Chapter 3: Love's Creation
Richard offered them some vodka to warm them up as he began to tell the story of the monster.
"It started twenty years ago. He wasn't always a monster; you see his name is Eric or was…."
Gabriel took off his hat and placed it on the table.
"It really was a tragedy that happened to him, it was jealousy that turned him into the ugly monster he is now. You see he was in love with a young woman and tried his hardest to get her to fall in love with him…he even went to a gypsy and asked her to make a spell. It backfired, the gypsy cursed him. She gave him a potion to drink that would make him a monster instead of attracting the girl."
Van Helsing shrugged, "Just tell the gypsy to reverse the spell and that should fix this, don't you think?"
Richard glared, "that was the first thing we tried! She was his first victim…before he took off to the forest to live and hide from the girl."
Carl then interrupted, "then just have the girl try and calm him down. Maybe that will get him to stop."
Richard gave a frustrated sigh, "we can't….the week he went into the forest is the same week she became ill and died. We aren't sure if he knows that or not, but then we're not even sure if he's…you know…all there anymore. He only started feeding off men these past couple of days. He comes during the day and creates trouble for us all. Some have tried to kill him but they've failed. The first man that came from the Order didn't last an hour…we found his head right outside the village."
Carl gasped in horror as Richard continued, "we laughed when they sent a woman…she must have lasted longer 'cause we have yet to find her dead…but she has been out there for a week. If the monster hasn't killed her then the bitter winter nights have."
Van Helsing put his hat back on got up from his seat, "did she tell you her name?" his voice seemed faint.
Richard thought back, "Yes, she did…Brooke I believe."
Gabriel looked at Carl, "damnit…no wonder they didn't tell us. Don't worry Richard, we will destroy your monster."
He left the house and Carl rushed to follow him, "Van Helsing! What is your plan! We must not leave till we have a strategy."
Gabriel didn't slow down, "I have a plan…Brooke needs our help now."
Carl almost repeated what Richard said, but he didn't want to put doubt into the monster hunter's mind.
Richard took a long drink once he was alone, "they have no idea what they're up against."
The snow was melting beneath their feet as they stepped into the forest.
"Keep an eye out for tracks or any other…..clues" Gabriel bent down picking up a jaw bone, "hmm." He dropped it to the ground and continued walking. "Carl…" he growled and pulled the friar by his collar to hide behind a tree.
Just then the monster came running between the trees into a dark cave. The monster stopped and his eyes darted around looking for something. Once he disappeared in the dark cave Van Helsing noticed Carl was trembling and he held in a laugh.
Something caught his eye in the distance…The sun was reflecting on it, nearly blinding his eyes.
"Let's move…" Gabriel took the shiny object into his hand, "Look at this…" He lifted the necklace off of the tree branch. "This is hers…the Order symbol….Blood," he frowned seeing the dried human blood. Van Helsing placed the necklace in his coat pocket, "She must be in hiding."
Gabriel decided now to focus his attention on killing the monster. "Give me the flamethrower and gun."
In one hand he held the flamethrower and the other the gun as they headed into the damp cave.
"ERIC!" his yell echoed off the walls. Carl stayed outside the cave to make sure he stayed out of the way.
The monster got up to his feet and threw a fresh bone at Van Helsing, "You think that's going to stop me!" he growled easily dodging the bone and used the flamethrower to keep him at a distance.
Eric went around the fire and struck Gabriel in the head, knocking him to the ground. Putting his finger on the trigger of the large bullet gun he fired once the monster that was above him. The bullet hit the monster injuring him, but he managed to grab the gun out of Van Helsing's grasp and throw it against the walls of the cave, it broke into pieces.
He tried to get to his feet but the monster pushed him back down to the ground; it used its large hands to keep Van Helsing from grabbing another weapon from his jacket.
Eric was smart….The hunter was beginning to understand how others had failed in their mission. He tried to fight against the monster but his hold on him was strong. Two rows of sharp teeth were now coming toward his neck and Van Helsing could do nothing to stop it.
Then a loud cry came from Eric's throat as a large arrow pierced the skull of the monster. He then fell backwards to the ground, he was dead.
"Thanks Carl…I don't know how I'd do it without you."
"You're welcome…" a female voice answered much to his surprise.
"Brooke?" Gabriel turned around and saw her holding a crossbow.
"Yeah…" she said weakly and started to fall but Carl caught her.
