Hunting:

This is my spin on the story of Dracula and Van Helsing.

Growing up I had only seen portraits of Dracula on the church walls. Most of the paintings were of when he was still human and shortly after turning. He was always waiting in the shadows. The more gruesome ones were found in the training room only. The church's oath was to find and exterminate Dracula once and for all. No matter how many times the church tried to put an end to this monster the following night there would be a written note with 'I live' -D. A middle finger would be drawn just underneath.

~

Huff, huff, huff, huff, huff I'm going to die, this is where it all ends I thought to myself. "I know you're still alive little hunter", Dracula said in a sultry voice. Hearing those words tensed my body into a frozen state, I felt my heart skip a beat. "I can hear your heart beating, your breathing, and I can smell the sweat on your skin", he called out to me. He's going to kill me, this is where I die.

A sudden gust of wind hit me like a train. When I looked up there he was, The Dark Prince Dracula. The monster I was taught to hate and kill on sight right in front of me. "You know it's been awhile since I've seen a female hunter, they usually send young men after me. Why the sudden change?", he said with a smile stretching over his bloody sharp fangs. In one quick move he took my cuffs from my utility belt to bind my wrists. "Why don't I tell you a story before draining you dry?"

In a quick movement he wrapped his arm around my waist to lift me over his shoulder, then started running. He did so as if I weighed nothing. Barely having a second to inhale before Dracula started running faster than the speed of light. Everything blurred around me, I couldn't focus on my surroundings. At some point I must've passed out. Waking up bound to a chair with most of my clothes gone made my mind raced faster than I could think. Dracula's voice pierced the dark, "Finally awake little hunter."

Keeping my eyes pointed to the floor I asked, "What do you want monster?" He chuckled at my remark, "I want to know more about you little hunter. I doubt the church sent you after me." His tone didn't waver for a second.

Remembering all the abilities I knew that Dracula has and will use against me. The first one that came to mind was hypnosis. I kept my eyes down from what I've read he needs to make eye contact for the hypnosis to work. Seeing his knees bend to be at my eye level I turned my head away just to be safe. "Why are you here little hunter? Did the church send you because you're a woman and they thought I would show you mercy?", Dracula asked. Taking in a deep breath I shouted, "I'm not a woman and I have a name!" "Until I know your name and pronouns I will continue to call you little hunter", he said. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Call me Zeke."

Seeing Dracula smile out of the corner of my eye he said, "I've always liked that name. Now Zeke why did the church let someone like yourself join the other foot soldiers against me? You'll have to forgive my bluntness, although you are a lot smaller than the average hunter they send to kill me."

Deciding to look this monster in the eyes before I die I said, "They didn't, I disguised myself in their uniform. They thought I was someone new to the ranks." "Hmm, makes sense the church is still stuck in their old ways. They're very selective on the people they let hunt me", he said holding his stance. I scoffed at his remark, "What would you know? You've been a monster for centuries now." Dracula snickered at me, "More than the church would ever know or accept Zeke."

Holding his gaze I could feel myself getting lost in his deep brown eyes. I felt Dracula search through all my memories, not even the secrets I hold close to my heart were safe now. His smile slowly dropped as he saw all my 23 years of life. I've barely lived and now it'll end soon, I thought.

"Oh Zeke, I feel your pain", Dracula said as he covered his heart. "The church really did a number on you", he told me gently. I could feel my brow furrow with that statement. He continued with, "I had soldiers that weren't all men before I was cursed with this life." For a second I saw a memory of his flash through my eyes. Feeling a tear begin to slide down my cheek I turned my head away. Seeing his hand extend to touch my face I flinched. Dracula continued to wipe the tear away from my face only to lick it off his fingertip. "Forgive me, I forgot what tears taste like", he said keeping the same gentle tone. Turning my head to look into his eyes, they were no longer that of a hunter. These eyes looking back at me are of a man who has been through hell, his eyes are filled with a kind sorrow. "It's ok, I guess", was all I could say.

Watching him slowly smirk Dracula said, "You never did answer my question Zeke. Would you like to know my story?" Thinking to hell with it, as far as the church knowns I'm already dead, "Sure". "Excellent! It's been awhile since I've told it", he said standing back on his feet.

"It all started back in 1476, I was known as Vlad Tepes. I'm sure the church has taught you their version of my story." I nodded my head for him to continue. "On the last day of my human life I rode on horseback to my castle after fighting my last war. Once I saw my adoring wife waiting for me we embraced eagerly. There was a great feast that night for all my soldiers and the people under my rule. After having my fill of wine and food, me and my wife went to our bedchamber. We made mad passionate love for unbeknownst to me the last time, then we laid in each others arms until the sun rose. My people committed a coup, they killed everyone who was loyal to me that night.

"They ripped me away from my wife. She begged and pleaded for them to release me, she called out my name as they took me away. Her words haunt me to this day, I could never forget her words", Dracula said with a somber tone. I could saw it all through his eyes, I felt it as well.

