Disclaimer: I don't own "LXG" or "Van Helsing".
"VAN HELSING!"
16 year old Sarah Anne Valerious-Van Helsing sighed. She had just gotten back from Paris after a gragoyle infestation in the attic. And it didn't go that well. See what happened was...Well, let's just say she broke a favorite window that was still being replaced after a similar incident by another certain monster hunter. She swept through the Vatican halls, her black trench coat trailing after her. A black scarf covered her two bite marks that she had recieved when she was thirteen, and half her face from the bitter cold. She was wearing all black. Her dark blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun, and it was getting messier when Cardinal Jinette walked up to her.
"You shattered the Rose Window," he said through his teeth.
"Hello Jinette," Sarah said casually. "Nice to see you too. Did you have a good holiday?"
"Don't be smart," Cardinal Jinette followed Sarah down the stairs to the secret order. "That window was almost fully repaired until you smashed it,"
"It wouldn't be the first time, now will it?"
Jinette was still fuming.
"Calm down," Sarah almost laughed. "It's not the end of the world. It will be repaired in...oh, 1 or 2 years. Give or take,"
"You are worse than your father," Jinette shook his head.
"Really? And he said I was better just last week...So, when do I get to go to bed?"
Jinette's eyes widened.
"You don't!" he said.
"What?" Sarah explained. "That's a load of crap! I just got back,"
"There's someone here that needs to speak to you,"
"Oh yeah? If it's a suitor, tell them to take a hike. I'm still with Steel Samuels,"
Yes. Sarah was still with Steel, a boy she had met during her first adventure without adult supervision. Don't worry, nothing too rash went on. Just a little innocent love sparked between them. Things were still the same between them. She was still stubborn, he broke her out of it. He was still about a year older than her. She was 16, he was 17. But the long distance relationship they were having wasn't helping much. They had barely seen each other and just when they were about to have some quality time with each other, one of them had to leave on a mission or was just too tired or hurt to do anything. And Sarah began to worry about this time. Usually it was her walking out and going hunting, or practically falling asleep when they were talking. More than anything, she wanted to keep their relationship strong, but being a monster hunter had a monsterous price.
"Actually no," the Cardinal said.
"This is a matter that concerns the world," said a voice.
Sarah and Jinette looked up to find a red haired man with a fine suit on.
"Do I have the pleasure of adressing Sarah Anne Van Helsing?" he asked.
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"Depends on who's asking," she said.
"Sarah..."Jinette scolded.
"What? You never know these days if he's a mass murderer in disguise,"
"My name is Sanderson Reed," the man said, ignoring Sarah's critics. "My superior was wondering if we can have your services for a short period of time,"
"You were watching me?"
"No. No, we merely just admire your skills in the hunting of...supernatural beings,"
"Does this job require the hunting of supernatural beings?"
"Well...no. Not exactly..."
"Then you don't need me,"
Sarah started to turn away, but Jinette grabbed her arm and pulled her back to Reed. She sighed.
"Look," she said. "I've just got back from destoying a gargoyle infestation in the attic of Notre Dame in Paris France, and destroying a historical window in the process. If this job doesn't require monsters, then I'd like to say: Good night, gentlemen. I'm off to dreamland,"
"This job does require you to do other things than hunt monsters, Van Helsing," Jinette remarked.
"...Oh crud...Fine. I'll do it. I'll be ready to leave in two days,"
"Two days?" asked Reed. "No, my superior needs to meet with you as soon as possible. He wants to speak with you and the other members of the league about the situation personally,"
Sarah blinked a bit.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Did you say 'other members of a league'?"
"Not a league. The league," Reed corrected. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. A team that has singular individuals of remarkable gifts,"
There was silence for a bit, until Sarah looked at Jinette.
"You're punishing me aren't you?" she asked.
"Absloutely not," Jinette said. "Are you willing to take on the assignment?"
