Sorry I have a problem with cliff hangers. I just love to make em! Thank you to my reviewers Believer29, Ardina, and Ron's Sexy Girly 750. Still don't own Van Helsing, but I have the rights to Atrum's life so HA!
"Ah my love has finally returned!" Stefan smirked. He pushed one of his silver curl locks behind his ear, as he walked over to her. "I've been waiting for you since you appeared in the tavern."
"Stefan," she said shocked again. He took her hand and brought the top to his lips, letting a light kiss upon her hand. "Why? How?"
"Because you know you want me," he laughed. He tried to mesmerize her with his cold pale yellow eyes that looked complete white except for his black pupil. Atrum broke eye contact with him when Van Helsing placed a hand on her shoulder. She shook her head lightly to dispel his Magick hold over her.
"Stefan," she hissed. "I will not be your puppet again."
"Well it was worth a try," he laughed darkly, his laugh making Atrum's blood freeze. Then he was whacked over the with a broom.
"No Dark Magick in my house!" ordered a short elderly lady. Her long gray hair was in a pony tail and hung around her ankles. Her gray eyes spotted Atrum. "Atrum dear, it has been too long. Who are your friends?"
"Zytka," Atrum replied happily, as she bent down to give the woman a hug. "It has been far too long. You're not going to spit on me are you?"
"Course not," Zytka laughed. "Those fools are cursed themselves, living in isolation from everyone except themselves. Pah! I have better things to do with my time left her then spit on the one who is here to help us."
"Oh and this is Gabriel Van Helsing, and um Carl," she introduced her companions to Zytka. "Guys this is Zytka, the only one with common sense and hospitality around this place. Also if you piss her off she'll turn you into a toad."
"A toad?" Carl gulped. Zytka eyed Carl carefully, and then walked up to him and took his hand. Carl flinched slightly as she flipped his hand over and ran one bony wrinkled finger down the center of his palm.
"Hmmm, this one is a coward, yet in his own way brave, trust worthy, and loyal to a fault. A good asset on this task," she released Carl's hand. "You are braver then you think, and more powerful then the Dark. So this is Van Helsing."
"Aye," Atrum sighed. Carl blinked at Zytka as she went to Van Helsing. She didn't grab his hand but merely stared up into his eyes. Stefan got up off the floor and rubbed his head.
"Hey! Witch! What was that for?" complained Stefan. Zytka ignored him as she stared deeper into Van Helsing's eyes, and he couldn't look away from her.
"Be careful or your past will finally catch up to you," she told Van Helsing. "And it could be good or bad depending on you."
"What is that suppose to mean?" an Helsing replied as she walked away.
"You will know soon enough," Zytka said as she walked to Atrum. "They are both trust worthy, and take off you cloak. Not proper you know."
"I knew they were trust worthy," Atrum sighed as she took off her cloak, and handed to Zytka. She still had her hunter green corset on, black pants, and boots.
"Holy," Stefan gasped as he dropped his jaw. "I didn't know you still dress like that. Bloody hell give a guy a heart attack."
"Drop dead, Stefan," Atrum grunted as she flipped him off. "I told you before you can never have me."
"Oh one day you will stop resisting me and I'll have what I crave," Stefan said as his eyes traveled up and down her body.
"Only in your dreams," Atrum snorted, she glared at him. "Now drop the games and tell me why you are really here."
"Like I really give it away now," Stefan laughed, the cupped her cheek with his right hand. "Have you never heard of suspense and mystery? I'll keep my secrets to myself for now."
"Bastard," Atrum muttered, as she slapped his hand away.
"Enough," Zytka ordered, growing weary of the argument. "This is my house, and Stefan you do anything or speak of Dark Magick I'll throw you out of my house before you can blink. That goes for you too Atrum. Now I'll show you all to your rooms. Follow."
She lead them out of the kitchen which the front door lead to. The walked down a hallway to a stairwell and climbed up the stairs.
"Stefan there," she pointed to the first door on "Atrum the room next to him, Carl first door on the right and Van Helsing the room across from Atrum. Now rest well, tomorrow you shall start looking for Dracula's castle."
