VAN HELSING 2: THE DEMON'S RISING

Van Helsing's world was a blur. He couldn't tell which way was left or right. All that he could tell was that there was a massive fight going on. Demons were fighting his friends on a patch of field. Furie appeared from next to him, her figure obscured. One clear thing he could see was a large flood of red pouring from her shoulder. She reached inside his coat and pulled out his revolvers. She looked like she was saying something to him, but he couldn't make it out. She turned to someone who appeared to have Van Helsing's arm over their shoulder. She told them something as well, but too was inaudible. He watched as Furie threw a revolver to someone and fire her own.

What's going on? he thought. He couldn't even think clearly. He watched as people were falling to the ground, dead. He watched as Furie threw the revolver to the ground and release a wave of flames from her hand. Even as the blood poured from cuts and wounds, she fought on.

She's going to get herself killed! Van Helsing thought as he watched his sister give her all into this fight. He tried to turn to see who was keeping him on his feet, but it hurt to even turn his head. His whole body ached. He shoved his pain aside when he saw Furie fall to her knees. He tried to make a move for her, but his legs fell from under him. The person who held him up tried to bring him back up, but he wouldn't move. He watched the fight with vision that was beginning to dim as well as blur. Surprisingly enough, Furie stood up with her friends when the fight was over. Cuts had taken their places all over her. She made her way slowly toward whoever was holding Van Helsing. She placed her hand on their shoulder. She whispered something to them.

What is she doing? he thought. He watched as Furie's hand began to glow with a dimming light. She placed it on Van Helsing's carrier, who seemed to tremble as the light dimmed even more. Furie turned to him with tears in her eyes. When the light had completely diminished, Furie fell to the ground. Only then did Van Helsing let the darkness take him over...

Van Helsing was in a large, dark room. He didn't know where he was, but he heard a soft voice. It sounded like laughter that belonged to a child. He looked about, trying to find the source. It didn't take him long, for the child showed herself. She had long brown hair and blue eyes. When she saw him, her face broke into a wide smile.

"Big brother!" she cried. She ran to him and caught him a tight hug.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"You don't remember me, Gabriel?" the girl asked.

"How did you know my name's Gabriel?"

The girl held up something around her neck. It was a chain with a small piece of wood dangling from it. On it read "Gabriel".

Gabriel's eyes went wide as he saw the girl change before his eyes. From a small child, he then saw Furie. Her once blue eyes were now dark, unlike the bright eyes her child form had. "Please forgive me, but I needed to make sure you'd be happy." she whispered. After a tight hug, she vanished, and Gabriel Van Helsing vanished from the room.

He didn't know how long he had been unconscious, where he was, or how he got there. What he did know was that he was lying on a couch. His eyesight was blurry for a moment, but it began to focus. His first sight that he could see with clarity was of a boy watching him.

"Antonio?" Van Helsing whispered. He struggled to his elbows as the boy spoke to him.

"Everyone's either fine or knocked out. You're in Millie and Tom's home with a stab wound that was right below your heart. No one was awake, so I took it upon myself to keep an eye on you when you woke up. Do you have anymore questions?" Antonio asked, his arms folded.

"How'd you know that I was going to ask you that?"

"I've been in this situation before. You pick things up after a while."

"Where's Furie? What happened? Who was holding me? How-" he wanted to continue, but Antonio stopped him.

"Furie's upstairs in a state of unconsciousness. There was a massive fight between us and Amelia and William's guards. Because they lost their masters, they became normal humans. In fact we all did."

"You're human?" Van Helsing asked. Some of his strength was beginning to return and he soon found himself sitting up.

"Tom and Millie are the same. Furie's...human too, but she..."

"What's wrong with her?" Van Helsing asked. If anyone would get hurt, Furie appeared to be the least likely to be mortally wounded.

Antonio sighed, like he didn't want to say this. "You died on us. Furie felt guilty and...she...dove into the black water again."

"What?" Gabriel's eyes went wide.

"That's what she used to heal you. But, seeing as Amelia and William were dead, her powers were getting weaker by the second. After we fought the guards, she turned to the person carrying you...and brought her back."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember Shadow?"

"What about her?"

