Van Helsing

Edward snarled again, this time unable to stop the sound from escaping his lips. He hoped the sound didn't frighten Hannah too much. " I know," he growled. "I know he will, but..." he let out a sour, nasty laugh. "As if I'd let you go alone anyway." He opened the door, standing by to let her exit first.

 

Jinx slapped the back of Van Helsing's head. "You are such a perve. Just because that's what you'd be doing if you had a girl doesn't mean everyone thinks that way." she chided him. "By the gods, do you want to pollute Beatice's mind?"

 

"Yes?" Susan said from the kitchen. "I've got some food ready if you and Mary are done."

She smiled at him as he leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen once more. She didn't notice the color in his cheeks and the pinkness in his skin. "That was lovely, what you played," she added now.

"Yes," Lestat murmured. "Your daughter died from amazement."

Susan smiled. "She doesn't like the piano, but I told her ladies play, and she must be one."

Lestat laughed, remembering what a "lady" Rome looked like in his eyes: dead, drained, slumped, and torn against a tree in the forest...

"Mary, dinner!" Susan cried again, and sighed when there was no response. "That girl needs to learn some manners," she muttered, walking over to the kitchen doorway.

Lestat hung in her way, and he grabbed a lock of her hair as she tried to move slowly past him. He inhaled the scent, a strong smell of sweat, flowing blood, and (a small groan escaped his lips) that indescriable smell of a woman alone.

"You smell intoxicating," he whispered, running one finger along her throat.

Susan laughed nervously, his spell not complete over her yet. "Thank you," she muttered, her words a little slurred. "I'll... I'll get Mary..."

Susan walked to the back room, opening the slightly closed door. Mary was still balanced there against the piano key's edge, her head lolled on her small chest.

"Mary, honestly, get up," Susan chided, and reached out to touch her shoulder. Mary slid off the piano bench with a dull thud, her head smacking the corner of the piano, her hair falling back to expose the blood running down her neck and her little pink dress.

Susan shrieked, her piercing scream rebounding off the small room's walls ten times louder. She turned to run--

-- only to find Lestat leaning in the doorway.

His arms were crossed over his vest, a solid smile on his lips, which she now could see were outlined in red.

"You..." she began, shaking so much she was barely able to speak. "Devil!" she screamed.

"Enough of that, dear," Lestat soothed, and Susan's arms immediately fell limp to her side, her sobs deafened by his spell. He touched the side of her face, his warm hands gliding to the base of her throat, along her shoulder... each vein screamed at him to bite, tear, taste, swallow...

"I told you that you smell wonderful," he murmured, pulling her roughly against his body, his lips the lightest touch on her neck muscles. He lightly kissed her shoulders, her neck, her cheeks, her lips, each time he came in contact with her skin projecting the longing and restraint he had to hold to not bite deep, deep into her flesh and draw out the sweest, most amazing liquid in the world...

Lestat moaned, unable to control himself: he sunk his teeth slowly, very slowly into Susan's neck. With his spell completely over her, she only let out a small cry that sounded more like pleasure than pain. He drew the blood as deeply as he could out of her, the taste not as sweet as Mary's but more... sensual, filling... he let out another groan along her throat, blood slipping out of his mouth and down the corner of his lips and her dress. It lasted longer this time, and Susan did not fight; rather, she did exactly what Lestat loved: she clung to him, pulling herself by the front of his vest tighter than he had yanked her to him a few minutes ago.

Lestat almost growled when her heart started to fail, her eyes closing and her skin transulcent now. He let her go, pulling his teeth out of her sweet flesh reluctantly. He let her fall to the floor next to her daughter, and he wiped the blood all over his mouth onto the back of his hand, licking every drop off that he could.

"Quite the Godsend, wasn't I?" he laughed, running his tongue along his teeth slowly, still enveloped in the taste, his mind reeling, his body full, his lungs gasping...

He shook his head finally, leaning over the grand piano to see his reflection in it. Stepping on Mary slightly, he ran a hand through his hair, fluffed his collar, and grinned, seeing that almost all the blood was licked off his teeth.

