Time's Crossing
Writing is a socially acceptable version of schizophrenia. ~ E.L. Doctorow
John Harker looked at the other students in his group. Sure he'd known Mina and Lucy since he was young, he had been trying to pull the courage to ask Mina out for the longest time, but the others were a complete mystery to him. He was close to Jack Seward though. The aspiring doctor was funny and interesting to talk to. They were all heading to Romania for a 'class trip' of sorts. They'd been studying the Slavic cultures and the teacher decided that they needed to see for themselves the people of a country. Not city people but rural people. That's why they were heading for a fairly remote part of Romania. It was the section that had at one point in time been the border of Walachia and Transylvania.
"So John what do you want to be? Hope it's not a real-estate agent." Jack joked lightly. John chuckled lightly and shook his head.
"I don't know yet. I'll figure it out though." He said and Jack nodded looking up at the ceiling.
"Do you think that we're tempting fate with this trip? I mean our great grandparents were the ones that supposably killed Dracula the vampire."
"That's all legend Jack. I mean sure I think there are super natural things out there but I doubt that there was really a vampire threatening the lives of our families." John said slightly on edge. Bram Stoker's novel presented the names of not only his family but questioned whether or not Quincy Harker, John's grandfather, was human. John thought it was wonderful fiction. Wonderful fiction; with too many of Jonathan Harker's notes inside it for it to be coincidence, far, far too many of them to be coincidence. Jack frowned a bit obviously hearing the edge in John's voice. He let it rest though.
"Well come on let's get to our seats eh? We're next to eachother on the plane." Jack nudged John lightly and they set off looking at the airplane with a mix of dread and anticipation.
They stepped off the plane looking at the large capitol. It was a huge bustling city with many different people running around like a normal large city. They then caught a train and another train until it was almost evening. They reached a town that would be their stop for the night. Jack and John laughed lightly talking throughout the train rides about what they could do in the future. Jack settled on telling John to be some sort of journalist and John told him to be a shrink. Mina joined them stating that Jack would make a good doctor and that John could be a journalist if he wasn't terrified of random things.
"I am not terrified of random things. I just find Gothic décor freaky." He huffed and they both laughed at him.
"Looks like we're roommates eh?" Jack said and John nodded lightly. The carriage house that they were staying in had three rooms. The master was given to the girls; the second guest room was given to Arthur and Quincy. That left John and Jack on the first floor guest room which was tiny.
"Really I thought a carriage house was supposed to be smaller then this."
"Actually they managed to fit several servants in these rooms usually four or five." John said and Jack gaped at him slightly. John chuckled and then moved to sit on the steps that led outside.
"It's beautiful out here isn't it?" He murmured and Jack nodded grinning and chuckling when he realized that John couldn't see him.
"Yeah it is. But don't you think that something is off about this place? Doesn't it seem too peaceful?"
"You're not trying to scare me now are you Jack?" John laughed smiling. For a moment he felt a chilled wind sweep across his face like fingers. It was an entirely too intimate and familiar feeling. His green eyes opened and he stared at Jack. The other man tilted his head confused.
"Cold chill." John muttered and Jack nodded looking out at the night.
"Yeah it's really starting to cool off come on let's go inside." He said and turned around. John stopped at the door just inside the threshold.
"That didn't include you." He muttered feeling as if he was not himself and yet himself at the same time.
"John? Come on Harker get inside." Jack muttered shivering more violently. John continued to glare at the darkness before he took back control of his body.
'That was odd.' He thought shutting and locking the door. Before he could stop himself he drew a cross on the door with his fingers.
"Wow I didn't figure you were religious I mean you don't wear a cross." Jack muttered and John jumped slightly turning.
"I don't know. Something just… I feel like I'm half on autopilot and half not." John said looking at the door before walking to their room. "I think I need to sleep badly."
