You Know My Name
Hey everybody! (: I'm back again with a new chapter! I hope you guys like it:P (I'm sleepy, and its currently 1:31 in the morning, so I have nothing better to say than this, lol! Maybe next time!)
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO READ & REVIEWED MY STORY!! XD –hugs all-
I hope you enjoy the show:P
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the movie, Van Helsing. Nor any of the lyrics! I also do not own the quotes that come up now and then. (They are borrowed from wikiquote!)
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
-
"Bless me, father, for I have-"
"Sinned!"
Van Helsing was cut off with a disgruntled groan as the Cardinal glared through the wooden mesh of the confessional. His eyes were cold and disapproving, as if he was looking at something unholy.
"You… You shattered the rose window! Any decent man of God would have avoided such an outcome to happen, and yet you did nothing…" The Cardinal hissed with the utmost distaste, "-I wish you a week in hell for this!"
All Van Helsing did in response was raise an eyebrow. The window was probably meant to be shattered anyway, and frankly, the hunter didn't give a damn. So long as the monster was dead, his mission was accomplished. And yet this old man was whining. Why does he always have to be ordered around by a fool?
"I'm already in hell, Your Eminence… Besides, it was Mr. Hyde that did the shattering."
The Cardinal's lips curled into a frown for Van Helsing's lack of concern. The Rose Window had been a masterpiece, built in the thirteenth century. If not for this arrogant man, it would still be intact with not a single scratch mark.
"Silence!" Cardinal Jinette snapped, "Your methods attract far too much attention. We are the Holy Order. Secrecy means everything. And now we have wanted posters to be concerned of? We are not pleased."
Van Helsing lips twitched angrily. "Do you think I like being the most wanted man in Europe? You have done nothing to save me from this fate! Why don't you and the Order do something about it?"
"You know why. Because we do not exist…" The Cardinal answered sharply.
"Then neither do I," Van Helsing growled harshly in reply. He got up to leave, but suddenly the bars fell and caged him inside the small confessional. He turned to glower at the Cardinal's direction.
The Cardinal didn't even flinch. The old man was quite used to this man's hostility.
"When we found you crawling up the steps of this church, bloodied and half dead, it was clear to all of us that you had been sent to do God's work. You are no more than a tool, Van Helsing. It is a price to pay for your freedom."
Van Helsing's eyes flashed with anger, his expression darkening almost immediately at those words. His hands had dug into fists, sinking deep into his flesh.
"You are no master of me…"
The Cardinal frowned. His face held an impassive look. He felt a cold chill run down his spine, in spite of the fact that he had control over this man's actions.
Or so he thought.
For the past few months now, his confidence had been wavering when it came to Van Helsing. For a man believed to be the Left Hand of God, this man acted as if he was the Devil's accomplice. Somehow the Cardinal did not imagine such a 'angel' to act so bitter and cold.
"You will obey the call of God. If you wish to recover those lost memories, I suggest you continue to heed it."
Van Helsing felt a dark fury roaring within him. But slowly this strong emotion faded, replaced with a sense of loneliness… Was this all he was worth? He felt no love for God... it was clear that he had been abandoned.
The hunter looked down at the ring on his finger. He wondered what kind of life he might have led, before he had come to the Vatican. From the first day he awoke as a man with only a last name to remember, he had been haunted by nightmares, making him wake up in the middle of the night as if he had run in the darkness that whole time he was dreaming. In those dreams, he would see battles of old, neatly written letters and flashes of blood… Whose blood, he did not know. But Van Helsing knew was that it was by his hand that the ground was splattered with crimson.
"And if I do not?" Van Helsing turned to look at the old man. The Cardinal eyed him carefully, and with a regrettable sigh… One word of significance escaped the man's lips.
"Death. Such men who have sworn to be in service of the Holy Order will either live as brave knights in service of God…" The Cardinal paused, watching Van Helsing intently for a moment before continuing, "Or they will die. It may be either in the hands of the Enemy. Or by our own. For we strive on secrecy…" 1
Van Helsing did not exactly look frightened. A sane person would have run for their lives, in a foolish attempt to be freed from such a horrifying duty. But he knew that he was bound completely in invisible chains. If he ever tried such a feat, he would not get out of this alive.
He smiled coldly, with a tinge of amusement evident on his lips.
"And are you thinking of killing me, Your Eminence?"
"If such a time comes, you shall be known of it. Now come, let us go beneath the steps. That way, I can explain to you your next assignment to be done…" The Cardinal spoke sharply, dismissing their previous discussion as if he was brushing aside a mild annoyance.
The doors on the other side of the Confessional opened to reveal an underground tunnel. Van Helsing knew it all too well - he had walked through it each time had finished an assignment. And every time he entered and walked those steps, hearing it echo hollowly under his feet, one single thought would always echo through his thoughts.
God has no mercy.
xXx
"Uhh… Mr. Van Helsing, sir?" a voice called out.
