Van Helsing

"Yes..." Jinx agreed, avoiding Van Helsing's eyes. But Will doesn't know where I am. And I'm sure by now he's got another newborn to take care of, he wouldn't care about me, even if he did know where I am.

Carl stared at Jinx, How can a monster, eh, she sound so human?

 

Hannah took Edward's hands. "Don't," She pleaded. "He has silver bullets. Really dense ones...." She trailed off, regretting what she said.

 

"Shocked, Carl?" Van Helsing asked the friar after a moment. "You can speak your mind, you know."

 

"How would you know that?" Edward asked. God help that man if I ever see him, he thought, not even surprising himself at the ideas coming into his mind.

 

"I saw them on a shelf." Hannah said quickly.

 

Jinx didn't look at either of them, not so sure she had made the right choice of telling them even the easy part of the story.

Carl shook his head. "yeah, shocked. I mean, I just never heard of a vampire being so... normal." he laughed awkwardly.

"Yes, there are so few of us that can control ourselves even a little. As if being a monster gives an excuse to act like one."

 

"Poetry!" Van Helsing exclaimed, putting his hands behind his head and leaning further back in the hay pile. He laughed. "You should get out in the field more often, Carl; you meet people... people, Carl, not monsters, like this!"

 

Edward sighed. He put his hands on either side of Hannah's face and pulled her close to him. "I think..." he began in a whisper, "that you're lying to me."

 

Hannah had to look away from Edward's eyes. "And what if I am?" She asked, teasing slightly.

 

Jinx rolled her eyes and smiled. "Don't bet on it. Most vampires are monsters, as sad as that is. The main idea is to look at us before deciding which we are." she sat down. "What do you think Carl?"

"I, I don't know." he started, "But I guess, now that I can see that vampires... can be peopleish, I'll have to take that advise." he paused breifly. "This doesn't mean we have to be nice to Dracula does it?"

Jinx burst out laughing.

 

"Carl," Van Helsing began. "You be nice to Dracula and see what happens."

 

"Then," Edward replied, turning her head so she had to look at him, "you'll just have to tell me how a bullet on a shelf made a hole in your shirt."

 

"Maybe he'd make you a vampire for being nice?" Jinx suggested, giggling at the idea.

The blood drained from Carl's face at the idea.

"Oh Gods, I'm only kidding. Calm down!"

 

Hannah grimaced. "My shirt caught on a tree branch?" She was running out of quick ideas.

 

Edward let go of Hannah, got off the bed, and walked to the window, his back to her.

"I figured you'd trust me enough to tell me the truth," he said. "You know, the words may come out as a good lie, but in your mind I can tell it doesn't work. Why lie to me anyway?" he added softly.

"What the hell happened to everyone?" Van Helsing asked. "Beatrice should be back here by now, and I just hope Hannah and Edward are only talking."

 

"Beatice is in there with the horses." Jinx replied, judging by her sence of smell, the last of her laugh dying away. "And don't be dirty, Van Helsing." she warned, shaking her head. "There are innocent ears of a frair here."

Carl frowned at her, but found it hard to keep up as he watched Van Helsing.

 

"Because it's easier than telling the truth." Hannah murmured, tears starting to brim her eyes. "Edward... I am so... ashamed of myself. I don't want to relive last night by talking about...."

 

Sorin burred again.

 

"You've known this whole time?" Van Helsing asked, getting up and brushing the hay off himself. He walked over to Sorin, and, sure enough, Beatrice lay there, still asleep.

Van Helsing knelt next to her, brushing a strand of hay from her hair. "Hey," he began softly, tapping her cheek with his hand. "Time to get up. You smell like a horse."

 

"I'm not asking you to relive it, dear," Edward sighed from the window. "Just... let me know what happens if you say you're going to tell me. Otherwise, I wouldn't ask if you didn't want me to."