A/N Yet another chapter of the Never-Ending Story. This fic is going to have more endings than Return of the King before it's done - I honestly think the next chapter will be the last, though. I'm trying to set it up for the sequel, which I've already started writing. Wonder when I'll find time to actually do some work on my research project?
By the way, can't resist a plug: if anyone has had a 'paranormal' or religious experience (seeing ghosts, hearing the voice of God etc.) and wouldn't mind filling in some questionnnaires, I'd be grateful for the help. I'm interested not in whether the experiences are genuinely 'paranormal', so you won't meet with any doubt or scepticism, but trying to establish what sort of person tends to have paranormal or religious experiences...
Anyway, sorry, back to the fic! This chapter has a CJ warning (as in, Cardinal Jinette is in it) and is rated PG. Oh, and should mention, brief spoilers inside for the end of the film - is there anyone who hasn't seen it yet!?
Thanks for all the reviews and encouragement!
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"So, what did it say?" Carl asked, casually, picking at the leftovers of his food.
"What?"
"The telegram you've been hiding in your pocket since lunch arrived."
Van Helsing sighed. He knew he could not have kept the cable from Carl, but he had hoped to break the news to him gently. It was bitterly unfair that after all he had suffered, the friar would have to put up with the injustice and indignity of the Vatican's behaviour.
"It was from Jinette," the hunter murmured.
"I'd surmised that much," Carl put his tray down on the floor with a sigh, and beckoned to Van Helsing. The taller man sat on the bed.
"Are you going to show it to me, then?"
Van Helsing slowly removed the telegram from his pocket and handed it over. Carl read it in silence, his brows drawing into a frown as he took in the meaning behind the few fairly innocuous lines.
"The Cardinal doesn't trust me," the friar summarised. "He thinks Tallander might still be trying to possess me."
"I won't let them treat you this way..." Van Helsing began, his voice tight with anger, but Carl shook his head.
"I understand their uncertainty and caution – but not their manner. This cable makes me sound like a criminal. They're ordering you to 'bring me in for questioning.'" He sighed and dropped the paper onto the bed. "What now? I'm not sure I can take any more stress this week."
"I won't let them hurt you, Carl."
"They won't hurt me. They'll excommunicate me."
"I won't let them do that, either."
"Or lock me up."
"If they're going to do anything to you," Van Helsing growled, "they'll have to get through me first."
"And they will," said Carl, sadly, though he managed a smile in response to Van Helsing's protectiveness.
"I'll keep you safe. We won't go back to the Vatican. Where would you like to go?" Remembering the Order's ideas about the Frankenstein monster, Van Helsing was perfectly willing to sacrifice his own uncertain standing in the Order to keep his friend from a similar fate. He could hardly send Carl off into the world alone – and a part of him wanted this, wanted an excuse to escape.
He was surprised and slightly hurt when Carl laughed, gazing at him almost as a schoolmaster might look at a confused, misguided child.
"We're not going anywhere. They'll only come after us. Besides, all I have to do is prove that Tallander is gone, and everything will be fine....as long as..."
"As long as what?"
"It's almost as if they knew already..."
"Knew what, Carl? You have me worried now. What is it you haven't told me?"
The friar looked up at him, his eyes anxious, then pressed closer to the hunter's side.
"It may be nothing. Just...just what Tallander said before he finally left me."
"Which was?"
"He knew he would not be destroyed. He said he could, and would, come back – and when he did, it would be through my blood."
There was silence for a moment.
"Your blood?" Van Helsing said eventually. "Meaning your death?"
"Perhaps Cardinal Jinette suspects that Tallander will never really let me be – that he'll try to destroy me. I could be a danger to everyone around me. Or...well, they could use me as bait."
Carl was looking very alarmed now, having a habit of scaring himself into assuming the worst. Van Helsing squeezed his shoulder tightly.
"I repeat, Jinette can't touch you. Tallander can't touch you. I won't let them."
Carl gave another sad little smile in response. "I think, old friend, that this is another battle I will have to fight for myself."
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Vatican City
Cardinal Jinette was an intimidating man at the best of times. His heavy brows, harsh face and cool, deep-set eyes gave him a fearsome appearance that would, perhaps, have seemed incongruous to a layman – but Carl was more than familiar with Jinette's 'type' in the Order, and in the church generally. The I-am-appointed-by-God-don't-argue-with-me type. This, the friar thought, would be an interesting experience – generally Jinette left him well enough alone, ignoring the occasional disturbing rumour about the friar's conduct in return for the young man's genius.
This was different.
The atmosphere in Jinette's office was thick and stifling. The Cardinal stood behind his desk, glowering at Gabriel and Carl.
"You may sit, Carl," he said eventually, scowling at the friar. "Van Helsing – leave us for the moment, please."
Carl caught the hunter's glance at him – concerned, protective - and smiled slightly to assure him that everything would be all right. The hunter left without a word, shooting a scowl at Jinette at he did so. The old Cardinal sent a similar grimace after him.
"Sit," he repeated, when Carl was alone with him. The friar was not so innocent, however.
"I would prefer to stand, thank you," keeping his tone light and as normal as possible.