"Yeah man you do that." Jack muttered and they went do bed only to wake up again a few hours later. Jack sighed and looked over at John who was sound asleep. He blinked and frowned before getting up and padding over to him. John's hair looked like it was white as snow and he blinked at him. Jack touched his black hair and looked at it. It too looked white. His skin was paler as well. He frowned softly. It was just odd. He'd been reading his great grandfather's medical journals. He felt like he'd been reading his notes more then anything rather then his great grandfather's journals. His great grandfather for whom he was named.
"Jack?" John's voice asked sleepily. He yawned and Jack was relieved when he didn't see any fangs but then again weren't they retractable? John's eyes were the same deep green as ever. Not bloody red. Infact the color was the complete opposite of red all together. John moved out of the sun's light and it was as if color painted itself into his dark chocolate wavy locks. They fell around his face in an unbrushed fashion making his eyes stand out more.
"I thought I saw a white hair there John. Not getting old are you?" Jack joked covering his odd behavior. John grinned and laughed lightly.
"Yeah old age catches up to us all one day eh Jack?"
"Yeah all of us. Man these time shifts are weird I mean I know we got ready for them and all but it's annoying you know?" They laughed and got ready to head out again. They'd be staying around the town mainly but they would get a feel for the land. The girls joined them and Quincy nodded to them.
"Mornin' coffee?" He offered.
"No thank you." Jack said opting for water instead.
"John if you drink that you'll be jumpy all day!" Mina scolded when the sleepy male reached for the waking drink. Quincy laughed lightly.
"Morning all." Arthur said kissing Lucy's forehead.
"How did you sleep?" Mina asked John softly.
"When I got to sleep it was okay. I'm fine Mina honestly. Why do you ask?"
"You look paler."
"Maybe because I haven't had my morning caffeine?" John reasoned and she huffed before pushing an apple into his hands.
"Enjoy natural sugar instead." She tugged lightly on a lock of his hair.
"Fine." He sighed dramatically. They finished their breakfast and walked around the town. Mina held John's arm and the male blushed faintly smiling nervously. Lucy giggled behind their backs and Arthur wrapped his arm around her waist. Quincy pointed out the shops and John managed to ask for directions and prevent several misunderstandings.
"You should go into linguistics Harker. You're bloody brilliant with language." Arthur said and John blinked at him.
"You think I could?" He'd never really thought of that one before. Languages. Helping other people with languages… A shudder ran wildly down his spine as a feeling of déjà vu.
"On second thought I don't think I could."
"Why? You'd probably be great at it you're very patient and kind." Mina said. John shrugged.
"Just a feeling I got."
"Well tell your feelings to shut up man you'll not have a job left to pick at this rate." Quincy said chuckling lightly.
"Yeah. At this rate." John looked at the forest surrounding the village and rubbed the back of his head. They decided to split up. Arthur, Lucy, and Quincy would check around the north end of the Town and John, Mina, and Jack would check the east.
"You should be fine in the sun right?" They laughed and split up.
John and Jack noticed the graveyard and rotting church before Mina. She was busy looking at the local flowers.
"Mina's very pretty isn't she?" Jack murmured and John tensed nodding.
"Yes she is."
"You fancy her don't you?"
"I… well… yes." John blushed and Jack chuckled patting him lightly on the back.
"Come on man. When we go back to London there's a brilliant club you can take her to."
"Oh?"
"Yeah ask Arthur and Lucy to go with you. It'll seem less like a date and more like a group outing that way you won't be as nervous."
"You are a life saver Jack thank you."
"For what?"
"I said I'd go and check out the graveyard while you and John checked out the church." Jack grinned at Mina who blinked and smiled.
"That sounds great. Um what church?"
"That one over there. It's more like a small chapel then a church but that's okay." John said and Mina smiled more grabbing John's hand and taking him towards the chapel. Jack chuckled and walked through the worn graves.
"If there's anyone in there come and get me you hear?" He called and John shouted an agreement to his request.
"John do you think that there are monsters?" Mina asked as they pushed the mossy door open.
"Yes." John said going inside first. He then pulled Mina to his side.
