John looked at his shoulder and made a face. He grimaced as he snapped it back into place. "Yes he was strong, but you don't have a mark on you." Beatrice looked up from the reigns she was playing with. "Edward?!" Her worry replaced her unease when she saw Hannah. She jumped down from the carriage and ran over to Edward and Hannah. "Did she faint?" She asked stupidly.
John cursed. "It was going well until you let him get away. I had her."
"Can't be much of a show from your viewpoint." John said aloud to Lestat. He looked back at Edward. "Why would I leave? I should just hop in that carriage with you. It would save me a lot of trouble."
"I'm looking forward to it." John smirked. "You and your posse have places to go. They might get suspicious if you make them wait any longer.You returning without Hannah would be another option as well."
John sighed. "Then it seems I'll have to talk to her another time. These are things a mutt like you can't hear." He eyed Hannah. "You've got a while before she wakes up. Think up a heroic story to tell her. It'll be more fun for me later." He suppressed his laughter.
"Tired? The fun's just starting." John purposely didn't speak out loud; he knew it would hurt a thought reader to have his mind entered. "Hannah and I have a few things we need to settle since you interrupted us." He was in front of Edward before he could register John's movement. "Hand her over. I'd rather not have to hurt anyone." His eyes flickered to Hannah's neck. "I'm warning you now."
"She's just tired." John said casually. "I repeat: you can go. She'll be fine."
John kicked Edward off himself, sending him a fair distance away. "That's some brute strength you have." He stood and cracked his jaw back into place. "Take a nap, Hannah." He didn't watch her collapse. "Edward, is it?" He shook his head, not really caring. "You can go."
John stood up. "You know the way to her. She might even follow you after what happened to her brother. I know you'll take her." "No...." Hannah protested, but she couldn't find truth in the word. If she ever crossed paths with Angelyn, there was only a small doubt in Hannah's mind that Angelyn wouldn't walk away. John yanked Hannah to her feet. "She'll be the first. Well," He chuckled. "Not really. You did kill Henry, and a few others before him." "Accidents...." Hannah's voice was so soft it looked like she had only mouthed the word. "Oh no, Hannah. You deliberately killed Henry. And you enjoyed it." John smirked, holding Hannah's arms to her sides. "Now think of what you felt with him and multiply it ten times to get what you'd feel with the girl." "I can't be what you want me to be." Hannah said. But she was thinking about it. About how amazing it would feel, and how much more she'd want afterwards. "But you will be." John assured her.
Hannah's eyes closed. "I'm not getting anything out of you this way." John mumbled, dropping Hannah. "You're already my vampire and you still can't resist me." Hannah pulled herself to a sitting position, the fog slowly clearing from her head. "And you blame me for that?" John looked down at Hannah, his black eyes scorching. "I shouldn't? You're weak Hannah. And you've resorted to animals! You are what you are; act like it. You smelled the girl, tried to take her, but you were interrupted. Go again, I won't stop you and I'll make sure you're not. You wanted her, you still do. Take her!" "No!" Hannah yelled while she had the strength to. "I am not a monster!" "That's right, you're not." John was kneeling next to Hannah in one swift movement. "Monster's aren't as breathtakingly beautiful as you are. You are a hunter. Human's think they're at the top of their 'food chain', but they're not. We are higher than them. You're not a monster, you're a predator." He stroked Hannah's cheek. "Do what your instincts tell you." The fog was starting to return. Hannah tried to push it away, but to no avail. "Stop...." John cupped Hannah's cheek in his hand. "Why? I can hear your heart; you're enjoying this." "Please...." Hannah begged. She wanted to disagree; her heart was racing from fear not excitement. John opened his mind a bit further, making sure Edward could see everything that was going on.
