Van Helsing

"She was just feeling really bad about Henry's death," Edward said carefully. "She doesn't know where Jinx is either. I told her to meet us after nightfall... since that is when Jinx will probably be out."

 

Hannah sat up and took off her cloak. She lied down again, more comfortably, and tried to get some rest.

 

"I see," Van Helsing replied. "Well, then, we better sleep for a few hours."

He turned over on the bed, and then cried out.

"What?" Edward asked, sitting up with a start. "What's wrong?"

"Just lay on my wrong arm," the other man muttered, and turned to lie on his right side. Then he was silent.

What just happened to me down there? Edward thought as he, too, lay on his bed. She can't possibly care for me... I mean, I'm a werewolf! I could kill her with a small cut of my teeth... I'd better let her be and not lead her on to disappoint her. We both have more important things to worry about...

 

Hannah woke when the moon was high in the sky. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the dark and she got off the bed to get her cloak. Once she was ready, she went outside to have a bit of alone time before Van Helsing and Edward came out.

 

Van Helsing was dreaming... he was walking through a massive, drafty castle... all the edges of things that should be sharp were dulled and blurry, making it hard to see anything... all was in a shade of grey and silver... a large winged, fanged beast flew past his field of vision... he reached for his guns but found nothing but air... a thin, dark haired girl in a bloodred laced corset ran at him... another man walked slowly toward him through the mist... "Oh Gabriel..." the voice purred... and then a stab of him in his side, like a sharp needle, all went red... and--

"Ready to go?"

Van Helsing sat up arbuptly, shaking his head and looking around. Edward was watching him closing.

"Yes," he muttered, putting his hat back on his head. It had fallen on the floor as he slept. "Where is Hannah...?"

"Downstairs or right outside," Edward said. "Are... are you alright?"

"Yes," he repeated, getting up and walking to the door. "Let's go."

 

Hannah made a cross in the dirt with her foot. I'm starting something that I don't know how will end... She thought, looking at the cross. I'll need some help...

 

"Hannah!" Edward called, seeing the girl just outside the inn as he and Van Helsing came out the front door. They walked over to her.

"Where will we look for Jinx?" Van Helsing asked.

 

Hannah stepped over the cross so they wouldn't see. "The stables is my first guess." She said.

 

Van Helsing nodded and they began to walk in the direction of the stables. He watched Edward and Hannah very carefully, but saw nothing between them that was suspicious.

So I'm just crazy or they're both really good at hiding emotions... he thought with a small smile as they reached the stables.

 

Beatrice was heading inside from another evening ride, when the small group of people caught her eye. She decided it best to not interfere so she led her horse back towards her family's small farm.

 

OOC: EDWARD SAW THAT FIIIINE BOOTAYY ON THE HORSE AND WAS LIKE : "OOOOHHH BABY I WANNA TAP SOMMA DAT!!!!

JUST KIDDING!!!

BIC: Edward saw the young girl on the horse disappear into the trees. Alright, he thought. Even the remote farmers don't want to make friends...

 

Hannah pulled her cloak around herself. It's not cold out... So why am I shivering? She looked up at the clouds and thought she saw movement. "Van Helsing...."

"Be cautious of the werewolf." Verona warned Aleera and Marishka.

"Of course." Marishka laughed quietly.

"I'll take care of the girl." Aleera ordered, "Keep the stranger busy."

 

Van Helsing saw the young girl ride by as well.

"Did you see that?" he asked Edward.

Edward nodded. "It's just a farmer; we should leave--"

"Excuse me, miss!" Van Helsing shouted, cutting Edward off. The other man looked over at Hannah and sighed. They both followed Van Helsing as he ran after the girl on the horse.

 

Sorin reared and galloped away from Beatrice. "Sorin!" Beatrice called after the horse. What spooked him? She turned to look at the three people approaching her. "Yes?"

