Chapter 3: Castle Frankenstein
After arriving at the Castle's docks the Dwerger raised the 3 caged prisoners from the ship's storage area and placed them on a small platform with wheels on the bottom for easier transportation into the castle.
And after a half hour the Dwerger finally had all 3 prisoners out of the ship and into the Castle. The Dwerger rolled them into the main hall before leaving Van Helsing and rolling Anna and Carl down another passageway.
"Van Helsing!" Called Anna and Van Helsing ran over to the corner of his own cell attempting to get closer to the woman he loved.
"Anna!" Called Van Helsing back in response, but it was too late the Dwerger had pushed them out of view of each other and they could no longer hear him. Van Helsing just hung his head and crumpled to the floor of his cage and placed his head in his hands. But he quickly looked up at the sound of his name.
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Dracula had just walked through the large front doors with Aleera, who was giggling by his side. "Ah, Gabriel; it seems you have had a good trip….you survived. But now we must put you in a safe place for tonight." And when Van Helsing heard the words leave Dracula's mouth his, the blood drained from his face leaving him almost as pale as the vampire himself. Van Helsing had completely forgotten about the full moon that night.
Van Helsing started to look franticly around him trying to find a way out but when he saw there were none he turned back to face Dracula, who was smiling cruelly at him.
"Gabriel, you can not fight it. The Light has lost and the Dark has won." Dracula said with a smile and Van Helsing gave an involuntary growl from deep within his chest. But as soon as Van Helsing was aware of what he had done he looked shocked and pulled his knees to his bare chest avoiding eye contact with the vampire.
Dracula laughed and when he saw Gabriel fighting to control the wolf inside him and said "Oh, dear Gabriel. You can not change has happened to you. You are no longer human, a servant of God but now a wolf. One that 'God' betrayed".
This made Van Helsing furious, "He is still with me where ever I go as long as I am loyal to Him. He and He alone is my Lord and Master" he snapped at the vampire. But as Van Helsing was talking Aleera had come up behind him, and while his back was turned she stuck one of her long slender hands through the bars. Then with one fluid motion made a deep gash diagonally across Van Helsing's back making him cry out.
But Gabriel quickly turned around to face the bride but she had already pulled her arm out of the cage and licking his blood off her finger. As Van Helsing watched her she giggled before racing over to Dracula who waited with open arms.
Dracula looked at her expectantly and she said in a thick Romanian accent, "He heals faster than any of the others did, and his blood; well even with werewolf venom mixed in, it tastes sweet, powerful…..and a strange, holy taste." But this confused Van Helsing greatly.
Dracula just looked amused at the wolf's confusion and said "Dear Gabriel, do you not see? See why you have such horrific nightmares of ancient battles past? You were the Left Hand of God. But now, you have been cast away from that position by becoming a monster."
But as soon as these words left Dracula's mouth Gabriel knew what the creature said was true. It all made sense to Van Helsing, why he could remember the tragedies, the hundreds upon hundreds of deaths, why it was that Van Helsing not only remember the wars but saw himself fighting in them.
Van Helsing looked back up at Dracula and said "What do you mean 'were the Left Hand of God'" though he thought he already knew. But Dracula's smiled widened even more than Van Helsing thought it could go, "Poor poor Gabriel, you, like me have been banished from the Gateway of Heaven by being what we are." And Van Helsing just sunk to the bottom of his cage thinking, not paying any attention to what was going on around him.
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Dracula had motioned over several Dwerger over to put Gabriel into the 'safe' location. Dracula followed silently behind the cage with Aleera by his side watching the Hunter inside of it grasp what he had just said. But as Dracula watched he suddenly got bored and motioned another Dwerger to his side.
"I want you to go down to the dungeons and bring me Anna Valarious" Dracula told the little creature and it nodded and scurried off in the direction of the staircase, but Van Helsing even at the distance between himself and Dracula heard this command.
