A/N-- Hey all! This chapter minus the beginning never happened in the movie, it is merely something on my part to further my plot and give Carl a chance to vent. That's right... he and Van Helsing have it out verbally in this chapter.
Irish Anor: Your reviews crack me up... and yes, it would be quite comical if Gabriel were sitting there doing nothing but trying to wake up Carl.... and I get the impression that Carl would be hard to wake up!!
Dare()- I'm glad you like my story.... I hope you enjoy the way I continue it as much as you have enjoyed it up to this point!
hjhjhjh()- Thanks for the info on Hugh Jackman's age... I was pretty much right.
Anthem82()- Don't thank me for that, thank Irish Anor and Lovely! They were my resources! Otherwise, I'm glad you liked my chapter!
Lovely()- Yea, that whole chapter just felt awkward... Cardinal Jinette's death won't play much of a role at all until Part Three, and you'll see how knowledge of certain events will affect outcomes in the next chapter... And thank you so much for your help with the last chapter!
Allora- I'm glad you liked my take on Van Helsing's feelings, and you are the only one who commented on him slipping up! I just thought that was how he should take it. I'd throw Gabriel at you in this chapter.... but Irish Anor seems to be permanently glued to him. And Carl is kinda yelling at everyone right now. Maybe I could give you Dracula, but he's been a bit edgy and he might bite you if I threw him at you. Sorry!
Chapter 14:
How Many Deaths...?
He watched her fall, her back in a delicate curve, and caught her. In the darkness of the Valerious manor, Van Helsing could not help but be reminded of when Analiese had died. He had caught her in much the same way, looked down into her face with much the same disbelief. It was a chilling resemblance as he cradled Anna's limp body. But Van Helsing forced himself not to be afraid of the resemblance, shaking his head as he carried her to her room. She was NOT dead, she was just knocked out by the spray he had used on her. Carl had made it for use on the monsters he fought so that he might actually bring one home alive for once, but sometimes humans were just so much more annoying than the monsters and more deserving of the spray.
While carrying Anna to her room, or what he hoped was her room, he was mentally berating himself. Where had this strange, jittery mood come from? He had been feeling something bordering on excitement coming to Transylvania, a kind of antsy anticipation, but now that he was here he was jumpy and overprotective. He had even choked while fighting the Brides out of fear and nervousness for Anna. Innocents had lost their lives because of those few moments of hesitation. That was not how it had happened before.
With a rough shake of his head, he gently lay Anna on the bed, wanting so desperately to cover her up and make her warm and comfortable but holding himself back. She would likely pitch a fit at him if he did. Instead he contented himself with watching her as she moaned softly in her induced sleep, shuffling her shoulders a little to nestle herself deeper in the covers. Her head turned to the side, causing some of her thick hair to cover her face as her breathing fell into the easy rhythm of sleep.
It was strange. She was just like any other human being. She made the same noises we all do in our sleep, wriggled around in search of a comfortable spot on the bed just as the rest of us do; even frowned a little at whatever worry was plaguing her like all the stressed out members of our species do. Why then? Why did she hold such a great power over Gabriel Van Helsing? He himself could not explain it as he hesitated closing the door on her, allowing his eyes to linger on her soft, curved form before shutting away the angelic sight.
Carl. He'd have to go talk to Carl about this. Looking sharply from left to right as though to ensure any unwanted shadows were not clinging to Anna's door, he set off for the tower.
"Carl?" Van Helsing called as he opened the door to the tower room where Carl would be researching. The neglected candles were burning low and it was a stormy night, making it hard to see.
"Oh, there you are Van Helsing." Carl said in a monotone. After his eyes adjusted to the gloom, Van Helsing could see the redhead bent over a book.
