Darkness Rising (fanfic) (4th book in Destiny series)

Chapter 17: Legends Are Told

"Like Memories?" Ryder asked

"Exactly," She said, " and i was looking out of Scarlet's eyes."

"And what if..." Ryder trailed off when he looked into her pale blue eyes, "S-Scarlet?" He asked.

"Nick?" She asked, their eyes sparked with joy and they hugged each other tightly. "I'm so sorry." She said, trying not to cry.

"It's ok." He said, rubbing her back. They had their emotional moment for a while, then stopped to talk it out. "What do you think caused you to lose your memories?" Ryder asked.

"I'm not sure," She said, " but it probably had something to do with my Great-grandfather."

"Wait, you weren't raised by your parents?" He said.

"Nope," She said, looking sad, " I was raised solely by my Great-Grandfather, on a ship in the middle of the ocean, forbidden to have friends."

"That sounds miserable." He said.

"From this perspective it might," She said, "but back then i only had one thing on my mind... To kill Dracula." Ryder looked overwhelmed and blank,

"Y-y-your a-a-a-a-" He couldn't get the words out."

"YES! I'M A VAN HELSING!" She said loudly, spitting out her last name like it was poison in her mouth.

"But why do you have.." He gestured to her mouth and she knew that he was talking about her fangs."

"It's a very long story." She said in a exhausted voice.

"Maybe i could tell you." Drac said from the other side of the room. Ryder turned to look at him,

"You don't have to," Ryder said, "then i'd be intruding on personal stuff."

"It seems we've already done that to you," Drac said, casting a glance over at Ericka who was avoiding eye contact, " so you deserve to know." Ryder sat next to him and he told him the whole story. And Ericka was forced to sit and listen to her past being thrown back in her face.

"Wow," Ryder said, "That's a weird way to meet."

"We never thought it would happen." Drac said. They both chuckled and they turned to Ericka who wasn't making a peep. She was lying to her back to them.

"I still hate it," She said, "I hate my past..i hate who i was...I was the real monster."

"Honey-" Drac started, but she cut him off,

"All those years i was fed lies that monsters were the savages..the ones who had to be killed," Her body shook as she propped herself up with an arm, "And i still wonder...What if i never fell in love...What if i succeeded in murdering you?" She turned her head to show that her cheeks were flustered bright red with emotion.

"Sweetie," Drac said, walking over to her and sitting next to her, "You can't let the past keep bothering you." She laid back down with her back facing the wall,

"Your right," She said, cozying up with him and starting to fall asleep, "I won't let it get to me anymore." Ryder stepped out of the room and they fell asleep. He went upstairs to his room and quickly fell asleep.

THE NEXT NIGHT.

They all woke up around the same time the next night, approximately 8:45 PM. Ericka and Mavis had to wake up the kids though. They got ready and headed upstairs. Turns out Ryder was already up and he was stepping through the front door. "Oh, your up." He said, ruffling his hair. He was wearing his blacksmith things, large black gloves, tool belt, and a grease smeared apron. "I was thinking that if your going to stay for a while, i could give you a tour of the city." Ryder said, taking his gloves off and putting them on a bench close to the door.