He threw himself on the side of the cage trying desperately to break it but to no avail. "NO! DON'T YOU DARE YOU BASTARD!!!" Van Helsing called after Dracula but the vampire just turned around and smiled viciously at the caged man and continued to walk down the hall. Van Helsing just continued to try and break free from his small prison, but the Dwerger were now starting to push him into the area he would be kept.
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As Dracula walked down the hall Aleera appeared by his side and asked "What is it you want done with the Princess my Lord" and Dracula stopped and turned to the red head. "Dearest Aleera with only one bride for company I grow impatient, so I think it is time for a second bride." And at the Aleera smiled and they both continued to walk down the hall towards one of the many doors.
Finally after a few moments the reached a door with a large brass handle and they pushed it open to reveal 3 Dwerger holding Anna so tight that she was unable to move. "I will kill you before you have a chance to kill me" Anna spat at the 2 vampires but Dracula just laughed.
"You think that is the reason I brought you here? To kill you? Dear Princess I must say I am appalled by this thought. Like I told you at the ball you would make a fine bride" Dracula said and Anna's face paled.
"Never, I will never become one of you" Anna replied, but Dracula just approached her and whispered into her ear.
"Princess, I am afraid that you have no say in the matter" and he bit down onto her neck and began drinking the sweet coppery liquid.
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Anna's screams echoed throughout the castle to where the Dwerger were dragging Van Helsing out of his miniature prison by the thick chains they had reattached. Van Helsing heard the screams and immediately stopped ad tried to move towards the door to help Anna, but the Dwerger just kept pulling him back towards the small room off to the right of the laboratory.
As the Dwerger pulled him back the band around his neck began cutting off his airway but he didn't care, he needed to get to Anna. But before he could turn around to face the small creatures the screaming had stopped and Van Helsing knew it was too late to help the Princess. So with that he finally stopped struggling and let the Dwerger lead him to his new prison.
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Dracula looked at the Princess and listened for the faint dying heart beat, and when he heard it the smiled before biting his own wrist and placing it in from on her mouth encouraging her to drink. But after a moment princess finally gave into her will to live and grabbed the wrist with such force it startled Dracula who quickly recovered and smiled down at the curly haired woman.
"That is it Princess, you have done well" Dracula said and he jerked his arm from her red stained mouth. But Anna wanted more; she wanted more of the liquid and looked from Dracula to Aleera with sad eyes. But they just smiled warmly back at the newly turned vampire.
Anna was still pouting slightly when she said "I'm hungry" Dracula smiled at her and then turned to Aleera.
"I am giving her to you, teach her our ways. But first I think it is time for our Princess to feed. And Aleera darling, bring be back a nice 20 year old woman for the wolf" and Aleera just smiled before transforming into the winged creature the Village below had learned to fear.
But Aleera just unfolded her wings while waiting for Anna to do the same and after several failed attempts she finally managed to produce the same pale, winged form as her fellow bride. But it took several more tries to get Anna airborne and to stay that way but as soon as she was sure she could stay in the air, Anna, and Aleera both took off into the darkening sky towards the village. But Dracula just smiled before returning to where his lab was being rebuilt to check on Van Helsing.
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Van Helsing was now sitting on the floor in a large cell like cage in the back corner of the laboratory staring at the floor while Anna's screams echoed within his head. Van Helsing knew she was gone and what it was he had to do but it still didn't make it any easier.
Soon the sound of foot steps echoed within the stone walls and Van Helsing looked up to see Dracula walk into the laboratory and start heading towards him. Van Helsing stood up so as not to have to look up at the creature that ruined his life.
But when the vampire finally came into view Van Helsing just glared at him breathing heavily from the back corner of the cage and Dracula just smiled at the werewolf.
"My brides have gone out for dinner but do not worry they are bringing you back a young girl for your dinner do not worry" said Dracula as he pulled out a set of keys and entered the cage. Then the vampire just looked down and watched his feet as he took several steps toward Van Helsing.
Then when Van Helsing thought the vampire was close enough he charged forward towards the evil creature only to be held back from him by the chains that were still attached to his wrists. So Gabriel started to pull violently at the bonds while Dracula just watched him his grin growing.
