Van Helsing, the infamous hunter of creatures, mainly ones of the damned, noticed that those creatures were nowhere in sight.

He decided to investigate the town more and get to know who the citizens were. Dr. Whale, personally, had made his skin crawl.

Van Helsing himself wasn't the great looking, but at least he had morals, unlike the doctor.

After all, who gains any pleasure from cutting open a body, let alone dissecting them?

Van Helsing did murder creatures, but he did it for the betterment of mankind.

Did he feel sympathy for them? He would like to admit that he didn't, but he did.

The only creature that he lacked sympathy for was a creature of the damned that had slaughtered his entire family and was a part of the Karnstein family.

She might have changed her name, but her youthful appearance was imprinted into his memory.

She did all she could to permanently kill him, but she had failed, every time.

Perhaps these newcomers that Dr. Whale, if he could even be referred to as a Doctor, could potentially be of the Karnstein family or know of them.

He did recall that Dr. Whale had referred to another creature living among them and there were two.

His main quest all his life was to kill that Karnstein, so if a human or another creature would come to her aid, then it was probably because they were under her spell.

Nobody would ever be that foolish to help her.

xxx

Ruby felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up when she saw this mysterious man enter the diner.

Something was clearly off about him and it made her feel very uneasy. She tried to remind herself to stay professional, no matter what.

Granny was preparing to leave with her crossbow when she saw the man that had made Ruby uneasy.

The older woman frowned and had made a motion for Ruby to get into the kitchen.

Ruby felt herself relax when she saw her grandmother signal her to go into the kitchen.

Van Helsing put his hat down on the counter, "I didn't mean to make the young lady uneasy. I'm only here to help someone in town."

Granny raised an eyebrow, "Who is it?"

"I'm afraid that I can't say who."

He paused for a moment, "I'm surprised that a woman like yourself would wield such a weapon as that."

"You don't think I can hold my own?"

"Oh no, I didn't mean that! I just meant that it was an interesting choice. Not many like using a crossbow, but I prefer it."

Granny laid her crossbow down next to Van Helsing's hat.

"What is this favor?"

"The favor involves obtaining specimens."

"I hope you're not planning on harming the citizens of Storybrooke."

"Not at all. I'm looking for one in particular."

"Oh?"

"They go by the name of Karnstein."

"Karnstein? I'm afraid that I haven't heard of anyone going by that name."

xxx

Ruby froze when she heard the man mention Carmilla's last name and tried to leave out the backdoor. She had to warn them and soon.

Dr. Whale had been crossing the street when he saw Ruby.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to see Emma. What do you want, Whale?"

"I need to ask you a favor."

Ruby could smell that something was off about him today.

She continued to walk when he had crossed the street over to her so they were now facing one another.

Did she smell alcohol?

"I told you that I'm going to Emma's!"

He took out a syringe, "If you take one step, there's nothing that will stop me from telling that man, Van Helsing, in there to shoot your hag of a grandmother!

So go ahead, go to Emma's, but your old granny's blood is on your hands, just like Peter's is."

Ruby let out a growl but did nothing as Dr. Whale had used that horrendous syringe to paralyze her.

One down, one more to go.

Before meeting Ruby, Dr. Whale had poured alcohol on himself for Ruby to fall for his plan.

He went behind the dumpster, pulled out a wagon, and put Ruby in it. He covered her with a large blanket.

Dr. Whale was on his way to the hospital, specifically to his lab.

xxx

Van Helsing could tell something was off about Granny.

"What are you? Not human, obviously."

Granny hadn't answered him.

He held up his hands, "I won't harm you or your granddaughter. All I wish to know is if you know of a Karnstein."

"Why is this Karnstein so important to you?"

"She slaughtered my family and tried to kill me as well, but I had outwitted her. I have spent my entire life trying to kill her. Once I take my revenge, I can find peace."

"How do you know that you'll find peace?"

"I would sleep easy knowing that she could do no more harm."

"And how exactly do you intend to kill her?"

"I would drive a stake through her heart, decapitate her, and burn her body to ash. There are other methods, but that is a guarantee that she couldn't return."

"You swear on your life that you would not harm anybody that is from Storybrooke, correct?"

Granny looked the man in his eyes.

One who looks you directly in the eyes, shows respect.

Avoiding the gaze shows deceit.

Van helsing picked up his hat, "I swear upon my dead family's graves."

Granny heard his sincerity and his eyes reflected the same.

"Well, I don't know of any Karnstein."

Van Helsing nodded and touched the tip of his hat. "Thank you, Ma'am."

As he was about to cross the threshold, Granny asked, "What's your name?"

"Van Helsing."

xxx

Dr. Whale had made his way with Ruby to his lab. He couldn't believe how easy it was to get his first specimen!

He didn't dare make an attempt to take Granny. She would've had him fighting for his life.

No, guilt was s stronger weapon and Ruby was the perfect victim.

He had strapped her down onto his autopsy table and pulled over all his shiny instruments.

He made sure that it was made of silver, so it would be a very painful process.

It was something that he got off to.

He was about to put the scalpel to Ruby's chest when he heard heavy boots walking down stairs.

He gave a huff as he angrily threw his scalpel onto the small table, scattering his perfectly aligned instruments.

"What is the means for this interruption? Can't you see that I'm working?!"

Dr. Whale had regretted what he said the moment he saw Van Helsing.

"I gave that woman my word that no harm would come to anybody in this town, especially her granddaughter!

I could smell your filthy stench as soon as I left. You have this horrible scent that makes me wish to vomit."

"I...I wasn't going to do anything invasive! Just do testings that wouldn't hurt."

"Oh? Then what are these metal instruments here? Why is she strapped down?"

Dr. Whale was shaking with fear to do anything.

Van Helsing shoved the poor excuse of a man out of his way and carefully began to unstrap Ruby.

Dr. Whale, the weasel, had picked up his scalpel and stabbed Van Helsing in the back.

Van Helsing had cried out in pain as he pulled it out of his back.

Ruby finally stirred and was confused when she saw that creepy man from the diner.

What was he doing here with Dr. Whale?

Van Helsing held the scalpel and pointed it towards Dr. Whale, "The deal we made was severed the moment you took this young woman. I'm no longer in your service.

If I hear you trying to harm anybody else, I will personally torture you in the most painful way possible.

You better pray that I don't see you again!"

Dr. Whale was slipping on the floor as he cowardly ran away.

Van Helsing turned toward Ruby and the rage had vanished from his face.

"Had he hurt you?"

"Who the hell are you? What have you done to my grandmother?"

He looked confused, "Your Grandmother? She is safe and sound."

"But Dr. Whale had said you were going to hurt her."

He frowned, "I would've never done such a thing! He's a lying little weasel that needs to

know his place."

Ruby looked into the man's eyes and knew that she saw that he told the truth.

He held out his hand and she took it.

"You know I could've saved myself."

Van Helsing just smiled, "If you're anything like your Grandmother, then I had not an inkling of doubt in my mind."