Van Helsing

"I like the aspect of danger there, dear," Van Helsing replied quickly. "But I'm sure you don't have much experience."

 

"Yeah..." Jinx had to admit, she probably had less experience than he even thought. "But you said you like the 'aspect of danger', so it's all good."

 

"I do," Van Helsing agreed. "And sometimes I'm sure an inexperienced girl is dangerous enough... not that I would know..." He laughed.

 

Jinx shrugged. "Well, I'll just have to use the other kind of experience I have and hope it works to keep you alive." she smiled.

 

"Sounds good," Van Helsing replied. "Now I can't wait."

 

"Honestly, you trust my self control too much." Jinx shook her head. "Probably we should wait to try this until after we kill Dracula. I mean you would be next to worthless if you tried to fight him with broken bones, right?"

 

"Umm... maybe?" Van Helsing laughed. "No, you're right," he sighed, seeing her serious expression. "I'll listen, don't worry. But if Will shows up again, I don't know if I can help it."

 

And he will come again... as soon as I'm alone I'll bet. so much for being independant. Jinx sighed, "Yeah... so little self control. As if taking a gun out and shooting my shoulder is so hard." she teased him.

 

"Honestly," Van Helsing began seriously. "No matter how much you irritate me sometimes, I don't think I could ever shoot you, whether it would permanently harm you or not."

 

Jinx frowned slightly. "I wish you didn't think that."

 

"Why?" Van Helsing asked. "Does the fact that I care about you bother you that much? Should I be apologizing?"

 

"No, don't apologize." Jinx answered, quickly. "I'm sorry... It's not you caring about me that bothers me, I care about you too... What bothers me is that you care enough to say you don't think you could shoot me... and if you can't shoot me... I don't know, but it opens up a way for someone to hurt you."

 

Hannah pulled her legs onto the seat and rested her chin on her knees. "Edward-"

Hannah, John cut her off, silently following the carriages. Do you want Edward to get hurt? Is that why you didn't follow our deal?

Beatrice guided Coco and Sapphire without paying any particular attention to the road; she was getting so used to the horses that she barely had to twitch the reigns to get them to go in the direction she wanted.

 

"It's kind of hard for people to hurt me," Van Helsing smiled, though he was trying to be serious. "I've been around for a long time... I think I'll be okay."

 

"What is it?" Edward asked, looking at Hannah, concerned. "Are you alright?"

 

"So much for finishing that little conversation," Lestat sighed when John left. "Well, this little town would be much disappointed if I didn't visit a few inhabitants before I left."

As he drifted into the nearest shadow, laughing silently to himself, Lestat thought of a time with Louis; memories of his friend seemed to come up too often when he was around John, unbidden, unconscious nostalgia:

"Are you not hungry, Master?" That was what the girl... what was her name? Ah, Yvette, had asked him.

My dear Louis had replied with his heroic, self-righteous silence, a small shake of the head.

I couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, contraire, mon cher; he could eat the whole colony!"

 

"I just don't feel well," Hannah answered, hugging her legs closer to her body. She didn't dare answer John.

 

"Still..." Jinx sighed, "You understand, right? I don't know how good I am at explaining..."

 

"No, I understand, dear," Van Helsing replied. "Don't worry. I'm smarter than I look... sometimes..."

 

"Is there anything I can do?" Edward asked, looking at her, concerned. "What were you going to say before?"