’re conscientiously aware of the ethereal echoing that has returned as they giggle while taking you down to the ballroom. The music grows louder and louder as you approach a large set of double doors, half of a masquerade mask is quickly slipped onto your face as the doors are open and you’re thrust into the room.

There’s hundreds of people in the room, ranging of all ages as you spot children up in the rafters. There’s people dancing, people performing on silks and with fire, and so many other things that it makes it hard to take in the grandeur of the room all at once. You’re aware of how you must look to all the others, jaw dropped and head constantly turning to take in your surroundings. When you turn your head to look back in front of you, you’re met with the sight of Vlad. He’s in his usual clothing, just with a gold cloak tied around his neck, a mask the same chromatic colour to match, with his hand outstretched towards you.

You wordlessly take his hand and allow him to pull you closer, his hands gently begin roaming, one hand quickly lifting the mask to take in your features before dropping it back down to rest on your face. “You look absolutely stunning, my darling.” A cold kiss pressed upon your lips, “May I have the privilege of dancing with you?” Eyes boring into your own, he quirks up the corner of his lips into an ever arrogant smirk. “Why yes you may.” Words whispered towards him quietly, acutely aware of all the eyes that are upon the two of you.

Vlad takes your hand and leads you to the spot directly in front of the platform in which a veiled woman stands upon. The rest of the guests clap as whatever piece of music is being played comes to an end, partners taking their places on the dancefloor. You quickly grab Vlad’s arm as a sudden realisation hits you, “Wait, Vlad, I can’t dance.” eyes wide with fear at the notion of making yourself look like a fool in front of all these refined people. He turns to you with a somewhat reassuring smile on his face, “Don’t worry my darling, you’ve danced this dance many times before. You know what to do.” A look of sheer disbelief covers your features, you open your mouth to throw a sly retort back to him but are promptly cut off as the woman on the stage begins a beautiful aria. He lifts your hand up delicately before softly spinning you outwards. All of a sudden you throw your arm out in a slow and graceful manner, the steps of the dance flooding back into your mind. When you spin back towards him there’s a certain look of, I told you so, overtaking his face, as he grabs your waist and pulls you towards him firmly.

He takes off his mask, then your own, before placing a kiss upon your lips. “I told you that you knew it.” as you both fall back into step with the others, “Of course,” smiling at him softly, “How could I ever forget the steps to the music of our first dance as husband and wife?” A puzzled look quickly takes place upon your face, “Is that the same singer?” question asked as you look back and forth between the veiled woman and Vlad. “You’ll find that many of the faces in this room, once unmasked, will appear very familiar to you.” He spins you until your back is to his front, subconsciously tilting your head to the side, exposing your neck for Vlad to place a cold kiss directly over your pulse point.

The tempo of the music picks up and you, on instinct, fall into a faster spin with Vlad. He dips you in front of a mirror, eyes snapping over to look at your reflection, the way it appears that you’re floating, Vlad nowhere to be found, none of the other guests can be seen either. You come to the sudden realisation that you’re a mere mortal in a room with hundreds of vampires, your mind begins slipping, remembering the fact that you’ve been choosing to ignore to instead relish in your past; Vlad is dead.

An undead creature who never grows old, who feeds on other humans, you realise how temporary your situation with him is in comparison to the rest of his life. This one minute moment in a sea of others that are sure to come, and all of a sudden, your life pales in comparison. You can feel your stomach turning with the sudden acknowledgement, a wave of nausea hitting you. As if he can sense where your thoughts are going he quickly scoops you back up, continuing the dance. “It’s alright my darling,” the hand upon your back quickly sweeping up and down in a soothing gesture. “There’s no need to fear, nothing is going to happen to you, everything is going to be alright.” He stares into your eyes, his own translating the sincerity of his words.

You feel yourself relax with the reassurance, head coming to rest just under his own, your eyes closing as you gently press your face into his chest. “What’s going to happen to me?” you don’t feel the need to elaborate, as you’re sure Vlad already knows what you’re asking. “Nothing that you don’t want. If you choose, it will be one brief moment of pain, and we can be together forever.” You pull your head away from him, your eyes still closed as he dips you once more, his hand skating up the front of your dress to rest upon your neck. “What if I choose yes?” “Then it would be my honour, my love.” A deep breath taken in, then he screams, dropping you in a blaze of fire as the cape he’s wearing begins to burn.

You stand up quickly, worriedly making your way towards him before you’re swept off the ground. All the air is knocked out of your lungs as you tumble onto a balcony, slamming straight into a door. Disoriented, you can make out someone saying your name and shaking your shoulders. “Wake up!” You gaze confused into the eyes of Gabriel, as you hear a voice from down below.

“Gabriel…” his voice is even, words spoken slowly. “Oh Gabriel…” you stagger towards the bannister in time to see Vlad step into the middle of the room, the cloak that he was previously wearing off to the side in a smouldering pile. All the guests have cleared a wide berth for Vlad as he stops and gazes upwards, a certain fear emanating from them. “Oh Gabriel, welcome to my summer palace.” A smirk thrown up towards him before he turns his eyes towards you, giving you a subtle nod as Igor bursts into the room with the Frankenstein monster in tow, screaming his revenge.

“Now that everything… is as it should be… Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you; Van Helsing!” The hundreds of vampires in the room unmask themselves, faces morphing into their sinister counterparts. The sound of screaming and screeching fills the room as you cover your ears, eyes cinching shut. Gabriel takes this as his moment to wrap an arm around you, pulling you away. You protest, squirming in an attempt to get out of his grip, which only causes him to hold you tighter and lift you off your feet.

He burst through the door that you ran into, where you’re met with Anna right next to the door and Carl at the end of the hall next to a stained glass window. Passing Anna she grabs your arm, beginning to pick up speed with Van Helsing, causing you to squirm more, “Gabriel put me down!” But the protests fall on deaf ears. He strides with purpose towards Carl, a walk turning into a run. “O-Oh where are we going?” Carl stutters, dropping a device onto the floor, “Out the window!” and before either you nor Carl can protest, you shatter the probably thousand year old stained glass as you jump through.

As you drop towards yet another river, a light equivalent to the sun fills up the entire palace, shattering all the other windows. The only thing you can think to do as you hurl through the air is to scream for Vlad, worried that he was caught in the blast of light, and then you once more drop into water.

As you resurface you can hear the echoing of screams in the aether, your head continuously goes up and down as you struggle to get your bearings and to reorient yourself. Once you come up for good you take gasping breaths. Gabriel floats next to you, panting for breath with a certain ecstatic look upon his face, “Carl, you're a genius!” “Yes, a genius with access to unstable chemicals.”

You watch as a boat with Igor, the Frankenstein Monster, and a few other strange looking creatures depart from the port, Van Helsing furiously swimming towards him, Carl and Anna following after. But you remain still. You can’t help but allow yourself to be consumed by the water for a moment, dropping back beneath the rippling current. The water is cold, all consuming, sending a shiver down your spine. You open your eyes, gazing up to see the moonlight cutting through the water and shining down to where you float. You watch the bones and remains of the vampires sink down to the bottom of the moat, the realisation that Vlad or any of the brides could be amongst them fill you with such an overpowering sense of loss. You clench your eyes shut and with the last little bits of breath in your lungs you scream. The air bubbles out of your mouth, floating upwards, you follow them, still screaming when you break the surface.

The scream gains the attention of Gabriel, Anna, and Carl, who now hold onto a portcullis that had come down from the castle. Your voice gives out, eyes going blurry with tears, choked sobs making their way past your lips. You hear Anna call your name in a worried tone, beginning to make her way over to you. “Stay away,” voice so quiet that no one should have heard it, but Gabriel gives a sharp “Why?” You lift your head up to look at him, trying to blink the rain and tears out of your eyes. You’re about to say something but you see the half-circular red mark that had welted and scabbed over peeking out of his partially unbuttoned shirt. You’d recognize that mark anywhere. Years of pouring over all the books on the supernatural that you could find in the Abbey, hearing stories from Carl about the creation of monsters.

Van Helsing had been bitten by a werewolf.

Sensing your gaze upon the mark he places his hand over it. You continue to stare at him, not saying a word as Anna reaches you to place a comforting hand upon your shoulder. You hear her quietly ask what's wrong, turning to look at her, you see an abundance of understanding and hesitancy in her eyes. Could she know? Know that you felt your allegiances slipping to the other side? It was certain that Van Helsing knew, given by the anger in his eyes.

You open your mouth to say something when the echoing sound of laughter comes through the air. You’d recognize that laugh anywhere. Three light shadows move through the sky, followed by one large dark shadow. You gasp as all 4 come swooping down towards the water, edges of wings slicing across the surface sending sprays arcing into the air. You watch as Carl and Van Helsing duck, Anna following their actions as well, her hand that was still on your arm tries to pull you down with her but before she can Vlad follows behind his brides, swooping down towards the water and plucking you from the surface.

He makes a sharp turn upwards almost grazing the portcullis before flying higher and higher into the sky. He then straightens back out as you hang below him, Vlad holding onto you under your armpits as Aleera slows down to allow him to pass her before she places herself directly in front of you. You turn your head to look at her, noticing the ball of dark fabric within her arms. Watching as she unfurls it to reveal a cloak, placing the hood on top of your head before fastening it in place just below your collarbones. When it’s on you she gives a sharp grin before letting out another laugh and speeding up to resume her spot with Verona and Marishka. The wind whips at your back, causing the cloak to wrap around your front, you feel yourself being pulled up and jostled around until you’re almost in a position that resembles a bridal carry. Vlad uses one hand to pull the cloak all the way around your body, nestling you against him. You pull the hood further over your head before wrapping your arms into the cloak, balling it into your fists to hold onto the fabric, you turn your head until the wind is at the back of it, and at no risk of blowing the hood off.

You shiver from the cold of your wet clothes, from the cold of the rain that is still falling, and from the wind that gets stronger from how fast you’re going through the air, the shivering leads to you being pulled impossibly closer to the creature that carries you, looking up to find sharp eyes already upon you, bat ears swivelling back and forth, listening for any signs of danger or discomfort. You can’t really read his expression, not in this form anyways.

“How is it that I always end up falling from dangerous heights into water?” giving a half-hearted smile to convey that you’re telling a joke, and that you’ll be okay. You’re not given a verbal response, just a deep chuckle and the slight digging of sharp claws into your back, almost like his little way of jokingly warning you to ‘knock it off’. You let out a small giggle, laying your head against him once more, before closing your eyes and drifting off to sleep.

~~~

‘The peace that I felt, the sense of homeliness within the presence of Vlad and his Brides. The comfort of having these people who loved and cared for one another begin to love and care for me was something that I cannot describe in its entirety to you.’

There was no telling how long you were into the flight or where exactly you were going when you woke up. Your clothes were dry and the rain had stopped, although the clouds wherever you were out hovered ominously in the air with the promise of more. You let out a yawn, trying your best to stretch out your limbs while not trying to move so much that you felt like you’d fall. You feel a large hand about three times the size of your own smooth itself over the top of your hooded head before a deep rumbling voice lets out a curt remark of “Almost there.”

It’s then that you see a large castle, much bigger than Castle Frankenstein or the one in Budapest. It has a bridge that leads nowhere, broken off not even one-fourth of the way across, surrounded by a deep abysmal ravine and peaks of snowy mountains for as far as the eyes can see, offering no way in, and no way out.

Unless you had wings of course.

The wives drop down around the halfway mark of the crumbled bridge and Vlad follows suit, dropping down effortlessly, transforming mid-descent, all with you still in his arms. He sets you on your feet slowly as the other three come towards you, their steps almost floating, the ethereal echoing filling the air around you once more. Hands come out to pat your hair and your clothes, various questions being thrown about; Are you alright? Are you cold? Do you need anything? You can’t help but fluster under all the attention, feeling your face grow warm. You go to answer their question before you’re caught off guard by a sneeze, which makes you shiver and bundle back into the cloak. They’re immediately sent into a panicked frenzy, going on about you falling ill from all the rain and cold, mumbles about a warm bath are the last thing you hear as they all disappear towards the castle doors, leaving you and Vlad standing there by yourselves.

You turn to look at him, only to find him already staring at you, not that you’re surprised. He has this soft look in his eyes, one that you saw many times throughout your marriage in your previous life, there’s a smile on his face and you could swear that there was colour in his cheeks.

You gaze around at your surroundings and are met with the sight of skeletons impaled on posts lining the bridge, giving Vlad an incredulous look you’re met with a look of sheer innocence. “Well I’ve seen this decor before.” laughing as you speak, “I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Vlad instantly responds without pause, wrapping his right arm around your shoulders, walking you towards the castle doors. “Oh really? So you’d have me believe that this is the doing of your brides?” feigning ignorance as you gently hit your forehead, “Oh silly me I had almost forgotten that you were married to Verona the Impaler.” sarcasm drips from your every word as he turns his head to look at you from under his brow.

The walk remains silent for the next few minutes as you make your way inside the castle and begin traversing up the stairs. “Vlad,” met with a small hum, “How did you find this place?” You’re met with silence, watching as various emotions subtly twinge his features. “I didn’t find this place. I was banished here.” He doesn’t elaborate as you come to a set of doors, arm leaving your shoulders to hold it open for you. It opens to an expansive room, with another door in the room that is currently open with gentle wafts of steam billowing out of it. You’re met with the brides, who are finishing up drawing you a bath. You thank them repeatedly, stating that they didn’t need to do that for you, but are quickly silenced as they leave the room, except for Verona.

“I’ll take your dress for you so it may be cleaned. The water has muddied it.” Giving a nod, you take off the cloak and move to drop it next to you before a hand swoops out and grabs it, throwing it over his forearm. Vlad then moves behind you to untie the laces of your dress, loosening it enough for you to drop it down your shoulders, where it is then promptly taken by Verona who leaves the room soon after.

You make your way to the tub, trying to throw a leg over the edge in a very ungraceful manner before a hand is quickly placed on the small of your back, stabilising you as you lower yourself into the water that was at a perfect temperature. You move to take off all your jewellery, realising that you’re still wearing your wedding ring on a chain. Taking off the chain you remove the ring, acutely aware of Vlad’s eyes on you, sliding it onto your finger where it rightly belongs.

“Are we still technically married?” question thrown thoughtlessly, “If I… you know, died.” growing quiet at the acknowledgement of your death, looking down and frowning to yourself. “Oh of course we are, my darling.” A cool hand tilting your chin back up to deliver you a kiss before pulling your head back some more to wet your hair. “Do not think otherwise.”

You sit in a calm silence as he gently washes your hair before you decide to address what was really bothering you. “So, you were banished? By who?” He’s quiet for a few moments, the only sound in the room being the gently scraping of his claws as he swirls your hair around. “My father.” he says, voice nothing but a whisper, “after you and I died, I had a vision. The Devil had come to visit me to offer me eternal life, on the one condition that I would have to feast upon the living. I didn’t want it at first, I knew you were already gone, and the thought of living eternally without you was too much to bear, but the Devil told me that I’d be able to get you back if I agreed, so without thinking I made a pact with him.”

Listening quietly as he rinses your hair and moves onto your body.

“When I awoke, I was in our home, in a pool of my own dried up blood. I saw the wreckage of the room and the rest of the estate and had no other option but to travel back to town. I walked on foot until I reached the Village where I was then met with the frightened looks of all the townspeople. When I arrived at the home of my father he was so disgusted by me and the demon that I had become that he had his men clap me in irons and walk me to a door of which there was no return, banishing me to this castle. I laid weak at the very edge of that bridge for many weeks, hoping that someone would come to let me back through, but when it was obvious that no one was coming, and that I was growing hungrier and weaker, I called upon the Devil once more, and he gave me wings.”

You turn to look at him when the sound of light sizzling reaches your ears. “Oh, Vlad.” Reaching forward, the water of the tub gently sloshing with your movements, you place your hands on both sides of his face, fingers swiping carefully under his eyes to stop the tears before they can cause anymore damage. You pull his face towards you, placing your forehead against his own, closing your eyes and basking in the comfort of his presence. “I’m so sorry.” “You have nothing to be sorry for, my darling.” Leaning forward to kiss him, you move one hand upwards to push the wayward strand of hair out of his face. His own hands come up to cradle your head, smoothing down over the back of your neck. “You would not imagine how torturous of an existence it was without you.” Voice hoarse and deep, his eyes darting back and forth across your face. “I think I could.” Leaning back up to kiss him once more, this one lasting longer than the previous one. You press your lips impossibly closer against his own, letting a soft noise of content escape your throat, that draws a hum from Vlad in return.

“You don’t have to talk about it anymore if you don’t want to.” Pulling away and giving him the most sincere look you possibly could. The droplets of water on your back had dried and left you chilled, quickly dunking your body back underneath the surface of the warm water while Vlad reached for a very soft linen, gathering up all your hair and gently patting it dry. “No, no, it’s alright, my darling. After the Devil gave me wings I travelled to feast and rebuild my strength, then I went looking for you. Your body had washed up on a bit of shore quite far down the river, the shore was connected to a small alcove of trees and flowers. I buried you there, along with Agnes, where no one would ever be able to bother you.” He finishes with your hair, moving to grab another linen which he holds out across both arms. You take the initiative and lift yourself up and out of the tub, grabbing onto his shoulder for support as he wraps the soft and plush fabric around you, before helping you out.

When you reenter the grand bedroom you find that a fire has been lit in the fireplace across from the bed, the flames roaring and flickering, filling the space with a comfortable warmth. You also find, to your shock, that your dress is sitting dry on the edge of the bed, cleaned and looking brand new. “Help me with it?” gesturing your hand to the dress, moving towards it as Vlad does the same, continuing with his story as he laces it up for you.

“My existence trudged by slowly and painfully for many years after that. Even though I no longer feel emotion the way I once did, I can still feel hints of it, little tuggings of yearning or sorrow. I needed something to fill the loss, and that’s when I found Verona. She was a princess, if you couldn’t tell, she had regality and poise and she was stubborn in a way that reminded me of you. Then Marishka, who was a dancer in a travelling show, and then Aleera, who lived in the Village with Anna.” You raise your eyebrows, even though he can’t see it. “I didn’t realise that Aleera was that young.” a taunting lilt in your voice, remembering that you were only twenty years old when Vlad married you in 1460.

He pulls a little tighter on the strings, causing you to gasp and whip your head around to give him a look that simply says ‘Seriously?’ You open your mouth to say something when your stomach lets out a sound that rivals that of the fire blazing in the room, a heat filling your face as you slightly pucker your lips out of embarrassment. He laughs at this, tying off your dress. “Come, let’s get you something to eat.”