Van Helsing frowned at the inflection, or lack thereof, in the Friar's voice; there was no enthusiasm in it. Carl did everything in his life with a huge amount of enthusiasm. He ate, slept, walked, breathed, worked, talked, laughed and cried with enthusiasm. He was just an enthusiastic person, which was partly why he made such a good companion for the introvert Monster Hunter. Instinctively, Van Helsing knew something was wrong.
"Something wrong Carl?" He asked slowly, perching himself on the desk nearby his friend.
"Is there?" He sighed, looking up at Van Helsing. He looked very tired.
"With me...?" Van Helsing looked away. "It's Anna... This time around I'm so... fiercely overprotective of her. At least, I feel like that. I think so. I don't know..."
"Well, it sounds like you're in love." Carl said in the same tone as before. "Perfectly normal, you know."
"Well what's wrong with you then?" Van Helsing challenged. "If you're too tired to work you don't have to. We already know how to kill Dracula."
"Yes I know, but it's just... easier if I have something to do. Keeps my mind off my worries..." Carl mumbled, going back to his reading.
"What are you worried about?" He asked quietly. He had never known Carl to have all that many worries, or at least if he did he kept them damn well hidden.
"You, of course!" Carl cried suddenly, jumping to his feet. "I saw what happened at the square! I saw you get distracted trying to protect Anna and let those people get attacked by Marishka! Look, I may have been too much of a coward to do anything about it so maybe I shouldn't be railing on you, but I know that's not how it happened last time! And it makes me really worried that you might let Anna distract you and let something like that happen again!" Van Helsing was too taken aback by Carl's vehemence to respond, giving the little man a chance to rant further. "I was worried at the onset of this mission, because I SAW how Anna's memory affected you when we were sent to kill Dracula the first time. You completely let the whole thing backfire on you, and I hate to sound cold but usually you don't let your emotions fiddle with your work!
"I thought that you would learn a lesson after that mission, that you'd see you couldn't let Anna's memories get in the way! I thought that maybe the fact that every single one of your friends died because you loved her so much might teach you something! And now I'm just really afraid that you are going to let something happen just so she can be safe!" He shouted.
"Are you saying she's not worth the sacrifice?" Van Helsing shouted back, leaping to his feet. "Are you saying that I shouldn't be defending her no matter the costs? You say this is impairing my work, but remember Carl, I was charged with her protection! This is part of my mission!"
"But you need to stop and consider how much she is worth Gabriel! Is she worth the world? Will you slip up and let Dracula unleash his monstrous brood on the world just so she can be safe?"Almost instantly after this impressive outburst, Carl was calm again. He watched Van Helsing with sad eyes, then shook his head.
"How could I ever say that she wasn't worth the sacrifice? I know how much she means to you Van Helsing. I didn't mean to belittle those feelings. I just want you to be mindful of 'the costs.' You should defend her yes, this is part of your mission yes, but be careful of the words 'no matter the costs,' because if you keep using that phrase sooner or later the costs will touch you." Carl sighed again. "All I really want to say is this: how many will die for her? And how will she react if she finds out you put at stake the lives of those people she leads and defends for her protection?"
There were a few minutes of silence as Carl returned to his research and Van Helsing lingered at his side, thinking. He needed to be told those things, he realized. He needed someone to shout in his face every now and then. While he should feel hurt and cross, he was grateful to Carl for being angry with him. At length, he spoke.
"I'm sorry Carl." He whispered.
"Don't be. Your pouting face is one of the most horrifying things in existence. I don't know what your mother did with you as a child when you did that..." Carl turned back to Van Helsing, grinning. "Now get going. Anna will be awake shortly and you should be ready to defend her against Velkan."
Van Helsing smiled and left the tower. He would defend Anna, but would keep Carl's warning in mind. He knew all too well how costly recklessness could be. This time, he refused to allow Anna to be one of the costs.
A/N-- Okie dokie, I hope you enjoyed that chapter... I thought that Carl deserved a chance to yell at someone. I just went to Borders Bookstore and snuck some papers and a pencil in so I could copy down the details of the final battle, so that chapter should be up soon. Thankee for reading, and all reviewers get bags of M&M's next chapter!
