Van Helsing

Van Helsing pulled out his gun. "Don't go running, either of you," he said quickly to Hannah and Lexi, who was the nearest horse. "Just think a moment... I don't need panic..."

 

"Come on," Lestat urged, shaking her head. "If you can't say it, think it and I will hear you. Now or die!"

 

Hannah covered her nose to block the smell. "I know that smell...," She shook her head trying to clear it and resist the urge to follow the scent. "Go!" She yelled at Van Helsing. "That's Beatrice's blood!"

Beatrice clouded state of mind could only come to one conclusion. I don't want to die....

 

"Good," Lestat muttered, and put his other wrist to his bloodied, stained mouth and teeth. He bit a small gash and let the drops fall on Beatrice's face. "Drink, dear," he soothed, still holding her body and her head up and level. "Do it."

 

"Quietly, then!" Van Helsing hissed, running away from Hannah towards Beatrice. "Stop shouting, for God's sake!"

 

Hannah's eyes burned gold. She hurried back into the carriage with Edward, sitting across from him. She leaned down so her forehead was against her knees as she tried to think of something other thant the smell of Beatrice's blood.

Beatrice felt as though she was watching herself do the action instead of doing it herself. But once she started, she found herself wanting more.

 

"That's it, love," Lestat soothed, biting back the small bits of pain with each draw Beatrice took. He'd only felt the same, indescribable feeling a few times before in all his years, and yet each time it felt new, as if it were the first. "Alright," he said now as Beatrice was able to sit on her own, her lips and her hands vice-gripped to his wrist. "Enough!" he said more sharply, pulling his wrist from her grasp swiftly. He whipped a handkerchief out of his vest pocket and wound it around his small cut, gasping for breath.

"Now," he said, hearing Van Helsing approaching. "You will live. Take care to enjoy the shadows and not the sun, my sweet; it's different now. And," he added, standing, "I will be near if you need anything from your father."

He saw Van Helsing then, running up the path toward him. "She's yours," Lestat announced with a loud, shrieking laugh, bowing, so amused with himself. He grinned, his chin, corners of his mouth, lips, and teeth all stained a nasty, sickening shade of red. Then he turned to the shadows and was gone.

 

Van Helsing stood, his gun aimed, wondering why the h.ell he didn't bring his bow with him. The vampire was too fast for him, just the handsome yet sickening sight of him enough to stun even his quick reflexes.

"Beatrice!" he exclaimed, running over to the girl, kneeling next to her as she sat up. "My God what...?" But he faded off, seeing the marks on either side of her neck and around her lips. He scrambled back to his feet. "Calm," he found himself whispering as he aimed the gun once more. "You're full aren't you, Beatrice? Tell me you are... stay calm."

 

Beatrice just stared at Van Helsing, her eyes coming back to focus. Hearing his question, she slowly nodded. The pain was setting in deeper now; her hands flew to her neck and she couldn't help but yell.

Hannah squeezed her eyes shut. She murmured to herself to forget the smell, that Beatrice was fine and had probably just tripped or ran her hand along a rough tree.

 

"Calm," Van Helsing repeated, though he cocked back the hammer of his gun. "Do you want to tell me what happened... or should I call Jinx and Hannah?"

 

Edward sat up, his body finally telling him to wake up move from its cramped position in the carraige. He yawned, cracked his back, and ran his hands through his messy hair.

"Hannah?" he tried when he didn't see her near him. Daylight streamed through the carriage window and he climbed out, shielding hise eyes for a moment.

 

Lestat, unable to stop himself, let out a loud chuckle, knowing they could still hear him by the river nearby. The taste of Beatrice still hung on his teeth and tongue, and he relished the life spreading through him, his cheeks flushing red.

"I am such a good person," he laughed, his eyes sparkling. "Van Helsing, whomever you are, this could be considered a test; if you're a formidable, evil, worthy enemy, you will shoot her now. Let her live and you're just as soft. This will be easy..."

 

"Lestat." Beatrice moaned through the pain. "The one... Hannah... told you about." She gasped out, her eyes shut tightly.

"Edward...." Hannah called softly, not sure if she wanted him near her or not. The urge to chase down Beatrice grew stronger as she resisted it. "Edward!"

 

Van Helsing sighed, but didn't move his gun. "I'll call Hannah, shall I?" he asked again, unsure what to do. His instincts said shoot her, end her pain and the pain she would call others. Hannah and Jinx might have control, yes, but a new one like her? Carl would be the first to go...

 

Edward saw Hannah and ran over to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. "What's the matter?" he asked right away, worried. "What's going on?"

 

"Shoot her aleady!" Lestat snapped from the shadows. "Lousy excuse for a hunter... come to think of it," he added, smiling to himself, "don't shoot her... let her bite you!"

 

Van Helsing had to tear his eyes from Beatrice and look around the trees, his gun close to his eye, aiming to shoot at anything he could see... but nothing could be found but steady, solid shadows, and soft chuckles that sent shivers up his spine.

 

"Hannah...." Beatrice finally said. If Van Helsing wasn't a hunter, Beatrice just might have bit him.

"Distract me." Hannah opened her burning gold eyes. All her thoughts were on the smell of Beatrice's blood.

 

Edward decided to swallow his questions and drew her close to him, holding her head to his warm chest. "Calm down," he murmured, figuring it was the best thing to say. "Calm down and then tell me what's going on."

 

"You can't find me," Lestat lilted, drifting casually a few feet from Van Helsing. "Even the sound of my voice seems to come from every direction, doesn't it? Listen: I will let my new daughter travel with you for now, just to see what use she is. She wants to help you, and I don't want to deny her any of her desires. I will see you soon. You're no challenge," he added smugly before he drifted off, trying to find John's mind track to see where he was.