~~~

You spend the next two days relaxing in the company of the Brides, the more time you spend with them the more you come to love them. Marishka is witty, Aleera is a gossip, and Verona is a scholar, and their varying personalities make for a refreshing change throughout the day. You had, however, indulged all the girls in stories of what Vlad was like when he was still alive, the wistful look in all their eyes making it hard to deny them anything. You didn’t leave out a single detail, telling stories that made the girls cry, giggle, and blush, saying things that Vlad would surely deny if he was ever asked about them.

Vlad had disappeared, to where exactly in the castle, you weren’t sure, but you were fairly certain it had something to do with the Frankenstein Monster and reviving the undead children. Even though the girls could keep you distracted you couldn’t help but have that nagging fear at the back of your mind; Van Helsing was still out there, and he wouldn’t stop until Vlad and the Brides were dead. Gabriel is vindictive and persistent, and you’ve seen what happens to those who test him. You’d expressed these feelings to the Brides, who had immediately began comforting you, the ethereal echoing and cooing bouncing off the stone walls as you were hugged and held while you spilled your every thought to them.

When you’d told them that Gabriel had been bitten by a werewolf, they all grew deadly quiet. The cooing had quickly turned into scared whispers that sent a chill down your spine before Verona quickly jumped up, changed, then flew off, presumably to pass this new information along to Vlad.

“Vlad can control the wolves though, right?” A look passes between Marishka and Aleera, before the latter turns to you, “Only after their first full moon, before that they pose so much trouble.” “We can be killed by stakes, holy water, and other things, but Vlad is the first of us, our master, and he cannot be killed so easily.” chimes in Marishka before also leaving, quickly following after Verona. “There is only one thing in this world that can kill Dracula.” words spoken softly, timidly, Aleera sliding a hand down your arm before she moves to leave. “Can you guess what it is?”

Yes, you could guess. A werewolf.

~~~

‘The final battle was beginning. I could feel myself being split in two, the half that was loyal to Anna, Carl, Van Helsing and the Vatican was fighting the half that was loyal to my husband, Verona, Marishka, and Aleera.

You had spent the rest of the night alone, sleep not finding you as you retired back to the bedroom, only to pace back and forth, nerves and nausea tearing at your stomach. It was later on during the witching hour when the door quietly opened, a dark figure making its way inside. “Vlad!” Crying out his name breathlessly, rushing to him to throw your head into his chest and your arms around his waist. His arms immediately find their way around you, pulling you so tight against him that there is no way to move, a gentle kiss pressed against the top of your head.

He bends his knees, one arm lowering to rest right beneath your butt, hoisting you up effortlessly into his arms before walking over to the bed and laying down with you atop him. Your head lays on his chest, yet the room is absolutely silent. There is no noise beneath your ear, no gentle pulsing of a heartbeat, just hollow silence. The two of you say no words, and truth be told you don’t really think any need be spoken. You both understand what is to come, the battle that is no doubt making its way towards you. Vlad just holds you, a hand atop your head, lithe fingers running through your hair in a soothing manner. You feel yourself drifting to sleep, eyes growing heavy. You can hear him mummering to you in a language long forgotten in your dreary haze, making out a few words here and there.

Another kiss is placed gently upon your forehead as the heavy covers of the bed are pulled up and over you, protecting you from the bitter cold of the castle. And with that, you sleep.

~~~

When you awake it is to the sound of thunder, and the view of lightning and pouring rain. There’s just the tiniest hint of light filtering through the rain, but the ever-prevalent darkness tells you that it’s almost nighttime, meaning that you’ve woken up just before everyone else. You step out of bed, stretching, before making your way over to the door. As you step out you’re met with the sight of the Dwergi roaming through the halls carrying various tools and papers. They don’t speak to you, they don’t even look at you, they just continue bustling down the hall as if you weren’t even there. You go the opposite direction of the Dwergi and make your way down the flight of stairs that leads to the connecting hall of the castle that will lead you to the wing where Vlad and the girls sleep.

It’s then that you can hear the frantic blubbering of Igor from the main entrance. “How did you- how did you find… it’s impossible!” Quickly peeking out from around the corner of the door, you’re met with the sight of Igor hanging from the wall, blubbering some more as the person in front of him throws a hand around his neck.

Van Helsing was here.

You quickly try to think of a way to get around them so you can warn Vlad that they’re here when a loud shriek fills the entire castle, reverberating off the walls so loudly that you have to cover your ears for a split moment. You can faintly hear Igor, “my master has awakened,” and you take that as your moment to quickly sprint across the hall when the attention of everyone is taken by the Frankenstein Monster.

You run up the stairs, following your instinct of where Vlad would be. You know that usually when he awakes he goes to the overseeing of the Dwergi working on bringing the children back to life, so you run as fast as you can to the Laboratory. Making your way up the spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower you’re hit with the strangest sense of Deja Vu, ignoring the pit in your stomach that tells you the last time you went up a staircase like this you died.

The doors open as you approach them, the Dwergi ever diligent in their appeasement of the masters of this home. You quickly stride across the room, dodging sparks and Dwergi before making your way to Vlad in the middle of the room. “Vlad! Vlad he’s here, Van Helsing is here.” words spoken in a panic, eyes wide open as you gasp for breath. You’re sure he can feel your fear, your heartbeat pounding wildly out of control, the whooshing of blood in your ears making it hard to hear anything else.

His eyebrows furrow before his facial features morph into one of sheer rage, face partially transforming as he lets out an inhuman screech. Not even a split second later, Verona, Marishka, and Aleera appear before you, awaiting word from Vlad. “If Van Helsing has truly been bitten, they will go for the cure, I want you to go and stop them. Stop them and bring the cure to me.” They disappear as fast as they arrive, flying off in a mixture of shrieks and laughs.

“And as for you, my darling.” Turning to look at you before you promptly cut him off. “No, I’m staying right here.” He protests, but you shut those down as well. “No, Vlad. You remember what happened the last time Van Helsing broke into our home and we were both apart from one another.” The question was rhetorical, and it seemed to garner the reaction that you wanted, Vlad seeming to be in deep thought. He slowly nods his head, but points back over to the door. “Fine, but you stay over there. Out of the way, you forget that you are still human, my darling.”

You wait anxiously by the door like Vlad told you, watching as lightning strikes and fills the room with an eerie green glow. Throwing your arms over your head for some form of protection as you hear a shout of “Give me life!” echo through the room. “One more bolt and my young will live!” You watch as Vlad suddenly becomes enraged, flying through one of the glass windows of the room.

Moments later Van Helsing drops through the open tower that leads into the middle of the room, setting a few Dwergi on fire as he bursts through machinery. He stumbles as he stands back up, face twisted in confusion and pain, looking around the room. He spots you by the door, in your dress, covered in jewels with your hair done, looking every bit the part of one of Vlad’s brides. He looks betrayed, and for a moment you feel a sharp pain in your chest, wishing that you could say something to him, but before you could even think of what to say, Vlad drops back down, quietly behind Gabriel, sneaking up on him.

“You are too late, my friend! My children live!” Vlad exclaims, stalking towards Gabriel, “Then the only way to kill them, is to kill you.” Nodding his head with a loose hand gesture, “Correct.” This causes Gabriel to laugh as he moves in front of the window, “Then so be it!” dropping his coat off as the clock strikes midnight. He transforms into a wolf with each toll of the clock as Vlad gives you a quick look before feigning surprise, maniacally laughing.

“We are both part of the same great game, Gabriel! But we need not find ourselves on opposite sides of the board!” Quickly changing himself as he and Gabriel begin fighting one another. You duck down quickly next to a barrel as they traverse the whole room, explosions following their movements.

You watch as Vlad throws a board off of himself, walking towards the middle of the room. “You are being used, Gabriel, as was I, but I escaped, so can you!” Before quickly flying off as Van Helsing jumps for him. You gasp as Vlad is thrown to the ground in a sound of extreme pain, revealing a broken wing. Watching as he jumps up to a platform, before falling, rolling over to his side to reveal that he is covered in blood and scratches. Van Helsing extends his claws before dragging them down a pillar in a threatening manner, jumping up to Vlad.

“Don’t you understand?” Backing away from Van Helsing, there’s a very obvious limp in his gait, causing you to step out from your spot, moving closer to where the two are. “We could be… We could be friends! Partners! Brothers in arms!” trying in vain to get away as Van Helsing catches him by the neck. You scream out his name, moving towards him before an arm is quickly gestured in your way, a sign for you to stay away.

“Did I mention that it was you who murdered me? It must be such a burden, such a curse, to be the left hand of God.” Quickly appearing behind Van Helsing, “All I want is life, Gabriel. The continuation of my kind.” He throws a look towards you before holding up his hand, ring finger suddenly missing, “And perhaps the return of my ring! Don’t be afraid Gabriel, don’t be afraid. I shall give you back your life, your memory.”

You miss the rest of what happens as a vial is placed in your hand. Snapping your head around your met with Verona, her vampiric face covered in scratches and bloody marks. “Give it to him, we must finish holding off the monster and the girl.” Flying back off to wherever she came from, you turn around right as Van Helsing jumps across the room, pinning Vlad to a piece of machinery, catching him off guard.

He struggles to fight him off, Van Helsing's mouth getting closer and closer to Vlads neck. Vlad is using both hands to try and keep the werewolf as far away from him as possible, so giving him the cure is out of the option.

There’s only one thing that you can do.

Running across the room you’re able to make it to the pair right as Vlad’s arms give out from the effort of keeping Van Helsing away. He goes in for the finishing move but before he can your shoe scuffs against the floor, gaining his attention. He turns around, growling, pouncing on you without even a second look. You gasp as you’re hit, vaguely registering Vlad scream as you fly through the air with the wolf, quickly sticking the syringe into his side as you hit against a pillar, landing limply on the ground.

Eyes wide open, but not seeing, slowly clouding over as you breathe your last breath, leaving nothing but a corpse on the floor.

~~~

“No! What have you done!” words screamed throughout the room, Dracula making an ear-piercing shriek as he made his way across to you, pulling you into his arms, gently cradling your head. Cries of pain and shock are heard throughout the room as Gabriel turns back into himself, dropping to his knees before the dead body of his friend.

Dracula is muttering words to you that Gabriel can’t understand as the three brides come bursting in through a window, one of them grabbing him by his shoulders and throwing him out the window onto the bridge that connects to the mirror they came through. On the bridge he is met with the sight of Anna, Carl, and the Frankenstein Monster slumped against the reflective surface. He approaches, shaking the shoulders of Anna and Carl to wake them up. Anna awakens first, groggily, “What is it? What happened?” placing her hand atop of Gabriels, the fog of her mind clearing away as she realises that Gabriel is crying. “What is it, Van Helsing, what has happened? Is Dracula dead?” He shakes his head, mummering your name quietly. “What about her? Is she alright?” He makes eye contact with Carl who is now also awake, watching as the realisation hits Carl, lip quivering “She’s dead.” Carl says with a finality, hanging his head and also crying.

Van Helsing places his hand and quietly murmurs the word that will get the door to open before standing up and limping his way through.

Damn the Vatican, as far as they’ll know, Dracula was defeated.

~~~

“No! What have you done!” words choked out through his injured throat. He lets out a shriek that will summon his Brides to him, running towards you before swooping to his knees, grabbing you, watching as your limbs remain limp, head flopping on a broken neck. He can feel the tears come, feel them burning tracks through his skin but he can’t find it in himself to care. He’s vaguely aware of Verona riding the room of Van Helsing, before all three of his brides drop sadly next to him, all of them holding onto you. Cries echo throughout the room, his pain is their pain, but their pain is also their own, given all the bonding they had done with you over the past few days.

He places one hand upon your chest, right over your heart, and that’s when he feels one faint, barely-there swoosh of blood travelling through the organ.

It’s not too late.

Ducking his head down immediately to latch his teeth onto your neck, draining you of your blood. He holds his arm out, feeling a nail slice down his wrist, not sure who’s but it really doesn’t matter. He holds his hand to your face as he continues to drink your blood, watching his own trickle into your mouth. He pulls away from you, leaning his head towards his shoulder to wipe his mouth off, waiting for the cut on his wrist to heal itself, deeming that enough of his blood had been shared.

You remain eerily still. Not a twitch of the muscles, a blink of the eye, nothing. “Normally there would be a reaction by now.” words murmured to himself, but are met by the supportive whispers and touches of his Brides. “Oh, my Lord.” Verona speaks, running a gentle hand across his face, “It takes some time, you remember how long it was until it took with Marishka. We waited almost all night.” Marishka murmurs her agreement, remembering the words spoken to her when she had awoken to her new life, ‘We thought you weren’t going to make it.’ But she had made it, and surely you would too.

“Let's move her to her room, master.” Aleera standing up and moving towards the door, “She will be more comfortable there.” Vlad can’t help but agree, moving his arm that wasn’t cradling your head under your knees and scooping you up, making his way towards the door. He walks quietly through the halls, dropping you gently on the bed before making his way to the bathroom to retrieve a damp linen to wipe the blood off with. When he arrives back in the main suite he notices that his Brides have already removed all your jewels and undressed you, finding a soft shirt that Vlad briefly recognizes as one of his own to take the place of the dress you were wearing.

He quietly wipes down your shoulder where he bit you, small flakes of dry and crusted blood coming off with ease. He then tosses the linen off to the side and takes a gentle seat next to you on the bed so as to not jostle you around.

Vlad is a patient man, and vows to sit and wait for as long as you may need.

~~~

You wake up in the room that belongs to you and Vlad. Sunlight shining in through the large windows, filling the room with tiny fragments of rainbows. You turn your head to the side and gaze upon your husband sleeping peacefully beside you, not being able to help the soft smile that overtakes your face. Leaning back down to place a flurry of kisses along the warm skin of his face, giggling quietly to yourself.

The quiet romanian muttering as he stretches all his limbs at once alert you to the fact that you have succeeded in waking him up, watching as he cracks one eye open for only a split second before it closes again. “It is far too early, my darling.” His arm comes to pull you back down towards the plush surface of the bed, wrapping you up snug against himself. “Too early? Vlad, it's daytime.” “Still far too early for my taste, and besides, you should be getting all the rest you can.” A finger poking gently at your stomach. “It will be good for you both.”

You don’t argue, cuddling up to him and placing your head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Wait, Vlad doesn’t have a heartbeat.

You snap open your eyes, the room is no longer sunny, it’s stormy and reeks of death. You’re covered head to toe in blood and Vlad’s dead body is laying in the centre of the room, hand clutching his chest, a pool of blood surrounding him.

You spin around, breathing, panicking, turning towards the doorway when a hand of claws snatches you up by the neck; Gabriel. He walks you to the window before throwing you out, you fall, plummeting towards your doom, when all of a sudden you stop.

You stop mid-air, something catching you. Turning your gaze upwards assuming you’d find something holding yourself, something that was preventing you from falling, only to find nothing but clear sky. You hear the gentle whooshing of wings, grey clipping through your line of sight out of your peripheral vision. Frantically looking around, slightly panicked you realise that the wings are yours. Looking down at the rest of you only to be faced with the sight of ashy grey skin, hands lifting up revealing lithe fingers with monstrous claws.

You don’t panic, no, instead you revel in it. Smiling to yourself as you launch yourself into the sky, wings working furiously to move you higher and higher, and you bask in the feeling of freedom that it brings you. You move up towards the clouds, white filling your vision.

And then you wake up.

~~~

You open your eyes, overwhelmed by everything you see.

It’s as if the whole world has changed, everything is so much more clear than it used to be. You can see everything; the intercrossing of the fabric of the sheets that lay overtop of you, the various colours of the flickering flames in the fireplace across the room, the detail of each individual snowflake that falls in front of the window. Turning your vision to the left, finding Vlad sitting on the edge of the bed facing the wall.