"Now," he began, leaving the room, his stride happy and confident, "Off to see John... and the other sorry exuses for monsters in this city."

 

"I do apologize, dear," Van Helsing said. "And, if you insist, I shall not pollute Miss Beatrice."

 

Jinx shook her head. "Well, it is entertaining." she grinned at him, "But of course that doesn't mean do it." she added quickly, still smiling though. "Anyway, you are really quite a good fighter, Beatice."

 

"Thanks," Beatrice replied to Jinx, still trying not to think about what Van Helsing had said.

Hannah made her way past Edward, trying to keep her head clear of thoughts she knew he'd be displeased to hear. As she walked with him to Van Helsing and the others, she couldn't help but think of her last meeting with John.

 

"Thank God," Van Helsing sighed loudly. "Here they come... and is Edward...?" he faded off, swallowing what Jinx would call a "perverted comment."

 

Edward found himself having gasp back low growls every breath as they walked, and he kept twisting his shirt in a long knot between his palms. "Tell them we need to get something in the city," Edward said suddenly. "That's much better than an injured girl needs an aimless walk when we should be leaving."

 

"Oh good, you are learning!" Jinx grinned at him and then looked at the others. "there you guys are, everything okay?" her grin faded slightly at their expressions.

 

Lestat walked the streets openly now, liveliness and vigor in each step. He'd already forgotten about... what was it? Susan and Mary? Yes...

He could smell them even though the stables were blocks and blocks away. He began to go casually in that direction, not really noticing anything around him.

John will get her soon, Lestat thought. The forest would be where he'd head...

Humming the tune Mary had played on the piano, he kept a steady pace.

 

Hannah smiled at Jinx. "Yeah, we're fine." She barely noticed the look on Van Helsing's face as she took Edward's hand and knotted her fingers through his.

"Hurry along now Hannah."

Hannah bit her tongue. "We're just... going to get something from the city..... It won't take long, I'm promise." She added, knowing Van Helsing was beyond annoyed at this point. "We'll be right back." She assured the group, and then walked off with Edward hurriedly. "Why does it hurt?" She muttered.

Beatrice watched the two go, utterly confused, with bright red cheeks. "He... wasn't... wearing... his... shirt...."

 

Jinx looked at Van Helsing and Beatice with exasperation. "Is that all either of you saw?" she asked.

 

Van Helsing shut his mouth, which had fallen open as soon as Edward and Hannah had arrived at the stables. "I win," he said triumphantly to Jinx. "That's all I got to say."

 

"I'm worried," Edward said, trying his best not to gasp in between his breaths. "And angry... and..." he flushed a little, but finished: "... a bit over-protective. To the woods, then?"

 

Jinx knew better but she had to ask. "What the hell does that mean?"

 

Hannah rubbed her head with her free hand. "To the woods." She confirmed, already changing their course. She walked slower. "What do you think he'd do if we didn't go...?"

"But..." Beatrice protested. "But he.... And the shirt... And...." Her cheeks were as red as they could get. She buried her face in her hands.

 

"Don't worry, dear, it's fine," Van Helsing assured Beatrice, and then turned to Jinx.

"Do you really want me to elaborate in front of Beatrice!" he exclaimed. "Really!"

 

"Oh!" Jinx realized what he meant and slapped him upside the head again. "That doesn't mean anything and you need to stop fantasising about other people's relationships." she glared at him and then looked at Beatice, her eyes softer, "Beatice, it's okay, I really doubt anything happened. Don't let his," she pointed her thumb at Van Helsing, "Thoughts cloud yours, okay?" she gave her a quick smile.

 

"He'd get you alone and hurt you," Edward growled, containing his snapping tone in his voice. "But be careful what you say. I can try to read his thoughts, but I have a feeling he already knows that I can do that; he may be able to block me."

They entered the trees now, and Edward squeezed her hand tighter, his back starting to itch like he wanted to collaspe on all fours. The full moon is over! he thought incedulously. This is odd... it's the emtional stress... I've got to calm down...

 

"What on earth could they need to get in the city right before we leave? And with Edward half-naked for God's sake?!"