Van Helsing

Van Helsing sighed, exasperated. "Carl is no use to Beatrice," he snapped."

 

Beatrice headed off with Sorin and Lexi. "You two deserve a good rest. You both did great." She followed the sound of water.

"Why don't you go with her?" Hannah asked, though she knew it was pointless since Beatrice already left.

 

"She's mad at me," Van Helsing explained. "From the sword fight. I'll let her be."

 

Lestat stood behind Beatrice, so silent and still half-dissolved in the shadows she never would have noticed him if he didn't speak in her mind:

Don't be afraid, he began in his usual, soft, polite, seductive tone. There's no need to get startled. Just stay where you are.

 

Hannah sighed. "What did you want to talk to Edward about?"

Beatrice tightened her grip on Lexi's reigns, her other hand fell from Sorin's neck. She felt a chilled wave of fear pass through her. She thought of calling out for Van Helsing or Edward, but found her throat constricted. Her free hand went to the hilt of her sword.

 

"What he did yesterday afternoon off on his own," Van Helsing explained. "I'm curious."

 

"Take that out if it makes you feel more comfortable, my dear," Lestat crooned aloud, stepping out of the shadows and close to Beatrice. "I do not mind."

 

"Oh," Hannah was a bit surprised. She'd thought Van Helsing wanted to hear Edward's side of the story.

Sorin bent his head and started eating the grass while Beatrice drew her sword. She turned around, letting go of Lexi's reigns. She figured that the man either meant her no harm or was much stronger than her for not caring if she had her sword drawn or not. "Who are you?" She hoped her voice hadn't wavered. "I'm traveling with a group so don't think I'm alone. I'll call to them if you try anything."

 

"We can't begin like this!" Lestat sighed, shaking his head and walked around Beatrice to run a tentative hand along Lexi's back. "Who am I? You know my name, sweetheart. And I'm sorry Hannah gave you such an awful impression of me. She's very unfair."

 

"Did he tell you about it?" Van Helsing asked quickly.

 

Hannah tried to remember if he had. "If he did, I don't recall. But it might just be from John....I'm still a bit foggy." She admitted.

Beatrice tensed when Lestat touched Lexi as if he were touching her. "You're Lestat...?" She knew she wouldn't be able to do this on her own. "Hannah! Van Helsing!"

 

Van Helsing controlled himself from rolling his eyes. "I see," he said shortly.

 

Lestat sighed, and, in the same action as any human, but just fifty times faster, he whipped around behind Beatrice, tightening one hand over her mouth and the other pinning her arms to her waist.

"I told you not to be afraid," Lestat whispered against her ear, pulling a step back into the shadows and away from the sun. "You smell wonderful..."

 

"What?" Hannah folded her arms. "If you had been there you wouldn't be like this."

Beatrice's heart raced; she was well beyond afraid now. She tried to struggle against Lestat's hold, but it didn't effect his hold on her at all. Sorin's head jerked up when Beatrice left his side.

 

"I apologize," Van Helsing lied. "Why is Edward so tired, then? He usually doesn't sleep," he asked, changing the subject.

 

"Hold still," Lestat muttered now, his lips drifting down to her throat. "I can feel your blood just a scratch from my mouth..." he shuddered delightfully. "You said you wanted to be more useful to your group, my dear. And, I, being the angel I am, will give you what you want."

 

"John and Lestat were rough on him." Hannah said.

Beatrice's heart was reacting properly, it was pounding against her chest, but the rest of her body felt numb. She wanted to protest but couldn't. Sorin cantered back to Van Helsing and Hannah, followed by Lexi. Both were panicked.

 

"Do me one favor," Lestat his words slurred now, not used to controlling himself this close to a woman this long. "Don't pass out, or you will die."

He bit lightly into her neck at first, drawing the smallest amount of fresh blood into his mouth. He tightened his grip on her mouth as she screamed, the sound delighting him beyond belief. Lestat sunk his teeth in deeper now, breaking her sweet skin cleanly, the hot liquid that rushed into his mouth now overwhelming his taste buds and senses. He could feel her fingers twitching, still trying to fight him.

Alright, fine. I said to stay still, and she doesn't want to... Lestat thought, and suddenly pulled his fangs out of her neck, spinning her to face him. He kissed her roughly, first with just his lips, his spell almost completely covering her thoughts, then biting her lips harshly, sending fresh blood down his and her chins. He pulled away, clearing his head for a fourth of a millisecond, and then finally biting the other side of her neck, Beatrice completely limp in his arms now. Feeling her heart finally failing, he withdrew, this time not very kindly, tearing this side of her throat jaggedly.

He knelt to lay her on the ground, one arm under to shoulders to support her head. Lestat wrapped his fingers in the hair at the back of her hair and snapped her eyes to his.

"Now, dear," he murmured, his voice still soft, sweet, and, even, kind. "What would you like? I can leave you here, and, even if your friends find you, you will die. But I can save you, give you what the other girls in your lovely company treasure: the gift of eternal life on earth. Which is it, my sweet? What do you want?"

 

"Right," Van Helsing said shortly.

 

Hannah ignored Van Helsing, going to Sorin and Lexi and trying to calm them. "Where's Beatrice?" She thought aloud, panicked. Her eyes glazed over and her hands froze on Sorin. "I smell blood...."

Beatrice couldn't speak, couldn't choose, couldn't think clearly. Pain rippled through her but calm did at the same time.