Moving a hand from where it lays across your chest to place it gently on his arm. He jumps in surprise as you snap him out of whatever melancholic reverie that he was in, head snapping around to gaze at you in pure disbelief and relief. He scoops you up into a sitting position as he pulls your torso against his own in what should have been, quite literally, a bone crushing hug. “I thought it hadn’t worked.” words muffled from where his head lays pressed against the crook of your neck. “You were so still for so long, I… Never, never leave me again, I couldn’t bear it.”

Pulling your head back slightly, Vlad doing the same, the two of you hold eye contact for a moment, opening your mouth to say something you instantly grimace, closing it back and reaching a hand up to grasp your throat, a searing pain now making itself known, a pain that you recognize as thirst. “Are you hungry?” Nodding your head to him at the same time the door to the room bursts open, Verona, Marishka, and Aleera pouring into the room in a symphony of ethereal echoings and giggles. Aleera is carrying a cup of a viscous red fluid which she then hands over to you. “Perfectly aged, to tide you over until we can get to the village.”

Taking the contents of the cup with greedy gulps, you find that it doesn’t taste as metallic as you would’ve thought, in fact it’s not metallic at all, it’s actually rather sweet. It helps the pain in your throat enough that you can pretend it’s not there, at least until you get some more. The other four people in the room watching your reaction, and as you tilt the cup all the way to the ceiling to try and get the last dregs from it there’s a deep chuckle from Vlad.

“Don’t worry, my darling, we’ll leave for the village and then you may sate your thirst.”

The girls grab you, pulling you up from the bed, once the sheet drops you realise that you’re back in your dress, fully looking the part of your new life. There’s giggling and excitement filling the air, and you can help but practically vibrate in place from the joy that’s coursing through your veins. Once you’re up you all prance out the door and into the hallway.

Vlad watches on in contentment at the billowing of green, yellow, pink, and blue fabrics through the hallway, the four of you radiating sheer joy and happiness.

You’re not exactly sure where you’re going, but you follow the girls willingly. They lead you to a large room with dramatic arches on the ceiling, and large, sheer drapes hanging down from various spots. There’s a thick stone coffin with no top lying in the dead centre of the room surrounded by tall candelabras and you assume that it’s Vlad’s, which leads you to wonder where the girls sleep. Across the room there’s a carved out arch that leads to nothing but a solid wall, and you wonder what it’s even there for. When Vlad finally does catch up to you he throws his arms out wide, welcoming all four of you to him. When you’re all together you begin to slide across the floor towards the wall, the second you come into contact with it, you seem to almost melt through it, coming out the other side to a room that you remember being in Castle Frankenstein.

It’s a portal.

There’s an open skylight in the room that it leads out into, and when the girls begin to transform you know that’s your exit to the village. They fly up, leaving you and Vlad alone in the room, but hovering over the Castle, flying around in circles until you’re ready to join them.

You stand awkwardly for a moment, turning to look at Vlad. “Um, how do I, you know,” arm coming up to gesture loosely towards the sky. “There’s really no way to explain it, you don’t think, my darling, you just do it.” Transforming himself, lapels melding into wings before he too, takes flight.

“Oh yes because that advice is so helpful.” mumbling under your breath even though you know that he can hear you still, nevertheless you try to take his advice, willing yourself to fly, closing your eyes tight and balling up your fists to focus. When you hear cackles of laughter close by you open your eyes back up, realising that you’ve lifted through the skylight and are in-fact flying. Your skin grey to match the wives, equipped with claws and teeth of your own.

You fly in a few test circles before giving a reassuring nod to them all. Then, you all take off towards the village. As you fly, you notice three horses racing through the mountains out of the corner of your eye, your newfound heightened senses allowing you to see miles ahead of where you used to be able to before.

Upon one of the horses, is someone in a shaggy brown cloak; Carl. On the second, someone with a head full of curls, bouncing behind them with the movement of the horse; Anna. And on the last, someone who wears a leather coat and a hat, someone who with all his training surely recognises the feeling of the eyes that lay upon him as his head turns to look back, someone who notices that there is one more bat in the air than there used to be, someone who ignores this fact as he turns back around and continues on his way.

And so do you.

Originally posted April 14th, 2023.

#dracula x reader #count vladislaus dragulia x reader #count vladislaus dracula x reader #Van Helsing (2004)#vampire x reader #1-800fandomqueen #mywriting

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komotionlessqueenmm · 3 years

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Imagine # 837

Gifs NOT mine. (Found on Pinterest.)

If any gif is yours (or you know who's it is) please let me know, so I can give you/them credit.

Gif credit goes to - Unknown.

Year posted - 2021

*I might extend this at a later date.

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bluedrawsanddreams · 6 years

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Van Helsing x Valerious! Reader

A/n: I have seen that movie on Netflix many times (I lost count), and thought about writing a story so suddenly. Enjoy!

Update: this story is edited.

As you hid behind a bush with Anna, your sister by your side, you kept your glance on Velkan, who was tied to a post by his hands in the middle of the forest. You had a bad feeling about this plan, but when you turn to look at her, she gave a reassuring grin, as if to say that the plan will work.

Since your father was missing 12 months ago, you, along with your older brother and sister, promised yourselves that you would kill Dracula before your ancestors will enter heaven. However, since you were the youngest of the two, they also made a promise to protect you, no matter the cost. Of course, you were determined enough to prove that you would take on Dracula or anything else, despite Anna or Velkan having to lecture you about your stubbornness and nearly getting killed.

You didn’t care, though. You just hated being the defenseless one.

Soon, a twig nearby snapped, causing Velkan to turn his attention in a different direction, maybe to where the creature is hiding. You couldn’t tell what he was saying under his breath, but you could tell that he is determined, just like you and Anna both are, to stop it.

Suddenly, the creature, now revealing itself as a werewolf, leaped out of the bushes, and Velkan jumped up on top of the post before the monster can catch him. He grabbed onto the rope and was pulled up, only enough for the werewolf to unsuccessfully jump up and grab him.

You then came out of your hiding place, followed by Anna, before one of the villagers stopped you. “(Y/N), don’t! It will kill you!”

“That’s my brother and sister out there!” You said and broke out of his grasp.

Velkan saw you both coming in and shouted at the villagers to cut the rope now, just as the werewolf turned to look at you with your weapons ready. It leaped off the post to get to you but fell right into the trap below it, and then is lifted up nearly to the top of the tree.

“My gun! Find my gun!” Velkan shouted, from a branch of the tree.

“Find Velkan’s gun! It has to be the silver bullets!” Anna shouted as she searched the ground for his gun.

You soon found his weapon, a bit far away from where the trap is.

“Move!” You pushed two villagers and rush to his gun, before the cage where the werewolf is in suddenly fell to the ground.

“(Y/N)! Look out!”

You look up to see the cage fall too close to you and suddenly made a dash, running for your life.

“(Y/N)! Run!” Anna’s voice called from afar, and the werewolf started chasing after you.

As fast your legs can carry you, with it not far behind you, you eventually stopped at the edge of the cliff.

“Oh, no,” you thought. “This is it.”

You turned to finally see the creature leaping at you, ready to make its kill. But then, Velkan pushed you of the way, and you can hear a gunshot, then a scream, his scream, which faded as he fell into the water below. Y

our dreaded thoughts are confirmed when you pushed yourself off the ground and saw ripples of the water move. As you stood there, heartbroken for the loss of your brother, Anna came out from the bushes and looked down in the direction you were looking for.

“This is all my fault,” you said through silent sobs. “It’s all my fault. I let that thing kill him.” “(Y/N), no. It’s not. We’ll try and find him if he lives” She laid a hand on your shoulder. “I promise.”

You then looked up to the horizon, as you heard Anna mutter, “God...help us.”

It wasn’t until a few days later, after you both came back in the village of Vaseria, that you saw two men walking to the well, as the people gave them glares and suspicious looks, their weapons at the ready. They seem to be talking about the reasons why they need to kill Dracula, you can tell. You followed Anna as she stepped up to the well, with you standing beside her.

“You, turn around,” She said to the strangers.

They did so, but one of them had a hat covering half his face. You were rather intrigued by this man, about the way he looked at you and Anna, who had her hands on her hips.

“Let us see your faces,” she said.

“Why?” The man with the hat asked.

“Because we don’t trust strangers.” “Strangers don’t last long here,” the gravedigger said, using his bar to measure the short man standing with the other.

“Gentlemen, you will now be disarmed,” you said, your eyes still on the intriguing man.

He reached into his coat, a gun in view as the villagers close in.

“You can try,” he said.

A few of the people back up a bit, seemingly afraid.

“You refuse to obey our laws?” You asked.

Anna looked at you, surprised by your confidence.

“The laws of men mean little to me.” He looked up at you, his eyes finally staring into yours.

To be honest, you are rather impressed with his supposed defiance and pride, and more intrigued about him.

“Fine,” Anna replied. “Kill them.”

You looked at her in complete shock, and the crowd starts to come on to the men.

“I’m here to help you two,” the stranger with the hat said, and they suddenly stop. “We don’t need any help,” said Anna.

“Really?” He replied.

He abruptly pulled a crossbow weapon, pointing at her. Luckily, you were able to spot Dracula’s brides coming in, and pull her down with you before he started shooting at them. The villagers scattered to their hiding places, while the man continued to shoot at them, the brides sometimes taking hits and sometimes dodging them.

“Everyone inside!” She yelled.

You pulled out your sword, prepared to fight. But out of nowhere, you felt your feet leaving the ground, and claws lifting you up. A cry escaped your mouth as you dropped your sword, and Anna rushed to try and grab you, with no success.

“(Y/N)!” She cried as you are lifted farther from the ground below.

Luckily, the stranger saw you being carried away and managed to grab you by the ankles, and the bride dropped you both because of the weight. He landed on the ground feet-first and caught you in his arms bridal style.

You both looked at each other for only a second, before he sent to you down quickly. “Stay here!” “No, you stay here! They’re trying to kill us!” You picked up your sword and went back to help Anna fight the three brides and get the villagers to safety.

You were able to avoid one of them catching you before they suddenly vanished.

That’s when you discover that the sun is already out, the reason why the brides disappeared. The stranger who saved you turned his attention and his crossbow to the well, and you and Anna did the same with your weapons in your hands ready.

The three of you looked down the well to investigate before the sun disappeared into the clouds. You can hear the short man nervously trying to alert the stranger about it.

Right at the moment, Aleera suddenly flew up out of the well, and grabbed you by your wrist, flying off the ground while laughing. The force knocked down both the stranger and Anna as she takes off with you.

“Do you like to fly, (Y/N)?” She laughed evilly.

Growling, you pulled out your knife and stabbed her foot, which caused her to let go, only to have Verona grab you as well. Before she can go any further, an arrow shot her in the foot, causing her to drop you again, and falling to a nearby roof.

You attempt to grab on, but your hands failed to grab hold, so you fell to the ground while letting out a scream.

The stranger, though, was quick enough to catch you again in his arms. Again, you both looked at each other, only a few seconds longer, before you remembered the situation you are in at the moment.

The two of you ran back to the well, before Marishka, another of the brides suddenly flew in and knocked the stranger to the ground, with you dodging her attack. You suddenly start looking around for Anna, and where the other two brides are, while Marishka stood on a fence, preparing for her next attack.

You then looked at the church, and an idea popped into your head.

“The church!” You called to the stranger.

He looked to the direction where you are pointing at, where the holy water is. After taking a few more hits from the bride, he saw that he is close to the crossbow weapon he had dropped earlier.

The short man called to him, “Here she comes!”, which spurred him to race quickly to the church.

He soon made it to where the water is, dipping his weapon in, and, as if in slow motion, he shot her straight into her heart multiple times, finally nailing her to the roof of a tower.

A roof nearby suddenly behind you blew, and Verona and Aleera flew away while crying in agony. Fear struck you as you rushed to where you were hoping Anna could be, while Marishka dissolved to a skeleton and let out a cry in pain.

As soon as you reached it, she only made it halfway out before you attacked her with a hug. She was caught off guard by it, but she returned the hug. She then checked your face for any injuries.

“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

“I’m alright,” you replied, breathing heavily. “Did they get you?” “No, (Y/N), they didn’t. Thank God for that.” “He killed her.” She looked at you confused. “The stranger, he killed Marishka.”

“I think I know who he is,” Anna said.

You followed her to see the people surrounding him, waiting to kill at any moment. You were relieved for your sister to stop them from doing so in time.

“What name, my good sir, do I carve on your gravestone?” You heard the gravedigger ask the stranger.

The crowd departed for you and Anna to walk through.

“His name is Van Helsing,” she said.

The villagers gasped and murmured at one another.

The name struck you the most. You have heard of him in stories from a few of your friends a few years back before your father went missing. You were most amazed by his methods, even though most people were irritated for him “murdering” people he had encountered, by how daring and reckless he is.

“Your reputation precedes you,” You said to him.

The man, now known as Van Helsing, looks at you and walks over to where you are standing. “Next time, you and your sister stay close. You’re no good to me dead.”

“Well, I’ll say this for you. You’ve got courage,” Anna continues. “He’s the first one to kill a vampire in over 100 years. And he saved me and my sister’s life. I say that earns him a drink.”

You looked at him when she said that he saved you from the brides. Van Helsing noticed you looking at him, and him grinning at you caused you to blush profusely.

“Your name is Van Helsing, huh?” you said to the man who saved you and Anna’s life. “I have heard of you in stories before, but I haven’t seen you in real life.”

“Gabriel Van Helsing,” he replied. “At least, that’s what I remember about my past.”

“So, how did you get here?” You asked him and the short man, who had introduced himself as Carl, while you and Anna walked down the hallway.

“We came by sea,” Carl replied, him and the other man following the two of you.

“Really? The sea?” Anna asked, curiosity and wonder in her voice.

“Well, yes.”

“The Adriatic Sea?”

“So, where do I find Dracula?” Gabriel interrupted the conservation with Anna and Carl.

“He used to live in this very house four centuries ago,” you replied. “No one knows where he lives now.”

“Our father would stare at that painting for hours, looking for Dracula’s lair,” Anna spoke up, walking to gather up her weapons. “So, that’s why you’ve come?”

“I can help you two,” he said.

Internally, you would love to let him help you, but deep down, you knew your sister wouldn’t let him do so.

As the two of you gather your weapons, Gabriel and Anna started discussing why the vampires attacked in daylight and the whereabouts of Dracula, and about the loss of your last nine generations of your family.

No, don’t think about Velkan, don’t think about him, you kept repeating the thought in your head, and attempted to hold the tears back.

“I’m sorry about your father and brother,” you turned to see Gabriel following Anna down the hall.

Don’t do it, don’t think about them. “I will see them again,” she said. “We Transylvanians always look to the bright side of death.”

“There’s a brighter side of death?”

“Yes. It’s just harder to see.”

The last part you heard before you found yourself fleeing to the room where you used to spend time in as a child and barely closing the doors when the tears finally are let loose.

Eventually, night fell, and you were still crying from losing both your brother and father and about messing everything else up in the past.

“It’s all my fault, Velkan,” you said to yourself. “I wish it was me instead of you.”

A thump came from somewhere in the house, and you stood up and walked to investigate the noise. Grabbing your sword, you search the place, fear growing in you quickly.

Your back touched something and turned abruptly before seeing Anna with her gun in her hand.

“Anna? What are you doing here?” “(Y/N), quiet. I think there’s a werewolf in here.”

You looked down to see wet footprints on the floor, and your eyes grew in terror. The two of you continued searching before you saw water drip from above you, and low growling came from behind you. Anna was the first to look up and shoot at the creature, causing you to run to hide.

Breathing heavily, you turn to run again, only to gasp and look up to see...

“Velkan?” You said in shock and happiness.

There he is, standing before you, alive and well, besides his hair being wet and his clothes torn to shreds.

He’s not dead, it must be a dream. You probably slept while you were crying, and are having a dream.

Yet, he is actually standing in front of you.

“(Y/N),” he replied, a smile on his face.

“Oh, my god, you’re alive,” you cried tears of joy, placing your hand on his cheek.

He wasn’t dead, he’s alive.

Unfortunately, his face changed from relieved to frightened.

“No. (Y/N), I only have a moment.”

“But there’s a werewolf--”

“Never mind! Listen to me! I know Dracula’s secret! He has a--” He stopped mid-sentence, and backed away from you, groaning and staggering backward.

You only stood there, terror and sadness overwhelming you as you watched your brother, your only brother, climb up the wall and gaze at the full moon, then back at you one last time.

“Run, (Y/N).” was the last thing he said to you before he transformed into a werewolf right in front of you, heartbroken that he is consumed by the curse placed upon him.

“(Y/N)!”

Gabriel’s voice gained the creature’s attention and he escaped through the window.

As Anna checked over you, Gabriel went out with the bullets meant to kill a werewolf.

“(Y/N)? What happened?” She asked you, worry filling in her.

“Velkan...” you said, crying.

Anna caught on what you meant, and together, you went to find him.

By the time you arrived at the graveyard, Gabriel was already prepared to shoot the werewolf. Though, to both of you, he was still your brother.

You suddenly rushed to him and pushed his gun up.

“NO!” You shouted.

The werewolf who was once your brother dodged the bullet and escaped climbing up a building.

“MOVE!”

“No!” You cried.

