Hi! Lioness 78 here,
Both I and Nephthys would like to thank you very much for your reviews and say that I(Because I'm the one that has been writing this story from the start so far) am truly sorry for not updating for such a long time. We both hope you enjoy the next chapter and all to come, hopefully they will be quicker in coming in the future.
Thank you again. :)
Having eaten the rest of their meal in silence, Primitiva stood as soon as she had finished. "I'll show you to your room." She knew he must be weary and probably wanted to rest before starting his job.
Gabriel nodded though he wished to see how Carl was progressing. Once in the hallway, the First motioned for Van Helsing to follow her, leading him through several turns and up a flight of stairs before stopping before a large, thick wooden door. The dark haired man took everything in, memorizing the route. "Here you go, Mr. Van Helsing. If you need anything, I am at your disposal."
"I'd like to see if Carl has found anything." His eyes met hers.
"Then I will show you to the library." Primitiva started back the way they had come, making a few different turns and taking a totally different staircase before stopping before a set of double oak doors carved with an intricate Ivy design around the frame, heavy cast iron handles allowed the doors to be pulled open, the same cast iron design was used on the hinges. "Ladies first." Gabriel grinned at his host, motioning to the closed doors.
Primitiva pulled the door open, stopping in the doorway unprepared for the sight before her. "Perhaps now is not the best time."
"Why?" Unable to see around the woman who stood in his path. Grabbing the handle for the other door, he yanked it open. Primitiva did not stop him as he walked past her, immediately stilling, his eyes widening as his gaze fell on the naked woman lying on the couch a few feet from where Carl was trying to work. Turning his surprised gaze to his friend, he finally spoke. "For a man of the cloth, you seem to indulge quite a bit in the sins of the flesh."
"I am a friar and she practically ripped my clothes off." Carl glared at the man. He felt bad enough as it was, he didn't need Van Helsing teasing him.
"You seem to have something women want." Gabriel grinned at him ignoring the glare he was receiving. Carl chose to return to his books, wondering what his friend would say when he found out the friar was more than likely to be a father very soon.
While the two men traded words, Primitiva mad her way to look over the sleeping woman on the couch. "This is unlike Shamira." The First reached down to lightly touch the girl's shoulder, who became immediately alert, eyes opening to look up at her mistress.
"Milady?"
"You should go to your room and rest in bed. We will talk tomorrow." Shamira stood and, giving her mistress a slight bow, grabbed her robe and placed it about her body before leaving the library, making her way to her room where she fell into a sound sleep.
"Well this has been an interesting day." Van Helsing stated dryly, looking at his host. The last thing he had expected to find as he entered the library was a naked woman on the couch sleeping after a romp. He was beginning to wonder if he was a bad influence on the friar. Gabriel had, on occasion, found comfort in the arms of a willing woman after a particularly difficult mission, but this was twice in as many Carl had been 'comforted'. The dark haired man was beginning to worry about his friend.
"Something says that this is only the beginning, Mr. Van Helsing." The First spoke to Gabriel first then turned towards Brother Carl. "Leave the door open Brother Carl. The scent in here needs to dissipate." She, like Van Helsing, was worried over her protector. Shamira had never shown any interest in the males around their home, no young men in the village had ever caught her eye. In all her years, she had never acted rashly before. Why would she then take a man she had just met as her mate? Carl simply nodded at Primitiva's request, still lost in deep thought.
"I think I'll take my leave since I'm sure that not much was found out." Gabriel gave his friend one more slight smile before heading back to his room intent on getting a good nights rest before scouting early the next morning. He also had every intention of keeping a close eye on the friar from here on out.
After watching VanHelsing leave the First turned back to Carl. "I will leave it to you, Brother Carl." She turned to exit the library as well, making plans for the next day.
Carl worked through the night not stopping when the sun rose, engrossed in what he was learning. Primitiva had not slept either, making plans with her scouts. They would find the dens in the area before further action was to be taken. Van Helsing had gotten up with the sun, leaving the confines of the manor to do a little scouting of his own. Shamira slept longer than usual, rising sometime after the sun rose, bathing and making her way to her mistress as the scouts were leaving. "You wished to speak with me?" Shamira spoke as she approached the First.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Primitiva looked the other woman over, she seemed to have a glow about her and a little more balanced.
"Fine." Shamira watched her mistress as well, trying to decide if the older woman was disappointed in her.
"And last night?" Primitiva motioned for the guardian to walk with her.
