Disclaimer: Van Helsing and this Dracula belong to Van Helsing the movie. Thankfully I can claim Irvan and Kuso as my own. This isn't completely finished, but the whole story is there.

"I told you coming here was a bad idea. You just had to make things worse."

"Shut up, Irvan." There were two of them crouching behind a rafter in a crumbling, unused section of the castle. "This is not the time for your whining," the larger body said harshly and quietly to his companion. "I blame it all on you."

"At least I wasn't the one who insulted him."

"Quiet, someone's coming," the voice from the larger body moved as he lower himself closer to the wooden beams. "If I get splinters because of this, you won't know enough counter curses by they time I'm through with you," he threatened quietly.

The slighter man merely changed positions so he would be able to see the crumbling grand entryway. "It's not them," he stated firmly as a whisper could be. "They would be in a spitting rage by now. It's someone else."

Just when the other would respond, a solitary man walked in, carefully gaging the possible threats the room posed. He was nothing more than a shadow against the soft light streaming in from the archway, but the two in the rafters knew this man was heavily armed. Under the heavy leather coat that swept around his ankles were more unnamed weaponry, all designed for their deaths. If the crossbow and revolvers weren't enough.

"Don't," the slight man said, holding his arm to keep his companion from leaping onto the man.

"He's not here for our well being and you don't want to get rid of him?"

"He's not here for the other's well being by the looks of him, and besides he hasn't seen us. Let the other's take care of him."

"First you have us running from them, now you want them here? Have you completely lost it, Irvan?"

"I'll get the ones after us. He can take care of the rest. Stay here, Kuso." The man known as Irvan silently sifted along the shadows to the back of the cathedral like dome. Kuso could not hear what his companion was doing, but that was the point. He watch Irvan duck out of sight as a horde of winged beasts descended upon them. Rather upon the man waiting at the entryway. It was as if the man had expect the dozen hell-beasts the way his silver missiles reached their mark unerringly.

Winged monsters who once retained the shape humans fell from the air as Kuso watched this man amazed. This could be no ordinary human. At least all the action was taking place below and none of projectiles ever reached him. Irvan didn't seem to be in the safe safety. One of those beasts of vampires had seen his companion. And if it hadn't been for one of that human's gunshots, Irvan might have had to reveal himself to protect himself. Back in the action, the man had sprayed the remaining group with a liquid, burning the monsters' flesh, destroying two instantly.

Kuso whistled to himself, "He's got the real stuff. He knows what he's about." That left two of the hell-beast. Both fled, one dropped to a silver bolt. The other made it to the hole in the roof, close to Irvan's hiding place. The human released a bolt but the beast had made it out alive.

"You missed." The annoyed voice drifted from the shadows and Kuso cursed Irvan. A second bolt thudded in that general vicinity. "Don't shoot, damn it. Don't shoot."

"If I listened to that every time I heard it, I'd be a dead man." So the human could speak.

"I don't care where that thing is pointed, just don't shoot."

"Then get where I can see you," the man still had his crossbow trained on where Irvan's voice was coming. And Kuso was wondering what suicidal objective Irvan was going to propose as his idiotic companion strode out onto the rafters. "What are you doing up there?" That was an intelligent question.

"I was hiding from them," Irvan responded. "You missed."

"Be glad I wasn't aiming for you." The crossbow hadn't moved. If Irvan wasn't careful, he was going to be next.

Irvan snorted in amusement. "You didn't know I was here until I called out. You can put that thing away, I'd rather get out of here before they come back with reinforcements."

"Get down here," the man was cut off as Irvan was suddenly standing in front of him. "Who are you?"

"Now he asks," Irvan rolled his eyes. "Come on, we're leaving. I give them ten minutes at the most." Kuso knew his companion was talking to him, but he was gaging the benefit of revealing himself. "Look, I don't suggest staying, even though you obviously came for it," Irvan said scornfully, eyeing the human's choice of weapons. "As much as I would like you take on a hundred or so of them, I would rather keep myself safe. Come on." Irvan started walking towards the arch, passing right under the rafter Kuso currently occupied. With a swing of his leg, he lightly jumped the thirty feet separating him from the floor, landing softly for a man of his bulk next to Irvan.

"Just how many times are you going to try and get yourself kill tonight?"

"One more if you don't shut up."