"...Why not?" Sarah said sarcastically. "It's not like I have better plans to do,"
"I know you were hoping to spend some time with your friends and family when you got back, but..."
"Send Gabriel! He's been a hunter longer than I have,"
"I have talked it over with your father. He feels that you should redevelop the skills of working in a team. You've been working alone for so long, you won't let anyone go with you,"
"That's because I don't want anyone hurt,"
"Your intentions are well thought off, but Gabriel, Anna, and I agree that you should accept this mission,"
Sarah scowled. She knew she wasn't going to win this battle.
"All right," she said. "Just give me some time to repack and say goodbye,"
Reed and Jinette seemed pleased with Sarah's decision, and left her alone. Sighing, Sarah took a walk around the facility looking for her friends
Thirteen year old Maria Grey was in an intense swordfight with her friends father. For the past three years, she was working hard, studying how to sword fight and the ways to hunt monsters, so that when she was ready, she would be able to fight with her friend. Her brother, sixteen year old Micheal Grey, worked with Carl the Friar in developing weapons for Van Helsing and Sarah. Their parents had been told about the order, and with their permission, they let Maria and Micheal under the careful eye of the Van Helsings to study. So far, Maria had done a pretty good job, until Van Helsing tripped her. She landed on her back, and groaned.
"You've got to keep an eye on things Maria," Van Helsing helped her up. "That's enough for tonight,"
Maria let out a breath of exhaustion as she put her sword away.
"Thanks," she said. "Ugh...How does Sarah do this everyday?"
Van Helsing shrugged, but smirked.
"She practices," he said.
"So do I," Maria followed him out of the room. "Sarah just practices on the battle field. When am I gonna go on a mission? A real mission?"
"When you're ready,"
"I've been ready. Besides Sarah was my age when she started hunting vampires, and werewolves, and whatever else lurks in the darkness,"
"Still rambling on about not going to the big games, are you, Maria?" asked Micheal as he came over.
Van Helsing and Maria looked over Micheal. He was covered in grease all over his face.
"What happened to you?" Maria raised an eyebrow.
Micheal grinned.
"Working on my latest invention," he said proudly.
"Oh no," groaned Maria.
"What? It's gonna work this time!"
"Don't say that! You jinxed it now. Everytime you say something's gonna work, it never does. Honestly, I don't even know why you keep trying,"
Micheal glared and pulled out a gun. It was strange, though. It had three barrels connected to one trigger. Maria raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's a gun," Micheal said it as though it was obvious.
"I know it's a gun. But a gun doesn't have three barrels. This one does. What the heck is it?"
"You know how you always have to pull out just an ordinary gun, and when you're done with it, you have to reach out and grab another weapon?"
"Yeah. What's your point?"
"Imagine, that is if you can, if you could switch from one weapon to another in less than five seconds. This three barrel gun has your average bullet, Glycerin 48, and holy water all inside. Observe,"
They had reached a target for testing out new weapons, and Micheal triggered the gun. It was meant to have gone from a regular bullet, but...you know Micheal. He accidently turned the safety off of both the bullets and the Glycerin 48. Once he fired, flames bursted everywhere. Maria folded her arms.
"You are such an airhead," she remarked.
"I don't understand!" Micheal exclaimed as he inspected the gun. "It worked this morning,"
"Yeah, in your head,"
"FIRE!"
A couple of monks and mullahs started running around trying to find something to put out the fire. Sarah, luckily happened to be walking by the disaster. Upon taking notice of the fire, she grabbed a bucket full of soot that was left by the furnace, and doused the fire with it. It went out immedietly. Once the soot had evaporated, she looked at Micheal disapprovingly.
"How many times has your mother told you not to play with fire?" she asked in a snotty way.
"Watch that tone," Van Helsing warned.
"...Sorry..."
"I know you're not that excited going on another mission, but it's for your own good,"
"My own good. My own good wants to be with my friends and family for just a few hours. I came to say goodbye,"
"Again?" asked Maria.