She turned and walked away without waiting for thanks. Atrum went into her room, it was the room she always used when she visit Zytka. Plopping down on the bed she just laid there, in the white room. She had silk sheets on her bed, and the heavy white wool drapes where pulled closed. She let the darkness surround her, and she realized how tired she truly was. Closing her eyes she heard the door open. She sat up and saw Van Helsing closing the door. He had lost his hat and overcoat, just standing there in a lose gray shirt, dark brown pants, and black boots.
"What do you want Van Helsing?" she yawned as she crossed her legs, where she sat on the edge of the bed.
"I want answers," Van Helsing stated, and he leaned against the door, and cross his feet at the ankle. "Question is are you going to give them to me."
"Perhaps," Atrum laughed, and she leaned back on the bed. "Ask and find out."
"You know I'm tired of never getting straight answers," Van Helsing sighed, as he looked away from her body, as not to be distracted. "Now why is that Warlock here?"
"Hell if I know," Atrum replied, a she glared at Van Helsing. "But it can't be good, trouble follows him everywhere."
"Any idea why he is here?" Van Helsing asked, as he glared back.
"Could be to join forces with Dracula," Atrum said as she thought for reasons Stefan could be here. "I won't be sure till he enacts his plan. So just keep a close eye on him."
"Where you two lovers?" Van Helsing blurted out. He hadn't mean to ask the question, it just had been on his mind for awhile, then is slipped out.
"Wha…no! Ugh!" Atrum said fully disgusted, she sat up. "Me and him, yuck. What ever gave you that idea?"
"It's just that he called you lover, and Tanner did mention some sort of husband," Van Helsing said, trying not to sound relived.
"Him calling me lover is his idea of a joke," Atrum replied darkly. "He knows it bothers me. As for my husband, he doesn't know who I am, and is not apart of my life, no matter how much I want."
"Sorry," Van Helsing told her, and he meant it. He didn't wish to cause her pain. Looking at her one more time, he was about to leave but he couldn't move. The vision of her in that sea green toga was there again. Why couldn't he rid himself of that image?
"Anything else?" Atrum asked, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Uh no," Van Helsing said as he opened the door. "Night."
He shut the door and she fell back on her bed.
"Dammit all!" she cursed into the emptiness that was her room. "I just want this over! No more pain nor tears, just the solitude of my life. This wasn't suppose to happen!"
A black shadowy figured appeared in her room, it was cloaked in a black cloak, hood up. The figure moved towards the bed. Atrum bolted up when she felt another presence in the room.
"Hecate," she gasped and quickly got to her knees and bowed her head down.
"You," said a small raspy female voice. "Must never tell him."
"I know master," she replied sadly, she fought tears back. "You must know how hard this is on me. While I suffer you celebrate my pain."
"Be a good servant and do as you are told," the raspy voice hissed.
"But why did we have to involve him?" Atrum asked, as she choked on her tears. She couldn't look at Hecate, she would lose all resolve if she did.
"Because he was there when this all started it," the raspy voice sighed. "He will be there when it finishes…"
"Then we both go back to our servitude, right!" Atrum growled, her heart felt like it was being torn apart again.
"Girl do not be so foolish!" Hecate ordered, and she slapped Atrum across the face. "I am in charge here. You will do as you are told without fail. Do not dare disobey me! The consequences could be deadly."
"Death would be a nice reprieve from this hell," Atrum muttered. She earned another slap from Hecate.
"Do not wish for death so quickly," Hecate fumed. "You earned this hell when you murdered my servants. Now deal with this Dracula matter, and hold your tongue when it comes to that man."
"What if Dracula tells them the truth? What if he tells them all who I really am?"
"We will deal with that when it comes," Hecate sighed. She slowly faded out. "Get some sleep."
"Yes master," Atrum sighed. When the shadow of Hecate was gone she flung herself onto the bed. She rolled over and sighed. Knowing she would have to make sure Dracula kept his mouth shut about her past. This made the mission a little more harder. Her thoughts were making it hard to fall asleep. Tossing and turning she struggled to fall asleep, she passed out around dawn.
Another fun chapter. My muses are the only ones that know why Stefan is there, go figure! Also reviews help feed the muses! Feed the muses! Till next time!