"I felt fine last night as well." Shamira followed the First, having been created without emotion she did not regret what transpired nor did she feel shame at being found as she had been.
"Why?" It was a simple question, but Primitiva knew her guardian would know what she meant.
"I wished a child." The younger woman came as close to a shrug as she ever would. It was a small matter. Her mistress had many litters. Would she really begrudge her the only one she would ever have?
"They will not be yours alone. You will also be unable to go out until after their birth." Primitiva knew this would not sit well with the guardian, but it mattered not. The children she now carried were her top priority
At her mistresses' first statement, Shamira almost let out a bark of laughter. Brother Carl wanted nothing to do with the offspring she carried. They were truly her pups to raise. Primitiva's second statement was preposterous. "I will be fine until I show."
"You will not be going out." To anyone else in her household, the First's tone would have put an end to the discussion. Shamira, however, was not any other member of the household.
"I was created to protect you." The guardian's voice had also taken a do not argue with me tone.
Primitiva stopped, looking at Shamira before she spoke again. She did not like having her word questioned. "Yes, and now you have more than me to protect. Your children come above all."
"I am capable of seeing to them as well as you." The guardian knew that when the pregnancy was visible it would make her a target, but now no one would know and she would be fine.
"You can make sure the fortifications of our location are secure. You will be in charge of home defense. Should I go out, I will have Mr. Van Helsing to go with me and one of the others."
Though her demeanor stated that she was unhappy about her diminished role in the protection of the first, Shamira nodded. "I shall see to the arrangements." Without further discussion she left to look the premises over for any weakness.
Gabriel, having been out early that morning, stopped in the kitchen to have a hardy breakfast. Primitiva, hearing that he had returned from his excursion, went to meet him. "Was your sojourn productive?" She sat down before him at the table.
"I have found four or five places a den could have been, but didn't see any 'bitten'."
"My scouts have found two dens." She folded her hands in front of her on the table.
"Are they still looking?" Van Helsing gave a curt nod taking a drink of his milk.
"I have sent out different scouts. They work in shifts."
"What do you want to do about the ones they have found? Do we wait for the rest to be found or act now?"
"If we sneak in and wipe out an entire den the others will take time to notice." Primitiva watched as the dark haired man continued his breakfast.
"Very well. When shall we begin?"
"Let's speak with Brother Carl before we decide for sure." The First stood before making her way to the door. Gabriel, leaving the rest of his breakfast, followed his hostess, happy that they would soon be doing something. Taking action.
Pulling the door to the library open, Primitiva located Carl, though it was not difficult he had not moved from the night before. "Good day, Brother Carl." Looking up from his text, he gave the woman a smile, though he was still in turmoil about the previous night.
"What have you found?" Gabriel never one to beat around the bush started at the same time Primitiva asked. "Have you made any progress?"
"Not much. I have located many things but they are already common knowledge that is what they say about the Bitten. I have learned much about True Bloods, but nothing that will help."
"That is most unlike you." Van Helsing raised an eyebrow, surprised. Carl was usually a well of knowledge.
"I would say he is distracted. He is to be a father and not of the cloth." The First gave a slight smile.
"What!" Gabriel exclaimed looking from their host to Carl.
"Shamira carries pups," the First stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world for a friar to sire children.
"Isn't it a bit soon to know such things?" Van Helsing was amazed by her certainty. Carl, still confused by what he was supposed to do about the whole situation, remained silent.
"No, not for her. She knew she would conceive last night, that is why she laid with him." Though this may not have been the most opportune time, but having little ones around was always a blessing.
"How much more complicated could this get?" Gabriel spoke more to himself as he rubbed his face. "We could have used her…abilities."
"She will not carry as long as a human. She will still be useful, as you put it." The First did not like his mentality concerning her guardian.
"But she is not right now, and I had planned on her helping us clear the dens."
"Do not worry. We will be able to accomplish it without her for now."
Gabriel nodded, turning his attention to Carl. "Keep looking, but eat and rest first." Carl gave a slight nod though he wasn't hungry. "Now, Carl." Van Helsing urged his friend up and towards the door.
"I'm going…" Carl eyed him, not liking being treated like a child. "Which way is it?"
"Follow me." The dark haired man suppressed a smirk at his friend's lack of direction.
