Van Helsing

Jinx looked around for a moment. "Um... I've never been to Rome, and all I saw last night was the forest really. You'll have to lead the way, sorry."

 

"Are you sure?" she replied, stepping closer to him. "I know my way around the books very well. You can ask me anything."

Edward cleared his throat, grinning. "Vampires," he voiced, hoping to catch her off guard and scare her away. "Particularly the worst of them all. I need information, history, anything you can... help me with."

 

"How about a walk toward the collesium?" Van Helsing asked. "That can't be hard to find."

 

"yeah, it's the leaning tower thing, right?" Jinx asked and laughed at his expression. "I'm just kidding, I'm not that stupid."

 

Van Helsing laughed, motioning to leave the stables. "You ladies have fun here," he said to Hannah and Beatrice. "Try not to eat each other."

 

Jinx laughed, "See you guys soon." she called, "So, which way to the leaning tower?" she joked, already being able to see the collesium and heading towards it.

 

"Ah," the girl replied. "You seem like a traveler... what do you want with vampire lore?"

Edward sighed. I can play her game, he thought. "I am," he spoke aloud. "And I don't plan to stay here long. I just heard the..." he faded off, reaching out to grab one of her curls and twist it between his fingers. "The... libraries..." he continued, "were worth looking at here. Am I wrong, miss?"

The girl laughed, leaning closer. "Miss Charolette," she whispered. "And..." she paused, leaning so her lips were next to his left ear, "you're not wrong. Follow me."

 

"So," Van Helsing began as they walked. "Are you going to finish that story about your turning any time soon?"

 

Hannah didn't bother to make small talk with Beatrice; she could practically smell the fear that was coming off her, a sour, sharp smell. Hannah closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep while she could.

 

Edward followed the girl as she headed to a back corner of the hundreds of shelves. He watched her reach up to several books, and then climb a nearby ladder to reach more.

"Here," she began, handing him about half a dozen books and stepping down off the ladder. "Those are the best books. Not many people ask for them... and you still haven't told me your story yet."

"Well, Charolette," Edward began, taking the books from her. "If you can find me somewhere to sit, a drink, and some... pleasurable company, I'm sure I can tell you'd what you want... as well as hearing you speak."

She smiled. "That's easily done," she replied, tugging the collar of his shirt. "This way."

 

Hannah soon fell asleep, thoughts of Elijah and John preying her dreams.

 

Edward sat at a table Charolette indicated, in one of the back, isolated corners of the library. There were no windows here, the table lit by candles in brackets nearby. Charolette sat the chair next to him, her long curls draping onto the table. She called out a man's name nearby and he came over. She whispered something into his ear and he left.

"Where's he off to, love?" Edward asked, pulling the nearest book toward him.

"Your drink," Charolette replied, pushing his hand out of the way and reaching for a different book. "Start with this one," she said, opening the old, leather cover. "Dracula," she whispered, "is what you want to know about, isn't it?"

Edward frowned, catching her eye. She looked up at him, her nose inches from his own. "I never said that," he replied slowly.

"Oh, I know," she laughed, straightening his collar and trailing her finger along the silver buttons of his coat. "But I can tell. You said the worst, and... well, there isn't much else worse than that. This book will help you, depending on what information on him you'd like."

"I see," Edward replied, looking at the book now. "God," he whispered, skimming through the first few pages."He's been around for so many years!"

"Thousands," Charolette replied. The man she'd spoken to came back now, two cups of warm ale in his hands. "Thank you," she said, pushing a glass toward Edward. "Some say he's the son of the devil," she whispered, catching Edward's eye again.

"That's probably true," Edward replied, drinking around her shoulder because she sat so close to him. "I want to know something very important about him, though."

"Well, then," Charolette said, slamming the book shut. Edward jumped slightly, backing away from her. She laughed quietly, grabbing his opposite shoulder so he faced her now. "You don't need the books. Ask me; I know all of it... as important as it gets."

 

Hannah stayed asleep.

 

"How do you kill him?" Edward whispered, and, so she wouldn't be frightnened or leave, he put a hand to her cheek, brushing the curls back from her face. "All the normal ways to kill a vampire must have been used on him, yet he lives. So how is it done?"

"Not very many know," Charolette replied, her smile still in place. "I do, but... I still don't understand why."

"Why what?" Edward asked.

"Why you need to know how to kill him," she said. "Is that the reason for your travel? To find Dracula and kill him?" She laughed again now, picking up her glass.

"He killed my family," Edward spoke. Pity should get her to tell me, he thought, even though it hurt. "He deserves nothing less than death himself.

"I see," Charolette replied. "It would be foolish to go after him alone. Do you have anyone to go with you?"

"Yes," Edward said shortly. "But," he added, pushing another one of her curls off her shoulder, "I won't tell you who."

 

Hannah stayed asleep.

 

"That's no concern of mine, anyway," Charolette sighed. "But I'm also not just going to hand out information. What are you going to do for me... for the answer to your question?"

"You said everything's in these books, love," Edward said with a smile. "Couldn't I just look through them and find the answer myself... and not have to do anything?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Charolette laughed, putting her hand to his face, brushing her fingertips along his unshaven chin. "Besides, half that is in latin, and I doubt you can read it."

"Alright, then," Edward said, trying to ignore the shiver she sent down his spine. "What you do want?"

 

Elijah crept into the stables, glad to find it empty of the group. He quickly spotted Hannah asleep on the hay. How innocent she looks. It might be hard to kill her. He knelt next to her and rolled her over. "Miss me?" He smirked at her expression and covered her mouth. "Shh, shh. We wouldn't want any attention drawn to us. I'm sure the people here could do much worse to you than I can."

 

Hannah contemplated biting Elijah's hand, but forced herself not to. She was scared and angry at the same, and had no idea what to do in this situation.

 

"What story?" Jinx asked, puzzled.

 

"A kiss," Charolette whispered next to Edward's ear. "We'll start there, and then we'll see what I tell you."

"No garantee?" Edward said, mentally raising his eyes. His lips hovered an inch from hers, and he couldn't help but smile at the teased look on her face. "That's not very fair to me."

"It will be," Charolette whispered, and kissed Edward softly. He tried not to pull away, to think that her information would be more vital than anything else right now. He hardly noticed Charolette's hand on the back of his head, her fingers in his hair...

"A werewolf," she said against his lips suddenly.

Edward broke away from her, frowning again. "What?" he asked, confused.

"Werewolf venom," Charolette whispered. "That will kill him."

"You... you're certain? You know this for sure?" Edward asked, amazed. And to think Van Helsing didn't want my kind around!

"Would I lie to you?" Charolette said with a smile, kissing his cheek and standing. "Now, are those all the questions you have?"

Edward sighed, the information still swimming unbelievably in his head. "Yes," he said, draining his cup and standing himself. "Thank you."

He turned to go, but Charolette caught his shoulder, spinning him around to face her.

"If you don't leave before nightfall, you know where to find me," she whispered, bit his ear lightly, and then turned to walk back in between the bookshelves.

Edward laughed to himself, running a hand through his hair. I've got to get back to Van Helsing and... his thought faltered as he exited the library. Hannah... he finished, frowning to himself. She doesn't need to know... for her own good.