Van Helsing

John stood up. "You know the way to her. She might even follow you after what happened to her brother. I know you'll take her."

"No...." Hannah protested, but she couldn't find truth in the word. If she ever crossed paths with Angelyn, there was only a small doubt in Hannah's mind that Angelyn wouldn't walk away.

John yanked Hannah to her feet. "She'll be the first. Well," He chuckled. "Not really. You did kill Henry, and a few others before him."

"Accidents...." Hannah's voice was so soft it looked like she had only mouthed the word.

"Oh no, Hannah. You deliberately killed Henry. And you enjoyed it." John smirked, holding Hannah's arms to her sides. "Now think of what you felt with him and multiply it ten times to get what you'd feel with the girl."

"I can't be what you want me to be." Hannah said. But she was thinking about it. About how amazing it would feel, and how much more she'd want afterwards.

"But you will be." John assured her.

 

Edward rushed through the trees, thinking of what exactly he would do when he arrived by Hannah and John.

Take Hannah and run... beat the s.hit out of John and leave him only half-alive, then run... that's better...

He saw them now, and Edward let out a growl as he ran straight into John, knocking him off his feet and into the nearest clump of trees. Edward made sure the man's head smack anything hard; only his shoulder: John's right blade caught the thickest root, and Edward found himself delighted at the sound. Gasping, pinning the vampire down with his knees, he grabbed John's head in one hand and punched him across the jaw as hard as he could with the other, sending fresh blood of his latest victim out of his mouth and nose. Edward punched John again, unable to control himself.

"I told you... we... were... leaving," Edward gasped between the hits. "I swear to God that if I knew how to kill you, I'd do it with my bare hands right now!"

 

Lestat chuckled to himself in the shadows, watching Edward with amazement.

Liking him even more now, he thought. No matter how twisted I could tell his mind is...

 

John kicked Edward off himself, sending him a fair distance away. "That's some brute strength you have." He stood and cracked his jaw back into place. "Take a nap, Hannah." He didn't watch her collapse. "Edward, is it?" He shook his head, not really caring. "You can go."

 

Edward stood, rubbing his fist and shaking all over. "Go?" he repeated, wanting more than anything to kneel next to Hannah, but kept his eyes on John. "What the hell did you do to her?"

 

Nothing half as bad as I would have done if I'd gotten to her first, Lestat laughed to himself. I don't even see what the boy likes about her...

 

"She's just tired." John said casually. "I repeat: you can go. She'll be fine."

 

"You can go," Edward snapped, unable to control himself. He knelt next to Hannah, taking her head in his hands, brushin bits of dirt off her cheeks. "We're leaving." He gathered her in his arms and stood, surprised he had to use some effort to lift her. I'm getting tired, he thought. We need to go soon.

 

What are you doing, John? Lestat thought to himself. Sometimes that man just confuses me...

 

"Tired? The fun's just starting." John purposely didn't speak out loud; he knew it would hurt a thought reader to have his mind entered. "Hannah and I have a few things we need to settle since you interrupted us." He was in front of Edward before he could register John's movement. "Hand her over. I'd rather not have to hurt anyone." His eyes flickered to Hannah's neck. "I'm warning you now."

 

Lestat had an odd feeling to want to step in, to persuade John to let her go... but stopped himself.

 

Edward winced, cocking his head to one side to shake off the pain. What makes you think I would ever, ever hand her over to you? I can't leave without her, and that's never going to change.

 

John sighed. "Then it seems I'll have to talk to her another time. These are things a mutt like you can't hear." He eyed Hannah. "You've got a while before she wakes up. Think up a heroic story to tell her. It'll be more fun for me later." He suppressed his laughter.

 

You're lucky my arms are full, Edward growled. There's nothing better I'd like to do than rip yout throat out right now. I'll make sure the next time I see you I'll know how to handle that properly.

 

Oh, don't do that, Edward, Lestat channeled into the werewolf's mind. Let him be for now. I still need him.

 

"I'm looking forward to it." John smirked. "You and your posse have places to go. They might get suspicious if you make them wait any longer.You returning without Hannah would be another option as well."

 

Edward ignored Lestat, though he couldn't be sure he hid the surprise of the sudden voice in his head very well on his face.

I'm sorry, Edward snapped to John, but didn't I tell you to leave already?

 

"Stupid boy," Lestat muttered aloud now, knowing they both could just hear him. "You have much to learn."

 

"Can't be much of a show from your viewpoint." John said aloud to Lestat. He looked back at Edward. "Why would I leave? I should just hop in that carriage with you. It would save me a lot of trouble."

 

Edward shut his eyes, swallowing his most powerful growl yet. "Enough," he spoke aloud, his head aching and his arms actually getting tired. "Lestat," he raised his voice, looking around. He could hear the vampire chuckle, knowing he was unable to see him though he stood so very close. "You stay away from me."

He turned back to John. "And you," he hissed, choking on the venom in his own voice. "Stay away from her."

It took the rest of his physical effort to turn around from that spot in Rome's forest now and start to head back out of the trees and down the slope to the stables. He held Hannah tighter to him, realizing he'd dropped his shirt back when Lestat had jumped on him, and, dully, he suddenly became awarre of the pain in the rips along his shoulder and upper back from the tree.

You're welcome, he heard Lestat mutter in his mind.