Van Helsing

"Edward?!" Hannah cried.

John held her still, his own head stinging from Lestat's power.

 

"Hush, my dear," Lestat murmured. I can kill him now if you wish, he thought to John. I don't even have to touch him.

 

Edward moaned, his mind on fire, his skull just kindling that seemed to add the flames. He couldn't see, couldn't move, yet he still tried to focus...

Breathe... he tried to think to himself, fainting feeling the mud and grass against his cheek on the ground. Just breathe in... breathe out... focus your energy, change if you can...

 

Hannah felt a wave of calm come over her and her body relaxed against Lestat.

"At least give him a slight chance. Play with him a bit." John replied, marveling at his control over Hannah.

 

Get up, Lestat demanded now, and Edward's head snapped forward against his will, the rest of his body soon following till he barely stood, his back hunched over.

You're not very happy with me, are you, Edward? Lestat continued. Or... He smiled, running his slim, white fingers through Hannah's hair again. Is it just me touching her so much that's angering you the most?

 

Edward growled, feeling his body finally wanting to transform.

"You're... barely... hurting me..." he managed to snarl, raising his head just high enough to meet Lestat's gaze. "Is that all you can do?"

 

Hannah shivered at Lestat's touch, but she couldn't find the will to move away from him. At this point, most of her loved being in his arms.

 

Lestat laughed, not in the least bit offended or bothered. "It's alright, mon cherie," he murmured softly into Hannah's hair, running his hand along her back, feeling the tremors against her spine. "Edward will be gone from your mind very soon... John," he began. "Come here."

And you, he slashed at Edward. Get back in the mud.

"I know this is the last thing you want to hear, sweetheart," he whispered to Hannah, "but let John hold you for a moment."

He let go of Hannah, passing her to the vampire next to him, and knelt next to Edward.

Look at me, he said softly, and Edward's head titled off the ground an inch, his cheek coated in mud. Good. Now, this, surprisingly, isn't going to hurt... think of something for me... something that would hurt Hannah beyond belief and make her turn away from you forever. I know there's something in your head that fits the description...

 

Edward tried to shut his mind, but it was no use. He could feel Lestat's power probing through his thoughts, his memories... and he knew exactly what he would find.

 

Hannah struggled against John's hold, her mind clearing once she was out of Lestat's arms. "Edward, I'm sorry! I-"

John covered her mouth. "Be quiet."

Hannah's eyes found Edward's. I love you!

 

Edward tried his best to stop Lestat, but he couldn't do anything. He cringed when he saw himself in Rome's library, standing next to Charlotte... letting her get him books... sitting alone, very close to her... Charlotte getting him a drink... promising him information... he could almost feel her hands and her lips on him again, her hot, sweet breath on his mouth that finally uttered the secret that he needed... the memory started to fade after she had told him where to find her if he was lonely that evening...

He felt Lestat's grip on his mind lessen, and Edward felt naked suddenly, stripped of something that he meant to eventually tell her properly, but, especially with the dialogue, he knew the memory had damned him in Hannah's eyes.

 

Hannah went limp in John's arms. "Edward...."

John tightened his grip on Hannah. That's got to hurt.

"Why... did you...?" Hannah couldn't finish.

 

"Hannah," Edward rasped, trying to stand. "It's not--"

 

Oh, shut up, Edward, Lestat snapped, cutting off the man's words. Try speak again and I will rip your mind in half and you'll have no idea who she is by the end of it.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, mon cherie," Lestat said now, standing, coating his low, warm voice in pity and sweetness. "Like John said, it's best you stay with us."

 

Hannah felt the fog creeping back into her mind. "No, wait! I want to know why. Please, Edward... at least tell me if you don't want me...."

 

"I can't tell you here," Edward began. "They can't know what... what she told me."

 

"A guilty excuse," Lestat laughed. "You'd best go, Edward, and stop hurting John's girl."

 

Lestat's words stung Hannah. John's girl...? Is that what I am if I stay here...? She went ridged against John's hold. "Give me five minutes with him." She begged.

 

Lestat looked at John. It's your decision, he shrugged.

 

Edward rose off the ground unsteadily, feeling the side of his face Lestat had punched, and winced at the swollen bruise next to his left eye. He couldn't even feel it start to heal, Lestat's venom delaying the process.