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 42

Van Helsing stood guard over the werewolf's body; his gun pointed mercilessly at the place where his chest rose and feel with every breath.

His gaze shifted from the beast to the young woman who stood against the opposite wall, her eyes closed as she searched the depths of her mind for answers that were not there.

"We have to kill him Anna." The hunter whispered his voice tight with deep sadness at seeing her in so much pain.

A half hearted growl escaped the beasts muzzle, it's eerily intelligent eyes fixed completely at the two people above it, both had no illusions as to what the beast would do once its wounded body was healed enough that it could move.

They had maimed the creature enough that for now it could do little but threaten them in its healing paralysis.

The Princess met the hunters gaze, her eyes hard and shinning with tears. "All I see when I look at him is Velkan." She said her throat tight with grief.

"I can't kill him in cold blood."

"Not even to free him?" the hunter asked.

Anna was silent looking at the wolf, from the door at the end of the corridor muffled voices carried to them. The sound of distant laughter and the innocence of children on the edge of becoming adults gave the princess a bitter taste in her mouth. She nodded in that direction.

"Would you offer the same to Sarah now? Will you look her in the eyes as you stake her through the heart?" she questioned coldly.

Van Helsing allowed his gaze to drift towards the door only briefly before bringing it back to the creature at his feet.

"When the time comes…" he whispered.

Sarah grimaced as Amie wrapped the gauze securely around the deep gashes in her stomach, swearing repeatedly at the dull throb of her still healing wounds.

"Now you see why I'm a cat person." Her friend said deadly serious.

From his chair Bob looked at Carl thoughtfully. "So that was a werewolf?" the friar nodded tugging the bandage around his leg to ensure it was secure.

"Did anyone else think it would have been bigger?" asked Marston

"You want it bigger?" Sarah exclaimed in shock going pale at the thought of an eight foot werewolf.

Marston grinned "Nah he was big enough, we kicked his ass."

Carl frowned "Er actually I believe Van Helsing did the … kicking." He pointed out.

"I want to know, who changed the rules?" Tony piped up from his perch on the windowsill.

The Friar looked at him in confusion "Rules?"

"First its vampire's out in daylight and now werewolves." The boy gestured dramatically at the clear night sky. "I don't see a full moon; this guy shouldn't be having his time of the month for like another few weeks."

"You want to go explain that to him?" asked Amie "I'm sure he'd be very understanding, apologise and limp back to Dracula with his tail between his legs."

Jory giggled "Damn right!"

Chris looked thoughtful. "You know if he hadn't tried to eat us the whole werewolf thing would have been really cool."

Marston shrugged "Actually to me that makes it cooler, near death hi'jinks were had."

Sarah giggled then grimaced as a fresh wave of pain shot though her body. "Hi'jinks? Is that what that was?"

The wolfman felt his strength returning, but with control that set him apart from basic beasts he bided his time. Around him the intoxicating scents of his prey made him salivate in anticipation.

The master's wishes were imprinted on his mind, a remnant of his personality left from his earlier visitation. Perhaps it was that remnant that allowed him to be so patient, as the two humans debated his fate.

He watched them carefully, feeling the whisper of the lesser mind flare whenever the woman spoke, the presence was little more than a shadow easily pushed aside and forgotten where it had once been so strong.

He waited…the man had silver bullets; he could feel them searing his flesh even from a distance. He waited for an opportunity to present itself; his prey lay ahead of him in the room at the end of the corridor.

The adolescents were more vulnerable, all he needed was one moment of distraction.

His ears pricked up as the tone of the woman changed becoming harsher; challenging the man…his moment was coming up.

"Would you offer the same to Sarah now? Will you look her in the eyes as you stake her through the heart?" she questioned coldly. Van Helsing allowed his gaze to drift towards the door only briefly before bringing it back to the creature at his feet.

"When the time comes…" he whispered.

The wolf had seen the hunters gaze wavier, with a triumphant howl in leapt to its feet sending the hunter and the princess flying as it bounded towards the door.

Everyone froze as the predatory howl of the werewolf sounded and the sound of gunfire followed soon after.

Before they could react, the wooden door was torn off its hinges and a raging mass of fur and fury crashed through.

It was purely by instinct and luck that those closest managed to leap out of the way of the snapping jaws and deadly talons.

Chris yelped in surprise as one hind claw raked a bloody scratch across his back, tearing cleanly through the skin.

Bob and Carl were thrown against the far wall.

Snarling the wolf threw itself towards the last three humans and the vampire frozen with shock beside the window.

Amie screamed and felt herself being shoved off the bed and out of the creatures path, winded she gasped as Marston and Tony soon joined her on the floor.

Sure that her friends were out of harms way, Sarah gritted her teeth against the pain of her wounds and met the werewolf half way.

Using all of her strength she pinned the beasts arms to it's sides, preventing it from doing her more damage with its talons, but found herself too close for comfort to the snapping jaws. Distantly her friends screamed her name.

"Van Helsing!!" she screamed in pain and frights, feeling her grip on the beast weaken.

She was twisted brutally to one side, out of the corner of her eyes she saw something flash through the air; a silver dagger flew towards her on a collision course with her skull.

Acting on instinct alone, she released the wolf and her hand shot out, closing on the blade of the knife and plucking it from the air. Frozen in shock she didn't see the wolf turn and crash through the window, leaving the manor and heading towards the village.

A blast of freezing air and fresh snowfall entered the room, making the fire twist and flutter like a thing possessed.

Raising her head Sarah saw Anna silhouetted in the door frame, an orange halo of candle light around her. After a quick glance to make sure everyone was alright she turned and ran for the stairs retrieving her sword and pistol from where they had fallen.

Van Helsing watched her go, panting slightly as he hurriedly reloaded his pistol. He looked around the group.

"All of you stay here, Carl you're with me!" he ordered before he too sprinted down the corridor, followed closely by the terrified Friar.

"Will this night never end?" came the pitiful echo along the corridor.

Marston helped Amie to her feet and turned to stare at Sarah who had finally managed to revert back to her human form and was looking wide eyed at the blade in her hand.

"She threw a knife at my head!" she said hysterically.

Tony stood beside her and took the blade by the hilt looking closely at the raven insignia on the hilt.

"I can't believe you caught it." He exclaimed in shock.

Chris stepped carefully around them to look out of the shattered window "To be fair I think she was aiming for the werewolf."

"Or she just took the knifing Sarah fantasy a little too Far." said Bob grinning.

Sarah looked at him "I'd glare but I'm very tired now."