"Who the hell are you," the human asked again. Kuso heard the crossbow lock. Neither answered. The swish of of an arrow through air made both turn to dodge. Irvan hadn't turned far enough and the metal head dug itself into his forearm.

"He shot me." Irvan was annoyed again. A bit shocked. And angry. This would get good.

"What's the big deal? You've been shot before. Worse even," Kuso commented casually, glancing at the shaft protruding from Irvan's arm. "Might scar. Nothing to worry about."

"He shot me." Irvan turned and started to stalk back towards the human.

"Irvan, don't be stupid. You're plan worked and now we can get out. Leave him and come on." Kuso was frustrated and annoyed with his companion's behavior. But Irvan wasn't listening, he just walked right up to point blank range of the crossbow, keeping violent eye contact. "Irvan, that makes four times in one night. Are you trying to set a new record for yourself." He was going to say more, but a inhuman screech resounded through the night air. Sounded like the leader of those hell-beast vampires was angry. "That's our cue. Come on."

"He knows him."

"What are you blathering about now, Irvan?"

"The would-be king of a Count seems to know who this man is. Come, Gabriel, I think we should talk. And one topic will be about your aim. Although you might have come for him, you lost your surprise when you let one escape."

"How do you know my name?" Remarkably the crossbow was lowered and Kuso released a breath he did not know he had been holding.

"He just screamed it, weren't you listening."

"How do you know who that was?"

"Trust me, he knows. Enough questions. They're coming. Irvan?" The plan was not vocalized, but the question was plain as day.

"This is going to hurt in the morning," was all Irvan said in response. Without warning, they took Van Helsing by the arms and disappeared from sight.

"Where are we? Why were you hiding from those vampires? And who are you?" A gun cleared Van Helsing's holster, pointed once more at Irvan. Kuso sighed, and found himself facing down a barrel of the human's revolver.

"He doesn't quit, does he?" he remarked over Van Helsing's shoulders to Irvan. To Van Helsing himself, Kuso said, "Look, if we wanted to kill you, we would've tried already." The guns did not move. "Alright, he's all yours, Irvan," he added tossing up his hands in a gesture careless giving and turning his back on the two. "We're going to have to stay here until daybreak. They'll be less apt to come after us during the day." Kuso left them to talk over whatever Irvan had in mind.

"Well, he hasn't ask what we are. So, unless he is blind as well as stupid, then we're on the right track. And at least he didn't shoot you," Irvan sulked as he ripped the arrow from his arm and tossed it back to Van Helsing, who had to stow a revolver to catch it. Irvan sat in one of the arm chairs of the abandoned flat and motioned for the human to do the same. Kuso had taken the most comfortable and cleanest of the assortment of furniture. "In civilized society," Irvan said as though Van Helsing was making himself at home. "introductions are usually first when men meet. I fear we have missed that. My name is Irvan and this is Kuso."

"And I'm Van Helsing," the human gave and sat on the edge of the cushion. A small cloud of dust rose with the action. "Now, what were you doing in that castle?"

"A complicated question," Irvan answered. "We were an envoy between leaders until Kuso insulted the Count. Or rather one of his women. Really Kuso, you should know better than to try and get into one of their beds. We don't know anything about them, biologically speaking."

"Lay off, Irvan. You didn't help matters in demanding a compromise. You should have known that monster wasn't going to compromise."

"I was repeating what H'norngu wanted known. Frankly I have no idea why I was there in the first place. Yaus would have been the better option."

"You were sent because of your poetical phrasing and skilled ways in manipulating words. Or have you conveniently forgotten that?"

"I had conveniently forgotten. Though that leaves the miscalculation in judgment to why you were sent."

"Hold on. You two were there to talk with the Count?"

"He's slow."

"More like dense." Irvan gave Van Helsing all his attention. "Yes, we were there to discuss treaties between our two factions, but the Count has other plans. And when the third member of our party felt compelled to question Dracula's ideas of total control, he sadly met his demise. Leaving us to fend for ourselves. And you saw the results."

"Dracula? As in Count Dracula?"

"As I told you, dense."

"He is dead. I killed him over two hundred years ago."

"Have you never considered that there would always be another who will claim the title. And believe me, he is powerful enough to not be contested. He has already collected a large horde of his vampires, werewolves, and other undead. Now he is threatening the other vampire factions who are not of his creation."

