Author's Note: There's one word in this chapter that may throw those of you who haven't read Name of God off, but it's not too crazy. Please, enjoy and review!

Chapter Two: Gift of the Jinn

It was raining when Gabriel Van Helsing stepped from his carriage on the steps of the Holy See. He would always remember that with a certain amount of grim foreboding, thinking on how that should have been his first hint that no good could come of what would trespass in the days that would follow. But how could he have known, then, what was in store? The darkness and pain that would come were still unformed, and he was still ignorant of all that would come. So now, when he dismounted, his boots soaked when they made contact with a puddle, the only thing that ran through Gabriel's mind was a curse.

Gabriel lifted one foot, and studied it, idly. It was the prefect addition to his bad mood. He wanted to curse again, but chose not, biting back his ire and stepping over the puddle with a small hop to make his way into the building.

"Why does it smell like wet dog?"

The voice was soft, and older now, but the careless, child-like mirth in it was what captured Gabriel's attention. Lifting his chin, Van Helsing smiled at the approaching figure of his friend and confidante. Karl's face was already brightened with a smile, one that only deepened as he embraced Gabriel.

"The journey from Vienna was easy, I hope?" Karl prodded, as he pulled away and took the lead into the cathedral.

Gabriel nodded, "As soon as Lucien and Jared were in control of the situation I returned here on the fastest ship I could charter, as ordered." He paused for a moment, "But I don't understand why."

"Jeremy and Rani were killed last week."

Gabriel swallowed, "I had heard…rumors. Nothing I cared to believe was true though."

"I'm sorry."

"Was it the thing they were hunting in Congo? Is that my new mission, to destroy it?"

"No," Karl whispered, turning towards one of the many hidden tunnels and descending it. Gabriel glanced around and followed him, surprised that how easily they were able to slip underground while parishioners and clergy mingled around them. He was about to entertain that thought when he noticed Karl hadn't added anything. Usually, he could never get Karl to shut up. Silence was never his virtue.

"Is there something else?" He asked.

"They were able to complete their last mission." Karl said softly. "They were attacked on their way home." He stopped himself from continuing and gave Gabriel a meaningful look. "As for the rest, you should hear Cardinal Pacelli explain."

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was a tall, lean figure with cold gray eyes and lines that cast shadows over his face. The way he looked in his red robes were awkward, almost foreign and the smile he gave Gabriel and Karl as they approached was insincere and pressed. Gabriel didn't like Pacelli, it was true. He didn't like Pacelli's need for show, like now, as the Cardinal recline purposefully behind his huge oak desk. Gabriel would stop short of referring to the Cardinal as evil (at least he would if he were in unfamiliar company) but although he could not boast of any personal friendship; Gabriel knew he could trust Pacelli's judgment on matters.

Which made the grim expression on Pacelli's face all the more disturbing.

Pacelli looked up, rose as Gabriel and Karl approached and immediately took the lead to one of the Order's private alcoves. "I don't know how much Karl has told you, so I'll begin anew."

Gabriel spoke before thinking, "Are there pictures in this presentation?" Beside him Karl made a coughing sound in a feeble attempt to drown out laughter.

"Is to correct to assume you know what Jinn are, Mr. Van Helsing?"

"Beings born out fire according to Islamic tradition." Gabriel supplied, looking up at the ceiling as the corridors became narrower and danker. They were traveling towards the darker, deeper parts of the cathedral, to places even Gabriel rarely traversed. "Like humans, they're born without predetermined alliance to Good or Evil." Pacelli had stopped in the far end, just shy of reaching the end of the world (or more commonly known as the Libraries.) The Cardinal produced a sinister looking key to a small door but gave no sign for Gabriel to stop. "Some have been captured by magicians who enslave them to do their bidding. These are Genie."

Pacelli nodded, and pushed open the door. "And like all of God's creations, even Genie have their uses." He said simply, admitting Karl and Gabriel into the room.

Gabriel frowned at the creature that met them. "Hello, Malik."

