The great bulk of fat set aside it's new toy, and wobbled forward. As it moved towards them, Katrina stumbled backwards. Van Helsing stared at it, his eyes wild, not with fear exactly just with the fact that it was going to be harder for him to protect both himself and Katrina rather than 'numero uno' as he was used too.

He turned to look at what she was doing. She was staring up into its face, jaw dropped, and hands drawing out her pistols. Without looking at him she stuttered "Tha…That's Black Annis!"

He looked back at the figure; indeed it was the giant all Irish children were warned of.

The ghastly thing used children skins to make its clothes; bounty hunters everywhere were offered huge sums to get rid of the murderous creature. But apparently she'd been hiding here, in the mountains.

They both watched as Black Annis reached an arm up, and ripped a branch from the trees above.

The branch itself was about four feet long and a half-foot thick. And it appeared as if it was about to be used as a club.

Sure enough, with a mighty roar it swung the new club in Gabriel's direction. No sooner had he whipped out his guns, then it had hit him squarely in the chest. The wind was knocked out of him and his double pistols went flying. He tumbled through the vegetation, rolling into a patch of stinging nettles, and finally hitting a tree. He tried to curse but couldn't seeing as his breath was gone. Rubbing his head and trying to sit up, he watched as Katrina now dodged swings from the club.

Annis swung at her head, but Katrina's agility saved her as she bent over backwards. But as she was getting up, the club came by again, and landed her flat on her back. She rolled over and started crawling away, but she felt herself being lifted up from behind, her shirt ripping. Annis ran her fingernails into her skin tearing her shirt and skin.

She grabbed Katrina around the throat and lifted her to her level.

Katrina tore at Black Annis' fingers, her face beginning to flush.

Gabriel stood up wobbling forwards weakly, he saw as Katrina's feet were lifted off the ground. But then his eyes focused on something else.

Were a piece of the blue suede fabric had been torn away on Katrina's right shoulder blade, beside a deep cut just made by Annis was a mark.

He narrowed his eyes starting to move forward faster, and then it hit him full on.

The branded cross on Katrina's shoulder blade was exactly the same as the angel in the Cardinals diagram.

He looked around wildly for a weapon. There! By a cave entrance, lay a rusty sword, "Probably part of a collection of Annis' "he thought sarcastically, but it would work. He ran to it heaving it up and running to where Annis held Katrina, who was turning a nice shade of blue, grimacing he shoved it into Annis' back.

Black Annis let out a shriek and let go of Katrina. Katrina's eyes went wide and she screamed as she dropped. "Van Helsing!"

Van Helsing turned and jumped just in time to catch her as she fell. "Thank you!" she said hurriedly as she jumped out of his arms.

She made as if to pull out her pistol, but he stopped her shouting over Annis' shrieks "I've got to get you out of here!" She raised an eyebrow shouting "What?!?"

He simply shook his head grabbed her arm and dragged her up the trail.

After several hours of riding wildly towards the coast they had stopped for a rest by a stream. Van Helsing was watering the horse while Katrina was fruitlessly pacing.

"I demand to know what the hell is going on!" She finally shouted at Gabriel's back.

He turned on her his nostrils flaring, making her think of an enraged bull. "I want to know why you didn't tell me you were the angel-thingy!?!" he gestured wildly with his hands.

Katrina choked, looking as if she was going to laugh "Angel thingy?"

His nostrils flared again and a muscle by his mouth twitched, he almost looked as if he was going to charge her, increasing his resemblance to a bull.

She sighed putting her hands on her hips, "Maybe I didn't tell you because I didn't know about it?" she asked. Van Helsing's body relaxed even if he was still mad. "I mean," she continued "I don't even know what my real name is! Let alone what I did!"

He watched her warily, but couldn't find a trace of insincerity on her face or figure.

Oh and now it had to kick in…Her figure and his dreams. But a yearning for her to be close to him was inside him, with no idea why.

He now realized Katrina was staring at him, an eyebrow raised. "What are doing?"

He blinked, then turned away not bothering to answer her. "I've got to get you to the Vatican, and Cardinal Jinette…" He heard her slight intake of breath as he said it and then as she shuffled up behind him. "We're going to the Vatican! IN Rome!?"

He turned back around to find her startlingly close to him, her expression of ecstasy throwing him off his guard.

"Ummm, yes…."