A hand patted on the renowned hunter's shoulder. A small bead of sweat formed on the young, and quite short, Friar's forehead.
Van Helsing turned to glance at the irritation behind him. He raised an eyebrow at the youth, with his brown robes and untamed blonde hair. His eyes were blue, going to and fro uneasily. His fingers fidgeted each other, going over the other in quick motions. Van Helsing had seen a lot of these young men come and go, some climbing higher ranks and others who did not make it to that stage. And there were others who preferred to stay as a friar, which was a peculiar thing to be seen.
These people remembered the lines of the holy bible, helped the other higher members of the Order with a few chores and never did anything sinful. No blood to taint their hands… was what Van Helsing thought of them almost enviously.
Friars obeyed quite easily, because they were young and naïve in all sorts of matters. Fortunately, they were considered a part of the 'family', as brothers, and therefore were never forced to do anything that will be too hard for them.
"Yes?"
The young friar gulped as he spoke, his voice trembling in fear, "I-I was told b-by Cardinal Jinette to… find you and prepare you f-f-for-" the young man paused for a moment, catching his breath. Van Helsing sighed, rolling his eyes impatiently. "-your- next assignment."
"And I suppose you are the man to do it?"
The Friar nodded quickly, knowing that this hunter did not like waiting. "Yes, sir. I-I will equip you with the r-right weapons to use."
"Fine." Van Helsing spoke coldly. "Go along then, do your job."
The blonde young man gave another nod, his hands sweating. But this time, his confidence did not falter. After all, he was diving into a world where he knew all too well about. Or at least, in the books he read.
He led Van Helsing directly to the tables, grabbing a light-brown sack in his hands. Almost immediately, he started to speak. "What exactly was the assignment you were given, Mr. Van Helsing, sir?"
Van Helsing grunted. He was going to make his answer short. "To hunt a vampire- or the Son of the Devil. Along with a whole load of ghoulish creatures to follow his command."
"I see," The friar spoke slowly and darkly. Whispering something under his breath, and then started to ruffle through the wooden table. On it was glinting silver stakes, along with silver bullets and pistols of different shapes lined together. There were other things like rings of garlic, the holy bible, a bottle of Holy Water, etc. All of which were shoved almost too quick if the person was not paying attention.
Van Helsing was paying attention. It was strange to think that his assumptions might have been proved wrong right there and then. Perhaps Friars were intelligent after all.
A loud sound caught his attention, and he turned to look sharply. It was a large, shooting weapon, banging away at the target wall. It fired non-stop, and this was quite unique. He turned to look at the Friar, who was silent and still concentrating on the items on the table.
"Why can't I have one of those?" Van Helsing told, and the Friar looked up to see what he was talking about. He saw the machine gun and then looked up at him.
"Actually, I might have something better for you."
The Friar ran off, leaving the sack on the floor and Van Helsing standing there, with a look of confusion and annoyance on his face. What was the little man up to?
After a few seconds the Friar was back with something in his hands. Before Van Helsing can determine what, the young man threw a silver crossbow in his direction. He caught it with ease. It was a little heavy, but not heavy enough to be a burden. He felt it in his hands; the sharp edges and the small design on the top of the sling shooter, which was a head of a ram. Finally examining the neatness of this invention, he looked up at the Friar.
Even though there was still fear on the young man's face, there was now also a hint of pride as well.
"A crossbow?"
The Friar grinned, "Not just any crossbow, sir. It's gas propelled, capable of catapulting bolts in rapid succession at tremendous velocity. Just pull the trigger and hold on."
"You say it as if you made it." Van Helsing spoke, his eyebrows rising.
"That is because I did make it, Mr. Van Helsing."
Van Helsing pretended to hide his emotion of surprise, and instead he smiled back spitefully. He could have sincerely told the little Friar what he felt, but then it would be like breaking apart the hardened guard in his heart. And that, to him, was considered a weakness.
"Hmm… I guess it may be of some use, although I doubt it will help me keep alive."
The Friar looked at Van Helsing with a hurt, angered look at the hunter. "It will save you when you least expect it, Mr. Van Helsing."
Van Helsing smirked grimly. "We'll see."
The Friar said nothing after that, and avoided any eye contact with the hunter while he collected the items the hunter needed for his assignment. After this was finished, he shoved the bag in Van Helsing's hands and walked away without a word.
Van Helsing watched all this in silence, but he was not amused. Sighing, he walked towards his chambers with his item of weapons that were cold and untouched as his heart.
xXx
1. – I know it's not death (I think), but I couldn't resist putting that in. I thought that since the Vatican treasured 'Secrecy', then why not the rule of keeping it a secret? Surely there would be people who would blurt something out, whether they were drunk, out in the public, or seduced. At least, that's what I think…
So… I realize that I have made the characters you know completely different people (although not too different I hope). Sorry about that! (The conversation between Van Helsing and with the Cardinal in the confessional is the same, but its been somewhat modified to blend in with the story.)
I hope you liked it! (; Please read and review:D