The Jinn rose from his crouching position against the wall, and as he did, a small wisp of smoke followed behind him like a tail. He gave Gabriel a knowing smirk, side-stepping into a deep bow. "Well met, Gabriel Demonslayer."

"Dramatic as always, I see." Van Helsing muttered, removing his hat and looking towards Pacelli. "What's going on here? I know you didn't call me back for a reunion with this…creature."

"Creature?" Malik purred, waving his hand and producing the smallest flame in his palm. "I was old and royal when you were still a parasite in your mother's womb. I have served Kings, Mullahs and monsters in my years and I won't suffer your disrespect."

"You have my contempt as well, Jinn."

Malik smiled. "And fear?"

Gabriel met the demon's eyes and smiled easily. "Yes, Malik Chained-one. You have my fear."

"As it should be!" Malik replied, walking towards Van Helsing and kissing his hand. Gabriel laughed a little at the drama and staging but allowed it. Especially since Malik, through his lies and double-talk would tell Gabriel more then Pacelli would. The Jinn seemed to know this too, and gave him a dark look. "Is the great Demonslayer prepared for Lazarus?"

"Lazarus?" Gabriel frowned, "Who is Lazarus?"

"Your assignment." Pacelli offered, giving Malik a stern look. "Lazarus is a free Jinn, allied to Evil. He has the ability to capture the spirits of his victims, using their knowledge and their powers for his own purposes. He's begun to challenge to Order, attacking our Knights and slowly amassing their skills." Gabriel realized the Cardinal seemed scared. "He's coming after Rome."

Gabriel set his jaw, looking to Malik for some hint. The Jinn's bright eyes dimmed, and the scarred tissue on his arms smoldered like dying coal. Jinn were terrible at hiding their fear, Gabriel decided and anything strong enough to make Malik worried made Gabriel…interested. "How long do I have?"

"We don't know." Karl said from his corner. "Could be as soon as next week according to our reconnaissance. We sent out four teams to attempt slow him down but…" His eyes dimmed. "We're sure they won't keep him long."

"Where is he now?"

"Lazarus was imprisoned near Ephesus in Anatolia, on holy ground. He's still bound by some of the territorial magic. He can only travel on Muslim soil."

"Anatolia and the Mid-East are strong in Islam, that doesn't give us much."

"We have to accept what little we have."

"I suppose you're right." Gabriel muttered, and began to cough into his hand. Wincing inwardly at the inopportune time, he produced a handkerchief, which he hid when he was done. Only Malik saw the blood that had stained the cloth but the Jinn said nothing. "So how do I kill him?"

"You can't kill Jinn."

"Fine, how do I put him back in his prison?" Pacelli quieted, looking for the right words. Karl had begun to study the woodwork of the door. Gabriel's bad feeling was increasing. He inhaled slowly. "Do we have any idea?"

"Lazarus was imprisoned was a Vampire centuries ago." Malik began, twirling his fingers again as if to sign out what had happened. "He had tried to encroach on the Vampire's lands, and rather then suffer this, the Vampire took Lazarus' mortal lover as his own and trapped him in Christian holy land." Malik looked up, giving Gabriel a sad expression that Van Helsing knew he didn't mean. "The Vampire was killed, and since slowly his magic has begun to wan. Your only hope lies in the Vampire's knowledge."

The room had begun to darken, as Gabriel understood. It made sense now; he thought bitterly, the lack of knowledge, the silence and most of all his presence there. He knew, as real and solid as the others stood in the room the identity of the Vampire. And his own purpose for being there. Blind rage began to fill his heart and head but he didn't speak. He didn't trust his voice to speak. He had to wait a few moments before fully accepting the truth of the matter and then, in his softest voice he spoke.

"Go to hell."

"That's where they plan to send me." Malik said, motioning to Pacelli and Karl. "To retrieve Vladislaus from his pit."

"Your not serious." Gabriel whispered turning on Karl. "You're not seriously planning on bringing Count Dracula back…after all he's killed, all he's done. After he's almost imprisoned a family, his own family in Veritgo and enslaved his people for centuries! After he's challenged the throne of God himself, you're planning to bring back that monster."