"You're..." Van Helsing stood, a revolver aimed for Irvan's head.

"Not this again. Put it away You asked the question and I'm just answering. Truly, you must be blind."

Kuso watched the display with unguarded amusement. Irvan sure knew how to find the most interesting company. "You know, Irvan. I get the distinct impression this guy doesn't like us."

The other vampire narrowed his eyes in thought and studied the man threatening him. "I believe you're right, for once, Kuso." Irvan's tone made it certain that he was serious and that his words purposely skirted around the issue. "It might be a stretch, but I'd say he despises us because we are heathens."

Kuso shrugged and slouched deeper into his chair. "Well, so long as it's only religious." He too made it known that open hostility would not be tolerated lightly. Van Helsing might be armed, might have just decimated eleven hellish vampires, but the friendly atmosphere would quickly disappear should this keep up.

The revolver lowered and the man seated himself again. "Dracula's vampires are the only ones."

"That's where you're wrong." This time Kuso objected. "We are older than Dracula. Think of it as a different species. You've got your spiders, think about how many different types there are in the world. But with us vampires there are two. Us and Dracula's."

"Where's the difference?"

Irvan took that line of explanation. "For one, we cannot change into those winged beasts. Horribly disfigured creatures. Nor do we have the power of your Devil. Took us a long while to gain a hold of that thought. Your Christian relicts mean nothing to us. Though I could introduce you to several among our number who are faithful practicing Christians."

"I'll take Zeus on before I actually believe in any of that."

"You're pantheon has not been used in centuries. All it's good for is cursing."

"See, it's good for something. Unlike your strange version of religion. Couldn't even call it a religion."

"You call upon the Greek gods?"

"I'm Greek. What do you expect?"

"And you?"

"Well, it existed long before you Muslims, Christians, or Jews. To make a simple explanation: we are on earth therefore we are as equal as the rest of earth."

"Where'd that come from?"

"I direct you to my fathers and mothers and to their fathers and mothers. The beginning is as elusive as our origin. Now tell me, oh great vampire slayer," Irvan mocked. "Do you commit your crimes out of pure pleasure, or do you have an employer for your dastardly deeds?"

"Let's just call it community service."

Irvan and Kuso shared a glance. "Tricky, isn't he." Irvan nodded then in tandem they said, "Pleasure." Kuso continued, "I think do I prefer those who do it for the pleasure, they're more fun."

"I find that the ones who do it for money are most amusing. Though that might also be for the enjoyment. Slaying vampires is not a very lucrative pastime." Irvan took the opportunity openly study the human. It was the study of enemies gaining the size of their opponent. "The question for you is why you have come to this location," Irvan began carefully, "to partake in your choice of sport."

"Doesn't matter. All that matters to you is that I'm here." Van Helsing answered just as carefully.

"Then you won't mind explaining how Vladislaus Dracula seems to know you personally." That halted all words which might have issued from the human's mouth. Kuso looked at Irvan, who sat waiting with a small expression of triumph growing on his face. Apparently he was pleased with rendering Van Helsing speechless.

"I killed Vlad over two hundred years ago," Van Helsing grounded out.

"And just why are you still here?" Irvan asked in a tone only he could pull off, polite savagery. "Two hundred years is a long time for a man to remain in his late thirties. But my question was how do you know him? And why are you here?"

Van Helsing's face hardened as he spoke. He was making it known that his purpose was his purpose despite the fact that he was speaking to vampires. "They told me vampires were in that castle. I came to kill them. No mention was made of Vladislaus. The last I saw of him he was dead."

"Guess he's the type who has to see to believe," Kuso jibed. "Listen kid, Vlad's dead. That's what makes him so particularly dangerous. After he broke out of the prison his father trapped him in, he's caused nothing but trouble for us. We first put down all the Turnings as him being young and careless. But it kept going, 'til he got to challenging H'norngu." Kuso stopped and frowned at the look of puzzlement from Van Helsing. "Alright, what is it you don't get?"

There was a pause while the puzzlement slowly faded for impatience. "Start with Dracula."

"Dense," Irvan commented, dully. "You obviously know Vladislaus from before he became a vampire. He was banished to a fortress with no exit shortly after being turned. We can only guess that about fifty years later he gained wings and escaped its confines."

