The stars were reflected in Gabriel Van Helsing's eyes as he leaned on the edge of the roof of the Vatican church. His eyes were wet with unspilled tears, his breathing shallow as he looked down in sorrow at steps of the church.
His thoughts were mainly on Anna Valerious. Every few moments, he would look up to the sky, hoping to see her face etched up there, smiling down on him, as it had done for so many nights since he had returned.
Tonight, Anna was not there.
Van Helsing felt empty and sad. His heart ached for her. He loved her so much.
There was a commotion down below. He looked down, and saw two cloaked men dragging a dark bundle towards the steps. He cocked his head in interest, his angst temporarily forgotten. The black material wrapping the bundle slipped back suddenly, and he saw a woman's face.
Anna.
She looked so much like Anna that Gabriel's breath caught in his throat. He watched as the two men quickly recovered the woman, and carried her in. Gabriel's interest in this woman was great and he decided to go down and find out some more about her.
He found himself running back inside, and down the stone steps which led down to the top floor. He sprinted towards the back of the building and hurried down the staircase which curved behind all of the other floors and went straight to the entrance hall.
It was brightly lit and warm in the hall. Gabriel found it empty except for the Cardinal, who was locking the door. He looked up, and could not hide his surprise at seeing Van Helsing, dressed only in a loose black shirt, and black trousers. Gabriel rarely left his room without his large coat and hat.
"Gabriel?" he asked, he voice heavy with his thick accent.
"Who is she?" Van Helsing asked heatedly.
"Who is... who?" asked the Cardinal.
"I saw her, so don't play stupid with me."
The Cardinal rolled his eyes. "Gabriel, you should be abed at this hour."
As though to emphasise his point, the clock chimed two. Gabriel shook his head, his anger mounting.
"Tell me, goddamit!" he snapped.
The Cardinal looked much affronted. "Do not take the Lord's name in vain!"
Gabriel snarled dangerously. Unfortunately the Cardinal was used to his temper, and ignored it.
"I suggest you retire to bed," he said. "And do not dwell on what you believe you saw tonight."
Gabriel gave a final scowl and headed for the stairs.
"Oh- and Gabriel," added the Cardinal to his retreating back. "She isn't who you think you saw."
Van Helsing froze for a second, then disappeared upstairs.
His thoughts were mainly on Anna Valerious. Every few moments, he would look up to the sky, hoping to see her face etched up there, smiling down on him, as it had done for so many nights since he had returned.
Tonight, Anna was not there.
Van Helsing felt empty and sad. His heart ached for her. He loved her so much.
There was a commotion down below. He looked down, and saw two cloaked men dragging a dark bundle towards the steps. He cocked his head in interest, his angst temporarily forgotten. The black material wrapping the bundle slipped back suddenly, and he saw a woman's face.
Anna.
She looked so much like Anna that Gabriel's breath caught in his throat. He watched as the two men quickly recovered the woman, and carried her in. Gabriel's interest in this woman was great and he decided to go down and find out some more about her.
He found himself running back inside, and down the stone steps which led down to the top floor. He sprinted towards the back of the building and hurried down the staircase which curved behind all of the other floors and went straight to the entrance hall.
It was brightly lit and warm in the hall. Gabriel found it empty except for the Cardinal, who was locking the door. He looked up, and could not hide his surprise at seeing Van Helsing, dressed only in a loose black shirt, and black trousers. Gabriel rarely left his room without his large coat and hat.
"Gabriel?" he asked, he voice heavy with his thick accent.
"Who is she?" Van Helsing asked heatedly.
"Who is... who?" asked the Cardinal.
"I saw her, so don't play stupid with me."
The Cardinal rolled his eyes. "Gabriel, you should be abed at this hour."
As though to emphasise his point, the clock chimed two. Gabriel shook his head, his anger mounting.
"Tell me, goddamit!" he snapped.
The Cardinal looked much affronted. "Do not take the Lord's name in vain!"
Gabriel snarled dangerously. Unfortunately the Cardinal was used to his temper, and ignored it.
"I suggest you retire to bed," he said. "And do not dwell on what you believe you saw tonight."
Gabriel gave a final scowl and headed for the stairs.
"Oh- and Gabriel," added the Cardinal to his retreating back. "She isn't who you think you saw."
Van Helsing froze for a second, then disappeared upstairs.