"There's no other way."

"The hell there isn't!" He shouted, enraged at Pacelli's quietness. "There's another way, there has to be. And even if this is the only one, let Lazarus come then! Dracula cannot-will not help you!"

"It's him or us." Pacelli returned.

"Then do what you will, I won't help."

"Will you let your own anger cloud your judgment?"

"In this moment, yes."

"God allows all things…"

"That doesn't mean He condones it."

Pacelli began to speak, but Karl stopped him. The Friar stepped forward, reaching over and touching Gabriel's arm. "Gabriel," Karl whispered. "Dracula was a monster, and no one refutes that, but without him we're lost and all the good we've done, and will do…ends if we're finished. Everything stops if Lazarus is allowed to continue." He paused and met Gabriel's knowingly. "And everyone who died for this…will have died in vain."

A small eternity passed between them before Gabriel found the words to speak. "What you do, do quickly."

Malik rose a brow as Karl went to work with the Jinn. Malik leaned close to the Friar's ear. "How did you know that would work?"

Karl looked up. "I didn't."

Gabriel stood mute as the events unfolded before. His body was numb and his mind was dark with pain. He didn't know what to feel or think, and the only sensation he was sure of a deep seated fear and throbbing pain that was gradually creeping though his whole body beginning from right behind his eyes. He watched as Karl chained Malik's wrist to the floor, watched as the Jinn was forced into a kneeling position. Malik lifted his proud brow to meet Gabriel's eyes, the creature's own small fires blazing within their prison and Gabriel found himself wondering how it must be to be a creature of immeasurable power- chained to the whim of humans. He wondered how it must be for Malik- who had seen stars born and countries fade- to sit now, in a darken room under a Cathedral and know his power could be only for the benefit of humans who would use it for such means as this.

And he felt sympathy for the creature.

"Remove the collar and stand back." Malik told Karl, but keep his eyes on Gabriel. "Place it in the far corner, away from this confinement and whatever you do…don't look into the light." He nodded slightly at Gabriel. "Forgive your servant his duty, Demonslayer."

Malik began to speak, slowly at first, in Arabic. As he did, the scars on his arms began to brighten like coals that gradually turned white with hot flame. His skin became luminous then, brightening and turning blue with heat. His words changed, from Arabic to some deeper tongue that none present could understand. Heat began to sap the air in room, causing Gabriel to become short on breath and retreat a little. He felt the heat on his face, but refused to turn away, refused to not be a witness to the crime that was going on.

Malik's voice began something thick and pained as the chant became screams. Human screams: not one but many all chorusing together to join with the flames and making the room a gateway to hell.

Finally, with one last screamed word, Malik's body erupted in a contained explosion of light and heat that made Gabriel push his arm up in front of his face in protection and look away. The screaming voices began to gel, becoming one voice in particular: tenor and panicked and speaking of a pain no one should ever have to suffer. The lights and heat died after a moment, but Gabriel refused to look back. The voice continued to scream until the vocal chords were ragged and exhaustion took over.

When Gabriel returned his gaze, he was stunned at the vision awaiting him.

Vladislaus Dracula was kneeling where Malik had been. Malik had been wider of frame then Dracula, and the clothes hung on Dracula's frame haphazardly, making the man's bleached skin look pale and blue. His whole body heaved with tortured gasps, forcing what little oxygen was left in the room into lungs that were not accustomed to air. His hair was matted, caked with sweat and slapped to skin. There was blood coming from Vlad's wrists from under the cuffs. Slowly, the shivering and heaving stopped and Dracula lifted his head to the ceiling, eyes shut, thin lips parted as if he was going to speak. He shook his arms, and became startled when he felt they were confined. His brown eyes flew open, staring down at his hands as he made short, soft panicked sounds, trying to jerk his hands free.

Then he saw Gabriel.

"Gadjo…" He whispered, as tears escaped his eyes down his sunken cheeks. "What's happened to me?"