Irish Anor: Your reviews crack me up... and yes, it would be quite comical if Gabriel were sitting there doing nothing but trying to wake up Carl.... and I get the impression that Carl would be hard to wake up!!
Dare()- I'm glad you like my story.... I hope you enjoy the way I continue it as much as you have enjoyed it up to this point!
hjhjhjh()- Thanks for the info on Hugh Jackman's age... I was pretty much right.
Anthem82()- Don't thank me for that, thank Irish Anor and Lovely! They were my resources! Otherwise, I'm glad you liked my chapter!
Lovely()- Yea, that whole chapter just felt awkward... Cardinal Jinette's death won't play much of a role at all until Part Three, and you'll see how knowledge of certain events will affect outcomes in the next chapter... And thank you so much for your help with the last chapter!
Allora- I'm glad you liked my take on Van Helsing's feelings, and you are the only one who commented on him slipping up! I just thought that was how he should take it. I'd throw Gabriel at you in this chapter.... but Irish Anor seems to be permanently glued to him. And Carl is kinda yelling at everyone right now. Maybe I could give you Dracula, but he's been a bit edgy and he might bite you if I threw him at you. Sorry!
Chapter 14:
How Many Deaths...?
He watched her fall, her back in a delicate curve, and caught her. In the darkness of the Valerious manor, Van Helsing could not help but be reminded of when Analiese had died. He had caught her in much the same way, looked down into her face with much the same disbelief. It was a chilling resemblance as he cradled Anna's limp body. But Van Helsing forced himself not to be afraid of the resemblance, shaking his head as he carried her to her room. She was NOT dead, she was just knocked out by the spray he had used on her. Carl had made it for use on the monsters he fought so that he might actually bring one home alive for once, but sometimes humans were just so much more annoying than the monsters and more deserving of the spray.
While carrying Anna to her room, or what he hoped was her room, he was mentally berating himself. Where had this strange, jittery mood come from? He had been feeling something bordering on excitement coming to Transylvania, a kind of antsy anticipation, but now that he was here he was jumpy and overprotective. He had even choked while fighting the Brides out of fear and nervousness for Anna. Innocents had lost their lives because of those few moments of hesitation. That was not how it had happened before.
With a rough shake of his head, he gently lay Anna on the bed, wanting so desperately to cover her up and make her warm and comfortable but holding himself back. She would likely pitch a fit at him if he did. Instead he contented himself with watching her as she moaned softly in her induced sleep, shuffling her shoulders a little to nestle herself deeper in the covers. Her head turned to the side, causing some of her thick hair to cover her face as her breathing fell into the easy rhythm of sleep.
It was strange. She was just like any other human being. She made the same noises we all do in our sleep, wriggled around in search of a comfortable spot on the bed just as the rest of us do; even frowned a little at whatever worry was plaguing her like all the stressed out members of our species do. Why then? Why did she hold such a great power over Gabriel Van Helsing? He himself could not explain it as he hesitated closing the door on her, allowing his eyes to linger on her soft, curved form before shutting away the angelic sight.
Carl. He'd have to go talk to Carl about this. Looking sharply from left to right as though to ensure any unwanted shadows were not clinging to Anna's door, he set off for the tower.
"Carl?" Van Helsing called as he opened the door to the tower room where Carl would be researching. The neglected candles were burning low and it was a stormy night, making it hard to see.
"Oh, there you are Van Helsing." Carl said in a monotone. After his eyes adjusted to the gloom, Van Helsing could see the redhead bent over a book.
Van Helsing frowned at the inflection, or lack thereof, in the Friar's voice; there was no enthusiasm in it. Carl did everything in his life with a huge amount of enthusiasm. He ate, slept, walked, breathed, worked, talked, laughed and cried with enthusiasm. He was just an enthusiastic person, which was partly why he made such a good companion for the introvert Monster Hunter. Instinctively, Van Helsing knew something was wrong.
