Chapter 12

"So she's a werewolf now? I knew something was wrong." Van Helsing was speaking to Catherine as they were now alone, atop the slope they had been trying to climb to escape the vampire. He had a gas-propelled crossbow, that he had received from the Order at the Monastery for his trip to Transylvania, at the ready when they reached the summit of the hill, but its target was now out of sight and so was Amelia and her horse. They were overlooking the land around them. The forest was not far to the west, and the thundering sea was to the east.
"But maybe it's not all that bad. This can help us get Michelle back and maybe even kill Dracula. A vampire's weakness is also a werewolf bite. The vampire blood and werewolf venom can't mix. It's deadly if they do. We can just let Amelia loose on Dracula when her transformation is complete. Maybe I won't have to lose my sisters." Catherine was talking hopefully. She really believed her idea could work. But she was ignoring reality.
Van Helsing looked at her, in a way that showed he was sorry for her. He believed that she believed this could work out for the best.
"For a girl who reads about monsters, you sure don't know how they work. Once Amelia's transformation is complete, there's no hope for her. She will stay a werewolf forever. She will have the instinct to kill whenever possible. It's what werewolves do. Whoever gets in their way pays the ultimate price. I'm sorry, but Amelia will no longer be your sister when her full moon comes around." The look on Catherine's face was unbearable to look at. She didn't want to accept the truth. She didn't want to go home with only one of her sisters, if she was lucky enough to get that. But she couldn't help but ponder the fate of Amelia. Van Helsing's job was to destroy the evil in this world. Amelia, who was a werewolf, fit right at the top of that category.
They travelled in silence after those last few words. It was hard for both of them to accept. Van Helsing tied his cross bow onto the back of his saddle where he could get to it without much difficulty in time of need. They scanned the land for any hint of Amelia, and when the hill began to dip downwards into a narrow passage to the forest, a shriek broke the silence. It was inhumanly, too high pitched. Catherine covered her ears when she heard it. The loud and disturbing noise made birds in the canopy of the trees take flight into the cloudy sky.
Van Helsing made his black steed descend the slop into the narrow passage, with Catherine on her Blood Bay close behind. Loose rocks tumbled down the slope, the horses were going far more slowly than appreciated to avoid from loosing their footing.
When they reached the bottom of the slope a few moments later, they could see a trail leading into the forest. They hurriedly approached it, ducking their heads under a low branch on their way in. The trees were growing close together. The trees got thicker and thicker the farther in the two travellers got. They slowed their pace in fear of running into a tree, and stopped altogether when the steady pounding of hooves from a horse came to their ears from the darkness of the forest.
A Blood Bay with saddlebags swinging along its sides came galloping into view. Van Helsing quickly dismounted his own horse and spread his arms out across the trail to stop the horse. It halted in front of him and whinnied in annoyance at the sudden blockade. He approached it and grabbed the reins hanging around it's neck. He lead the horse back to his own, pulling a length of rope from one of the saddlebags. He tied one end to the stray horse's harness, and tied the other end to his saddle. He then mounted his horse once more and proceeded down the narrow trail of the forest, with Catherine and Amelia's blood bay following closely behind.

They reached a part in the trail where a few beams of light could break through the thick foliage above, and the ground was upturned like there had been a disturbance. A green flied was visible in the distance. Catherine dismounted her horse and held on to it's reins. She kneeled down to the ground, studying it. She stood up a few moments later, with a long wooden arrow with a sharp tip at its head in her hand. The feathers at the end were green and black, it blended well with the scenery around it. To any normal eye it may of looked just like a twig lying on the ground.
Catherine passed the arrow to Van Helsing's outstretched, curious hand. He inspected it and ran his finger along the arrow's tip. The point was unusually long, and moist. In the dim light blotches of red could be seen. It had a certain feel and glisten to it.
"Silver, with Holy Water." he exclaimed. Catherine sighed and bent back down to the forest floor. She touched the earth where she found the arrow, and realised that the texture of the dirt was different from that of which surrounded it. It felt like ash. She rose from the ground.
"What happens to vampires when they are killed?" she asked. Van Helsing looked at her.
"I've only seen it done once, but they apparently just deteriorate, almost like they burn quickly but without the flames. There's hardly any trace that a body had even fallen." He was still inspecting the arrow, wondering if was used to serve it's original purpose. These arrows are used for the hunting of werewolves and vampires. They're especially made with long silver tips, almost like a stake. It makes the same affect. But if this person had used Holy Water along with it, it must have been especially unpleasant for the victim, and would of killed it in only seconds, if not even.
"So ash would have been left." claimed Catherine. She held up her finger to Van Helsing, who grabbed her hand to see it closer.
"There was definitely a vampire murdered here." he stated. And it wasn't by Amelia, for she didn't have these arrows, or a bow to shoot them with. No, somebody had come here, done their work and left, and apparently taking Amelia along.

