"Sorry," Van Helsing muttered, and stopped to wait for Jinx.
"Come on, then," Van Helsing muttered to Jinx, and started off into the trees.
Van Helsing jumped slightly, and then nodded, slowing the carriage to a stop. "We need to leave the carriages here," he explained, jumping down to walk over to the second carriage. "They cannot go through the woods here. Carl," he said to the man. "Can you please stay with the carriages as we go get the two troublemakers?"
"Fine," Van Helsing muttered, turning around again. "Almost there," he said to Sorin, feeling bad he was all by himself. "I will get your friend back with you soon."
"Alright, then," Van Helsing sighed. "Just tell me when to stop."
Van Helsing saw the sky brightening and looked back at Jinx and Beatrice. "Can you two tell where they are?" he asked. "Which way we should head, anyway?"
"Call them Jinx and Beatrice," Van Helsing muttered to himself. "That's perfect."
Van Helsing swore to himself, picking up Jinx's thoughts. He was angry with her and, even though he promised never to look into her head, it was as if he did it unconsciously. Let her be mad, he thought subbornly, though he really didn't want her to be. Oh, well... let time decide, and, if she wants to go with that stupid Will, so be it.
Van Helsing led Sorin out of the clearing slowly, and the horse seemed to be happy that the carriage was so much lighter. They were out of the trees and back on the main road quickly, and the forest streaked past them now as they went.
"Finally she agrees," Van Helsing muttered to himself. "Thank you, dear," he said softly to Beatrice. "Are you ready to go?"
"Jinx, if you're not going to help," Van Helsing sighed, grabbing Sorin's reigns. "You can leave."
"I'm fine, thanks," Van Helsing snapped, getting on top of his carriage again. "We should move again before the sun comes up."
Van Helsing frowned, swallowing several retorts. "Fine. Hook him up properly, then," he said slowly at Beatrice, so as not to scream at her. "We'll find those two idiots, as you phrased it," he glanced at Jinx, "as we go. Hopefully the sun doesn't conveniently come up before then."
Van Helsing stared at Beatrice. "They..." he began, and then sighed. "You know, Carl," he snapped now, turning to the friar. "This is the exact reason what I should have finished all of you the first time I saw you! This is nothing but trouble now, things leading us away from what I thought our common goal was: Dracula. Don't you see?" He paused, turning to look at each of them. "I am out here for a reason... and it is definitely not deal with and solve all of your problems! You came with me to help me, and now..." he sighed, pulling his hat off his head and running a hand through his hair. "Now no one even cares about the main point of this whole thing. How the hell is Sorin supposed to move that carriage all by himself? Let's... let's just start there."
Van Helsing stepped out of the trees and smiled. His grin dropped when he saw that they were two people short. "Where are they?" he asked. "Did John finally kill Edward and take Hannah away?"
Van Helsing leaned against the nearest tree now, sighing and catching his breath. Oh well, he thought. It was a good idea till they all started running like idiots...
Van Helsing turned, hearing John and Hannah walk by. He stayed behind them a safe distance, his bow in his hand.
"Thank you, Carl," Van Helsing sighed, and, giving Jinx a side glance, headed quickly off into the trees. He uncorked the phial as he went, swallowing all of its contents. He shuddered, a chilling, frozen feeling coming over his limbs. He listened as hard as he could, heading in the direction of any voice that came to his ears.
"You're right," Van Helsing replied, and looked at Carl again. "Come here." He took the friar off the side slightly and lowered his voice. "Do you have anything... anything in your carriage that will make me undectable if I'm out there? So they can't smell me," he added to clarify.
Van Helsing turned to Carl. "Can you take care of the horses, my friend?" he asked. "I need to go for a quick walk."
