Disclaimer: I own what's mine.
Ch.6 Amateur
"Rarrrrgghh!" Styx roared and leapt towards Van Helsing with razor sharp claws outstretched.
Van Helsing leapt backwards and avoided the vampire's downward slash. Blade-like claws missed his face by inches and merely sliced a few strands of hair. Styx balled his hands into angry fists and continued the attack. The titans looked on with growing wonder-whoever this was, was succeeding where they had been failing.
Styx let out a chocked cry as Van Helsing delivered a painful blow to his stomach. Gagging Styx stumbled back while Van Helsing gave the vampire a sharp chop across the eyes. Snarling Styx leapt on top of an enormous Roman statue and whipped the blood from his eyes.
"You're going to pay for that!" Styx shrieked.
"Whoa this guy is picking him apart while we couldn't even touch him." Beast Boy said.
He turned much too late to see the angry glares of Robin and Cyborg. Starfire's face was turning red hinting of her embarrassment, here she was supposed to be a big bad super heroine and a demented vampire nearly had his way with her. Beast Boy let out a nervous sigh and placed his hand behind his head.
"Whoops sorry about that."
But while Beast Boy was occupied with Robin and the others Raven was staring in wonder at this man before her, with her face blushing red. There was just something about him that was attractive to her; she wasn't sure whether it was his long mane of hair or his black eyes. But not since Malchior had she ever experienced emotions such as this. Realizing her face was burning bright red; she covered herself with her hood.
Sparkling bolts of electricity erupted from Styx's hands towards Van Helsing. The vampire hunter somersaulted and dodged his way through the barrage of bolts and flung a blade towards Styx. The stainless metal pierced the vampire's shoulder and thin smoke oozed out of the wound. Teeth gnashed together Styx stepped back and plucked the blade from his flesh.
The smooth surfaced singed his fingertips and with a cry of fury Styx flung the loathsome weapon from his shoulder. When the weapon was out Styx surveyed the damage to his hand-his fingertips were burnt black.
"What is this?" He said aloud.
"Blades dipped in holy water. Its smooth surface is designed to cut through skin like butter, its serrated edges and weight make it efficient at crushing bone." Van Helsing said.
"I'm going to burn you to a crisp!" Styx shouted.
Styx held out both of his arms to summon a blast of fire, when Van Helsing reached into his coat and with one swift movement of his hands threw several whirling razor covered disks at his adversary. Styx had no time to dodge before the blades cut into his arms, severing bone and muscle alike. Crying out in pain Styx watched in terror as his own arms fell to the ground, a fountain of blood erupted from the terrible wound and Styx had had enough-he had what he needed; there was no point in getting killed.
"I'm out of here!" He declared, in an instant Styx vanished into a layer of fog and seeped into the cracks in the floor.
"Amateur." Van Helsing said aloud and walked over to the spot that Styx had dug up.
"So he found it after all," Van Helsing concluded, "maybe I did underestimate him."
Van Helsing turned to find all of the titans in battle ready poses, "I'm sorry, am I missing something?" He asked.
"Who sent you?" Robin demanded, "Is Slade behind this?"
"Slade?" Van Helsing repeated.
"If it's not Slade than it has to be Brother Blood and the Hive!" Cyborg called out.
"Or maybe he's a professional thief!" Beast Boy accused.
Van Helsing stepped back, "Cut it out!" Raven shouted.
The Goth walked out from behind her friends and towards Van Helsing, "Raven what are you doing?" Beast Boy shouted.
"You don't know if he's another enemy!" Robin added.
"If he was an enemy he wouldn't have fought that thing." Raven pointed out.
"You'll have to excuse my friends," Raven said to Van Helsing, "it's been a rough night, and we're all a little tense."
Raven took her hood off of her face and held out her hand, "I'm Raven."
Van Helsing bowed politely before her and took her hand, "I am Gabriel Van Helsing." He kissed her hand lightly and Raven's blush returned.
She didn't seem to notice the piercing glare of Beast Boy," Dude, I hate lady men!" he thought.
Her hand returned Raven stepped back with a nervous smile and then it hit her, "Wait a minute! Van Helsing as in the Dracula Van Helsing?" She asked.
The others heard her and went wide eyed with disbelief, "I thought he was only a myth." Cyborg thought.
Only Starfire and Beast Boy remained clueless. Starfire was unfamiliar with Bram Stoker's classic novel, and Beast Boy who had never cracked open a decent horror book in his life stood dumfounded.
"Count Va who?" He asked.
Van Helsing lost his charming expression and nodded, "Yes but I'm afraid this isn't a prudent moment to discuss origins, there are dark forces at work here. And I need to get moving."
"That creature?" Raven asked.
"A servant of evil," Van Helsing said, "there are more far worse out there that I need to track down and destroy."
"Worse?" Robin repeated.
Van Helsing nodded and turned to walk away, "Like I said this isn't a prudent moment to discuss this, so I'll leave you to your work and bid you a good night."
"Wait maybe we can help you." Raven called out.
Van Helsing turned, "I don't recommend it."
"Look you may not have noticed but we're gifted also and we know the city. We can help you find who you're looking for." She continued.
"Sorry but it is against my code to endanger the lives of others, I cannot allow it." Van Helsing said.
"We can look after ourselves, but I promise you-you will find what your looking for a lot faster with us. The city is our responsibility as well, so if something is threatening it than we have as much right to be involved as you." Raven proceeded on.
A hefty sigh came from Van Helsing's lips, she was right. Tracking down his adversaries would take time, and he could cover twice as much ground with help and save valuable time.
"Very well then. Follow me." Van Helsing said and continued walking.
Beast Boy glanced at Raven-she had a dreamy look in her eyes, the kind of look a teenage girl has when she sees a guy she has a crush on. Annoyed Beast Boy poked her in the head with his finger.
"Hello! Earth to Raven!" He said.
Annoyed Raven swiped at his hand, "Lay off!" She growled.
"Raven, what did you just do?" Robin asked.
"Look he needs help." Raven said.
"Needs help?" Cyborg repeated, and pointed to the damage behind him, "The guy is a living war machine! And besides Van Helsing? The Van Helsing? Please, you have to be kidding me."
"Cyborg is right, we know nothing about the Van Helsa." Starfire said.
Raven glared at her, "It's Van Helsing, Starfire."
"For all we know he could be working for Slade or be another psychopath!" Robin added.
"If he was working for Slade he wouldn't have helped us out, and if he was a "psychopath" than he wouldn't have talked to us but would have tried to pick us off." Raven concluded and turned, "He saved our lives and that's a good enough reason to believe that he's telling the truth."
She starting walking in Van Helsing's direction, "I'm going to help, if you guys want to go back home, than go."
The titans stared at Raven and than Robin with uncertainty. In a few moments time the rest of the titans began following her with suspicious expressions at the cloaked figure ahead of them. Beast Boy lagged behind mumbling to himself, he hadn't even been with Van Helsing for five minutes but one thing was already certain-he didn't like him.
Note: I know what your thinking, no this will not be a Raven/Van Helsing love story! She's like what 16 and he's 200 years old! So all those sick people who like stories when teens marry old men can find a new story!
