Disclaimer: I own nothing except what I made up. Fair enough.
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Lucia pulled the cloak tightly around her and looked out from under the hood. She and Gabriel were in the garden at the back of his rented house, Gabriel preparing to burn Carl's body. He had set up a large structure of dry wood, and placed Carl's body on it.
Lucia stepped forward to stand beside Gabriel as he stood looking over his friend, taking off his hat. Carl looked pale and still, as though he was in a deep sleep. Lucia half-expected him to sit up suddenly and start lecturing about how she had miscalculated her failed rescue attempt of him. She felt tears roll down her face as she knew this would not happen.
"Goodbye, my friend," Gabriel whispered, lifting his large jug of oil. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. But you're in a better place now, watching over us. I'm going to try not to be sad, Carl, for why should man lament the state he should envy?" As a tear rolled down Gabriel's cheek, he poured the oil over Carl.
Lucia watched. Was she to blame for his death? She had been so sure the vampire would come back and attack her, instead of going for Carl. She had made a fatal error. Yes, this was partly her fault. She wiped her tears away with a hand. She was truly becoming darker.
Gabriel set fire to the wood. The small orange flame danced, fighting against the miserable drizzling rain, only to errupt in fire. Carl was no longer visible through the blaze.
Gabriel made the sign of the cross. Lucia flinched without thinking, then felt another wave of tears coming on. Determined not to cry when Gabriel was being so strong, she pulled the hood further over her face. Gabriel put an arm around her and steered her inside.
"I don't want to watch," he said softly as they stepped into the kitchen.
He crossed to the bench and began making cocoa. Lucia watched him shrug off his coat as he worked, looking as though he was about to break down. Wishing she could help him, she turned back to the door and looked out. The flames were vivid against the black sky, silver ash floating away. She closed the door.
"Cocoa?" Gabriel asked her in a small voice. He raised a mug, which then slipped out of his fingers and smashed on the floor. He started crying.
"Oh, Gabriel," she breathed, rushing around the counter and holding him in a tight hug. He held onto her, pressing his face into her cloaked shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"It isn't your fault," he whispered. "It's nobody's fault... except Dracula's."
Lucia felt a pang. She couldn't think of anything to say. They stood for a long time in silence, Lucia growing ever more aware of Gabriel's racing heartbeat and the dry desire at the back of her throat. She fought against it, until finally Gabriel released her and smiled gently, preparing cocoa once more.
"It's quite light in here," Lucia observed softly, aware that the light was making her uncomfortable as she removed her cloak.
"You look exhausted," Gabriel sighed, staring at her face, which was visible without the cloak on. "And your eyes... they're brighter than I've ever seen them."
She greatly wanted to tell him sarcastically that those were the symptoms when one became a monster, but she didn't feel that it would be fair. Instead, she nodded. He sighed once more and walked over to her, handing her a steaming mug and kissing her forehead.
"It's just us two to save the world then," Lucia whispered thoughtfully, taking a long sip.
Gabriel shook his head. "There is a local order here in Vaseria for curbing monster activity. I've asked for their help. They should be here soon."
Lucia nodded, wondering if Gabriel realised he was certainly bringing this order to their deaths. She crossed to one of the dining seats and sat down.
"You know," Gabriel said slowly, "Carl told me something interesting. The blood in your veins would be a fatal mixture for Dracula if he had it forced into his heart."
"How does that work?" Lucia asked.
"I'm not entirely sure. Carl had it written down somewhere, but going on that theory I'll never find out. He was rather unorganised," Gabriel smiled fondly.
Lucia looked at her wrist thoughtfully. The blood in her veins would kill Vladislaus? Ironic, really, that it would have to be her blood which took out the one she loved. But he had to die, she knew this. She just wasn't sure she could kill him.
There was a knock at the front door. Gabriel placed his cocoa down, and Lucia did the same, following him out into the hall. She saw Gabriel draw his pistol as they neared the door. He pulled it open.
Three figures stood in the pouring rain, cloaked in black. The first spoke in a low voice, laced with a Transylvanian accent. "Gabriel, it is so good to see you."
