Van Helsing

Lestat saw them now, and melted into the nearest shadow, knowing that if he shifted to his state neither of them could smell him. He found a tree and leaned against it, hid body now literally the outline of the shadow cast on the grassy, muddy floor.

This shall be fun, he thought, playing with the lace on his cuffs, sensing John nearby already.

 

Beatrice looked up, her cheeks a bit less red. "That's the first... and last... time I want to see that..."

Hannah instinctively squeezed Edward's hand back. "I have a feeling I'll be saying very little."

"Ah, Hannah." John smiled, appearing in front of the two. "And you." He said to Edward. "You took your time getting here. But at least you're here now. So, my little dove," He extended a hand.

Hannah took an involuntary step forward, but clung to Edward's hand.

John's expression hardened. "It's in your best interest to cooperate, Hannah." He kept his hand out, his eyes on Hannah.

Hannah was afraid she'd break Edward's hand if she squeezed any tighter. John's words washed over her and she was compelled to listen to him, but she managed to stay where she stood, still clutching Edward's hand. Despite her effort's she couldn't look away from John's coal black eyes. "Let's just talk." Her voice was strained.

John lowered his hand but kept his eyes on Hannah's. His thoughts were blank, knowing that Edward had a gift similar to his.

 

Jinx breathed out sharply, "Whatever, so he had his shirt off. He's probably got a reason, will you guys just calm down?" she looked at both of them seriously. "didn't you think there was something wrong with how they looked? Besides him being half naked!" she added, annoyed, before Van Helsing could interupt. "And as you say, what could they be doing going into the city so late?" she looked at them, waiting for answers.

 

"Not true," Van Helsing muttered, and then stopped when Jinx gave him the dirtiest look in the world.

"They've probably got some 'couple' business to take care of. And we'll let them be... for a bit. They said they'd be back soon."

 

Edward wrapped both his arms around Hannah, pulling her against his warm chest.

"Say what you need to," he growled. "We need to go soon."

 

Lestat smiled to himself.

I like him already.

 

Hannah didn't dare let her guard down, but she took the chance to look away from John.

John barely glanced at Edward. "Protective." He murmured and then turned his attention back to Hannah. "First off, and I am curious, how was that deer?"

Hannah cringed but didn't answer.

"I suppose I'll find out later then." John said, seeing he wouldn't get an answer, and he didn't care enough to press the question. "On a more serious note: our agreement. I have given you more than enough time to make your choice. I take it you chose the hard way."

Hannah inclined her head in what was supposed to be a nod; she'd made the mistake of looking back at John and the force of his eyes.

"Well that's a shame. I was hoping I wouldn't have to waste energy on this mutt." John sighed.

 

"I'm giving them five minutes." Jinx replied, glancing in the direction they had gone. "Somethings not right." she mumbled to herself, leaning heavily on the side of the carrige. She hated how suddenly her mood had dropped but the look in Hannah's eyes had scared her, and she could smell something wrong on the air, almost confirming her fears.

 

"Now you're learning something!" Van Helsing exclaimed. "You sound like me!"

 

Edward tightened his grip on Hannah, out of angry this time, though.

"I've got more than enough energy to deal with you, John," Edward snarled, bearing his teeth. "I've just about had enough."

 

Lestat moved up a few shadows, reaching out to John's mind.

If you don't want him around and need her alone any time, I can take him, he channeled, hoping the man wouldn't show it in his face.

 

"yeah, your right. I sound like a paranoid fool." Jinx relented, not wanting to aruge anymore, for once, as her sences were working like she was on the hunt. She knew something was wrong but she couldn't figure out what it was, making her more frustrated.

 

"Then you can come right now." John sent back. "Extra energy?" He asked Edward with mock shame. "I think I know of a way for you to get rid of it."

"Edward...." Hannah practically moaned.

John took a small step forward. "Honestly, Hannah, do you have no sense of smell?"

Hannah's head slowly moved from left to right. She meant it to be a defiant gesture, but it came out looking like she was a tad bit drunk.

"I should have guessed as much." John rolled his eyes. He looked back at Edward, letting his thoughts flow freely, and forming perfect pictures of what he planned for Hannah. "I'd like you to meet an acquaintance of mine."

"If something is wrong," Beatrice started. "Shouldn't we go now?"

 

"Let them be!" Van Helsing sighed. "That's all you two have watned to do all afternoon and now you've got to bother them? I don't understand women..."

 

Edward pushed Hannah quickly behind him now, falling to the ground, howling, ready to leap at John.

 

Lestat acted faster. He materialized out of the tree's shadow and lunged forward himself to catch Edward around the waist, yanking him back from John before he could transform.

"No you don't," he hissed in Edward ear, half dragging, half floating them at breakneck speed into a thicker part of the forest.

 

Jinx shot to a her feet, after a downward wind she was sure she knew what she smelled. "Alright, that's it. You don't seem to understand!" she growled, "I think they are in danger! I could see it in Hannah's eyes! She was scared to death! And now I know I can smell a predator!"

 

"Edwa-" Hannah's cry was cut off by John's hand.

"Shh," John said softly. "We wouldn't want to worry anyone." He kept his hand over Hannah's mouth, his own by her ear. "As you said: 'let's just talk.' For now anyway."

Hannah's heart accelerated. The thought of biting John's hand passed through her head, but it was quickly wiped away. Her whole mind was fogging.

John felt Hannah sag and caught her by her shoulders. "Or we could just take action." He murmured, his lips brushing Hannah's exposed neck.

Beatrice was caught off guard by Jinx's outburst. "What?"

 

"Listen," Van Helsing began, grabbing Jinx's arm before she ran off. "Someone needs to stay with the horses. If you want to go find them, I'm going with you and we need to be careful. Elijah's family is still out there and we've been in this city too long to be safe anyway."

 

Edward struggled as hard as he could, having no idea what hit him and was still holding him still. He'd never felt anything so strong and overpowering in his entire life. The trees flew past him, and now they finally stopped with his back slamming squre into one, knocking all the wind out of him.