 

"Get Down!" Van Helsing screamed, and dived at the girl on the horse, toppling her to the floor as a large, pink mass with wings flew over where her head had been. The girl struggled to sit up, and Van Helsing got off her as her horse whinnied, panicked, and ran.

"Edward!" Van Helsing cried, and tossed one of his silver-bulleted guns at the man. He caught it and cocked the pistol uneasily.

"I can't shoot-" he began, but had to duck as another bride swept past his ear. Her nails caught his cheek, grazing three lines and spraying blood over the grass. All three brides shriked anew at the smell.

Edward looked over at Hannah, and she swallowed, controlling herself.

"Protect her!" Van Helsing cried, and went to run after where the horse-girl had run off. He knew one bride at least had followed her.

Edward turned to Hannah as the sceams started to get louder again as the vampire brides came around once more. "You don't need protecting, do you?" he said, the hand with the gun in it shaking.

 

Aleera stood in front of Hannah and Edward. "Protecting?" Her eyes were bright purple through the darkness.

Hannah shook her head, trying to clear the dizziness. "I don't." She said, though she wasn't quite sure of it herself.

Verona circled ahead, ready to help either bride if needed.

Marishka grabbed Beatrice by the wrist with her foot. "And what's your role in the game? Food? Or corps?"

 

Beatrice couldn't help but scream as she was lifted up. When asked the question, she tried to pry herself from the bride's grip.

 

"Miss!" Van Helsing shouting, wishing he knew the horse-girl's name. "Come toward my voice,please!"

"Love to!" he heard Marishka shriek, and land in front of him.

"Would you let me pass, please?"Van Helsing said calmly, reaching slowly for the poisoned arrowed bow over his shoulder. She gave him a wide grin, her pointed teeth growing.

"You must stop killing my master's servants..." she purred at him.

"Sorry, can't do that!" he snapped, and pulled the bow out, shooting as she screamed and flew at him. He only managed to pierce he wings and legs. She burst through the canopy of trees and flew away.

Van Helsing sighed. "Miss?" he tried again. "I really need to get back the other way..."

The horse-girl burst out of the trees, her eyes wide and her skin pale from shock.

"Was that a....?" she began.

"A bride?" he finished as seh stumbled toward him. "Yes..."

The horse-girl suddenly fainted, and Van Helsing managed to catch her in time before she hit the ground. He pulled her over his shoulder and began to walk, the bow still in his right hand.

 

Aleera began circling Hannah and Edward. "My master doesn't like to see females that aren't his."

Hannah circled with Aleera. "Your master can drive a stake through himself for all I care!"

Aleera transformed and flew at Hannah.

Hannah pulled out her dagger, refusing to succumb to vampire fighting. She drove the dagger through Aleera's hand.

Aleera pulled back, the dagger still in her hand.

Hannah swayed.

Aleera threw the dagger to the side. "Can't take the feel of a stronger vampire near you?"

"Stop fooling around Marishka!" Verona yelled.

 

"You know what I don't understand?" Edward said over his shoulder to Hannah, who was beginning to sprout wings and sharp fangs. He tried not to cringe. "Why did he give me the gun with the silver bullets when these are vampires?"

"Too bad," sneered Verona, barring her own teeth. "Shoot all you wish!"

"Alright," Edward said, and shot a bullet at the hovering bride. He saw Aleera grab Hannah out of the corner of his eye as Verona screamed and shook off the impact of the bullet.

"Let her be!" Edward yelled, shooting a Aleera now, not remembering he only had four bullets left.

As Hannah swayed toward the ground, Van Helsing ran out of the trees. He hurredly placed Beatrice on the grassy floor and shot rounds into Verona's chest. She shrieked and dodged, his arrows biting hard into her wings and stomach as she rose, fleeing to follow her blonde bride companion.

Van Helsing knelt by Beatrice again, checking her pulse. She was still alive.

"Van Helsing!" Edward cried, and he turned to see Aleera and Hannah facing each other.