Van Helsing (Cont.)

"Ah, I see," Van Helsing laughed. "They're okay, you know," he added, a little more seriously. "I will vouch for each of them; that's why they're with me."

 

"Hmm," Edward nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean."

 

The man smiled at Beatrice, taking her hand in his. "Have you been in town long?"

Beatrice stared at her hand. "No," She answered quietly, her mind too busy to elaborate her answer.

"Then perhaps I could give you a small tour," The man offered. "Your coat must not keep you warm enough; you're cold."

"I chill easily," Beatrice found herself placing her other hand on top of the man's.

"I could warm you up," The man squeezed Beatrice's hands lightly.

 

Lestat smiled inwardly at Beatrice as the tavern girl answered: "You must have a room here, sir."

"Ah," Lestat chuckled, his voice low, deep, and enticing. "Of course I do. Shall we?"

"I'd like to see those pockets," the girl insisted. Lestat shoved her hands away, however, and rose, his fingers tight around her corseted waist.

He gave Beatrice another wink before leading the girl toward the back stairs.

 

Beatrice returned the man's smile after Lestat had left. "I'd like that tour."

The man rose from the table and led Beatrice outside. "Transylvania isn't very big. We've all got our ways of... supporting ourselves," He moved his hand to Beatrice's waist.

Beatrice heard the words but they held no meaning for her, her mind was too occupied by the feeling of blood passing in the man's hand.

 

"Where is your room, sir?" the girl asked Lestat now. He smiled serenly as he led her up the flight of stairs.

"Anywhere I want," he muttered under his breath, stopping at a random door, not hearing any noise behind it. He thought the word unlock, and the door opened easily under his hand.

He led her inside, shutting the door and locking it again behind them. The girl turned, giggling, to kiss him but he grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head on the door. She didn't seem to mind, and even tilted her head back when his lips touched the base of her throat. She tensed slightly when the tips of his teeth dug into her skin, but he held her still, whispering a small "hush" before he ripped her flesh out of his way, happily coating his mouth red with her hot blood.

She pulled and fought now, thrashing against his hold, pulling her hands free of him, pounding her fists against his chest and shoulders, screaming despite his fingers over her mouth. Lestat swept her feet out from under her and knelt down on the floor, pinning her on the cold floor. Her arms were weaker now, drops of blood dripping onto the planks and her dress. Lestat let her go now, gathering the free drops onto his fingertips and licking them clean.

He sat back on his knees carelessly, hunkered down next to the girl, small, gasping breaths still eminating from her pale, grey lips.

"Put out the light," he whispered brightly, his dark red tongue running along his lips and teeth and the girl's eyes finally closed.

 

"Are you sure?" Hannah asked, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Listen to me," Anna began coldly. "If I find out that they have killed someone and you've lied to me, I'm not going to hesitate to put them down."

 

Edward smiled a little. "Yes," he replied. "But it's getting better... it will be better; you'll see."

 

Van Helsing nodded curtly. "Of course, he replied after a moment. "I wouldn't expect any less... from someone like you."

 

"Are you okay?" Hannah asked quietly.

Anna glared at Van Helsing, her arms folded over her chest. "What do you know about me?"

 

"No," Edward sighed, holding his head in his hands. "Changing bothered me tonight; I don't know why, but I still feel unnecessarily angry."

 

"Enough to say you're not the most forgiving person in the world," Van Helsing retorted with a small smile.

 

"I'm sorry," Hannah murmured.

"They're killers," Anna responded harshly. "If not now by your claim, they will be."

 

OOC: mmm baby!

BIC: "These are our stables," The man said, momentarily letting go of Beatrice's waist to motion at the stables. "I've found that the ladies love to come visit the horses. It seems you're no acception." He added, seeing Beatrice's smile.

Beatrice stopped walking and looked up at the man. She rested her hand on his cheek, feeling his slight shudder. Before she knew it, he had her against his chest, his lips pressing against her's. She let him have his way for a moment before biting his lower lip. His laugh sent a shiver down her spine. She felt him leading her backwards and then her back against a wall, his hands on her shoulders. Beatrice stood on her toes, not liking be held down. She glided her fingers along his cheek and to his neck. She locked eyes with him for a moment. Feeling nothing but want, she found her fangs in his neck the next second. The way the man's grip tightened around Beatrice just pushed her further. The sensation that swept through Beatrice was nothing she could put words to. When his body when limp against her, pushing her closer against the wall, she finally relented. Aware of the body against her, she pushed it to the ground.

"Vampire!"

Beatrice froze at the scream. Through the errotic feeling passing through her, her commom sense told her not to look towards the cry. A light from a lantern from a second story room cast a beam on Beatrice and the man's body.

 

Lestat stretched his mind out to Beatrice, and then sighed as he stood up from the tavern girl's body. Shouldn't have left her alone, he thought to himself, and then shut his eyes, letting the world around him drift to black, reaching out to his form, almost asking him where he wanted to go on a whim.

Don't move, love, he sent soothingly to Beatrice, feeling his body leave the room and drift down the outside of the tavern inside a shadow. Seems you need more help than I thought...

 

Beatrice shut her eyes, her muscles rigid. She was aware of the quiet activity in the house, and her first instinct was to run, but she stayed still as Lestat had told her to.

 

"Aren't very secretive, are we, dear?" Lestat began happily, appearing behind Beatrice and laughing to himself when she jumped. "Come here," he muttered, and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the shadows of the stables.

"I understand wanting an audience," he added, jerking his head up at the window. "But this is not the best time to try that one out."

 

"I don't want to argue," Van Helsing sighed, waving away her comment. "You have to live with them for now; I think we need their help, whether it's something you like or not."

 

"You've certainly done well enough without their help," Anna insisted. "But, if my guess is correct, you've become attached to them. That's why you won't let me do anything."

 

Beatrice held on to Lestat, trembling. "I'm sorry," She said quietly. "I couldn't help it."