Vampire Huntress #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Vampire Huntress #3
Night Stalkers Part 3

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

Eleven O’clock in the small town of Culpeper. Alex Brooks crouches on the rooftop of the Coffee Grind. She is now dressed in a solid black, skin tight costume, with a purple cross on the chest and a black cape with a hood. She has a purple pouch fastened to each of her legs, as well as a dark purple belt, carrying a few essentials. Her full face black mask lets her long brown hair flow out the back. The eye holes of the mask have lenses to give her the illusion of solid white, pupilless eyes. She also wears a necklace. A crucifix, handing down through the generations. A heirloom from her mother. Alex appears to have accepted the family tradition.

Nothing, thinks Alexis. I came here to, hopefully, pick up the trail of Matt and little miss undead skank. What am I even doing? I may or may not have inherited this power, but I have no clue how I even use these powers. I mean... The thought is interrupted as she feels an intense headache. Uh-huh, looks like my vamp-sense is tingling.

Huntress turns swiftly, seeing the man in his black trench coat swooping for her.

“You’re fast,” states the being.

“It’s in the blood,” quips the Huntress, pulling out a stake from one of her pouches.

The stranger grabs the stake, inches from his chest. “Isn’t it always?” The newcomer pulls the stake from Huntress’s hands, then twists her around and kicks her forward. “Now, now, now, you must be careful with pointy objects,” he states as he twirls the stake with one hand.

Alexis pulls out another stake, hurling it at the undead monster.

The vampire vanishes in a cloud of smoke, the stake flying through the smoke.

“Gone?” Alexis questions.

That’s when the creature of the night then reappears in front of the Huntress, cupping her chin as he appears. “It’ll take a lot more than you to take out Victor Van Helsing.”

The Huntress pulls back, getting back to her feet. “Van Helsing?”

“Yes. The blood of Abraham Van Helsing flows through my veins. As well as many others,” chuckles Victor.

“You sick...”

“I am what I am.”

“And I am what I am,” Huntress states as she picks up one of her stakes.

“Are we really going to have to go through this again?” questions Victor.

“People keep telling me it is my destiny.”

“Ah, and here I thought you’d be more interested in finding your friend.”

This stops Alex temporarily. “What do you know of Matt?”

“Matt? Oh, you mean the sacrifice? The sacrifice I came to offer my assistance in stopping.”

“Stopping? But you’re a...”

"Vampire,” Victor finishes for her. “Yes, I am, but we aren’t all bad.”

“You’re a blood sucking, soulless, monster.”

“Compliments, compliments, compliments. Careful, you’ll make me weak in the knees.”

Beneath the mask of the Huntress, Alex rolls her eyes. “Fine. Why do you want to stop this sacrifice?”

“Because they plan to resurrect Dracula,” states Victor as he steps from the rooftop, dropping straight to the street below, landing on his feet.

“That’s bad for humanity,” states Huntress as she leaps from the roof, gripping a lamppost, swinging on it, somersaulting into the air and landing in a crouching position on the street below.

“Show off,” Victor comments.

“But why is that bad for you?”

“Not all of us night stalkers wish to be under Big Daddy’s thumb.”

“You got a problem with authority?” questions Alex.

Victor then turns to Alexis in rage, “My reasons matter not, young Huntress. What you should worry about is what the world will be like if Dracula does return. Over the years, Dracula built a power base. He studied the occult, sorcery. Every little bit of magic incantation. Ya see, most vampires aren’t like him. Steak to the heart. Holy water. Garlic. Sunlight. Kill any normal vamp easily enough. But not Dracula. He’s a daywalker. I’ve seen him impale himself on a wooden stake, pushing it straight through. To mess with certain victims’ minds he’s eaten garlic in front of them and washed it down with holy water. Ya know the stories of vampires becoming bats and wolves... they originated with Dracula. He perfected such an art. His magics had made him truly immortal.”

“Then how’d he die?”

“That secret rests with your mum.” Victor then turns away and walks on. “Come on, then. The best we can hope for is to ensure the prick don’t return.”

+

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“The hour is nigh,” Luke states as he stands over Matt Shelton, chained to a table.

Jessie runs her hand across Matt’s cheek, and whispers, “I am so sorry, lover. We coulda had so much fun together.”

Luke stands on a platform. “Children of the night. Worshippers of the great one. It is time. It has been over a decade since our master has roamed the night. Over a decade without his guidance. But tonight, the sacrifice is prepared, as is the chamber.”

Luke pulls a leaver on the wall and the floor beneath the table which holds the bound Matt opens, revealing a pool of blood.

Behind the crowd of undead, the Huntress and Victor watch.

“Blood?” whispers Huntress.

“Vampire blood,” Victor responds back in a low voice. “Your friend isn’t the only sacrifice. Some of these bastards gave their own lives for Dracs’ return.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“Follow my lead,” Victor grins as the words leave his mouth.

“It is time to lower the meat into the pool, so that it may become the new vessel for our lord and master, DRACULA!” announces Luke.

After the roars of the undead crowd dies down they can hear a single being clapping.

“Very good,” says Victor, still clapping. “You always were one with words, Luke.”

“Victor?” questions Luke. “I hadn’t seen you in...”

“Years,” states as Victor hops on stage, sitting on the edge, facing the crowd. “How’s the misses?”

“She’s doin’ fine,” answers Luke, looking over at Jessie. “She does tend to... stray a bit.”

“Just like the old days, huh?” Victor gives Jessie a wink.

“What are you doing here, Van Helsing? I wouldn’t figure you to be happy with the master’s resurrection.”