"Really? What do you think a monster is?"
"Something that makes us afraid. Something that only a human can overcome."
"Oh? Why is it that humans have to be what save us?"
"Because we can't rely on god for everything. Angels can't overcome fear. Because they don't have any. You have to have fear. Fear is what drives us. Fear of loss. That gives birth to the need to protect. Someone fighting for something precious to them is stronger then ten monsters."
"Wow you have thought on this, haven't you?" Mina murmured brushing her fingertips over the pews.
"Sh." John held up his hand to quiet her. There was another movement, a mere shadow flashing across the background of the wall. Jack grabbed John's arm.
"I got Mina outside." He whispered and John nodded slowly edging toward the shadow's direction. A pale ancient hand grabbed his arm making him jump. He looked into the duel colored eyes of the gypsy woman. Her pale blue eye without a pupil seemed focused solely on him. Her other baleful brown eye was staring at him pleadingly.
"Englishmen you must leave this place. Tonight is not a good night."
"Wha- Who are you?" He asked feeling as if he knew her.
"There is no time. Please for the sake of those that love you… that wait for your safe return take it." She thrust a necklace into his hand and then she fled from the chapel.
"What the hell was that?" Jack muttered and Mina came back inside.
"It looks like it's going to rain shouldn't we go?"
"Yeah. We should…" There was a howl out in the distance.
"Wolves!" Mina gasped clinging to John tightly.
"They're mostly nocturnal creatures what are they doing out in the day?"
"Mina said it looks to rain. Perhaps they smell intruders in their territory and wish to get rid of them before the rain." John said.
"We'll have to wait out the storm then. It's starting to pour down now." Jack said and there were sheets starting to hit the roof and grim covered windows.
"Well… At least it's dry."
"Let's hope that the rain washes off our scent otherwise we might have some furry company."
"That's awful to say John. Hey what is that?" She looked at his hand. He looked down at the silver cross in his hand. He placed it around Mina's neck smiling a bit.
"A gypsy gave it to me. Said it was for the sake of those who wish me to return home."
"Then you should wear it. If you're superstitious that is." Mina said slightly subduing herself at the end not sure of John was trying to get at something else.
"Mina you know I don't put much faith in religion." He chuckled and she nodded looking at the cross. It was really simple but it was beautiful. The doors bagged open.
"Found you! Ha!" Lucy raced over to Mina soaking wet.
"We got caught in the storm but luckily we found this church. And who do we find inside?"
"How did you find the chapel you said you were heading north? This is east." Jack muttered ad Quincy nodded tightly.
"I don't rightly know. In truth it was the lil' angel who led us to you. She saw she thought she saw someone." He commented softly. John glanced at Lucy and Mina as Mina tried to keep her warm.
"Could you look for some blankets?" Mina asked and Arthur nodded instantly walking around to the smaller back rooms. Jack and Quincy were sharing looks. John sighed and looked at the window. He saw someone walking outside.
"There's someone out there." He muttered getting up.
"No! His eyes! Red as blood!" Lucy started to scream grabbing her head.
"Lucy?" Mina tried calming her down. John looked out the window and the person turned. He saw a flash of red. He heart froze in his chest. It then resumed beating with a furious pace. His heart seemed dead set on bursting from his chest. The strange feeling of being in control but not came back and he bolted the doors closed.
"John?" Mina asked softly as he slid down the doors staring ahead into nothing.
"We'll have to wait out the storm. If it's night out I suggest you get comfortable." He murmured.
"Why?"
"Would you want to be out there in the dark with wolves?" John asked softly glancing at them.
"John's right we should stay put if it gets dark. We can call the teach." Quincy said before grinning at John.
"Don't you wanna move away from there?"
"No. I'm comfortable." John said. In truth he didn't want to move from his place before he felt no strength. Quincy grinned and lifted him up.
"Come on the floor can't be comfortable." John chuckled smiling weakly the feeling of being but not fading away as Quincy got him slightly damp.