"Something wrong Carl?" He asked slowly, perching himself on the desk nearby his friend.
"Is there?" He sighed, looking up at Van Helsing. He looked very tired.
"With me...?" Van Helsing looked away. "It's Anna... This time around I'm so... fiercely overprotective of her. At least, I feel like that. I think so. I don't know..."
"Well, it sounds like you're in love." Carl said in the same tone as before. "Perfectly normal, you know."
"Well what's wrong with you then?" Van Helsing challenged. "If you're too tired to work you don't have to. We already know how to kill Dracula."
"Yes I know, but it's just... easier if I have something to do. Keeps my mind off my worries..." Carl mumbled, going back to his reading.
"What are you worried about?" He asked quietly. He had never known Carl to have all that many worries, or at least if he did he kept them damn well hidden.
"You, of course!" Carl cried suddenly, jumping to his feet. "I saw what happened at the square! I saw you get distracted trying to protect Anna and let those people get attacked by Marishka! Look, I may have been too much of a coward to do anything about it so maybe I shouldn't be railing on you, but I know that's not how it happened last time! And it makes me really worried that you might let Anna distract you and let something like that happen again!" Van Helsing was too taken aback by Carl's vehemence to respond, giving the little man a chance to rant further. "I was worried at the onset of this mission, because I SAW how Anna's memory affected you when we were sent to kill Dracula the first time. You completely let the whole thing backfire on you, and I hate to sound cold but usually you don't let your emotions fiddle with your work!
"I thought that you would learn a lesson after that mission, that you'd see you couldn't let Anna's memories get in the way! I thought that maybe the fact that every single one of your friends died because you loved her so much might teach you something! And now I'm just really afraid that you are going to let something happen just so she can be safe!" He shouted.
"Are you saying she's not worth the sacrifice?" Van Helsing shouted back, leaping to his feet. "Are you saying that I shouldn't be defending her no matter the costs? You say this is impairing my work, but remember Carl, I was charged with her protection! This is part of my mission!"
"But you need to stop and consider how much she is worth Gabriel! Is she worth the world? Will you slip up and let Dracula unleash his monstrous brood on the world just so she can be safe?"Almost instantly after this impressive outburst, Carl was calm again. He watched Van Helsing with sad eyes, then shook his head.
"How could I ever say that she wasn't worth the sacrifice? I know how much she means to you Van Helsing. I didn't mean to belittle those feelings. I just want you to be mindful of 'the costs.' You should defend her yes, this is part of your mission yes, but be careful of the words 'no matter the costs,' because if you keep using that phrase sooner or later the costs will touch you." Carl sighed again. "All I really want to say is this: how many will die for her? And how will she react if she finds out you put at stake the lives of those people she leads and defends for her protection?"
There were a few minutes of silence as Carl returned to his research and Van Helsing lingered at his side, thinking. He needed to be told those things, he realized. He needed someone to shout in his face every now and then. While he should feel hurt and cross, he was grateful to Carl for being angry with him. At length, he spoke.
"I'm sorry Carl." He whispered.
"Don't be. Your pouting face is one of the most horrifying things in existence. I don't know what your mother did with you as a child when you did that..." Carl turned back to Van Helsing, grinning. "Now get going. Anna will be awake shortly and you should be ready to defend her against Velkan."
Van Helsing smiled and left the tower. He would defend Anna, but would keep Carl's warning in mind. He knew all too well how costly recklessness could be. This time, he refused to allow Anna to be one of the costs.
A/N-- Okie dokie, I hope you enjoyed that chapter... I thought that Carl deserved a chance to yell at someone. I just went to Borders Bookstore and snuck some papers and a pencil in so I could copy down the details of the final battle, so that chapter should be up soon. Thankee for reading, and all reviewers get bags of M&M's next chapter!