( Read more... )

“So, what did it say?” Carl asked, casually, picking at the leftovers of his food ( Read more... )

Gently breaking their kiss, Van Helsing drew Carl back and gazed into his eyes, wanting simply to bask in his presence for a moment. The blanket slipped from them, and Carl glanced down - Van Helsing was wearing nothing but underpants ( Read more... )

“Carl? Are you all right? Can you hear me?” Van Helsing held his friend gently by the shoulders as Carl retched, bringing up water, shivering violently against Van Helsing, who despite his relief was gripped by a new terror - what if this was Tallander? What if he hadn’t really been expelled? Perhaps he had been faking - he might be capable of ( Read more... )

It was raining, raining with a force Van Helsing had never seen before, battering the streets and turning the path to thick mud. He stumbled frequently as he ran, struggling to keep on his feet, his eyes fixed on the rusty church steeple now only a few hundred yards ahead of him ( Read more... )

Van Helsing paced the corridor, distracted, unable to think clearly. His mind was full of the horrible image of his own hand destroying his closest friend - killing that which he loved most, yet again. Was he doomed to spend his life doing this? Were his lost memories full of the same tragedies ( Read more... )

“Father Michael?” Tallander snapped, when the landlady had left them to usher the priest upstairs. “Who is he ( Read more... )

Carl stared back at Van Helsing, his eyes wide and filled with unimaginable horror. Van Helsing reached out to him, wanting to comfort him - but before he could move closer, Carl had flung himself across the small distant between them and into Van Helsing’s arms, where he rested his head against the bigger man’s chest, and sobbed. Pained and ( Read more... )

The inn was dark and quiet. Van Helsing made his way to the bedroom, pushing Tallander in front of him; the creature had gone along with him happily enough, making no attempt to get away, and seeming even to enjoy his company. Tallander - the demon - whatever he was - chatted amiably as they walked, and Van Helsing had to fight an urge to strike ( Read more... )

Van Helsing forced himself to remain silent and still as Carl slowly awoke, his eyelids flickering, his eyes opening slowly. The friar looked around sleepily, then blinked, obviously still half-asleep. Van Helsing resisted the urge to shake him ( Read more... )