Author's Note: As with all good things, this story is completed! A sequel is unlikely but possible, time will tell. Thank you to everyone who made this my most reviewed story, and please click that little button at the bottom and tell me what you think of the end, and if I should write a follow-up. Again, thank you and God Bless!

Chapter Twelve: In the Aftermath

The people of Vaseria called her Anne of Dracula now, and where once that title would have been one of esteem and honor, it had now become a term of shame. When she walked the town, the people shied away from her, as if everything about her was cursed. To promote or accept this, Anne had taken to wearing black gowns: made in the fashion of Europeans instead of the Gypsy people she had grown to love. Age and care beat her in the end, and although she still seemed to posses some underlying beauty, Anne's features were cold and set. Graying now, and eyes downcast and always bitter, she walked home from church silently with her son playing a few steps ahead of her.

They said he was cursed, this child of a Vampire although no one would say it to his face. There was darkness over his features, a pallor that overcame any view of innocence and splendor and seemed to turn it dark and haunting. His hair was a black as night itself, and hung in a curtain around his pale face. Eyes burned like coals from his pale skull offset by the dullest pink lips that formed a prefect mouth. Anne liked to dress the toddler in black as well, with small riding boots made especially for his small feet that clicked when he walked. His laughter was cold, and his smile macabre somehow, as if this child's creator had taken everything pure and innocent about children and reformed it in his own dark image.

But to Gabriel, nothing else had ever looked so beautiful as Anne and Leonid Van Helsing as they came home from Church. It had been an easy matter after Vladislaus' death to marry his widow, and Anne had agreed readily. She would not return to the Court whose politics had played such a role in her first husband's demise nor she take a husband from the bands of Gypsy men in the town that had murdered him. Gabriel was a wise choice: he was hailed as hero by the people of Vaseria, viewed as a son by Valerious the Elder, and still nursed secret sympathies for the Dracula Count who's name had become a curse word.

More importantly, most importantly, was the fact Dracula's son and heir would be protected. The boy had been born and christened Leonid Van Helsing three years ago today, and for the most part lived a happy ignorant life. Despite the rumors surrounding this Dhampire, half-breed Vampire, Leonid could run and play in his shadows (unlike most children, Leonid loved the night) and could be certain of his loving parents.

Anne looked up as Gabriel came out to meet them. She smiled at him warily before folding herself in his arms for a moment. Gabriel smiled a little, burying his nose in her hair and savoring the perfumes she used to adorned herself.

"How are your nightmares?" Anne asked, quietly as she pulled away. "You only barely got to sleep this morning, I didn't want to wake you for Church."

"They're fine." Gabriel lied uncomfortably and began to walk with Anne around the gardens while keeping a fatherly eye on Leonid. The toddler had found a bug that interested him and now turned his attention to plucking the wings off the small creature. "So do you like the new priest?"

Anne laughed slightly. "He spent the first half of his sermon trying to assure us that Kolos died because of robbers instead of Vampires."

"And did anyone believe him?"

"Of course not." Anne eyes dimmed nervously. "Everyone's scared you know," She began. "Everyone's worried that they'll be the next victim of this...creature."

"There is no creature."

"You're right. Stelien, Kolos...your Aunt, they were all killed by bandits or madmen."

"Or someone with a vendetta against them and sympathy for Vladislaus." Gabriel countered coldly, staring at Anne. "Someone who would want revenge on what they did to him."

"What you did to him too." Anne whispered, with just as much coldness in her voice to match his. "Are you saying I am responible for their deaths?"

"Are you?"

"Go to hell." She hissed. "I wouldn't never do this to any of them...I loved Dracula, and I won't shame him by committing these crimes in his name."
"Yet you are fully willing to claim that it is Vladislaus himself comitting these murders!"

Anne shuttered and looked away, and Gabriel regretted his tone. He tried to touch her, to comfort her but she refused, jerking away from him and staring at Leonid. When she chose to speak again, her voice was low and sad. "He was wronged, Gabriel. Vladislaus was wronged and died for no reason, and now, those responible are dying...horrific deaths. They're being found drained of blood, just like he said they would. I don't know what to believe. I don't know." As her fear grew, she trembled and stepped closer into Gabriel's embrace. "But I know this...it's not over." She shook her head. "He won't let be over."

Gabriel swallowed hard and hugged Anne tighter. "Annie," He soothed quietly. "Don't worry, I have you and Leonid...whatever is doing this, whatever is behind these murders...I'll stop. I'll protect you from it."

Anne glanced up at him with a thin, wan smile that made her appear drawn and tired. She shook her head tiredly, "My dear one. You can not protect me from the man who owned you in life...and will own you in death."

Gabriel went to rebuke but his words died as the sound of an oncoming rider caught his attention. He turned and squinted as the sun met his eyes. Gradually, the sunlight dulled and revealed a handsome rider on a roan horse. The creature was fearsome and panting from a long journey and it's black leather adnorments glistened with importance. Set against any of the Valerious horses, this creature would have proudly outstripped them, Dracula's own Balaam included and Gabriel realized this was the point. The owner of this mount seemed obsessed with appearance.

He dismounted now and withdrew his gray hood from around his rough, darken features. He had auburn hair that fell around his face and unto his shoulders. He was a handsome man, worn and tanned by sun with trinkets of silver and gold that hung from his uniform. Green eyed, and anxious, this man had the typical stance of a English noble, and Gabriel could tell right off he was accustomed to polished homes and glided cages. To him, Vaseria must seem as native and savage as Jerusalem and as if to prove it, the Knight's face settled into a uncertain sneer. He turned and raised his chin upon catching Gabriel's eye.

"Well met," He called, closing the distance between Gabriel, Anne and him. Leonid seemed to sense danger and ran to his mother. The man ignored him. "I am Esau Camus, looking for Valerious Dracul."

"And what business do you have with him?" Gabriel said, warily.

Esau glanced at him, in study. "Rome has sent me. I am a Knight of the Holy Order and it's come to our attention that certain...events have taken place that require our attention."

"What sort of attention is this?" Anne asked from her place.
The man seemed surprised to be asked by a woman but shook it off. "Specialized care. I deal with supernatural forces...there's been talk of magic here."

Gabriel felt his stomach twist. "You're too late." He whispered. "It's over now."

Esau looked up. "It would make it easier, wouldn't it?" He asked, as he threw his cloak over his shoulders. He ignored the rest as he walked into the Manor. "If such things ended when you wanted them too?"

To be continued...