"Wings?" When neither vampire said anything to dispute the fact, Van Helsing added, "Well, that's new. And what's the rest of it? Where do you come in?"

"Just over a century back," Kuso answered. "Dracula started putting in bids to get in close. Wasn't to keen on the structure, such as it is, and tried for an alliance. We were just concluding one of our talks when Dracula pulled a surprise clause. An equal standing, if you will. And that is quite contrary to what H'norngu would be interested in dealing with. Young upstarts. Barely three and they're thinking they can rule the world."

"I don't follow."

"Of course you don't. Took me four hundred years to understand. What it boils down to is this: The older you are, the stronger you get. The stronger you are the higher you get. Now, if you're lucky enough to be Turned by an old vampire, the more power to you. You can basically jump the political latter. Take me," Kuso said leaning back casually. "Turned by my sire of over six thousand years, I had the power of one of three thousand years. And as it figures, I now stand somewhere around third. Through a great bit of wheeling and dealing."

Irvan snorted in disgust. "You place too much importance on yourself." The pale skinned vampire would have continued but Kuso talked over him.

"Or you can take Irvan here. He was born that way. Has never been human at any point in his long life. So if you think about it, he's the real monster around here. I'm just a victim of circumstance."

Van Helsing just sat with a blank expression on his face. Kuso would have killed to know his thoughts. "He was born that way?"

Kuso smiled as he heard Irvan growl in annoyance. It was far too easy to get under the younger vampire's skin. "Born and raised. If I remember correctly, his entire line is fully vampire, not a Turned one among them. Though when it comes to brute strength they take a lot longer to develop. See, we're both about two thousand years old. But he had to age that way and now looks about twenty, while I was turned at about forty and stayed that way."

"Are you through?" Irvan growled.

"You brought him here."

"To learn why Dracula knows him and see if it could benefit us. Apparently not. In such a case we should be returning to H'norngu with Dracula's answer. Such as it was." The tall slender vampire stood and began searching through the room, obviously looking for something drink as he held a small chalice in his right hand.

"Uptight and snobbish. Classical Born characteristics," Kuso said to the human, who still had no clear emotion on his face. Something Kuso could admire. "It's part of the reason he fits in so well with the nobility. And Irvan's just getting something to tide him over. We should be going out for a real meal shortly."

"It's sunrise," Van Helsing stated blandly.

"So? The sun has not stopped a single one of us past fifteen. Oh, fifteen hundred or equivalent. Now, just why are you after Vladislaus?" Kuso leaned forward anticipating the answer.

"I knew him when he was alive. We were friends back then. He killed my cousin and was blamed for bringing the werewolf." Van Helsing's tone was harder than rock as he said this. "I don't regret what I did." The silence was uneasy as the only movement came from the splash of red liquid into Irvan's goblet. The human looked over oddly curious. "So," he bit out, "What do you have to drink around here?"

"The vampire's version of alcohol, Ymodi, as we cannot digest human's liquor." Irvan stared hard at Kuso while the Greek vampire gave his best innocent look. "Not that that has stopped some from trying." He then pour two more wine glasses full, set them on the table between Van Helsing and Kuso before retrieving his own and the bottle. Kuso took his readily and started to sip, waiting for Gabriel to take his. The human gingerly lifted the glass with much hesitation. It seemed as if both vampires held their breath while the man tested the textured.

It first seemed as though the man was about to decline as he lowered the goblet to the table. But he changed his mind and brought it to his lips instead and took a small, almost worried, sip. Not finding anything wrong, he took more into his mouth and the vampires relaxed somewhat. Kuso figured Irvan was not as annoyed as he tried to get across if he was in the mood to share a drink. But then again the younger vampire was wearing that strange look of triumph again.

"So what is this?" Gabriel asked frowning, trying another sip.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Irvan asked with a small smirk playing on his lips.

He spit it out violently. "It's blood!"

Irvan grinned now, utterly amused. "Oh no, nothing like that. Blood does not keep well after the first few minutes. It's from a plant we have hidden from humans and it does a remarkable job of looking and tasting like blood. But nowhere near as good as the real thing. And this does take at least a thousand years before it is ripe for drinking."

Kuso burst out laughing, nearly dropping his glass as he held his ribs to contain the force of his mirth. Irvan just continued to sip his drink, smiling in satisfaction and amusement. While Van Helsing looked like he was going to be sick.