The creature has made it out over the house. Both you and Anna looked on before you felt Gabriel’s hand grab you by the neck, and your back colliding with the building. You cried out, your fingers wrapping around his hand to break free from his grasp.

“Leave her alone!” Anna cried, startled at the reaction.

He ignored her, his hand still around your neck.

“Why?”

“You’re choking me!” You gasped.

“Give me a reason not to.”

“I can’t. If people knew...”

He let you go and you coughed to let the air come back in your lungs.

“He’s not your brother anymore, (Y/N)!” He shouted.

You and Anna looked at him, confused and shocked at the same moment.

“You knew?” She asked him, anger and hurt in her voice.

“Yes.”

“Before or after she stopped you from shooting him?” You both walked to where he is standing.

“Before.”

Betrayal and anger took over you. He knew about your brother the whole time? Without even telling you? How could he?

“And still you tried to kill him!” You yelled at him in your rage.

“He’s a werewolf. He’s gonna kill people!”

“He can’t help it! It’s not his fault!”

“I know, but he’ll do it, anyway!”

“Do you understand forgiveness?” Anna asked him, angry at him for not telling her as well.

“Yes, I ask for it often.”

“They say Dracula has a cure.”

“Then, if there’s a chance we can save our brother, I’m going after it,” you said to them and turned to leave, but Gabriel stopped you.

“No, I need to find Dracula.”

“And I need to find our brother! He gave his life for us. He’s the only family we have left. We despise Dracula more than you can ever imagine. He has taken everything from us, leaving us alone in this world.”

Turning away, uncontrollable soft sobs came out of your lips, and you crossed your arms in defeat. Anna placed a hand on your shoulder since she understood your pain and loss.

It was the truth. Velkan had given up and risked his life to save you and Anna both, only to be taken from you again when you just found him alive. And Dracula had stolen everything you loved dearly away from you, and left you alone and defenseless against the world.

You were the most determined to finish him off more than Anna ever is, to avenge your father and brother, too.

“To have memories of those you loved and lost...” you can hear Gabriel say, to you and Anna presumably. “Is perhaps harder than having no memories at all.”

You both turned to see him looking at you with soft and determined eyes.

“All right. We’ll look for your brother.”

As you approached the Frankenstein castle, you talked to the man about your personal goals, to the part when you, Velkan and Anna had vowed to stop Dracula.

Gabriel had explained to you that he was sent from Rome by the Knights of the Holy Order, an organization hidden from the world, which dedicated themselves to protect the world from deadly monsters and nightmarish villains. You were interested in his work, even though you have been told by others that he was known as a murderer. Anna walked ahead of you, though she can clearly hear the conversation going between you two.

“So why do you do it, this job of yours? What do you hope to get out of it?” You asked him.

“I don’t know. Maybe some self-realization.” He examined the ground for footprints and looked up for clues.

“What have you got out of it so far?”

“Nightmares.” He saw a tuft of fur on a nearby branch, and taking it in his hand, examined it.

“Werewolves only shed before the first full moon,” Anna replied, taking the fur to look at it closer. “Before the curse has completely consumed them.”

You hated to think of Velkan trapped in a curse such as this.

The three of you rushed over to where the castle of Frankenstein is still standing.

“What is this place?” Gabriel asked you.

“Castle Frankenstein,” she answered. “But it should be abandoned.”

“I don’t understand,” you spoke up. “The man who lived was killed a year ago. A grave robber, among other things.”

“A year ago,” Gabriel repeated. “It was just after that your father went missing.”

You both saw lights and flashes coming through a window.

“Yes, he was looking for Dracula. He was on his way to the sea.” You heard Anna say to him.

“I’ve never been to the sea before. I’ll bet it’s beautiful.” You said to yourself.

You can feel his gaze falling upon you, and you were unable to hide your blushing.

After finding an old entrance that would lead straight to the lab, the three of you came to a room full of eggs, something you have never seen before in your life.

“Offspring.” You heard the man beside you say.

“What?”

“A man with three gorgeous women for 400 years. Yes, vampires are the walking dead.”

“It only makes sense their children are born dead,” said Anna, taking your hand cautiously.

“He’s obviously trying to bring them to life.”

As you slowly made your way between the cocoon-like pods with your sister and Gabriel, you felt fear growing in you. Why do you always have that fear inside when there’s nothing to be afraid of yet?

“Dracula and his brides only kill one or two people a month,” he said, still looking at the pods.

“So, if he brings all of these things to life...” you started.

Suddenly, electrical lines appeared and touched the pods variously. You gasped and backed away, with Anna standing in front of you protectively. A second later, the electric lines are gone, but the eggs started moving slowly, causing him to move towards one and pull off his glove.

“What are you doing?” Anna asked him.

“I want to see what we’re up against,” he answered, and began pulling off the outside of the egg.

You looked away in disgust, not wanting to see what is about to come out of it. Finally, you heard him stopped and you turn your gaze to see him only looking at a half-opened pod.

“So this is what get when vampires mate,” He muttered.

As he reached his hand in, a small creature suddenly popped out, another one popping out beside Anna. You let out a scream and you three backed away in fear, as other electrical lines appeared on more of the pods. Soon, more of the offspring abruptly came out and started flying to wherever they are going.

“Come on!” He exclaimed, and you and Anna followed behind.

One of the vampire offspring started flying towards you, but luckily, you were prepared and pulled your sword, slashing at them. Gabriel saw you and did the same with his gun.

“This is where I come in.” “No! Wait!”

But her warning came too late, as you swung your sword at any creature that made its move on you, while he shot the others. A vampire started for you, but he managed to shoot it before it could land on you. You spun around and saw him with his gun.

“Thanks,” you said and finished off the last remaining offspring.

You saw Dracula looking at you in anger, with the man following your direction.

“Now that we have your attention,” he said to him.

Dracula growled and flew off the balcony towards you. Gabriel then took you by the hand and you both made a quick dash for escape. Unfortunately, the doors suddenly closed, as if on its own, leaving you no other chances of escape.

A shadow flew over, and you rushed to find someplace to hide, Gabriel no longer by your side. Dracula, though, landed in front of you, and you stopped, grabbing your sword in a firm hold.

“I can tell the character of a man by the sound of his heartbeat,” he said, looking upwards, and started clapping his hands. “Usually when I approach, I can almost dance to the beat.”

Then, he slowed down his hands together. “Strange that yours is so steady.”

Where in the hell is Anna? you wondered.

Then you knew she must have gone to find Velkan before something bad happens to him.

“Princess (Y/N) Valerious,” Dracula said when he saw you, a devilish grin on his face.

You slowly backed away from him, but he kept coming closer every step you took.

“How wonderful of you to come to visit me. You look lovely as always.”

“I did not come here to see you, Count,” you said to him in disgust. “What have you done to my father?”

“He was no longer useful to me, but I did find another one, suitable to bring my children to life.”

Your eyes grew in horror, and a scream came from somewhere else, something you are familiar with.

Could it really be?

“No. Velkan.”

“Correct,” he answered as if he had read your mind. “Your brother has werewolf venom in him, that I believe he would be of greater benefit. He wouldn’t let harm come to you and your sister, I see.”

“Leave them out of this!” You yelled enraged at him and struggling to keep tears from falling.

“Very fond for you and her, he was. And perhaps, you can be my new bride. I’ve planned on looking for one.”

“Over my dead body.”

“With pleasure.”

Before Dracula can take another step closer towards you, a small flaming object fell to the ground behind him. As he turned, Gabriel suddenly fell from above in front of you and drove a silver stake right into the monster’s heart.

He backed away and said something in Latin.

However, Dracula was somehow still alive and looked to see Van Helsing, who was as shocked as you are.

“Hello, Gabriel,” Dracula said and pulled the stake out of his chest.

The other man instantly stepped in front of you protectively.

“Is this your silver stake?” Dracula threw it to the floor and kept his gaze on him. “How long has it been? 300, 400 years?”

Gabriel only looked at the vampire, confused.

“You don’t remember, do you?” He walked slowly towards you both.

“Exactly what is it I should be remembering?”

“You are the great Van Helsing. Trained by monks and mullahs from Tibet to Istanbul. Protected by Rome herself. But, like me, hunted by others.”

“The Knights of the Holy Order know all about you. It’s no surprise you would know about me.”

“Yes, but there’s much more than this. We have such history, you and I, Gabriel,” Dracula continued.

How does he even know his name?

“Have you ever wondered why you have such horrible nightmares? Horrific scenes of ancient battles past.”

“How do you know me?” Gabriel asked him suspiciously.

A mix of a roar and a scream echoed behind you, your mind still fixed on Anna trying to save Velkan.

“Would you like me to refresh your memory a little?” Dracula asked, walking towards the man. “A few details from your sordid past.”

Gabriel pulled out a crucifix and held it in front of Dracula, who grabbed it and it burst into flames at his touch. As he let go, the crucifix has already melted to nothing more than a liquid and dropped to the ground. You and he were both petrified about this.

“Perhaps that is a conversation for another time,” Dracula stated to him. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born in 1422. Murdered 1462.”

Cries and screams of agony echoed through the room this time and caught his attention. As soon as he did, Gabriel took your hand again, and you both made it to an old elevator, using one of his devices to cut the rope holding it, and you both went straight up.

By the time you have made it to the top where Anna was coming down the stairs, Velkan was already transforming back into the werewolf again.

No, we’re too late, you thought, we lost him.

“I think we overstayed our welcome,” Gabriel exclaimed to Anna.

He shot a line with a grappling hook that connected to a tree a few seconds later.

You turn around to Velkan one last time before he completely changed to the monster.

“(Y/N), hang on!” You hear Anna say.

A device was placed in your hands. You listened to her and connected it on the line. Following behind the two, you barely made it unscratched before the werewolf can catch you.

Halfway to the other side, however, the line above you suddenly snapped from behind, and you swung safely to the ground, while the creature fell to the water below. You sat up to see the tower almost falling to ruins, destroyed by the lightning.

“Are you alright? (Y/N)?” Anna asked you, kneeling on your level.

By then, tears started falling from your eyes, and your sister embraced you over failing to save Velkan.

By the time the three of you have found a dry shelter, the rain had already poured down.

But you didn’t care about it. You were so focused on how Dracula still lives through murdering attempts made by the villagers.

“A silver stake? A crucifix?” Anna exclaimed. “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! Do you understand? No one knows how to kill Dracula,” You spoke to the man.

“Well, I could have used that information a little earlier,” he stated.

Defeated, Anna sighed and walked a few inches from him. “You were right. I’m sorry. He’s not our brother anymore.”

Gabriel approached her, and taking off his hat, placed it on her head. She only smiled at the action. As much as you hated to admit, you both were starting to like the man.

“Do you have any family, Mr. Van Helsing?” You asked.

“Not sure,” he responded. “I hope to find out someday. That’s what keeps me going.”

He pulled out the cork from a bottle of green liquid and handed it to you, but you declined. “I’ll pass.”

He handed it to Anna, and she gladly took it. “Here’s to what keeps you going.”

“Absinthe. Strong stuff.”

Anna took a short sip of the drink and returned it to Gabriel.

“Don’t let it touch your tongue. It’ll knock you on your--” She didn’t get to finish her sentence when the ground below you broke loose, and you knew no more.

When you came to, you felt pain on your lower back for only a moment before it disappeared. As you sat up groaning, you heard a loud growl, then a scream, and terror filled within you again.

Please, don’t let it be that monster, you thought.

When you climbed out of the rumble, you saw, to your relief and horror, that it’s not vampires or the werewolf.

A large man is walking towards your sister, trying to get away from him. Your protective instincts kicking in, you pulled out your sword and slashed him in the back. When you did, he immediately spun around and knocked you down to the floor, causing you to lose your weapon in the process.

“(Y/N)!” Anna cried.

You immediately scrambled away from the man who made his way toward you. You finally saw the face of the man who is stalking towards you.

“Oh, my god! The Frankenstein monster!” You said fearfully.

“Monster?! Who’s the monster here?” He lifted you up by your shirt while you whimpered, terrified. “I have done nothing wrong, and yet you and your kind all wished me dead!”

Gabriel quickly came up from behind him out of the water and shoved him against the wall, which made him drop you. As you watched him being thrown back into the water, the Frankenstein monster looked at you and Anna again and started heading right towards you.

“What do you want?” Anna shouted-asked him, her arm protectively in front of you.

He stopped suddenly at the question.

“To exist,” he responded.

Before he can do anything else, darts are blown on his back, and you two got out of the way as he fell against a wall. You look to see Gabriel holding a blowdart, and then Anna pulling out her gun to kill the creature.

“Anna, don’t!” You stopped her, grabbing her wrist and lowering it.

“We must kill it.”

“Wait.” The man said to your sister.

“If you value your lives and the lives of your kind,” the creature-man said to you three, still on the ground, the darts wearing him down. “You will kill me.”

Anna started again, but you stopped her the second time.

“If Dracula finds me. I am the key to my father’s machine. The key to life. Life for Dracula’s children.”

“He already awakened them last night,” Gabriel replied to the Frankenstein monster.

“Two. And those were from only one bride. From one single birthing. And they died as they did the last time he tried.” The darts are taking him over to sleep. “Only with me, can he give lasting life.”

“There are more? More of those things?”

“Thousands. Thousands more.” The last thing the monster had said before his eyes fell and sleep overcame him.

Anna was about to shoot him, but Gabriel was quick enough to prevent her. “No.”

“You heard what he said.”

“My life, my job is to vanquish evil. I can, I can sense evil. This man, thing, whatever it is, evil may have created it, may have left its mark on it. But evil does not rule it so I cannot kill it.”

“I can.” You stopped her before he can do so.

“Not while he’s here.”

“(Y/N), please...”

“As much as I fear that thing like everyone else, I can’t let anything happen to him, too. He’s been through too much for too long. Let’s not make it worse for him. And besides, our family spent 400 years trying to kill Dracula. Maybe this poor creature can help us find a way.”

Anna looked hesitant at first but seeing that neither you or Gabriel will let this creature get hurt, she looked like she would give it a chance.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a soft click came from the side of the damaged building, and you both saw the werewolf, your controlled brother, watching you with predatory eyes. Heartbroken and determined at the same time, you took out your gun and shot at him as much as you can.

He dodged the shots and escaped through the opening that you had fallen through.

“Oh, my god. He’s seen us,” Anna said in horror. “Now, they’ll come for him, and neither you or us will be able to stop them.”

“If I can get him to Rome, we can protect him there,” Gabriel replied.

“So, run through me this again,” you said to Carl, while the Frankenstein monster watched you both, though you paid no mind to it. “A painting came to life, where two men, one into a werewolf, and the other, a vampire, began fighting fought each other? Yet, you have no idea what it could mean?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I said,” Carl responded. “Do you?”

“I have no clue, either.”

The five of you-consisting of Gabriel, Anna, you, Carl and the Frankenstein monster-are traveling back to Rome so that the Holy Knights of the Holy Order could protect him from the hands of Dracula and his brides. Along the way, you took turns driving the carriage, so that one of you could rest. By the time you have arrived in Budapest, you switched the carriages with the one filled with stakes if the brides tried to attack you again.

With Gabriel driving the one with the trap, you started to worry about him. Sure, he is called a murderer by most people, but you feel like he was kind and daring, when he had saved your life back in Transylvania, the first time you met him.

Carl noticed your expression and tapped you on the shoulder. “Are you worried about Van Helsing, (Y/N)?”

“What makes you say that?”

“I can tell that you are fidgeting, and glancing out the window all the time. You care about him deeply, do you?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s very brave of him to try and protect something like this creature-no offense,” you apologized to the Frankenstein monster, who grunted in response. “And when he offered to help us defeat the man who stole everything from me and Anna, I can tell he was sent to not only help us but save us, too.”

“You must have feelings for this man,” the Frankenstein monster replied to you. “He worries about you more than your sister ever does. I saw it in his eyes when you volunteered to stay with us. And I believe he has feelings for you, too.”

You turned your gaze away from their own and stared out the window.

Is it really true, that Gabriel Van Helsing, the famous monster hunter and supposed murderer named by everyone who encountered him, has feelings for you?

No, it can’t be true, but you wanted to believe it.

You heard sounds of horses, and you look up, with excitement and relief, to see him, unscathed and alive, riding on the horses that were steering the carriage trap.

A loud boom and a female scream both confirmed that the trap has been set off, and by the sound of that cry, you can tell that it was Verona’s.

Now, it was only Aleera left, you thought.

When he got back on the carriage being driven by Anna, he looked inside to see you grinning at him, and he grinned back at you in return. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, when your face changed to horror.

“Watch out!” Your warning reached Anna and Gabriel’s ears in time, and they ducked down just as the werewolf jumped in front to get them.

Broken glass and ablaze of fire were heard from above, but you couldn’t see the creature anymore. On your side, Gabriel was dangling, while Carl started to help Anna get back on from the other. As you opened the door, the Frankenstein monster stopped you abruptly.

“I can help!”

“You won’t kill us?”

“Only if you don’t hurry.” He held out the locks and you found the key to unlocking it as fast as you can.

He then held you by your waist gently, and you managed to grab Gabriel’s hand when a piece he was holding on broke off. Lifting him back to the front with the help of the creature, you leaned back, and he sat back as well.

