Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing nor anything associated with it, it is the property of Universal and the brain child of Steven Summers

Chapter 38

Amie bit her lip as she watched her friend's brow furrow with concern, sensing the fear beginning to come from her in waves. She began to feel sick, 'what is she hearing?' She wondered suddenly feeling very vulnerable and lonely.

Sarah frowned as the distant click of a window being opened reached her sensitive ears. Her eyes snapped open and met Amie's gaze.

"What?" the girl asked worriedly, seeing the agitated look on her friends face.

"Something's wrong." was her only response.

Gesturing for her to be silent Sarah strained to hear any odd sounds within the manor. Amie's heartbeat pounded relentlessly in her ears as the girl began to become panicky, Sarah took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze as she stood and walked to the doorway, looking out in to the dark corridor beyond.

Amie watched her expression intently, her breathing becoming laboured as she became more stressed.

"What is it?" she whispered fearfully, as Sarah's brow rose in concern.

Sarah turned to face her. "Ok, second floor there are six individual heartbeats all asleep, in the tower there are two heartbeats one awake, one asleep and on this floor there are two heartbeats." She whispered.

Amie frowned. "Yeah, so? Anna's in her room next to where the guys are sleeping, Van Helsing and Carl are in the tower…Carls probably drooling on some centuries old book, and we're down here." Sarah nodded.

"So what's the problem?" asked her friend sceptically.

Sarah stared at her before turning her attention back to the dark corridor. "Two heart beats on this floor right?" Amie nodded confused.

"We're the only ones on this floor and that makes two." Sarah pointed out. Amie rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"I get it, so what's the problem?"

"I don't have a heartbeat." Sarah whispered silently.

Amie gave a terrified gasp reflexively grasping Sarah's hand tighter. Her breathing became laboured as she fought a panic attack.

Sarah turned to her quickly. "Ok we have to get Van Helsing, and get to the armoury." She whispered desperately.

Amie's eyes widened, the Tower was in the eastern wing of the manor, while the armoury was in the western part.

"If you say we're going to split up I'm going to scream." She threatened her voice unusually high with panic.

Sarah smiled wryly "Ok so that plans out."

Listening she heard the heartbeat getting closer, heading for the corridor adjacent to theirs.

"We head for the armoury." She decided taking a silent step forward. "Stay close." She whispered

Quickly they began to jog along the corridor, passing portraits and Tapestries bearing the faces of past Valerius royalty, each one somehow managing to look more eerie and menacing in the dim light of the burning torches.

When they entered the main corridor and saw the armoury in sight, Amie gave an audible sigh of relief, which was rudely cut off when Sarah clamped a hand over her mouth.

Amie was about to shake her off when she noticed her friend's eyes wide with fear. They both froze, pressing their backs instinctively to the wall as a low growl sounded from the main foyer corridor on their left.

Amie took in a panicked breath through her nose and finally caught a smell Sarah had detected the second they had entered the corridor.

Sarah saw her gag and nodded "Wet Dog" she mouthed silently. Amie began to tremble in horror realising that Velkan had come for a visit.

Sarah reacted instinctively as she heard padded footfalls about to enter the corridor.

Grabbing Amie around the waist, hand still firmly over her mouth; she leapt up and on to the ceiling. Amie's cry of surprise was stifled before it could alert the prowling werewolf to their presence.

Wide eyed and hyperventilating, Amie found herself crouched upside down in a particularly dark part of the high ceiling, concealed from the preying eyes of the beast. Watching as barely three meters below her, she saw her first real werewolf stalk silently into the corridor.

Sarah clutched Amie tightly to her, afraid that she might slip from her grasp to land helpless at the feet of the beast. Both girls stiffened as the wolfman paused beneath them, sniffing suspiciously at the air for an excruciatingly long second, before continuing on its way.

They watched as he stalked with silent purpose into the foyer and headed up the ancient stairway towards the bedrooms.

Sarah waited for a few seconds until she was sure the creature was gone before she gracefully dropped to the floor setting Amie once again on her feet.

The girl's cheeks were soaked with terrified tears and her face was pale.

"He went up the stairs!" she was whispering desperately, babbling incoherently she made for the bottom of the stairway, crying out in fear as Sarah held her back.

"Are you crazy? He'll kill you!" she hissed quietly.

Amie glared at her "Bob's up there with that thing! Everyone's up there! And Bob can't run…his leg." The girl began to sob hysterically fighting her friends grip.

Sarah shook her roughly forcing her face around to look into her own "Look at me Amie…focus…Go get Van Helsing…run…I promise I won't let that thing get anywhere near Bob or anyone else up there." She said sincerely.

Amie sobbed again her panicked gaze flashing from the stairs towards the corridor that led to the tower.

Sarah nodded as she saw her friend begin to get herself under control; they hugged quickly before Amie fled down the corridor.

"Hope you remember me Velkan." She muttered as she raced for the stairs.