"When I was outside my castle they put a noose around her neck. She cried out to me one last time before one of them pushed her off the edge of our balcony. I watched my wife's neck break, seeing her body dangle so high up I lost my mind. I didn't care who I killed as long as I could hold my wife again, even if she was cold. The people eventually subdued me, they did everything I did to our enemies. As I lay dying I thought to myself if there is an afterlife I will do whatever it takes to be with my wife again.

"As I closed my eyes to the human world I knew, I awoke in Hell faced with a demon", he paused to collect himself. "The demon pierced my skin, took hold of my heart to curse me. They said, 'You will become the monster your enemies feared. No longer will you be able to stand in the light of day ever again. An insatiable thirst for blood will haunt your very being from now on. Never will you bear children, undying, a monster of resurrection, you will never know the sweet release of death till the end of time.' Feeling those words burn into my soul I awoke the following night. My people left me to rot on a spike, they didn't even have the decency to bury me let alone burry my wife.

"On that night I was no longer Vlad Tepes, I became Dracula. The rest is history."

Seeing all of Dracula's memories flash through my eyes as he spoke about the past. "So the legend is true, you were cursed instead of making a deal with a demon", I said without thinking. He nodded at the comment. Looking back up at him I asked, "Are you going to kill me now?"

"As of right now there's no need", he told me tenderly. Looking back into his eyes the kindness he had never wavered. "You have been through so much in your young life. You deserve to be happy. The church will think that you're dead which is good for both of us. One of the things we can do is get you a new life. What you want to do with it is up to you.", he said. Feeling my body begin to shivers I asked, "If that's the case can I get my clothes back now?"

In a rush Dracula undid my binds to wrap a thick blanket around me. I looked down and asked, "Where did this come from?" He just shook his head as a response. Seeing the blood stains and the church's crest on one of the corners said everything.

Hearing the sound of footsteps coming towards us put my mind on edge. I waited for the person to come into the light to see it was a man, not just any man though. I gasped once I recognized who it was, Abraham Van Helsing. The man who created the sect of the church meant to hunt and eventually kill Dracula. He's still alive after?!

I had heard that he made a similar deal like Dracula to continue the hunt no what the cost. "Do we have a new recruit darling?", Van Helsing asked Dracula. I watched in confusion as Van Helsing kissed Dracula on the cheek. Feeling incredibly embarrassed all of a sudden I turned my head and whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare". Van Helsing looked at me and said, "It's alright everyone usually has the same face once they realize our relationship." Looking back up at them I had to ask, "If you don't mind me asking, how did this get started?"

They shared a look and Dracula said, "That story can wait till we have you in a safe place after a nice hot dinner." I looked down at myself to remember I'm only wearing a blanket to keep my underwear from showing. Van Helsing extended his hand to say, "You're one of the church's hunters correct?" I said before taking his hand, "Not quite, the church doesn't know I'm here right now. They probably think I finally ran away."

Dracula said, "His name is Zeke love, I believe he goes by he/him pronouns". Van Helsing looked back at me, I nodded in response. "Very well Zeke, we are going to take you to our base of operation. I'll have more questions for you there and I would like to extend an apology for eavesdropping earlier. I did heard everything."

They guided me outside to a car. I was surprised to see my friend Chase waiting with the door open. He went on a mission earlier this month and never came back, we all thought he was dead. After taking a good look at him I rushed to embrace him tightly, "I thought you were dead". He hugged me tightly and said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"When I saw my chance to get out of that hell hole I took it", he told me. Hearing those words infuriated me, I broke away from his grasp to punch him right under the sternum. While he wheezed for air I said, "Don't you ever do that again, or I'll bury you alive myself!"

Hearing Dracula and Van Helsing chuckle gently behind me was a reminder of my situation. Chase took a minute to get back up and apologized for faking his death. Seeing him open the front passenger door for me I looked back at Dracula and Van Helsing, they both shook their heads before leaving us alone. Once inside I buckled up and waited for Chase to start driving away. "What have you been up to?", I asked trying to get rid of the awkward silence. "I've been actually living for a month now. I got my license, looking to apply to colleges soon, I even started painting", he told me longingly. I looked at him and saw a smile I hadn't seen since we were kids. He caught me and asked, "What?" I said with a small smile, "You look happy."

Chase played one of his playlists while he drove. I must've fallen asleep at some point to wake up once the car stopped at a gas station. Before leaving he asked, "Want anything?" I asked for a soda and some chips. He nodded his head before leaving. Waiting in the car reminded me of growing up watching the other boys learn how to fight while I was with the girls learning basic first aid. No one in the church saw my potential due to my body, they said I wasn't strong enough to fight. I took in a sharp breath, seeing Chase come to the car I lowered the window. He took one look at me and asked, "You ok?" I nodded my head while taking the plastic bag from him.

He went to pump the gas and I took some sips of my soda I needed a little sugar in my system before the ride starts again. Once inside Chase asked me, "Thinking of the past again?" I sighed, "How can I not? It's the base of my life; being tortured by nuns, everyone looking at me like I'm some kind of freak, having to fake being the gender I'm not, also having to hide my sexuality." Chase looked at me from the corner of his eye to say, "Well now we can put that behind us once and for all." Hearing hope for the first time in years I felt a small smile reach my lips. Looking out the window I saw the sun begin to rise. My new life starts now.

Part one