I have been soooo busy! I can't believe all the stuff I got posted! Go me!
By the way, this next bit happens after Anna is a little bit better...
"You should be in bed" Gabriel admonished without lifting his gaze. Anna stood in the doorway of the library and stared at him. He had his feet propped up on a table, deeply engrossed in his book.
"If I stay in bed how will we ever know if I'm getting better? I have a broken arm, and a few broken ribs, I'm not an invalid." She declared, stepping fully into the room,
"Besides, if you had set my arm at Dracula's castle it probably would be much better!" He looked up at her, a small smirk on his lips.
"And what exactly was I going to set it with? Dracula's bones perhaps?" She made a face, and he went back to his book.
"You could at least sit down" he said finally, not bothering to look up. Anna growled but did as asked sitting across from him. He glanced up and their eyes met, he smiled at her before returning once more to his book. She cocked her head,
"What are you reading that is so interesting?" Gabriel closed the book and set it aside, finally fully acknowledging her.
"Your family history, it's rather interesting. Your mother, her name was Annabelle, are you named for her?" He instantly regretted the question. Grief washed over Anna, blinking back tears she managed a shaky smile.
"Papa wanted to name me Annabelle, but mama didn't like the idea. She wished to name me after my Grandmother, Isabella. They compromised, so I am Anna Isabella Valerious." She looked down at her hands, lost in memories.
"Do you remember anything of your parents Gabriel?" She asked and received a blank look, he shook his head.
"I have no memory of my past, just dreams of awful battles. I've spent most of my life searching for my past, I'm not sure I want to know anymore. Dracula said he and I had history, that pretty much killed my urge to know anything else." She nodded and smiled sadly,
"I miss them terribly. I know it's awful of me, but sometimes I wish I had died, just so I could see them again." He shushed her, and slid his hand across the table gently holding hers. Their eyes locked again, Anna's now filled with tears, she blinked and looked away. A stray tear meandering down her cheek.
"Why do you look at me like that Mr. Van Helsing?" she asked, not daring to meet his gaze. But he caught her chin and turned her to face him.
"I'm trying to decide what I find most captivating about you. It could be the way your hair falls across your face. It might be the way you look at me with those hazel eyes of yours. Perhaps it's the way you smile at me. Maybe it's just because,"
He leaned across the table, their lips almost touching.
"Maybe it's just because I think I love you, Anna Isabella Valerious."
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