"Gregory, old friend!" Gabriel breathed, stepping aside to allow the three figures to enter, then closing the door. "I'm so glad you came."
Gregory pulled off his cloak, and Lucia examined him closely. He was a tall, muscular man with a handsome yet weathered face. He looked to be about thirty, with pale skin and straight, shoulder-length brown hair. His eyes were hazel in colour, and quite bright. He was dressed in a black shirt and trousers, heavily armed.
"Gregory Valerious," he introduced himself to Lucia, inclining his head. "Miss Craft, I assume?"
"Yes," she said slowly, analysing this man.
"I am from a local order. I am here with my two friends, Maximo Garcia and Deanna Green, to help you fight the evil of Count Dracula."
As if on cue, the other two removed their cloaks. There was a man and a woman. They were both dressed and armed like Gregory. The man, Maximo, was tall yet lean, with tanned skin and large brown eyes, with long curly black hair that fell elegantly into his face. The woman was very short and skinny, with a long mane of flaming red hair that covered most of her face. It was braided in places and she had beads tied into it. The eyes that shone out through her hair were bright green.
Lucia knew these people should not be involved. They were young, innocent, probably with very little knowledge of fighting. She sighed. "What makes you think you know how to fight vampires?"
It was Maximo who answered, revealing a Spanish accent. "We have been well-trained, Miss Craft. I come from a village in Spain where vampire activity is not uncommon. I was taught from a young age how to deal with them."
"Just because we aren't church trained doesn't mean we're incapable," Deanna said bluntly, in an English accent. "What makes you think you're so damned good at fighting them?"
Lucia gave a snarl, and her eyes glowed red, making the newcomers gasp. "Because I'm turning into one," she snarled, turning on her heel and marching into the bedroom to cool down, slamming the door behind her.
She sat down on the bed, cradling her aching head in her hands. She wanted all of this to be over. Instead, it seemed to be getting worse. The order were extremely arrogant about a subject they really didn't understand.
The door opened slowly. "Miss Craft?" came Maximo's voice. "Can I come in?"
"Aren't you scared of me?" she whispered.
"A little," he admitted, edging in and closing the door. "However, I can see that underneath your tough exterior, you're a good person. You're a lot like Deanna."
Lucia snorted, remembering Deanna's heated outburst. "I am nothing like that girl."
Maximo shrugged. "I know Deanna well. I love her with all my heart. And I know you're like her."
"You love her? She hardly seems like the type a person would love."
"Neither do you, but Gabriel Van Helsing certainly loves you."
Silence fell as Lucia pondered this. She didn't deserve Gabriel. He must really love her. She wondered if he could cope without her. "Does she love you back?"
Maximo lowered his huge eyes. "I do not know. I am... afraid to tell her my feelings."
"Tell her," Lucia said, turning to look at him. "Tell her soon. You never know what is just around the corner. You never know when she will be ripped away from you."
He nodded. "I shall. Will you come to the lounge to talk with the others?"
She sighed. She ought to play her part. "Yes."
They walked together in silence into the lounge. Gabriel and Gregory were sitting on the sofa, talking fondly. Deanna was curled up beside the fire, cleaning her fingernails with a machete idly. She looked up as they entered.
"So you came out of your strop?" she asked coldly.
"Deanna," Maximo whispered, shaking his head. "Now is not the time."
"Try telling Miss Lucia Craft, Hunter of the Church and part-time vampire, that," Deanna spat, glaring at her.
Lucia felt anger ripple up inside of her, but she was determined not to act on it. Deanna Green may be an arrogant woman, but Maximo was right; Deanna was a lot like Lucia.
"Deanna, stop it," Gregory warned, looking over at her. Deanna apparently didn't like being told off by her superior. She slammed the machete into the floor, where it stuck firmly, and sprang to her feet, marching towards the door. Maximo caught her arm as she did, and tugged her around to look into her eyes.
Deanna sighed, and shrugged him off, walking back to the fire to sit down. Lucia smiled softly. Deanna did love Maximo, it was obvious from the way a mere look from him could cool her down.