While the two men made their way to the kitchen, the First set about collecting a few of her better fighters along with one trained in the ancient magicks. Making all the preparations for cleaning out the first of the dens, she met her warriors in the cool entry way of the castle. Gabriel was slightly surprised when, upon his return to Primitiva's side, everything was in place. "We are leaving now?"
"Yes. Are you ready?" The First's mood was even more solemn than normal. Though she knew this needed done, it caused her great pain to know she would have to fight and kill her own kind.
"As ever." Van Helsing nodded, following the combatants out of the castle. No one noticed Shamira as she watched them leave, preparing to follow. She would not let her mistress face this danger without her. Taking to the air after they were a short distance away, she followed silently. The guardian would not fight unless her mistress was in mortal danger, but she would be there if need be.
The group of hunters quickly made its way to the first of the dens. The scouts had been precise with the location. Shamira perched herself on the branch of a nearby tree, watching closely for any sign she would be needed by her mistress. Coming upon the den entrance, Van Helsing realized it was nothing more than a shallow cave just deep enough for a small pack of werewolves to take shelter from the elements. To one side were bones and half eaten carcasses of various animals making it apparent they had used this den for some time. As Gabriel was about to enter the small cave, Primitiva put a hand to his arm "Be careful to hit the Bitten and not us. The Bitten are more animalistic and cannot speak human tongue. Their coats are shaggier as well."
Van Helsing gave a nod, readying his gun as the First gave him a smile and swiftly changed into her wolf form, heading inside the opening before them. Gabriel was right on her heels as the fist of the Bitten went to attack. Primitiva, quickly grabbing it by the throat, snapped its neck, unaware she had been close to being pounced on by another. Van Helsing's silver bullet stopped the Bitten before it could strike. The other members of their group took care of the other Bitten quickly, the mage capturing one of the Bitten for questioning.
"Well that was fun." Gabriel stated dryly as they were walking out of the den. None of their group had been injured and for that he was grateful.
The First was not amused by his statement. These where her children as well, her responsibility, they had not asked for this curse. It was not their fault. In the end the blame rested purely on her shoulders. Giving him a cool look, Primitiva walked into the woods motioning for the rest to follow her.
Shamira almost broke her cover upon seeing her mistress being attacked, but Van Helsing had intervened so she kept her vigil until the last of the Bitten were taken care of. Once things had settled, the guardian made her way back, arriving home long before Primitiva's band.
"Take him to the dungeon. Question him thoroughly, torture him if you must." The First spoke to the mage who was pulling the captured Bitten behind him. Her loyal servant answered with a nod beckoning a few of the others to help with his load.
Once her orders were given, Primitiva took a few moments, staring up into the trees letting nature wash over her, asking it to cleanse her of what she had done. As if in answer, she felt a light breeze begin to stir around her lifting her hair, and caressing her skin. She felt the earth's strength flow through her giving her the fortitude she would need to continue this fight. After a few moments of her meditation, the First felt more relaxed, cleaner in soul. Van Helsing stood nearby, watching his host a moment before helping with the Bitten. Once done with her cleansing, the First followed Gabriel and her kin back to the manner, pausing only a moment when she caught a familiar scent in the air, taking a quick look around she saw no one, though she had a sneaking suspicion that her guardian had disobeyed orders and had indeed followed them unknown until now. Without hard proof she could not discipline Shamira, but she could see to it that it did not happen again, making her way home she began forming a list of things the guardian would be doing, under the watchful eyes of a few of the servants.
Upon arriving at the manor, Gabriel made his way to the library, anxious to find out if Brother Carl had made any progress with the text he had been studying, hoping he had found out more, stating his intentions quickly to Primitiva. "I'm going to see if Carl has had any luck."
"Very well, Mr. Van Helsing. I will speak with you once we have information about the Bitten." The First turned to make her own way down to the dungeons.
Entering the library, Van Helsing was slightly shocked to see his friend asleep on the couch, book draped across his chest. The blonde looked much younger than his years, his face devoid of all worry, as he slept peacefully. Gabriel tended to forget how sheltered and naive the friar was until such moments brought it to his attention. The older man almost didn't have the heart to wake Carl, but he needed the information, any information he may have. Reaching over to shake him gently, Van Helsing spoke. "Carl."
"Huh? What?" The friar sat up as if someone had touched him with a hot poker, blinking awake.
"Have you found anything more?" Gabriel asked gently, sitting on the couch at his feet.
"A prophecy. That may have meaning." Carl stood to rummage through several stacks of text nearby.