“Thank you,” you said to him, and he nodded.

But Carl suddenly whimpered, and the face of the werewolf appeared at the back window. You suddenly screamed, loud enough for Anna and Gabriel to see him standing where the fire had grown bigger.

The Frankenstein monster screamed as well, as the roof has fully caught on fire. You grabbed both his hand and Carl and kicked open the door on his side.

“Jump!” You shouted.

You, Anna, the monster and Carl jumped to the ground, while a gunshot and a monstrous roar came to your ears. The carriage crashed and was inflamed on the road ahead of you. You sat up, breathing heavily, and looked around for any signs of the man.

“Where’s Van Helsing?” Anna asked.

When no one around you responded, you shot up and ran off to where he and the werewolf went off to, Anna following you behind.

The morning had come, and by that time, Velkan was lying against a rock, already dying.

“Velkan,” Anna whispered.

You both ran to where he is. She lifted him up, and his eyes landed on you two. You couldn’t hear her, but she had begun crying as he slowly faded away.

“Anna...(Y/N),” he raspily said. “Forgive me.”

A sigh escaped from his mouth, and he sunk into her arms. You shook your head, backing away and covering your mouth with your hands.

“We will see you again,” she said and kissed his forehead, before standing up slowly and embracing you entirely, with you crying on her shoulder.

Footsteps are heard from behind you, and you never got a chance to stop her before she pushed Gabriel, who is holding his chest, against a tree.

“Anna, no!”

“You killed him. You killed him!” She yelled at him.

Even though he had killed your only brother, you knew he had to do it.

“Now you know why they call me a murderer,” he said.

Anna stopped for a second, and you knew the reason why when she moved his coat to see a bite.

But not just any bite. A werewolf bite.

You gasped and stepped away from him, Anna following your move.

“Oh, my god. You’ve been bitten.”

As she moved away from him on the side of the tree she had pushed him against, he only stared at you apologetically, but you remained where you are.

“Oh, my god. What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?” You fearfully said to yourself, your hands covering your mouth.

He looked from the bite back to you, possibly worrying about what would happen to you if he would be turned against you.

He didn’t want to hurt you, not after you saved each other’s lives earlier.

A loud thump nearby and evil laughter quickly caught your attention, and you look just in time to see Anna being carried away unconsciously by Aleera.

“Anna!” You shouted.

Gabriel followed you until you both stopped at the edge of a cliff. As you looked on devastated, Carl and the Frankenstein monster arrived to see Aleera carrying your sister away to the town of Budapest.

“No...Anna,” you sobbed.

You lost your brother, you can’t lose your sister, too. She had promised that she would protect you, the same way you did.

“We’ll find her, (Y/N),” he rested his hand on your shoulder, but you didn’t flinch at his touch. “Somehow, we’ll save her.”

Arriving at the small town, the four of you are suddenly stopped by the last bride, who looked at you while clicking her tongue.

“So much trouble for my master. So much trouble.”

“What do you want?” The man beside you asked her impatiently.

“The master commands a trade,” she responded to him, a wicked smile on her face. “The monster for the princess.”

“I swear to God,” you said to her, rage filling within you. “If you ever so much lay your teeth on Anna before we have her back, I will put my sword through your heart.”

You reached for your sword, but the Frankenstein monster stopped you.

“Somewhere public. Lots of people.”

You and the monster turned to face Gabriel.

“A place where your master will be less inclined to expose his other side.”

Aleera’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, and the wicked smile came back again. You hated that grin.

“Tomorrow night is All Hallows’ Eve. Here in Budapest, there is a wonderful masquerade ball.”

She then flew and disappeared behind the wall while laughing maniacally. As soon as she was gone, Gabriel groaned and grabbed his chest. You held him so he wouldn't lose his footing. Carl seemed worried and went to check his chest.

“Are you all right?”

“No.” He stopped him before he can do so.

The creature, however, unconvinced, shoved you out of the way and pulled off the coat to let him and Carl see the bite clearly. You stepped in his view, but he had already seen it.

“He has been bitten,” he stated. “Bitten by a werewolf. Now you will become that which you have hunted so passionately.”

Gabriel out the dart weapon from his coat and raised it to his lips slowly.

“I am sorry,” he said.

“May others be as passionate in their hunting as you,” the Frankenstein monster replied.

He finally pressed the weapon against his mouth and blew a dart straight into his chest.

A while later, Gabriel and Carl had placed him in a hole, in a small building, where there is an unlikelihood someone will find him. They are already dressed up in their masquerade disguises, but you were almost finished dressing in your own.

“Well, they won’t find him in here,” you heard the man say.

“I’m sure this is some sort of sin,” Carl said worriedly.

“Don’t worry. God will forgive us. We need to save Anna.”

“You don’t think the hat’s a bit much, do you?”

“Carl, help me!”

“Oh, right.”

As you put your (H/L) (H/C) up in an (H/T), you can hear a gravestone being moved in front of the door of the building.

“How many commandments can we break in one day?”

“(Y/N), are you finished yet?” Gabriel called you from the other side.

“I’m almost ready.”

As soon as you stepped out, he stopped and gazed at you in awe, dressed in an (R/C) dress, while you blushed at not only his amazed stare at you but because of the way you dress.

“Wow, you...look amazing, (Y/N).”

Thankfully, your mask hid most of your blushing, which you thank God internally for.

“Anyway, according to the book, you won’t turn into a werewolf until the rising of the first full moon,” Carl said to Gabriel while following behind him. “That’s two nights from now. Even then, you’ll still be able to fight Dracula’s hold over you until the final stroke of midnight.”

You followed the two men as well.

“Sounds like I have nothing to worry about,” the other man responded.

“My God, you should be terrified.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry.”

You laughed as Carl apologized. But on the inside, you are more terrified for Gabriel than he was. If he got stuck under Dracula's control, who knows what he’ll do to people, or maybe, to you.

“Well, we still got 48 hours to find a solution. You sure he can’t get out of there?”

“Not without some help from the dead.”

After the three of you managed to slip in the Budapest castle, thanks to your disguises, you can tell lots of people are in there, celebrating All Hallow’s Eve as well.

As you scanned the crowd, looking for Anna, Carl suddenly pointed somewhere below you. “Ah, there they are.”

Just like he had said, two people, one which you hated to see: Dracula--and your sister, who looked uncomfortable near him, more than you ever were before.

“No, Anna,” you said to yourself. “We have to do something.”

“Carl, I need you to do something,” Gabriel said to the short man.

You looked at the two, as he whispered his plan to him, and you looked on at the uncomfortable conversation between Anna and Dracula. As soon as he finished his plan, he turned to you.

“What did you tell him?” You asked him.

“(Y/N), listen to me. Stay here, and take down anyone if they tried to get you,” he said.

“Just be careful, please.”

He nodded and you took a mace from a knight armor for protection while he swung from the trapeze swings.

Just as Dracula was about to bite Anna, you saw Carl suddenly shove a flame-breather, making him spit fire into the vampire. Gabriel managed to grab your sister, and you ran to them before he set her down.

“Anna?” You said, snapping her out of the trance.

She took off the earrings and the hairpiece, before a voice you dreaded came from below.

“Gabriel. Oh, Gabriel.”

The three of you walked to the balcony, and Dracula looked up at you, taking off his cape that was aflame.

“And (Y/N). Welcome to my summer palace.”

Another voice appeared, and a child called out to him. Your eyes immediately grew with terror, when the Frankenstein monster is being rolled in the ballroom, shouting curses and profanities at the people holding him.

‘No, he’s got him. We’re too late.‘

“Now that everything is as it should be...ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Van Helsing!”

At the mention of his name, everyone removed their masks and revealed their vampiric forms. You both made a quick dash as the entire crowd started chasing after you.

Carl immediately met up with you, holding a ball-shaped device as you locked the door behind you.

“Now I know what it’s for! Now I know what it’s for!” He exclaimed. “Where are we going?”

“Through that window!” You shouted in unison.

As Anna and Gabriel both took him by his arms, he took you by your hand, and you crashed through the window to the water, right before the device Carl had dropped suddenly exploded, killing the other vampires that had been chasing you.

You barely had time to breathe before you hit the water, but you felt a hand grab you by the arm and pulled you straight to the surface, and you gasped and coughed for breath. You then saw that Anna managed to bring you back up so you wouldn’t drown.

“Carl, you’re a genius!” Gabriel said to his acquaintance excitedly.

“A genius with access to unstable chemicals.”

A splashing sound caught your attention, and you saw that the Frankenstein monster is being carried away with Dracula’s assistant, and the Dwergi.

Gabriel was the first to swim after the boat as fast as he could, with you, Anna and Carl following behind him. Unfortunately, you weren’t fast enough to reach them in time, before the gate had shut, leaving you separated from the creature.

“I’ll find you!” He shouted to him. “I’ll get you back and set you free! I swear to God!”

You watched Dracula and Aleera fly away with the boat floating out of your view.

“We must save him,” you piped in.

“No, you can’t,” Carl said.

You and Gabriel looked at him in confusion.

“Why?”

“I cabled Rome earlier to apprise them of our situation.”

“What did they say?”

“Even if you somehow kill Dracula, Rome orders you to kill Frankenstein as well.”

“But he isn’t evil.”

“Yes, but they say he isn’t human, either.”

“Do they know him? Have they talked with him? Who are they to judge?”

“They want you to destroy him, so he can never be used to harm humanity.”

“And what of me? Did you tell them what I’m to become? Did they tell you how to kill me?!”

You can instantly hear the anger in his voice, as Gabriel abruptly held him by the neck.

Anna and you attempted to hold him back.

“The correct angle of the stake as it enters my heart?!”

“NO! Stop it!” You begged him, to no avail.

“The exact measure of silver in each bullet?!”

“Gabriel, stop it!”

“No. I left you out.”

You finally breathed again after hearing Carl’s statement.

Unfortunately, it did not last long, when he suddenly released the shorter man, leaned back against the gate, and let out a terrifying mix of scream and growl.

That’s when you remembered that he was bitten before he killed the werewolf.

Before Anna can stop you, you slowly went forward to take his hand, and to her relief, he let you do so after he came back to his senses, even though you were internally scared. He never wanted to hurt you, especially when he is about to be a werewolf soon.

“I’m sorry,” he said to Carl, who nodded his head in acceptance, and to you as well.

Anna looked at him, worried.

“It’s starting.”

Back at the Frankenstein castle, in Transylvania, the four of you headed to the room where the invention was last built, but when you arrived there, it was all empty, no sign of the creature or Dracula at all. You stood there, hopeless and searching the room for any signs of equipment left behind.

“They must have taken all the equipment to Dracula’s lair,” said Anna, as she searched the room along with you.

“Wherever that is,” Gabriel said.

He then suddenly picked up a large object in anger and threw it against the wall with all his strength. You covered your ears to hide off any more things that might happen, but the noise stopped suddenly. You saw that Gabriel is looking at you apologetically, but this time, the blushing never came.

“Look, there’s still time,” Carl said to him. “Dracula can't bring his children to life until the sun sets.”

“The sun sets in two hours,” Anna piped in. “We’ve been looking for him for more than 400 years!”

“Yes, well, I wasn’t around for those 400 years now, was I?” The three of you looked at him in confusion.

Back at the mansion, you realized from Carl to your horror, that Dracula was the son of your and Anna’s ancestor and when he died in 1462, that he made a covenant with the Devil, and is given a new life. The only way he could sustain it was by feeding blood off of others. Your ancestor had gone to Rome to seek forgiveness, and where the bargain was made; if Dracula is killed, then the entire family of Valerious will be given eternal salvation, all the way to you and Anna. But since Valerious the elder couldn’t kill his own son, even though he is evil, he banished him to an icy fortress and sent him through a door with no hopes of returning.

“And the Devil gave him wings,” Anna finished Carl’s story.

“So where is this door?” Van Helsing asked.

“I don’t know. But when your ancestor couldn’t kill his son, he left clues.” He then opened the painting that came to life. “So that future generations might do it for him.”

“That must be what our father was looking for in here,” your sister said. “Clues to the door’s location.”

“The door. The door. Of course. You said your father spent hours staring at this painting, trying to find Dracula’s lair. I think you were right. Quite literally.” Gabriel went to where the large painting map is, Anna, Carl and you following him. “I think this is the door. He just didn’t know how to open it.”

“A Latin inscription,” You pointed at the lettering on the side of the painting. “Maybe it works like that painting in the tower.”

“If this were a door, Father would have opened it long ago.”

As Anna stated it, Carl suddenly stopped and the reason why you knew.

“I can’t finish the inscription. There’s a missing piece.”

Gabriel’s eyes lit up, and he pulled out a small scroll, then a ripped piece of paper.

“Your father didn’t have this.”

“Where did you get that?” Anna asked him.

He handed the piece to Carl.

“Carl, finish it.”

Taking the piece, he placed it in the spot where it is bare and began reading the complete inscription in Latin.

“In the name of God, open this door.”

The words are said, and the map suddenly turned to a glass-like mirror.

“A mirror,” you silently replied.

“Dracula has no reflection in the mirror,” Anna said.

“Maybe to Dracula, it is not a mirror at all.”

Gabriel stepped in front of the glass and placed his hand on the mirror slowly, and as his fingers touched the surface, it suddenly cracked, and it let his hand go through it completely. After a few seconds, he pulled his hand back out to have it covered in bits of snow.

Anna and you share glances of excitement, then Van Helsing grabbed a lit torch, and stepped back in front of the mirror door.

“See you on the other side.”

You stopped him before he could go forward.

“Be careful.”

He nodded, and made his way through the mirror-like door, and disappeared. After a moment, you grabbed another torch from the wall and started for the opening.

Anna stopped you before you took another step.

“You care about him, as much as he cared about you, do you?” she asked.

Your (E/C) grew, and your cheeks felt hot at the mention of it.

How did she know about it?

“What makes you say that?”

“Since he came here, and he saved your life and mine, you and he never stopped risking your lives to save each other. He offered to help us kill Dracula for what he has done to us, and you gladly accepted it.”

“I suppose so,” you admitted defeatedly. “But you let him help us as well.”

“I guess I did.”

She took your hand, and gave a small grin at you, with you returning it. The two of you then stepped through, never letting go of each other before you felt a cold breeze touch your skin, and opened your eyes to see Anna and Van Helsing first, then at the ginormous building in front of you.

“Castle Dracula.” You heard Anna say.

With Carl now behind you, you stopped at the gates which had been locked shut.

“Do you have a plan? It doesn’t have to be Wellington’s at Waterloo, but some sort of plan would be nice.”

“We’re going to go in there and stop Dracula,” Gabriel replied.

“And kill anything that stands in our way,” Anna piped in.

“And hopefully, save the poor thing before it’s too late,” you said finally.

“Well, you let me know how that goes.”

Before Carl can go back, the man suddenly grabbed him by his cloak, then Anna last. Next, you clung on to him from behind, and after checking to see if you are hanging on, he swiftly leaped up all the way to the opening that is above the gate.

Landing on the ground safely, you let go and allowed him to catch his breath.

“Well, as grateful as I am to be out of the cold, that doesn’t seem like a good thing,” said Carl.

You noticed Gabriel on the ground, and you and your sister knelt next to him, only to see his eyes glow silver, then back to the normal color. He regained his control and stood back up, with you holding his arm for support.

“We’d better get moving.”

As you walked down the large hall filled with pods that looked like the ones back at the Frankenstein castle, the man caught Igor, Dracula’s minion, and found the Frankenstein monster trapped in an ice-like block, which is being lifted.

Leaving you to hold the minion with your sword to his neck, the three others went over to him to hear that Dracula has a cure for the curse of the werewolf.

“Why does Dracula have a cure?!” You asked Igor, rage in your blood. “Tell me now!”

“Because the only thing that could kill him is a werewolf,” Carl said.

You instantly remember him saying about the painting back at the mansion, about the two creatures fighting each other. It all makes sense now.

“So, the painting. That’s what it meant.”

“But Dracula’s been using them to do his bidding for centuries,” Anna said.

“Yes, but if one ever had the will to turn on him, he’d need a cure to remove the curse and make him human before it bit him.”

Gabriel then grabbed Igor and put him down on the ground, while holding him by his shirt. “You will take these three and lead them to the antidote.”

“No, I’m not.”

After he said this, a growl escaped the man’s mouth and pushed him back again against the large door.

“Yes, I am.”

“What? No, I’m going in with you,” you disagreed with Gabriel.

“No, (Y/N),” Anna looked shocked at your volunteer to go with him. “You can’t. He has been bitten. You know what would happen to him.”

“Yes. And besides, it will be too dangerous for you to be around with me,” he said to you.

“If Dracula ever has an upper hand on you, then I will try and distract him long enough for you to get back up. I can help you stop him. Just like you said you would help me and Anna.”

He hesitated for a moment but knew there was no talking you out of this.

“Alright, but if there’s a chance I would turn against you, you have to get out as fast as possible.”

“Can’t make any promises.”

“Here’s the plan,” Carl said to Gabriel. “When the bell begins to toll midnight, you’ll be able to kill Dracula. We just need to find the cure and get it to you before the final stroke.”

“Are you insane? What kind of plan is that?” Anna lightly hit him on the shoulder and became agitated at the plan.

