I don't own VH

It would only take one day of riding to get to Carl's tavern, but if he weren't on Thunder, the journey would take two to three days. Noriko... It was strange to see a female with silver hair, but maybe that was why her 'uniqueness' led to her to being abused. His memory going back to the love bites he saw on her. She must have ran from the brothel, he mused, honestly, Van Helsing was one who disapproved of brothels. He knew that most of these young women were pulled into it by force, so he decided to help her, without knowing the true story regarding her.

He tilted his head slightly, looking down on her. She was fast asleep, her head nestled against his chest. She smelled fresh and feminine. A simple infusion that teased his senses as the horse galloped on. It wasn't long before they reached the edge of the forest. "Noriko. Wake up." He could feel her suddenly stiffen, like having been jolted awake.

Right. She had asked him to tell her when they were near the edge of town. She drew the raven coloured bedsheet around her, turning into a cloaked figure."Please proceed Van Helsing, sir." She told him. Knowing Vladislaus, he probably had spies everywhere. It had taken her much effort to escape... And she wasn't planning on going back there again soon. You have claimed both my heart and my body, it is only right that I keep my soul with me now.

"Carl! Elsie! How nice to see the both of you again! Can we go someplace private to talk? Carl and I, Elsie and you." He said as he joined Carl behind the bar and started dishing out drinks.

The lady Van Helsing called as Elsie, held Noriko firmly by the arm and led her up to a room. In this whole flurry of events, which involved entering the almost full tavern, jostling and maneuvering her way through, all the while holding the head of her makeshift hood tightly. Curious faces tried to peer in and she had to quickly sidestep them.

"You can remove your hood now. Nobody but I can see you."

Noriko hesitantly obeyed, drawing the hood slowly down, she finally got a full view of... Elsie. Taller than her, with warm brown eyes and glossy black hair tied in a bun, ruddy cheeks and a friendly smile.She wasn't anything spectacular, but at least, she was normal looking. Just as the way she had scruntinised Elsie, Elsie was scruntinising her too.

"My, my, where did you get such... Unique hair? And you look so skinny, haven't you had a good meal in ages? We're having roasted pheasant tonight, with gravy and potatoes. Tch tch, you should eat more you know."

"I know, but I didn't have the appetite." That at least was the truth. Dracula was also very worried about her since he couldn't persuade her to eat much, he didn't starve her that's for sure, but she just couldn't eat anymore, even though it seemed as though she had a hole in her gut. How she survived eating so little, she didn't know.

Elsie had taken note of the love bites on the other female's neck almost instantly. The poor girl... She was thin, but you could still see that her body had once been toned and wiry. The other girl was covering her neck as well, as if she knew what was going through Elsie's mind.

She needs a new look, a disguise, she thought. "You should have some rest now dear, I'll wake you up for dinner. Oh, by the way, my name's Elsie. Rest well dear." She turned to leave.

"Mine's Noriko. Thank you. Elsie." The second part, her name was added rather hesitantly, as if she didn't know what to say. "No problem my dear." A clear, strong yet soft voice, Elsie noted as she hurried downstairs to prepare the food for dinner.

Noriko watched the other woman hurry downstairs. Before collapsing on the bed. It wasn't as soft as the one in his castle of course, but it was still a bed. She looked around. The room wasn't too big, but it was still considered big to her. A simple room furnished with a cupboard, a bookshelf and another door, probably leading to a bathroom. A rustic homely kind of place, she decided, before succumbing to the bed, where her dreams remained peaceful, her body needed rest, having just recovered recently.

She woke up much later, feeling refreshed and better, but her cheeks remained pale in comparison to her normal tan, like there were shadows dancing in under her eyes. Her body was weak, and frail. She walked to the door, when it opened, Elsie's face popped out. "Hello my dear! You have finally woken up, are you hungry? Come on down, there's no need for that silly hood of yours, nobody's here other than for us." She turned, leading the way down the stairs. "Oh, and the windows and doors are both locked and covered as well, there's no need to worry."

Van Helsing looked up, watching Noriko carefully walk down the staircase on wobbly feet. Violet bruises of fatigue were ringing her eyes and she looked extremely fragile. She looked good in his shirt and pants. Damned good, he decided. Carl had been doing some touching up to the place, and it looked fabulous now. The tarvern was made up of mainly one long room with its little western alcove at the top, but it was large and darkly airy, strongly built, with wide boards and beams, a gleaming floor, a deep stone fireplace, a bar and a creaky staircase.

Doors led to the kitchen where Elsie reigned supreme and to bathrooms situated at the sides. In the middle was a round table, made of green birch, his present to them. "Vampires have only one weakness, green birch, so when a vampire comes, you can throw this table at him." He had joked. And now, it was laden with proof of Elsie's skill as a chef.

A roasted pheasant sat in the middle in all its glory, shining with the special sauce Elsie made, it was like a king unto its own right, thick brown gravy surrounded it, with a harem of mini potatoes, skinned and boiled to perfection, by only smelling it, he was sure that the dish would taste absolutely fabulous.

Why? Because he was already salivating. Loaves of homemade bread, with their crusty outsides and soft insides were in a basket, and mugs of beer for men and wine for women accompanied the whole meal. Clearly, Elsie had been longing for this chance to fatten him up.His stomach growled. And there was cold potato salad as well, smothered with cream, and if he didn't guess wrongly, she would most likely have dessert ready for them.

Carl stared at the silver haired female. It was ODD. She was WEIRD. And Carl was OVERREACTING a little inside. "Carl!" Van Helsing hissed and smacked his longtime friend on the head. "Ouch!" Carl rubbed his head, his attention had been so caught up by the newcomer, that he didn't realise the food had been laid. Sniff sniff. What was that heavenly smell...? "Elsie! I love you sooooo much, my saviour, my love, you saved the stomach once again!" Thus saying, he grabbed his wife up and spun her around laughing.

His laughter and schoolboy behaviour broke the previous silence, where the hosts were staring and the guests, letting them do so. Laughing, Elsie beckoned them to the table. "Silly, come now, it's fabulous when it's hot." She gestured to the pheasant, as she gave her husband an affectionate kiss.

For the first time in ages, Noriko felt hungry, true, this type of home cooked fare was nothing compared to the fine wines and delicate and delectable fare Dracula prepared. There it was again, that sharp jolt of pain. She sighed, if this was to be her fate, that would be it, it was better to have only these occasional pangs. The meal proved to be extremely enjoyable and she even had three or four helpings, oh boy, Elsie was the BEST. And there was her homemade apple pie, with vanilla ice-cream, complementing each other...

"I swear you're going to make me fat." She smiled at her hostess as they cleared the dishes. Well, you sure need some fattening, Elsie thought.She had thoughtof how to disguiseher, having spoken with Van Helsing, they agreed that if she was to stay here, she needed a damned good one.The hair was easy,as a child, she used to play with a specialkind of root that stained your hands black, and the effect lasted for a day, that would be easy to procure... And the other girl had already asked to help in the tarven to earn her keep. That would definitely be possible... They had better go test it out first.

Dracula was overseeing the last of the decorations, a manor overlooking the sea, much smaller than his castle, but he was sure that Noriko would love it. Noriko, every single moment was spent thinking, wondering about her, even on the flight back, even now as he entered the still room... Where was she? Needless to say, she had decided to run away again. Why did you have to leave me? I can't live without you, I'd rather die, please come back to me...

He stood by the window, watching the dark world outside, as he waited for his vampires to come. "Find her. Find my dryad, my queen and my love, search the whole place and bring her back to me."

phishie, getting a lil too lazy... reviews anybody?