The Order's Fugitive Chap 17

I stared up in fright as the wolf let out a long roar. It seemed as though the king of werewolves stood before me, in all his might and glory. His long back fur glistened in the light and his eyes were a piercing yellow! If I looked carefully enough, I could see a white patch of fur, in the shape of a cross on his chest. He looked at the crowd carefully and then snarled at Dracula. Several vampires screamed and backed away. Dracula, however, let out a laugh and looked up at the creature. I expected him to let go if me, but his grip grew firmer. He seemed to think that Van Helsing would not attack with me there, but I wasn’t too sure.

“So!” Dracula spoke, frightened laughter in his voice, “We face each other my friend. Just like old times.... but this time can be different! You can still join me Gabriel! Come back to a true life!”

Gabriel snarled and came closer, he would hear no of what Dracula had to say, nor did he want to. Dracula’s face fell in fright, he knew it would never work. His grip was loosing and I saw my chance. I tried to run, but he snatched my arm and pulled me back. He turned to me,

“I would not try to run, my dear.” He hissed and shoved me away to a group of vampires. They laughed as I felt into them and they gabbed me. I watched as Dracula tried to approach the werewolf, like a man trying to tame a beast.

“We have no need to fight Gabriel!” He said, “You and I, we are kindred sprits! Together, we would be invincible! Join me, Gabriel, join me...” He stopped, his mind seemed to search Van Helsing’s. A smile came to his lips, “I know what your heart desires! I shall give it to you! You and I shall have it together!”

I was confused by this. It made no sense to me. Anna was gone... so what would Van Helsing desire? I watched as Van Helsing’s wolf form stood still for a moment, as though thinking something to himself... but suddenly, the clock chimed again and it broke the wolf’s trance. He let out an ear shattering roar! His eyes blazing an amazing yellow. He would hear none of it! Dracula spoke nothing but lies! The wolf raised his head and roared, ready to attack!

Dracula saw what the wolf was planing, roared and transformed himself! The two creatures leapt and started to tear at each other viciously! I watched in horror at the scene that unfolded before me.

Van Helsing leapt forward and sank his teeth into Dracula’s wing. Dracula shrieked and tried to throw Van Helsing off his back, but Van Helsing held on tight!

I felt weak, I could not stand here like a damsel in distress! I had to do something! I looked around and saw Carl being held by two vampires and caught Carl’s eyes. He looked back and saw I was ready for anything. He nodded and motioned for me to be ready, he had some sort of plan. His hand carefully slipped into his pocket and produced a vial of something. Without warning, he opened the bottle and splashed the liquid onto one of the vampire’s chest! The vampire screeched and let go of Carl’s arm. Carl then pulled out a sliver stake and staked the vampire in the chest! Taking the moment, he dashed from the ballroom and raised up the stairs.

Honestly, I was quite impressed. It seemed as though Carl had grown slightly! That was before I noticed his trip up the stairs. I sighed and rolled my eyes, spoke too soon.

Dracula noticed the scene and screeched in horror. “Stop Him!!” He cried as Van Helsing drove into his chest, causing him to slam into a table filled with food.

The group of vampires ran from where I was held and followed Carl. They ran up the stairs and tried to catch up with him. I looked back and noticed, half of the vampires were gone. I could get away if only I had a distraction!

I saw Van Helsing slide across the floor and then jump to his feet. Several of the vampires backed away, terrified of him. That was it!!! If he could just jump at them, perhaps they would let me go and I could catch up with Carl! Now, how would Van Helsing get over...

One of the vampires screamed and I looked up. Dracula had picked up Van Helsing and thrown him at the crowd by mistake! The vampires screamed and scattered, allowing those who were holding onto me to let go! I took no time in racing across the dance floor and dashing up the stair case that Carl had run up. Oh, thank God I had gotten rid of my high heals!

Dracula had spun around and seen me running up the stairs. He screeched in anger and flew towards me, but was cut off as Van Helsing grabbed him and pulled him backward towards a wall. I heard the clock chime again. Oh My God!

“But you only have till the Twelfth stroke of midnight before you become human again!”

That’s what Carl had meant! Van Helsing had till the final stroke of midnight to kill Dracula. All ready the clock had chimed quite a few times, but I could not stop to count. I had to run. Other vampires had already seen me escape and at their master’s mental command, started to run after me! I took off up the stairs in a desperate attempt to find Carl. Wherever he was, he was certainly not going to just pop out and say, “I’m here.”

