VAN HELSING 3: SOUL HUNTERS
(disclaimers on pages 1-6) Chapter 13: Mind tricks Everyone was huddled around a table inside the massive library. I had no idea we had such a place in the house. Gabriel thought. Carl had discovered the library a few hours ago, and since then, everyone was inside, scanning for any information inside the thousands of books. The library was almost as large as the main hall with a dark green carpet. It had shelves lined the walls from the floor all the way to the round ceiling. The only place where there wasn't any books was a small place in the wall where a fireplace was lit. Two couches were placed in front of it. Tables were placed in the open, where one of them had been piled over with books and papers. "Well, I believe I have found something that might be beneficial." Carl said. He placed a book on the table. It was pitch-black with a torn cover. Carl opened it to a page and blew the dust off. "I've found something about angels here and what they can do." "Really?" Victoria turned the book over to have a look. On the page was an illustration of two people sitting back to back with each other. Or more appropriately, wings to wings. One had large white wings, while the other had smaller black wings. They both seemed deep in thought, not noticing the other. "Anyway," Carl said, turning the book back over. "I think you two can learn something from this." he said, pointing to Gabriel and Victoria. "Like what?" Gabriel asked. "How to fly, how to fight, use a mind link." Carl suggested with a shrug. "We have a mind link?" Victoria asked, her interest starting to grow. If this is who I am to be, I want be the best that I can be. she thought to herself. "I also found something on Soul-Hunters." Carl said. He closed to book and placed it Gabriel's arms. He pulled out another book from underneath the table. This one was covered in brown leather, and a lot less thicker than the one about the angels. He opened it to a page with a picture of a soul-hunter. "It says that Soul-Hunters follow some sort of ruler who was the very first sorcerer to become evil. He's been living ever since people discovered how to use magic, and was one of the first people ever to master it.When he became evil, he trained people to become like him. One of his apprentice's was Vladimir after Sabrina's death." Carl explained. "So how do we stop them?" Victoria asked. "It seems like if we kill their master, we kill the hunters." "Sounds easy enough." Victoria commented. The plan was settled. Everyone left the library, except for Victoria. She still felt uneasy. A quick glance at her arm revealed that the blood was spreading down her arm. It had already made its way past her elbow. She sighed. She had been feeling it take its toll. Her energy was beginning to fail for the past few days, and hope was beginning to seem bleak. I have a lot of reading to do she thought. Gabriel sat in his room, pondering about Victoria. He felt a pang of worry hit him hard. If she was caught, she would be killed! He promised her that nothing would happen to her, but would the determination of one man be enough? What if she was caught? Would she become Vladimir's lover against her will? She was only thirteen, and already she was trapped in a world with no solutions if anything went wrong. Gabriel, stop thinking like that! Nothing will go wrong as long as we keep whoever's left alive. he thought. He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a voice. It sounded like it was coming from the library down the hall. Gabriel got up and quietly made his way through the dark house, not realizing someone was following him. He opened the door quietly, and let out a sigh of relief to see that it was only Anna. She was pacing through the library, absorbed in a book she was reading. She looked like an actress on a stage, citing her lines, full of emotion and life. Gabriel recognized what she was reading after a few lines. He painted the picture in his head with her words, making her Juliet and he her lover. I never knew she read Shakespeare. Or for the matter anything romantic. he thought. Nor did he know that she was so well acquitted with the piece of literature. She read it as though she had read it before, and the words still captivated her. She let out a sigh of pleasure as she read on. "Romeo was lucky." he said. Anna turned to see her love make his way towards her. "He was to have such a love like we have." "Well that and another thing. He didn't have anything stop him from committing suicide." he said. "What do you mean?" Anna asked, a little afraid of where this conversation was going. She set her book down on the table. "After I lost you, I considered killing myself." he said quite quite plainly. Anna's eyes widened. She moved closer to him until they were they were but a foot apart from each other. "What? Why would you think that?" she asked, stunned. "I loved you Anna. I didn't care about the Order, or Jinette, or my past when you died. If killing myself meant I'd be with you again, I'd do it. I was close to doing it once, but Carl caught me in the act. A few days later I met Victoria, or Furie, in this case. She seemed so familiar, and I had to help her. If she wasn't my sister and you weren't there, that would've been my last assignment." Anna grabbed his arms and shook him. "Gabriel Van Helsing, don't ever think like that again! You don't know how heartbroken I'd be if you died." Gabriel pulled his arms around her. "I won't because I have you back." he said lovingly. "I'm glad you do." she said. She buried herself within his chest. "I have a question, Anna." "What is it?" she asked, looking up into his brown eyes. "How did you come back to life?" Anna smiled softly. "I was sent by the angels to reunite you with Furie. I did not know why, but if it meant seeing you again, I went gladly. Furie resurrected me, like the angels said she would. And that is all I know. The important thing is I'm back and I won't