"How many missions did the order give you this month?" asked Micheal.
"26," Sarah said dryly.
"Oy. That's a lot,"
"I can come with you, Sarah," Maria smiled.
"No you can't," Sarah and Van Helsing protested.
"Why?"
"You're not ready," Sarah said as she loaded up with weapons.
"But you remember what happened when Dracula came after us!"
"Yes, vividly, and I regret not taking you someplace safe in the first place. I'm still having nightmares about it,"
Van Helsing's eyes widenend at Sarah.
"You're having nightmares?" he asked. "Why didn't you tell me or your mother this?"
Sarah glared at Van Helsing.
"Because either you, mom, or I are never home," she said getting her bag and going.
"Sarah..." Van Helsing started after her. "Let's talk about this for a minute,"
"I don't have a minute," Sarah said. "Where's mom?"
"She's at the doctor,"
Sarah stopped dead in her tracks. The doctor? Why would Anna be at the doctor? She was fine when Sarah left for Paris. Turning around, she began to worry.
"What's wrong with her?" she asked.
"Nothing,"
"How come nobody sent me a cable about this?"
"Your mothers fine. She's just getting a second confirmation just to be sure,"
"Of what? Tell me what's wrong with my mother!"
"Calm down. Nothing's wrong with her...Last week, she came back announcing she was pregnant,"
Sarah's eyebrows raised up.
"Pregnant?" she asked.
"You're gonna have a new brother or sister," Van Helsing smiled.
"YES!"
Sarah jumped on Van Helsing, hugging him.
"Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!" she kept saying happily. "You've totally made my night,"
"All right get off of me," Van Helsing laughed. "Hurry up and go say goodbye to Steel. That way you can get this mission done faster, and maybe I can persuade Jinette to let you have a break to help your mother,"
"OK, bye,"
"Bye...Sarah, one more thing...If you're gonna destroy historical sites, don't destroy the ones I've already destroyed. Go search for your own sites to make Jinette mad,"
Sarah smirked, and left to get some more supplies, when suddenly hands covered her eyes.
"Guess who?" asked a soft voice.
"Lemme guess," Sarah smiled widely. "Ummm...Carl?"
"Nope,"
"Micheal?"
"...You've gotta be joking,"
"Taylor?"
"Now I know you're joking,"
Sarah laughed as she removed Steel Samuel's hands from her eyes, and kissed him.
"Sorry," she said. "I just had to torture you there,"
"I take it you heard the good news," Steel wrapped his arms around her.
"You didn't hear me squealing of happiness?"
"Actually, it was the squealing that led me to believe that you were back. That, or Micheal found an invention that actually worked,"
Sarah laughed.
"Listen," she said. "There's something I need to tell you,"
Steel's face fell.
"Oh no..." he groaned. "It's another mission isn't it?"
"Unfortunetly yes,"
"When are they gonna give you a break?"
"My father is going to talk to Jinette about giving me a break to help out my mother. That way I could stay home, I could go back to Transylvannia with my mother, you and I will get out more often,"
"I think they're doing this to break us apart,"
Sarah smirked.
"A lot of things tried to break us apart," she said going softly to his lips. "But that didn't stop us, did it?"
Sarah kissed him soft and romanticly, and he kissed her back.
"I'm sorry," she said softly when they were done. "We haven't really taken time to ourselves,"
Steel held her arms gently.
"Stay," he whispered. "Stay here with me,"
"I have to go," Sarah tried to resist staying.
"Sarah...please..."
"Don't make this hard,"
Hesitating, Steel let go of Sarah and she walked slowly out of the order, ready for another adventure.
(A/N: How's it sound so far? Good? Bad? Exciting? Let me know in a review please!
Sarah: Hey! I'm mad at you!
Me: What'd I do?
Sarah: You couldn't at least let me stay with Steel?
Me: I couldve...But then there wouldn't be a story, now would there?