And much to Van Helsing's displeasure the vampire chuckled at his vain attempts to get to him. He also saw the need to kill, to tear something apart. So when he heard the cackling and cries coming from the other room from his brides he grinned and Van Helsing stopped struggling and looked around.
And within moments Aleera and Anna walked through the door holding a young woman who was struggling desperately as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. Then Van Helsing understood this is the woman Dracula was going to give him for the full moon.
"Please…please just let me go" the girl cried and Van Helsing just backed up until his back touched the back stone wall.
"NO, don't put her in here. Dracula don't you dare put her in here…PLEASE?! She's just a girl!" pleaded Van Helsing because he knew that once the moon rose that the wolf would take over and he would kill the girl.
But Dracula just looked from the girl to Van Helsing then looked at Anna who was watching the hunter with curiosity.
"How was your first hunt my dear?" Dracula asked Anna and the Princess looked over at Dracula before she smiled slightly showing her fangs.
"Very good Master, I had this Human's parents." Anna said pointing to the girl who was still struggling in Aleera's arms.
"Good my dear, very good. Now why don't you take the girl and come in here with me" Dracula instructed her and Anna just nodded before grabbing the girl's arm in an iron grip before walking into the small make shift cell.
"Anna…" Van Helsing whispered slightly as she walked into the cell and Anna looked up to the sound of her name. Then when she saw who had said it she shut the cell door before she released the girl and walked towards Van Helsing looking slightly curious.
"Anna I'm so sorry" the hunter told her and she just grinned at him before she slowly moved her hand to rest on his warm cheek.
"Do not be sorry Wolf. I am free now there is no reason to be sad" she said and Van Helsing just hung his head.
"Fine…" Van Helsing said in defeat because he had no intention to tell them that he does plan on killing them all but he knew that they already knew that so there was no reason in repeating it.
So Dracula just smiled as Anna retreated from Van Helsing and walked back to Dracula.
"Can Aleera and I go and hunt more Master?" asked Anna with her large brown eyes pleading and Dracula just nodded and Anna walked out of the cell; then together Anna and Aleera walked out of the room and took off into the sunless dusk.
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"Now that we are alone I will leave her here with you Gabriel…and I suspect the moon will be rising within the next thirty minutes" said Dracula as he walked forward, past the young girl.
But as Dracula moved towards Van Helsing the hunter moved as far away as the chains would let him. And after several minutes Dracula just scowled and before Van Helsing could move Dracula jumped at him and within seconds had removed the bonds on his wrists.
"No…no p-please put them back on! I don't want to hurt anyone Please put them back on!" cried Van Helsing as Dracula walked back towards the cell door. And when he finally reached the door he quickly opened it before he stepped out and shut it with a loud *clang*.
Dracula still continued to walk towards another door that lead out of the room and Van Helsing ran over to the side of the cage and called Dracula back desperately but the vampire just ignored him until he was out of the room and shut the large wooden door.
Van Helsing then stopped yelling for Dracula and looked back around at the girl before sitting as far away from her as possible and when she looked around and began approaching him he panicked.
"NO n-no stay over there the moonlight will enter through there first so j-just stay there okay? Just stay away from me…." Gabriel said defeated and the girl looked startled at the man before warily walking back to the opposite side of the cell and sat with her knees up to her chest.
Then within the 30 minutes like Dracula had promised the moonlight started to filter through the large circular window and poured over the girl. Then she looked at Van Helsing who was now cowering in the far right corner panting slightly and covered in a thin sheet of sweat.
And slowly as the light started to creep towards him he started whimpering 'no, no, no, no, no, no" over and over and finally when the light touched his skin the man fell to the ground screaming and writhing on the ground as his body began to change and the wolf took over. And the last thing he remembered was towering over the girl and her pitiful cries for help.
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The next morning Gabriel woke with a start as his body began to change once more into it's human form and finally when he was done he lay on the cold stone floor and looked around. The girl was no where in site and so the hunter put his hands up to his face and around his mouth was a slight wetness and something sticky so when he removed his hands he found that there was blood left on his fingers.
