Van Helsing (Cont.)

"I know," Edward replied after a moment. "What do you want, then?"

 

Hannah cracked a smile. "You don't want to know," Her smile faded and she embraced Edward. "God, I'm so sorry, Edward."

 

Edward returned the hug, kissing the top of her head. "It's fine," he replied. "And I do want to know, Hannah, no matter what you think."

 

Hannah clung to Edward. "I want... I really want to just... tear someone apart... to kill them in the worst way I can.... I don't, but I do."

 

"It will pass," Edward whispered. "With some rest and the moon going away... it will get better."

 

Hannah was still for a moment. "Why was... Michael here? Why isn't van Helsing being paranoid about him?"

 

"Van Helsing is just trusting that guy to make me mad," Edward growled. "I know he's... like you, in a way, but I don't trust him. I don't know him. He just shows up in the woods after I kill Jake and scares the hell out of Bee, and claims to want to help us? We don't even know him, and Van Helsing is saying yes because I say no."

 

"He did what to Bee?" Hannah asked, suspicious, protective anger edging her voice. "And do you mean he's... a lycan?"

 

"She's scares easily," Edward said with a small smile. "I don't like the way he looks at her, or you, for that matter, just because of what's happened to you. Lestat..." He faded saying the name aloud for a second, but then recovered: "He said that, when John is dead and... what we have to do is done, the werewolf venom may be out of your system completely just from the process. You can still get better."

 

Hannah looked up at Edward. "Process? You make it sound like a business." She thought for a moment. "How does he look at me? I haven't given him much attention. I can understand if he stares at Bee. Vampires tend to be attractive, if you didn't notice."

 

Edward laughed softly, still trying his best to stay out of her mind and memories. "I know," he began. "But Michael, he... he looks at you like he has the right or something to speak with you, to have you tell him all your secrets, and... frankly, I hate him right now for even thinking he can do something like that, especially with me here!"

 

"Well," Hannah started, thinking it over. "You said he's... like me. So, shouldn't he be the one I go to for help? Once he earns my trust of course."

 

"And mine," Edward added, slowly nodding his head. "But his help really won't matter soon; once John is gone, all this lycan trouble will be behind you! I don't see any use for him at all right now."

 

"Bee likes having him around," Hannah noted.

 

Carl pulled up a chair and leaned it up against the wall. "I don't know if any one else wants to try sleeping?" he said, gesturing to the bed he'd left open, smiling at them before sitting down and leaning back to fall asleep.

Jinx smiled at Van Helsing before he went to sleep and then looked at Michael. "Hey, did you say you're somewhere around 135 years old?" she asked, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the 'sleeping people'.

 

Michael laughed. "Three hundred-fifty," He corrected.

 

"Three hundred-fifty?!" Beatrice repeated in an amazed whisper. "That's almost as old as Dracula himself."

 

"Oh..." Jinx sighed. "That's quite impressive." she commented, smiling. "I was just wondering because if you were 135 we'd be sort of the same age and how often does that happen with immortals, right?" she shrugged. "Well not counting Beatrice and Hannah anyway." she smiled at Beatrice

 

"That's true," Edward sighed. "But what does Carl think of that, I wonder?"

 

"He doesn't seem to enjoy it," Hannah laughed.

"Hannah is technically two years older than me," Beatrice pointed out.