Lucia sat down beside Gabriel on the sofa, whilst Maximo sat down on the other side of the fire. Gabriel stroked Lucia's hair gently and kissed her cheek. She leaned into him, trying to find comfort in his arms.
"Tomorrow, we hunt," Gregory announced. "We need to find Dracula's headquarters. He cannot be operating out of that castle on the hill."
"How do you propose we find them?" Lucia asked, rolling her eyes. "They're hardly going to be in an obvious place."
"That's where you come into it," Gabriel said softly, eyes almost apologetic. "You're going to get him to show you them. Then, we are going to come in."
"How are you going to know where I am?" Lucia asked, cocking her head.
"I can feel it," Gabriel whispered, kissing her lips briefly.
"Bloody brilliant plan," Deanna groaned, removing her machete from the floor with a hard tug. "You're basing this on how you feel about her?"
"Do you have a better plan?" Lucia asked icily, wishing that the young flame-haired woman on the floor did have a better plan.
Deanna lowered her green eyes to the floor. Lucia sighed, and tried not to think what tomorrow would involve. It seemed very dangerous and she had a worried feeling. Gabriel seemed to sense this. He pulled her into a tight embrace, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"You can all sleep in here," Gabriel told Gregory. "I'll fetch you some blankets and stuff. Do you want anything to drink or eat?"
"No thank you," Maximo replied. He turned to Deanna. "Can I have a word outside?"
Her expression remained impassive. "If you must," she muttered, tucking the machete into her belt and standing up. Maximo followed her out of the room.
"I wonder if they're finally going to get together," Gregory murmured. "They've been in love since they first saw each other a year ago."
"I'm going to go and see," Lucia whispered, standing up and heading towards the door. She reached the hall, and looked out, seeing that Deanna and Maximo were standing on the front step, the door open. They were facing each other. Maximo carefully took her hands in his.
"Deanna..." he whispered. "We've known each other a long time, and I like to think that I know everything about you, however secretive you might be."
She tilted her head, and her hair fell back from her face, revealing that she was rather pretty. Though at this moment she looked rather vunerable. "Maximo... I have a feeling I know what you're getting at."
He lowered his eyes. "Oh? And... how do you feel about it?"
She shifted her weight. "One day, when all of this is over, we can come back and have another think about it. But right now, Maximo, it wouldn't work."
"But-" he began, but she cut him off by pressing a kiss to his lips. She drew back from him. "So one day we will be together then, Deanna?"
"Perhaps," she replied in a whisper. "It's cold. I'm going back inside. Are you coming?"
He shook his head. "I'm going to stay out here a while longer. Goodnight."
Lucia walked back into the lounge and saw that Gabriel was handing Gregory some blankets. He caught her eye, and she shook her head sadly. Deanna came storming in a moment later, taking her place by the fire dramatically and hugging her knees.
"You alright?" Lucia asked in a low voice, surprised at the compassion she felt towards Deanna's small form.
"Of course," she said bluntly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Lucia shrugged. "I'm off to bed. Goodnight." She walked into the bedroom, and began unlacing her dress, relieved to finally be free of it. She found the shirt she had slept in last time and slid into it. It was cool and soft against her skin, and she collapsed onto the bed gratefully.
Gabriel walked in. He smiled at her exhausted position. "You look comfortable," he commented, kicking off his shoes and trousers and sitting down beside her.
"I am," she purred, closing her eyes and resting her head on her shoulder. "I am so tired. And sad for Deanna and Maximo."
"What exactly is up with them?" Gabriel asked, sliding under the duvet and pulling Lucia under with him.
"They're in love, but Deanna is clearly worried that a relationship whilst Hunting would put them in danger. I wish she'd see that a war is the best time to have love. The sad truth is, there's a chance that not everyone in this house will make it out of tomorrow alive, and they'll regret it so much."
Gabriel sighed. "We'll make it out of tomorrow, you'll see."
Lucia knew he was wrong.
TBC.