"What does it say?" Van Helsing perked up at the mention of a clue to their problem.
After searching for the appropriate book for several moments, Carl finally found it turning to a page he had marked and began to read. "The leaders of the ones that are allergic to the sun and the ones fated to give birth to the bite are to die and give rise to a new power. The power will take dominion over the races and purge the world of mortal flesh." The friar shut the text after reading. "Dracula is dead and that leaves Primitiva."
"Then we must make sure she does not die." Van Helsing placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"I checked into what this power could be. No luck yet."
Gabriel wanted to address what was going on in his friend's life. He seemed neither happy nor excited about the prospect of parenthood. "You seem…Are you alright?" In the end Van Helsing cursed himself for such an awkward sounding question.
"Yes quite." Carl's tone was clip, not wanting to speak of his actions. The friar was still reprimanding himself for being so weak. He also knew that Primitiva had relegated Shamira to watching over the manor. Carl had no doubt that he was to be a father. Luckily for both Shamira and himself, he had no idea that the guardian had snuck out to watch over her mistress.
"Are you sure?" Gabriel tried to reach out to his friend.
"Yes." Carl's tone was again clip, leaving no doubt in the other man's mind he wanted the subject dropped.
Van Helsing stood silent a moment, not sure what else to say finally blurting out the first thing he could think of "I didn't get to tell you before congratulations."
Carl didn't answer, thumbing through some text. He had no wish to explain his action or how he felt. If he could even describe what he felt, a part of him felt used and dirty, another amazed that someone as exotic and beautiful as Shamira had wanted to be with him, and yet another told him it was only a child she wanted, it didn't matter who sired it. Then there was the child…Children, he'd never thought about them. His calling did not make a child possible, or so he'd thought. Now he felt a tinge of excitement when he thought of a child being his.
When Carl didn't speak, Gabriel sighed internally. "I'll leave you to your work." He again wished he knew what to say. Van Helsing's mind remained on Carl as he made his way to the kitchen for lunch.
Primitiva found Van Helsing a short time later still in the kitchen, deep in thought, his plate more than half full and forgotten. "We have been informed of three more dens. We did not learn who is behind this." The First began as she sat across from him.
The sudden presence of his host pulled Gabriel from his musings. "Do we leave the dens for now or wait? You would know better than I would. I've never seen this many werewolves in one area. The ones I've dealt with had been more or less solitary creatures." It was unlike him not to take action, everything in Van Helsing wanted to seek out these dens and wipe them out totally, but with such large numbers they did not need to be attacked, he doubted they would come away unscathed.
The First was slightly stunned that Van Helsing was leaving the decision to her. From all she had heard about him, she assumed he would rush out to destroy the dens this evening. "They will be left for the day. We will eliminate one a day for now."
"Very well." The dark haired man gave a slight nod.
"You have lived a long life, Mr. Van Helsing. Patience should not be a problem for you."
"Most of which I do not remember." He watched the beautiful woman before him, finding he liked their little discussions.
"It is a shame. There are many things you have seen, I imagine, that would be interesting to hear."
"Maybe one day I will."
Primitiva mirrored the nod that he had recently given her before changing the subject. "I must commend you on the killing of Dracula. I was not remiss to see him dead for good."
"It brought me no joy, quite the opposite really." Though no emotion showed on his face, Van Helsing's voice carried a sadness to it at the thought of Ana and what she had sacrificed to save him.
"I understand that, truly I do. I see nothing good in killing any creature, less they are revered and useful for the sustaining of life."
The dark haired man inclined his head, not wishing to speak on the subject anymore. As if sensing Gabriel's mood, Primitiva changed the subject yet again. "You should write down your memories, they would become less prominent and make room for others to show themselves."
The First did not know why she was speaking to Van Helsing about such things, as he had said when he first arrived it was his job to hunt down and destroy creatures such as herself and her guardian. There was sadness in the man before Primitiva that called to her. Perhaps she felt a connection to this man because, like her, he could not help what he was.
"That may be a good idea." Van Helsing gave a small smile, from what he did remember about his past the dark haired man was not totally sure he wanted to remember.
"In the end, if that does not help and you truly wish to see the past, there are ways to manipulate ones memory to open itself."
"I will think on it, after we settle things here."
Primitiva gave a nod, motioning one of the cooks to bring her a drink. Both of them sat in silence, lost in their own haunted thoughts for sometime before heading their separate ways to see to the job ahead.