Van Helsing (Cont.)

Watch her, Hannah, Edward said as they started to move. I'm worried she'll do something drastic.

 

Yeah, I know. She's got it fixed in her mind that she's not important to us. Hanna replied, rubbing the back of her neck. I'll do what I can to keep her with us.

 

"Are you alright?" Van Helsing asked, moving over to Jinx. "What happened down there?"

 

Jinx looked at down at her bloodied clothes and skin before looking back at him. "I'll be fine, Aleera was a good fighter." she answered. "Don't worry, most of this is Aleera's blood." she added, turning her gaze up to the top of the stairs.

 

"Good," Van Helsing said, sighing loudly. "I was... well... good."

 

What are you going to do when we find Dracula? Edward asked Hannah.

 

Jinx lightly brushed his hand. "Thanks." she smiled, keeping her eyes ahead. "This way." she pointed down a corridor at the top of the stairs. "I bet he's waiting..."

 

I'll do whatever I can. Hannah answered. And keep an eye on Bee as well.

 

"How do you know which way to go?" Van Helsing asked Jinx, checking his weapon to see it if was loaded and ready.

 

Jinx tapped her ear. "He's the only other moving thing around here, right?" she asked, looking back at him to make sure. "I can hear someone moving around that way." she gestured towards the hall way they were walking down.

 

Van Helsing nodded and headed down the hallway she was indicating. "I have a feeling that, with all of us hear, it won't be as easy as we think..."

He was about to continue speaking with Jinx when a noise ahead of him made him stop in his tracks. He looked sideways at Jinx and knew she heard it, too. Hannah, Edward, Carl, Beatrice, and Anna all stopped behind, listening. And then a voice came out of the shadows ahead of them:

"Gabriel...
Oh, Gabriel..."​

 

Beatrice stood closer to Michael, the voice sending a shiver down her spine. Gabriel...?

"Dracula," Hannah snarled, her fists clenched tight. "You must be going senile, you old bat! There's no 'Gabriel' here."

Anna stood behind Michael, Beatrice, Hannah, and Edward. Her gun was ready in her hands and she couldn't wait to pull the trigger.

 

Jinx looked at Van Helsing, her body tensing as she listened intently to the vampire above them. She'd heard Dracula say that FIRST name too. "What's he talking about?" she whispered to Van Helsing, even though she knew Dracula could hear if he wanted to.

 

"That's..." Van Helsing began steadily, not taking his eyes from Dracula. "That's me..."

"You seem to have difficulty remembering, Gabriel," Dracula continued, taking a step forward, smiling at Van Helsing, his teeth glinting. He ignored Hannah, although, for some reason, he was drawn to the scent of the girl who'd spoken Gabriel's name in her mind.

"The times we had, long ago," he continued aloud, grinning wider when he saw Anna adjust her weapon. "What with all your... lone-man, singular fighting style, I'm surprised to see you here with so many... companions." ​

 

Edward growled and padded his feet close to Hannah.

Just do it, Van Helsing, he told the hunter harshly. Tell me to finish him and I'll do it now.

 

Beatrice stepped in front of Michael. "D-don't act so full of yourself. You're not going to be able to walk away from this."

Hannah grit her teeth and rolled her eyes. She moved next to Beatrice and put her hand on Beatrice's shoulder. "Calm down."

 

Michael glanced at Edward, wondering if he should do something or just stand by.

 

Van Helsing shook his head at Edward slightly, not wanting him to do anything yet. "None of them will be afraid of you," he insisted at Dracula.

"Oh, I can tell," Dracula laughed, his pointed teeth smiling. "Especially all the lovely girls you've brought along..." He let his eyes drift over Jinx, Hannah, Anna, and Beatrice, letting his eyes linger on her slightly. "After having destroyed my brides, it was very... courteous of you to bring replacements."​

 

Edward growled again, lower in his chest this time. I can't take this, just standing here! he snapped at Michael, trying to block the mental voice from Dracula so he couldn't hear it. You attack from the top and hold back his mouth while I drive for his gut and bite hard...got it?

 

Beatrice cringed slightly and moved a bit closer to Michael.

Hannah took her hand off Beatrice's shoulder and looked back at Dracula. "You'll find we're not easily swayed."

Anna said nothing, only cocked back her gun.