"Vake up!" A loud voice cried as sheets where wrenched off people. Carl and Van both groaned and began to try and get warm again.

"Why the hell isn't it light out?" Grumbled Carl as he finally gave up and pulled on his clothes. Nils (the one so kind to wake them up) shrugged and set down some food for them.

"There is barely sun in the summer… Anyvay. Piet and I vill be helping ye catch the Valkyrie." He informed the sleepy trio. … Well the sleepy duo, Dracula seemed to be quite content.

What Nils had said took a few minutes to connect in Van's brain but when it finally got there (with the help of food) he smiled and thanked the two.

"Do you know where we should start?" he finally asked once done eating. Piet and Nils exchanged looks then shook their heads.

"No… sorry…" Van nodded but didn't say anything.

"… Do you have any particularly large rocks we could use?" He finally asked. Nils pondered for a bit then nodded.

"Yes, go east for about five miles and ye come upon a very large rock… vhy?

"Do you know the tale of Merlin?" Van asked. Piet shook his head but Nils nodded.

"The crazy British man who fell in love and vas trapped – Oh!" A look of realization dawned on his face. "Ye mean to capture the Valkyrie and put them under a rock."

Dracula shrugged, "Something along those lines, preferably and cave with a large rock in front of it… like in the Odyssey." He analogy was met with confused faces. "Never mind." He muttered.

"So… vhat do ye vant us to do?" Piet asked.

"Find out any information you can on the Valkyrie then report back to us ok?" Van said. Piet and Nils nodded then left the room.

Silence settled over the group for a bit, as each let his mind wander. Finally Van snapped back to reality.

"Didn't you sleep Dracula?" He asked as he attached his sheath to his waist.

Dracula shook his head but didn't say anything.

"You could enlighten me Dracula… why didn't you get any sleep?"

Dracula shot a glare in Van's direction followed by an impatient sigh.

"No Sun Gabriel, I have to reason to hide away."

"Ah…" Van slipped his coat on the turned to look at the other two. Carl was dressed and ready but Dracula looked like a rock star after a long night out. "Come on, get ready." Muttered Van as he chucked some clothes at him. Dracula caught the over cloak and slipped it on.

After a few minutes the three headed out the door. After winding their way through the pub they slipped outside.

"I want to walk around the city and get a feel for it ok." Van said. He paused then regarded his friends, "Dracula, you come with me, Carl go ask around for any information about the Valkyrie." Carl pushed out his bottom lip and pouted.

"Why? Piet and Nils are already doing that." He whined. Van sighed and gave him an –it's obvious-why look.

"The more people out looking the better. Dracula will be going out tonight – wont you?" A glare at Dracula who nodded.

The group split up and Van found himself on the out skirts of the city.

"Notice anything yet?" He asked Dracula. The vampire shook his head and sighed.

"Nothing… unless you count homeless buggers…" He muttered as he stepped clear of a guy sleeping on the ground.

"Seems like a normal city to me." Van said. Suddenly he felt him get dragged to the ground a large yell went whipping through the air.

"Till the Valkyrie's attack." Muttered Dracula as he dragged Van into a vacant shed. The two peered out the cracked window and saw nothing. Apparently the Valkyrie was gone.

Click.

The two whirled around and found a woman standing behind them. She had mangled hair down to her mid back. Her armor was stained with blood.

"What do you want?" Van asked as he took a half step back. The women regarded him with a cool inhuman stare.

"Revenge… for what you humans have done to us!" She said, her voice was low, almost sultry. Dracula tilted his head to the side, apparently still taking in her sight.

"… You're not as impressive as I thought you would be…" He said, Van elbowed him and glared. Dracula ignored him and continued. "But that is besides the point. I would like to know exactly what the humans have done…" He paused. "So that they may rectify it." He finally said.

The Valkyrie scowled at him, her eyes burning with distaste. "You humans have lied about us, and banished us from the lands where we once lived. The places we had long before you and your God. " She practically spit the last part out.

"… So what is it you wish to do?" Van asked, getting his voice back. The Valkyrie turned her steely gaze to him.

"Kill your God, as you have killed mine. And the only way that we have found is to kill the church."

Dracula snorted and turned to Van, "Sucks for you." He said. Van glared at Dracula but didn't say anything.

"Oh, don't be mistaken you will die to human." She said to Dracula who just laughed more.

"…Try." He said. An animalistic smiled curved her lips as she suddenly drew a large sword and shoved it into Dracula's chest. He just stood there and stared at her till she pulled it out.

"I think we have stayed to long Gabriel." Dracula said as he turned towards his companion. Van only nodded. Suddenly he found himself in the air, Dracula holding him. No sooner had they taken flight they landed.

"You moron." Muttered Van as they trooped back into the inn/pub thing. "If anything they will now be after you even more."

Dracula shook his head, "I doubt it, she saw me transform and knows that I am a formidable opponent, they won't attack for a while." The two walked into the room to find it empty.

Van sighed and pretty much dropped onto the bed. He heard it creak a bit under him. His eyes started to close but he forced himself to stay awake.

"Tired Gabriel?" Dracula asked softly as he walked over and knelt down next to the bed so that he was eye level with Van. Van mumbled something and nodded. Not really wanting to talk. The vampire stood up and walked around to the end of the bed, he then carefully crawled onto it, making sure not to disturb Van. Once he was on he stretched himself out alongside Van, wrapping an arm around Van's waist.

Van stiffened a bit at the Vampire's initial touch but soon relaxed when he figured that he wasn't in any danger.

"Still don't trust me do you Gabriel?" A soft whisper asked. Van shivered, not used to having Dracula this close to him.

"… Call it an old reflex." He said into the darkness.

"Hmm…" He could feel the Vampire's breath against his neck. I thought Vampire's don't breath… Hmmm… Van sighed and settled against Dracula.

"You're breathing." He said. He could feel Dracula's lips smile as the brushed against his neck.

"I have figured out that humans are most comfortable around things that… are alive, or at least act alive. True, I don't need to breath but I figure that you would be a bit more comfortable if I did." Van didn't say anything in reply. Though it made since in his mind.

They didn't move for a while and Van found himself drifting in and out of sleep.

"Sleep Gabriel, nothing is going to happen." Dracula whispered as he stroked Van's hair. After a bit he began to sing softly.

"Rose, rose, rose, red
Will I ever see thee wed?
I marry at my will sire, at my will.

Ding dong, dong ding.
Wedding bells on an April morn.
Carve our names onto moss covered stone,
Moss covered stone…"

Van smiled slightly as he felt his mind and body drift to off to sleep.

End

My lord! I got THIS close to writing a slash scene! Ah! (Smacks hand in penance) I'm sorry people! I hate to say this but you might have to wait till the sequel… Yes there is going to be a sequel to this…

Anyway, hope you all liked it, enjoy!

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