You then saw Gabriel pull out some kind of tool, and look at the assistant suspiciously.

“If they suspect you of misleading them...” He gave the tool to Anna, who took it without hesitation. “Clip off one of his fingers.”

“I’ll clip off something.”

“The tower over there, that’s where it is.” The assistant stuttered.

“And what about the other tower? Give me that!”

You would have screamed in horror if Igor hadn’t answered in time at the mention of the tool.

“That is where we reassembled the laboratory. Would I lie to you?”

“Not if you wanted to live.” Gabriel released Igor and pulled two stakes, and handed one to you and Carl from his coat. “Now, if I’m not cured by the twelfth stork of midnight...”

Your eyes grew in horror, and you shook your head at the thought of having to do such a task as this.

“I don’t think I could,” Carl said.

“You must.”

Carl looked at you first, then took the stake from his hand, then pulled Igor along with him.

“I don’t like this plan,” Anna said to Gabriel.

“We don’t have a choice. Just don’t get killed.”

“You still don’t understand. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. We must save our family.”

“It does matter to me,” you said to her.

She looked at you as you put your hands at your side, your fists clenched as tears fell from your eyes, unable to stop them.

“You and Velkan had made a promise that you would keep me safe, no matter what cost is made. I made that promise to myself to keep you safe, too. You and he were the only people left after Father had disappeared to find Dracula’s lair. We lost Velkan, and I don’t want to lose you, too, just like you don’t want to lose me.”

Anna’s face grew soft and lifted your face up with her hands.

“(Y/N), you’re my little sister. We did promise to protect you, but at times, you did risk yourself to protect us.” She laughed a little bit, before continuing to speak. “No matter what happens to us, we will see each other again soon.”

She hugged you and you return it, burying your face in her shoulder, until Gabriel gave a small cough, snapping you out of the embrace.

“We have to go, now. Anna, if you’re late, run like hell. Don’t be late.”

She nodded and turned her glance back to you.

“We’ll be back with the cure soon. Try and be careful.”

“I will. Now, go. Go.”

Anna took a last glance before she ran off to catch up with Carl and the assistant.

“All right,” you said to Gabriel. “Let’s go kill a vampire.”

The two of you then headed to the tower where the laboratory is.

Sounds of thunder and the Frankenstein monster’s shouts made you and Gabriel run faster to the laboratory. When you got there, the creature is already up on top of the tower, while Dracula is below.

“We have to get up there!” You said to him. “The storm’s already over us!”

“Hang on to me!” He said.

He carried you on his back, leaping on the columns and landed safely on the platform. You fought off as many Dwergis as they are coming for you.

By the time you had climbed to the top, the lightning bolts are coming closer than before. The monster saw you two and started thrashing against the chains as he tilted him to an upright position.

“What are you doing? You must find the cure!” He shouted at you.

“Our friends are doing it for us!” Gabriel responded.

“Friends.”

“Yes. You want one?”

“I can’t unscrew the bolts. This is gonna hurt,” you said.

“I am accustomed to pain,” the creature replied to you and Gabriel.

“It lets you know you’re alive.” He suddenly released the strap holding him.

A loud cry escaped from the Frankenstein monster’s mouth. A lightning bolt abruptly flashed and hit him, but luckily Gabriel was able to hold you out of the way from harm. When you stood back up, the creature was almost out, but you are fearing that the young of Dracula will come to life at any moment.

“You’re almost out, my friend!”

“We have to hurry!” You yelled.

He was about to unstrap the other rope when a loud noise came from behind you, and your eyes widened at the sight of Dracula heading towards you-wait, not you, Gabriel!

“Look out!” You shoved him out of the way, just in time as the vampire suddenly hit you and caused you to fall off the top.

Fortunately, Gabriel was able to catch you, before Dracula came back and hit him from behind as well. You both fell down to the very bottom, but he quickly wrapped his arms around you for protection as you both crash the platforms below you.

When his vision came back, he saw that you were knocked unconscious, despite his best attempts to cover you. He lifted you up bridal style and saw that the whole laboratory is now set on fire due to the storm, while a few Dwergis went by him on fire.

“You are too late, my friend.”

He spun to find Dracula, already back to human form, and walking slowly towards him. But not only that, he had his eyes on you, with a dark grin on his face.

“My children live. And (Y/N) will be my new bride.”

“Then the only way to kill them...and to save her...is to kill you,” Gabriel backed away, holding on tight to you.

“Correct.”

He then laid you down gently on the floor and stood back up while chuckling lightly. Dracula somehow looked confused at this.

“So be it.” Gabriel looked at him, as the large clock stroke midnight.

A growl came out from his mouth as he faced the vampire. “One.”

When you slowly came to, a male scream reached your ears, and your eyes landed on the man on his knees, but there was something wrong with him. Then you quickly remembered.

“No, this cannot be,” Dracula muttered under his breath.

As you looked on, his skin changed to fur, and a growl escaped his lips, while he eyed the vampire in front of him and slowly walked towards him.

“We are both part of the same grand game, Gabriel,” Dracula laughed nervously. “But we need not find ourselves on opposite sides of the board.”

He quickly changed to his monster form and the battle was on. You stayed hidden as the werewolf and vampire fight while knocking over different objects and taking hits.

During the fight, Dracula looked like he was trying to reason with the werewolf while human, only to have it reach deaf ears. But as just Gabriel had him on a chock hold, he abruptly turned back to human and leaped off a bridge while in shock.

‘Oh, my god. The moon.’ you thought in horror.

You pulled your weapon and found him backing away and looking up.

“Did I mention...that it was you who murdered me?” Dracula’s voice called from above him. “It must be such a burden...such a curse...to be the Left Hand of God.”

He jumped off the bridge and the other man spun around to face him. “All I want is life, Gabriel. The continuation of my kind. And perhaps the return of my ring.”

You stood behind a sofa, your weapon in hand, as you watch Gabriel back up close to where you are.

“Don’t be afraid, Gabriel. Don’t be afraid. I shall give you back your life, your memory.”

“Some things are better left forgotten.”

The moon appeared again through the clouds blocking it, and the man changed back to the werewolf again, but this time, he managed to bite Dracula right in the neck before he could attack him.

As you stood there watching him shrivel to nothing more than a skeleton, Anna ran in from the side where you are, holding the antidote in her hand.

‘She got it! She actually got it!’

“(Y/N)! You’re alright!”

“Anna, the cure!”

Glancing at the werewolf first, then the cure, she ran straight to him and raised it high. “For God!”

Unfortunately, the creature saw her and leaped towards her as she came running.

“ANNA!”

Your shout came too late, for he tackled her to the sofa, and all you could do was stand there, and feel your sword fall from your grasp. Your eyes stayed on Anna’s body, both filled with sadness and terror until the werewolf stood back and turned his gaze to you.

You backed up fearfully against the wall, while he stalked over to you, growling.

“Gabriel! Please!” You cried to him. “Please, don’t do this! Snap out of it! I know you’re still in there! Just don’t do it, please!”

When your pleas fell on deaf ears, he raised his hand to strike you, and you closed your eyes tight and waited for the inevitable.

However, when none came, you open them to find that Carl had his hand on his stake, the werewolf had his grip on his wrist, and--the antidote, on the side of his stomach.

Your eyes then landed on Anna, her eyes lifelessly staring into the distance. Your one hand covering your lips, you slowly circled the sofa and pressed your two fingers to her throat.

No heartbeat.

She can’t be dead, she can’t be.

“She’s dead,” Carl said.

You fell to the ground on your knees, and sobbed silently, your hands still in front of your mouth.

A long howl then changed back to a cry, and you stare up and saw that Gabriel has changed back to a human, now holding her in his arms.

You both then sobbed your sadness over the death of your sister, while Carl stood a few inches far from you, his head hung low with grief.

Standing over Anna’s lifeless body on the funeral pyre, with Gabriel on your side with a lit torch in his hand, you took a small glance at her, while Carl read from his Bible in Latin.

“Anna, you were the best sister I ever grew up with alongside Velkan since we were young. We fought alongside each other, and we stood by one another through hard times, and you and Velkan were able to lift my spirits when I lost them, as did I,” You sniffed and wiped a tear from your cheek, but you continued speaking. “You were able to protect me from danger, and I did the same as well. I’m really going to miss you, Anna. I really am. We will see each other again.”

You then step back so you can let Gabriel set fire to the pyre, and turn a bit in time to see the Frankenstein monster sail away, far from the land.

You both knew that Gabriel didn’t mean to kill Anna, that he couldn’t control the monster that was in him, and it wasn’t his fault.

The creature gave a small smile and motioned his head up in the sky. Confused, you then saw Anna’s spirit first, then Velkan, your father and the other members of the family that had died to try to kill Dracula.

Gabriel followed your view, and you both saw them ascending into the gates of heaven. Anna took one glance at you both and smiled as a single tear fell from her eyes before disappearing in the clouds.

“You had saved us all,” you said to him. “Now my family will rest in peace, and we will no longer be afraid.”

“I’m really sorry about your loss, (Y/N),” he said. “Truly, I am.”

“I understand. But I know now that she’s right. There’s always a brighter side of death here.”

Gabriel smiled at you, and you suddenly felt his lips connect with yours, which caught you by surprise at first, but then you slowly sunk into the kiss, and it lasted-well, you do not know how long, but you wished that it would last longer than you think.

Then, your lips parted and you placed his hat on his head, a small grin on your face as well.

“Thank you for saving my family, and Transylvania,” you said finally. “For everything.”

“It is my honor to help, (Y/N),” he said.

“Are you sure you won’t stay for a while?”

“Well, I believe that the Holy Order might be calling me back for another mission, but if you want, I’ll come by once in a while and check up on you and your family.”

“I’ll be waiting,” you replied softly.

A while later, as you watch them ride off into the sunset, with Gabriel taking one last look at you, you were confident that he would keep his promise, to see you again, and every once in awhile, he kept it, for you and your family.

#van helsing #van helsing 2004 #van helsing x reader #gabriel van helsing #anna valerious #velkan valerious #friar carl #count vladislaus dragulia #dracula's brides #frankenstein monster #x reader #reader #reader insert #writersontumblr #blue writes

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megmeg-chan · 3 years

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Read count vladislaus dracula x reader fic? Specifically from van helsing (2004)? Haha thats so weird, bro! I'd never ! Haha! Why dont you send me the link to it--- No way, bro, i dont *want* to read it! I Just want to know where it is, so i can, uh, know what to avoid ofc! Bro-- Bro why dont you believe me---

#anyway if you have any good vlad x reader or vlad x oc fics from van helsing 2004 im BEGGING you to send them my way please god #i need it for the spooky szn #posts by me #in case it isnt clear enough the above post is a joke and i DO in fact want to read vlad x reader fic #smh if i cant find any ill have no choice but to write it myself ✋😭

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jay-wells-writes · 4 years

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Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend (Dracula x reader, smut and slight gore)

OMG..... Wow..... I was expecting this story to be a bit of a pain in the ass, but man was I wrong. Once I got the idea down, everything just came to me. I was surprised with how much I kept putting into this and I really like were it went. So my Dear Anon I hope you really enjoy the story.

Of course I had to change some things around in order to make your request work and after talking it over with a friend this is what I came up with. SO PLEASE NOTE!!! I have combined both Van Helsing and Castlevania BUT only with one character. I took Brauner from Castlevania and made him the bad guy that makes Reader and Dracula work together. THAT IS THE ONLY THING I TOOK. I also know nothing from Castlevania so I made Brauner how I wanted. So basically I borrowed his name and nothing more. THERE ARE WARNINGS OF BLOOD AND NON DISCRIBED GORE!!!

gif taken from google

The people in town called you crazy when you mentioned going up to the old Counts Castle. From what you learned at the inn the castle belonged to Count Dracula, a creature of the night that wasn’t to be messed with. But a few years back he left, for unknown reasons and another vampire named Brauner took over. The townspeople are quick to tell you that although Dracula was evil and nasty, he was nothing compared to Brauner. Hearing that you rolled your eyes, in good old Brauner fashion he used his brutality and strength to scare the townspeople into thinking he was something he wasn’t. But as you downed your drink you shook your head and stood. You told them that the anger in you was stronger than Brauner and that if you died you were going to make sure you took him with you.

When it came to hunting creatures of the night, you were constantly picked on by others. They would tell you that you weren’t strong enough and that you would be better used as bait. But then Tham showed up and instead of picking like the others they taught you what they knew. It was during your training the both of you learned that while you may not have brute strength, you had an unnatural ability when it came to tracking and knowing when you were being followed. So as you walked to the castle you knew something had been following you ever since the sun went down. As you drew closer to the castle you needed to kill whatever it was, because you didn’t need any additional problems once there. Turning around slowly you knew the spot you had chosen was not the best, but the creature needed to be dealt with. Whatever it was, it hadn’t made a sound so you also knew it wasn’t some lackey. That it had some cognitive ability. So you called out to it.

“How about instead of following me you just show yourself!”

Hearing a crack from your left you turned to watch a man walk from behind a large tree. Between his black hair and attire, you didn’t need the moon to see how pale he was. But you couldn’t help it when your breath hitched at his handsome features and you found yourself unable to move, and when he spoke you instantly knew who the man was.

“But I was having such great fun watching you navigate these woods as if you had lived here your whole life.”

“What makes you think I haven’t?”

Stepping closer to you, your heart began to beat faster and it wasn't out of fear.

“Oh come now, these are my woods, and if a delicious human like you had walked them before I would have snatched you before now.”

You didn’t have to feel breath on the back of your neck to know that he was currently standing behind you, inches away from your neck. Vampires had an ability of being able to control humans so you chalked up your inability to move on that. But you knew and so did he that you weren’t moving because you didn’t want to. Hearing his voice from the other side of your head you turned to look at his pale face as he inched closer to you.

“So tell me, what is a delicious thing, as yourself, doing out this late at night?”

Even though his question shook you like jumping into a cold creek to bathe. It essentially reminded you of why you were making the trip up to the castle. But instead of moving away you remained still and even brought your face a bit closer to his as you answered his question with a small smile.

“Come now Count, we both know what I am doing.”

You watched as a large smile broke out on the Count’s face.

“So you know who I am.”

“It wasn’t that hard.”

Smiling at your answer you watched as the Count brought his hand up and ran his cold fingertips down your face.

“You know who I am yet you are unafraid.”

“Not being scared makes you cocky and cocky gets you killed.”

Laughing as he steps back slightly and you watch as the Count stepped away from you completely. Placing his hands behind his back he walked a couple steps in front of you before stopping and looking at you.

“Well it is still polite to introduce oneself. So allow me to introduce myself, I am Count Vladislaus Dracula.” When you didn’t reply back to the Count he smiled slightly and took a step towards you. “Is it not polite to introduce yourself after someone introduces themselves?”

“It is if the person introducing themselves is alive and not a creature of the night.”

Instantly Dracula was standing behind you and you felt something in you shift.

“Hmmm, such a feisty thing. I like it, but come now we both have things to do.”

Being reminded of why you were there once again, you felt ice running through your body, but it wasn’t enough to break whatever hold the Count had on you and you found yourself answering his question.

“My name is y/n.”

“Ah, now see was that so hard? Tell me y/n, why do you make your way up to my castle this late at night?”

Annoyed at the Count for using his abilities to get your name you couldn’t help but say the first thing that came from your mouth.

“Correct me if I am wrong Count, but doesn’t that castle now belong to Brauner?”

Suddenly you felt the wind leaving your chest as the Count slammed you into a tree. If his face hadn’t been so pale you were sure it would have been bright red in anger as he yelled.

“THAT CASTLE WOULD NEVER BE BRAUNER’S!” Releasing his hold on you the Count took a step back and fixed a piece of his hair that had fallen over his eye. “That is and always will be my castle.”

Suddenly feeling a bit daring you couldn’t help but smile as you rested and tilted your head on the tree.

“But the townspeople said you abandoned it and Brauner took it over.”

Standing flushed against you once again, you allowed Dracula to touch your neck as he slowly moved your head back and forth.

“I would never abandon something that is mine.”

“But it seems that you have Count.”

You could feel his fingers tightening around your neck as his teeth grazed against your skin.

“I would NEVER abandon something that is mine and I am ashamed to admit it, but Brauner was able to weaken me. He left me for dead and it has taken this long for me to heal. Now, you may intrigue me but my patients run thin. Why are you heading to my castle?”

"I have come to do you a favor and kill Brauner."

You could feel your blood boil as the Count laughed in your face. To your surprise and his you shoved him away from you and took a step from the tree. Fixing his jacket the Count stood tall once more and smiled.

"Such anger. Tell me my Dear y/n what has Brauner done to you to cause such anger?”

“He killed my mentor, Tham.”

“Ah, so it is the classic revenge killing.”

Laughing darkly you held out your hand.

“And what about you. You got too comfortable around him and lost your castle and almost your undead li-”

Once again the Count had you slammed into the tree but this time instead of touching you like a lover would his fingers were cutting off your breathing. As you clawed at his hand the Count placed his forehead against yours.