ever leave you." she murmured. Gabriel peered into her eyes, which were filled with heartfelt adoration. It wasn't long until the two were caught up in a kiss. What they didn't know was that someone was watching them. The traitor stepped out of the library. It turned to see a spider crawling up the walls. "Ah, I was wondering when you'd come." it spoke. Before its eyes, it transformed into a young boy. "Is she here?" he asked. "Yes, Vladimir, and she is most displeased with how I've been taking advantage of her. She loathes me, and is desperate for someone to ease her heartaches." "Good. I'll use this time to strike." "By the way," the traitor added, "Our Left Hand of God has a weakness. Her name is Anna." it said. Vladimir smirked, not noticing the figure behind him. Victoria watched the scene before her play out. I knew I couldn't trust her! she thought. She ran towards Antonio's room, hoping that this would convince him. She opened the door to find Antonio sitting on his bed. He looked up to see her and smiled. "Hey. Is there something you need?" he asked. "There's something I need to tell you." she asked. Antonio noticed urgency in her voice and stood up. "What is it?" "Isabelle's ratted us out! She told Vladimir that we're here!" "How do you know?" Antonio's voice held disbelief. "I saw her! She told the enemy where we are! You have to believe me!" "Look," Antonio started, getting annoyed. "I know you don't like Isabelle, but you don't have to make up lies like that. Issy wouldn't betray us like that?" "Issy?" Victoria asked. "That's what I call her." "Anyway," Victoria said, shaking away some disturbing thoughts. "You've known me longer than her! How could you trust her over me?" "Oh, so now it's a competition?" "No! I-" Victoria started, but Antonio cut her off. "Don't you get it? I love Isabelle! Get that into your thick head and move on! We never took our relationship past friends, and I want to keep it that way. You will not lie to me anymore!" "I'M NOT LYING!" Victoria shouted, her calmness lost. It was about a second later when she realized she was on the ground with her cheek beginning to sting. It took another second for her mind to register what Antonio had done. He hit her. So hard he had drawn blood from her, and a cut had settled on her face. Antonio's eyes widened. He extended a hand to help her, but Victoria slid up the wall to stand up. She let out a whimper as she felt tears form in her eyes. "Victoria, I-" he didn't finish. Victoria ran out the door and slammed it behind her. She placed her hand against her cheek, stopping the blood flow. She stumbled through the hallways until she made it into her room. She went to her bed and let her strength give out and began to cry. Her tears mixed with her cut, which made it burn even worse. However, it wouldn't ease her shattered heart. It had been broken like a window. It could be fixed, but it was almost beyond repair. She was brought out of her despair when she heard the sound of someone clicking their tongue. "Feeling broken?" a voice said. Victoria looked up to see no one. She could only see blackness. I must've fallen asleep. she thought. "Who are you?" "Vladimir, who else, Sabrina?" "I am not Sabrina. I'm Victoria Van Helsing, and you will leave." "It's a shame no one would believe you. I do though." "Get out of here." Victoria tensed. She was beginning to feel something weigh her down with pain. It went through her head and down her whole body. "Oh, come now." Vladimir would not give up. "You know that I'm the only one that understands you." "Stay out of my head." she brought her hands over her ears, but that wouldn't block out his voice. "Why should I? You could always join me. I could give your memories back if you house Sabrina. I also know of your disease. Of your upcoming death." Victoria was shocked. "How did you know?" The pain was now unbearable. Please, make it stop! I can't feel anything except it! she thought. She couldn't take it anymore. "I have my ways of knowing things. I also know that I am the only one who can heal you. So please, just-" "NO! STOP IT! IT HURTS! GABRIEL! HELP ME! GET HIM OUT! GET HIM OUT!" she screamed. She crumpled to the ground, still screaming. She couldn't see or hear anything except her cries. As soon as she felt she would die, the pain ceased. The darkness vanished, and she found herself laying on her floor, hands pressed to her ears. She felt her blood roll down her cheek. She looked up to see Gabriel,Anna, and Carl standing in her doorway. Their eyes were wide, and all they could do was stare. It would be in this state when Victoria would break and finally confess her troubles, but she thought otherwise. "Don't give me that look." she said as she got off the floor. Gabriel approached her. He raised his hand to see her cheek, but she waved it off. "It's nothing." she murmured. "Alright, no keeping secrets this time." Gabriel said, "What was that all about? One moment you're muttering and the next your on the floor screaming." "It was Vladimir. He got into my head. He trapped me in darkness. I couldn't think about anything but the pain that I felt." Gabriel was shocked. It took a lot to make his sister scream, and she must've been through a lot of pain. "Still, I'm not sure what I found scarier. The agony or the darkness Vladimir trapped me in." Victoria said. "What do you mean?" Carl asked from the doorway. "Sometimes it's hard to tell if feeling pain is worse than nothing at all." Victoira said. After a small, comforting talk with them, Victoria found herself alone again. Her ability to sleep soundly had vanished, and she was the only one awake. She felt beyond weak and exhausted. If they got into a fight, she was sure she wouldn't make it out alive. Please, let me have the power to overcome my fears. she thought. Although she knew that it wasn't at all possible. (Dang, this is a long chapter. Please send reviews!!!!!!!)
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