Immediately the hunter let out as cry of despair and fell to the ground and held his head hiding his face and soon Dracula walked into the room and looked over at Gabriel.
"What is wrong Wolf?" the vampire asked as he approached the cage and Van Helsing looked up with angry amber eyes and ran at the bars.
"YOU…YOU MADE ME KILL HER!!" Van Helsing shouted at the vampire trying to reach through the bars and grab the vampire making Dracula smile.
But as Van Helsing continued to throw himself at the bars and Dracula just walked back out the door and called over one of the hundreds Dwerger's and whispered instructions to him that Van Helsing could not hear but the small creature just nodded quickly and scurried off before returning with several more Dwerger and the chains used to restrain Van Helsing only these chains and shackles looked different.
So when they started approaching Van Helsing's cage the hunter quickly braced himself as they swarmed him. And soon they had Van Helsing lying on his stomach and clipped on a pair of shackles so that his hands where bound behind his back.
Then the hunter started to buck his body trying to push the creatures off him shouting obscenities and he managed to throw several of them off; but they quickly moved around his body and to his feet and quickly bound them together. So Van Helsing just lay on the floor still shouting at the creatures and tried to pull apart his wrists and flex his hands in an attempt to wriggle his hand free of the bonds.
But soon that freedom was taken away as the Dwerger moved back to his hands once they were sure that the bonds holding his feet were secure. They then forced Van Helsing to ball his hands into fists before slipping a piece of steel over his each of his hands forcing them to stay in a fist shape so he could have the use of his hands. But with one of his hands the hunter managed to free his hand before it was placed back on and then both were strapped down with leather straps that couldn't be removed.
"TAKE THIS OFF OF ME!!" Van Helsing yelled as he tried to wiggle his fingers but the straps holding his hands were then tightened almost to the point where his finger nails were digging into his palm.
"DRACULA!!! Dracula I swear to God if you do not let me go you will pay the ultimate price. Now get this stuff off of me!" said Van Helsing as he heard the cell door open and saw Dracula approaching.
Only the vampire just stooped down and forced Gabriel's chin up to look up into his eyes and Gabriel just struggled harder to break the bonds on his hands and Dracula just smiled.
"I'm going to kill you if it's the last thing…." Van Helsing started to say as he looked at Dracula but the vampire had stood back up and snapped his fingers and the Dwerger responded. They swarmed around his head and forced the hunter onto his knees so that they were level in height and could see his face.
But as Van Helsing looked around at them one of them approached with a gag in his hands that consisted of several leather straps and a large, round metal bulb. So before Van Helsing could finish his sentence the Dwerger shoved the metal bulb into his mouth and began strapping it onto his head.
And after it was firmly in place in looked like a large spider had come to rest over his mouth, but now all the sound that escaped the hunter's mouth was muffled yelling because of the bulb. And so now that all the bonds/gags where in place the Dwerger stood him up as best as possible so Dracula could talk to him.
"You see Gabriel? Now that you have made your first kill your bite in human form is now lethal but while you are in wolf form you now have the ability to infect others. But I can't have you biting any of my servants or brides….."said Dracula and Van Helsing just stood in front of the vampire and glared so as not to lose balance. "…now take him downstairs. And then you can removed the shackles but only the shackles." Said Dracula
And the Dwerger nodded before they swept the feet out from under Van Helsing and began dragging the Hunter out of his cage towards the lower level's of the castle leaving only the sound of his muffled yelling.
Then Dracula turned to the remaining Dwerger and said "I will be going to sleep now. Only wake me if it's an emergency or the sun has set". Then Dracula left the room leaving the small Dwerger to finish rebuilding the lab and other instructions.
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A/n: Okay it has been a loooooooooooooooooooooong time since I last update and I decided today was a good day to finally finish this chapter. So I am sorry about the long wait but I hope the length of the chapter will somewhat make up for that!!
Jill-Bloom89