If Hannah could take action properly, she would have fought back, or called for help. John smirked. "Remember this feeling?" Hannah managed to turn her head away, only to have John force it back. "What more do you want from me?" She asked through the fog that was clouding her head. "Six more months with you by side." John murmured, his voice low and smooth. "After that, you'll want to be there. After that, you won't have a choice. So make it easy on yourself and just give up now." Hannah couldn't respond; she knew it was true but she wasn't about to 'just give up'. She tried to move, to do anything, but the force of John's hands and eyes on her didn't allow her to do more than breathe. John sighed. "You're still as frail as a human." He looked at Hannah's shoulder. "After two shot wounds you came to me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Not the brightest thing to do." He lightly bit Hannah's neck, enforcing most of his self control. He pulled back, watching her blood flow from the small holes. "I wonder how your little group took that." He said, referring to the sight of Hannah's blood. The small snap of pain cleared the fog in Hannah's head only a bit. She could feel and smell her blood now. "Edward...." John covered her mouth again. "He isn't something you should be thinking about. If I was you, I'd be worrying if the vampire holding me was about to drain me." Hannah didn't comprehend what John said; the fog was working its way back over her to the point where her vision blurred. John ran a finger through the tiny streams of blood on Hannah's neck. He smelled it for a brief moment and then licked it off his finger. "Still just as sweet."
"Edwa-" Hannah's cry was cut off by John's hand. "Shh," John said softly. "We wouldn't want to worry anyone." He kept his hand over Hannah's mouth, his own by her ear. "As you said: 'let's just talk.' For now anyway." Hannah's heart accelerated. The thought of biting John's hand passed through her head, but it was quickly wiped away. Her whole mind was fogging. John felt Hannah sag and caught her by her shoulders. "Or we could just take action." He murmured, his lips brushing Hannah's exposed neck. Beatrice was caught off guard by Jinx's outburst. "What?"
"Then you can come right now." John sent back. "Extra energy?" He asked Edward with mock shame. "I think I know of a way for you to get rid of it." "Edward...." Hannah practically moaned. John took a small step forward. "Honestly, Hannah, do you have no sense of smell?" Hannah's head slowly moved from left to right. She meant it to be a defiant gesture, but it came out looking like she was a tad bit drunk. "I should have guessed as much." John rolled his eyes. He looked back at Edward, letting his thoughts flow freely, and forming perfect pictures of what he planned for Hannah. "I'd like you to meet an acquaintance of mine." "If something is wrong," Beatrice started. "Shouldn't we go now?"
Hannah didn't dare let her guard down, but she took the chance to look away from John. John barely glanced at Edward. "Protective." He murmured and then turned his attention back to Hannah. "First off, and I am curious, how was that deer?" Hannah cringed but didn't answer. "I suppose I'll find out later then." John said, seeing he wouldn't get an answer, and he didn't care enough to press the question. "On a more serious note: our agreement. I have given you more than enough time to make your choice. I take it you chose the hard way." Hannah inclined her head in what was supposed to be a nod; she'd made the mistake of looking back at John and the force of his eyes. "Well that's a shame. I was hoping I wouldn't have to waste energy on this mutt." John sighed.
Beatrice looked up, her cheeks a bit less red. "That's the first... and last... time I want to see that..." Hannah instinctively squeezed Edward's hand back. "I have a feeling I'll be saying very little." "Ah, Hannah." John smiled, appearing in front of the two. "And you." He said to Edward. "You took your time getting here. But at least you're here now. So, my little dove," He extended a hand. Hannah took an involuntary step forward, but clung to Edward's hand. John's expression hardened. "It's in your best interest to cooperate, Hannah." He kept his hand out, his eyes on Hannah. Hannah was afraid she'd break Edward's hand if she squeezed any tighter. John's words washed over her and she was compelled to listen to him, but she managed to stay where she stood, still clutching Edward's hand. Despite her effort's she couldn't look away from John's coal black eyes. "Let's just talk." Her voice was strained. John lowered his hand but kept his eyes on Hannah's. His thoughts were blank, knowing that Edward had a gift similar to his.
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.
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...."
Garxena smiled through the kiss. I love you too.
"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.
"I do now." Hinata answered.