“DO NOT assume that our problems are the same. Human’s die all the time, it is the nature of your life. You are born and then you die. For vampires we live for thousands of years. I AM older than all and most of my kind fear me! Those that don’t learn quickly that they should. Brauner has gotten drunk on power and instead of trying to preserve our kind he has brought us into the light. The ONLY reason he was able to over power me is because he cheated and had young bloods help him in our dual.” Letting go of your throat the Count took a step back and began to pace as you dropped to your knees, gasping for breath. “None of that matters now. Tell me my Dear y/n, how do you plan on killing him? How do you plan on getting into the castle and past those he has around him?”

Shifting to your butt you sat on the ground and thought about it. Truthfully you didn’t know and for some reason you told him so.

“I don’t know. I was going to scout the castle and look for the best way in. What about you? I highly doubt Brauner is going to allow you back into the castle, even if it is your castle.”

Placing his hands behind his back the Count tilted his head, acknowledging what you said as he continued to pace.

“This is true in a sense. Brauner will allow me back in the castle but he will not allow me close to him."

Instead of finishing his thought the Count continued to pace and think. Slowly you got to your feet and began to collect the things you had dropped. You had just picked up your bag when you noticed that the Count was no longer in front of you, but standing flush against your back.

“Tell me my Dear y/n, what if I told you that tonight not only would Brauner die but you would be able to walk out of my castle alive.”

Turning to look over your shoulder you could see the Count bring his hands up and run them down your shoulders.

“I would ask you what type of deal am I making with the Devil?”

Laughing, the Count moved to stand in the front of you and took your hands into his. He moved one of them to his shoulder while he gripped your other one into his. Without even realizing it you soon found yourself dancing with the Count in the middle of the woods.

“The deal, as you call it, my Dear y/n is simple. You become mine.” Before you could pull away the Count shook his head. “No no, not like that. I have an idea that will not only get you into the castle but will also get me close to Brauner. It is no secret that we both want Brauner dead, unfortunately only one of us is able to make it happen.”

“Get to the point Count.”

“Vlad, please or Dracula. The point my Dear y/n is that Brauner may have control of my castle, but like I mentioned before, he will not keep me out. I can walk right into it and no one will stop me. If you were on my side, you would be able to do the same.”

Pulling away from Dracula you glared at him.

“What’s the plan Dracula?”

Laughing at the tone of your voice Dracula started to dance with himself as he spoke.

“Oh my Dear y/n, it is simple. Brauner wants power, he has always been a bit jealous too. Can you imagine how jealous he would be when I come walking into the castle with a willing human at my side."

"Willing human. For what?"

"You are a hunter, what is one of the first things your dear dead teacher taught you about vampires?"

Seeing you stepping towards him Dracula smiled and bowed.

"That their self center and full of themselves."

Laughing loudly at your comment Dracula quickly pulled you into his arms again and started to dance once more.

"Oh my Dear y/n, while that may be true that was not the answer I was looking for. I was thinking more about our ability to place humans and creatures alike in a trance and have them do our bidding. Can you imagine how jealous Brauner would be when I walk into the castle with a human who WANTS to be there? Someone I didn’t have to force or spell to be there."

"Still don't know how that is going to get you closer to Brauner."

"Well, it is no lie, I am a very sensual creature….."

"Wait you want me to act like I am some stupid human that fell in love with you?"

Making a face, Dracula shook his head as he spun you around. Bringing his face to your neck you couldn’t help but tilt your head to allow him to graze his lips against it.

"I would not want you to be some stupid human, I enjoy your feistyness. I think we mix well as we are. No, what you would have to do is submit to me. You can't cringe if I was to kiss your neck or even your lips. You have to act as though you enjoy my cold fingers tracing your neck or other parts of your body." Spinning once again you stood facing Dracula as he watched his fingers slipping down your neck. "You do that and Brauner will be itching to get a taste."

"One problem in your plan Dracula. To be completely devoted to you, I have to be willing to let you feed off of me. And you will NOT bite me."

Bringing your wrist to his lips Dracula kissed it before running his face over it.

"Oh my Dear y/n, I do not expect you to allow me such pleasure as that. But there are other ways I can feed from you. In fact your arms give us one way." Looking at your arms you saw cuts from previous fights. Looking back up at Dracula you could see him smile. "So what say you my Dear y/n, do you think you handle my touches?"

Pulling your hand from Dracula’s you placed it on his chest. Fiddling with the buttons on his jacket you looked into his eyes as you used your other hand to pull his face to yours, crashing your lips into each other's. You weren't sure what surprised you more, how cold Dracula’s lips were to yours or how he easily took over the kiss and you let him. Pulling away so that you could breath Dracula closed his eyes and moaned.

"Oh yes, this is going to be marvelous."

~~~~

Getting into the castle had gone just as Dracula said it would. A couple of "young bloods" as he called them tried to stop you and were now dead. At the commotion that was made Brauner's second came into the hallway and when he saw Dracula you almost thought he paled even more. After telling you both that Brauner was having a party Dracula brushed past him while telling you that you both must get ready for said party.

Thinking that Dracula was going to make you wear a gown you were left glaring at him when he had you slip into something that resembled a night shift. While he wore black pants and a black button up with his knee high boots. You continued to wear the frown on your face until the ballroom doors came into sight.

Just as Dracula slipped his arm around your waist as you rested your head against his shoulder and laid your hand on his chest. When the ballroom doors opened it took all of your will to keep moving. Luckily Dracula was able to keep you moving forward with the arm around your waist. Turning so that you were walking backwards you brought your lips to his ear, as though you were kissing just below it.

"You bastard. You didn’t tell me Brauner's parties looked more like a brothel!"

Wrapping his arms tightly around you, Dracula kept his eyes forward as his teeth grazed your ear.

"Oh my Dear y/n, if I would have done so you never would have continued with our arrangement."

Before you could say anything more a voice rang out.

"AH COUNT DRACULA! I MUST SAY THIS IS BOTH A SHOCKING AND PLEASANT SURPRISE!"

Turning you back around but placing you in front of him Dracula began to walk you both forward as his hands moved across your body. It didn’t take you long to find who had been yelling. And instantly you felt your blood boil. Before you could do anything rash though Dracula was kissing and nibbling on your neck as he spoke.

"Come now Brauner, a surprise it may be but a pleasant one it is not. If it had not been for my love, I would have died from the wounds you and the other’s inflicted on me."

"Your love? Last I knew Dracula had no love and even if there is one I would not imagine it to be a human like this one.”

Even as you and Dracula came closer Brauner remained seated as two women made out on top of him. For a brief moment you thought that Dracula had been wrong about being able to get close to him but from the corner of your eye you saw two of Brauner’s young bloods stepping closer to all of you. Stopping a few feet before Brauner, you could feel Dracula smiling against your neck.

“We may not feel love like human’s do, but this sweet human nursed me like she would a newborn baby. Cut her delicate skin and bleed herself so that I could grow stronger from her blood. And even now she still bleeds for me, tell me Brauner how could that not be love? How could I not want to bring her with me when I decided it was time to come back to my old castle and it’s new owner.”

At the mention of the castle Brauner sat straighter, dislodging the women from his lap.

“Speaking of, have you come to exact your revenge for what me and the other’s had done?”

Instead of dancing like he had most of the night, Dracula pulled your body even closer to his and began to sway lightly as he laid kisses all along your neck and shoulders.

“Have you not heard what I have just said, Brauner? I could care less for the castle or for what you had done. We have just simply come here to see what you have done with the place.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Waving his hand at Brauner, Dracula sat in a lounger and pulled you into his lap facing him. Running his hand down your chest you couldn’t help but moan as Dracula gripped your breast.

“Believe what you want Brauner. Let us rest and enjoy your party for the night and we will leave tomorrow.”

Not waiting for Brauner’s answer Dracula pulled you down and began to kiss you like he had in the woods.

You knew that everything that was happening was wrong and if Tham was here they would have been beating you to an inch of your life. But you couldn’t help but moan into Dracula’s mouth and grip his shirt as you began to grind against him. Having gotten lost in the pleasure you had forgotten about where you were until you heard Brauner laughing as he spoke.

“My you have a lively one don’t you Dracula. So easy to give into the creatures of the night. Tell me, if she has become your love then why have you not turned her.”

Ripping his mouth away from yours, Dracula gasped as like he needed air.

“Perhaps that may happen, at some point. But why would I give up such sweet blood? That I may have at any given moment.”

“Surely you jest.”

Dropping your face into Dracula’s neck to keep you from glaring at Brauner; Dracula turned to look at him. Taking one of his hands from your hip you could feel Dracula pull something from his boot and you bite down on him to let him know you knew what he was planning.

“Then perhaps we shall show you?” Tugging your hair lightly Dracula forced your head back to look at him. “My Love.”

Even though you wanted to scream and hit Dracula for the position he now had you in, you went along with his plan and lifted your arm while grinded down on Dracula.

“Not much. I still feel faint from when you drank from me earlier.”

Smiling Dracula placed the knife on your arm.

“Of course my Love.”

Very quickly Dracula ran the blade down your arm. You expected there to be pain but the blade had been extremely sharp and Dracula had been fast with his movement. You also expected Dracula to pull your arm to his lips but instead he held your arm over his face and held his tongue out as your blood began to fall onto his waiting tongue. Your heart began to beat faster as you watched your blood pouring into his mouth, but you couldn’t tell if it was because you were losing blood or if it was because of the animalistic look that took over Dracula’s face. From the corner of your eyes you could see the other’s as they began to slowly move closer to you and Dracula. Just when you thought things were going to take a turn for the worst you found yourself laying on the lounger as Dracula stood next to it as he yelled.

“UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE MY LOVE IS OFF LIMITS! AND IF YOU TRY WITHOUT PERMISSION I WILL KILL YOU ALL!”

Seeing Dracula shift from his human form to his demon not only had the other’s cowering in fear but you also. Of course before you had time to properly freak out Dracula was back to his human form and kneeling beside you.

“Are you alright my Love?”

Nodding your head lightly you watched as Dracula ran his tongue over the cut. To your surprise as he pulled his mouth away you saw that the cut was no longer open, but instead looked a couple of days old. Picking you up as though you weighed nothing Dracula resumed his position on the lounger and held you close to his chest. For a time you both laid there and watched as those that had been watching resumed what they had been doing. After a few moments Dracula pulled you up so that he could whisper in your ear.

“We have Brauner’s attention now. He can’t help but but look over here. We need to really pull him in.”

Turning your head up you dug your nails into Dracula’s chest.

“What the trick with the blade wasn’t enough.”

“Did we not talk about that?” Digging your nails deeper into Dracula’s skin he actually moaned out when others would have hissed. “We have his attention, but we need him to come closer. I can’t kill him if he stays over there and us over here.”

“It seems to me that you are getting more out of all this then I am. What do I get?”

“Other than walking out of here with your life? You will be able to bathe in Brauner’s blood.”

The thought of being covered in Brauner’s blood had you making a face that caused Dracula chuckle.

“That doesn’t sound appealing.”

Shifting you so that you were once again straddling his lap Dracula lightly ran his hands down your chest which caused your nipples to harden.

“Pleasure, I can offer you so much pleasure.”

It didn’t take you long to feel Dracula hardening under you and you suddenly realized it has been a very long time since you slept with someone. Without thinking any more about it you muttered quietly “God forgive me.” before you pulled your gown over your head. You could tell that Dracula had not been expecting that move from you, but he wasted no time sitting up and wrapping his mouth around your nipple.

As Dracula continued to assault your chest one of his hands slipped into your hair and pulled your head backwards. Allowing him to lick and nibble his way up to your neck. Instead of feeling just his teeth grazing your neck though you felt his fangs. Even though he would pinch your skin between his teeth and fangs he never broke skin and the adrenaline of it had you moaning loudly as you pulled the tie from his hair. Tightening your grip on his hair you tilted Dracula’s head back and gave him a warning look when you realized he was spending too much time with his mouth on your neck. Licking his lips Dracula grinned at you before wrapping his lips back around your nipple while his hand moved to the other one. While he continued his attack on your breast you couldn’t help but tip your head back and moan in pleasure as you rolled your hips against him.

Suddenly Dracula was bringing his mouth back to yours. Even though you were getting lost in the kiss you could feel Dracula’s hands moving down to your ass while he turned the both of you. Lifting slightly he dropped to his knees and laid you on the ground. The cold floor had you gasping out when it touched your heated skin. Chuckling against your mouth Dracula shifted to the side and ran his hand over your thigh.

“Don’t worry my Love, I will have you warm once again.”

Bending your knee so that your foot rested against the floor. Dracula slowly brought his hand back down to your hip. Reaching between the both of you he began to work on the buttons and knots of his pants. And even though he had been doing a good job of opening them you couldn’t help but reach between the both of you and help him. When your hand wrapped around his cock Dracula placed his mouth onto your collar bone and bit lightly.

Normally when you held a man’s cock in your hand it was smooth, soft, and warm. Moving your hand over Dracula’s you got two of the three, the only one missing was the warmth. In its place was coldness, similar to you if you were to jump into a frozen lake. After a few more strokes Dracula was shifting the both of you once more. Laying on his back he placed one hand under his head while the other rested on your thigh.

“You have given to me my Love. Take from me what you want.”

Placing one hand on his chest you lifted yourself just enough so that you could align him with your center. Feeling the tip of his cock slipping into you, you made sure he wasn’t going to slip out of you before placing a hand on his chest as you slowly started to take more of him. As you continued to push down Dracula moved his hands and placed them onto your hips and dug his fingers into you. Soon both of you were moaning out in pleasure. Once fully seated, you sat for a few moments as you adjusted to his size. But even before you were ready Dracula was moving you, which had you crying out in pleasure. Even though he told you that you could take what you wanted from him, Dracula continued to dictate the moves.

Eventually Dracula sat himself up and while resting one hand behind him, he used his other and placed it in the middle of your back. Even as he held you close you couldn’t help but place your hands behind yourself as you grinded against him. Tilting your head back you couldn’t help but cry out the closer you got to cumming. Soon you could feel Dracula putting pressure on your back causing you to sit up. Before you could rest your head against his though he was moving you both again.

Somehow he was able to shift the both of you without slipping out and once you were on your back Dracula shifted to his knees. Placing his hands on your hips he quickly began to thrust into you. With how fast he was thrusting, all you could do was grip his arms as you tighten your legs around him. Soon though Dracula began to speak.

"Such beauty, look at you my Love. So lost in your pleasure, sweat running between your breasts. Your blood rising to the surface of your skin, giving you a flushed look. The warmth of your body trying its best to warm my cold skin."

Even if someone found out about this night you would not admit to them how good it felt to be having sex with Dracula or how his voice was bringing you closer to the edge. And it was the sound of his voice that had you suddenly cumming. You could feel something running down your fingers and you didn't need to look to know you had drawn blood from Dracula’s arms as you screamed out in pleasure. You were so lost in your pleasure you didn't even realize that Dracula was resting his head next to yours until you heard him speaking to you.

"Show time."

Pulling himself back to his knees Dracula pulled himself out of you causing you to moan loudly. Hearing him chuckling Dracula began to run his hands over your thighs as he looked up. The coolness of his fingers pulling at your attention so that when Brauner spoke you didn't lose your high.

"I can see the attraction to the human. She is very sensitive to your touch and more."

Standing up Dracula worked on fixing his hair as he smiled at Brauner.

"She is very sensitive Brauner. The greatest thing though. Is how she tastes after such a tussle. Would you like a taste?" Hearing Dracula offering you up like that shook you from your daze. When you tried to get his attention Dracula kept his eyes forward as he moved to the side of you with his arms open. "There is nothing that tastes better, Brauner. And I have you know I have not shared her with another as I am offering you. Let bygones be bygones. Hmm?"

It was taking everything in you not to move as you saw Brauner moving from the corner of your eyes. Unfortunately you saw the young bloods move when he did, but to your surprise he waved them off. As much as you didn't want to, you turned to face him and smiled as you ran your hand over your breast. Slowly Brauner lowered himself to the floor and moved to lay over you. With shaking hands you brought them up to rest on Brauner’s shoulders as he ran his nose over your neck. But before he could bite Dracula’s voice broke out.

"Ah ah ah, you may have a taste, Brauner, but you are not allowed to bite her. If you bit them others would know she belongs to a vampire. No you must cut her skin, it is easier to explain those then teeth marks."

Grunting above you Brauner raised to his hands and looked up to Dracula. Just as he was raising a hand to take the blade Dracula had for him Dracula moved.

The next thing you knew you felt something wet covering your chest and face. As you were wiping it off your eyes you realized that it was blood. Sitting up you spotted a headless body at your feet and realized that it was Brauner. Turning quickly you watched as Dracula killed the last of Brauner’s young bloods before he turned to the rest in the ballroom.

"LET IT BE KNOW THAT COUNT VLADISLAUS DRACULA DOES NOT TAKE KINDLY TO BETRAYAL." Walking back to you Dracula knelt beside you as he spoke more quietly. "Did I not tell you, you would bath in his blood?"

Before you could say anything though Dracula was running his hand over your eyes as he placed his other one behind your head and said "Sleep".

Shooting up quickly you looked around and saw that you were in a room at the inn. Pulling the covers back you noticed you were dressed in the gown Dracula had given you at the castle; and that you were cleaned of any and all blood. Pulling the gown over your head you walked to the mirror and looked over your body. Seeing no bite marks you dressed in the clothes you had been wearing the night before and as you pulled your jacket on you felt something in the pocket. Reaching into it you pulled a letter out and from the seal of it you knew it to be from Dracula. Breaking the seal you opened it.

My Dear y/n,

I am terribly sorry that you were unable to wake up next to me. But atlast I fulfilled the two promises I gave you last night. To leave my castle alive and to bathe in Brauner’s blood. And as you are now reading this in the inn, unharmed, I have fulfilled both. This now ends our deal. So I must tell you that if we are to cross paths again I will have to kill you.

Yours truly,

Count Vladislaus Dracula

Rereading the letter once more you couldn’t help but feel yourself becoming angry at his arrogance. Walking over to the fire you made sure to rip the letter into pieces before throwing it into the fire. Looking around the room once more you made sure you had all of your things before walking out the door and into the day.

#van helsing #Dracula #richard roxburgh #Dracula x reader #tw: gore #TW: blood

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1-800fandomqueen · 5 months

Text

Murdered 1462

Vladislaus Dragulia x fem!reader

Part Two

WC : 3.7K

SW : No usage of "Y/N," physical appearance and details are left completely ambiguous and are up to interpretation. Mentions of witchcraft, verbal abuse, murder, canon-typical violence and story-line, pregnancy, death, etc.

If there are any more warnings to be added let me know!

This is a re-post, all of my old accounts were deleted.

“Born: 1422… Murdered: 1462.”

‘I was born into a noble family, my father was the duke of Hungary.’

Slipping into the more tame selection of your clothing, muting the sound of ruffling cloth as much as possible to not wake you lady-in-waiting, Agnes, who had fallen asleep whilst handling your linens. Once dressed, you throw a shawl over your head in any attempt to hide your identity. You’d been hated by the townspeople ever since you and your father had travelled here for business, the small-minded people of Transylvania already despised the idea of foreigners, but the idea of you and the rumor of the practice you brought along? Most claimed you to be a witch. But alas, even their hatred couldn’t extinguish your spirit.

Sneaking out had never been easier.

You’d always been an adventurous person, something your father always chastised you for. He believed ladies should sit still, sit quietly, and sit pretty. He had an image to uphold, and he couldn’t have his only child galavanting around town, acting improper. He used to let you do as you please, but when the plague took your mother he became cold, harsh.

Feeling the cold air hit your skin as you shimmy out the window and down the trellis until your shoes hit the ground with a small thud, making a small promise to yourself to be back before dawn. The entire grounds of the house were fenced in, with guards stationed at the main gate. You couldn’t exit out that way as they would stop you the second they saw you. But unbeknownst to them, you’d discovered a break in a part of the fence. Shimmying out the back, you begin the trek down the hill the house sits on to the village.

