Chapter 10: A Time for Everything

The way is dark, and the road is lonely

Moon beams from heaven offer a light of hope

Remember the footprints left in the road by God

Follow them well, my child

There is no story greater than life to tell

A soft melodious voice was recalled deep within the confines of Praepondero's memories. The voice was very hazy and so very hard to completely recollect. Mother? The lisps on the end of each word clarified her mother's distinguished accent. Longing filled her being, a longing for the comfort of her mother's gentle warm arms. The clear bell-like laughter of her sister resonated next to the memory of her mother. Family. Something she had not seen in centuries, perhaps millennia. Life. It was a life lost.

"Praepondero?" a deep, but not bassado, voice interrupted the warmth of her memories. Who is that? What is praepondero? A sharp pain plucked her mind back into consciousness. The world slowly came to her through blurred vision of dark shapes. She shook her head to clear it, and only yelped in pain. A strong hand squeezed her shoulder. Her eyes focused, and she beheld a tall man with dark shoulder-length hair and brown eyes who was leaning over her. Who? A surge of recent happenings flashed through her mind. She was called Praepondero. She mumbled weakly, "Van Helsing."

"I'm relieved you can remember things." The hunter relaxed back in his chair and crossed his arms. "With the nasty bump you got, the good doctor was for certain that you'd have amnesia."

"Too bad it wasn't selective amnesia." She sputtered out a dry cough and sat up. Helsing placed a cool glass of water in her hand. "Thank you." She gulped it down quickly and lay her aching head back down. "What has gone on since my...uh...absence?"

Helsing cocked an eyebrow. "You were out for almost two weeks."

She felt her mind lurch at the information. "Two weeks? Well then, what are we doing here then?" She shot up quickly out of bed and then just as quickly regretted as the world spun around. Helsing shot up out of his chair after her and helped steady her.

"You, my apprentice, are not going anywhere until the doctor comes back and approves."

She patted her head and found her handkerchief removed and replaced with bandages. Her hair was loose and flowing down her back. Oh no. "So this doctor..."

"Has seen that you aren't human."

"Can we..."

"Trust him? Of course. I wouldn't have brought you to him if I hadn't known him." Helsing's eyes narrowed disapprovingly. "By the way, nice blood. I'm sure that won't draw any unwanted attention."

She grinned as best she could. "I think I've done pretty well for the past few years to keep it from surfacing."

He grunted unhappily. "If you bleed in public view, you're in big trouble."

"I've dealt with this sort of thing for a long while. I've practice." She shrugged off the hand of his that was on her shoulder and steadied herself. "You've no idea how much practice."

"Maybe it's time you tell me how much practice you've had? Now that there is a little time for to do so?" He gave her a hard poke on a shoulder and she fell backwards back onto the bed.

"Hey!" She sat up and glared at him. "There's too much to tell. It would take more than a little time. Besides, reveling in the past is something that I've done too much of."

Helsing's features softened. "I do not know the pain of many memories, but I do know that it is not quite fair that you know more about me than I do of you. Carl told me some, but clearly not enough."

She sighed deeply. "My people were guardians, keepers of all other creations He had made after and before us. To balance the strength of the dark forces that had entered the world before our creation, God gave to us the ability to manipulate nature. Our race became imperfect as some of the dark creatures bred with our race. Impurity is only reconciled through God. We have long been divided, my breed that is. I come from a tribe of one of last purer breeds. The arrival of the Messiah was not just salvation for your world, but mine also." A hot tear rolled down a porcelain white cheek. "I witnessed it, Van Helsing. The crucification. No being could ever have suffered more than he." She wiped away the tear with her chemise sleeve. "I also witnessed His ascension, even if only from a distance."

Amazement and a touch of purpose-filled shock filled Helsing's eyes. "And I thought what little I could remember was unbelievable. He was positively real? Truly real?"

She gave him a challenging look. "I have seen and believe. But those have not seen and yet believe are more blessed, are they not?"

He nodded. His expression was one of deep thought. It was not easy to soak in and accept the words that she had just spoken. The battle of Masada rose into the forefront of his mind. It was not long after the death of Christ when that was supposed to have happened and not a world away from the Holy City either...

Praepondero seemed to understand where his thoughts were going and shook her head. "Some things are better left unsaid, at least for the moment."

Helsing's head jerked up at her remark. "What things?"

She kept a cool composure. "A lot of different things."

"You asked for me to let you work with me. We will not work well together if we keep secrets from one another."

The abyss black of her eyes deepened as she smiled at him. "There is a time and purpose for everything under heaven. And I would never keep anything from you if I knew it would hurt our relationship."

Van Helsing smiled. "You've no secrets?"

Praepondero laughed. "Every woman has her secrets, and she is entitled to keep them as she chooses. And you too have the same choice. You can tell or keep your secrets as you please. I still think that you are a good person regardless of what dark memories you might hold."

Helsing smiled. "Point made. Thank you."

"Here's something new to know, if it makes you any happier. My true name is Lylaith. You may call me that if you want."

"So what number do I tally that secret revealed as thus far?"

She laughed. "I don't know. You tell me."