"She used to be a living human. After she died, she became a ghost, trying to find you. Instead she found Furie."

"Why would Furie bring Shadow back to life?"

"Actually, Shadow's not her real name. She never told us her real name. Furie tried to bring her back, but she passed out due to loss of blood, causing her friend to pass out too. As for Shadow, I don't think it'll be long before she..." he trailed off, sensing that Gabriel knew what he was going to say. "Anyway, if you want to saw anything to her, now's the time."

"I'm going to go see her." Gabriel said. He got up and went to the room where Shadow was. He let out a deep breath. If this was someone he didn't know, what was he going to say? He would have to make something up quickly. With that in mind he opened the door.

His eyes went all but wide when he saw the figure on the bed. She had dark, curly brown hair. For once, he saw her resting. His voice was hoarse, almost inaudible as he choked out the name.

"Anna..." he felt his knees give out from under him, but he forced them to remain strong until he knelt beside the bed.

"Anna, if you can hear me, look at me now." he said, and scolded himself in his head for saying that. That was childish, he thought. He tried again.

"Anna, I know that you might have mixed feelings about seeing me, if you can. But I just want you to know..." tears filled his eyes. He tried to make them go away, but found it impossible. "I'm so sorry. I'll never forgive myself for what I've done. I don't know how you'll ever look on me again, even when I'm gone." he said. It was then he let his tears out. He clutched Anna's hand in his. He looked up at the sky through the window.

Oh, God, please don't take her. I can't live without knowing she'll be happy. If she wants to be with me, please let that happen. he thought. He leaned forward and kissed Anna's cheek.

Some would call it a miracle if they saw what happened. Some said Antonio's calculations were wrong. But either way, what happened did happen.

Anna gasped and sat upright, as though she had just woken from a nightmare. Gabriel jumped back, watching his love gasp for air. When she calmed, she looked about her surroundings with curiosity. She then turned and saw Gabriel, whose eyes were incredibly wide.

"Van Helsing?" she whispered. Gabriel felt some tears form again when he heard her speak. He soon saw tears form in her eyes too.

"It's Gabriel." he corrected, his voice hoarse.

Anna didn't seem to care. With a cry of delight, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. It was intense and passionate. When the two finally pulled away, Gabriel wiped away Anna's tears.

"Why would you give something so amazing as being in heaven to come back?" he asked.

"Because I love you." she answered. She almost dragged him onto the bed, where the two of them sat upright in each other's arms.

"Don't ever say you feel guilty about that night! You know I forgive you!"

"Why shouldn't I? If it hadn't been for you, I still be a werewolf! If I hadn't let the curse consume me as much as it did, we wouldn't have gone through all this. We could've just beaten Amelia and William together, without you having to hide yourself."

"Just promise me that you won't leave."

"That much I can promise." Gabriel said. He brought Anna's face up to look at her eyes. They seemed to glow with joy.

"We'll have to thank Furie eventually." Gabriel said. He then remembered the fight. He felt a bit of fear rise into him. Anna seemed to sense it and took his hand.

"Don't worry. If I learned anything about Furie at all, is that she's strong. She'll be fine." Anna whispered. She hugged Gabriel tightly, stopping when he heard him wince in pain.

"Gabriel! I'm sorry! Are you alright?" she looked in his eyes, her head filled with worry.

"Anna, I'm fine." Gabriel said.

"You're going to have to try harder than that." Anna said. "Let me see."

"It's nothing. Don't worry."

Anna gave him a look that meant she wasn't giving up.

"Alright, but it's nothing." Gabriel tried. He removed his shirt so Anna could see. She remained still for a moment, then returned to reality. She took a closer look at the damage Gabriel had received. A bandage had been wrapped about the injury. Where it had been bleeding was a deep red tone. "See? I'm fine." he said as he slipped his shirt back on.

Anna soon lied down again, Gabriel still holding her in his arms. Anna felt safe within his embrace. It wasn't long until she fell asleep in him. "I love you." she murmured softly.

Gabriel soon fell asleep too, with joy in his heart. He never felt this way ever since the death of Anna. Even that day seemed a distant memory from him, for he had Anna in his arms once more.

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