Van Helsing (Cont.)

"I know!" Van Helsing snapped, not loosening his grip. "We all know! He's going to kill people, Anna, and you moved my arm!"

 

"Dracula," Anna began. "Dracula has a cure for werewolves. If there's a chance of saving my brother, I'm going after it."

 

"Because what you did has worsened her condition," Michael tried to keep his voice steady, but his anger edged into it. "There's too much blood mixing in her. She needs you with her, whether she says so or not."

 

"Argh!" Van Helsing growled, dropping Anna to the ground at the base of the tree. He turned around and snapped his gun back into its holster.

"He's not your brother anymore, Anna!" he whispered angrily.

 

"I know that!" Edward snapped, opening his eyes and glaring at Michael. "You think I don't know what the girl I care about needs?"

 

"Do you know what forgiveness is?" Anna questioned, standing up and rubbing her neck.

"Then what are you doing here?!" Michael challenged.

 

"Yes," Van Helsing replied, a little more calmly. He turned now and caught Anna's eye. "I ask for it after."

 

"Because if Van Helsing had shot that animal it wouldn't have stopped!" Edward shouted, stepping toward Michael now, raising his fists slightly. "But you're right. There's no way I should have left that castle with you and her alone in it!"

 

"Then let me save my brother," Anna said. "He is still young. I can still help him."

"You think I'm interested in Hannah that way?" Michael asked. "You're wrong."

 

"You cannot help him," Van Helsing countered. "The fact that he's young is against him. He's going to kill people, Anna!"

 

"Then stay away from her!" Edward growled. "And if you even touch little Bee, I will kill you."

 

"But it's not his fault!" Anna protested. "It's his nature!"

"I don't think of any of friends in a romantic way," Michael growled back. "But little Bee could use more help than you're giving her."

 

Edward turned away from Michael and took a step away, back toward the castle. But he couldn't hold but the next growl that rose in his throat. He snapped back around quickly and at ran at Michael, colliding with him and knocking him over in the snow.

"I can protect her!" he hissed, his hands digging into Michael's shoulders and crushing them deep into the snow. "I need to help her, and she doesn't need you in her way!"

 

"Then do all you can for her," Michael didn't bother to fight back; he didn't want to hurt Edward.

 

"He needs to die, then," Van Helsing snapped. "If it's his nature to kill, he doesn't deserve to live and harm others that are innocent."

 

"I will," Edward retorted, shoving Michael once more before he stood up, breathing heavily and digging his nails into his palms. "Just stay away from those girls, understand? I've had enough of the way Bee looks at you... I can't stand it! And Hannah..." He faded off, shutting his eyes once more to control himself.

 

"But I can help him!" Anna protested. "Dracula has a cure, and I'm going to find it!"

Michael stood up and dusted himself off. "So you're blaming Beatrice for looking at me affectionately? Edward, listen, Beatrice is nothing to me except a friend. I have no room in my heart for anything else. As for Hannah, we all know that she doesn't want anything or anyone but you."

 

"I know what the cure is, Anna," Van Helsing sighed. "Edward knows... he found out in Rome, and... I doubt you could control your brother long enough to get the cure to him, especially since Dracula will want him under his control as well."

 

"Just let them be then!" Edward insisted. "If what you say is really true, leave them alone unless you need to speak with them."

He turned and looked at Van Helsing for a moment. "I don't know if I want you to tell her all that yet," he muttered, and then started back toward the castle.

 

Jinx stood up, wincing as her cuts healed. She looked around, scenting the air for the werewolf as the others around her fought. "Damn it..." she growled, still in full hunt mood physically.