Amelia was being led through the forest. She didn't know why she was following this girl, but she apparently knew the place well. She would walk around trees and turn at certain points in a way that told Amelia she knew where she was going.
Amelia had trouble following. She wanted to keep her eyes on the forest floor to avoid tripping over roots or tree stumps, but whenever she looked down she feared she would lose her guide. They didn't talk as they walked, she hadn't heard the girl speak yet. Amelia had only said thank you, and then she was led off the trail and into the forest.
The trees began to thin, and rays of sunlight illuminated their surroundings. Amelia could see farther through the trees and in the distance, the openness of a field was visible. When they reached the open field, it appeared empty at first. But the girl walked along the outskirts with Amelia in tow towards a small smouldering campfire. The closer they got the more Amelia realized that the campfire was surrounded by a wooden bench, a green tent that blended well with environment around it, a stack of chopped firewood and a brown chest.
Is this where she lives? thought Amelia. Just then the girl stopped and pointed to the bench, beckoning Amelia to sit. She sat, and placed her broken wrist on her lap. It still hurt but it wasn't unbearable. She only needed a sling or some sort of cast to make sure it heals correctly. Before when she had broken her arm or wrist, it was wrapped with cloth soaked with plaster. It hardened but was still able to come off when the bone was healed.
"Who are you?" was what the girl finally asked. She had the chest opened and was leaning over it, rummaging around. She unrolled a piece of cloth and tore it at an appropriate length. She closed the chest and picked up a few sticks from the ground, each about six inches long. Amelia didn't answer at first. But his girl saved her life so she probably deserved to know who she saved.
"Amelia Mearon, daughter of Benjamin Mearon. Who are you?" was Amelia's reply. The girl meanwhile came over and lifted Amelia's arm. She placed the sticks evenly around her wrist and wrapped the cloth around several times to keep it still. She tied it off and studied her work. Amelia's wrist didn't move at all. It stayed still, evenly with her arm. It wasn't uncomfortable and it gave her a lot more manoeuvre ability than a sling. She was grateful to the girl once again.
"Nikki Botha, daughter of Tyler." Nikki looked at Amelia. She had heard the name Mearon before. When Nikki was a young child, her mother had spoken of a friend of hers who had married a man from France. They had a life together, but she was told the man from France had left when his lover died while giving birth to their second child. Nikki was raised in Rome herself. She was born in a small village only a few hours south of the city, but they left when she was only a few months old. The had lived in a mansion atop a hill overlooking the village.
"Nikki, that name has to be short for something." Amelia had no idea of Nikki's past. It was unimportant, but it was an interesting coincidence.
"It is. My name is Nikkolette. My mother decided on it, after a friend of hers'." oddly enough Nikki was speaking of the roman beauty that was of course, Catherine's and Michelle's mother.
"That's nice. So is this where you live? It's nice, but why do you live so far out here? And how and why did you save me? It was very brave. Not many people have killed a vampire." Amelia was looking around her at their surroundings. It appeared that Nikki had lived here for quite a while. Forest vines were climbing along the walls of her tent, which was of an actually pretty large size for a single person. This puzzled Amelia.
"This has been my home for four years. It's far enough from populated areas to get my privacy, but it's close enough that I can get my supplies if I need it. And I saved you because like most people, I am not a fan of Vampires. When I heard the shrieking I immediately hurried towards the sound. I was following the trail when I heard a horse coming down the path towards me. I quickly hid soon enough and had enough time to climb a tree without you or that monster noticing." she was now back to rummaging through the chest. She brought out some dried meat wrapped in cloth. She took a piece and handed one to Amelia. Nikki seated herself down on the ground, leaning against a tree.
"How did you keep my horse so calm?" Amelia knew it was her somehow who kept the horse still throughout the whole scene. Nikki put on a surprised expression. She didn't think Amelia would of thought it was her. This traveller was smart. Nikki sighed.
"Well, with the training and patience, it's possible for almost anybody to enter the minds of animals or humans. I only use my talent to calm them. That's why I've been able to live out here in peace." Nikki smiled at her and continued to chew on her dried meat.
When Amelia thought about it, the girl did have a calming affect about her.