~~~

‘It had been cold when I met him, when he saved me. If he hadn’t shown when he did, I fear I would have been no longer. ‘

“You can run but you can’t hide, witch!” You were growing tired, legs and feet burning with effort. When turning a corner in the marketplace you’d run into someone, knocking the shawl off your head, revealing your identity. You’d garnered the attention of a group of particularly cruel drunkards, who began to hurl obscenities towards you. And before you could even blink, they began chasing you. You tried to throw them off, hoping all your time exploring would have given you enough of a terrain advantage. But the feeling of someone grabbing the back of your shawl and pulling you to the ground steals all your hope of getting away.

Pain absorbs your back as you land hard and fast on the cold ground. The early morning dew seeps through your dress as the cold air fogs your breath as it leaves your lungs from the impact, the main perpetrator kneeling on your neck, cutting off your air supply. One of the other men wrapping your feet and hands with rope. Your ears rang as your head snapped back against a rock, vision going foggy. You couldn’t hear what the men were saying to you, only that they were taunting you. You were able to make out the blur of a mass of light coming towards you, and it was only when the heat brushed against your face could you tell it was fire.

You tried to fight back, to struggle. But with the mans’ knee against your throat, the lack of oxygen was making you weak. As the black spots were so close to entirely filling your vision, the man suddenly lets off of you, and the heat of the fire goes away. You cough, rolling over onto your elbows and knees as you try to regain your breath. You can hear the men pleading to a deep voice for mercy, and then your vision returns in time to watch as they run away.

“Are you alright?”

‘I didn’t even know his name, he wouldn’t give it to me. All I knew was that I was utterly captivated by him.’

The deep accented voice held your attention entirely, as the man attached to that voice crouched down next to you, a gentle hand placed on your back. “Madam? Are you alright?” Gasping out, feeling like your vocal chords are completely crushed, only able to choke out a small “yes.” The hand on the small of your back stays while one reaches to your left forearm, grabbing it to help you up. And when you stumble backwards, the firm body of the stranger is there to catch you.

When you’ve regained your breath, and were able to stand on your own, you stepped away from the stranger. “Who are you?” gazing at the man before you and trying to map his features by only what you could see in the barely-there moonlight. You’ve decided by what little of him you could see, that he was still undoubtedly handsome. Slightly taller than you, possibly 6-foot, dark hair, and shockingly blue eyes.

“Who I am is of no importance at the moment,” the deep voice jolting you out of your stupor, “But it is important to know why a group of beţivii (drunks) were attacking a young woman in the forest?” At the mention of your attack you feel the pain seep into your neck, adrenaline finally beginning to wear off. Letting out a cough as your hand comes to gently cup the base of your neck. “Well, Romanians tend to be quite wary of foreigners, and you’ve just bore witness to the fact that they don’t particularly like me.” your tone clipped, pulling a deep chuckle from the man.

You feel blush overtake your visage as you realize how rude that sounded, embarrassment filling you at your rudeness to the man who saved you. “I’m sorry, I’m usually not this rude I swear, I’m still just a little frightened. Thank you, by the way, for coming to my aid. I’ll ask my father to make sure you’re rewarded for your valiant efforts.” The stranger ignores your apology and thanks, “Your father?” his head tilted to the side, pieces of hair falling across his face, “Yes my father, He’s the Duke of Hungary, we’re here on diplomatic business.” “Hmm, for what?” You falter and cover your mouth, giving the man an apologetic look. You’re relieved when he seems to pick up on what you’re implying, even though he gives you a dark, brief, look of knowing, “I understand, trade secrets.” He says with a slight smile, holding out his arm. “Here, it’s almost dawn, let me accompany you back to wherever you’re staying.”

And with a small smile, you take his arm.

‘I didn’t anticipate what would happen when I took his arm. That my world was about to turn, that taking his arm on that cold, damp, morning, signed my death.’

It was a lovely walk back, filled with small talk and pleasantries. When you approached the doors to the Governor’s house, you could hear the commotion before you saw it. When the stranger accompanying you opened the door, his right elbow still linked with your left, all the commotion suddenly came to a screeching halt. Several pairs of eyes turned to you, including those of Agnes, then the faces attached to all those eyes paled when they saw the man whose arm you still held. When your father called you towards him, a dark look in his eye, you felt the pit of your stomach drop. “Step away from him. “ Your father beckoned, he hadn’t looked this grim since the doctor in Hungary told him of your mothers fate.

Swallowing in nervousness you look up to the man accompanying you only to find him already looking down at you, a rather downcast look in his eyes. Your father calls again, walking towards you. “Step away. Now.” You stare long and hard at the man by your side until he gently nudges you towards the others in the room. You failed to notice until you looked up that most of the guards in the room had their weapons aimed towards him. Stepping away from him you’re immediately met by your lady in waiting coming and sweeping you up the stairs. “Lock her in her room Agnes, until I call for her.” You throw one last glance towards the man to find him still staring at you. Turning the hall, Agnes gently pushes you into your room, and before she shuts the door behind you, the angry conversation from the foyer floods into the room. “What were you doing with my daughter, Impaler.”

‘I suppose it wasn’t a bad situation, after all I was quite taken with him, even if I didn’t know who he was at first. I didn’t fear him, even though everyone else did.’

It was what felt like hours before you heard a key being inserted in the lock of the door. Bounding up from the bed to be greeted by the sight of two guards when the door swung open. You weren’t able to utter a single word when you were grabbed by both arms and dragged away from your room, well actually the room belonged to your Stranger, in your time locked in you had discovered from Agnes that Vlad was the Military Governor of Romania, and that you and all the diplomats were currently residing in his house.

Ironic how things work out.

When you asked where you were being taken you were met with utter silence, the guards only tightening their grip after you tried to pull away. Only feeling ease when the door to what you recognize to be the master study of the house was yanked open and you were promptly thrown in.

Glancing up at the long table to see other diplomats lining the perimeter, your father and who you've come to know as Vlad the Impaler, gracing the far end of the table. “What’s going on?” questioned towards your father even though your eyes are locked with Vlads. Your father says nothing to you as he quietly sends off the others in the room, leaving only the three of you. You only move when he quirks a finger in a come-hither gesture, your eyes glued to your socked feet as you cross your hands in front of your legs. “You understand the reason for my business here,” your father says, “to create a treaty with him” word spoken with venom, “to prevent him from causing any more destruction and massacre off to the West” Saying nothing, only giving a slight nod, still looking down. “Well everything was lined up perfectly, but now, the Voivode (governor) has added a new term to the treaty. Your hand in marriage.”

Feeling your eyes bulge out of their sockets as your head flies up, immediately shouting out “What?” the glare your father sticks on you prevents you from saying anymore. “You heard me girl.” grabbing your arm as he drags you to the farthest corner of the room. “And as much as I hate to do this, you will marry him. You’re reaching your twentieth year and still haven’t married, and I will not jeopardize the well-state of Hungary just because you decide to be stupid and prance around in the town unsupervised.” Your jaw dropping in shock, eyes welling with tears. This man before you was not your father, in all fairness he hadn’t been much of a father after your mother died but his words still hurt nonetheless.

“Your grace, I would like a moment alone with your daughter.” your father turns red-faced, the beginnings of a protest forming in his mind, “It wasn’t a suggestion.” One elegant finger pointing towards the door, “Leave. Now.” huffing, your father pushes past you and storms towards the door, the loud sound of it banging closed behind you causes you to jump, a small cry of fear leaving your lips.

Now it was just you and him. With your head still down you didn’t notice his approach until perfectly polished shoes fell just within your line of sight. Your name being gently called as a rough hand softly finds itself upon the back of your elbow. “I hope you’ve learned by now that I mean you no harm.” His right hand coming to your chin and tipping your head up, Blue eyes coming into contact with yours once again. “I hope you know I do not wish to cause you distress with my proposal.” You nod profusely, muttering out a soft repeating of “I know.” The same hand on your chin moves up to wipe the tears you didn’t know had fallen. For a man who had killed thousands with those same hands, when he was near it was nothing but gentle touches. “Our marriage doesn’t have to be immediate, I’m not immune to the benefits of a little light courtship, however I am reaching an age no bachelor ever should.” Words spoken with a joking lilt, Vlad briefly hunching over. You can’t help but chuckle at the sight of his horrible interpretation of an old person.

The two of you are launched into a comfortable silence, and you realize that with all that you’ve learned about this man in the past however many hours didn’t scare you as much as it probably should’ve. And with this newfound bravery and lack of fear, you confidently reach and grab the hand that’s resting on your cheek and with as much courage as you could muster, and you accept his proposal.

‘Being with him wasn’t at all what I thought it would be. He was nothing but kind to me, nothing but gentle touches and words all throughout our marriage.’

With the treaty being settled and your newfound courtship with a certain military general, everyone left back to their home territories, including your father. Him practically trading you off to sell his own skin didn’t hurt as much as it used too. He left quickly and with promise that most of your possessions still in Hungary would be sent down to Romania. You kept Agnes with you, after all she’d been one of your closest confidants since your mother had died. When the spring of 1460 came along, it brought your twentieth birthday and marriage ceremony with it.

It was a truly gorgeous ceremony. While not filled with pomp and circumstance, it was graceful, elegant. Your pursuer wasn’t exactly poorer, and you were able to have the most gorgeous gown you’d thought you’d ever seen. You had Agnes of all people walk you down the aisle, seeing as your father hadn’t thought to show even though invitations had been sent weeks in advance. You had been introduced to an estranged number of people at your wedding. Your husbands’ father, Valerious, who served a group of Holy Knights. He proved to be a rather cynical man, yet seemed to be nice once you’d gotten to know him.

You couldn’t help but notice, however, a man who always hovered near the back. He was tall, dark hair, covered in black clothing, however you could never make out his face. You knew he was watching you, even when separated from Vlad you could feel the glare of someone constantly burning into the back of your neck. Everytime you garnered your husband's attention to question him about the man, he seemed to have disappeared, swallowed by the shadows he hid in.

Marriage to one of the most dangerous men on this side of the Balkans wasn’t bad. He always treated you with a gentle hand, was never harsh, never cruel, and he never-ever raised his voice. When questioned on his docile behavior his reasoning behind it being that you were his wife, and you should never need to fear him.

When you came to find out that he didn’t live in the palace-like house you were staying in when you first arrived in Romania you were slightly shocked. No, instead he lived in a citadel, a castle near the Arges River; Poenari. And what a beautiful place it was. You much preferred the secludism of this house than the one in the town. The view of the mountains and the fresh air they produced was always a reprieve. Your room was in the highest level of one of the castle spires, with a large window parallel to your bed, so you always woke to the stunning view of the sunrise.

You were however surprisingly lonely most of the time. As it would turn out, being someone of extreme military prowess took a lot of your husband's time away from you. If it weren’t for Agnes and the few estranged workers who milled around the estate you fear you’d have gone mad. When he wasn’t busy trying to take over most of Europe, he was a very caring man. Giving you luxurious gifts, taking you on trips. His love took you into the deepest throes of passion, both physically and metaphorically.

You truly couldn’t ask for a better husband.

‘It was raining that night, not quite cold enough for it to snow. I can’t remember that much, I just remember how scared I was.’

The rain crashed against your window, thunder and lightning taking the sky ever-so-often, Vlad wasn’t in bed even though it was quite late. He was having a very crucial meeting, about what you didn’t know, he’d only come to your room to tell you not to wait on him, to go on and sleep, and to bestow a small kiss to you and your rotund stomach.

After almost two years of marriage, the summer of 1462 blessed you with news of a child. With Poenari being so far from any doctors, your dear Agnes stepped in as a midwife of sorts, making sure you were healthy; sleeping and eating well. She said that springtime would be when your child would finally make their appearance into the world, and you were eaten alive with both anticipation and excitement.

But with your pregnancy came all sorts of changes. For example, it might have been the dead of winter, but you felt as if you were burning alive. Dressed in nothing but one of your husband's shirts and your undergarments you couldn’t find it in yourself to combat the heat. Grabbing the side of the mattress and your bedside-table, you heave yourself off the bed, reaching for your thin silk robe.

You failed to notice the dark figure in the corner of your room.

Shuffling over to the other side of the room you go to feel around the box of matches off one of the bookshelves, to relight the lamp on your side-table. Once you find what you’re looking for, you turn on your heel right as lightning strikes and lights up the room. It was for only a moment, but that split-second of light was all you needed to see the man standing in the corner of the room closest to your door. You almost think it’s your husband playing a trick on you, but the rational part of your brain understands that Vlad would never do that to you, especially in your current condition. With the man so close to the door you surely can’t run, so you do the only other thing you could think of.

Scream and hope your husband or a guard hears you in time.

You didn’t even register how loud your scream was, your body going into fight or flight mode the second the man lunges forwards. You bolt as quickly as you could to your Husbands’ side of the bed to grab a dagger he keeps next to him off his side-table. You turn to stab your assailant as he reaches to grab you. He clutches your wrist faster than you could keep up with, pushing it back and trying to twist your own wrist towards you. Crying out as it reaches an angle it shouldn’t, you propel your knee forward into his groin which gives you enough time to run around the other side of the bed and towards the door, reveling in his groan of pain.

As you work your way past the bed you feel the air around the back of your head shift and the next sound you hear is that of your window breaking. Ignoring the glass that flies all over the room, you crank open your bedroom door, screaming at the top of your lungs for help as you try to begin to make your way down the spiral staircase. It’s only when you hear voices shouting from below do you feel a hand wrap its way around the back of your neck, yanking you back up the stairs. You’re dragged through your room and brought to where your window once was, glass shards digging into your feet. Lightning strikes once more as you’re flipped around, back leaning out into the rainy abyss, and you’re able to get a better glimpse of your attacker.

It’s the man from your wedding.

Right as you reach this epiphany the door to your room slams open, your husband entering. He calls your name, hand lifting in the air and weakly falling back. “Don’t do this Gabriel,” he pleads, “Please let go of my wife.” The mystery man, Gabriel, pushes you further, your back bending at an awkward angle out and into the chilling rain. “I’m sorry,” your assailant murmurs, “But you broke the oath.”

And with that, he pushes you out the window.

You can’t tell if that sound is you screaming or if it’s the wind rushing past your head. Your hair whips around your face as rain projectiles onto you like tiny bullets. The last thing you see is your Husband leaning out the window, gazing at you in defeated sorrow, and a gloved hand coming around, plunging a dagger into his chest.

You’re not quite sure how you die. Whether your body slammed onto the hard ground hundreds of feet below your bedroom, or if you land in the Arges. All you remember is that brief bit of searing pain,

And then everything went dark.

Originally posted December 2nd, 2021.

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