A.N. I don't own so no can sue.
Riding into a new town was nothing new to the both Gabe or Carl. What was is that for a town that has a problem with banshees it was… cheerful. Usually places like this have a depressing atmosphere to them but not this town. The buildings were all clean and painted. The same went for the townspeople, they were smiling and laughing and happy. It was weird. What was even more disturbing was the number of young girls and boys running from one girl chasing them with a stick. It was normal for boys to chase each other around with sticks but girls now that was something new. Especially when the one that was holding the stick screamed out "Come back here you evil creatures and meet your doom."
As Carl takes this in he realizes that they don't know where to go from here. Turning back to face Gabriel he can't help but stare. There is a little girl sitting on the saddle of Gab's horse, she is listening to him ask her a question. Then she gets this big smile on her face and says, "I'm Aaron, the knight of the light. I kill banshees." Another mumbled question, then the little girl smile again and replies "The headquarters is located in the old church bout half a mile out side of the town. You need to ask for Arthur. Have a nice day Minster." With that she slides down from the saddle and runs off. Not noticing that Carl is watching him he gets this look of joy on his face and smiles. A real smile, it lights up his whole face. It is then that Carl finally sees what Anna saw, he sees what children see. A human being, complete with emotions.
Turning back to Carl he notices the look, "Close your mouth Carl your letting in flies." With that he turned his horse to the right and started down a side street. As they made their way out of town they were greeted with smiles and waves. Calls of 'good day' and 'morning' were heard as they rode.
Coming to the church they saw a young man splitting wood. He looked to be about 20. His shirt was off and a sheen of sweat covered his upper body. His brown hair was cut short his skin showed no extra fat. There were faint scares on both of his hands around his knuckles and some fresh scratches and bruises across his chest. They looked like some one had attached him while he was holding them to his chest. When he looked up they both barley hold in a shutter. The reason was that there was a 5-½ inch scar running from just about his hair to just above his jaw. It went across his eye but by some miracle didn't blind him. It wasn't very wide but it looked like a red-hot blade had been run down his face. To accent that it was a shinny white color.
It took him a moment to realize that they were there. When he did see them it was when he was grabbing a drink with a ladle from a bucket, when his brown eyes came to rest on them, there was honest surprise. Quickly re-dipping his ladle he dumped one over his head and the said "How can I help you gentleman?" his voice was a pleasant baritone.
"We are here to see Father Samuel about a wailing in the organ. Do you know where he might be?" replies Gabriel.
"I know where he is but you can't talk to him any more."
"What why not?" was the angry retort.
"He dead passed on about ten days ago. I sent a message to the Vatican but I don't think that they have received it yet. My name is Arthur, what can I do for you?"
"We were sent by the brotherhood, we are here to help Aaron finish off what is here and then he is to come with us to Transylvania to take care of a vampire." All of a sudden the young man starts to laugh. "What is so funny?" Questions Carl.
"O it's just that Erin is a girl. And I don't think that she is going to take to kindly to you telling her where to go. Her and the knights don't get along to well." With that said a young woman of about 17 walks into the clearing. She has clear shocking blue-green eyes and a head full of dirty blond hair. She is only about 5'2'', slim but muscular. Her pants were form fitting black leather or doe skin. Her shirt looked like it was made of the same material. All of it was dyed black. Over one shoulder she has a young deer over the other a rifle. Not even noticing the two of them, who had by this time dismounted, she throws the deer over a log and hands the gun to Arthur. There are some scratches on her arm and she has some dark spots on her outfit but other than that she look ok.
"The trigger needs to be modified, it's not fast enough. O and I need some silver slugs there is a werewolf in the area. If I can kill it in the next few days we will only need to kill the one." All the while she is walking into the church. With out warning her eyes roll up and her knees give out. Arthur manages to catch her before she hits the ground, but just barley.
As he rushes into the church with Erin in his arms both Carl and Gabriel follow. In the great room (A.N. that is the kitchen, dinning room and the living room combined) he lays her down on the table.
"What can we do to help?" asks Gab.
"You tall man can you cut her pants and shirt off, I need to find her injury. And you in the brown do you know and medical?"
"I'm Carl and yes I do. Um how much of the young ladies clothing do you want my friend Gabriel VanHelsing to cut off?"
"Up the front of each leg, up each sleeve to her neck and up the center of her shirt." The entire time that this is going on Arthur is taking bowls, linens, thread and a couple needles and both a bottle of water and one of whiskey. When he turns back to face the table Erin was in nothing but her under where and a chest wrap. Pouring some of the water into one of the larger bowls he hands out. "Will each one of you grab a towel and start cleaning off some of the blood? Carl will you take her upper thighs and lower abdomen. Gabriel will you take her lower legs and her arms. I'll take her chest and head."
For the next ten minutes all that is heard is the splashing of water. And while there are a number of bruises and cuts there is nothing that would have caused her to pass out. It is Carl who finds the major wound. It's high on her upper thigh and is deep but small. After washing the wound in whiskey, Arthur then takes a mortar and put some burdock powder, chickweed powder, eucalypts oil and salt. He crushes this mixture up and puts into the wound. He pouring a little of the whiskey into a small bowl and dipped the needle into it. He threads the needle, takes a hit straight from the whiskey bottle, and then inserts the needle into the skin. He quickly and neatly finishes the row of stitches. They are small and close together, to minimize scaring. As soon as he finishes, Arthur washes his hands, while Carl wraps the stitching in clean cotton linen. Arthur then goes into her room and grabs a nightshirt. Walking back out with it the three of them manage to stand Erin up and get her into the outfit. Picking her up Arthur walks back into her room while Gabe follows. With a nod at her bed Gabe turns down the covers and Arthur lays her down. Gabe walks out as Arthur is tucking her in but for some reason hides in the shadows out side the door for a few minutes. What he sees and hears next shock him.
"Be strong now sweets, I can't lose you. Goodnight," he looks around and sees no one, bending down he whisper "My love." With a gentle kiss to her forehead, he stands up and walks out. Never seeing Gabriel standing in the back round, and never noticing that a second after he leave Erin gets a smile on her face and settles into a more normal sleep.