Van Helsing (Cont.)

"Letting someone find her killing someone?" Jinx crossed her arms over her chest. "If that's your right, maybe you should learn how to do it wrong. Just don't become the reason Ms. Anna decides to shoot Bee, she deserves much better than to be hurt for something that isn't her fault." she looked away breifly and then back at him. "That's all I wanted to ask you..." she sighed. "Sorry to have kept you, I suppose."

 

"Oh, no," Lestat sighed, his smile fading only a little. "You see," he began, his voice a little lower, taking a step toward her. "I was merely having a little fun with her, that's all. It was my mistake letting her go on her own like that. I was... occupied myself. You must know what it's like... to be... overwhelmed by emotion with your mind unclear, faded, consumed by... want, desire..."

 

Jinx looked his face over, searching his expression for a few long moments. "Yes, I understand what you mean." she sighed. "But what's going on with Bee... you can't play with her. You understand that, right? She's only sixteen. She's just a child, no matter how mature she seems." she looked a little past him.

 

Lestat let his smile fade away as he looked out past her. "I have heard much more impressive speeches," he began in a soft voice after a moment, looking down at him. "But I do see your point, to a certain extent. Little Bee just wanted help, and I happened to be the one to answer the call. What I have is a Gift..." He faded off slightly, holding up his hands in between them and flexing his long, white fingers. "No one can understand what it's like to be like this for so long... centuries, even, by now. You have the tiniest inclination what the Dark Gift can do for someone... just your appearance..." He reached up, trailing two fingers along the side of her throat, catching s small curl of her hair against his palm.

 

Hannah smiled softly. "I'm glad."

 

"Beatrice!" Michael ran over to her. "Are you okay? Nothing... went wrong, did it?"

 

Beatrice smiled at Michael. "I'm alright," Her smiled faded. "You knew?"

 

"Of course," Michael nodded. "I could see it in your eyes."

 

"Oh," Beatrice looked at the ground. "Um... Where's Sorin? I want to... spend some time with him..."

 

"The horses are with Van Helsing," Michael answered. "Do you want to be alone?"

 

"Yes," Beatrice replied. "Just for a moment."

 

Jinx stepped back a pace. "I understand better than you think." she answered. "But that doesn't matter at the moment. If you want to talk about how hard being a vampire is, fine. All I'm worried about right now is that you take care of Bee like a creator is meant to... please?"

 

Lestat raised his eyes, grinning at the stars that were now fading as the sun began to rise. "I take care of all my children the best I can," he began seriously, shutting his eyes now. "I only have three now, have made four, and will never make another. If you think you know about being a vampire," he added suddenly, looking down at her and piercing her gaze with his own ice-blue eyes. "You haven't a clue, young one; this world is changing and we do not. I can do and have done things you can't even imagine."

 

"When the sun goes down again," Edward added with a nod toward the lightening sky, "everything will be better... if we both make it."

 

Jinx looked back with her green eyes, not letting her face show how his gaze shook her. "I understand better than you think." she repeated, stubbornly. "You can do whatever you want with yourself."

 

"Oh, I always do!" Lestat laughed, straightening his ruffled shirt collar and smiling a little wider. "I have always been my own teacher. And I must confess I've always been my favorite pupil as well!"

 

Van Helsing sighed after he had all the horses in stalls and with fresh water. "Happy now?" he asked Lexi, and then stopped, tilting his head in the direction of the voices he heard drifting toward him.

 

Jinx raised an eyebrow at his sudden mood change. "That's... great."

 

"What's in this for you anyway?" Lestat began suddenly, winking at her response. "This hunter is in it for the thrill of vanquishing evil, Edward and Hannah for redemption and love's gain, little Bee to prove herself... and you?"

 

"Stop that," Hannah said. "No more 'ifs', okay?"