Van Helsing

Beatrice smiled weakly. "He did most of the work...."

 

"How do you mean?" Jinx asked,"He couldn't have fought you or anything, you must have done quite a bit."

 

The werewolf gave Van Helsing a funny look, as if, for a moment, it dawned on her what he was talking about.

But Van Helsing didn't give her time to react: he shot three of his bullets into her head, the last two into her throat. The blood and brain matter exploded all over the front of his shirt at close range, and he jumped back, leaving the last half of the girls' body that was left in the narrow road he stood in.

He shook his head and decided to go to the stables to find Lexi, who had extra shirts and vests of his in her saddlebags.

Edward won't be happy with me, he thought as he walked.

 

Edward made his way back up the stairs to the hotel room. His head was full of all the information he had just learned.

Lestat, he began carefully. Will you help us get rid of this vampire hunter?

If he threatens me, yes, Lestat replied softly. Be kind to her, monsieur, he added. She needs your help.

Edward knocked on the door to the first room they had rented. "Anyone there?" he asked.

 

"I'm here," Hannah called back, half asleep.

"He just looked at me...." Beatrice unfolded her arms. "I couldn't do anything when he looked at me that way."

 

Van Helsing reached the stables and went to Lexi, patting her neck.

"Doing alright, girl?" he asked softly, and laughed when she snorted at him. "I know, I smell awful. That's why I'm here."

He pulled a clean black shirt and leather vest out of her saddlebags and changed quickly in the cold night air.

"Thanks," he smiled. "I'll be back in the morning."

He headed back toward the tavern.

 

"It's me," Edward sighed, opening the door and shutting it behind him. "How are you?"

 

"I think he sort of likes you." Jinx said, gently. "Even if you do want to eat him." she smiled and stepped down off the window sill to sit next to Beatice, "Of course trusting my opinion on human emotions isn't that great an idea. I'm not too good at it anymore."

 

Lestat went back up to his own room, laying on his bed again. Not a drop of blood had been spilled anywhere on it.

I wonder if I did the right thing telling Edward all that, he thought. I guess I'll find out. I can always kill him.

 

"Fine," Hannah answered, not opening her eyes or moving.

"Even if he does," Beatrice started. "I can't do anything about it."

 

"Ah, Carl!" Van Helsing said, going over to the man's table. "I have been gone long?"

 

Edward went to sit next to her, putting a tentative hand on her back. "I didn't kill him, you know," he said softly, trying not to smile. "I controlled myself."

 

"Why do you say that? If Hannah and Edward can defy natural law, you two probably could too, if you wanted to." Jinx knocked her shoulder against Beatrice's. "You already did better around him than any new born I've seen act around a human that smells so good to them."

Carl looked up from some papers he'd been reading. "Hm? oh I don't think so. I wasn't really paying attention to the time. How went the hunting?"

 

"She's gone," Van Helsing sighed. "Can you tell I changed my shirt?"

 

"Yes, I did notice that." Carl nodded, "Well, that's one job done..." he sighed and stood up, cracking his back slightly and picking up the papers.

 

Hannah's eyes snapped open at Edward's touch. "You don't feel warm to me anymore...." She said quietly.

"But I did try," Beatrice admitted.

 

"Off to bed, then?" Van Helsing asked, leaning back in his chair. "Not going to go noctural like the rest of us and sleep durnig the day?"

 

"Yes, but you go through with it." Jinx pointed out."As a newborn, not even a month old yet, that's amazing."

"No, actully since I have to be in that carrige all day I'll just sleep there. But I want to get up and walk around. I've been reading all day."

 

Edward smiled. "I'm fine," he said. "I spoke with Lestat... and then the hunter."

 

"I'm glad you're okay." Hannah smiled softly, closing her eyes again. Why isn't he warm any more? I don't like this....

"I told you, it was his eyes." Beatrice tried not to smile.