Van Helsing

Elijah started walking back to the butcher shop to tell his father where Angelyn would be. He caught sight of a girl going down a small back alley. Curious, he approached her. "Excuse me, miss, do you need any help?"

 

'Was that Hannah?" Van Helsing asked when a woman pushed past them, running out into the streets. Jinx nodded. "Carl, that was Hannah. She..." he paused, knowing this was not a good first impression. "She must have somewhere important to be and will meet us later, I'm sure."

 

"Hannah?" Edward called, and tried to get up to follow, but pain exploded in his head and arm, forcing him back down onto the pillows of his bed. Do something? he thought, trying to massage the pain out of his wound. It wasn't helping. What could she possibly do? Did I upset her? If she wants to be around me anymore, we need to make a rule about no running away from each other in the middle of conversations...

 

Hannah froze at the voice; it was smooth and welcoming. Her eyes had gone bright gold, and she instantly smelled the stranger before looking at him. She bit her tongue, shaking her head.

 

Elijah carefully put a hand on the girl's shoulder, recoiling at the cold. "You're freezing." He raised the girl's head with a finger to look at her face. Shock registered on his own for a moment but he quickly composed himself. "Come with me."

 

Jinx's eyes followed Hannah and they narrowed but she didn't comment. "Right, so here's the room." she gestured to it with her thumb.

Carl was a little confused by their reactions to Hannah. There's something odd about both of those girls... but he smiled and walked into the room, breathing in sharply when he saw Edward. "Uh!"

Jinx grabbed Van Helsing's elbow before he could go into the room. "Where is a forest with actual animals?" she hissed, almost pleading although not quite.

 

"Where we came from," Van Helsing said, going over to sit on the other bed opposite Edward's. "Fly there later if you must. Or pretend to eat some normal food with us now... or when Hannah comes back, at least."

"So, Carl," Van Helsing began, turning to the friar now. "This is Edward. He actually lived in the city before I met him."

 

Edward looked at the friar, slightly wary and still worried about Hannah. "Nice to meet you, Carl," he spoke nonetheless. "I'd shake your hand and stand up to meet you, but I was injured on a little venture with Mr. Van Helsing here... nice enough man, isn't he?"

 

Jinx opened her mouth to protest but shut it quickly deciding it was a lost cause for the moment, "yeah yeah... fine." she replied, icyily.

Carl nodded, "That does happen with Van helsing. What happened with you? Get attacked by monsters?" he laughed..

 

Hannah lowered her eyes immediately. The brief look she'd gotten at the stranger had sent shiveres through her. "I really shouldn't." She said, not knowing how much longer she'd be able to hold herself back.

 

Elijah smiled at the girl's soft voice. "Someone as pretty as you shouldn't be left alone as it darkens." He said, taking his hand back. "You're cold and pale, miss." He tried to say it as polietly as he could. "You might be sick. My father can help, if you come with me." He gently took the girl's hands.

 

"Those damned werewolves you and your superiors had us after," Van Helsing answered to Carl's jest. He only saw Edward flinch slightly. "Now I've come back here to gather you and get going again... and I picked up from people on the way. The Order does not know about them. They don't need to, either, alright, Carl?"

 

"What help will you be, Carl?" Edward asked, not sure why they needed the man.

 

"Alright, they don't need to know." Carl agreed, quickly. He then looked at Edward and grinned, "You'll have to see!" he answered smugly.

Jinx rolled her eyes at Van Helsing's cover up. That guy is going to figure it out at some point, like say when someone transforms. Van Helsing is a fool if he thinks we're all going to hide what we are forever.

 

Hannah looked back up at the stranger. "You're right. I don't feel well...." Her eyes melted back to their light blue and she collapsed against the man.

 

Elijah held on to the girl. She's so light. He mused before picking her up. As he made his way back the butcher shop, he looked more carefully at the girl's features. He found he loved the way her hair waved around her face, and the pure sense of delicateness about her. He managed to open the door one-handed. "Dad!" He called, bringing the girl to the back room. "I could use some help."

 

"Thank you for the cooperation," Van Helsing said. "It's good to have someone not aruge for once."

 

"We're not going to hide forever, Jinx," Edward whispered as Van Helsing spoke. "We can trust this man if Van Helsing put him with us."

 

Jinx nodded, "yeah," she suddenly shoot a look at him, "Wait, are you listening to my thoughts?" she asked, keeping her voice low but not being able to keep the surprise out completely.

Carl nodded, looking around the room. "So, what are we doing now?"

 

Elijah carefully placed the girl onto a cot as his dad came into the room.

"What happened?" His father asked at once.

"Not too sure myself." Elijah responded. "I think she's sick." He murmured, thinking about the girl's eyes.

Elijah's father studied the girl. "Where did you find her...?" He asked slowly.

"Just in one of the alleys." Elijah replied. "Can you do anything for her?"

"Yes of course. It looks like she just needs something to eat." His father said. "Hasn't eaten for a while is what it looks to me."

Elijah rushed to the front room.