Hola!!! Haven't updated in a while…so I figured I probably should. I would really love some reviews!!!hint hint Please??!!! Well anyway here's your chapter I heart you, and don't 4get to check out my new story –Sibling Rivalry!!!

Carl recognized the count immediately.

"What have we here?" Dracula asked with a smirk, "Won't Gabriel be pleased,"

"Don't call him that," Carl replied, forcing his shaking limbs to stay still.

"And why not? I have every right to call Gabriel what I wish, for he belongs to me, did he not tell you?"

"Tell what to whom?" the hunter trudged through the brush. He saw Carl and froze.

"Carl what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay at the castle!!!! It is to dangerous out here, you aren't fit for this kind of work!!!" Gabriel sounded genuinely concerned, whereas the Count sounded amused.

"Let him stay Gabriel, he won't do much harm, besides, it is too late to escort him back to the castle, we must make haste, for we are already going at a snails pace,"

For once Gabriel had nothing to say, why should he let Carl come? What good could it do to the friar? Carl would surely be frightened of where they were going, and after rejecting him, wouldn't Carl feel uncomfortable around him? Why was Dracula letting him stay?

"Carl how long have you been following us?" Dracula asked, although the glint in his eyes gave way that he had already known.

"A few hours after you left," Carl replied nervously.

This was going to get interesting thought the Count, Carl was as protective over Van Helsing as Dracula himself. Oh what things he could make Gabriel do!!! He could destroy Carl without touching him, if he wished.

They made camp that night to the sounds of howling wolves. They were getting closer to the river Styx, which divided the regular world from the underworld. The heat was growing rapidly each day as they came closer. The burning fire was a reminder of the long journey ahead, and the blazing heat they would encounter. Dracula left to feed, leaving Gabriel and Carl in absolute silence.

Gabriel was the first to speak, "Why did you come after me Carl? You are just bringing pain and misery on yourself. This is not the place you should be,"

"I came for you, I know you do not feel as I do, but I do not trust the Count. You mustn't be alone; I thought you would want a friend along,"

Van Helsing sighed," It is nice having a friend along, but I am worried for you, I do care for you Carl, though you may not think it. I have a way of hiding things," He said with a faint smile. He was looking paler by the day, with the death of Anna had also come great sorrow; he hardly ate, and hardly slept. It was beginning to show.

"You need some rest," Carl said eyeing the hunter sharply, he laid out a blanket on the ground. "Please, if you can't sleep, at least rest some, my god Van Helsing, you are going to waste away before we make it to the underworld!!!"

Gabriel smiled slightly; he knew Carl was just looking after him. He let Carl put the blanket on him. He pulled Carl into his arms. It touched and hurt him inside that Carl was still willing to be his friend after he had rejected him so cruelly.

"Carl, I wanted to..," he looked down at the friar resting on his chest- He was fast asleep. He closed his eyes, and let his head fall on Carl's . It was nice to have a friend in the world, even if it was only one.

Dracula returned to the camp. His lip curled up at the sight. He had made a mistake in letting the friar stay. No matter when the night fell tomorrow, Gabriel would break the friar's heart again, maybe not intentionally, but Gabriel had promised himself to the Count, and he wasn't going to let him forget it. He would have his way with Van Helsing the next night. Carl would see, and slowly fade, just as Gabriel was doing. Or he could just rid of the friar the easy way, drain him of his blood. Either way he would have his fun with both of them tomorrow, he was sure of it.

It's aleeravanhelsing again!!! Please review; the next chapter will be longer-Promise!! I have a lot of homework to catch up on, and I don't want to fail math. Oh by the way, how graphic should the next chapter to be? I don't want to offend anyone with super graphic stuff!! So e-mail me and tell me. Majority will rule. So Catch you later!!

XOXO

-Aleeravanhelsing