Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing or any of the characters, except for anything you don't recognize. This will be the only disclaimer for this story and it applies to any and all chapters.

Calling; Prologue

The ethereal light of a silver half-moon shimmered in a lacklustre way through the dirt-smudged glass of Elysia Ravenwood's bedroom window. The night was peaceful and quiet, a little too quiet for Elysia's likes, a bright moon and stiflingly still air making for a strange, unreal sort of night. She would have much preferred a bit of wind, rustling through the trees, at least, to create a bit of cover as she crept from the warm safety of her bed, over the noisy old floorboards and gradually eased the window open.

Trembling with nerves as she reached for the catch, her fingers fumbling a little before it finally slid open. She ever-so-slowly pushed the window outwards, wincing as the old wood of the frame creaked. She paused, listening for the telltale sounds of her parents stirring in the room next to her own. Nothing. Exhaling a shaky sigh of relief the girl eased her way out, dropping to the damp ground with a soft thud. Her dark eyes widened with sudden alarm: how on earth was she going to get back inside when she returned? Cursing under her breath at her own lack of fore-thought, she crept stealthily out into the night, avoiding the cobbled road and instead heading towards the woods. She would have to come up with something later, some excuse for being out, though at this moment she couldn't think what.

Within minutes the treeline was visible- all she had to do now was follow it south for a few miles and she would reach the clearing where Roran would be waiting. Elysia blushed slightly, her eyes sparkling with nervous anticipation. Roran had been courting Elysia behind both their parents' backs for nearly a year now, and had just a couple of days before suggested meeting out here where no one would find them. For a- What did he call it? –rendezvous, that's it. Her blush deepened and she allowed herself a small, secret smile. He had grinned teasingly at her initial reaction of righteous indignation when he suggested meeting here tonight, and made some sly, yet sweet comment that had her agreeing within moments.

A sharp crack startled Elysia out of her anticipatory daydream, and a thrill of fear shot through her. She turned about on the spot, her suddenly frightened eyes searching through the shadowy trees for some clue as to what had made the sound.

Not seeing anything, the girl shook her head, and kept moving, trying to steady her racing heart. There's nothing there, don't be a silly twit! She forced her thoughts back to Roran, trying to recapture her previous mood, and she had almost succeeded when she heard a rustling sound behind her. Spinning around, she looked again, confused when once more, she saw only shadows. But she knew, with the instinct that all prey have when they are being hunted, that she was not alone, there was something out there, watching her, sizing her up and planning just how it would devour her.

Suddenly resolved, she whirled around, with every intention of racing as fast as her legs would carry her, to where Roran would be waiting. Instead, she bumped into something solid and clad entirely in black. Her shriek was muffled by a hand, and Elysia squeezed her eyes shut, hoping against hope that she would awake suddenly, safe and sound in her bed. A million thoughts raced through her mind in that eternal moment, though three seemed to flash to the forefront of her mind- murderer-rapist- vampire! There was no time for her short and utterly unexciting life to 'flash before her eyes' - only a second in which all her fears seemed to paralyse her, freezing her in place.

Her terrified thoughts were interrupted by a soft chuckle, and Elysia slowly opened her eyes, praying to God that it was just Roran playing a silly trick on her. She had almost convinced herself that it could be no one but silly Roran when her eyes met his. Roran had plain, yet endearing blue eyes and these eyes were anything but plain and endearing. They were commanding and hypnotic- swirling, shadowy depths that drew her in, at the same time striking fear and rousing desire to cloud her mind and senses.

Some corner of her increasingly paralysed mind catalogued several unimportant details about the man, such as the black, militaristic clothing he wore, and the aristocratic, elegant style of his hair- pulled back with a clip into a graceful tail.

A small smirk appeared on the man's face, jolting Elysia slightly out of her daze and for a moment she felt a flash of pure fear. Certainty forced its way to the forefront of her mind, an inescapable knowledge that she was going to die. It would be painful and bloody and no one would hear her even if he allowed her to scream. Just as panic began to overtake her, tendrils of soft warmth reached out, snaking around her mind in a blissful shroud of suffocating numbness. She welcomed the feeling, desiring its comfort even as she knew it would be her death.

Her eyes drifted closed, a peaceful expression finding its way onto her face. She barely felt the sting of fangs piercing the soft flesh of her neck, only a slight whimper escaping her throat before warm, welcoming shadows stole consciousness away.

AN: Huh, well I abandoned this story last year after promising myself I wouldn't. Ah well, I am known for not finishing things . I have done a fair bit of editing and re-writing on this since I discovered all the errors in it. I might continue it; then again, I might not. :) Thankyou all you lovely reviewers who encouraged me and were then promptly ignored (sorry 'bout that –cringe- )

Feel free to let me know what you think! All constructive criticism welcomed and taken on board ;)