CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Beth shifted in her seat. Was Jen about to reveal what Bethany though she was? She didn't like the idea. Beth glanced over at Mori, who wasn't moving at all. Beth knew Mori well enough to know that behind her calm exterior, her interior was screaming at her to do something. Even if this was true, Mori still showed absolutely no sign of it. Beth sent up a silent prayer that Van Helsing, Carl and Anna would be little more understanding toward Jen than they were to Mori. Mori could take the isolation and hate glares simply because she was Mori. Jen was different. She wasn't anywhere near as strong Mori was, physically and emotionally.

Jen was wringing her hands nervously. She looked over to Mori for some comfort and only got a nod in response.

"A while back…when Dracula had kidnapped all three of us…it was after Beth got Mori back from Dracula…" Jen swallowed, stalling as she searched for the best way to say this.

"Yes?" Carl asked urging her to go on. He then got a glare from both Beth and Mori. The small friar shrank back and whispered and apology.

"Well…" Jen began again. "he…bit me."

"What?" Anna demanded. She rose to her feet and Jen took a few steps back from her. Oh God! She was going to die.

"Are you telling us that you're a vampire!" Anna was obviously furious by now. Jen swallowed to keep herself as calm as she could be.

"Yes." Jen said it like she was afraid of what Anna might do to her if she heard it.

"Impossible!" Anna screamed. Jen jumped back even further as if she were afraid of her. In a way, she was. Beth quickly stood up next to the girl and put her arm around her, hoping to provide some comfort to the young Valerious. Mori was at her side soon as well. Anna turned to Van Helsing, who hadn't even blinked until now.

"Van Helsing," Anna began. "say something!"

Van Helsing blinked, a little shocked at this request. He glanced over at Beth and Mori, who were now next to each other. The repercussions of the last time something like this happened were still fresh in his mind. Of course he was upset about this little bit of news. Mori had only been half. Jen was a full blown blood drinking, bat-changing, and no-going-out-in-sunlight vampire! On the other hand, Jen wasn't Dracula's kid and she had a soul. Another thing to keep in mind is what an explosion at Jen would do to him and Beth. Could he really risk the relationship he had with his daughter again? Van Helsing's dark eyes traveled between his daughter and Anna. Finally, he sighed in defeat.

"Thank you for telling us, Jen." He said finally. The calmness of this statement surprised everyone in the room, especially Mori. "I appreciate it."

Anna's jaw was hanging open. He was alright with this!

"You've got to be kidding me!" Anna almost screamed at him. "After what you went through with Mori…"

"This situation is different." Van Helsing cut her off calmly. "Jen isn't telling us that she's Dracula's child. Besides, there is nothing we can do about it now."

"It means the same thing!" Anna shouted at him.

"No it doesn't!" Van Helsing countered as he fought to keep his voice level.

"There is no way Jen can be a…a…" Anna finally gave up trying to say it. "Otherwise she wouldn't have a soul!"

"I solved that problem." Beth spoke up. "Jen is exactly the same as she ever was. The only difference now is that she's immortal. She's still the same person."

"But she's a vampire!" Anna roared, making Mori and Jen's ears ring. "Vampires aren't people! Doesn't anyone understand that!"

Anna angrily stormed out of the room. A thick and heavy silence hung in the room for a long moment. Jen bit her lower lip and sank onto the couch with her head in her hands. She then began sobbing.

"Oh Jen." Beth said and sat down next to her. Bethany wrapped her arms around the girl in an attempt to comfort her as she cried.

"Everything will be alright. She's just in shock." Beth gently told her. "Shhh. Calm down. I'm here. It'll be alright."

Jen continued to cry. Carl, feeling very awkward in this situation, quickly slipped out of the room to visit his test tubes and chemicals. Those couldn't talk back to him or cry. They were more predictable than people were. Mori and Van Helsing, sensing that Jen needed to be alone, walked out of the room side by side. They walked in silence till Mori was sure that they were out of Jen's earshot.

"You took that rather well." Mori told the seasoned monster hunter without even turning to him.

"I didn't want to risk my relationship with Beth again." Van Helsing replied. "Besides, her situation is different than yours."

Mori didn't say anything immediately, but a smirk formed in her eyes before she replied..

"I'll pretend I believe you."

Van Helsing nodded.

"That'll work."

A few days went by and Anna didn't cool off one bit, much to Jen's dismay. As predicted, she blamed Mori for the entire thing. There were three reasons behind her theory. One: she was Dracula's daughter. Two: she could've done something to save her and three:…because she could. Naturally, this created a lot of tension around the manor, especially when Anna, Mori and Jen were all in the same room. Everyone else had accepted Jen's current state of being (even Van Helsing, which was a wonder surprise for both him and Bethany.) Everyone, that is, except for Anna. This was really taking a toll on Jen, emotionally and physically. It hurt her so much that she and Anna, who used to be so close and the only family that she had left, were now in a relationship that was nonexistent. Jen leaned on Beth and Mori for comfort. Beth did everything she could to help her, but it simply wasn't enough to mend the colossal gap between Jen and Anna. Mori did everything she could as well. She recognized what Jen was going through. She was doing the same thing Bethany had when she fought with Van Helsing. The half vampire knew that she couldn't let it get out of friend. This meant she had to do her duty as Jen's acquaintance…

Mori confronted Anna.

Mori found her in the kitchen. She saw that Anna saw her and was about to leave, but Mori began before she could even move.

"Anna, you've got to put a stop to this."

"Why?" Anna demanded and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Have you even seen Jennifer lately?" Mori really didn't ask. "Look Anna, if I could've done something to save her, I would have. I blame myself for it anyway and I certainly know that you do too. I also know that I don't care if you blame me for it. Just hate me for all eternity and don't take it all out on Jennifer. She didn't choose this curse."

"Why are you helping her?" Anna asked her suddenly. Her tone was calm but there was a dangerous edge to it as if Anna was annoyed with Mori. Mori refused to get angry at her.

"Someone had to teach her and I was the only obvious fit. Besides," Mori leaned on the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. "I kind of like the girl."

Anna remained silent, so Mori took the opportunity to continue.

"You two are family, Anna, the only family you have left in actuality. You're stuck with each other for all eternity; like it or not. You might as well like each other. It will make it easier on the both of you."

Mori then left the room in a swirl of black, leaving Anna to contemplate what the half vampire had just told her.

"That was sweet of you."

Mori turned to see Bethany leaning against the wall next to the door with her arms crossed over her chest. She had a small smirk plastered all over her beautiful features.

"You're getting better at that." Mori told her.

"I learned from the master." Beth replied as she nodded toward Mori. The dark girl just shrugged, so Beth went on. "That really was nice of you."

"I know." Mori answered as the two friends walked side by side to the library.

"I know."

(A/N: READ ME! I'M IMPORTANT! Hey everyone! I haven't done one of these in a while, so I hope you read it. A good friend and I are writing a story that delves deeply into Mori's past. I would like to know what scenes you guys would like to read about. If you have any opinions, leave them in a review. If you don't review, then we won't get in the scene you might want to see, so please keep that in mind. I'll update as soon as I can. Bye!)