Van Helsing

Van Helsing, Beatrice, and Jinx walked, trying their best to follow Edward. Jinx led the way, smelling the air and turning down many passageways and corridors.

 

Edward heard Van Helsing calling and trying to catch up to him as he wandered down hallways and turns of stone. Stupid of me, he kept thinking. I actually should have listened to that damned vampire hunter Van Helsing! He was right about her...

He found himself losing all his anger, his werewolf blood fading into sadness. Edward sank against the nearest wall. The hallway he had wandered to was not well lit, shadows jumping along the walls. He heard a sudden wave of wind and looked up.

"It seems there are too many people in this castle that want that girl, don't you agree?"

 

John's grip on Hannah tightened. He searched her eyes, tempted to influence her, but decided against it. He let go of Hannah, going back to being 'calm'. "You have three days to make your choice. The werewolf, who will probably kill you, or me."

"Who will torment me forever." Hannah muttered under her breath. "Why are you even giving me a choice?"

"I never said I'd acknowledge it." John disappeared before Hannah could say anymore.

 

Edward started, seeing Dracula step out of the shadows. The creature seemed to want to keep his distance, however. Edward wiped a stray tear off his cheek, and a light pink line appeared on his palm.

"What are you doing here?" Edward growled, standing and clenching his fists. "You know I want to rip your throat out in a more painful way than that ****ty bride of yours.

Dracula shook his head. "I only came to tell you some thinkgs I'm sure you'd wish to know..."

"Just tell me out to kill you and I'll be satisfied," Edward snapped, his eyes starting to fade red. "I'd love something to take my anger out on right now."

"She does love you, you know," Dracula began casually, ignoring Edward's malice and slight transformation. "But Van Helsing and John are just the start of the list of people that will stop you two from being together. After all , you should already hate Van Helsing. He killed your whole family."

Edward stared. "No... he didn't..." he began unsteadily.

Dracula laughed lightly. "Yes. That family of werewolves he had just gotten rid of? He was on his way back to Rome to tell them all he'd finished them all like animals... and then he met you."

 

Hannah rushed out of the room. "Edward!" She called, looking through the darkness as if the place was lit.

 

Jinx led the three around another corner. "We're close..." she whispered.

Van Helsing heard Hannah's call behind them and sighed. "Great... not what we need..."

"Stop!" Jinx exclaimed suddenly, hold out her arms to halt Van Helsing and Beatrice. "He's not alone..."

 

"You know, no one knows how to kill you, yet I don't see how you can live without a head..." Edward suddenly fell on all fours and howled, letting the werewolf instinct flow freely through his veins, not containing it at all. Pain like a sharp lightning bolt shot througout his entire body, but he strangely enjoyed it. He lifted his gaze to meet Dracula's.

"Edward!"

He turned at the sound of his name.

 

Hannah's pace quickened as she searched for Edward. "Please, Edward! I have to talk to you!" Something grabbed her leg, causing her to trip. She turned to see three Dwergi, one attached to her leg. She kicked it off with her free leg, her eyes lighting goldenrod to see better in the darkness.

 

]Van Helsing, Beatrice, and Jinx had rounded the corner. When Edward turned to look at them, Dracula spun and vanished in a cloud of smoke.

"Damn you!" Edward half-spoke, half-growled at Van Helsing, and then his ears pricked as he heard Hannah's cried. He ran on all fours past the three and toward the soud of her voice.

He saw her a moment later with three Dwergi surrounding her. Edward howled and pounched on the nearest one, nearly ripping it clean in half with his claws and teeth. The next two rushed at him with their teeth bared, but he merely caught one in his mouth, crushing in into a smash of leather and black blood. He tossed it aside, because, even in full transformation, the feeling of flesh in his mouth still sickened him and made him gag. The last Dwergi was easy; he caught it under his front paws and crushed its skull, giving it only a moment to cry out before it was silenced forever.

He stepped back, shaking the drips of blood off his teeth and his furry face. He calmed himself, just starting to be able to stop himself from losing all control now. The pains from all his injuries started to overwhelm him as he returned to normal and got to his feet, but looking at Hannah was enough to make him glare again. He stood, catching his breath.

 

"What the hell just happened?" Van Helsing asked. "Was that... was that him?"

Beatrice and Jinx nodded. Van Helsing sighed. "Damn... we'd better find Edward... again..."

 

Hannah's stomach churned. "E- Edward...." Her eyes went back to bright blue. "Thanks..."

 

"Don't," Edward began, his breath still fast, "don't even say that. The last things that should be coming out of your mouth are apologies and thank you's."

 

Hannah was taken aback for a moment. "I... I should have told you..." She stood up. "About him that is.... I really am sorry....""

 

"God damn you, Hannah!" Edward snapped, growling slightly. "I told you not to apologize! Can you please at least listen if you're not going to tell me anything?"

 

Hannah took a step back, fresh tears coming to her eyes. "I wanted to tell you everything.... But I can see you don't want to listen." She turned and ran, not really caring where she was going and knowing no one else did either.

 

Edward ran after her, catching her arm and turning her to look at him. She didn't struggle. He pushed all her hair off her neck and traced his fingers on the scars along her throat.

"What will happen if I kill him for you?" he whispered, meeting her gaze.

 

"I'd be happy." Hannah replied softly, suddenly lost in Edward's eyes.

 

"I'll do it for you," Edward said. "The awful look in your eyes when he... if it will make you happy, I will kill him... and then you'd be free, wouldn't you?"

 

Hannah lowered her eyes. "Well, yes.... But...." She didn't know how to tell Edward the truth. "Edward, um.... If Dracula is killed, Aleera will be as well." She tried to make Edward understand without having to say it directly.

 

"Well, that's a good thing," Edward replied. "They're both evil, so... look, I..." he paused turning his head away for a moment. "You're not like them!" he tried again. "That won't happen to you, I promise!" He suddenly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest despite the pain that racked him as she pressed against his wounds. He tried to not let the pain show.