"Fine, then," Van Helsing sighed. He turned to Carl. "Would you mind helping me with the fire, my friend?" he asked politely.
"Are you ladies off?" Van Helsing asked. "I'm going to start a fire and then lead out the horses, if that's alright."
Van Helsing brought the carriage to a stop now, and jumped down to go see Lexi. "I think I'm the best bet to take out this time," he smiled at her. "Come on..."
Van Helsing smiled, hearing Jinx. Just don't bleed if you bump anything, Carl... he thought happily.
"Alright," Van Helsing agreed, and started to lead Lexi and Sorin toward the trees. There was a narrow path just big enough for the carriage to pass through, and the wheels jolted and whined against the rocky, dirty, root-covered ground. He didn't even care about Edwrad and Hannah that would soon be jolted around everywhere in the carriage. His eyes were on Lexi.
"What looks like a good place?" Van Helsing asked, stifling a yawn, his eyes bloodshot. That nap wasn't enough, he thought angrily. Now it's going to slow me down! "This all will be trees for a while," he added. "And there should be streams for the horses. We all need to get out of these carriages and walk around..."
Van Helsing managed to stay awake through the rest of the day, even though his eyes were tired. I've stayed up a lot longer than this before, he kept telling himself. The run finally began to sink down toward the horizon, and he turned back to look at Jinx and Beatrice. "Do you ladies need to stop again tonight or shall we continue to make better time?" he asked, his voice tired and cracking.
"Brilliant," Van Helsing muttered, turning around again. It was odd for him to look down and watch Lexi run; he was used to being with her, and it hurt him slightly to be so far away.
'Everything okay back there?" Van Helsing asked, turning to look at the carriage behind him.
Van Helsing smiled, realizing how ridiculous he was to feel sad or jealous right now. Let her be, he thought miserably to himself. I've just got to convince myself she's nothing... like that's ever going to happen...
"Bye," Van Helsing said, not looking at Jinx before he turned back around.
"True," Van Helsing agreed. "Let's just focus on Dracula."
"Thank you, Carl," Van Helsing sighed. "I know. I'm not much of a protector, though. That seems to be Edward's department."
"I don't know what to do," Van Helsing muttered.
"I cannot argue with you, Carl," Van Helsing sighed. "But I am worried about Jinx."
"Not if I can help it," Van Helsing retorted, though he was smiling slightly.
Van Helsing frowned. "I should have left you in Rome," he snapped, moving the carriage forward once more.
"You realize if I was the same man I was the last time you saw me, us two and the horses would be the only things alive right now," Van Helsing mused.
"Right," Van Helsing muttered, shoving his bow behind him again, and snapping the reigns impatiently.
Van Helsing frowned. "I'd like to ask the same question," he muttered.