I was just about to make a turn right, when a hand grabbed the hem of my dress and pulled me behind a curtain. Enough of this! I was not going to take anymore from these bloodsucking leaches. I spun around and grabbed the guys shirt collar,

“This is for Van Helsing, you Bastard!” I yelled, slugging him in the nose. I heard a yelp and a groan and was about to go for another punch when a voice spoke up,

“I’m sure he would be very touched by all that... but when he has to carry his own equipment and weapons because of my injuries... he might not be very happy.” I covered my mouth in shock.

“Oh my God!! Carl, I am so sorry, I had no idea it was you! If I had I wouldn’t have-”

“Don’t worry about it. Just keep quiet and get down!” He said, looking in another direction, before he pulled me down beside him. I could hear the vampires coming up the hall, looking for me. Oh God, they were gonna find us! Carl covered the both of us with his cloak and whispered.

“Shut your eyes until I tell you to uncover them!” He said. I did as I was told,

“Why are we-”

Before he could answer me, I heard the sound of several thousand vampires screaming at the top of their lungs and what sounded like a bomb going off! After a moment, Carl tapped me on the shoulder.

“Okay, you can look now.” I uncovered my eyes. The smell of burning, dead flesh hit my nose as I stood up.

“Lightning in a bottle, eh?” I asked. He nodded,

“Come on, we have to find Van Helsing. I don’t know if he made it.” I stopped dead in my tracts and spun around to face him,

“Wait a minuet.... you mean to tell me... you set that solar bomb off without knowing if Van Helsing would be okay!?!?” I looked him dead in the eye.

“Tha.... that’s what he told me to do!”

“AND YOU LISTENED TO HIM!?!?” I started down the stairs before he could stop me, “If anything happens to him, I will never forgive myself.”

“You’ll never forgive yourself?!” He called as he raced after me. I had to admit, for a friar, he could run, “You never set that thing off! How could you-”

I stopped and turned around, looking directly at him. I grabbed his shoulders and stared him in the eyes,

“Carl, I love him. I love him and will love him more than any man I will ever meet. He is my angel who showed me love exhausted and the man who gave me back my faith in God. If he dies... I will lose my heart.”

I felt at that moment I couldn’t move. I had told my parents and some of my close friends about it... but none of them had ever... truly understood. They all assumed it to be nothing. But it was not nothing. I was something. It was Love... true love... and I felt it. Now, here I was, telling Carl all about it. Van Helsing’s best friend for Heaven sakes! He wouldn’t believe me... would he? Carl just starred at me blankly. There was a pause where neither of us said anything. Finally Carl spoke.

“You really do love him.” He said gently.

I nodded, “With every true feeling I could feel.”

Carl said nothing... but then spoke.

“What are you waiting for... go make sure he’s okay. I... I won’t tell anyone, but for heaven sakes, go!”

I smiled and kissed Carl on the cheek. “Thank you.”

I rushed down the stairs with all my might and to the balcony. I saw the ashes of the other vampires spread about the regal floor. Both Van Helsing and Dracula, still in their beastly forms, had been knocked unconscious by the blast. They were both not moving.

“VAN HELSING!” I cried and looked around, finding a nearby stair well and ran down it as fast as I possibly could. I had to get to him as quickly as posable to make sure he was okay. I reached the bottom and saw him just laying there... mot moving at all.

“Van Helsing!” I whispered, staring to run over to him. A hand grabbed mine, it was Carl.

“No! He’s still a werewolf, he won’t know who you are! He’ll kill you!” I shoved Carl back.

“I could care less.” I said and ran over to his side. I knelt beside him. From the moment my hands touched his fur-covered arms, his eyes shot open and looked me straight in the eye. I froze, knowing within a moment, he was going to kill me. But he didn’t move. It looked as though he was trying to fight off something mentally. Suddenly, another hand gripped my shoulder. I looked back.

Dracula, in his human form, smiling evilly at the both of us. His eyes glowed deep blue as though he could see what was coming.

“Isn’t this perfect?” He asked. “In just another stroke, it will be midnight. The curse will vanish, I will have Van Helsing as my captive and you as my bride.” His other hand stroked my cheek, “Or shall I keep him as my own little wolf? Make the curse permeant? Make him your little pet perhaps? What do you say to that my love?”

I looked back at Van Helsing, there was a glint in his eye, he knew the clock was about to chime... the curse was wearing off! I had no time. Even if he missed, it would all be for good. Giving his arms a gentle, but reassuring squeeze, I spoke.

“Count... you are so gonna get your ass kicked.”

With that, Van Helsing lunged.... and the clock stroke midnight.