“Oh, we’ve had our differences in the past, but I would never be one to keep a bad vamp down. In fact, I brought a gift.”

“A gift?” questions Luke.

“Yes. One I think you’ll fine of great interest. The last of its kind, actually.”

“What is this gift, Victor?”

“Her,” Victor states as he points to the back of the crowd.

The cult of vampires all turn, seeing Huntress crouching the back.

“Uh-oh.” Mental note: Never, and I mean NEVER, trust an undead ex-servant of Dracula.

The hordes of vampires begin asdvancing.

Okay, Alexis. You couldn’t even defeat one vampire. Now you have an army after you. I think running may be the best option. And the Huntress turns and flees the chamber, going through the sewers.

“FIND HER!” yells Luke, sending the hordes of vampires after her. “Victor, you did well, old friend. Delivering the last Huntress to us. I’m very surprised,” Luke states as he, too leaves the chamber in search of Huntress.

“Twit,” mutters Victor as he drops from the stage and goes over to Matt.

“What are you doing?” questions Matt.

“Saving your worthless life.”

“Why?” Matt questions.

“Yes, why?” asks Jessie as she re-enters the chamber.

+

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Alexis runs through the sewers. That lying... He tricked me. Now Matt’ll pay the price. She turns a corner, running into two vampires. Looks like Matt’s not the only one.

“Mmmm, I always wanted to taste the blood of a Huntress,” states one vamp.

“I wouldn’t.” Alex jumps straight up, kicking that vampire in his face. “Huntress blood is high in cholesterol.”

The other then runs at her, but Alex spins, pulling out a steak, and pushing it through the creature’s heart. The vampire falls to the sewer floor and explodes in dust.

“Ashes to ashes, huh?”

“You bitch,” yells the other vamp.

Huntress then twirls the steak in her hand and throws it, hitting the vampire directly in his heart.

As she sees him turn to dust, she comments, “Guess my aim is improving.”

“Just in time for your death,” states Luke as he rounds a corner.

+

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Jessica, been a long time, lover,” says Victor as he approaches Jessie.

“I repeat, why are you releasing the meat?”

“Come on. You don’t really want to be under the heal of Dracs, do you?”

“Dracula sired you. How can you talk with such disrespect.”

“That’s right,” states Vic. “He was my sire, and he passed along some of his magics.”

“Stolen magics, Victor! You didn’t earn your power like the Master!”

“Why do the work when another sucker can do it for you?”

“Betrayer!” yells Jessie as she charged Victor.

Victor leaps over her and glides back to the floor effortlessly. “Now, now, love. No need for violence.”

Jessie turns to face Victor. “You may have acquired many of the Master’s abilities, but you can still be staked!” she says as she pulls out a wooden stake.

“You’ll have to catch me first, lover,” Vic challenges, grinning devilishly.

+

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Huntress throws punch after punch at the undead Luke. Luke blocks every punch.

“You’re pathetic. You’re a Huntress?” Luke grabs Huntress’s fist and pushes her to the ground. “Just pathetic,” he says, spitting on Alexis.

“Yeah, and you smell like rotting flesh... or you will,” states Huntress as she throws a bottle of holy water in Luke’s face.

“Aargh,” he yells as he charges at Alexis. Luke, temporarily blinded by the holy water seeping into his eyes, doesn’t see Huntress step to the side, tripping him, causing him to fall into sewage.

“Rotting flesh and sewage. Ewww.” Huntress then stakes Luke through the back, turning him to dust.

“Huntress!” yells Victor as he runs through the tunnel carrying Matt. “Move that cute little rear of yours! I’ve got the meat!”

Huntress follows, saying, “And the cult’s leader is dusted.”

“As is his girlfriend,” Victor informs.

+

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Alexis Brooks, still decked out in her Huntress costume watches Matt go into his home from behind a tree from across the street.

“Alex,” states Carpenter as he approaches.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“It appears as though you succeeded in saving your friend.”

“I had help.”

“Yes?”

“What do you know about Victor Van Helsing?” Alex asks.

“Ahhh, the Van Helsing family tree. That’s actually where my organization began. The Van Helsings, as well as your great grandmother.”

“Of course, why else would you care so much about the Huntress?”

“Abraham Van Helsing and your great grandmother, Barbara, met at a young age... and fell in love. Abraham, having been relatively well off decided to fund the Huntress and set up our organization. In time, they had a baby, out of wedlock...”

“Wait... I’m a Van Helsing?”

“Yes,” Carpenter answers.

“Does that mean Hugh Jackman’s my cousin or something?”

Carpenter ignores her comment. “But Abraham let the child keep his mother’s maiden name. To remember her by.”

“His? So he wasn’t a Huntress?”

“No. A Hunter. There have been quite a few men to take the mantle of Hunter. He was hardly the first. In time, Abraham met someone else and they wed, having other children. Victor is one of those decedents.”

“And he worked for the organization, too?”

“For awhile, yes. Victor ended up having a... disagreement and left. But he still continued to fight the good fight. With some friends he did some real good.”

“So is he a good vampire?”

“Victor was your help?”

“Yes...”

“I have no idea why he helped you tonight, but he had no benevolent reason for doing so. A vampire shares only the memories of the host. The victim’s soul moves on. Victor has done nothing that did not benefit himself since the night Dracula turned him.”

“Dracula? I see. Well, Carp, it’s been a night. I’m sure you know how to find me if you need me,” Huntress states as she begins walking away.

“Does this mean you accept your destiny?”

Not turning back, Alex says, “Hey, someone has to fight the things that go bump in the night.”

Only the beginning.