VAN HELSING 3: SOUL HUNTERS
(disclaimers on pages 1-6) Chapter 14: Betrayal and look-alikes. It started off simply. Anna, Gabriel, and Victoria were in the main hall, discussing a strategy of attack. Victoria was clutching a glass bottle, once filled with a beverage, that was now empty. Anna was pointing out certain places on the map they found of the area. "They would probably be in a place where it's difficult to get in, so no one would try to attack. Like here." Anna pointed towards a picture of an old tower. "The remains of a fortress seem like a good place to hide." Gabriel shrugged. "Maybe, but I thought they'd be somewhere here." he pointed toward a cave drawn on the map. "They'd be in a place where they could stay hidden." he suggested. "What do you think, Victoria?" he turned to see his sister, who placed her hand up by her cut. She seemed to be in a trance. "Victoria? Are you with us?" he asked. The teenager looked up. "Oh, I'm fine." "Is it about las night?" Gabriel asked. "Yes." "Let me guess. You hate Isabelle because she's your opposite and yet she managed to get Antonio under her spell?" "Well it's not hate, more extreme dislike." Victoria said. Gabriel saw the glass bottle she was holding, and noticed her tight grip on it. "Are you sure it's not hate?" he prodded. There was a shattering crack noise, and the glass bottle lost its shape. "Fine, it's hate." she admitted. She leaned back in her chair and ran her hand through her hair underneath her hood. It soon fell off, revealing her uncombed hair, pale face, and blue eyes. Gabriel saw bags growing underneath the bright blue orbs. Her skin was much paler than it once was. "I hate Baronette so much, I freaking swear flames are coming out of my face." "Easy there. We all don't like her much." Gabriel said. "Wait! I have something to tell you!" she said, now seeming to be frightened rather then beaten. She never told them of the girl's betrayal, and cursed in her head for not doing so earlier. "What is it?" Gabriel leaned forward in his seat. Anna looked up from the map, seeing the two's urgency. However, before Victoria could even say "Isabelle", a crash was heard. Everyone whirled to see a soul hunter fly through the window. It landed in a crouching position and looked up at his targets. Everyone saw other's follow suit of the first soul-hunter. Gabriel didn't waste time standing around. He gripped his Tojo-blades in his hands. He pulled the small lever, making them whir at top speed. Victoria pulled out her swords from their scabbards, and Anna did the same with her own sword. None of them were surprised to see Vladimir open the door and walk right in. He looked coldly at Gabriel and Anna, but his face softened at Victoria's. "Well, I see you've already discovered my plot." he said. He pointed towards the stairs. The trio turned to see Carl and Antonio, held by the one he claimed to have loved and another soul hunter. "Hello, sweet Vladimir!" Isabelle called in a loving tone. Antonio looked up to see Victoria's face, filled with anger. Her eyes seemed to glow with pure hate. Isabelle dragged him in front of Vladimir. The boy turned to see his friend again. "Victoria, you won't believe how sorry I am. You know I'd no sooner-" "You'd no sooner harm her than you would yourself. Yet you fell for Isabelle's charm and beauty, and even caused your friend harm." Vladimir cut him off. He pulled out a sword and placed it at Antonio's throat. "Now be still." "Get away from him!" Victoria shouted. Within an instant, half of the attackers were down, and Victoria shielding Antonio behind her. She had both swords drawn and was panting. Due to the demon blood still surging through her, her energy was now a lot less powerful than it once was. Still, it didn't cause a depletion of her anger or temper, which was easily lost in battle, and what she saw next made her blood boil. Isabelle began to change in front of their eyes. Her blond hair began to darken, and her brown eyes morphed into a blue. "'Get away from him'?" Isabelle asked, now in the form of Victoria. "Aww, Furie likes Antonio." she singsonged. With a cry of rage, the actual Victoria lunged for the fake, who brought Victoria down as she was tackled. The two swords clattered to the ground as the two burst into a brawl. It was the first attack. Soon, the whole main hall was in a vicious fight for survival. This wasn't a slap-fight where the worst injury to get is a broken nail between Victoria and the shape-shifting Isabelle. This was an actual test of strength. Both girls had bruises beginning to develop. Everyone's eyes, although they were fighting, seemed to be focused on them. Gabriel thought it would be easy to follow his sister's movements, but soon he was lost, and focused on killing his opponent. The soul hunter looked up at him with dark eyes. Van Helsing's eyes seemed to be glowing as he brought his Tojo-blades through the monster. It slashed where the rest of its face should have been. The soul hunter soon fell and dissolved into nothing. We're not getting out of this alive. We need to get out of here! he thought. He turned towards the fight between Isabelle and Victoria. He pulled out a revolver and aimed. The two looked up at him. "Wait!" they shouted simultaneously. One of them rolled their eyes and brought the fight into the shadows. "You don't have to do this!" Victoria shouted. "I will if Vladimir will be convinced that I am his!" Isabelle shouted. "Ugh, you can have him!" Victoria returned. She saw her swords laying on the ground beside her. Van Helsing watched as Vladimir run through the door with the remnants of those who survived. "Coward!" he cried at the boy. He turned and saw the others stand up and one of the Victorias step out. He pulled out one revolver, watching as the girl rose her hands up in the air. "Hey, it's me." she said with a smirk. "Prove it." Gabriel said. The girl rolled her eyes and stepped to the side. Isabelle had a sword planted in her stomach. She turned towards Victoria and smirked. "Killer..." she whispered before she vanished into nothing. Victoria pulled her sword out from the ground. A close look revealed that no blood stained the cold metal. "Good, I'd hate that lying, cruel, foul, mother-" "Victoria!" Carl said. "I never knew you'd actually have the audacity to even to think of that word! You have quite a foul mouth." "It's foul when it needs to be. And need I remind you of your constant language, Carl?" Victoria said, attaching her swords back to her hips and glaring at the friar. "We need to get out of here. There's no doubt they'll probably return." Gabriel said. He ran out the door, the others following. They ran out towards the edge of the woods, where they encountered a slight problem. A raging river lay before them. The log of an old tree lay beside it, some of it still connected to the stump. Gabriel heard the sound of footsteps behind them. "Here they come!" Antonio called. "Do we have a plan?" he asked. Silence was his answer until Gabriel had one hatched in his mind. "Yes!" he shouted. He shoved Carl onto the log. Anna turned to him and nodded. She jumped and fell upon the log. Antonio followed suit. Gabriel grabbed one of his Tojo-blades and tried to saw the remnants of the connection away, but it was so thick it wasn't doing much. He turned to see Vladimir coming. "Get on!" Victoria shouted. She pushed Gabriel on the log and withdrew her dual-blades. With one mighty swing, the connection was lost and the log was off in the current. "Geronimo!" she shouted as she jumped into the icy river. Her head broke the surface of the water. Gabriel extended his hand towards her, which she gladly took. She felt herself being pulled out of the water and desperately clutching onto the old tree. Everyone watched as Vladimir pursued them upon the shoreline. This was going to be a long ride.
Back Home Van Helsing Main Page Next