Chapter 1: Something Wicked This Way Comes
The sun shined through the stained glass windows onto the two sleeping figures- monster hunters. Brooke remained under the covers curled up against Van Helsing. A knock from Father Frances caused them to stir.
"More than likely it's for you," she mumbled.
He sighed and put some clothes on before answering the door.
Father Francis gave him a look of disgust, "Cardinal Jinette needs a word with you two in the main room."
Gabriel thanked him and shut the door. "Time to get up…sounds like a mission. About damn time too…not that I don't like time off- It's just-"
"You'd rather be kicking evil's ass..." she finished his thought as she got up.
Gabriel turned to her and smiled, she was something. It surprised him that the Holy Order was going to let them hunt together again. He tried not to question their decision.
When they got downstairs a large map of England hanged. Candles dimly lit the room as Brooke led the way. This would be their first mission since losing Carl…of course Brooke couldn't remember it and she only knew what he told her…which wasn't much. Brooke only knew that she was attacked by a demon while on a mission.
"As you can see, the two of you will be traveling to England. The Holy Order is concerned about a coven of powerful witches meeting in secret under ground; they call themselves the Coven of the Celestial. A source tells us they're planning to raise the dead with their powers of necromancy. Their power is much too great and dangerous. You must destroy the coven. Do not underestimate them. It will be a difficult task, but I trust you two can handle the situation…" Cardinal Jinette handed Van Helsing a folder. "Look over it on the way there…it's everything you need. Weapons are securely loaded for you. Good luck."
Gabriel took the folder and nodded. He walked with Brooke, "witches…I hate witches. I wonder what they think they'll achieve by raising the dead."
She shrugged, "who knows...maybe they're lonely or trying to start a living dead army?"
He laughed and pulled her close to him, "this should be a short mission. Maybe we'll stay in England for a few extra days?"
"Perhaps. I think you're being a bit cocky Mr. Van Helsing. I have a feeling those witches are going to have their way with you. You know there is a reason The Holy Order is sending us."
Van Helsing led the way down the front steps and to a carriage that awaited them. He was feeling a bit cocky about this mission- this was nothing compared to vampires, werewolves, and demons. Part of him wondered how this mission was going to go with Brooke as his new partner. The monster hunter already missed his former partner- mostly because he felt a lot less anxious. Being around Brooke did that to him…he had other things in mind beside the mission.
"I suggest an undercover approach. I can get on the inside and find out who our real targets are. Usually with covens there are only two or three witches that really know their magick. No sense in taking innocent lives. Don't you agree?"
She looked at him and it didn't seem like he was paying any attention to her.
"Gabriel!" she elbowed him in the side. "Are you listening to me?"
He mumbled something then cleared his throat, "you're not going undercover. They'll never believe you. It's best we spy from afar and take them down separately. Boss says he wants all of them dead…but you're right, some of these witches probably have no clue about what's going on."
Once aboard the train the two hunters unpacked a few things to start planning. A map was spread out on a table with different colored markers on certain locations.
"The entrance is here…a forest right there and what looks to be a road over here. If we plant ourselves here and here using the forest as our cover…we can see them coming and going. The problem is we have no way of figuring out who our dead raising high priestess is," he sighed in frustration and took a seat.
"Exactly, if we get the wrong one not only will they come after us, but…well I guess there is no 'but'. They'll come after us Gabriel and you don't want piss off these kinds of witches…"
Brooke looked at Van Helsing curiously. It had been some four years since he found her cheating on him one night. During that time they hadn't spoken until she woke up at the Vatican, at least that's what she remembered. She remembered that night vividly: his expression was of heartbreak and anger, but he didn't react- he calmly left the room. Brooke was madly in love with Gabriel, and the vampire caught her by a surprise…and he might have even seduced her with his abilities. After that incident she was just thankful to not be terminated, so that was why she couldn't understand why Van Helsing was acting different towards her. His excuse was that he was 'over it' and 'ready to work things out and try again.' That didn't sound the Gabriel she knew.
Silence filled the cabin as Gabriel considered her point.
"How come I don't remember going on a mission before waking up at the Vatican?" she boldly asked. "You said I was attacked by a demon, but I don't remember even being assigned the case."
Gabriel was a bit blindsided by her random question. A part of him expected her to ask about it since she rarely let things like that go unnoticed. He wondered if he should tell her the truth…Francis had specifically warned him not to tell her anything. According to him it wouldn't do any good to remind her of the pain she went through.
"They said you hit your head pretty bad. It wasn't until you woke up that they realized you had some memory loss. I don't know what the mission was about- you know how tight lipped they are about them. We can try asking someone when we get back…" he stood up and lightly touched her face. Van Helsing hoped that by then she would have forgotten about it.
Brooke nodded and closed her eyes as he touched her, "we're doing this my way…Please. It's the only way to be sure; you have to trust me."
Gabriel pulled his hand away, "I trust you."