"Very well," Jinette looked displeased now that his physical advantage had been taken from him, and began to pace the room, not looking at Carl.
"I read your report," the Cardinal said, crisply, after a moment.
"I expected nothing less." The words were out of Carl's mouth before he could check them, and he grimaced. Damn his smart tongue. It had brought him to trouble with the Cardinal often before, and eventually, he had learned to keep it in check. Now it was different – everything was different.
"You say Tallander left your body by choice, before you temporarily – evacuated it yourself."
So the choice was between admitting to still being possessed, or being a zombie. Charming.
"The restoration of life to people who have stopped breathing, but whose brains continue to function..." Carl began, but Jinette stopped him.
"I am aware of the medical research, Carl. Neither you nor Van Helsing are being accused of anything. I merely wish to ask you some questions."
"Yes, sir." Accused of nothing? That was new from Jinette.
"You believe that Tallander could be destroyed if he was killed while inhabiting a body – he was not destroyed in this case because he chose to depart, seeking respite in Father Michael's body?"
"Yes...but..."
"Therefore, had you died in the absence of any other habitable body, Tallander would have died with you."
"Yes, that is my theory," Carl said quietly. He had a feeling he knew where this was going, and he didn't like it – not at all.
Jinette looked thoughtful. He returned to his desk and leafed through the many dozens of pages of which Carl's report consisted.
"Is Tallander satisfactorily neutralised?" The Cardinal asked suddenly, sharply, his eyes boring into Carl's.
"No," the friar answered, honestly and immediately. "Not in the long term. However, for him to return before – well, hundreds of years have passed – would be impossible, I think. He simply wouldn't have the strength."
"You can guarantee this?"
"How in the world could I do that?" Carl wondered. "Tallander may have – inhabited – me for a while, but since even he does not know the extent of his abilities, how would I?"
"Very well." Jinette ruffled the papers again. "Your recommendations, then?"
"As I said in my report," and as the Cardinal well knew, "burn the churches he defiled, salt the earth, re-consecrate the ground. Give his tormented 'congregation' a decent burial. Without further research I can't say more, and probably not even then."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Then Jinette, speaking more gently than he ever had to the friar, said again,
"Sit down, Carl."
This time, Carl sat, sensing that the Cardinal had finally reached the nub of this discussion.
"I repeat that you are under no suspicion," Jinette said, quietly. "I am convinced that Tallander has left you."
"Thank you," murmured Carl.
"However, the possibility that he may be able to reclaim you, as it were, must be considered."
"Tallander never 'claimed' me, Your Grace!"
"An unfortunate choice of words," Jinette agreed, and Carl relapsed into his chair, from which he had started in indignation.
"We must be certain that you are safe from him. As such, we propose an attempt to invite Tallander to possess you."
There was a pause in which Carl stared dumbstruck, at the Cardinal. He had expected something – but not this. He searched his soul for strength, searched God for strength, and finally thought of Van Helsing, doubtless standing outside the door trying to hear what was going on, and found his courage there.
"I see," he said evenly, to Jinette. "Interesting idea. You allow Tallander to possess me, and when he does, you trick him into taking poison, perhaps? Something of the kind, anyway. Then you depart leaving him – and me – to die. Cunning. I doubt it will work."
Jinette eyed Carl appraisingly for a moment, then nodded. "I doubt it too. That is why I am allowing this experiment to go ahead, Carl." He rose and began pacing again. "You are important to the Order," he went on, "but not as important as the thousands of lives Tallander could destroy if he should return. If the experiment fails, and you are not re-taken by Tallander, we will assume his threat is passed for now and leave you to return to your work, with our blessing, and unmolested. If Tallander does return – the scenario will play out as you described."
Carl closed his eyes briefly. "And what if I refuse?" he almost whispered.
"Will you refuse?"
"No."
"I thought not. You understand the importance of this." Jinette sat down again with a sigh. He looked suddenly far older than his years.
"You are a good man, my son. You have the protection of the Lord God – and would have mine, were it possible. You understand that there is no choice for the Order in this matter."
"I understand." Carl sat in silence for a moment, as the ramifications of what he had just agreed to slowly sank in. A bitter sense of injustice filled him. He had suffered enough, surely...all he wanted was to return to his laboratory and go back to work making weapons for Van Helsing. And what about Van Helsing? He had been a quieter, more vulnerable man since Anna's death, and only recently seemed to be recovering from his horrendous experiences in Transylvania, which might well have driven a lesser man insane. Carl hoped that he had been helping somewhat towards Van Helsing's recovery, and did not want to leave him; the hunter would not, perhaps, understand the choice his friend had made. But as Jinette had pointed out, there was no choice, not really – not for any of them.
"When will it happen?" Carl asked, softly.
"Tomorrow, if that gives you sufficient time – to prepare."
"If Tallander is still – around – what makes you think he will choose to come to me? He's not an idiot. He'll suspect a trick."
"There are many uncontrolled variables in this experiment, Carl," Jinette smiled faintly as he used language familiar to the friar. "We will do what we can, but can do no more. I assure you – if there is no indication that Tallander has returned, we will not subject you to any further – experiments."
"I understand."
"I knew that you would."