Van Helsing

Edward rolled over, turning himself away from the sun now coming through the window, yanking the blankets over his shoulders.

 

Jinx gently kicked Van Helsing's shoulder and gave him a stern look. She knew Hannah would resent her interfering, but still...she knew it would be a bit of a touchy subject for a little bit.

 

Van Helsing laughed, rubbing his shoulder lightly. "Alright, I'll leave her alone," he muttered. "Since you're so persuasive," he added to Jinx, still smiling.

 

Jinx nodded, "Thank you." she said, queitly, "Just give her alittle bit of time about it, kay?"

 

"I don't know what 'it' is, but fine," Van Helsing agreed. "By the way," he added, "does anyone care what happened to Beatrice anymore?"

 

Jinx thought for a moment. "Well of course. But I thought she was with the horses? To each their own and all that... I can go look for her if you want."

 

"With the horses all afternoon and all night and now the beginning of the morning?" Van Helsing asked. "Well, if you'd like to go over there, be my guest. I wouldn't be surprised if she slept at the stables."

 

Jinx decided, instead, to look out the window to try and see the stables. "Hm... well, there they are, and there she is. Yeah, she did sleep there." she made a face, "I don't know why how she can sleep around those animals... but more power to her I suppose."

 

Hannah stood up, hearing Edward move. She looked at Van Helsing, ignoring what Jinx had said. "It was nothing." She said each word forcefully to mask her shame.

 

"I know, I know," Van Helsing insisted at Hannah. "Well," he paused. "It wasn't nothing... but I'm sure that you'll confide in Edward once he wakes."

 

Jinx kept her gaze on the window, no longer seeing the veiw though. She was glad taht Hannah was lying at the moment, now wasn't the time to tell Van Helsing she'd nearly killed a girl. But at the same time, calling it nothing made the girl's frightened face appear in her head and she bit her lip.

 

Hannah hesitated only for a moment. "I might. But I don't plan to."

 

"Huh," Van Helsing replied, mocking confusion. "That's odd for you."

 

Edward shook his head slightly, hearing the voices in the conversation through his dream. He sat up, pushing a hand through his messy hair.

"What are you all arguing about?" he sighed, yawning and looking around.

 

Hannah kept her eyes on Van Helsing. "We weren't arguing." She addressed Edward. "I don't think you've known me long enough to decide what's odd and what's not." She retorted at Van Helsing. She thought her mask was working quite well, but she couldn't be sure with Edward; he could always tell when something was bothering her. "Can we just get the friar and leave?"

 

You can tell me something you don't want everyone else to hear with your mind, Edward thought, exasperated, seeing Hannah's thoughts behind her eyes. I've got to tell her that again so she doesn't have to feel so uncomfortable.

"Carl is going to meet us all at the stables if I'm correct," Edward spoke aloud. "We should all go there now."

 

"And find our elusive, antisocial Miss Beatrice," Van Helsing added, standing and shouldering his pack. He picked up his hat from the floor and placed it on his head. "I'm leaving now. Feel free to follow now or join me later."

 

Jinx jumped down from the sill and followed Van Helsing out, quickly walking down the stairs. She didn't want to stay in the room with Hannah so upset.

Carl woke up and jumped out of bed. "Ack!" he yelled seeing the sky was already getting light. He grabbed his things together, throwing in the silencer as a last minute thought, and ran out the door doing a quick sign of the cross. "Excuse me, pardon me!" he said, running past people to get to the inn's stables.

 

Hannah waited for Jinx and Van Helsing to be out the door and then sank to her knees. "Oh God, Edward," She moaned. "I can't do this...."

 

"What's the matter, dear?" Edward asked, patting a spot on the bed next to him. "Come here."